EP2197405A1

EP2197405A1 - Motor vehicle having a lateral loading device

Info

Publication number: EP2197405A1
Application number: EP08803459A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Johannes Senft
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-09-03
Filing date: 2008-09-01
Publication date: 2010-06-23
Also published as: WO2009030656A1; DE102007041633B3

Abstract

The invention relates to a device on a motor vehicle (9) comprising a base (41) that may be raised and lowered, a telescoping rail (11) disposed in the rear region of the roof as viewed in the vehicle direction, and an additional telescoping rail (2), wherein both telescoping rails are connected to the base (41) and are attached by the outer ends thereof to a side door (3) of the motor vehicle (9), and guiding the same, and a method for loading a motor vehicle (9) by means of the device described herein.

Description

Motor vehicle with lateral loading device

The invention relates to a motor vehicle with lateral loading device, especially for bulky loads and for the disabled. Specifically, the invention further relates to a device as retrofitting of commercial automobiles, wherein a possibility for lateral entry and a sitting position is also created in the driver's position / front passenger for wheelchair users and handicapped people.

To enter or load a vehicle, at least one door must always be opened. In particular, for stability reasons (impact protection), the shape of this door is not arbitrary. Wheelchair users or goods carriers require wide doorways to enter or load the vehicle.

The usual, laterally hinged, with hinges attached to the body side doors are unsuitable because they obstruct movements parallel to the direction of travel of the car and block either forward or backward and thus complicate access.

Special loading devices and entry devices for the disabled in automobiles are known. These include in particular the possibilities of lateral access or access from the rear of the vehicle:

A side access has the advantage that a wheelchair user can get to a sitting position, including the driver's position, on a short way without much maneuvering. Similarly, a lateral loading device is particularly suitable for loading automobiles with bulky or bulky goods, especially for such Automobiles, where no adequate loading option from the rear side is available, as with the usual sedans.

Side sliding doors, which are used for example in so-called vans or vans, are usually moved parallel to the rear, whereby they are initially offset to the outside. Such sliding doors are known for example from DE 103 27 982 Al. The door width and the necessary distance to the body reduce the width of the driveway from the rear, ie in the direction of travel of the automobile. Especially with narrow sidewalks, this construction is therefore unfavorable. The possibility to store a side door on a swivel arm (patent application DE 1 174 183 B), requires additional space on the side of the vehicle and is therefore problematic. The use of two arms does not improve this tense space situation (pivotable door mounted on two cantilevers, DE 38 05 192 A1).

For laterally mounted hinged doors (hinged doors), the manhole is completely opened by swiveling the door upwards. Such gullwing doors are known, for example, from DE 10 2005 021 333 A1. The disadvantage of such constructions is the required reinforcement for the hinges in the roof area, which must absorb considerable forces both when opening and closing and in particular in the event of impact, and the additional space required when swiveling both to the sides and up, for example, in Underground parking can be problematic. A similar solution are around horizontal axes perpendicular to the direction of rotation rotatable doors, for example, a hinge in the lower front door area according to the patent DE 196 39 663 B4, here is also given by the turning up an additional need for clear height. In both cases, the hinge structures protrude into the interior of the vehicle, this can be both for boarding and for loading to be a hindrance.

From the patent DE 851 737 B a perpendicular to the vehicle longitudinal axis telescopic door is known, wherein the telescope engages in the middle of the door. It is therefore a burden in the way, as it narrows the available space. From the patent DE 887 743 B the same applicant is known as a development parallel to the closed position opening door for an automobile in which the door is moved by means of a centrally mounted on the door telescopic guide and the connection of the door and telescope a rotary motion about a vertical Axle allowed, each one of the openings enlarged and the other is reduced in size. Accessibility is not improved by this design, since only an oblique access is possible.

To load bulky goods or to drive on a wheelchair, a minimum height of the door opening is required, for example, the one who

Wheelchair user needed to retire seated in an automobile. This depends on the degree of disability, the height of the wheelchair and the height of the person

Wheelchair user. Furthermore, in the vehicle sufficient headroom on the

Stand of the wheelchair needed. As for the loading height or entrance height, the distance in the door cutout between the lower edge of the roof and the upper edge of the door

Threshold is limited, come without changing the body then only vehicles from the size of a pickup truck or minivan (eg VW bus, Kia

Carnival, etc.) are used. Because of their size and limited clarity, however, the maneuvering of these vehicles is particularly difficult for older people.

To extend the entry height, the possibility has already been used in various vans and vans to partially cut out the frame limiting the side entrance (door sills). This results as Disadvantage of a collision-accident situation from the rear or from the side, that the Türsch weller is weakened as a always directly involved in the deformation frame part by a section. In the event of an accident with a side impact, the vehicle deforms until a part behind it breaks down the force due to its deformation. This is usually in these vehicles then the vehicle floor on which the seats are mounted. Even with a stronger frontal or rear impact, the force lines of the entry energy extend to the interrupted door sill area, which is weakened and can absorb less energy. The remaining energy is distributed over the rest of the vehicle and must be absorbed there. In any case, there is an unfavorably modified impact behavior compared to the unmodified vehicle. Even during normal driving, the original vehicle structure must absorb additional torsional and bending forces, which otherwise absorbed the Türsch weller. Whether all forces acting on such a conversion are mastered, has not yet been fully investigated.

Vehicles in which e.g. a wheelchair (with a passenger) is required, need a suitable stand height with sufficient headroom on which a wheelchair user can sit comfortably. Therefore, not only the Türsch weller is usually removed, but also lowered the vehicle floor. On the other hand, however, this floor must absorb the twisting forces which are already created during normal driving by removing the door sill. For this purpose, the vehicle floor is, for example doubled or stiffened by welded profiles. For a given ground clearance, reinforcement must be provided inside the vehicle, but there is insufficient vehicle interior height available in the passenger car compact class.

If a wheelchair is to be transported through a low predetermined entry height, it can be changed in height, for example, according to the disclosure The wheelchair seat can be separated from the underframe, and only the wheelchair seat is transferred to the vehicle on a turntable console. The wheelchair seat has a lower overall height than the entire wheelchair and can both be carried into the vehicle and also be locked in place. The trolley with the wheels (wheelchair base) must be loaded separately.

From the utility model DE 299 04874 Ul a device is known in which the complete wheelchair is raised on a frame from the ground. The wheels of the wheelchair are removed by a quick release. A similar construction is also known from the patent DE 69707917 T2 (EP 0954271 Bl). An embodiment in which the wheels are not removed, but folded under the wheelchair, is known from the patent US 4,483,653 A. A major disadvantage of all these systems is the required separation of the seat and wheels or undercarriage in the wheelchair, these systems require specially adapted wheelchairs, which are less suitable for normal use. If, for reasons of convenience or for therapeutic reasons, another model of a wheelchair is needed, this separable system can often no longer be used. In the separation of seat and base usually considerable help by a companion when loading the vehicle is required. The loading also requires time in which a disabled person is unnecessarily exposed to the weather.

For loading or entering with a wheelchair or dolly into a vehicle, the height difference from the ground to the level of the vehicle floor must be overcome.

It is known to use a lift for this purpose, which raises a wheelchair parallel to the ground in order to drive over the threshold in a vehicle can, for example, from the utility model DE 85 32 380 Ul and the patent application DE 38 20 339 A1. If the lift is mounted in the rear area (ie in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle) it is necessary to move or remove all seats in the access area of the wheelchair as the wheelchair must be pushed inside the vehicle to its stand. When attaching the lift laterally (transversely to the direction of travel), the wheelchair enters the wheel on its wheels also laterally to the later stand. It must therefore be ranked within the vehicle, this is awkward and requires the elimination of seats. Another disadvantage is that the lift can only raise and lower linearly outside the vehicle.

From the utility model DE 297 07 633 Ul a pivoting lift is known, in which all pivoting and lifting functions are performed via a column tube. If the wheelchair is to be in the correct position (forward) in the vehicle, it is necessary to drive the lift in the reverse direction. Furthermore, there is considerable space, since the lift requires a minimum distance from the column for swinging.

The well-known from the utility model DE 29707631 Ul underbody lift requires a vehicle with high ground clearance, since platform and pivoting frame are stowed under the vehicle floor; here too, pivoting the wheelchair as it retracts turns 90 ^° , which requires maneuvering within the vehicle or driving the platform with the wheelchair in the backward direction.

If one uses inclined ramps for retracting the wheelchair in the vehicle (see DE 20 2004 002 343 Ul and DE 202 09 257 Ul for buses and trains, DE 35 40 866 Al for small and ambulance, DE 90 07 604 Ul in conjunction with rear lowerable vans) so only a retraction through the rear door is possible for reasons of space in passenger cars. This requires, as stated above, a maneuvering within the vehicle, to which seats are added or removed have to. If the interior floor of the vehicle is leveled to improve the possibility of shunting, the floor reinforcements and structures are removed for this purpose, and the impact behavior of the vehicle is thereby worsened.

In the case of a side driveway, as with the variant with swiveling platforms, the entry direction of the wheelchair is at right angles to the direction of travel of the vehicle. Turning inside the vehicle requires additional space. The disadvantage of all inclined ramps is generally the effort with which the driveway must be overcome.

From the patent EP 0 814 971 B1 it is known to make the vehicle floor lowerable in order to reach the vehicle at ground level. Although this allows an optimal entry height without disturbing door sill, the removal of the floor, however, leads to an unacceptable weakening of the structure of the passenger compartment. The impact of an accident could result in problems with the registration for road traffic.

When using a lift, it is common to load the load at the level of the vehicle floor, so evenly. For this it is necessary either to have large entrance openings available, this requires a high base vehicle, or the door sill must be removed, this leads to a loss of stability of the passenger compartment. If a door sill remains in the loading area, the lift will indeed raise to this level (loading sill), but the wheelchair user must reach the lowered (comfortable) parking space via a step behind the door sill into the interior of the vehicle. For safety reasons, the wheelchair must continue to be oriented forward in the direction of travel. When entering the vehicle from the side, the positioning is done regularly by multiple maneuvering into the correct position. Especially in compact vehicles However, there is not enough space to maneuver in the wheelchair space.

At least the following distance is required to enter a wheelchair into a vehicle: Rear entrance with sloping ramp: Ramp + wheelchair access, approx. 2.5 m

Rear entrance with lift in the transporter: lift + wheelchair access, approx. 2.5 m side entry with lift: lift + wheelchair access, approx. 2.5 m side entrance with ramp: ramp + wheelchair access, approx. 2.5 m

It follows that even with disabled parking, which must have a lateral movement area of 1.50 m in the Federal Republic of Germany according to DIN 18024, Part 2, Section 4.3, the loading can be difficult. With conventional dimensions of parking spaces for the disabled with 5.00 m length and 3.50 m width, the side entry systems described above are not suitable. In the case of rear entrances, the entrances and exits always take place in the direction of the traffic areas, whereby there is a potential risk to the wheelchair user and / or the escort due to the flowing traffic. The access to an automobile with a lift or ramp requires a sufficiently large loading space, which is usually greater than the Mindestbewegungsf pool of 1.50 m according to DIN 18024.

It is therefore an object to provide an opportunity to invite wheelchair users with the greatest possible comfort, largely unrestricted entry and parking space height, with conventional wheelchair types can be used without weakening the stability of the passenger compartment. The entry of the wheelchair should be done ergonomically correct, ie in the intended direction without the need for maneuvering.

This object is achieved with the apparatus described below. The invention relates to a device on a motor vehicle comprising a liftable and lowerable floor, a telescopic rail, which is arranged in the rear of the roof seen in the vehicle direction, and a further telescopic rail, wherein both telescopic rails are directly or indirectly connected to the floor of the motor vehicle and are attached with their outwardly directed ends to a side door of the motor vehicle and lead them. For static reasons, a support frame in height of the vehicle roof can be additionally arranged on the outwardly or inwardly facing side of the roof.

The invention is explained by the drawings. It shows

Fig. 1 is a plan view from above of a vehicle with open passenger door and extended rear side door together with the floor, and

Fig. 2 shows a section along the determined by the line II-II vertical plane through the motor vehicle shown in Fig. 1 with the ground in the extended, raised position.

In this case, in Fig. 1, an embodiment with a telescopic rail 11 fixed in the region of the roof 91 of the motor vehicle 9 and a telescopic rail 2 fixed in

Bottom area shown, of the two B-pillars 411 and 412, the column 412 made movable and connected together with the left rear side door 34 with the door-side end 111 of the telescopic rail 11 and extended. The

Connection between the telescopic rail 11 at its door-side end 111 via the B-pillar 412 to the bottom 41 is referred to as "indirect connection". The floor

41 is lowered to the bottom next to the vehicle for driving with a

Wheelchair from behind. The passenger door 32 is open and provides protection from the front. In a further embodiment of the device, at least part of the door sill 301, namely preferably the part acting as a screen, can be connected to the side door 3 with the door-side end 111 or 201 at least one of the two telescopic rails 11 and 2.

In a further preferred embodiment of the device, the telescopic rail 2 is mounted in the lower region of the motor vehicle 9, as shown in FIG. This Fig. 2 is a section along the plane defined by the line II-II perpendicular to the vehicle intersecting plane. However, it is also possible according to the invention that both telescopic rails 2 and 11 are arranged in the roof area of the motor vehicle 9.

It is further preferred to guide the telescopic rails 11, 2 in unillustrated housings 112, 22, wherein these housings can also be designed in the form of a common housing in the case of the attachment of both telescopic rails in the roof area.

The side door 3 may be the rear side door 34 or the passenger door 32. In right-hand drive vehicles, of course, the left rear door or the left front door is connected to the extendable floor and the telescopic rails. The description should then be read in reverse order. However, it is also equally possible to extend the driver's door or the door behind the driver's door, bringing the wheelchair user into the driver's position of the motor vehicle.

It is also possible, both side doors 32 and 34 or the corresponding doors on the left side of the motor vehicle together with the interposed B-pillar 412 and optionally parts of the door sill, namely preferably as Screen acting part, and optionally parts of the roof in the area of said side doors using the telescopic rails 2 and 11 extend laterally.

If both side doors on a vehicle side by means of telescopic rails extendable equipped, it is preferable to leave at least one of the two side doors in their original frame (with the original fitting, hinges, handle and lock) and instead of only the door the door to move sideways together with its frame. In this way it is possible alternatively to extend both doors together and thereby create a particularly large opening, or extend only one of the two consecutive doors and open the other in the conventional manner.

The entry height is determined upward by the support frame 1, which is preferably arranged above the vehicle roof 91. In vehicles with sufficient height or for design reasons, it can also run in the interior of the vehicle.

The support frame 1 reinforces the structure of the passenger compartment, which can therefore be conveniently extended in the door 3 upwards. By an increased arrangement of the support frame above the roof, the entry height can be increased in the door area. The support frame 1 serves as a base support for the attached in the roof area in the roof area telescopic rail 11, which is laterally, so transversely to the vehicle 9, extendable.

The unit comprising a door 3, both the door leading telescopic rails 11 and 2 and a bottom 41, hereinafter referred to as portal 4. The floor 41 is raised and lowered, it is lowered in the sitting position in the interior of the motor vehicle on the inner floor, before the extension, he is raised so far, that it can be moved over the sill, after unlocking the portal, the door 3 are moved together with the bottom 41 on the telescopic rails to the outside, and in the extended position, the bottom 41 can be lowered so far that the bottom 41 at the street level can rest next to the vehicle and so makes driving on a wheelchair or a truck such as a sack truck readily possible. At a preferred extension of about 1 m from the vehicle outer wall so a sufficiently wide entrance is opened.

The floor 41 is approached when driving with a wheelchair preferably from behind (in the direction of the motor vehicle), in this way, the wheelchair user can always observe his path. The easy driving in the direction of travel is made possible by the fact that at least the rear seen from the motor vehicle telescopic rail is mounted above, so at the level of the motor vehicle roof. If both telescopic rails are mounted at the top, it is also possible to drive the wheelchair in the forward direction (direction of travel of the motor vehicle) when leaving the motor vehicle. If the front telescopic rail is mounted at the bottom, it is difficult to extend in the forward direction, however, for a wheelchair user, the extension to the rear (seen in the direction of travel) is less problematic, since no exact maneuvering is necessary here as when entering.

With the device according to the invention is achieved as a significant advantage that after driving on the wheelchair or after loading by stopping the load to be transported to the parallel to the vehicle shifted floor 41 no longer needs to be ranked. The wheelchair is, as soon as it arrives on the floor 41, without further action in the correct direction. After securing the wheelchair or the load on the floor 41 this is raised to something beyond the level of the top edge of the door sill out (if this is not moved in one of the preferred embodiments). The securing and fixing of the wheelchair or the load on the designated space on the floor 41 can be outside the vehicle, before the entry or loading process, so with favorable accessibility. Thereafter, the floor 41 together with the door 3 is pulled into the interior of the motor vehicle on the telescopic rails, after reaching the end position, the bottom 41 is lowered back to the height of the vehicle interior floor. Thus wheelchair space achieves the maximum headroom.

As an advantage, in particular in the case of the device according to the invention, the lateral vehicle structure in the lower frame region, that is to say in the region of the door sills, can be designed as strong as desired. This is particularly important for the rigidity of the passenger compartment in the event of a rear-end collision or side impact.

If the entry height must be increased by an extension of the door opening, the concomitant change in the roof structure is compensated structurally favorable by the then arranged elevated support frame 1. In the event of an accident, a continuous door sill reinforcement and the support frame 1 arranged in the roof area assume the task of lateral ramming protection and the crumple zone. The entire vehicle structure is not weakened, but possibly even reinforced.

Another object of the invention is a method for loading a

Motor vehicle having a device according to the invention, comprising the

Steps: a raising of the floor 41 in the interior of the motor vehicle to a height exceeding the highest point in the entry area of a door through the

Bottom 41 allows, b horizontal extension of the bottom 41 to a position outside the motor vehicle by means of the telescopic rails 2 and 11, c Lowering of the floor 4 on the ground next to the motor vehicle, d loading of the floor 41 and fixing the load on the floor 41, e lifting the floor 41 to a height as in step a, f retracting the floor 41 in the motor vehicle 9 and lowering within the motor vehicle 9 to the rest position corresponding to the determined by the bottom plate of the motor vehicle 9 lower stop.

The wheelchair is already aligned when driving on the acting as a lift floor 41 in the correct driving position. It is therefore not necessary to maneuver the vehicle interior. Due to the compact dimensions, a closer, better care of the wheelchair passenger during the invitation process is possible. The wheelchair passenger is only about 35 cm raised in the compact car, rather than about 60 cm at a (small) van. It is thereby faster loading (favorable in bad weather) possible, and a better stability of the entire construction as well as a safer feeling achieved by the lower increase.

The wheelchair user is on the one hand laterally protected by the vehicle, on the other hand by the extended portal and - in the case shown in FIG. 1, by the unfolded front passenger door. This gives a very safe impression when lifting the floor 41, as the uncertain "floating" is avoided. If the wheelchair is raised on the floor 41, it can be secured by the attendant in an ergonomically favorable position for the ride. It is alternatively possible, after driving on the floor 41 to provide a preferably automatic backup. In this case, the bottom 41 may be provided with appropriate suitable securing means, for example, brackets that engage the frame of the wheelchair, or the wheels of the wheelchair enclosing curved tabs. These securing means are preferably designed so that the wheelchair is secured in its intended position before entering the motor vehicle 9 on the floor 41 and the Step of retraction by a controller is first released ("automatic backup") when the backup is done.

After fixation of the wheelchair or other load on the floor 41 this is retracted into the motor vehicle and lowered after completion of entry to the level of the vehicle interior and there preferably fixed non-positively, in particular with a fixed to the bottom 41 locking lock, not shown in the figure is.

The driveway with a wheelchair to the ground 41 in the direction of travel from behind is not hindered by the telescopic rail 11 arranged above the entrance. The entire charging process takes place quickly, and - in particular by the preferably also open door 32 as shown in FIG. 1 - protected against the weather and privacy and inconspicuous.

According to the invention, it is possible to drive a compact car on a wheelchair sitting. Compared to vans, vans or minivans less fuel is needed, the vehicles are clear and it is required a smaller parking lot size. The space required in addition to the loading corresponds to that of a normal opening front door. Compared to vehicles with rear entry for the wheelchair user is the communication and a possible care of the wheelchair user while driving is considerably cheaper. With the known additional aids (for the operation of gas and brake), the device according to the invention can also be used for self-propelled, while the wheelchair is fixed to the driver's position. The fixation of the wheelchair in the passenger or driver position also allows the use of the seats on the rear seat. Instead of the wheelchair, a normal seat can alternatively be offered as a change-over seat. A further increase in the interior in the area of the wheelchair space can be done by raising the roof area. It is also possible to provide various aids for the controlled or automatic operation during loading and unloading and when completing the motor vehicle. Such controls may preferably cooperate with electrical, hydraulic or pneumatic actuating means and be operated by the wheelchair user himself or assistants. Optionally, an additional weather protection can also be offered during the charging process.

The entrance to the vehicle is parallel, laterally to the open vehicle. The required space for using the device according to the invention space requirements depends on the extended portal 4. The extended portal 4 requires parallel to the vehicle an additional width of about 120 cm. If the front vehicle door 32 according to FIG. 1 can be completely swung open, the portal 4 can also extend completely. With a width of about 140 cm for a normal sidewalk so ample space is available.

The device according to the invention is of course equally applicable to the loading of an automobile with bulky and bulky goods.

The device described is particularly suitable for retrofitting existing vehicles, but it is of course possible to include this device in the design and layout of a new vehicle type and provide as an option.

Claims

claims

1. A device on a motor vehicle (9) for side loading a wheelchair user or bulky loads, comprising a liftable and lowerable floor (41), a telescopic rail (11), which is arranged in the rear direction seen in the vehicle direction of the roof, and a further telescopic rail (2), wherein both telescopic rails are connected to the bottom (41) and are fastened with their outwardly directed ends (111, 21) on a side door (3) of the motor vehicle (9) and guide them.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that a B-pillar (412) designed to be movable and connected to a rear side door (34) with the door-side end (111) of the telescopic rail (11) and extended.

3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the telescopic rail (2) mounted in the lower region of the motor vehicle (9)

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that at least part of a door sill (301) in the region of the rear side door (34) with the door-side end (201) of the telescopic rail (2) is connected.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that both telescopic rails (2) and (11) in the roof area of the motor vehicle (9) are arranged.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the telescopic rails (11, 2) in housings (112, 22) are guided.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the housing (112, 22) are designed in the form of a common housing.

A method of loading a motor vehicle, comprising an apparatus according to claim 1, comprising the steps of: a raising the floor (41) inside the motor vehicle to a height exceeding the highest point in the access area of a door through the floor (41 ), b horizontal extension of the floor (41) to a position outside the motor vehicle by means of the telescopic rails (2, 11), c lowering the floor (41) on the ground next to the motor vehicle, d loading the floor (41) and fixing lifting the floor (41) to a height as in step a, f retracting the floor (41) into the motor vehicle (9) and lowering it inside the floor (41)

Motor vehicle (9) to the rest position corresponding to the determined by the bottom plate of the motor vehicle (9) lower stop.

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that the load is a wheelchair, being seen in step d of the wheelchair in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle (9) seen from behind on the ground (41) and on the floor (41) by suitable Secured securing means.