FR2974071A1 - RECOVERABLE LOADING / UNLOADING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE. - Google Patents

Abstract

A retractable vehicle loading / unloading device comprising a frame-shaped support frame (1) including two parallel longitudinal members (1a, 1b), a U-shaped support (2), each leg of the U (21,22) being engaged in sliding in one of the longitudinal members. The support (2) comprises a loading / unloading platform (3) and an arrangement (4) for guiding and holding the platform (3) in a horizontal position in a loading / unloading stroke between a rest position, between the side members, and a low loading / unloading position of the platform (3). A resource (5) allows the extraction / withdrawal drive of the support assembly (2) and platform (3) according to the loading / unloading stroke. Application to the equipment of vehicles of any type.

Description

The invention relates to a retractable loading / unloading device for a vehicle, in particular a utility vehicle. The loading / unloading devices for current vehicles essentially consist of devices called "tailgates".

These include, usually, a horizontal loading / unloading platform, movable and controlled between a low position, close to the ground, and a high position, flush with the loading platform of the vehicle, outside the latter. When the cargo loading / unloading operation has been executed, the loading / unloading platform can be lifted vertically against the rear wall of the vehicle, in order to reduce the overall bulk of the latter. Such devices are generally satisfactory, insofar as they make it possible to substantially eliminate the vertical human cargo handling, between the low position and the outcrop position of the loading / unloading platform, and to reduce, significantly , the difficulty of the interventions of the agents or agents in handling operations mentioned above. However, the unloading and handling operations to move the freight from the platform to the vehicle bed, then, conversely, handling and loading to move the freight from the vehicle bed to the platform, when unloading , are maintained. Such a constraint affects the fluidity and flexibility of all handling operations and ultimately increases the length of the cargo loading / unloading cycle. Finally, such devices appear mainly reserved for vehicles of the utility type (heavy goods vehicles), because the raising and maintaining of the platform loading / unloading in vertical position, outside the vehicle and on the outer wall of the vehicle. Lastly, they are incompatible with an application to personal vehicles and light commercial vehicles (LCVs). The object of the present invention is to overcome all the disadvantages of the aforementioned handling lifts. In particular, an object of the present invention is the implementation of a retractable loading / unloading device for a vehicle, by means of which all the cargo handling operations, from the loading / unloading platform to the platform of loading / unloading of the vehicle, or reciprocally, are substantially eliminated.

Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of a fully retractable loading / unloading device in the useful loading / unloading zone of the vehicle, in order to allow the installation of these vehicles on any conventional series vehicle, including VUL.

Another object of the present invention is finally the implementation of a loading / unloading device, which, because of the completely retractable nature mentioned above, can be installed, either as an original equipment during the construction of the vehicle, or as a second mounted as auxiliary equipment reported, on any vehicle already in circulation, commercial or personal vehicle, equipped in the rear part with a simple tailgate, or doors to access the trunk and / or the useful volume of the vehicle. The retractable loading / unloading device for a vehicle, object of the invention, is remarkable in that it comprises at least one frame-shaped support frame comprising at least two parallel longitudinal members a U-shaped end support, comprising two branches each slidably engaged in one of said longitudinal members, said end support comprising a loading platform and means for guiding and holding in substantially horizontal position of said platform in a loading / unloading stroke of between rest position of the loading platform between said longitudinal members, the end of said support frame and a low loading / unloading position. Extraction / withdrawal drive means of the assembly formed by the end support and the loading / unloading platform according to said loading / unloading stroke are further provided.

The device which is the subject of the invention is also remarkable in that each of the longitudinal members is formed by a U-shaped profile, the opening of each U-shape being opposite one another, the U-shaped end support comprising two branches each slidably engaged by means of rollers in the opening of each U-shaped section.

The device which is the subject of the invention is also remarkable in that said means for guiding and holding in a substantially horizontal position of said loading / unloading platform comprise at least: an articulated upper arm articulated with rotation at the level of the support of U-shaped end; - A pivoted articulated lower arm at the U-shaped end support, the point of articulation of each upper articulated arm being distant from the point of articulation of the corresponding lower articulated arm, on the same branch of U, d a distance determined to form, after extraction of the assembly consisting of the end support and the platform loading / unloading, a parallelogram-shaped structure. The device which is the subject of the invention is also remarkable in that said loading platform is slidably engaged by means of rollers in each of the lower and upper articulated arms and maintained in a substantially horizontal position by the latter when loading / unloading race, between the end of said frame and said lower position of loading / unloading. The device which is the subject of the invention is furthermore remarkable in that said extraction / removal drive means comprise at least: an extraction cylinder of the assembly formed by the end support and the platform of loading / unloading, between the rest position of the loading / unloading platform and the end of the support frame; a mechanical winch and traction cable drive of the loading / unloading platform, between the end position of the support frame and the lower position of the loading / unloading stroke. According to a preferred embodiment, the at least one extraction cylinder consists of a control cylinder cooperating with an articulated connection pantograph type. The device which is the subject of the invention is also remarkable in that the assembly formed by the support frame and the end support is mounted on the vehicle loading plane, the rest position of said platform. Loading is superimposed on a specific area of the loading tray. The device which is the subject of the invention is also remarkable in that, since the loading platform of the vehicle is originally provided with a housing of dimension corresponding substantially to that of the loading platform, the assembly formed by the support frame and the end support is mounted as a first vehicle under the loading plane of the vehicle, said loading platform being accommodated, in its rest position, in said housing and mounted flush with the surface of the platform loading defining said housing.

The retractable vehicle loading / unloading device, object of the invention, finds application in the automotive industry, in particular the construction and equipment of vehicles as diverse as, for example, commercial vehicles, light commercial vehicles or LCVs, personal vehicles, medical assistance vehicles, ambulances, assistance to the disabled or others. It will be better understood from reading the description and from the following drawings in which: FIG. 1 represents, for purely illustrative purposes, a perspective view of the retractable loading / unloading device object of the invention ;

- Figure 2 shows, for illustrative purposes, a perspective view of the device according to the invention according to Figure 1, when the loading / unloading platform is in the rest position;

- Figure 3a shows, for illustrative purposes, a top view of the assembly, when the loading / unloading platform is in the rest position;

FIG. 3b represents, by way of illustration, in a sectional view of FIG. 3a, a view of the assembly formed by the frame-shaped support frame and the U-shaped support, when the platform loading / unloading is in the rest position

FIGS. 4a and 4b show an implementation detail of the assembly formed by the frame-shaped support frame and the U-shaped end support, as shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, when the loading / unloading platform is in low position, close to the ground;

FIG. 5a shows, in a perspective view, a detail of implementation of the loading / unloading platform intended to be fitted as a secondary accessory;

- Figure 5b shows an exploded perspective view of the device object 35 of the invention intended for installation in original equipment.

A more detailed description of the retractable loading / unloading device for a vehicle, in accordance with the subject of the present invention, will now be given with reference to FIG.

In general, it is indicated that the device according to the invention is arranged symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal plane of symmetry P as shown in FIG. 1. Such an arrangement advantageously makes it possible, for example, to place the entire device substantially in the plane of symmetry of the vehicle to which it is intended, for convenience.

As will be observed in the above figure, the retractable vehicle loading / unloading device according to the invention comprises at least one frame-shaped support frame 1 comprising at least two parallel longitudinal members 1a and 1b. It also comprises a U-shaped end support 2 constituting in fact a moving assembly. The end support 2 comprises a base 20 and two branches 21 and 22 forming the end support 2. The branches 21 and 22 are each engaged in sliding in one of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b respectively. In addition, the end support 2 comprises a loading platform 3 and an arrangement 4 for guiding and holding in a substantially horizontal position of the loading / unloading platform 3, according to a loading / unloading travel between a rest position of this platform, between the longitudinal members 1a and 1b, and a low loading / unloading position, such as a position close to the ground. In Figure 1, without limitation and in order not to impair the clarity of the drawing, the loading / unloading platform is shown in an intermediate position, between the rest position and the lower position thereof. Finally, as shown in FIG. 1 above, the device according to the invention comprises resources for driving the extraction / withdrawal of the assembly formed by the end support 2 and the platform 3 for loading / unloading. , depending on the loading / unloading run previously quoted. As will be observed further in Figure 1, each of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b is formed by a U-shaped section, the opening of each U-shape of these profiles being vis-à-vis the one of the other. The two longitudinal members 1a and 1b are interconnected, on the one hand, by an end cross member 1c, and, on the other hand, by the end support 2, in particular by the base 20 and the two branches 21 and 22 of the latter, to form the support frame 1 previously mentioned. It is thus understood that the U-shaped end support 2 comprises its two branches 21 and 22 each slidably engaged by means of rollers in the opening of each U-shaped section. 1, the arrangement 4 for guiding and holding in substantially horizontal position of the platform 3 comprises at least, for each spar 1a and 1b, an articulated upper arm 4s1 and 4s2 rotatably articulated at the level of FIG. U-shaped end support and in particular at the branches 21 and 22 of the latter. In addition, the aforementioned arrangement 4 likewise comprises, for each of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b, a lower articulated arm 4i1 and 4i2 hinged to rotate at the U-shaped end support. According to a remarkable aspect of the object device of the invention, the aforementioned arrangement is such that the articulation point 40s of each upper articulated arm, 4s1 and 4s2, is distant from the articulation point 40i of the corresponding lower articulated arm, 4i1 and 4i2, on the same branch 21 respectively 22 of the U, a distance d determined to form, after extraction of the assembly constituted by the end support 2 and the platform 3 loading / unloading, a parallelogram-shaped structure for each of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b and corresponding branches 21 and 22. In Figure 1, we can see the two parallelogram structures thus formed, partially shown in the drawing, each upper articulated arm 4s1 and 4s2 being maintained u parallel to the corresponding lower articulated arm, 4i1 and 4i2, through, on the one hand, the corresponding branches 21 and 22, and on the other hand articulated spacers noted 4t. In the same FIG. 1, it can be observed that the platform 3 for loading / unloading is slidably engaged, by means of a support 30 and roller rollers 31, 32 for example, in each of the lower articulated arms. 4i1 and 4i2 respectively higher 4sl and 4s2 and maintained in substantially horizontal position by the latter, during the loading / unloading stroke between the end of the support frame 1, opposite the c, and the lower position of loading / unloading above . Finally, with reference to the same FIG. 1, it is pointed out that the extraction / removal drive resources advantageously comprise at least one jack, such as gas jack or spring jack, for extracting the assembly formed by the support. end 2 and platform 3 of loading / unloading between the rest position of the platform and the end of the support frame 1. For reasons of execution and overall drive balance formed by the end support 2 and the platform 3 loading / unloading, especially when the latter is in load, the cylinders can be placed substantially symmetrically with respect to the plane P of symmetry of the assembly. The active rods of each of the cylinders can be slidably mounted in the corresponding opening of each U-shaped section constituting the longitudinal members 1a and 1b. They make it possible to ensure the displacement of the whole of the rest position of the loading / unloading platform 3 up to the end of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b. In a nonlimiting preferred embodiment, as shown in the drawing of FIGS. 1, 2 and following, the cylinders can be replaced by a control cylinder 54, such as a gas cylinder or a spring cylinder, cooperating with a pantograph type articulated connection, 51, 52, which deforms in thrust / traction by means of this control cylinder 54, to ensure the extraction / withdrawal of the end support 2, the upper articulated arms 4sl, 4s2 and lower 4i1, 4i2 and platform 3 loading / unloading. In addition, as will also be seen in the drawing, the extraction / withdrawal drive resources comprise a disengageable winch driven by a motor 50 and a wire rope, the end of which is mechanically connected to the plate. 3 form of loading / unloading. The cable, wire rope, 53 is slidably mounted in a suitable orifice 20a formed on the base 20 of the movable end support 2. It is understood, in particular, that the orifice 20a may comprise an anti-wear coating, in order to allow the movement of the cable 53 without critical wear, during the journey of the platform 3 loading / unloading, between its rest position and its low position in use. It is the same for the inner face of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b, which may be coated with a self-lubricating coating, such as polytetrafluoroethylene, to ensure the sliding without critical wear of the end support 2 and the articulated arms higher and lower on these. Finally, it will be noted, as shown in FIG. 1, the existence of deflection support pieces of the lower articulated arms 4i1 and 4i2, shoulder parts denoted 6a and 6b, placed in the vicinity of the free end of the longitudinal members 1a and 6b. 1 b. These parts can be manually inclined by a given angle value, relative to the horizontal, longitudinal direction of the longitudinal members, to ensure the support and maintenance of the lower articulated arms 4i1 and 4i2, and upper articulated arms 4s1 and 4s2, via articulated spacers 4t, at an angle of inclination  with respect to the vertical value determined. Each shoulder piece 6a and 6b is rotatably attached to the outer portion of each of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b. The angle of inclination value  is determined by taking into account the height with respect to the ground of the loading platform of the vehicle, to form the parallelogram structures indicated previously in the description, as will be described below, in connection with Figures 2 and 3a, 3b. FIG. 2 shows the retractable loading / unloading device, object of the invention, as shown in FIG. 1, when the loading / unloading platform 3 is in its rest position, between the longitudinal members and lb. In this figure, L denotes the longitudinal dimension of the aforementioned beams, between the rest position of the platform 3 loading / unloading, I designates the withdrawal length of the latter in the rest position relative to the free end of the longitudinal members 1 a and 1 b. It will be understood, in particular, that the dimensional parameters L and I and the dimensions of the platform 3 of loading / unloading and LU of the end support 2 finally chosen represented in FIG. 1 are established taking into account the model and the type of vehicle to equip.

FIGS. 3a and 3b show a top view of the assembly shown in FIG. 2, respectively a partial view in section along the sectional plane P of FIG. 1 of the arrangement 4 for guiding and holding in position. platform 3 in the retracted position of this platform. FIG. 3b shows, in the retracted position, the superposition of the upper and lower articulated arms 4s2 and 4i2 slidably mounted by means of rollers GS, GI for example, in the U-shaped section constituting the spar the. In a nonlimiting manner, the aforementioned rollers may advantageously be mounted on the side walls of the U-shape constituting the profile and placed at appropriate locations, in order to ensure the displacement of the aforementioned articulated arms by simple translation due to the fact that action of the control cylinder 54 and the pantograph type mechanical connection 51,52. The rollers GS, GI can be mounted in addition to the self-lubricating coating mentioned above, to ensure the automatic handling of the heavier cargo loads. In addition, on the observation of FIG. 3b it is understood that the loading platform 3 is provided on its lateral faces, facing the spar 1a and the upper and lower articulated arms 4s1 and 4i1 corresponding to each other. studs provided with rollers at their end, denoted 31 respectively 32. Each of these rollers is slidably engaged in the U-shaped section constituting the upper articulated arm 4s2 respectively lower 4i2.

Thus, the aforementioned rollers 31 and 32 are offset by a distance dp substantially equal to the distance d between the hinge points 40s and 40i of the articulated arms upper 4s1 and lower 4i1 in the longitudinal direction of the spar la. In addition, the aforementioned rollers 31 and 32 are placed substantially at half height of each of the upper articulated arms 4s2 and lower 4i2 and thus offset in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the spar la of the plane of the sheet containing the FIG. 3b, a distance h substantially equal to the half height of the U-shaped profile constituting the spar la. It is the same for articulated arms 4s1 and 4i1. Of course, with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, it is indicated that the shape and the dimensions of the platform 3 are established taking into account the offset parameters d and h mentioned above, to ensure the maintenance of the platform 3 -of substantially horizontal loading / unloading during the loading / unloading stroke of the latter, in particular along the upper and lower articulated arms 4s1, 4s2 and 4il, 4i2 when these are deployed to form the parallelogram structure shown in FIG. . The general procedure of the retractable loading / unloading device, which is the subject of the invention, is now described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3a and 3b. When the winch is disengaged, the extraction cylinders or the extraction cylinder 54 can come into action from the rest position of the unloading loading platform 3, as shown in FIG. 2. According to the example embodiment shown in particular in Figures 3a and 3b, the control cylinder 54 pushes the control rods of the mechanical link pantograph type 51,52 mechanically integral with the end of the base 20 of the end support 2, at the longitudinal members 1a and 1b, thereby causing the latter to slide, and, of course, the upper and lower articulated arms 4s1, 4i1 and 4s2, 4l2 along each of the longitudinal members 1a and 1b, within them. In this translational phase, the aforementioned upper articulated arms 4s1, 4s2 and lower 4i1, 4i2 remain integral with each other. At the arrival of the end support 2 and in particular the branch end of U 21,22 near the end of the corresponding spar 1a and 1b, or in the vicinity of the shoulder pieces 6a, 6b , the upper articulated arms 4s1, 4s2 and lower 4i1,4i2 supra, as well as the platform 3 loading / unloading, are driven in extraction and deployed by gravity. The parallelogram structures formed by the deployed articulated arms thus constitute two parallel inclined planes, which make it possible to guide and maintain the loading / unloading platform 3 in a substantially horizontal position for the duration of the loading race. unloading the latter, until reaching the low position of loading / unloading thereof.

In order to optimize the movements of the assembly during the loading / unloading stroke, the winch 50 can be disengaged during the control of the cylinders 51 and 52, that is to say during the displacement in translation of the assembly along each of the longitudinal members la and lb. During this phase of substantially horizontal displacement, the tension of the cable 53 can be maintained at a low value, not exceeding 10N for example. During the extraction movement and deployment of the upper and lower articulated arms 4sl, 4i1 and 4s2, 4i2 and the platform 3 of loading / unloading by gravity, for the descent of the latter to the low position, a control of the motor and winch 50, and as a result of the tension of the cable 53, may be executed to control the speed of movement of the platform 3 loading / unloading, depending on the actual cargo load of the latter. It is the same when the latter return. In general, it is indicated that the loading / unloading device which is the subject of the invention can be dimensioned so as to ensure the handling of freight loads that can reach between 200 and 300 kg. Various construction variants can also be introduced. As shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the end opposite the articulation of the upper articulated arm 4s1, 4s2 may be curved, or enlarged and shaped like an elephant leg, as shown in an enlarged view, so as to ensure better rigidity and ground stability of the whole. It is the same with respect to the number of articulated struts 4t, which can be advantageously distributed regularly on each of the parallelogram-shaped structures. Thus, with reference to Figures 4a and 4b above, it is understood that a better foundation of the assembly can be obtained. Thus, the loading height H may vary, depending on the model or type of vehicle, between 0.45 m and 1.10 m for example.

Similarly, with reference to FIG. 5a, the loading / unloading platform 3 can be provided with accessories such as cargo attachment rings 33 placed on the edge of the platform, grooves 34 constituting roughness on the surface of the latter, in order to avoid any slippage of the freight put in the final loading / unloading position. Other accessories or variants can of course be provided. In particular, when the device which is the subject of the invention is intended to be retrofitted on the vehicle's PC loading platform, as represented in FIG. 5a, the assembly formed by the support frame and the end support can be configured according to an attached block partially covering the entire PC loading platform, the loading / unloading platform 3 being superimposed on a specific area of the PC loading platform. This arrangement can be adapted to maintain, for the vehicle, a substantially flat loading tray. Particularly advantageously, the shoulder pieces 6a, 6b can be rotatably mounted between a locked position V and an unlocked position DV, symbolized by the dashed arrow, to abut a stop stud 60a, 60b and thus ensuring the support of the lower articulated arms 4i1, 4i2 and higher 4s1, 4s2 in tilted position of the chosen angle value Δ with respect to the vertical and thus forming the parallelogram-shaped structure. The end of the shoulder pieces 6a, 6b is provided with a bracket 61, itself equipped with a guide wheel 61a, 61b, which are connected by an axis of rotation 61c. Thus it is understood that in the locked position V platform 3 loading / unloading in its rest position is blocked by the shoulder parts 6a, 6b. The guide wheels 61a, 61b can, in this situation, be placed in abutment against the internal face of the access door to the loading platform PC of the vehicle, when this door is in the closed position. On the contrary, in the unlocked position, DV, the shoulder pieces 6a, 6b make it possible to ensure, through the guide wheels 61a, 61b, the free deployment of the lower articulated arms 4i1, 4i2 and 4s1, 4s2 and higher. extraction of the platform 3. Finally, in the case of the construction of vehicles originally equipped with a loading / unloading device according to the subject of the invention, the loading platform of the vehicle is advantageously provided with originally, as shown in Figure 5b, a housing of dimensions corresponding to those of the platform 3 loading / unloading. Under these conditions, the assembly formed by the frame 35 and the end support can be mounted as a first vehicle under the loading plane of the vehicle. The platform 3 loading / unloading is then accommodated in its rest position in the housing and mounted flush with the surface of the loading tray PC defining this housing. Thus described a retractable loading / unloading device that can be installed in any type of utility vehicle or standard equipment, this device, because of the great flexibility and flexibility of its use , which can be applied to vehicles as diverse as commercial vehicles, LCVs, ambulances, auxiliary health vehicles enabling the movement of a disabled person and the easy handling of a wheelchair of the latter, or a personal vehicle.