GB2451556A

GB2451556A - Vehicle access platform having sliding part

Info

Publication number: GB2451556A
Application number: GB0813382A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carlos Casanovas Vilanova
Original assignee: Hidrel S L
Current assignee: Hidrel S L
Priority date: 2007-07-27
Filing date: 2008-07-22
Publication date: 2009-02-04
Also published as: ES1065878U; ES1065878Y; GB0813382D0

Abstract

A mobile platform for disabled access to a vehicle 6 incorporates a elevatable platform 1 concealed in a housing 5 under the access stairway 7 of the vehicle. The platform has an extending or folding part, in the form of a cover 9 which can extend into the vehicle. A sliding part 12 is situated below the cover to extend further into the vehicle, where the sliding part is actuated automatically.

Description

MOBILE PLATFORM FOR DISABLED ACCESS TO VEHICLES

The present invention relates to a platform intended to constitute a complement of a vehicle, such as, for example, a bus, coach or other passenger transport vehicle, which allows a user, in a wheelchair, to pass the difference in height between the ground and the floor of the vehicle.

The object of the invention is to achieve a mobile platform, which in addition to the necessary lifting movement to gain access to said floor of the vehicle, is capable of establishing a lateral projection in order to pass one or more steps existing in the interior thereof, forming an orthogonal layering with the classic direct access steps from the exterior.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Different types of mobile platforms with the aforementioned aim are known, whereamongst should be noted those shown by documents Wa 02071-95, EP0444386, WO 0112120 and ES 2203325, amongst others.

All of them feature as a common denominator the existence of a platform, houseable in an operative receptacle provided in the vehicle, under the access stairway thereof, extractable at the moment of its use, and which by means of suitable actuation, such as, for example, pneumatic cylinders or suchlike, is capable of lifting until any level necessary, specifically until the level of the vehicle floor, and then extending or unfolding in order to pass the steps and reach the aforementioned floor, establishing continuity therewith.

Even though these solutions are perfectly valid for certain types of buses, wherein a single flight of stairs is defined, they are not utilisable in vehicles with two flights of stairs, also frequent, wherein the exterior access stairway finishes in a landing wherein one or more lateral steps are established, in perpendicular disposal with respect to the steps of the first group.

Logically in these cases, there is an open space between the aforementioned landing and the general level and most of the rest of the vehicle, which logically can not be crossed by a wheelchair, so the previously mentioned mechanisms are inoperative in this type of vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The mobile platform proposed by the invention has been devised and structured in order to resolve the aforementioned problem in a fully satisfactory manner, so that said platform, also applicable to vehicles with a single flight of access stairs, is particularly applicable to vehicles with two flights of stairs, layered orthogonally therebetween.

In order to do this and in a more specific manner, and from the basic structure of any conventional lifting platform, the invention consists of equipping the extending part of the platform with a lateral slide, of automatic actuation, capable of remaining concealed under said extending part so that it does not effect the mobility and operability of the latter in any way, or of emerging laterally in order to block the hollow defined by the second flight of stairs, establishing continuity between the platform and the general majority level corresponding to the floor of the vehicle.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the extending part of the platform may be tilted, so that it acts as a cover for the latter in an operative situation, hereinafter called "cover", and the slide may be materialised in a plate mounted on the lower face of said cover through guides and bearings, being actuated by a small reducer motor, which actuates on a pair of gears wherethrough connecting rods move said plate or slide.

The mechanism may also include a pair of legs wherethrough the load is transmitted to the floor of the vehicle, specifically one automated leg also connected to the lower face of the cover, and which is swinging in limiting situations of operability and inoperability at the expense of a bar which connects it with an eccentric situated in one of the previously mentioned gears, while a second leg is situated on the lower face of the slide, non-automated leg, intended to rest on the final step of the second flight of stairs, and which, in turn, passes from the operative situation to the inoperative situation, and vice versa, due to simple gravitational effect, upon being mounted articulately on the slide.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description being made

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 perspective view, a bus equipped with a mobile platform for disabled access to vehicles carried out in accordance with the object of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a perspective detail of the front area of said vehicle; Fig. 3 shows a detail similar to that of figure 2, from another perspective; Fig. 4 shows, according to a schematic perspective representation, a perspective detail of the mobile platform in operative conditions; Fig. 5 shows a lower perspective view, i.e. in reversed position, of the cover of visible part of the platform, with the lateral slide whereon the invention is based, this assembly appearing in operative condition, just as in figure 1; Fig. 6 shows, finally, a representation similar to that of figure 2, wherein the lateral slide appears retracted, i.e. in inoperative condition.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures shown, it can be observed how the mobile platform proposed is constituted from a platform (1), which configures a type of box openable through its front wall (2) for wheelchair access, with collapsible banisters (3) and with lifting means (4) which permits said platform (1), after being extracted from its corresponding housing (5) in the vehicle (6), under the first flight of stairs (7), to descend until the floor level in order to pick up the chair and lift it until the level corresponding to the floor (8) of the bus or vehicle in question, said platform (1) extending in a collapsible cover (9) hinged to the internal edge of the platform (1) which can close the disc defined thereby, or swing 180° until the position shown in figure 1, wherein it exceeds the area corresponding to the second flight of stairs (11), invisible in figure 1 as it is hidden by the lateral slide (12), whereon the invention is based and which will be discussed below.

The slide (12) is situated immediately below the cover (9), parallel thereto and with the possibility of laterally moving between the end positions shown in figure 2 and 3, the purpose whereof being said slide (12) is materialised in a configuration plate suitable to the hollow defined between the cover (9) in an operative situation and the floor (8) of the vehicle, plate provided on the lateral edges thereof of both alignments of bearings (13) for the movement thereof along horizontal guides (14) duly solidly joined to the lower face of the cover (9) For the mobilisatjori of said plate or slide (12), also on the lower face of the cover (9) is attached a small reducer motor (15), provided with an exit gear which transmits the movement to a pair of gears (16), joined by means of articulations (17) to respective connecting rods (18), which, in turn, join articulately (19) to the plate (12) constjtutjve of the slide, so that these connecting rods (18) move or push said slide (12), moving it in one and the other direction, in accordance with the two limit positions previously mentioned and shown in figures 2 and 3, an inoperative position, that shown in figure 3, wherein the lateral slide remains hidden and inoperative under the cover, and another wherein it is projected to the exterior, as shown in figure 1, in order to establish continuity between the cover (9) and the floor (8) of the vehicle.

As a complement to the structure described and in order to transfer the loads supported by the platform of the vehicle, it is provided that the aforementioned slide (12) incorporates on its lower face a support leg (20) on the landing established between the two flights of stairs (7) and (11) of the vehicle, which moves by its own weight, i.e. it passes from the operative situation to the inoperative situation, swinging 90°, during the swinging manoeuvre of the cover (9). With this non-automated leg (20) collaborates an automated leg (21), mounted, in turn, in a swinging manner on the lower face of the cover (9) so that it can, in turn, pass from an inoperative situation to an operative situation, and vice versa, this leg (21) being actuated through a bar (22) with an eccentric (23) established in one of the gears (16).

It only remains to be pointed out, to conclude, that with the aim of achieving a smooth sliding of the slide (12), a pair of nylon runners (24) is provided on the lower face of the cover (9).

Obviously, all of the mechanisms described are protected by a cover, which has not been represented in the drawings in order to be able to better observe said mechanisms.

Claims

1. Mobile platform for disabled access to vehicles, of the type which incorporate a platform, elevatable and concealable in a housing of the vehicle situated under the access stairway thereto, a platform which has an extending or folding part, in the form of a cover, which can be placed in the heart of the vehicle the area facing the landing which connects two flights of stairs thereof, orthogonally layered, characterised in that under said cover is a lateral slide, concealable thereunder and able to emerge to the exterior covering the space corresponding to the second flight of stairs, and said lateral slide having means of automatic actuation therefore.

2. Mobile platform for disabled access to vehicles, according to claim 1, characterised in that the aforementioned means of actuation for the lateral slide consist of a small reducer motor, which through a gear or attack pinion supplies the movement to two gears, which are joined articulately to both connecting rods, which are, in turn, joined articulately to the plate constituting the lateral slide, so that through said connecting rods the lateral propulsion movement and concealing under the cover of the aforementioned lateral slide are produced.

3. Mobile platform for disabled access to vehicles, according to previous claims, characterised in that the plate constituting the lateral slide includes in its marginal areas separate alignments of bearings, which facilitate the sliding thereof on guides, also lateral to the cove, the disposal of the latter being provided with nylon runners whereon the slide slides in the movement thereof.

4. Mobile platform for disabled access to vehicles, according to previous claims, characterised in that the lateral slide includes a swinging leg capable of adopting two 900 offset positions, one of support on the second flight of the stairs of the vehicle and another collapsible one the lower face of the slide, passing from one to the other due to gravitational effect in the swinging manoeuvre of the cover, while the latter includes a second leg, this automated, intended to rest on the landing which connects the two flights of stairs of the vehicle, actuated by means of a bar with an eccentric mounted on one of the power transmission gears to the lateral slide.