GB2357074A

GB2357074A - Vehicle lift with upper barrier

Info

Publication number: GB2357074A
Application number: GB0027319A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Adam Beck
Original assignee: Passenger Lift Services Ltd
Current assignee: Passenger Lift Services Ltd
Priority date: 1999-11-11
Filing date: 2000-11-09
Publication date: 2001-06-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-09
Also published as: GB0027319D0; GB2357074B

Abstract

A lift (e.g. a wheelchair lift) for use in association with a vehicle comprises a moveable deployable platform and a moveable barrier, the movement of the barrier serving to restrict or permit exit from or entry to the vehicle from the platform and the movement of the barrier being operatively associated with and controlled by the movement of the platform. The barrier may comprise a barrier arm 30, moveably attached to a support leg 31 by means of a pivot 32. Movement of the arm 30 between the "up" and "down" positions is achieved by means of an actuator 33 associated with a clutch-assembly. The clutch-assembly comprises a moveable member 40 which is received in a housing 41 and is provided with a mortice 42 to engage a locking member 43. In an emergency, the barrier arm 30 can be pushed in the direction of arrow A to cause a complementary movement of the member 40 in the direction of arrow B, with consequent disengagement of the locking member 43 from the mortice 42.

Description

2357074 LIFT WITH BARRIER This invention relates to a lift with a barrier

and especially to a lift for use in association with a vehicle in which the movement of the barrier is operatively associated with the movement of the lift.

Although the present invention will be particularly described herein with reference to a lift for use in moving a wheelchair-bound patient into or out of a vehicle, it is not to be construed as being limited thereto.

Lifts of the type described in the immediately -preceding paragraph are known per se and generally comprise a platform to receive a load (e.g. a wheelchair containing a patient) and to be moveable from an "up" position to a "down" position relative to a vehicle.

Frequently, a vehicle fitted with such a lift is used to transport several wheelchair-bound patients at any one time. At least two attendants may be present to ensure the safety of the patients (especially when being moved into or out of the vehicle) and to operate the lift as necessary.

It has been found that when two attendants independently decide to operate the lift, the lift-actuation means (e.g. a "start" button) is pressed twice. This can lead, for example, for the lift to be lowered to its "down" position (e.g. at ground level) while each of the attendants believes that the lift is in its "up" position (e.g. at "vehicle" level).

Consequently, an attendant who is moving backwards out of the vehicle whilst drawing a wheelchair containing a patient will, in the absence of a barrier, be likely to cause damage to the wheelchair and/or the lift and/or the vehicle, in addition to injuring himself and/or the patient.

2 It has been proposed to provide manually-operable barriers, which are fitted to the vehicle interior adjacent the lift and which must be opened by an attendant to allow movement of the patient into or out of the vehicle.

Such barriers act independently of the position of the lift relative to the vehicle. Thus, they cannot serve to prevent an attendant from moving a patient out of the vehicle when the lift is not in its correct position.

Moreover, when the vehicle is loaded and the lift stored, barriers of the known type continue to extend across the width of the vehicle and can constitute an obstacle to the rapid evacuation of the vehicle in the event of an accident.

The applicants have devised a lift including a barrier in which the aforementioned disadvantages have been substantially overcome. In the practice of the present invention, movement of the lift and of the barrier is adapted to be in relative operative association.

It may be necessary, therefore, to enable movement of the barrier to be achieved independently of the movement of the platform (for example if it were required to lower the barrier to its "down" position in the event of failure of the lift mechanism or in an emergency).

We have devised a clutch-assembly for such a purpose.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a lift for use in association with a vehicle, the lift including a deployable platform moveable, in a generally vertical sense, between a first ("up") position wherein the platform is substantially level with the floor of the vehicle and a second Cdown") position wherein the platform is supported on the ground, and a barrier, the barrier being moveable between a first Cup") position wherein entry to or exit from the platform is restricted and a second 3 Cdown") position wherein entry to or exit from the platform is permitted, in which the movement of the barrier between the "up" and "down" positions is operatively associated with and controlled by the movement of the platform.

Preferably, the barrier, in use, extends, when in its "up" position, substantially across the width of the vehicle, whereby entry to or exit from the vehicle adjacent the platform is restricted.

A lift with a barrier according to the present invention may preferably be a lift of the type disclosed in our published application number GB-A-2296003 (hereinafter called an "underfloor lift").

Suitably, the barrier comprises at least one strut or bar adapted to be moveable about pivot means between the "up" and the "down" positions.

Preferably, the barrier comprises a complementary pair of struts or bars.

The barrier may be operated by any suitable means, for example by pneumatically-actuated, hydraulically- actuated or electrically -actuated means.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the movement of the platform and the movement of the barrier takes place according to the following sequence:

(i) the platform is deployed and the barrier moves to the "up" position; (ii) the platform is moved to the "up" position and the barrier moves to the "down" position; 4 (iii) as the platform is moved to the "down" position, the barrier moves to the "up" position; (iv) steps GO and (iii) are repeated as often as necessary; (v) the platform is stored and the barrier moves to the "down" position.

The movement of the platform and/or of the barrier may be monitored by sensing and/or signal means.

Optionally, a load cell or the like may be provided in operative association with the platform, whereby loading of the platform causes the barrier to move to the "up" position.

Suitably, movement of the platform and the barrier may be actuated by means of a remote-control device. Such a device may, for example, be located on the dashboard of the vehicle. Alternatively, the remotecontrol device may be portable, so that it can be operated by an attendant or by a passenger in the vehicle.

A lift according to the present invention may, if desired, be provided with a second barrier extending, in use, substantially across the width of that side of the platform remote from the vehicle.

The barrier may be provided with one or more safety features. These may include means adapted, in use, to detect, interrupt or override movement of the platform and/or the barrier, for example a bleed valve or the like.

One or more portions of the barrier may be provided with coloured (e.g.

yellow) markings and/or with padding.

One or more audible or visual alarm devices may be provided in operative association with the platform and/or the barrier. For example, an alarm could be provided which is adapted to emit a warning signal if an attendant attempts to enter the platform when the barrier is in the "up" position, or to "force" the barrier.

The present invention further provides a moveable barrier as aforesaid for use in connection with a lift in which the barrier is operatively associated with a clutch- assembly, whereby the barrier can be moved between the "up" position and the "down" position independently of the movement of the platform.

Suitably, a clutch-assembly according to the present invention may comprise a first, movable member operatively associated with the barrier and received in a non-movable housing, together with a locking member adapted, in use, to removably engage a mortice or similar recess in said first, moveable member.

In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the barrier arm may comprise two or more telescoping portions.

Alternatively, the barrier arm may comprise two or more articulated portions.

The present invention further provides a lift as hereinbefore described, which is a wheelchair lift.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, in the following description and with

6 reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numerals denote like parts and in which:

Figure I shows schematically part of a barrier for use with a lift according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a barrier according to a second embodiment of the present invention, the barrier having a clutch assembly and being shown in the "down" position with the clutch- assembly locked; Figure 3 is a schematic view of the barrier of Figure 2, in the "up" position and with the clutch-assembly again locked; Figure 4 is a schematic view of the barrier of Figure 3, in which the clutch-assembly has become unlocked by downward pressure on the barrier; and Figure 5 is a schematic view of the barrier of Figure 4, in which the barrier has been fully lowered and the clutch-assembly disengaged.

Figure I shows a barrier comprising a barrier arm 10 (shown in the "up" position in the drawing). A support leg 11 is attached to the floor of a vehicle by means of mounting base 12, so that the support leg 11 extends subsequently perpendicular to the platform 13. The barrier arm 10 is moveably attached at one end to the support leg 11, by means of a pivot 14.

7 Movement of the barrier arm 10 from its "up" position (as shown in the drawing) to its "down" position (in the direction indicated by arrow X) is achieved by means of an actuator 15, which is secured to the arm 10 and to the leg 11 by means of fixing pins 16 and 17 respectively.

The arm 10 is provided, at its end remote from the pivot, with a rubber stop 20 and an end-plug 21. A cover member 22 is provided in the region of attachment of the arm 10 to the support leg 11.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings, the barrier comprises a barrier arm 30 which is moveably attached to a support leg 31 by means of a pivot 32. Movement of the arm 30 between the "up" and "down" positions is achieved by means of an actuator 33, which is attached to the arm 30 and leg 31 by pins 34 and 35 respectively.

The clutch-assembly comprises a first, moveable member 40 which is attached, through pin 35, to the actuator 33. The member 40 is received in a housing 41 and is provided with a mortice or similar recess 42 to engage a locking member 43. The housing 41 is pivotally attached to the leg 31 by means of a pin 44. The locking member 43 is pivotally attached to the leg 31 by means of a pin 45 and is urged into engagement with the mortice 42 by means of a helical spring 46.

In the view shown in Figure 2, the arm 30 has been moved to its "down" position by the "normal" functioning of the actuator 33, the clutch assembly being in the "engaged" condition.

In Figure 3, the arm 30 has been moved to its "up" position, again by the "normal" functioning of the actuator 33. Again, the clutch-assembly is in the "engaged" condition.

8 In Figure 4, the barrier arm 30 is being pushed downwards in the direction of arrow A (for example, to lower the arm in an emergency). A force of about 80N may be required. Movement of the arm 30 under the conditions shown in Figure 4 causes a complementary movement, in the direction of arrow B, of the member 40 inside the housing 41, with consequent disengagement of the locking member 43 from the mortice 42.

In Figure 5, the arm 30 has been fully lowered to its "down" position and the member 40 has been moved at least partially outside the housing 41.

It will be noted that, in the views shown in Figures 4 and 5, movement of the arm 30 has been achieved independently of any movement or other functioning of the actuator 43. Thus, the clutch-assembly provides one example of a "means to override movement of the platform and/or the barrier".

9

Claims

1 A lift for use in association with a vehicle, the lift including a deployable platform moveable, in a generally vertical sense, between a first Cup") position wherein the platform is substantially lev el with the floor of the vehicle and a second ("down") position wherein the platform is supported on the ground, and a barrier, the barrier being moveable between a first ("up") position wherein entry to or exit from the platform is restricted and a second Cdown") position wherein entry to or exit from the platform is permitted, in which the movement of the barrier between the "up" and "down" positions is operatively associated with and controlled by the movement of the platform.

2. A lift according to Claim 1, in which the barrier, in use, extends, in its "up" position, substantially across the width of the vehicle, whereby entry to or exit from the vehicle adjacent the platform is restricted.

3. A lift according to Claim 1 or 2, which is an underfloor lift (as hereinbefore defined).

4. A lift according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the barrier comprises at least one strut or bar adapted to be moveable about pivot means between the "up" and the "down" positions.

5. A lift according to Claim 4, in which the barrier comprises a complementary pair of struts or bars.

6. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the barrier is operated by pneumatically -actuated means.

7. A lift according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the barrier is operated by hydraulically- actuated means.

8. A lift according to any one of Claims I to 5, in which the barrier is operated by electrically -actuated means.

9. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the movement of the platform and the movement of the barrier takes place according to the following sequence:

G) the platform is deployed and the barrier moves to the "up" position-, GO the platform is moved to the "up" position and the barrier moves to the "down" position; Gii) as the platform is moved towards the "down" position, the barrier moves to the "up" position; Gv) steps GO and Gii) are repeated as often as necessary; (V) the platform is stored and the barrier moves to the "down" position.

10. A lift according to Claim 9, in which movement of the platform and/or of the barrier is monitored by sensing and/or signal means.

11. A lift according to Claim 9 or 10, in which a load cell or the like is provided in operative association with the platform, whereby loading of the platform causes the barrier to move to the "up" position.

12. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the movement of the platform and the barrier is actuated by means of a remote-control device.

11

13. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims, which includes a second barrier extending, in use, substantially across the width of that side of the platform remote from the vehicle.

14. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the barrier is provided with one or more safety features.

15. A lift according to Claim 14, including means adapted, in use, to detect, interrupt or override movement of the platform and/or the barrier.

16. A lift according to Claim 14, in which one or more portions of the barrier are provided with coloured markings.

17. A lift according to Claim 14, in which one or more portions of the barrier are provided with padding.

18. A lift according to Claim 14, in which one or more audible or visual alarm devices are operatively associated with the platform and/or the barrier.

19. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims, which is a wheelchair lift.

20. A lift according to any one of the preceding claims in which the barrier is operatively associated with a clutch-assembly, whereby the barrier can be moved between the "up" position and the "down" position independently of the movement of the platform.

21. A lift according to Claim 20 further comprising a first, moveable member operatively associated with the barrier and received in a non- 12 moveable housing, together with a locking member adapted, in use, to removably' engage a mortice or similar recess in said first removable member.

22. A lift according to Claim 21 in which the first, movable member comprises a plurality of telescoping portions.

23. A lift according to Claim 21 in which the first, moveable member comprises a plurality of articulating portions.

24. A lift, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings.

25. A lift, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.