GB2451554A

GB2451554A - Mobile access platform with stabilising device

Info

Publication number: GB2451554A
Application number: GB0813296A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carlos Casanovas Vilanova
Original assignee: Hidrel S L
Current assignee: Hidrel S L
Priority date: 2007-07-27
Filing date: 2008-07-21
Publication date: 2009-02-04
Also published as: ES1065877U; GB0813296D0; ES1065877Y

Abstract

A stabilising device for the cover 8 of a mobile access platform 1 to a vehicle comprises a collapsible leg 10 mounted on the cover. When the platform is established the interior edge 7 is joined articulately to the cover, which is capable of constituting a coplanar extension of the platform, and is coplanar at the same time with the seating floor 2 of the vehicle. The stabilising device is mounted on the underside of the cover when it is an operative position and comprises a collapsible leg which is capable of supporting the cover in its working position on the floor of the vehicle. The leg rests on the lower side of the cover in an inoperative condition, and forms a 90{ angle with the cover in its operative condition. An electric actuator 14 may be provided to move the leg from its inoperative position to its operative position.

Description

STABILISING DEVICE FOR THE COVER OF A MOBILE ACCESS

PLATFORM TO VEHICLES

The present invention relates to a stabilising device, especially designed for the collapsible top of a mobile platform of those used in public vehicles, such as buses, coaches or others, for access of handicapped people, specifically in wheel chairs.

The object of the invention is to achieve that, with a noticeable structural simplicity for said cover, the cover offers a suitable mechanical strength against the loads that it has to bear when it is in condition of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lifting platforms for the type of vehicles previously mentioned are known, which are extractable from a housing situated in the vehicle under the access stairs whereof, said platforms constituting a type of openable box with its corresponding hinged cover, so that said cover maintains a closed position for the housing of the platform, in an inoperative condition, but it swings down 180° when on the surface or floor of the bus has two different levels, one entrance level, corresponding to the driver's area or to the passageway, lower, and another level corresponding to the seating area.

In these cases, the said cover must be at the same level as the floor of the seats, completely suspended, so hat the stress, both that due to its own weight as well as that of the load that it has to bear, transmits to the platform through the said rotational hinge, and through one of its edges at the side of the floor of the seats, or which is the same, said top rests on two adjoining edges which for a 90° angle, or parallel but with lots of space therebetween, so the cover has to be very strong and therefore very heavy to be able to bear such stresses

in a stable manner.

DESCRIPTION OF TEE INVENTION

The stabilising device proposed by the invention, applicable to mobile or lifting platforms with the type of collapsible cover previously mentioned, resolves the previously stated problem in a satisfactory manner, determining a complementary support for the cover over the vehicle's surface, specifically on the first level thereof, the one corresponding to the driver's area or that of the hallway.

Said leg is preferably joined to the lower side of the cover in a swinging manner, so that it is capable of adapting thereto, in inoperative conditions, so as not to interfere in the folding/unfolding of the platform, and also to adopt a perpendicular layout with regard to the cover, specifically in a condition of use, wherein said leg rests on the surface of the vehicle, obviously in operation condition.

The actuation of said leg may be carried out automatically, due to its own weight, in combination with the tilting of the cover, but preferably said leg will be moved by an electric actuator or of any other type, capable of establishing the two limit positions provided therefore, offset therebetween at 900.

The aforementioned electric actuator may at the same time be attached to the lower side of the invention, so that it does not interfere with the manoeuvrability thereof.

Finally, and in accordance with another of the characteristics of the invention, the said leg may have an adjustable rubber block, which allows the adjustment between certain limits of the effective height of the leg in its assembly as a whole with the object of achieving a correct Positioning of the cover with respect to the surface of the vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description being carried out and with the purpose of helping towards a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description, wherein the following, in an illustrative and non-limitative character, has been represented: Fig. 1 shows, according to a schematic representation in perspective, a mobile access platform to vehicles equipped with the stabilising device for its cover which is made up of the object of the present invention, which appears in position between its end limit conditions of operation and inoperation.

Fig. 2 shows, according perspective similar to that of the previous figure, the platform of said figure in definitive working position with respect to the floor of the vehicle.

Fig. 3 shows a detail in perspective below the cover, in inoperative condition of the stabilising device.

Fig. 4 shows, to finish, a representation similar to figure 3 but wherein the stabilising device appears in operative position.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures shown and particularly figure 1, it can be observed how the device proposed by the invention is designed for a mobile platform (1) mounted on a vehicle whereon whose floor is established two levels, one lower level (2), corresponding to the entrance area, and another higher level (3), corresponding to the seating area.

The platform (1) configures a type of plate or box openable through its front wall (4), for wheelchair access, which houses therein a collapsible banister (5), acting as means of protection, said platform (1) having lifting means (6) capable of situating itself over the floor (2) in the entrance area, and said platform (1) having on its interior edge (7) a hinge whereby it is connected to a cover (8) capable of being on the same level with the seating floor (3) of the vehicle, and more specifically to rest on the free edge of the latter, the other free edges of the cover (8) being provided with both retention flaps (9) which prevent the accidental removal of said cover.

In accordance with the invention and with the aim of improving both the stability and the mechanical strength of the cover (8) in working condition, it is provided that on the upper side thereof, when it is in a inoperative position and on the lower side when it is in operative condition of figure 2, a leg (10) is provided which is capable of supporting the cover (8) in a working condition on the floor section (2) of the floor of the vehicle corresponding to the driver's or the entrance area, leg mounted on the cover (8) in a swinging maimer with the collaboration of a shaft (11) which swings on end supports (12).

In the practical embodiment selected in the figures, the said leg (10) adopts a V-shaped profile configuration, of truncated vertex and of sides provided with obtuse curves, but this configuration is merely an example and can be substituted for by any other which is deemed suitable, in any case keeping as common denominator the existence in its support area on the floor of an adjustable rubber block (13), for example connected to a screw which lies in a threaded port, so that said block allows for the adjustment of the effective height of the leg (10) in its assembly.

Said leg (10) is situated at the edge of the cover (8) opposing the vertex which connects to its hinge with its support line on the seating floor, and the change of inoperative position in figure 3 to the operative condition shown in figure 4 can be carried out spontaneously, by mere gravitational effect and depending on the swinging in one or another direction of the cover (8), but preferably it will be performed with the collaboration of an electric actuator (14), joined articulately by one of its ends to a support (15) suitably attached to the cover (8), while at its other end it is in turn joined articulately to the leg (10) close to one of the swinging supports (12) theref or.

This electric actuator is similar to a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, but it is completely electric, so that the control thereof can be exercised through the card when it is deemed necessary, however, any other type of actuator can be used.

Claims

1. Stabilising device for the cover of a mobile access platform to vehicles, wherein a lifting platform is established, the interior edge whereto is joined articulately to a cover capable of constituting a coplanar extension with the platform, and coplanar at the same time with the floor of the seats of the vehicle, above the access area thereto, characterised in that it consists of a collapsible leg disposed opposite the vertex defined by the hinging line of the cover and the edge thereof which rests on the floor of the seats, all of that in a manner which the aforementioned leg rests on the lower side of the cover in an inoperative condition, and forms a 900 angle with said cover in an operative condition thereof.

2. Stabilising device for the cover of a mobile access platform to vehicles according to claim 1, characterised in that the aforementioned leg is mounted on the cover in a swinging manner with the collaboration of a shaft and a pair of supports, and is actuated by means of an actuator, preferable electric, provided between said cover and a third support solidly joined to the lower side of the cover.

3. Stabilising device for the cover of a mobile access platform to vehicles according to claim 1, characterised in that the swinging of the leg for its change of position from inoperative condition to operative position and vice versa occurs simultaneously, due to gravitational effect in the tilting manoeuvre in one or other direction of the cover.

4. Stabilising device for the cover of a mobile access platform to vehicles according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterised in that the leg is topped off at its free end by a rubber block of adjustable height.