JP3312094B2 - Retractable auxiliary steps for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle, such as a bus, a truck, and a one-box car, which is disposed between the ground surface and the vehicle step.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, steps provided at entrances of vehicles such as buses, trucks, one-box cars, etc., have a height difference between the ground and the ground surface so as to interfere with getting on and off. It can be seen that a retractable auxiliary step is provided at the lower portion of the vehicle so as to be able to protrude forward on the side of getting on and off so as to eliminate a difference in elevation when getting on and off.

For example, an auxiliary step shown in FIG. 7 is installed immediately below a vehicle step x, interlocks when a door is opened, and slides forward in a state where the door is opened and the height is maintained. For this reason, the position from the ground was too high to step on before, and the original auxiliary step y as a foot joint
Was not achieved.

In addition, installing the auxiliary step having the above structure not at a position immediately below the vehicle step but at a low position that is optimal as a foot joint reduces the minimum ground clearance of the vehicle itself. It was a fact that it was not possible to implement this.

[0005] In order to solve the above disadvantages of the auxiliary step, an auxiliary step shown in FIG. 8 has been developed.

In this auxiliary step, a rotary shaft b is provided below the vehicle step a, one end of a link arm c is fixed to the rotary shaft b, and an auxiliary step d is pivotally connected to the other end of the link arm c. A drive arm f of the drive source e is connected to a driven arm g having the other end fixed to the rotating shaft b. The drive arm f is folded and stored at the lower part of the vehicle step a except when getting on and off. By swinging c downward from the upper position, the auxiliary step d is moved horizontally on an arc-shaped trajectory while being held horizontally, and is projected from below the vehicle step a forward of the entrance.

However, since the auxiliary step d is moved over the arc trajectory by the link arm c and overhangs, the auxiliary step d is moved by an arc. Therefore, if an obstacle such as a stone is present on the ground surface during the overhang. Has the drawback that it is prevented from moving downward, and in the use of cold regions with a lot of snow, it has the drawback of scooping up the snow during the overhang of the auxiliary step d and hindering getting on and off. I was

In order to make full use of the overhang dimension in the forward direction, the auxiliary step d is stopped at a further upper position after passing through the lowest point on the circular orbit, so In addition to the need for a driving force corresponding to the ascent, the moving source stops when a load is applied during the ascent, so that the driving source e has a disadvantage that the driving source e must be increased in size.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, an auxiliary step is made to extend forward from below to above.
To prevent the overhang due to the presence of obstacles on the movement trajectory of the auxiliary step, eliminate the problem of scooping up snow, and reduce the size of the drive source by eliminating the need for extra power when overhanging The present invention intends to provide a retractable auxiliary step for vehicles.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above-mentioned problem, the present invention is based on the above-mentioned prior art, and in view of the problem that the auxiliary step is extended downward from the upper side to the lower side, the vehicle is connected to a drive source by an appropriate transmission means, and A fixed shaft suspended vertically on the left and right below the bottom is used as the center of rotation, and the rotating shaft whose base end side is orthogonally supported with respect to the fixed shaft has a predetermined height difference between the base end and the distal end. connecting the proximal end portion of the arm formed by bent
When the auxiliary step is retracted , a supporting rod for controlling the rotation of the rotary shaft so as to hold the arm down is universally connected to the rotary shaft and the auxiliary step is extended.
At the same time, a support plate is provided to contact the upper end of the rotating shaft,
On the other hand, the distal end of the arm has the hanging shaft provided at the bottom of the auxiliary step as the center of rotation, and is supported orthogonally to the hanging shaft, and is rotatably provided with the center axis of the distal end of the arm as the center of rotation, In addition, by providing a support roller that slides on the bottom of the auxiliary step at the tip of the arm,
The rotation of the arm around each of the fixed axis and the rotation axis is synthesized, and while maintaining the horizontal state of the auxiliary step, translate it from the upper side to the right or the lower left forward,
The above-mentioned drawback is intended to be solved by descending and projecting in front of the vehicle step.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Reference numeral 1 denotes a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to the present invention. The auxiliary step 1 is formed in a substantially horizontally long rectangular shape. The lower part of the vehicle step 2 at the entrance of a vehicle such as a bus, a truck, a one-box car, etc.
The auxiliary step 1 is provided.

Further, operating mechanisms 4, 4a of the auxiliary step 1 are provided at the left and right positions in the lateral width direction of the storage section 3, and the operating mechanisms 4, 4a have the same left and right structures. The member is disposed at a position translated in parallel to the right and left places.

Reference numerals 5 and 5a denote support substrates formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the depth direction of the storage unit 3. The support substrates 5 and 5a are located on the left and right sides in the width direction of the storage unit 3 and at the bottom of the vehicle step 2. It is horizontally arranged and fixed below a predetermined interval.

In FIG. 1, between the supporting substrates 5 and 5a, a drive source storage box 6 of the operating mechanism portions 4 and 4a is fixed to the bottom of the vehicle step 2.

A drive motor 7 as a drive source is housed and fixed in the drive source housing box 6, and a gear box 8 connected to a drive shaft of the drive motor 7 is housed and fixed. A base end of a crank 10 is fixed to an operating shaft 9 and a base end of a connecting rod 11 is pivotally connected to a tip end of the crank 10 by a pivot 12.

Fixed shafts 13 and 13a are suspended from the support substrates 5 and 5a, and a substantially cylindrical rotating bearing 14 and 13 are mounted on the fixed shafts 13 and 13a.
In FIG. 1, the left rotating bearing 14 is provided with a lever rod 15 having a fixed shaft 13 as a fulcrum, and the connecting rod 11 is attached to one end serving as an operating point of the lever rod 15 in FIG. The tip is pivotally connected at a pivot 16.

In FIG. 1, one end of a driven rod 17 is fixed to the right rotating bearing 14a.
The other end, which is the point of force of the lever 15, is pivoted to both ends of the connecting rod 18.
It is pivoted at 19 and 19a.

The operation of the drive motor 7 causes the lever 15 to swing through the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 so that the driven lever 17 is interlocked with the lever 15 via the connecting rod 18 so that the left and right movements are performed. The mechanism parts 4 and 4a make the same movement, and the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 overlap and the operating shaft 9, the pivots 12 and 16 exceed the dead point A on the orbit of the pivot 12 which is located in a straight line. The storage of the auxiliary step 1 is completed at the position X, and the dead center B on the trajectory of the pivot 12 in which the operating shaft 9, the pivots 12, 16 are aligned with the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 being fully extended. Is set so as to complete the forward extension of the assisting step 1 at the position Y exceeding.

Reference numeral 20 denotes a crank at a position X which exceeds the dead point A on the track of the pivot 12 in which the operating shaft 9, the pivots 12 and 16 are aligned with the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 overlapping.
10 is a stopper to stop, and 21 is a crank 10
The connecting rod 11 is fully extended and the operating shaft 9 and the pivot
12 and 16 are stoppers for stopping the crank 10 at a position Y beyond the dead center B on the orbit of the pivot 12 located on a straight line, and the stoppers 20 and 21 are provided at the bottom of the drive source storage box 6. are doing.

The rotating bearings 14 and 14a have substantially cylindrical bearings.
The bearings 22 and 22a are fixed orthogonally, that is, the bearings 22 and 22a are fixed horizontally. The bearings 22 and 22a are provided with the rotating shafts 24 and 24a of the arms 23 and 23a supporting the auxiliary step 1 and the center axis thereof. It is mounted rotatably so as to be the center of rotation, and the rotating shaft 24,
Reference numeral 24a protrudes a distal end portion in the depth direction of the storage unit 3, and provided at the distal end portion are rollers 25 and 25a having a center axis of the rotating shafts 24 and 24a as a center of rotation.

Are support plates horizontally arranged vertically below and parallel to the rear of the support substrates 5, 5a in the depth direction. The support plates 26, 26a are formed long in the left-right direction. During the overhang, the rollers 25, 25a slide between the support plates 26, 26a.

In the above description, the rollers 25, 25a are provided at the tips of the rotating shafts 24, 24a. However, when the auxiliary step 1 is extended, the upper and lower portions of the tips of the rotating shafts 24, 24a are closed. The support plates 26, 26a... May be brought into contact with each other.

The arms 23, 23a are bent in a substantially J-shape, a substantially L-shape, or a substantially elbow shape so as to have a predetermined height difference L between the base end and the front end, and the base ends are rotated as described above. The ends of the shafts 24 and 24a are connected and fixed at right angles to the ends of the shafts 24 and 24a, and the ends of the arms 23 and 23a are provided in parallel with the rotary shafts 24 and 24a so as to have a height difference L.

At the tip of the arms 23, 23a, there are provided support rollers 27, 27a whose center is the center axis of rotation, and the support rollers 27, 27a are grounded to the bottom of the auxiliary step 1. , The support rollers 27, 27a run on the bottom of the auxiliary step 1.

28, 28a are the bottom of the auxiliary step 1,
And a hanging shaft provided at an appropriate position on a circumference of an appropriate radius centered on the fixed shafts 13 and 13a. A substantially cylindrical rotating bearing 29 and 29a is rotatably mounted on the hanging shafts 28 and 28a. A substantially cylindrical bearing 30, 30a is fixed to the rotating bearings 29, 29a orthogonally, and the ends of the arms 23, 23a are fixed to the bearings 30, 30a with the center axis of the leading end as the center of rotation. It is rotatably mounted on.

In FIG. 2, reference numerals 31 and 31a denote lower support plates 26.
b, 26c are support rods having their base ends universally attached to the lower left ends thereof. The support rods 31 and 31a are formed by bending the distal ends thereof toward the rotation shafts 24 and 24a. Pins 32, 32a rotatable on a horizontal plane with respect to the support rods 31, 31a are pivotally mounted on the distal end.

Reference numerals 33 and 33a denote bracket bearings protruding from a substantially lower portion of the center of the rotating shafts 24 and 24a.
33a, the pins 32, 32a of the support rods 31, 31a
The support rods 31 and 31a are attached to the rotating shafts 24 and 24a by bracket bearings.
The supporting rods 31, 31a control the rotation of the rotating shafts 24, 24a so that the arms 23, 23a are held down when the auxiliary step 1 is retracted.

Numerals 34 and 34a denote stoppers which stand on the lower support plates 26b and 26c in the shape of a standing wall.
a is set so that the rollers 25, 25a between the support plates 26, 26a are stopped when the auxiliary step 1 completes the forward extension, and the rollers 25, 25a are stopped at the stoppers 34, 34a. Are provided with cushioning members 35 and 35a at the abutting portions.

Numerals 36 and 36a denote torsion coil springs which bias the rotation of the arms 23 and 23a about the fixed shafts 13 and 13a in the direction in which the auxiliary step 1 is stored. They are fitted to the rotary bearings 14 and 14a, and their respective ends are hooked to the arms 23 and 23a and the support substrates 5 and 5a.

Numerals 37 and 37a denote torsion coil springs which urge the rotation of the arms 23 and 23a about the rotation shafts 24 and 24a in the direction in which the auxiliary step 1 is retracted. The shafts 24 and 24a are externally fitted to the shafts 24 and 24a, and the respective ends of the shafts 24 and 24a are connected to the rotating bearings 23 and 23a and the bracket bearings 33 and
Hanging on 33a.

In the embodiment described above, the drive source is the drive motor 7, but the invention is not limited to such a system, and the drive source may be an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder. In this case crank 10
The connecting rod 11 becomes unnecessary, and instead of the connecting rod 11, a cylinder rod is pivotally mounted on one end serving as an action point of the lever rod 15, and the cylinder body is rotatably mounted on the drive source storage box 6 so as to be rotatable on a horizontal plane. ing.

Next, the operation of the retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, in the retracted state of the auxiliary step 1, the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 overlap and the operating shaft 9, In a state where the pivots 12 and 16 are aligned, a position X where the pivot 12 exceeds the dead center A from a dead center A where the pivot 12 is located on its orbit.
Has been placed.

In such a state, the rotating shafts 24, 24 of the arms 23, 23a are attached to the lever rod 15 and the driven rod 17 linked therewith.
a, the bearings 22 and 22a fixed to the rotary bearings 14 and 14a hold the arms 23 and 23a drawn toward the storage side, and the rotating shafts 24 and 23 of the arms 23 and 23a
Arm 2 is supported by support rods 31 and 31a that control the rotation of 24a.
3, 23a is held in a lying state, and the auxiliary step 1 is arranged in the storage section 3.

At this time, the auxiliary step 1 includes the arms 23 and 23a
Support rollers 27, 27a at the front end and the hanging shaft 2
Arm 2 rotatably supported by bearings 30 and 30a on 8, 28a
The horizontal state is maintained by four points supported by the tips of 3, 23a.

When the drive motor 7 is operated in the retracted state of the auxiliary step 1, the crank 10 rotates counterclockwise, and the connecting rod 11 interlocked therewith.
By pivoting the lever rod 15, the rotary bearing 22 fixed to the lever rod 15 causes the arm 23 to rotate around the fixed shaft 13,
The auxiliary step 1 is rotated in the direction of projecting forward, and at the same time, the rotation bearing 22a is driven by the driven rod 17 linked with the lever rod 15.
This causes the arm 23a to rotate in the same direction as the above with the fixed shaft 13a as the center of rotation.

The arms 23 and 23a are connected to the auxiliary step 1 described above.
And the rotation about the rotation axes 24 and 24a for lowering the auxiliary step 1 at the same time as this rotation, the auxiliary steps are combined. Overhang 1 in a downward descent.

The operating states of the arms 23 and 23a and the auxiliary step 1 about the fixed shafts 13 and 13a as the center of rotation will be described below.
The operating states of the arms 23, 23a and the auxiliary step 1 around the rotation centers 24, 24a will be described in detail.

First, the operating states of the arms 23, 23a and the auxiliary step 1 about the fixed shafts 13, 13a as the center of rotation will be described.
The rotation of the arms 23, 23a about the fixed shafts 13, 13a as the center of rotation causes the arms 23, 23 about the hanging shafts 28, 28a as the center of rotation.
The tip of a rotates to protrude the auxiliary step 1 forward.

When the arms 23 and 23a rotate,
Since the support rollers 27, 27a at the tips of 23, 23a slide on the bottom of the auxiliary step 1, the support rollers 27, 27a and the bearings 30, 30a are rotatable about the hanging shafts 28, 28a. The auxiliary step 1 is always kept horizontal by the distal ends of the arms 23 and 23a supported.

With the rotation of the arms 23, 23a around the fixed shafts 13, 13a, the rollers 25, 25a at the tips of the rotating shafts 24, 24a slide between the support plates 26, 26a. When the vehicle travels and the overhang of the auxiliary step 1 is completed, it comes into contact with the buffer members 35 and 35a provided on the stoppers 34 and 34a.

Next, the operating states of the arms 23 and 23a and the auxiliary step 1 with the rotation axes 24 and 24a as the center of rotation will be described.
The supporting rods 31, 31a, which held the arms 23, 23a in the down state at the time of the storage of the auxiliary step 1, maintain the force balance by the rotation of the arms 23, 23a about the fixed shafts 13, 13a as the center of rotation. And the force cannot be applied to the bracket bearings 33, 33
Via a, the rotary shafts 24, 24a are acted on in the direction of rotation.

When the rotating shafts 24 and 24a rotate, the arm
The distal ends of the arms 23 and 23a slide and rotate the bearings 30 and 30a, and rotate the distal ends of the arms 23 and 23a downward so as to cause the arms 23 and 23a which were in the down state at the time of storage of the auxiliary step 1.

As described above, the fixed shafts 13, 13a and the rotating shafts 24, 24
By the movement combined with the rotation of the arms 23 and 23a about the rotation center a, the auxiliary step 1 is translated from the upper side to the lower right side while maintaining the horizontal state,
It extends below the vehicle step 2 and protrudes forward.

When the auxiliary step 1 is completely extended, as shown in FIG. 4, when the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 are fully extended and the operating shaft 9 and the pivots 12 and 16 are located in a straight line, A dead center B beyond the pivot 12 is located at a position Y from a dead center B where the pivot 12 is located on its trajectory.

As described above, the auxiliary step 1 projecting to the lower front part of the vehicle step 2 is moved downward by the distance of the height difference L between the base end and the end of the arms 23, 23a.

When the auxiliary step 1 is stored, the driving motor 7 is rotated in the reverse direction, and the crank 10 is rotated in the clockwise direction. Step 1 is stored.

[0047]

In short, the present invention uses fixed shafts 13 and 13a, which are connected to a driving source by transmission means as appropriate, and are vertically suspended below the bottom of the vehicle step 2 on the left and right sides. Rotary shafts 24, 24a supported orthogonal to 13a
At the same time, the base ends of the arms 23 and 23a formed by bending so as to have a predetermined height difference L between the base end and the front end are connected and fixed, and the rotating shafts 24 and 24a are attached to the auxiliary step 1 The rotating shafts 24, 24 are held so that the arms 23, 23a
Since the supporting rods 31 and 31a for controlling the rotation of a are universally connected, the arms 23 and 23a rotate around the fixed shafts 13 and 13a for extending the auxiliary step 1 forward, and
By this rotation, the arm 23,
The support rods 31 and 31a, which held the laid state of 23a, could not maintain the balance of the force, and the force was applied to the rotating shafts 24 and 24a.
And the rotation about the rotation shafts 24 and 24a for lowering the auxiliary step 1 so as to act in the direction of rotation. The height difference L can be caused to have a height difference L between the portion and the tip portion, and the height difference L is an approximately moving distance below the auxiliary step 1, and the auxiliary step 1 is provided at an appropriate height position between the ground and the vehicle step 2. It can overhang and can play a sufficient role as a foot joint.

The distal ends of the arms 23, 23a are rotatable about the hanging shafts 28, 28a provided at the bottom of the auxiliary step 1, and are supported orthogonally to the hanging shafts 28, 28a. , 23a are provided rotatably about the center axis at the leading end thereof, and support rollers 27, 27a are provided at the leading ends of the arms 23, 23a for slidingly contacting the bottom of the auxiliary step 1, so that the arms 23, 23a are provided. In accordance with the operation of (1), the distal end rotates about the hanging shafts 28 and 28a as a center of rotation, so that the auxiliary step 1 is extended forward and the arm 2 is extended.
Rotation of the tip of 23, 23a about its central axis makes it possible to cause the arms 23, 23a that have fallen down, so that the auxiliary step 1 can be lowered and the auxiliary step 1 can be lowered. Arm 23 on the bottom,
Since the arm 23a can be connected, the arms 23 and 23a do not hinder getting on and off.

In the auxiliary step 1, even when the arms 23 and 23a rotate, the support rollers 27 and 27a at the distal ends of the arms 23 and 23a slide on the bottom of the auxiliary step 1 and travel. 27a and hanging shafts 28 and 28a
Arms 23, 23, which are rotatably supported around the center of rotation
By supporting four points at the leading end of a, the horizontal state of the auxiliary step 1 can be always maintained regardless of the storage state, and the auxiliary step 1 does not tilt.

Therefore, the fixed shafts 13 and 13a and the rotating shaft 2
Due to the combined movement of the rotation of the arms 23 and 23a about the rotation centers 4 and 24a, the auxiliary step 1 is translated from the upper side to the right or the lower left while maintaining the horizontal state. Can be lowered forward of the vehicle step 2 to protrude, so that the problem of scooping up snow due to the conventional auxiliary step and the problem due to the existence of obstacles on the movement trajectory of the auxiliary step can be solved. Because no extra power is required when overhanging step 1,
The drive source can be reduced in size.

The rotating shafts 24 and 24a are fixed shafts at their base ends.
The support plates 26, 26a are provided orthogonal to the support shafts 13 and 13a, and are provided in contact with the upper ends of the rotary shafts 24 and 24a when the auxiliary step 1 is extended, so that the arms 23 and 23a are connected and fixed. The rotating shafts 24 and 24a have fixed shafts 13 and
13a, and the top of the tip is supported by support plates 26, 26
Since the rotary shafts 24, 24a supporting the arms 23, 23a do not tilt even when the auxiliary step 1 is depressed, the horizontal state of the auxiliary step 1 via the arms 23, 23a when getting on and off. Can be held.

The driving source is a driving motor 7, and the driving motor 7 is connected to the rotating shafts 24, 24a of the arms 23, 23a via the crank 10 and the connecting rod 11 connected to the driving motor 7, and the auxiliary step 1 is performed. Since the crank 10 and the pivot 12 of the connecting rod 11 are set at the position X beyond the dead point A on the trajectory when retracted, the auxiliary step 1 does not protrude spontaneously in the retracted state. Even if the self-weight of step 1 and the vibration during traveling act, or the drive motor 7 breaks down, the auxiliary step 1 does not protrude without permission, so that safety during traveling of the vehicle can be achieved.

Further, when the auxiliary step 1 is extended, the crank 10 and the pivot 12 of the connecting rod 11 are set to the position Y beyond the dead center B on the trajectory. However, since there is no sinking displacement and no movement even when a lateral load is applied, the stable horizontal state of the auxiliary step 1 can be maintained, and it can serve as a safe foot joint.

Since the driving source is an actuator such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder and the cylinder rod of the actuator is connected to the rotating shafts 24 and 24a of the arms 23 and 23a,
In addition to the drive motor 7, the above-described actuator can be substituted. In this case, the use of the drive motor 7 eliminates the need for the necessary crank 10, connecting rod 11, etc., thereby reducing the number of parts and reducing the number of components. Can be simplified, and its practical effect is extremely large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to the present invention in a retracted state.

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a right side view, partially in section, of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a plan view when the retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle is overhanging.

FIG. 5 is a partially sectional front view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a right side view, partially in section, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a simplified diagram showing a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Auxiliary step 2 Vehicle step 7 Drive motor 10 Crank 11 Connecting rod 12 Axis 13, 13a Fixed axis 23, 23a Arm 24, 24a Rotary axis 26, 26a Support plate 27, 27a Support roller 28, 28a Hanging shaft 31, 31a Support rod

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fixed shaft, which is connected to a drive source by a suitable transmission means as appropriate, and which is provided vertically on the left and right below the bottom of the vehicle step, has a center of rotation, and a base end of the fixed shaft is orthogonally supported with respect to the fixed shaft. Connect and fix the base end of the arm, which is formed by bending so that the base end and the front end have a predetermined height difference, on the rotating shaft
When the auxiliary step is retracted , a supporting rod for controlling the rotation of the rotary axis so as to hold the arm down is universally connected to the rotary shaft , and the auxiliary step is extended.
In addition, a support plate is provided to abut on the upper end of the tip of the rotating shaft, while the tip of the arm is centered on the hanging shaft provided at the bottom of the auxiliary step and is supported orthogonally to the hanging shaft, and A retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle, wherein the auxiliary step is provided so as to be rotatable about a center axis line at the distal end of the arm and is provided at the distal end of the arm so as to slide on the bottom of the auxiliary step. 2. A drive motor according to claim 1 , wherein the drive source is a drive motor.
Crank and connecting rod connecting the
Is linked to the rotation axis of the arm via
The crank and connecting rod pivot
Make sure that one of the auxiliary steps is
When the crank and connecting rod
Set the axis so that it is beyond the dead point on its orbit.
The retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein 3. A drive source comprising an actuator such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder.
With the actuator and the cylinder rod of the actuator
2. The arm is connected to a rotation axis of the arm.
A retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle as described .