GB1602452A - Load lifting apparatus - Google Patents

Description

(54) LOAD LIFTING APPARATUS (71) We, PARKWOOD ENGINEERING COMPANY Ltd, a British Company, of Brooklands Close, Windmill Road, Sunbury on Thames, Middlesex, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to load lifting apparatus for vehicles.

Such apparatus is usually attached to the rear opening of a van and comprises a frame and a platform having slides movable vertically in the frame using a ram-operated cable system.

In a prior art apparatus, the platform of a load lifting apparatus is provided with a ramp in the form of a plate having at each side thereof a slotted arm extension, the slot receiving a pin connected to a block mounted on the upper face of the platform adjacent its rear edge.

This arrangement suffers from the disadvantage that the blocks on the upper surface of the platform cause an obstruction to the use of the platform.

According to the invention, there is provided a load lifting apparatus for a vehicle including a platform provided with a ramp, said ramp being attached to said platform by links respectively pivotably connected to said platform and to said ramp, whereby said ramp is pivotable between a stowed position and a ramp position, said links not extending above the upper surface of the platform in the ramp position of said ramp.

Co-pending application Nos. 7997/77, (Serial No. 1602451, 1602453) 7519/78 and 7520/78 (Serial No. 1602454) relate to other aspects of the load lifting apparatus.

Features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective exploded view of a lifting apparatus attached to the rear of a lorry or van, the body of the van being omitted for clarity, the lifting apparatus incorporating a platform to which a ramp may be secured by the arrangement of the present invention; and Figures 2 to 4 shows detail views of a ramp and platform connection forming part of a lifting apparatus according to the invention and showing the ramp in different positions.

Figure 1 shows a lifting apparatus in which a platform 63 is pivotally mounted on the lower ends of a pair of slides 62. The slides are vertically movable in guides 61 and are lifted and lowered in use by means of a ram 32 acting on cables 5 attached to the slides 62. It is frequently desired to provide one or more ramps secured to the platform to allow wheeled objects to be rolled onto the platform.

A preferred embodiment of a platform and ramp arrangement is illustrated in Figures 2 to 4. A ramp 64 has slotted ears 46 on its underside at each side thereof, the ears each being pivotally and slidably attached to a link 47 having at one end a pivot pin 49 extending into the slot of the ear 46 and at its other end is pivotable on a pin 48 attached to the side of the platform 63. Each link 47 has limited angular movement of approximately 100" relative to the platform 63 at pin 48 and the ramp 64 pivots and slides on pivot 49. A ramp position depicted in Figure 2 is achieved with pivots 48 and 49 substantially horizontal. The ramp 64 is restricted from further angular movement due to contact at point 50 with the platform rear edge.A barrier position (Figure 3) results from lifting the ramp to the near vertical position by pivoting about the pin 49 and allowing the ramp to drop the length of the slot 46. Angular movement to the ramp position is restricted by contact at point 51 with the edge of the platform. A stowed position illustrated in Figure 4 is achieved by pivoting both ramp 64 and link 47 about pivot 48.

Thus, the ramp attachment illustrated in Figures 2 to 4 is capable of achieving three distinct positions, as in the prior art apparatus, but without hazardous projections on the platform work surface in the ramp position and also permits considerable reinforce ment of the ramp by ribs 65 so that it can act more effectively as a barrier. It is not possible to accommodate such ribs in the prior art apparatus since to include them results in interference with the vehicle body parts on stowing and closing the platform. The preferred embodiment of the invention avoids this interference by saving space with the described pivot or hinge geometry.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A load lifting apparatus for a vehicle including a platform provided with a ramp, said ramp being attached to said platform by links respectively pivotably connected to said platform and to said ramp, whereby said ramp is pivotable between a stowed position and a ramp position, said links not extending above the upper surface of the platform in the ramp position of said ramp.

2. A lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said links also make sliding connections with said ramp whereby said ramp may be pivoted substantially vertically and then lowered relative to said platform to a barrier position.

3. A lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ramp is pivotably secured to the links by means of pivot pins extending into elongate slots.

4. A lifting apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivot pins are provided on the links and the slots are provided on the ramp.

5. A lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slots are provided in ears mounted on the underside of the ramp.

6. A load lifting apparatus for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ment of the ramp by ribs 65 so that it can act more effectively as a barrier. It is not possible to accommodate such ribs in the prior art apparatus since to include them results in interference with the vehicle body parts on stowing and closing the platform. The preferred embodiment of the invention avoids this interference by saving space with the described pivot or hinge geometry. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A load lifting apparatus for a vehicle including a platform provided with a ramp, said ramp being attached to said platform by links respectively pivotably connected to said platform and to said ramp, whereby said ramp is pivotable between a stowed position and a ramp position, said links not extending above the upper surface of the platform in the ramp position of said ramp.

2. A lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein said links also make sliding connections with said ramp whereby said ramp may be pivoted substantially vertically and then lowered relative to said platform to a barrier position.

3. A lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the ramp is pivotably secured to the links by means of pivot pins extending into elongate slots.

4. A lifting apparatus claimed in claim 3, wherein the pivot pins are provided on the links and the slots are provided on the ramp.

5. A lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the slots are provided in ears mounted on the underside of the ramp.

6. A load lifting apparatus for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.