EP2065300A1 - Cantilever lift for a water vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

The platform has parallelogram shaped lifting unit provided for a liftable and lowerable platform (14), and attached at a watercraft by a flange bracket. The liftable and lowerable platform is linearly moved by a connecting head (12) of the lifting unit, and is held in a positive driven manner so that the liftable and lowerable platform is operated in succession of lifting and lowering of the lifting unit in a horizontal direction. A fixed gear rod (48) is provided between the flange bracket and the litable and lowerable platform.

Description

The invention relates to a tail lift for attachment to a watercraft, with a platform that can be raised and lowered and with a parallelogram hoist for the platform, wherein the hoist is attachable to the vessel via a Flanschkonsole. The term "tail lift" is intended to mean any generic device for lifting and lowering a platform on a watercraft. In this case, it would be particularly desirable for the platform to be liftable to a height level that corresponds, for example, to the deck level of the watercraft. Next, the platform in the raised state as possible be applied directly to the watercraft, so that no major gaps between the platform and watercraft are given. Also, it may be desirable if the walkable level the platform is substantially flush with the deck level of the vessel adapted.

Such a tail lift at a watercraft is known from DE 196 25 155 A1 , Another tail lift at a watercraft is known from US 4,627,377 ; However, it does not include a parallelogram hoist for the platform, but the platform is held by a further cylinder drive at each lifting height in a horizontal position.

With WO 2007/087736 A1 a motorized drive for shifting the platform has been proposed, which is arranged between the platform and the hoist. However, this is expensive and requires appropriate control of the drive, which is problematic especially in terms of reliability and also associated with a very high control effort, especially when hydraulic components of the hoist must be correlated with the motor drive for the platform.

The platform of a tail lift here in question can be lowerable in particular below the water surface. This allows the use of the tail lift or its platform as a bathing platform or it allows the launching or picking up a dinghy. In particular, when a tail lift is to be created, in which the platform can be lowered below the water surface, the structural problem arises in particular with motor boats that components of the tail lift collide with drive components of the watercraft. While the components of the hoist, in particular a two-sided parallelogrammförmige Hubwerksanordnung designed and in particular at the rear can be mounted so that they do not collide with drive components, this is more difficult in the extendable especially over the width of the vessel platform.

The present invention has for its object to address this problem.

This object is achieved by a tail lift of the generic type, which is characterized in that the platform is held linearly displaceable and so positively guided on a connection head of the hoist that it is forcibly moved in the horizontal direction in the course of the lifting and lowering movement of the hoist , On the one hand, in the raised state, the platform can at least be applied almost to the watercraft, and, on the other hand, it is possible to prevent collisions between the platform and the drive components of the watercraft when the platform is lowered.

Characterized in that according to the invention a mechanical forced operation of the platform is realized, so that the platform occupies a predetermined according to the level of the hoist displacement position in the horizontal direction, without motor components and controls should be provided for this purpose, a reliable training of the tail lift achieved. It can be ruled out that when lifting and lowering the platform collision situations occur with components of the vessel.

The tail lift is designed according to one embodiment, that the platform in the course of the lifting movement of the hoist with respect to the connection head in the direction of the Flange console, ie in the direction of the vessel, is moved. In the course of the lowering movement, the platform is moved in the opposite direction, that is to say in the aft direction, with reference to the connection head.

According to a first embodiment of the tail lift invention, a rigid, but at its ends pivotally hinged gear rod is provided between the flange and the platform platform, which moves the platform horizontally during the lifting movement of the hoist. The gear rod is preferably pivoted at its vehicle-side end directly to the flange of the tail lift. However, it would also be conceivable that it is attached with its vehicle-side end to the vessel itself, with the former solution being given preference, since in this case all components of the tail lift can be optimally matched to one another. The other platform-side end of the transmission rod is connected to the platform via another rotary joint, preferably with an end region of the platform facing the watercraft. The gear rod is hinged in an advantageous manner in this end region of the platform from below, ie to an underside of the platform, pivotally. There is advantageously provided from the bottom a few centimeters downwardly extending fastening tab on which the hinge is formed so that the rod when lowering the platform does not collide with components of the platform.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, a sprocket segment is provided on the platform-side end of the hoist, which is in engagement with a linearly and horizontally extended teeth in the platform and in the course of Lifting and lowering movement of the hoist or the platform rolls rolling against the teeth in the platform. As a result, the platform is forcibly guided in the horizontal direction. When lifting and lowering the platform thus the sprocket segment is moved relative to the toothing at the platform, so that in this way the platform is forcibly moved relative to the connection head.

It proves to be structurally advantageous if the sprocket segment is non-rotatable with a support arm of the hoist and so in the course of lifting and lowering movement of the hoist or platform performs a relative movement to the connection head. Preferably, the sprocket segment is rotatably formed with the lower arm of the hoist.

Advantageously, the sprocket segment is circular segment and arranged with its center in the pivot point between the lower arm of the hoist and connection head.

According to a third embodiment of the tail lift according to the invention a pivotable with the hoist link plate is provided with a guide slot between the flange and the platform side platform, in which engages a cam pin of the platform, thereby in the course of the lifting and lowering movement of the hoist, the platform in horizontal direction is forcibly moved. This embodiment proves to be particularly advantageous, as the course of the guide slot of the cam plate is largely freely designable and thus the specific circumstances executable. The link plate could in turn be articulated directly on the vehicle. However, it proves to be advantageous if they work directly with the Flange console is pivotally connected. According to a preferred embodiment of this variant of the invention, the link plate is hinged at one end to a vehicle-side pivot point of a support arm of the parallelogram hoist. Furthermore, it proves to be advantageous if the link plate at the other end, so on its side facing the platform, is articulated at a pivot point of the connection head to one of the support arms of the hoist.

As a particular advantage, it turns out, when the link plate is hinged to the vertical upper pivot point of the connection head to the upper arm of the hoist.

As already mentioned, it proves to be advantageous if the tail lift according to the invention comprises a two-sided parallelogram-shaped hoisting arrangement, preferably with a torsion beam connecting both sides.

According to a further inventive idea of particular importance, it proves to be advantageous if the respective lower support arm of the parallelogram hoist extends beyond the pivot point of the connection head to the lower support arm and is provided at a distance from the pivot point of the Torsionsträger. In this way, namely, a coupling of two parallelogrammförmiger hoists can be realized with each other, without the risk that the provided for this purpose Torsionsträger in the lowered state of the platform with drive components of the vessel collides. Namely, by the coupling of the two-sided parallelogram hoists or Hoisting parts can be an arrangement with only one power drive for the Hoist can be designed. In this case, the tail lift can then be formed, for example, with only a single lifting cylinder in one of the Hubwerksteile. At this point it should be mentioned that the drive for the hoist can be designed in any desired manner. It proves to be particularly advantageous if the hoist has at least one hydraulic cylinder (lifting cylinder), which is like the support arms of the respective parallelogram hoist advantageously hinged at one end pivotally on one end and attacks with its extendable piston rod at the other end on one of the support arms. Instead of a hydraulic drive and an electric motor actuator in the broadest sense or a mechanical or motor spindle drive can be used.

In a further embodiment of the tail lift according to the invention, it is proposed to form the platform with a vehicle-facing open-edged recess in order to be able to lower the platform via a Z drive of the watercraft. This proves to be advantageous in that the platform then has to be moved horizontally to a lesser extent. When lowering the platform of the Z-drive is received by the open-edged recess. As a result, an appealing design in the rear region of the vessel is achieved overall.

In a further development of this inventive concept, it proves to be advantageous if the recess with a plate-shaped component, preferably substantially flush with the surface is closed when the platform is raised above the Z drive. It proves to be particularly advantageous if the plate-shaped component as a flap is hinged to the platform, which opens automatically when lowering the platform in particular. In such a case, the platform offers a surface continuous appearance when raised. In a further development of the invention, the plate-shaped component in a ship's longitudinal direction and vertically extended cheeks are attached, which extend through the platform down and protect drive components of the vessel to the sides or shield when the platform is lowered.

In the tail lift invention, the platform forms a kind of slide, which is arranged horizontally displaceable relative to the hoist. For this purpose, it proves to be advantageous if the connection head for the platform at the platform-side end of the parallelogram hoist is designed as a slide carrier for the platform.

For this purpose, it is further proposed that the connection head comprises a plate oriented vertically with its plane, which engages with an upper edge portion from below into a guide rail on the platform.

This guide rail can advantageously comprise a metal profile strip, in particular an extruded profile strip, which has a downwardly open engagement slot for the connection head. This guide rail is suitably fastened against an underside of the platform, in particular bolted to the platform.

For the realization of the sliding it proves to be advantageous if at the upper edge portion of the connection head, preferably on both sides, sliding shoes are arranged, which are guided displaceably in the guide rail. The sliding shoes preferably comprise a plastic sliding material with tribologically suitable properties.

The platform itself advantageously comprises a hollow chamber structure made of hollow profile strips, in particular extruded profile parts. Advantageously, this hollow chamber structure is overlapped by a plastic plate forming the upper visible side of the platform, wherein the plastic plate preferably extends downwards on the sides and thus conceals the horizontally displaceable arrangement of the platform on the lifting mechanism against inspection.

Figur 1

eine erste Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Hubladebühne mit einer starren Getriebestange zur zwangsgeführten Verschiebung der Plattform;

Figur 2

eine zweite Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Hubladebühne mit einem Zahnkranz zur zwangsgeführten Verschiebung der Plattform;

Figur 3

eine dritte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Hubladebühne mit einer Kulissenführung zur zwangsgeführten Verschiebung der Plattform;

Figur 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Hubladebühne (zur Verdeutlichung der Ausbildung des Anschlusskopfs ohne Plattform);

Figur 5

eine Schnittansicht durch Anschlusskopf und Plattform zur Verdeutlichung der horizontal verschiebbaren Anordnung von Plattform und Anschlusskopf;

Figur 6 a,b

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Hubladebühne im angehobenen und abgesenkten Zustand

Figur 7

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Hubladebühne von unten:

Figur 8

eine Seitenansicht eines Wasserfahrzeugs mit erfindungsgemäßer Hubladebühne im angehobenen Zustand und

Figur 9

eine Figur 8 entsprechende Ansicht des Wasserfahrzeugs mit abgesenkter Hubladebühne.

Further advantages, details and features of the tail lift according to the invention will become apparent from the appended claims and from the drawings and the following description of advantageous embodiments of the invention. In the drawing shows:

FIG. 1

a first embodiment of the tail lift according to the invention with a rigid gear rod for positively guided displacement of the platform;

FIG. 2

a second embodiment of the tail lift according to the invention with a sprocket for positively guided displacement of the platform;

FIG. 3

a third embodiment of the tail lift according to the invention with a slide guide for positively driven displacement of the platform;

FIG. 4

a perspective view of the tail lift (to illustrate the formation of the connection head without platform);

FIG. 5

a sectional view through the connection head and platform to illustrate the horizontally displaceable arrangement of platform and connection head;

Figure 6 a, b

a perspective view of the tail lift in the raised and lowered state

FIG. 7

a perspective view of the tail lift from below:

FIG. 8

a side view of a watercraft with inventive tail lift in the raised state and

FIG. 9

a FIG. 8 corresponding view of the vessel with lowered tail lift.

The figures show a tail lift for attachment to a watercraft, in particular to a motorboat, typically for attachment to the stern of the watercraft. FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of such generally designated by the reference numeral 2 tail lift. This comprises a two-sided parallelogram hoist 4, the two sides are connected to each other by means of a torsion tube 6. The parallelogram hoist 4 comprises an upper support arm 8 and a lower support arm 10, which form the horizontal parallel struts. The platform-side vertical parallelogram strut is formed by a connecting head 12 to be described in more detail, which then opens also to be described manner in FIG. 4 not shown platform 14 (see FIG. 6a ) holds. The respective hoist 4 is attached via a Flanschkonsole 16 to the watercraft 24.

The FIGS. 6a, 6b and 7 show further perspective views of the tail lift 2, wherein FIG. 6a the raised state and FIG. 6b the lowered state of the tail lift 2, and the platform 14 represents. From the perspective view from below according to FIG. 7 It can be seen that the respective connection head 12 (left and right) of the two hoisting gear parts 4 engages in a arranged on the bottom 18 of the platform 14 guide rail 20. The platform 14 is namely forcibly guided in a manner to be described in more detail relative to the lifting mechanism 4 or the connection head 12 in the horizontal direction 22. Depending on the stroke position of the hoist 4, the platform 14 assumes a certain horizontal position to the connection head 12 or to the hoist 4 of the tail lift 2 by a forced guidance arrangement to be described in more detail.

Finally, the clarify FIGS. 8 and 9 the arrangement of the tail lift 2 at a rear end of a watercraft 24, in the raised or lowered state. The watercraft 24 is formed by way of example with a stern drive projecting aft Z-drive 25.

The displaceable arrangement of the platform 14 on the two-sided connection head 12 of the lifting mechanism 4 illustrates the sectional view according to FIG. 5 , which initially also with reference to the FIGS. 4 and 7 The platform 14 comprises a hollow chamber structure made of a plurality of light metal hollow profile strips 26, which is covered by an upper side of the platform 14 forming plastic plate 28. On the underside 18 of the platform 14, as already mentioned, a guide rail 20 is fixed on both sides, by a screw connection. For this purpose, a pressure distribution piece 30 with an opening for a screw 31, which is inserted into the hollow chamber structure, is preferably provided in the abutting area of two adjoining hollow compartment profile strips 26. The screw 31 is then screwed into a threaded portion 32 in the guide rail 20 to fix them from below against the hollow chamber structure. The guide rail 20 comprises on its underside a slot-shaped opening 33 through which the connection head 12 engages with an upper edge portion 34. The respective connection head 12 comprises a plate 36 which is oriented vertically with its plane and which has a sliding shoe 38 on its upper edge section 34 on both sides. By means of these sliding shoes 38, the plate 36 in the guide rail 20 in the horizontal direction 22 is displaceable or in other words: the platform 14 can be against the plate 36, that is, compared to the connection head 12 of the hoist 4, in the horizontal direction 22 back and forth move. In FIG. 5 Also openings 40, 42 in the plate 36 and in the connection head 12 are shown. About these openings 40, 42, the plate 36 and the connection head 12 is pivotally connected in an upper hinge point 44 with the upper support arm 8 and in a lower hinge point 46 with the lower support arm 10.

FIG. 1 illustrates a first embodiment of the positively driven linearly displaceable arrangement of the platform 14. For this purpose, between the platform 14 and the Flanschkonsole 16, by means of which the tail lift 2 can be attached to a watercraft 24, a rigid Gear rod 48 is provided (see also FIG. 7 ). The gear rod 48 is pivotally mounted on the flange bracket 16 via a pivot 50 in a vertical plane. The other end of the transmission rod 48 is also pivotally connected to a vehicle-facing portion of the platform 14. For this purpose, the platform 14 on one of its underside 18 downwardly projecting tab 52. The tab 52 and the distance of the pivot point from the bottom and from the vehicle-facing edge of the platform 14 is formed such that the gear rod 48 does not collide with the lowering of the hoist 4 with the platform 14, but the platform in the in FIG. 1 Lower position shown below can be lowered.

When lifting and lowering the hoist 4 or the platform 14, the platform 14 is displaced positively against the connection head 12 in the horizontal direction 22. This is indicated by the hatched area 54 in FIG FIG. 1 indicated. As a result of the arrangement of the rigid transmission rod 48, the platform 14 is moved away from the watercraft 24 during lowering with respect to the connection head 12. As a result of this, an increase in the distance of the vehicle-facing edge 56 of the platform 14 from the rear end of the watercraft is initially achieved in the course of the lowering, whereby a collision of the platform 14 with drive components of the watercraft 24 is counteracted. However, one recognizes FIG. 1 in that in the course of the lowering each point of the platform 14 moves as a result of the positive guidance by the rigid gear rod 48 on a circular path about the vehicle-side pivot point (swivel joint 50) of the rigid gear rod 48. Thus, the circular path 58 indicates the movement of the pivot point of the gear rod 48 to the tab 52 of the platform 14. The circular path 60, however, gives the movement of the upper pivot point 44 between the connection head 12 and upper support arm 8 of the parallelogram hoist 4, which represents a circular movement about the vehicle-side hinge point of the upper support arm 8. In the course of the lifting and lowering movement, the platform 14 by means of in FIG. 5 shown and previously described Gleitführungsanordnung relative to the upper edge portion 34 of the connection head 12 and the sliding blocks provided there 38 horizontally displaced while lowering the platform 14 in the aft direction 62 and when lifting the platform 14 in the forward direction 64, mind each with respect to the connection head 12th , which is indeed pivoted as part of the parallelogram hoist (platform-side vertical parallelogram) itself.

FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the tail lift according to the invention 2. Here, a circular segment-shaped sprocket segment 66 is provided at the platform-side end of the hoist 4, which is in a linear and horizontal direction 22 arranged teeth 68 in the platform 14 into engagement. In the course of the lifting and lowering movement of the hoist 4 or the platform 14 meshes the sprocket segment 66 with the linear toothing 68, and it is the platform 14 thereby forcibly guided in the horizontal direction 22 relative to the connection head 12. The sprocket segment 66 is arranged with its center point 70 in the example shown in the lower hinge point 46 between the connection head 12 and lower support arm 10. The sprocket segment 66 is, however, rotatably formed with the lower support arm 10 (but not with the connection head 12). In this way, a rolling movement of the sprocket segment 66 relative to the connection head 12 and thus with respect to the linear toothing 68 takes place at the platform 14, whereby the platform 14 when lowering the hoist 4 turn in aft direction 62 and when lifting in the forward direction 64 relative to the terminal head 12 is moved.

Finally shows FIG. 3 a third embodiment of the tail lift 2 according to the invention, wherein the positively driven horizontal displaceability of the platform 14 in dependence on the position of the lifting mechanism 4 is realized by a slotted guide between the platform 14 and a link plate 72. The link plate 72 is how out FIG. 3 can be seen, with its plane oriented vertically and pivotally mounted on the one hand on the vehicle-side upper hinge point 74 of the upper arm 8 to Flanschkonsole 16 and to a provided within the Flanschkonsole 16 vehicle side short strut of the parallelogram hoist 4. At the other end, the link plate 72 is pivoted to the upper hinge point 44 between the connection head 12 and the upper support arm 8. It should be noted that the cam plate 72 could also be pivoted on a vehicle-side lower hinge point 76 and the platform-side lower hinge point 46 or at other points of the upper or lower support arm 8, 10. The guide plate 72 further has a guide slot 78, in which a guide pin 79 engages, which starts from a vehicle-facing edge region 56 of the platform 14 and extends in the direction of the pivot axes. In this way, the movement of the platform 14 is predetermined as a function of the lifting position of the hoist 4. In the course of lifting and lowering the platform 14, the guide pin 79 passes through the guide slot 78, and the platform 14 is between the in FIG. 3 shown horizontal end positions with respect to the connection head 12, in turn when lowering the platform 14 in the aft direction 62 and when lifting the platform 14 in the forward direction 64 relative to the connection head 12th

In all embodiments, the lifting and lowering movement of the hoist 4 is carried out by a lifting cylinder 80 which is hinged at one end on the vehicle side in the case exemplified in the upper hinge point 74 of the upper arm 8 and the other end at a pivot point 82 on the lower arm 10 pivotally.

One recognizes FIGS. 6a, b in that the platform 14 has a vehicle-facing open-edged recess 84 in order to be lowered by means of a Z-drive 25 of the watercraft 24. How out FIGS. 8 and 9 it can be seen that this recess 84 is preferably closed flush by a plate-shaped component 86. The component 86 is articulated in the manner of a flap on the platform 14, which opens automatically when the platform is lowered over the Z-drive 25 or automatically closes again when the platform is raised again. The plate-shaped member 86 also has extended in a ship's longitudinal direction cheeks 88, which extend through the platform 14 down through and protect drive components of the vessel to the sides.

Claims (15)

Tail lift (2) for attachment to a watercraft (24), with a platform (14) which can be raised and lowered and with a parallelogram hoist (4) for the platform (14), the hoist (4) being connected via a flange console (16 ) to the watercraft (24) is attachable, characterized in that the platform (14) on a connection head (12) of the lifting mechanism (4) is linearly displaceable and held such positive guided that they in the course of the lifting and lowering movement of the hoist ( 4) is forcibly moved in the horizontal direction (22). Loading tailgate according to claim 1, characterized in that the platform (14) in the course of lifting the hoist (4) with respect to the connection head (12) in the direction of the Flanschkonsole (16) is moved and that the platform (14) in the course the lowering of the lifting mechanism (4) with respect to the connection head (12) of the Flanschkonsole (16) is moved away. Loading tailgate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the flange (16) and the platform (14) a rigid, but at their ends pivotally hinged gear rod (48) is provided which the platform (14) at the hub - And lowering movement of the hoist (4) moves horizontally. Loading tailgate according to claim 1, characterized in that at the platform-side end of the hoist (4) a sprocket segment (66) is provided which with a linearly and horizontally extended toothing (68) in the platform (14) is engaged and in the course of the stroke - and lowering movement of the lifting mechanism (4) or the platform (14) against the toothing (68) at the platform (14) rolling unrolls and thereby the platform (14) in the horizontal direction (22) is forcibly moved. Loading tailgate according to claim 4, characterized in that the ring gear segment (66) is non-rotatable with a support arm (8, 10) of the hoist (4) and so in the course of lifting and lowering movement of the hoist (4) or the platform (14). performs a horizontal movement relative to the connection head (12). Loading tailgate according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the sprocket segment (66) is circular segment-shaped and with its center (70) in the pivot point (46) between the lower support arm (10) of the hoist (4) and connection head (12) is arranged. Loading tailgate according to claim 1, characterized in that between the Flanschkonsole (16) and the platform-side end of the hoist (4) a pivotable with the lifting link plate (72) with a guide slot (78) is provided, in which a guide pin (79) of Platform (14) engages and thereby in the course of the lifting and lowering movement of the hoist (4) the platform (14) in the horizontal direction (22) is forcibly moved. Loading tailgate according to claim 7, characterized in that the link plate (72) at one end to a vehicle-side pivot point (74) of a support arm (8) of the parallelogram hoist (4) and the other end at a pivot point (44) of the connection head (12) to one of the support arms (8) of the lifting mechanism (4) is articulated. Loading tailgate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by a two-sided parallelogram hoist arrangement with a torsion beam (6) connecting both sides. Loading tailgate according to claim 9, characterized in that the respective lower support arm (10) of the parallelogram hoist (4) extends beyond the pivot point (46) between the connection head (12) lower support arm (10) and at a distance therefrom the Torsionsträger (6 ) is provided. Loading tailgate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the platform (14) has a vehicle-facing open-edged recess (84) to be lowered via a Z-drive (25) of the watercraft (24). Loading tailgate according to claim 11, characterized in that the recess (84) with a plate-shaped member (86), preferably substantially flush mounted, when the platform (14) via the Z-drive (25) is raised. Loading tailgate according to claim 12, characterized in that the plate-shaped member (86) is articulated like a flap on the platform (14), which in particular automatically opens when lowering the platform (14). Loading tailgate according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection head (12) for the platform (14) at the platform-side end of the parallelogram hoist (4) is designed as a slide carrier for the platform. Loading tailgate according to claim 14, characterized in that the connection head (12) comprises a vertically oriented plate with its plane (36) which engages with an upper edge portion (34) from below into a guide rail (20) on the platform (14).

Images