JP3771976B2 - Retractable auxiliary step for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle disposed between a ground surface and a vehicle step in a step of a vehicle such as a bus or a one-box car.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, a step provided at the entrance of a vehicle such as a bus or a one-box car has a height difference enough to interfere with getting on and off from the ground surface. There are some retractable auxiliary steps that can be extended over to eliminate the height difference when getting on and off.
[0003]
For example, the auxiliary step shown in FIG. 7 is installed in close proximity to the vehicle step x, interlocks when the door is opened, and only slides forward in front of the entrance / exit while maintaining its height. Previously, the position from the ground was too high to step on, and the purpose of the original auxiliary step y as a foot joint was not achieved.
[0004]
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 low, and the auxiliary step y is provided at the lower part of the vehicle step x, thereby serving as the auxiliary step y. Can now be fully fulfilled.
[0005]
However, in this auxiliary step y, since it protrudes from the inside of the lower part of the vehicle so as to protrude forward from the vehicle step y, rails (not shown) that slide-support at least the part where the passenger steps on and the left and right sides of the auxiliary step x. However, this requires a large area for holding the base end of the auxiliary step x, requires a large storage space, and outputs a large drive source for advancing and retreating such a large area auxiliary step x. It had a drawback that had to be converted.
[0006]
Further, since the rail supporting the auxiliary step y only supports the left and right sides of the auxiliary step y, it has a disadvantage that it is depressed due to the stepping on of the passenger and the stability is poor.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The present invention is intended to provide a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle that can store the auxiliary step with a minimum size, reduce the size of the drive source, and improve the stability when getting on and off.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In view of the problems such as minimization of the storage space of the auxiliary step, the present invention is based on the above-described prior art. The base end portion of the arm is pivotally attached to both ends of the connecting rod, and the radius of rotation around the fixed axis is the same length for each of the proximal end portions of the insulator rod. And the tip of the arm is pivotally attached to the bottom of the auxiliary step, and one of the arms is connected to the drive source by an appropriate transmission means, thereby maintaining the horizontal state of the auxiliary step by the parallel movement of the arm. This is translated to the right or left forward so that it protrudes to the lower front of the vehicle step, and the auxiliary step of a size sufficient for the minimum depth required for the passenger to step on is stored in the lower part of the vehicle step. The above disadvantages It is obtained by eliminating cents.
[0009]
Further, in view of the problem of stability when getting on and off, a separate fixed shaft is vertically suspended on the perpendicular bisector of the pair of fixed shafts, and the support arm has the same length as that of the arm. The base end is pivotally attached, and the tip of the support arm is pivotally attached to the rear of the bottom of the auxiliary step, thereby supporting the three-point support by the left and right arms supporting the auxiliary step 1 and the tip of the central support arm. Thus, the above-mentioned drawbacks are solved by constantly maintaining the horizontal state of the auxiliary steps.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
1 is 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, and a storage portion is provided below a vehicle step 2 at the entrance of a vehicle such as a bus or a one-box car. 3, auxiliary step 1 is provided.
[0011]
Further, the operating mechanism parts 4 and 4a of the auxiliary step 1 are provided at the left and right positions in the lateral width direction (the vehicle wheel base direction) of the storage part 3, and the operating mechanism parts 4 and 4a have the same structure on the left and right. Each constituent member in 4a is arranged at a symmetrical position.
[0012]
Reference numerals 5 and 5a are support substrates formed in a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the depth direction of the storage unit 3 (the vehicle width direction). The support substrates 5 and 5a are arranged on the left and right sides of the storage unit 3 in the lateral width direction. 2 Fixed horizontally at the bottom.
[0013]
The support substrates 5 and 5a are fixed to a stay or a vehicle frame (not shown) provided below the vehicle step 2.
[0014]
In FIG. 1, a horizontally long rectangular central substrate 6 is placed between the rear portions of the support substrates 5 and 5a, and the operating mechanism portions 4 and 4a are driven in front of the central portion of the central substrate 6. The source storage box 7 is fixed.
[0015]
In addition, a pair of fixed shafts 8 and 8a are suspended from the front portions of the support substrates 5 and 5a, respectively, and the same length of the insulator rod 9 swinging on the same horizontal plane is fixed to each of the fixed shafts 8 and 8a. , 9a is pivotally attached, and both end portions of the connecting rod 10 having a predetermined length are pivotally attached to the distal ends of the lever rods 9 and 9a, and the lever rods 9 and 9a and the connecting rod 10 are parallel to each other. A crank mechanism is configured so that the lever cages 9 and 9a always move in parallel.
[0016]
In addition, the base end portions of the arms 12 and 12a having the fixed shafts 8 and 8a as the rotation shafts are fixed to the substantially cylindrical rotary bearings 11 and 11a which are the base end portions of the lever rods 9 and 9a, respectively. Yes.
[0017]
The hanging shafts 13 and 13a are provided at the left and right symmetrical portions of the bottom of the auxiliary step 1, the distal ends of the arms 12 and 12a are pivotally attached to the hanging shafts 13 and 13a, and the auxiliary step 1 is disposed horizontally.
[0018]
Each of the arms 12 and 12a has a radius of rotation about the fixed shafts 8 and 8a, that is, in a plan view, the center of the fixed shafts 8 and 8a at the base end portion of the arms 12 and 12a, and the drooping shaft 13 at the distal end portion. The distance connecting the centers of 13a is the same length, and the arms 12 and 12a are basically bent in a substantially J shape, but as shown in FIGS. 12 is bent so that the proximal end portion and the distal end portion are in a torsional positional relationship because of being connected to a drive mechanism portion 14 to be described later.
[0019]
The drive mechanism unit 14 accommodates and fixes a drive source composed of a drive motor (not shown) in the drive source storage box 7, projects the drive shaft 15 of the drive source downward through the drive source storage box 7, and drives the drive shaft. The base end portion of the crank 16 is fixed to 15 and the base end portion of the connecting rod 17 is pivotally attached to the tip end portion thereof by the pivot 18, and the tip end portion of the connecting rod 17 is near the base end portion of the left arm 12. The part is pivotally attached on axis 19.
[0020]
In the central substrate 6, a separate fixed shaft 20 is vertically suspended on the perpendicular bisector of the fixed shafts 8 and 8 a, and the rotational radius of the fixed shaft 20 is the same as that of the arms 12 and 12 a. The base end of the support arm 21 is pivotally mounted, and the tip end of the support arm 21 is separately provided at the back of the bottom of the auxiliary step 1 with a pendant shaft 22, and the tip of the arms 12, 12a is pivotally attached to the pendant shaft 22. is doing.
[0021]
Note that reference numeral 23 denotes a substantially cylindrical rotary bearing which is a base end portion of a support arm 21 which is rotatably mounted on the fixed shaft 20.
[0022]
When the left arm 12 is swung through the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 by the operation of the drive source, the lever rod 9 to which the arm 12 is fixed also rotates at the same time, and the lever rods 9 and 9a and the connecting rod 10 With the parallel crank mechanism, the right arm 12a is interlocked so that the auxiliary step 1 protrudes from the storage part 3 or is stored in the storage part 3. As the auxiliary step 1 moves, the central support arm 21 is added. It is made to move.
[0023]
The storage of the auxiliary step 1 is completed at a position X beyond the dead point A on the orbit of the pivot 18 where the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 overlap with each other so that the drive shaft 15 and the pivots 18 and 19 are aligned. None, the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 are extended to the maximum, and the drive shaft 15 and the pivot shafts 18 and 19 are positioned in a straight line. It is set so that the overhang is completed.
[0024]
In the above-described embodiment, the drive source is a drive motor. However, the present invention is not limited to such a method, and an actuator such as a pneumatic cylinder or a hydraulic cylinder may be used. Crank 16 and connecting rod 17 are no longer necessary. Instead of connecting rod 17, a cylinder rod is pivotally mounted near the base end of left arm 12, and the cylinder body is pivotally mounted on drive source storage box 7 on a horizontal plane. is doing.
[0025]
Next, the operation of the retractable auxiliary step for vehicles according to the present invention will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the retracted state of the auxiliary step 1, when the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 are overlapped and the drive shaft 15 and the pivot shafts 18 and 19 are positioned on a straight line, the pivot shaft 18 is positioned on the track. From the dead center A, the pivot 18 is disposed at a position X beyond the dead center A. In this state, the auxiliary step 1 disposed at the distal ends of the arms 12, 12a and the support arm 21 is moved to the storage side. The attracted state is maintained, and the auxiliary step 1 is arranged in the storage unit 3.
[0026]
In the retracted state of the auxiliary step 1, when the driving source is operated, the crank 16 rotates counterclockwise, and the connecting rod 17 interlocked therewith causes the left arm 12 in FIG. As a result, the auxiliary step 1 is rotated in the direction protruding forward.
[0027]
At the same time, the lever rod 9 to which the arm 12 is fixed also rotates, and the right arm 12a is interlocked by the parallel crank mechanism comprising the lever rods 9, 9a and the connecting rod 10, and the arm 12 is rotated about the fixed shaft 8a. As the arms 12 and 12a move in parallel with each other, the auxiliary step 1 is translated in a state of being kept horizontal, and protrudes from the storage portion 3 to the lower front of the vehicle step 2.
[0028]
As the auxiliary step 1 moves, the central support arm 21 also moves in parallel while supporting the auxiliary step 1 so as to follow the other arms 12 and 12a.
[0029]
The auxiliary step 1 is always maintained in a horizontal state by three-point support by the distal ends of the arms 12 and 12a and the support arm 21 that support the left and right sides.
[0030]
In the state where the auxiliary step 1 is completely extended, as shown in FIG. 4, in the state where the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 are extended to the maximum and the drive shaft 15 and the pivot shafts 18 and 19 are positioned in a straight line, The dead point B beyond the pivot 18 from the dead point B located on the trajectory is arranged at the position Y.
[0031]
When storing the auxiliary step 1, by rotating the drive source in the reverse direction and rotating the crank 16 in the clockwise direction, the respective components are operated in the reverse order to the above, and the auxiliary step 1 is stored. Is done.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
In short, according to the present invention, the base end portions of the same length of the lever rods 9 and 9a are pivotally attached to the pair of fixed shafts 8 and 8a suspended in the left and right symmetrical positions at the lower part of the vehicle step 2, and the tip ends thereof are attached. Since it is pivotally attached to both ends of the connecting rod 10, the parallel crank mechanism can be constituted by the lever rods 9, 9a and the connecting rod 10, so that it is fixed to the base end portions of the lever rods 9, 9a, and the auxiliary step. The driving force from the driving source can be transmitted to both the arms 12 and 12a that support 1 so that the auxiliary step 1 can be stored or extended by both the left and right arms 12 and 12a.
[0033]
In addition, the base end portions of the arms 12 and 12a having the same radius of rotation about the fixed shafts 8 and 8a are fixed to the base end portions of the insulator rods 9 and 9a, respectively, and the tip portions thereof are assisted. Since it is pivotally attached to the bottom of Step 1 and one of the arms 12 and 12a is connected to the drive source by an appropriate transmission means, the arms 12 and 12a can be moved in parallel at the same speed. Can always be held and translated forward to the right or left to project to the lower front of the vehicle step 2 and can fully serve as a foot joint.
[0034]
Therefore, according to the present invention, since the auxiliary step x is not configured to advance and retreat in the width direction of the vehicle as in the prior art, the minimum depth necessary for the passenger to step on the auxiliary step 1 is sufficient. Thus, the size of the drive source can be reduced and the storage space for the auxiliary step 1 can be minimized.
[0035]
Further, the parallel crank mechanism can make the movement speed of the auxiliary step 1 at the time of storage and extension the same by the parallel movement of the arms 12 and 12a having the same transmission power, thereby improving the mobility. Since the load applied to the drive source can be reduced, the drive source can be reduced in size.
[0036]
Further, since the arms 12 and 12a can be connected to the bottom of the auxiliary step 1, the arms 12 and 12a do not hinder getting on and off.
[0037]
In addition, a separate fixed shaft 20 is vertically provided at the lower part of the vehicle step 2 and on a vertical bisector of the fixed shafts 8 and 8a, and the arm 12 and 12a have the same turning radius as the fixed shaft 20. Since the base end portion of the support arm 21 is pivotally attached and the tip end portion of the support arm 21 is pivotally attached to the rear of the bottom of the auxiliary step 1, the left and right arms 12, 12a supporting the auxiliary step 1 and the central support are supported. The horizontal state of the auxiliary step 1 can always be stably maintained by the three-point support by the tip portion of the arm 21. In particular, the auxiliary step 1 can be supported at the time of getting on and off by the rear support of the auxiliary step 1 of the support arm 21. Even if the pedal is stepped on, it is possible to prevent the sinking of the auxiliary step 1 with respect to the load applied to the front of the auxiliary step 1, and the auxiliary step 1 is not tilted, and the horizontal state can always be maintained.
[0038]
Further, the drive source is a drive motor, and the drive motor is connected to one of the arms 12 and 12a via a crank 16 and a connecting rod 17 connected thereto, and when the auxiliary step 1 is stored, the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 are connected. Since the pivots 18 and 19 are set to a position X that exceeds the dead center A on the orbit, the auxiliary step 1 does not protrude naturally in the retracted state. Even if the vibration of the motor acts or the like or the drive motor breaks down, the auxiliary step 1 does not overhang, so that safety during vehicle travel can be achieved.
[0039]
In addition, when the auxiliary step 1 is extended, the pivots 18 and 19 of the crank 16 and the connecting rod 17 are set to the position Y beyond the dead point B on the orbit, so that a person is placed on the auxiliary step 1 Therefore, the auxiliary step 1 can maintain a stable horizontal state and can serve as a safe foot joint.
[0040]
In addition, since the drive source is an actuator such as a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, and the cylinder rod of the actuator is linked to one of the arms 12 and 12a, the above actuator can be substituted in addition to the drive motor. When the drive motor is used, the necessary crank 16, connecting rod 17 and the like can be dispensed with, thereby reducing the number of parts and simplifying the mechanism.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle according to the present invention in a retracted state.
FIG. 2 is a front view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a right side view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a plan view when the retractable auxiliary step for a vehicle is extended.
FIG. 5 is a front view of FIG. 4;
6 is a right side view of FIG. 4. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a simplified diagram showing the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Auxiliary step 2 Vehicle step 8, 8a Fixed shaft 9, 9a
10 articulated
12, 12a arm
16 cranks
17 Connecting rod
20 Fixed shaft
21 Support arm

Claims (1)

A base end portion of the same length of the lever rod is pivotally attached to each of the pair of fixed shafts vertically suspended at the left and right symmetrical positions at the lower part of the vehicle step, and the tip ends thereof are pivotally attached to both ends of the connecting rod. The base end portion of the arm having the same radius of rotation about the fixed shaft is fixed to each of the base end portions, and the tip end portion is pivotally attached to the bottom of the auxiliary step , and the lower part of the vehicle step. In addition, a separate fixed shaft is vertically suspended on a perpendicular bisector of the pair of fixed shafts, and a base end portion of a support arm having the same length as the arm and the rotation radius is pivotally attached to the fixed shaft. The tip of the arm is pivotally attached to the back of the bottom of the auxiliary step, and one of the arms is connected to a drive source comprising a drive motor via a crank and a connecting rod. When the auxiliary step is stored, the pivot of the crank and the connecting rod is Beyond the dead center on that orbit As the position, whereas the crank and the pivot of the connecting rod, vehicle retractable auxiliary steps, characterized in that was set such that the position beyond the dead center of its trajectory when projecting an auxiliary step.

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