GB2401394A

GB2401394A - Vehicle door hinging

Info

Publication number: GB2401394A
Application number: GB0310709A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Kuhn
Original assignee: WIETMARSCHER AMBULANZ und SOND
Current assignee: WIETMARSCHER AMBULANZ und SOND
Priority date: 2003-05-09
Filing date: 2003-05-09
Publication date: 2004-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-09
Also published as: GB0310709D0; GB2401394B; DE102004023029A1

Abstract

A vehicle door comprises an inner frame 14 mounted within an outer frame 12 of the vehicle body and a wing 16 mounted in the inners frame: the wing 16 opens about an axis 32 along one of wing's edges, for example horizontally, and the inner frame opens relative to the outer frame about another axis 24 orthogonal to the first, for example vertically. A mechanism to allow either vertical of horizontal hinging but not both may be provided. A handles 26, 30 may operate door locks.

Description

The invention relates to a vehicle door assembly comllrising, a vehicle

door, and hinge means for optionally permitting normal opening of the vehicle door by swindling the vehicle door about a vertical axis extending substantially along Line side of the vehicle door or folding out a loadings ran p about a horizontal axis extending substantially along the lower edge of the vehicle door.

ln particular, the invention relates to tailgates or rear doors of ambulance vehicles. Rather heavy, wheeled loads such as wheeled stretchers or wheelchairs have to be loaded into the ambulance vehicle. Lifting of such heavy loads stresses the personnel. It is also embarrassing to a sick or wounded person who its loaded this way.

WO t)212712g Al clesc.mbcs a tailgate for ambulance or commercial vehicles, which can be rotated optionally about a vertical axis or about a horizontal axis extending: along the door. Then the door can be swung open sideways in conventional manner. The door may, however, also be folded to the rear about the horizontal axis of rotation to form a loading ramp, through which, for example, a wheelchair may be rolled into the vehicle.

The prior art rear door consists { one single door element which can be retained by two horizontally úurang=1 hinge pins or by two vertically arranged hinge pins. In the nonnal operative position, in which the rear door is swung open sideways, the rear door is held by two vertically arranged hinge pins. A hinge pin arranged on the opposite side on the horizontal axis of rotation is retracted from the door, such that the door can be swlmg open. If a loading ramp is to be conned, this horizontal hinge pin is shifted forward by a mecharrism. The upper one of the vertical hinge pins is moved out of engagement with the associated hinge by another mechanism. The Icwcr one of the vertical hinge pins is connected with the adjacent horizontal hinge pin and is rotatable therewith. This requires a complex mechanism for moving the various hinge pins into one or the other oiperativc position, this mechanism extending all around the rear door. Such a mechanism is bulky, expansive and prone to malfunction.

US patent 3,387,406 discloses a tailboard of a motor vehicle. The tailboard can optionally be swung sideways or be rotated about a horizontal axis into a horizontal positionto form an extended loading area.

A similar structure is shown in FR 2 741 105 Al.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and reliable vehicle door with loading ramp.

I O According to the inaction, this object is achieved in that (a) the vehicle door is a two-part assembly having a frame-shaped outer part and an inner part, the inner part being mounted in the outer part and covering the opening defined by the Dame-shaped outer part, (b) the frame-shaped outer part is mounted at the vehicle body by means of fixedly attached first hinges tor rotation about a first axis, (c) the inner part is mounted at the frame-shaped outer part by means of fixedly attached second hinges for rotation about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis, (d) one of the two parts being arranged to be folded out about a horizontal axis for romping the loading ramp.

According to the invention, the vehicle door consists of two parts. An outer part, virtually, is a frame rotatable ahout a first axis. An inner part fills this *amc. The inner part is rotatable relative to the outer part about a second axis orthogonal to the first axis.

One of the parts is rotatable about a vertical axis to form a door which can he swung sideways. The other one of the parts can be folded outwards about a horizontal axis extending along the lower edge of the floor. This provides the loading ramp. Conway to the prior art described above, the rotatable mounting is effected by means of fixedly attached hinges the hinge pins of which treed not be moved by any mechanism or, in tum, have to be rotatably mountc:1.

The *arne-shaped outer part may be hinged at the vehicle body for rotation about vertical axis, while the inner part is hinged at the outer part for rotation about a horizontal axis to form a loading ramp. In this case, only the inner part forth the loading ramp. Inner and outer parts together form the door which can be swung open sideways.

It is, however also possible that the framc-sha.ped outer part is mounted at the vehicle body for rotation about a horizontal axis for donning loading? ramp, and the inner part is mounted at the frame-shaped outer pan for rotation about a vertical axis. Then the door adapted to be swung open sileways is foirned by the inner part only. The outer part, here, forms a stationary dour frame.

The fomicr solution permits an extension plate to be hing,ed at the upper edge of the inner port and to be folded over at the iMer side of the vehicle door over part of the inner part, the extension plate? after folding out of the inner part being rotated through 180 to form the lower part of the loading ramp. In this case? supports may be attached to the outside of the irmer part near the upper edge thereof, the inner part being supported on these supports such that the inner part and the rotated extension plate lie substantially in a common plane.

The various modes of operation can optionally be achieved in that first locking means are provided for locking the outer part to the vehicle body, the first locking means being releasable by a first handle, and second locking means being provided for locking the inner part to the outer part, the second locking means being releasable by a second handle.

Furthennore? means may be provided for mutually interlocking of inner part and outer part for preventing, rotation of one part out of its closing? position, if the other part has been rotated out of its closing position. This avoids misoperation, t'or example folding out of the inner part as loading ramp, while the dolor has been swung open sidewise, or vice versa.

Embodiments of the invention are described in greater detail hereinbelow with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig.l shows an ambulance vehicle having a rear door which, optionally, can be swung open sideways about a vertical axis or permits the folding out of a loading ramp about a horizontal axis.

Fig.2 is a side elevation of the vehicle ol Fig.1 with the loading ramp folded out.

Fig.3 shows another embodiment of an ambulance vehicle having a rear door which, optionally, can be swung open sideways about a vertical axis or permits the folding out of a loading ramp about horizontal axis.

Fig.4 is a schematic block diagram and illustrates the mutual interlocking of inner I 5 part and outer part to prevent misoperation.

Referring to Fig.1 amd 2, numeral 10 designates a vehicle. The vehicle may be an ambulance vehicle. The vehicle may, however, also be a transporter or pick-up truck which is to be loaded with rolling loads. the vehicle 10 has a rear door, which is generally designated by numeral 12. The rear door 12 is composed of two parts, namely a rectangular outer part 14 and a rectangular timer part 16. The outer part 14,virtunily, is a frame only, the width of which is dctcrmnied by the stability rcquirenents. The *ame shaped outer part 14 is hinged at the vehicle body 22 by two vertically.spaccd hinges 18 anal 20 for rotation about a vertical axis 24. The axis 24 extends substantially along the vertical outer edge of the outer part 14. The hinges 18 and 20 consist, as usual, of a two part hinge structure of which one part is attached to the vehicle body 22 and of which the other part is attached to the outer part 14, the two parts of the hinge structure being interconnected by a hinge pin. The hinges with the hinge pins are attached to the vehicle body 22 and outer part 14, respectively, with the hinge pins permanently retained in Me hinge structure. The hinge pins are neither retracted bon1 the hinge structure nor rotated out of axis 24.

A locking device (not shown) is provided at the arne-shaped outer part 14 on the side opposite the hinges I and 20. This is a conventional door locking device, which can be rclcasocl by a handle 26 such as conventional door handle.

the rectangular inner part 16 is located inside the fraruc-shaped outer part 14. The inner part, virtually, fortes the panel of the door. The inner past 16 is hinged at the Dame shaped outer part 14 by hinges 28 and 30 for rotation about a horizontal axis 32, so that it can be folded out about this axis 32. Also the hinges 28 and 30 consist of the conventional Clinic parts and hinge pins, which are permanently affixed to the outer part 14 and inner part 16, respectively. Also here, the hinge pins are fixedly installed and are not retracted from the hinge parts in any covey. The inner part 16 is locked to the outer part 14 by means of a conventional locking device (not shown). The locking device can be released by a handle 34. Then, the inner part 16 can be folded out to the rear (with respect to the vehicle) relative to the outer part 14 about the axis 32 through an angle of more than 90 and, thereby, ferns a loading ramp.

As shown in Fig. 1, an extension plate 38 is hinged at the upper edge 36 of the inner part 16 and is folded, at the inside of the vehicle door 12, over part of the inner part 16. The extension plate 38, after the inner part 16 has been folded out, can be rotated through 180 and forms the lower end of the loading ramp. This is shown in Fig.2. Supports 40 are attache on the outside of the inner part 16 near the upper edge thereof. The irmcr Part 16 can be supported on these supports, when it has been folded out. In this way, the folded nut inner part 16 and the extension plate 38 lie substantially in the same plane and form a loading ramp 42, which ascends at an angle of, for example, 16 or less.

This loading ramp 42 permits rolling loads to be loaded into the vehicle 10 with low physical effort. In the case of an ambulance vehicle, for example, wheeled stretchers or wheelchairs or also incubators can be pushed into the vehicle 3U The described arrangement pennits the vehicle door 12 to swing open of side.'vays in usual way. 1 o this end, the frame-shaped outer part 14 is rotated. It is, however, possible as well to fold the inner part 16 out to the rear to form a loading ramp 42 with the outer part kept locl;ed. In both cases rotation takes place about conventional hinges without mechanisms acting: on the hinds.

Fig.3 shows another embodiment of a rear door with loading ramp. This cmbolimcl is based on the same principle as the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2 but with the functions of outer part and inner part exchanged.

Referring to Fig.3, numeral 44 designates a vehicle, for example an awhulance vehicle.

The vehicle 44 has a rear door, which is generally cicsignated by numeral 46. Similar to I O the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2, the rear door 46 consists of two parts, namely a frame shaped outer part 48 and an inner part 50, which virtually, forms a door panel.

Tn the embodiment of Fig.3, however, the outer part 48 is hinged at the vehicle body 56 by two hinges 52 and 56. The two obliges S2 and 56 are located on tle lower edge of the outer part 48 and permit the outer part 48 to be to be folded out about a horizontal axis together with the ironer part locked in the outer part. Then, outer part 48 and inner part 50 together fond a loading ramp. The outer pelt 48 is locked lo the vehicle body 56 by means of a locking device (not shown). The locking device cm, be released by means of a handle 60.

The inucr part 50 is hinged at the outer part 50 by two hinges 62 and 64. The hinges 62 and 64 are placed along a vertical edge Elf the inner part 50 and permit the inner part 50 to he swung nut sideways about a vertical axis 66. Here, the inner part 50 forms the door proE,eT, while the outer part, in this mode of operation, represents kind of a stationary door Fame. Also here, the inner part 50 is locked to the outer part 48 by ú locking device on the side opposite the hinges 62,64. lithe locking device can be released by a door handle 68.

Fig.4 schematically shows as a block diagram the means for mutually interlocking of iMer part 50 and outer part 48. These means hock rotation of one pad, for example of the outer part 48, out of its closed position. when the other part, in the example the inner part, has been rotated out of its closed position. Thcsc means for mutual interlocking comprise a microswitch 7(), which provides a signal, when the outer part 48 has been rotated out of its closed position. Correspondingly, a microswitch 72 provides a signal, whenn the inner part hat; been rotated out of its closed position. The signals from the microswitchcs 70 and 72 are applied to a control 74. The control 74 cnergise.s a solenoid 76, when a signal from the microswitch 70 is received. l lye solenoid then locks the door handle 68. Then, the inner part 50 cannot be opened as a door. Tle control energiscs a solenoid 78, when a signal from the microswitch 76 is received. Then the solenoid locks the handle 60.

The interlocking means of Fig.4 can, of course, also be used in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2. The interlocking means may 50 be a mechanical instead of electric device, as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

Claims s 1. A tehicic door assembly comprising a vehicle door (12;46),

and hinge means tar optionally permitting normal opening of the vehicle door (12;46) by swinging the vehicle door (12;46) about a vertical axis (24;66) extending substantially along one 1() side of the vehicle door (12;46) or folding out a loading ramp about a horizontal axis (32;58) extending substantially along the lower edge of the vehicle door (12;46), wherein (a) the vehicle door (12;4G) is a two-part assembly having a trarne- shaped outer part (14;48) and an inner pan ( 16;50), the inner part (16; SO) being mounted in the outer part (14;48) and covering the opening defined by the: frame-shaE?ed outer part (14;48)! (b) the frame-shaped outer part (14;48) is mounted at the vehicle body by means of fixedly attached first hinges (18,20;52,54) for rotation about a first axis (24;58), (c) the inner part (16;50) is mounted at the frame-sha?ed outer part (14; 48) by means of fixedly attached second hinges (28,30;62,64) for rotation about a 2S second axis (32;66) orthogonal to the first axis, (d) one of the two parts being arranged to be folded out about a horizontal axis for forming the loading rump.
2 vehicle door assembly as claimed Ln claim 1, wherein the frame-shaped outer part (14) is mounted at the vehicle body (22) for rotation about a vertical Avis (24), and the inner part (16) is mounted on the outer body (14) about a horizontal axis (32) to form the loading ramp (42).
3. vehicle door assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein an extension plate (38)is heed at the upper edge of the inner part ( 16) and is folded over at the inucr side oi the vehicle door (12) over part of the inner part (16), the extension plate (36), atter I(J1dinS OU' of the inner part (16) being rotated through 180 to form the lower part of the loading ramp (4?) ID
4. A chicle door assembly as claimed in clain1 3, wherein supports (4()) are attached to the outside of the inner pan (16) near the upper edge thereof, the inner part ( 16) being supported on these supports (40) such that the inner part (16) and the restated extension plate (38) lie substantially in a common plane.
5. A vehicle door assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fi=ncshaped outer part (48) is mounted at the vehicle body (56) for rotation about a horizontal axis (58) for fanning a loading ramp, and the irmcr pan (50) is hinged at the úrarnc shaped outer part (48) for rotation about a vertical axis (66).
6. A vehicle door assembly as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 5, wherein (a) first locking means are provided for locking the outer part ó14;48) to the vehicle body (22;56), the first locking means being releasable by a first handle (26;68), and (b) second locking means being provided for locking the ironer part (16; 50) to the outer part tl4;4X)' the second locking means being releasable by a second handle (34;S(J).
7. vehicle door assembly as claimed in anyone of the claims 1 to 6, wherein means are provided for mutually interlocking of inner part (16;50) and outer part (14;48) for preventing rotation of one part out of its closing position, it the other part has been rotated out of its closing position.