GB2125103A - Platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus - Google Patents
Platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2125103A GB2125103A GB08222050A GB8222050A GB2125103A GB 2125103 A GB2125103 A GB 2125103A GB 08222050 A GB08222050 A GB 08222050A GB 8222050 A GB8222050 A GB 8222050A GB 2125103 A GB2125103 A GB 2125103A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- platform
- aperture
- plunger
- bracket plate
- pin
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
- B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
- B60P1/44—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element
Abstract
A platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus is provided including a bracket plate (1) fixedly attachable to one of a pair of runners (4) and carrying a pivotal connection for the platform (9) to the runner (4), a plunger (2) attachable to or houseable in the platform (9) to extend in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis of the platform (9) and resiliently biassed towards a position in which one end (2a) of it projects through a side member (10) of the platform (9) towards the bracket plate (1), and a lever (3) rockingly connectible to the bracket plate (1) at a point intermediate the lever ends which each carry a projecting pin (14, 15) for co-operation with a pair of spaced apertures (16, 17) provided through the bracket plate (1). With the platform (9) in a vertical raised stowed position, the resiliently biassed plunger end (2a) projecting through the platform side member (10) engages in one of the apertures (16) in the bracket plate (1), to latch the platform in the vertical position, and displaces out of the one aperture (16), the first pin (14) which co-operates with the one aperture causing the lever (3) to rock about its intermediate connection point and engage the other pin (15) in the other aperture (17), so that depression of the lever end carrying the first pin (14) co- operating with the one aperture (16) causes the first pin (14) to engage the projecting end (2a) of the plunger and displace the plunger (2) against the resilient bias out of engagement with the one aperture (16), thus unlatching the platform (9) for downward pivotal movement towards the horizontal pivoted out working position. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus
This invention relates to a platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus and particularly, but not exclusively, concerns a platform pivot latch device locateable in the vicinity of the pivot of a load lifting platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in the form of a vehicle tail lift.
Such a vehicle load lifting apparatus usually includes a platform pivotally connected at the extremities of one end to a pair of slides or runners each respectively slidably housed in a pair of spaced apart substantially vertically extending guide channels and moveable up and down in the channels by electric motor or ram operated cables housed in the channels. Such a vehicle load lifting apparatus will hereinafter be referred to as "of the kind hereinbefore defined".The channels may be mounted one on either side of a rear opening of a vehicle in the case of a tail lift, and the platform which can be pivoted about the pivotal connection between substantially vertical and horizontal positions, may be moved between a vertical raised stowed position in which it closes at least partially the vehicle rear opening at or above the vehicle opening floor level, a horizontal pivoted out raised working position in which it lies at the level of the vehicle opening floor, and a horizontal pivoted out lower working position in which it lies substantially at ground level.Thus loads can be put on to the horizontal platform at ground level, the platform raised to the level of the vehicle floor for the removal of loads from the platform into the vehicle and vice versa, and the platform can be pivoted into the vertical position to act as the vehicle opening closure means such as a tail gate.
One of the problems encountered with such a vehicle load lifting apparatus is that of ensuring that the platform, which generally is resiliently biassed towards the vertical position, does not inadvertently pivot from the horizontal position towards the vertical position particularly when the platform end opposite to the pivotally connected end engages an obstruction above ground level or even raised ground, or when a load is being transferred to or from the platform in the horizontal position. Attempts have been made to remedy this problem by providing an anti-tilt or anti-pivot latch for the platform.A typical conventional platform anti-pivot latch for a vehicle tail lift which is being proposed has a pivotal or vertically slidable plunger mounted on the side of one of the runners near the associated platform pivot to engage automatically by gravity behind a stop on the platform when the platform is in the horizontal position. This plunger is releasable manually when the platform is to be pivoted back in to the vertical position. Such a conventional latch is easily broken, bent, jammed or subject to wear on the stop and plunger leading to eventual failure of the latch to operate properly so that the resilient bias on the platform may overcome the latch action and pivot the platform towards the vertical position.
There is thus a need for a generally improved platform pivot latch device which is less easily damaged and more positive in action than conventional platform pivot latches.
According to the present invention there is provided a platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined, including a bracket plate fixedly attachable to one of the runners and carrying the pivotal connection for the platform to the runner, a plunger attachable to or houseable in the platform to extend in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis of the platform and resiliently biassed towards a position in which one end of it projects through a side member of a platform towards the bracket plate, and a lever rockingly connectible to a bracket plate at a point intermediate at the lever ends which each carry a projecting pin for cooperation with a pair of spaced apertures provided through the bracket plate, the arrangement being such that with the latch device operatively connected to a vehicle loading lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined and with the platform in a vertical raised stowed position, the resiliently biassed plunger end projecting through the platform side member engages in one of the apertures in the bracket plate, to latch the platform in the vertical position, and displaces, out of the one aperture, the first pin which co-operates with the one aperture causing the lever to rock about its intermediate connection point and engage the other pin in the other aperture, so that depression of the lever end carrying the first pin co-operating with the one aperture causes the first pin to engage the projecting end of the plunger and displace the plunger against the resilient bias out of engagement with the one aperture thus unlatching the platform for downward pivotal movement towards the horizontal pivoted out working position with the displaced plunger end riding down a slide surface provided on the bracket plate until it resiliently biasses the other pin out of the other aperture and engages in the other aperture causing the lever to rock about its intermediate connection point and engage the first pin in the one aperture, when the horizontal pivoted out working position is reached, thus latching the platform in the horizontal position, for unlatching, for movement of the platform back into the vertical latch position, by depression of the lever end carrying the other pin to displace, by the other pin, the projecting end of the plunger out of the other aperture.
Thus a platform pivot latch device of the invention has the added advantage of providing additiondlly a latching action for the platform in the vertical position preventing inadvertent pivoting out of the platform during raising into the vertical stowed position and when the platform is in the vertical stowed position.
Advantageously the bracket plate, of which there may be two, one co-operating with each of the runners, is connectible to its associated runner to extend substantially vertically at least partially alongside the platform side member.
Conveniently the plunger is locateable between the platform pivot axis and the end of the platform remote from the pivot axis. The plunger is resiliently biassed conveniently by a coiled compression spring.
Preferably the bracket plate has a portion having a shape in plan substantially of a right angle triangle with the apertures being located on a line substantially parallel to the hypotenuse of the triangle above and to one side of the pivotal connection. Conveniently the lever is mounted on the outside of the bracket plate triangular portion with respect to the platform. The lever advantageously is linear and elongated in plan and is bent, in the vicinity of its intermediate connection point, out of plan in a direction away from the direction in which its projecting pins extend, to form an obtuse angle at the intermediate connection point.
Conveniently the one aperture in the bracket plate is oversized with respect to the co-operating first pin in order to allow a limited degree of pivotal action of the platform in the vertical position such that the ends of the platform may, whilst being raised into the vertical stowed position, clear any projecting lower beam on the vehicle or vehicle load lifting apparatus and vice versa.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a platform of a vehicle load lifting apparatus in operative association with a runner, showing schematically a platform pivot latch device
according to one embodiment of the invention,
Figure 2 is a side elevation, in part vertical section, of the device of Figure 1,
Figure 3 is a plan view from above of part of
the device of Figure 2, and
Figure 4 is a plan view from above of a rocking
lever forming part of the device of Figures 1 to 3.
In the accompanying drawings a platform pivot
latch device according to one embodiment of the
invention is illustrated in operative association with a vehicle load lifting apparatus in the form of
a vehicle tail lift as already described but it is, of
course, to be understood that the device of the
invention is equally suitable for use with any other form of vehicle load lifting apparatus mounted, for
example, on the side of the vehicle or wherever
suitable. The platform pivot latch device of the
invention includes a bracket plate 1, a plunger 2
and a rocking lever 3. The bracket plate 1
conveniently is of substantially triangular shape in
plan as illustrated and is fixedly attachable in any
convenient manner such as by welding, to one of
the runners 4 of the load lifting apparatus.The runner 4 is slidably housed in a substantially vertically extending guide channel 5 conveniently via guide rollers 6 and is vertically moveable in the channel 5 by means of an electric motor or hydraulic ram (not shown) via a connecting cable 7.
The bracket plate 1 also carries a pivotal connection or shaft 8 for pivotally securing the platform 9 to the runner 4. Advantageously the pivot shaft 8 is housed in the platform 9 itself and is connected at its innermost end 9a to a torsion shaft 9b operative resiliently to bias the platform 9 to pivot about the shaft 8 towards the vertical position. As illustrated the bracket plate 1 preferably extends substantially vertically at least partially alongside a side member 10 of the platform 9. Although not shown the platform 9 has two such pivot shafts 8 extending coaxially between two such bracket plates 1 located at opposite extremities of the inner end of the platform 9.
The plunger 2 is attachable to or houseable in the platform 9, for example as in a tubular housing 11 attached inside the platform 9. This plunger 2 is of elongated cylindrical form and extends in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis of the pivot shafts 8 of the platform 9.
Advantageously the plunger 2 is locateable between the pivot axis of the pivot shafts 8 and the outermost platform edge most remote from the shafts 8. The plunger 2 is resiliently biassed in any convenient manner such as by means of a coiled compression spring conveniently housed in the tubular housing 11 and acting to urge the plunger 2 longitudinally towards a position in which its outermost end 2a projects through a bore 12 in the side member 10 of the platform 9 towards the bracket plate 1.
The rocking lever 3 is rockingly connected to the bracket plate 1 in any convenient manner such as by means of a screw 13, at a point intermediate the lever ends. One end of the lever carries a first projecting pin 14 and the other end carries another projecting pin 1 5. Conveniently the ever is linear and elongated in plan as shown in Figure 2 and bent in the vicinity of the screw 13 out of plan (see Figure 4) in a direction away from the direction in which it projecting pins 1 4 and 1 5 extend, to form an obtuse angle at the intermediate connection point where the pin 13 is located.
This lever 3 is mounted by means of the screw 13 on the outside of the triangular shaped bracket plate 1 for ease of access so that its pins 14 and 1 5 are located to co-operate respectively with a pair of spaced apertures 1 6 and 17 provided through the bracket plate 1. As illustrated the apertures 1 6 and 17 conveniently lie along a line extending substantially parallel to the hypotenuse of the right angle triangular shape bracket plate 1 above and to one side of the pivot shaft 8.
The illustrated device of the invention operates in the following manner when operatively connected to a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the tail lift type. With the platform 9 in a vertical raised stowed position (not illustrated) the resiliently biassed plunger end 2a projects through the platform side member bore 1 2 and engages in the first aperture 1 6 in the bracket plate 1. The engagement between the plunger 2 and the aperture 16 latches the platform 5 in the vertical position and prevents it from being pivotally moved out of this position.As the plunger end 2a enters the apertures 16 it contacts and displaces out of the aperture 1 6 the first projecting pin 14 of the lever 3 and hence causes the lever 3 to rock about its intermediate connection screw 1 3 and engage the other pin 1 5 in the other aperture 1 7 in the bracket plate 1.
Thus when it is desired to pivot the platform 9 out of the vertical position into a horizontal working position, it is merely necessary for the operator standing at the side and rear of the vehicle to depress manually the lever end carrying the first pin 14 so that the first pin 1 4 enters the aperture 1 6 and pushes the plunger end 2a back against its resilient biass and out of the aperture 1 6. As soon as it passes out of the aperture 1 6 the operator can manually pivot the platform 9 against the action of the torsion bar 9b in to the horizontal working position.As the unlatched platform 9 is being pivoted from the vertical to the horizontal position the end 2a of the displaced plunger 2 rides down a slide surface (not illustrated) provided on the inside vertical surface of the bracket plate 1 until the platform 9 reaches the horizontal pivoted out working position at which the displaced plunger end 2a is aligned with the aperture 17 in the bracket plate 1 and under the resilient biassing action of its spring enters the aperture 17 and displaces the projecting pin 1 5 out of the aperture 1 7 as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. In this position the rocking lever 3 once more rocks about its intermediate connection screw 13 until its projecting pin 14 enters the aperture 16 in the bracket plate 1.
The platform is thus latched in the horizontally pivoted out working position by engagement between the plunger 2 and the aperture 1 7 in the.* bracket plate 1. No further pivotal movement of the platform 9 can take place until the plunger end 2 is once more displaced out of the aperture 17 by depression once again, of the end of the rocking lever 3 carrying the projecting pin 1 5. This can be done manually by the operator to allow the platform to be pivoted back into the vertical position.
Many vehicles include a lower beam forming the outer end of the load carrying floor or forming part of the load lifting apparatus itself and extending transversely between the two guide channels 5. This projecting beam, not shown, sometimes makes it difficult for the leading end of the platform 9 when in the vertical position to be raised up the channels 5 into the vertical stowed position, due to contact between the leading end of the platform 9 and the beam itself.In order to avoid this problem, with the platform pivot latch device of the invention it is merely necessary to make the aperture 16 in the bracket plate 1 oversize with respect to the diameter of the first projecting pin 1 4 so that when the platform 9 is in the vertical position with the plunger end 2a engaged in the aperture 1 6 the plunger end 2a has a limited degree of movement in the aperture 1 6 permitting a limited degree of pivotal movement of the platform 9 in the vertical position to enable the leading end of the platform 9 to pass by any projecting beam encountered during vertical movement of the platform in the vertical position into the vertical stowed position.
Although not described, the platform pivot latch device of the invention can be made from any convenient material, preferably metal. The platform pivot latch device of the invention can be located at one side of the vehicle at the rear thereof close to the usual operating controls for the electric motor or hydraulic ram power means of the vehicle load lifting apparatus. By its design and construction the platform pivot latch device of the invention is readily operated manually by one hand allowing the operator to control the electric motor or hydraulic ram by one hand and operate the latch device with the other hand from the side of the vehicle without having to go behind the vehicle.This considerably improves the safety and ease of operation of the vehicle load lifting apparatus fitted with a platform pivot latch device of the invention which not only provides an anti-pivot latch in the horizontal working position of the platform but also provides an anti-pivot latch in the vertical latch position.
The plunger 2 and its resilient biassing spring may be removed from the platform 9 after unscrewing the screw 1 3 and removing the lever 3 from the bracket plate 1. This allows the spring and plunger 2 to be removed and replaced quickly for inspection, maintenance or renewal.
Claims (Filed on 22 July 1983)
1. A platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined, including a bracket plate fixedly attachable to one of the runners and carrying the pivotal connection for the platform to the runner, a plunger attachable to or houseable in the platform to extend in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis of the platform and resiliently biassed towards a position in which one end of it projects through a side member of the platform towards the bracket plate, and a lever rockingly connectible to the bracket plate at a point intermediate the lever ends which each carry a projecting pin for cooperation with a pair of spaced apertures provided through the bracket plate, the arrangement being such that with the latch device operatively connected to a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined and with the platform in a vertical raised stowed position, the resiliently biassed plunger end projecting through the platform side member engages in one of the apertures in the bracket
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (10)
1. A platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined, including a bracket plate fixedly attachable to one of the runners and carrying the pivotal connection for the platform to the runner, a plunger attachable to or houseable in the platform to extend in a direction substantially parallel to and spaced from the pivot axis of the platform and resiliently biassed towards a position in which one end of it projects through a side member of the platform towards the bracket plate, and a lever rockingly connectible to the bracket plate at a point intermediate the lever ends which each carry a projecting pin for cooperation with a pair of spaced apertures provided through the bracket plate, the arrangement being such that with the latch device operatively connected to a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined and with the platform in a vertical raised stowed position, the resiliently biassed plunger end projecting through the platform side member engages in one of the apertures in the bracket
plate, to latch the platform in the vertical position, and displaces out of the one aperture, the first pin which co-operates with the one apertures causing the lever to rock about its intermediate connection point and engage the other pin in the other aperture, so that depression of the lever end carrying the first pin co-operating with the one aperture causes the first pin to engage the projecting end of the plunger and displace the plunger against the resilient bias out of engagement with the one aperture thus unlatching the platform for downward pivotal movement towards the horizontal pivoted out working position with the displaced plunger end riding down a slide surface provided on the bracket plate until it resiliently biasses the other pin out of the other aperture and engages in the other aperture causing the lever to rock about its intermediate connection point and engage the first pin in the one aperture, when the horizontal pivoted out working position is reached, thus latching the platform in the horizontal ppsition, for unlatching, for movement of the platform back into the vertical latch position, by depression of the lever end carrying the other pin to displace, by the other pin, the projecting end of the plunger out of the other aperture.
2. A latch device according to claim 1, wherein the bracket plate is connectible to its associated runner to extend substantially vertically at least partially alongside the platform side member
3. A latch device according to claim 1 or claim 3, wherein the plunger is locateable between the platform pivot axis and the end of the platform remote from the pivot axis.
4. A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plunger is resiliently biassed by a coiled compression spring.
5. A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bracket plate has a portion having a shape in plan substantially of a right angle triangle with the apertures being located on a line substantially parallel to the hypotenuse of the triangle above and to one side of the pivotal connection.
6. A latch device according to claim 5, wherein the lever is mounted on the outside of the bracket plate triangular portion with respect to the platform.
7. A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the lever is linear and elongated in plan and is bent, in the vicinity of its intermediate connection point, out of plan in a direction away from the direction in which its projecting pins extend, to form an obtuse angle at the intermediate connection point.
8. A latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the one aperture in the bracket plate is oversized with respect to the cooperating first pin in order to allow a limited degree of pivotal action of the platform in the vertical position such that the ends of the platform may, whilst being raised into the vertical stowed position, clear any projecting lower beam on the vehicle or vehicle load lifting apparatus and vice versa.
9. A platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus of the kind hereinbefore defined, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
10. A vehicle load lifting apparatus having a platform pivot latch device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08222050A GB2125103B (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1982-07-30 | Platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08222050A GB2125103B (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1982-07-30 | Platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB2125103A true GB2125103A (en) | 1984-02-29 |
| GB2125103B GB2125103B (en) | 1985-09-04 |
Family
ID=10532027
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB08222050A Expired GB2125103B (en) | 1982-07-30 | 1982-07-30 | Platform pivot latch device for a vehicle load lifting apparatus |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2125103B (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6659707B2 (en) * | 2000-01-22 | 2003-12-09 | Sörensen Hydraulik, Zweigniederlassung, Ulfborg, Filial afSörensen Hydraulik GmbH, Tyskland | Loading platform system |
| US20220185164A1 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2022-06-16 | Liftwave, Inc. Dba Rise Robotics | Multiple use actuation system for vertical rail liftgate |
-
1982
- 1982-07-30 GB GB08222050A patent/GB2125103B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US6659707B2 (en) * | 2000-01-22 | 2003-12-09 | Sörensen Hydraulik, Zweigniederlassung, Ulfborg, Filial afSörensen Hydraulik GmbH, Tyskland | Loading platform system |
| US20220185164A1 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2022-06-16 | Liftwave, Inc. Dba Rise Robotics | Multiple use actuation system for vertical rail liftgate |
| US11654816B2 (en) * | 2019-03-28 | 2023-05-23 | Liftwave, Inc. | Multiple use actuation system for vertical rail liftgate |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2125103B (en) | 1985-09-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |