JP3485536B2 - 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 arranged between a step of a vehicle such as a bus and a one-box car and the ground surface.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a step provided at an entrance / exit of a vehicle such as a bus or a one-box car has a height difference with the ground surface that interferes with getting on / off the vehicle. It can be seen that a retractable auxiliary step that can freely extend to the front, which is the boarding / alighting side, is provided to eliminate the height difference at the time of boarding / alighting. For example, the auxiliary steps shown in FIG.
It is installed immediately below the vehicle step x, interlocks when the door is opened, and only slides forward of the entrance / exit while maintaining the height, so the position from the ground is higher than before. However, the original purpose of the auxiliary step y as a foot joint has not been achieved. However, recently
A vehicle has been developed in which the floor of the vehicle itself is lowered and the position of the vehicle step x is also low. By equipping the lower portion of the vehicle step x with the above-mentioned auxiliary step y, the auxiliary step y
I was able to fully fulfill my role as.

[0003]

However, in this auxiliary step y, the vehicle step y is started from the inside of the lower part of the vehicle.
Since it projects so as to project further forward, the area of at least the portion where the passenger gets on and the rails (not shown) that slidably support the left and right sides of the auxiliary step x hold the base end portion of the auxiliary step x. However, it has a drawback that it requires a large storage space, and that the output of the drive source must be increased in order to advance and retreat the auxiliary step x having such a large area. Further, since the rails supporting the auxiliary step y only support the left and right sides of the auxiliary step y, there is a drawback that the rail is depressed by the stepping on and off of the occupant and the stability is poor. The present invention provides a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle in which the auxiliary step can be stored with a minimum size, the drive source can be downsized, and the stability at the time of getting on / off and traveling of the vehicle can be improved.

[0004]

In view of the above problems, the present invention pivotally mounts the base ends of a pair of left and right arms having the same turning radius on the lower part of the vehicle step, and the front ends of the arms are the bottom part of the auxiliary step. It is pivotally attached to the left and right, and the drive source is connected to one arm through transmission means as appropriate, and by parallel movement of the arm, while maintaining the horizontal state of the auxiliary step, it is translated to the right or left in parallel. The above-mentioned problem is solved by projecting to the front of the lower part of the vehicle step, and storing an auxiliary step of a size that is sufficient for the minimum depth required for an occupant to step on the vehicle step lower part. Further, in view of the problem of step stability, one arm is provided with an auxiliary arm that supports the rear of the bottom of the auxiliary step when the auxiliary step is extended, and the other arm is provided with the auxiliary step when the auxiliary step is retracted. separately auxiliary arm projecting auxiliary steps overhanging time and storage time odor supporting the bottom rear
The tip of the auxiliary arm that supports the bottom rear of the auxiliary step.
By holding the end by a holder provided at the bottom of the auxiliary step, the left and right arms that support the auxiliary step and the three-point support of the auxiliary arm always maintain a stable horizontal state of the auxiliary step. Thus, the above problems are solved.

[0005]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. 1 is a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to the present invention, and the auxiliary step 1 is formed in a substantially horizontally long rectangular plate shape, and is on the right side below the vehicle step S at the entrance / exit of a vehicle such as a bus or a one-box car. The auxiliary step 1 is located on the left side (the left side in FIG. 1) so that the auxiliary step 1 is on the left side or the right side (the right side in FIG. 1).
It is configured to move forward in parallel and project toward the lower front of the vehicle step S. Then, the drive mechanism portion 2 of the auxiliary step 1 is attached to the lower portion of the vehicle step S via the frame 3.

The drive mechanism portion 2 has its drive source 4 fixed to the rear portion of the frame 3 and has fixed shafts 5 and 5a provided vertically on the left and right sides of the frame 3 (corresponding to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle). The base ends of arms 6 and 6a having the same radius of rotation are pivotally attached to the fixed shafts 5 and 5a, respectively, with the fixed shafts 5 and 5a as rotation shafts. The arms 6 and 6a are formed by forming a substantially J shape with the base end side inclined downward with a gentle curve and the tip end being horizontal, and the tip ends of the arms 6 and 6a are formed on the left and right sides of the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1. The auxiliary step 1 is horizontally arranged below the vehicle step S, and a parallel movement mechanism is configured by the arms 6 and 6a and the auxiliary step 1 so that the auxiliary step 1 always moves in parallel. is doing. In FIG. 1, the base end of the lever rod 7 is fixed to the base end of the right arm 6, and the crank 8 attached to the drive shaft 4a of the drive source 4 and the tip of the lever rod 7 are connected to each other. The crank 8 and the connecting rod 9 are pivotally connected by a pivot 9a, and the lever rod 7 and the connecting rod 9 are pivotally connected by a pivot 9b. Then, by the operation of the drive source 4,
By rotating the base end of the right arm 6 forward and reverse through the lever rod 7 and the connecting rod 9, the arms 6 and 6a are moved in parallel, and the auxiliary step 1 is extended to the lower front of the vehicle step S or the lower side of the vehicle step S. It is designed to be stored in. Incidentally, the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 is provided with stoppers 10, 10a, 11, 11a, 11b for stopping the arms 6, 6a in a fixed position in accordance with the extended state and the stored state.

In FIG. 1, the right arm 6 is provided with an auxiliary arm 12 for supporting the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is extended, and the left arm 6a is provided with
When the auxiliary step is stored, a separate auxiliary arm 12a that supports the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 is provided in a protruding manner. The auxiliary arm 12 is attached to the left side of the arm 6, the other auxiliary arm 12a is attached to the right side of the arm 6a, and the auxiliary step 1 bottom 1a rolls at the tip of each auxiliary arm 12, 12a. Support rollers 13 and 13a are provided. And
Bottom of auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is extended
The support roller 13 that supports the rear of the la 1a is configured to be held by the holder 14 provided at the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 at such a position. The holder 14 is the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1.
At the rear, it is arranged on the track of the support roller 13 and is formed into a substantially box shape with two adjacent side walls open. The open side corresponds to the insertion / removal direction of the support roller 13, and the support roller 13 is held by the holder. 14 It is installed inside and out freely. Although the holder 14 is provided so as to hold the support roller 13 when the auxiliary step is extended, the support roller 13 is also held when the auxiliary step is stored.
The holder 14 for holding a may be separately provided at the auxiliary step support position of the support roller 13a during storage.

Then, as shown in FIG. 4, the crank 8 and the connecting rod 9 extend so that the drive shaft 4a and the pivots 9a and 9b are located on a straight line at a position X where the pivot 9a exceeds a dead point A on its orbit. Then, the auxiliary step 1 is set so as to be in a state of being completely stored, and as shown in FIG. Is set at a position Y beyond the dead point B on the orbit and the auxiliary step 1 is overhanged and completed.

Next, the operation of the auxiliary step 1 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in the retracted state of the auxiliary step 1, the crank 8 and the connecting rod 9 extend and the pivot 9a.
Is located at position X beyond dead point A, and arms 6 and 6a
Keeps the state in which it abuts against the stoppers 11, 11a, 11b and is pulled downward of the vehicle step S, and the arms 6, 6a
The auxiliary step 1 at the tip of the vehicle is the vehicle step S in the horizontal state.
(In FIG. 1) is arranged in parallel on the lower left side. In this state, the support roller 13a at the tip of the auxiliary arm 12a in the left arm 6a supports the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1, and the auxiliary step 1 supports the tips of the arms 6 and 6a and the support roller 13a at three points. , A stable horizontal state is maintained.

When the drive source 4 is actuated in the stored state, the crank 8 rotates clockwise in FIGS. 2 and 6, and the right side arm 6 is fixed to the fixed shaft 5 by the connecting rod 9 and the lever rod 7 interlocked with this. Rotate in the direction of the auxiliary step over the center of rotation, and at the same time rotate the left arm 6a in the same direction.
The auxiliary step 1 is moved in parallel while keeping horizontal, and the auxiliary step 1 is projected from the lower left side of the vehicle step S to the lower front side of the vehicle step S. At this time, the arms 6 and 6a come into contact with the stoppers 10 and 10a to maintain such an extended state, and the support roller 13 at the tip of the auxiliary arm 12 of the right arm 6 is held by the holder 14 so that the auxiliary step 1
The bottom of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 is supported, and the auxiliary step 1 is maintained in a stable horizontal state by the three-point support of the tips of the arms 6 and 6a and the support roller 13 (see FIGS. 5 to 8). Then, in this auxiliary step projecting state, as shown in FIG. 8, the crank 8 and the connecting rod 9 overlap each other, and the pivot 9a is arranged at the position Y beyond the dead point B. When the auxiliary step 1 is stored, the drive source 4 is rotated in a reverse direction to the above-described operation, and the auxiliary step 1 is stored below the vehicle step S in the reverse order of the above.

[0011]

In summary, according to the present invention, the base ends of the pair of left and right arms 6 and 6a having the same turning radius are pivotally arranged below the vehicle step S, and the tips of the arms 6 and 6a are connected to the auxiliary step 1. Since the bottom portion 1a is pivotally attached to the left and right, and one of the arms 6 and 6a is connected to the drive source 4 through a transmission means as appropriate, a parallel movement mechanism can be configured by the arms 6 and 6a and the auxiliary step 1, and the auxiliary step 1 can be horizontally moved. While maintaining the above, it can be translated in the forward direction to the right or left, and can be projected to the lower front side of the vehicle step S. Therefore, auxiliary step x
As compared with the conventional method of moving the vehicle forward and backward in the width direction of the vehicle, the auxiliary step 1 requires only the minimum depth required for an occupant to step on the vehicle, so that the size of the auxiliary step 1 can be minimized. It is possible to minimize the storage space of the storage and auxiliary step 1. Further, the right arm 6 is provided with an auxiliary arm 12 for supporting the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 when the auxiliary step is extended, and the left arm 6a
When storing the auxiliary step, the bottom 1a of the auxiliary step 1
Since the auxiliary arm 12a supporting the rear is projected, the auxiliary step 1 is always supported by the three points of the arms 6 and 6a and the auxiliary arms 12 and 12a in the extended state and the retracted state. Can be stably held. Therefore,
The auxiliary arm 12 supports the rear part of the auxiliary step 1 at the time of extension, so that the auxiliary step 1 at the time of getting on and off.
Even if the user depresses, it is possible to prevent the auxiliary step 1 from sinking due to the load applied in front of the auxiliary step 1, the auxiliary step 1 does not incline, and its horizontal state can be maintained at all times. The rattling of the auxiliary step 1 can be suppressed against the generated vibration. As described above, according to the present invention, since the auxiliary step 1 can always be stably and horizontally held by the two arms 6 and 6a, the cost can be reduced as compared with the auxiliary step using three or more arms. You can

When the auxiliary step 1 is extended and stowed, the tips of the auxiliary arms 12 and 12a that support the rear of the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 are fixed to the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1.
Since it was designed to be held by the holder 14 provided on the
And the bottom portion 1a of the auxiliary step 1 in each state when stored.
The tips of the auxiliary arms 12 and 12a that support the rear side are holders.
The auxiliary step 1 can be fixedly integrated with the auxiliary step 1 by 14, and the rear support of the auxiliary step 1 in each of the above-mentioned states can be more firmly established, and the stability of the auxiliary step 1 can be increased when getting on and off the vehicle and when the vehicle is running.

Further, the drive source 4 is connected to one of the arms 6 through the crank 8 and the connecting rod 9, and the pivot 8a of the crank 8 and the connecting rod 9 is the dead point A on its orbit when the auxiliary step is stored.
Since the position X is set to exceed the position X, the auxiliary step 1 does not naturally overhang in the stored state. Therefore, the self-weight of the auxiliary step 1 and vibration during traveling act, and the drive source 4 is Even if a failure occurs, the auxiliary step 1 does not overhang, so that safety can be ensured when the vehicle is running. Further, since the pivot 9a of the crank 8 and the connecting rod 9 is set to the position Y beyond the dead point B on the orbit when the auxiliary step is extended, the sinking displacement occurs even if a person is placed on the auxiliary step 1. Since it does not move even if a lateral load is applied, it can maintain a stable horizontal state of the auxiliary step 1 and can play a role as a safe foot joint, which is a great practical effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a storage state of an auxiliary step.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a plan view when an auxiliary step is extended.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a simplified diagram showing a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 auxiliary Step 1a bottom 4 drive source 6,6a arm 8 crank 9 connected rod 9a pivot 12, 12 a auxiliary arm 14 Holder S vehicle step

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A turning radius is the same below the vehicle step (S).
The base ends of a pair of left and right arms (6, 6a ) are pivotally arranged.
At the same time, attach the tip of the arm (6, 6a ) to the auxiliary step (1).
Pivot to the left and right of the bottom (1a) of the arm, and fit one of the arms (6, 6a )
One arm connected to the drive source (4) via the power transmission means.
In (6) , when the auxiliary step is extended, the auxiliary step (1)
Bottom portion (1a) auxiliary arm for supporting the rear (12) projecting in the other
One arm (6a) has an auxiliary step when the auxiliary step is stored.
Separately auxiliary arm Tsu bottom of flops (1) (1a) rear supports (12
a) protruding, when the auxiliary step (1 ) is extended and stored
Support the rear of the bottom (1a) of the auxiliary step (1)
Insert the tip of the auxiliary arm (12 , 12a) into the bottom of the auxiliary step (1) .
That form as embracing in parts holder provided in (1a) (14)
A retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle characterized by: 2. Driven through a crank (8) and a connecting rod (9).
Connect the motion source (4) to one side of the arm (6) and use the auxiliary step case
When delivered, the crank (8) and the pivot (9a) of the connecting rod (9 ) are
Set it so that it is at a position (X) that exceeds the dead point (A) on the road, and
, The crank (8) and connecting rod (9) when the auxiliary step is extended
Position (Y) where the Axis (9a) of the robot crosses the dead center (B) on its orbit
The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is set to
Retractable auxiliary step for vehicle.