EP0048206A1 - Loading device for vehicles, particularly for ambulances, and vehicles equipped therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

The device comprises a frame 10, mounted stationary on the vehicle 1, and a movable assembly 12. The latter can be moved from a low position (shown at 2) to a high position as shown at 3. It is therefore possible to mount two stretchers along the lateral walls of the vehicle without being impeded by the wheel housings 4 and 5. The movable assembly 12 remains permanently horizontal during its movements inside the vehicle. The movements are controlled by a jack acting on rods mounted in articulated parallelograms. <IMAGE>

Description

The present invention relates to the field of vehicle loading and relates more particularly to a device of this type usable in ambulances.

Currently, ambulances are loaded from the rear of the vehicle using a stretcher cart. Given the interior layout of the ambulance, the installation of these trolleys poses practical problems because of the interior bodywork elements, which are for example provided for the passage of the rear wheels. In addition, handling inside the vehicle is not easy. It is therefore difficult to install more than one stretcher per vehicle, this being most of the time placed on the vehicle floor or supported by equipment housed in the middle part thereof.

Similar problems arise whenever it is a question of placing and handling objects inside a vehicle, for example of the type of vans or store trucks.

Various devices are already known which are applicable to ambulances.

DE-OS 2.813.405 provides an arrangement according to which the stretcher holder, which is arranged along a side wall, can be moved by pivoting to occupy a projecting position at the rear of the vehicle. Movements are made using articulated linkages. To pass through the rear opening of the ambulance, the stretcher carrier must take an oblique position.

Patent FR 1,598,529 also provides a system for placing the stretcher back across the ambulance opens. By a set of articulated linkages and parallelograms, the stretcher holder can be stored against a side wall in a horizontal position below a wheel arch. The stretcher carries out a movement which results essentially from a combination of a lateral movement and a longitudinal movement, but the stretcher hardly moves in height. The shape of the linkages gives the stretcher holder an oblique and inclined position when it passes through the opening of the ambulance.

Patent FR 73.27610 (publication 2,194,408) describes a device making it possible to raise a stretcher holder to fix it vertically

against the adjacent side wall of the ambulance, allowing the stretcher to be folded down when not in use.

DE-AS 1.230.522 also describes a system for moving the stretcher carrier in an ambulance, in which the stretcher carrier can pass through the rear opening in a substantially horizontal position.

The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks of prior loading devices for vehicles, in particular for ambulances. The invention relates in particular to a lifting device, of simple and robust design, permanently mounted on the vehicle.

The subject of the invention is in particular an arrangement in which the movable stretcher carrier permanently occupies a substantially horizontal position inside the vehicle, whatever its height situation, which makes it possible to make the most of the space available despite the presence of internal bodywork elements, such as passages wheels. According to the invention, the stretcher holder remains entirely inside the vehicle and does not extend beyond the rear through the opening. In a preferred embodiment, a lifting device according to the invention is provided along each side wall of the vehicle, which makes it possible to have on each side of the latter the objects which should be placed there, for example stretchers or stretchers. Security is improved. In addition, access for nursing staff is easier, since they can use the central passage of the vehicle to access the side stretchers.

The device according to the invention essentially comprises a frame, mounted as a fixed post on the vehicle and a support assembly, movable relative to the frame and able to move between a low position and a substantially horizontal high position, in the vicinity of a wall. side of the vehicle, said device being characterized in that the connection between the frame and the mobile support is ensured by a system of connecting rods, comprising at least three connecting rods, respectively mounted by pivots on the frame at one of their ends, two of said connecting rods being called main connecting rods and having at their other ends articulations on the mobile support assembly, said articulations and pivots forming the apices of at least a first deformable parallelogram, the third connecting rod or balancing rod being also articulated at its two ends respectively on the frame and on the mobile support assembly, the configuration of the articulation points on the mob support island and that of the pivots on the frame being such that, when the four vertices of the first parallelogram become substantially aligned, the balancing rod forms with each of the main connecting rods another parallelogram, and in that a control means is interposed between the frame and the mobile support assembly to deform the first parallelogram from the low position, which is substantially horizontal and is located in the vicinity from the vehicle floor, inside thereof, the other two parallelograms deforming themselves under the influence of the control means until the desired high position is obtained.

It was stated that the connecting rod system included at least three connecting rods, respectively two main connecting rods and a balancing connecting rod. For reasons of mechanical construction, it is advantageous that each of the main connecting rods is established in the form of a pair of connecting rods, so that the connecting rod system in fact comprises two pairs of main connecting rods and a balancing rod. It is preferred that at least two of the pivots of the main connecting rods are aligned in a substantially horizontal plane.

The control means can be of any type; it can be manual, pneumatic, hydraulic or other. The control means is preferably a hydraulic cylinder. Just use a single acting cylinder. It is advantageous for the control means to be actuated by an electro-hydraulic group connected to the vehicle battery.

It is generally advantageous for the pivot of the frame receiving the balancing rod to be located above the plane, preferably horizontal, containing the two pivots respectively receiving the two main rods. It goes without saying that if the two main connecting rods are established in the form of two pairs of main connecting rods, the plane of the pivots, which is preferably horizontal, will contain the four pivots of articulation of said connecting rods on the frame.

It is preferred that in the high position, the device be immobilized by locking means carried by the vehicle body or the frame of the device itself. Locking can involve means carried by the support assembly itself or by any part integral with it, for example a stretcher-carrying frame with which it would be equipped. The provision of such locking means is advantageous in the application of the device to ambulances, because it offers increased security against accidents or against unexpected incidents occurring in the actuation of the control means.

• - Fig. 1 est une vue schématique par l'arrière d'un véhicule du genre ambulance équipé de deux dispositifs selon l'invention ;
• - Fig. 2 est une vue de dessus correspondant à la Fig. 1, la partie supérieure du véhicule ayant été arrachée pour une meilleure illustration,
• - Fig. 3 est une vue en plan d'un dispositif é_lé- vateur conforme à l'invention,
• - Fig. 4 est une vue de côté du dispositif représenté à la figure 3 ;
• - Fig. 5 est une vue en coupe selon la ligne V-V de la figure 3, les figures 3,4 et 5 ayant été représentées dans la position de repos du dispositif ;
• - Fig. 6 est une vue analogue à celle de la figure 5, mais dans une position intermédiaire du dispositif ;
• - Fig. 7 est une vue analogue aux figures 5 et 6, le dispositif étant représenté en position haute;
• - Fig. 8 est une vue en perspective montrant l'ensemble du dispositif. _Ik

The invention will now be illustrated without being in any way limited by the description below made with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• - Fig. 1 is a schematic view from the rear of an ambulance-type vehicle equipped with two devices according to the invention;
• - Fig. 2 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 1, the upper part of the vehicle having been torn off for a better illustration,
• - Fig. 3 is a plan view of a device é _the E- vateur according to the invention,
• - Fig. 4 is a side view of the device shown in FIG. 3;
• - Fig. 5 is a sectional view along line VV of FIG. 3, FIGS. 3,4 and 5 having been shown in the rest position of the device;
• - Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of FIG. 5, but in an intermediate position of the device;
• - Fig. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, the device being shown in the high position;
• - Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing the entire device. _Ik

There is shown diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2 a vehicle provided with devices according to the invention. In the example shown, this vehicle is an ambulance 1. FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the rear part of the ambulance and there are two devices according to the invention, one the device 2 on the left and the other device 3 on the right. The device 2 is shown schematically in the low position on the vehicle floor, while the device 3 is shown in the high position along the side wall of the ambulance. The parts of the bodywork allowing passage to the rear wheels are shown schematically in dotted lines 4 and 5.

FIG. 2 clearly shows the location of the devices 2 and 3 inside the ambulance 1. Each device according to the invention equips one side of the ambulance, in front of the wheel arches 4 and 5.

The advantages provided by the invention are entirely apparent. When it comes to loading a stretcher inside the ambulance, it is first placed in the lower part on one of the devices 2,3. Such a device is then operated from its low position to the high position, as will be described below with reference to Figures 3 to 8. The device with the stretcher in the high position is then at a side wall of the vehicle. The same operation can be repeated with the other device, so that two stretchers can be housed inside the ambulance, leaving a passage in the central part of the vehicle. The means provided by the invention make it possible to overcome the constraints created inside the vehicle by the bodywork elements, in particular by the wheel arches 4 and 5. FIG. 1, for example, shows that the stretcher carried by the device 3 in the high position is housed above the wheel arch thus 5. L The invention makes it possible to make the best use of the space available inside the ambulance. The care to be provided during transport is also facilitated by the arrangement of the median passage.

As shown in Figures 3 to 8, the device essentially comprises a frame 10, intended to be fixed in any suitable manner on the vehicle to be equipped. The structure of such a frame can be quite arbitrary; in the example chosen, the frame 10 consists of two lateral flanges 10a, 10b joined on one face (rear face) by an angle iron 11. Other members of the frame will be indicated below. Of course any structural variant within the reach of ordinary skill in the art could be adopted for such a frame.

Furthermore, the device comprises a support assembly 12 which essentially comprises crosspieces 13a, 13b on which is fixed a frame 14. A spar 21 joins the crosspieces 13a, 13b.

Note that the frame 14 has not been shown in Figures 1 and 2, for the purpose of simplification. When the device is used in an ambulance, the frame 14 has a length sufficient to support a stretcher.

The support assembly 12 is connected to the frame 10 by a system of connecting rods; in the example chosen, this system comprises two pairs of main connecting rods, respectively 15, 16 and 17, 18 and a balancing connecting rod 19. The connecting rod 15 is articulated on the flange 10a of the frame 10 by a pivot 15a. At its other end the connecting rod 15 is articulated at 15b on the cross member 13a of the support assembly 12. The connecting rod 16 is similarly articulated on the flange 10b (pivot 16a) and on the cross member 13b of the support assembly 12 (articulation 16b). The joints 15b and 16b are interconnected by a bar 20.

The ends of the other pair of main connecting rods 17, 18 are welded at 17a, 18a onto a tube 50 capable of turning around an axis 51 extending between the two flanges 10a, lOb. Two joints 52 are thus created respectively , 53 on the two flanges. At their other ends, the connecting rods 17, 18 are articulated at 17b and 18b on the crosspieces 13a, 13b of the support assembly 12.

The balancing rod 19 is articulated in 19a at the rear of the frame 10 and in 19b on the spar 21 of the support assembly 12. It will be noted that in the example shown, the articulation 19a is located above of the horizontal plane containing the articulations 15a, 16a, 52 and 53. In the example illustrated, the articulation 19b is formed by a pivot mounted on two lugs 22, 23 themselves integral with the spar 21. It goes without saying that any another form of articulation and mounting could be adopted.

The device also includes a control means which, in the example chosen, is a single-acting cylinder 24. The cylinder 24 is supported by a hinge 25 on a beam 26 mounted at the bottom of the frame 10. At its active end , the jack 24 is articulated on the support assembly 12; in the example chosen, this articulation 29 is provided between two cheeks 27, 28 integral with the spar 21. It will also be noted that a bar 30 connects the articulation 29 and the articulation 17b previously mentioned.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 show the device in the low position, in which the assembly-suppbrt 12 rests on the vehicle floor.

Figure 6 illustrates an intermediate position and Figure 7 the upper position of the support assembly 12 carrying the frame 14. The perspective view of Figure 8 highlights the various parts of the device in an intermediate position.

• lorsqu'on désire faire passer le cadre 14 de la position basse de la figure 5 à la position haute de la figure 7, on actionne le vérin 24. L'extrémité active 29 de celui-ci agit sur les deux parallélogrammes déformables constitués par les paires de bielles principales 15, 16 et 17, 18 articulées entre le bâti 10 et l'ensemble-support 12. On parvient ainsi à la position illustrée à la figure 6 dans laquelle les paires de pivots l5a, 16a et 52,53 portés par le bâti 10, se trouvent dans le même plan que les articulations respectives 15b, 16b et 17b, 18b portées par l'ensemble-support 12. Le mouvement ascendant de l'ensemble-support 12 se poursuit alors avec l'intervention de la bielle d'équilibrage 19, laquelle forme des parallélogrammes déformables avec chacune des paires de bielles principales. On parvient ainsi à la position haute représentée à la figure 7. On notera qu'aux figures 5 à 7, la bielle d'équilibrage 19 a été représentée en traits mixtilignes, et que sa forme a été simplifiée pour les besoins du dessin. La forme réelle de la bielle 19 apparaît distinctement à la figure 8. La forme des bielles principales est choisie comme représenté à la figure 7, pour que la position haute soit stable comme cela est connu de l'homme de l'art.

The operation of the device of the invention is as follows:

• when it is desired to move the frame 14 from the low position of FIG. 5 to the high position of FIG. 7, the actuator 24 is actuated. The active end 29 thereof acts on the two deformable parallelograms constituted by the pairs of main connecting rods 15, 16 and 17, 18 articulated between the frame 10 and the support assembly 12. This thus reaches the position illustrated in FIG. 6 in which the pairs of pivots l5a, 16a and 52.53 carried by the frame 10, are in the same plane as the respective joints 15b, 16b and 17b, 18b carried by the support assembly 12. The upward movement of the support assembly 12 then continues with the intervention of the connecting rod balancing 19, which forms deformable parallelograms with each of the pairs of main connecting rods. We thus arrive at the high position shown in FIG. 7. It will be noted that in FIGS. 5 to 7, the balancing rod 19 has been shown in mixed lines, and that its shape has been simplified for the purposes of the drawing. The actual shape of the connecting rod 19 appears clearly in FIG. 8. The shape of the main connecting rods is chosen as shown in FIG. 7, so that the high position is stable as is known to those skilled in the art.

The control members of the jack 24 have not been shown in the drawing, for the purpose of simplification. It suffices to provide at 24a a supply of hydraulic fluid, the circuit of which can advantageously be actuated by the vehicle battery.

The locking members which equip the frame 14 are not shown either, and are intended to cooperate with the vehicle body when the device is in the high position. Any suitable locking means can be used for this purpose, in particular of the quick-fixing type.

We see that the device of the invention as it has been described with reference to Figures 3 to 8 can be mounted without difficulty in the vehicle, as shown schematically in Figures 1 and 2, to meet all the needs mentioned in head of this description.

The invention has been illustrated and described above in its application to a vehicle of the ambulance type. Of course, the device of the invention can find application for loading objects into vehicles of any other type, for example to equip store trucks.

The subject of the invention is also vehicles equipped with at least one device of the type described, and in particular an ambulance equipped with two devices arranged inside the latter, providing there, at least in the high position, a central corridor. .

Claims (10)

1 _- . Charging device for vehicles, in particular for ambulances, essentially comprising a frame (10) mounted on a fixed post on the vehicle (1) and a support assembly (12) movable relative to the frame (10) and able to move between a low position (2) and a substantially horizontal high position (3), in the vicinity of a side wall of the vehicle, said device being characterized in that the connection between the frame (10) and the movable support assembly (12) is ensured by a system of connecting rods comprising at least three connecting rods (15,16 - 17,18 and 19) respectively mounted on the frame (10) at one of their ends, around pivots (15a, 16a, 52,53), two of said connecting rods (15,16 - 17,18) articulated on these pivots being called main connecting rods and comprising at their other ends articulations (15b, 16b, 17b, 18b) on the mobile support assembly (12), said articulations (15b, 16b, 17b, 18b) and pivots (15a, 16a, 52 and 53) forming the vertices of at least one premie r deformable parallelogram, the third connecting rod (19), or balancing rod, also being articulated at its two ends (19a, 19b) respectively on the frame (10) and on the mobile assembly (12), the configuration of the points articulation on the movable support and those of the pivots on the frame being such that, when the four vertices of the first parallelogram become substantially aligned, the balancing rod (19) forms with each of the main rods (15, 16, 17, 18) another parallelogram, and in that a control means (24) is interposed between the frame (10) and the mobile support assembly (12) to deform the first parallelogram from a position low, which is substantially horizontal and is in the vicinity of the vehicle floor (1) inside thereof, the other two parallelograms deforming themselves under the influence of the control means (24) up obtaining the desired high position. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the system of connecting rods comprises two main connecting rods and a balancing rod. 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in ceqje the system of rods comprises two pairs (15,16-17,18) of main rods and a balancing rod (19). 4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the pivot (19a) of the frame (10) receiving the balancing rod (19) is located above the plane containing the two pivots respectively receiving the two main rods. 5. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot (19a) of the frame (10) receiving the balancing rod (19) is located above the plane containing the four pivots (15a, 16a, 52, 53 ) of articulation on the frame (10). 6. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least two of the pivots (15a, 16a, 52, 53) are aligned in a substantially horizontal plane. 7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control means (24) is manual, pneumatic, hydraulic or other, and is preferably a hydraulic cylinder, in particular a single cylinder effect, which can be actuated by an electro-hydraulic group connected to the vehicle battery. 8. Device according to any one of the reven dications 1 to 7, characterized in that, in the high position, the device is immobilized by locking means carried by the vehicle body or the frame (10) of the device itself, said locking means cooperating with worn means by the support assembly (12) or by any other integral part thereof, for example a stretcher holder frame. 9. Vehicle, in particular an ambulance, comprising at least one loading device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said device being mounted inside the vehicle. 10. Vehicle according to claim 9, in particular an ambulance comprising two devices according to any one of claims 1 to 8, said devices being mounted inside the vehicle and along the side walls thereof, while providing, at less in the high position, a central corridor.

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