JPH04321445A - Elevating/sinking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To construct an elevating device for wheelchair, etc., for use with a bus, etc., which can be installed without modifying the bus entrance to any larger extent, by supporting an elevating table in cantilever structure on a side face supporting frame borne through a parallel link mechanism at one side edge of the step of bus, allowing the elevating table to be accommodated in raised attitude, and also providing it with possibility of rising and falling. CONSTITUTION:Through a link mechanism 2, a side face supporting frame 3 is mounted on a mount table 1 which is fixed alongside one side edge of the step S of a bus etc. This link mechanism 2 is revolved by a hydraulic link driving means 5, to revolve the side face supporting frame 3 in a vertical plane including the side face of the bus step S into the raised attitude. A collapsible elevating table 4 is installed on this frame 3 in cantilever structure. The elevating table 4 in collapsed state is operated oil-hydraulically and changed over between the accommodated position alongside the frame 3 and the spread position as service state. The elevating table 4 in the spread attitude is elevated and sunk by a hydraulic cylinder.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lifting device installed at the entrance of a vehicle such as a bus for loading and unloading a wheelchair or the like onto or from the vehicle.

0002

[Prior Art] Conventionally, as the above-mentioned elevating device, a step-shaped treadle that can be deployed horizontally is provided at the entrance of a vehicle, and when the treadle is unfolded horizontally, the elevating mechanism moves the road surface and the floor surface of the vehicle. It has been proposed to raise and lower the
For example, see Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1207/1983).

[0003] According to this elevating device, by bending the tread into a step shape, it can be used as a step for getting on and off, and by unfolding the tread into a horizontal platform shape and raising and lowering it. , the wheelchair can be loaded into and removed from the vehicle.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the elevating device having the above-mentioned structure, the step is shaped like a step or unfolds like a platform, so there is a problem that the structure becomes very complicated. . Furthermore, in order to retrofit the above-mentioned elevating device to a vehicle such as a bus, it is necessary to significantly modify the entrance/exit.
There was a problem that the installation cost was high.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a lifting device that has a simple structure and can be installed in a vehicle without significantly modifying the entrance/exit.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems] The elevating device of the present invention for achieving the above object includes a frame fixed along one side edge of a step for getting on and off a vehicle, and a parallel platform that is rotated by a drive means. A side support frame that is supported by a frame via a link mechanism and is rotated along a vertical plane including one end of the step for getting on and off while maintaining its posture by driving the parallel link mechanism; and a side support frame. and a lifting platform that is cantilever-supported by the vehicle and that can be raised and lowered between the road surface and the vehicle floor in a horizontally unfolded state, and that can be stored along the side support frame in a folded state in the raised position. It is.

[0007]

[Operation] According to the elevating device configured as described above, the elevating platform is folded at the rising end and stored along the side support frame, so that when not in use, the elevating platform can be installed at the entrance of the vehicle. You can almost evacuate from the step. Therefore, the step described above can be used without any problem for getting on and off the vehicle.

[0008] Furthermore, when the platform is unfolded horizontally, the parallel link mechanism is driven by the drive means to raise and lower the platform together with the side support frame, thereby allowing the wheelchair to be loaded into or removed from the vehicle. You can Furthermore, according to the above-mentioned elevating device, the gantry can be attached to the entrance of the vehicle by simply fixing the frame along one end of the step for getting on and off the vehicle.

[0009]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the lifting device of the present invention. This elevating device includes a pedestal 1 fixed along one side edge of a step S for getting on and off provided at the entrance of a vehicle, and a side surface supported in an upright manner by the pedestal 1 via a parallel link mechanism 2. Support frame 3 and side support frame 3
The main part is constituted by an elevator platform 4 which is cantilever-supported by the vehicle and which moves up and down between the road surface and the floor surface F of the vehicle in a horizontally expanded state.

The pedestal 1 is fixed on the same plane as the lowest step S by cutting out one side of the step S, and the base 1 is fixed on the same plane as the lowest step S through a seat plate 11a. It includes a base 11 bolted to the base 11 and a pair of side plates 12 erected from both sides of the base 11. Further, the width of the pedestal 1 is set to be as narrow as possible.

[0011] The parallel link mechanism 2 includes a pair of support arms 21 arranged parallel to each other with a predetermined distance apart, one end of each of which is rotatably connected to the pedestal 1, and the other end is connected to a side support frame. It is rotatably connected to 3. This parallel link mechanism 2 is rotationally driven by a link driving means 5, and along with this rotation, the side support frame 3 is rotated while maintaining an upright posture along a vertical plane including one side end of the step S. can be moved.

The link driving means 5 includes a hydraulic cylinder 5
1, and a hydraulic power unit 52 (see FIG. 4) as a drive source for driving the hydraulic cylinder 51. The front end of the hydraulic cylinder 51 is introduced into the frame 1, and the rear end thereof is exposed below a chassis frame (not shown) of the vehicle. In addition, the hydraulic cylinder 5
The tip of one piston rod 51a is rotatably connected to a connecting portion 21a protruding from one of the support arms 21, and the cylinder tube 51b is connected so that the support arm 21 can be rotated. It is swingably attached to the side plate 12 of the pedestal 1. Note that the rear end of the hydraulic cylinder 51 is exposed below the chassis frame of the vehicle, so it is desirable to place it at a position as high as possible so that pebbles etc. thrown by the vehicle do not hit the rear end. . However, if the hydraulic cylinder 51 is disposed at a high position in this way, depending on the type of vehicle, there is a possibility that the rear end of the cylinder tube 51b may interfere with the chassis frame of the vehicle as the hydraulic cylinder 51 swings. Therefore, the hydraulic cylinder 51 is preferably attached to the pedestal 1 so that the rear end of the cylinder tube 51b is located at the top dead center of the swing when the piston rod 51a is retracted.

The hydraulic power unit 52 integrates an oil tank, an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, etc., and the electric motor is driven by the vehicle's battery. This hydraulic power unit 52 is arranged below the step S, and is designed not to take up extra space on the floor surface F of the vehicle (see FIG. 4). Further, an inspection window S1 for performing maintenance and inspection of the hydraulic power unit 52 is formed in the step S (see FIG. 2). This inspection window S1 is normally covered by a cover S2.

The side support frame 3 is a hollow flat plate whose both sides are covered with exterior plates 32, and handle bars 33 are provided on the top and sides. The elevating table 4 includes a main elevating table 41 that is cantilever-supported by the side support frame 3, an auxiliary elevating table 42 that is pivotably supported in a foldable manner with respect to the main elevating table 41, and an auxiliary elevating table 42 that can be erected at each end thereof. It is equipped with footboards 43, 44 which are pivotally supported. The side end portion of the main lifting platform 41 can be rotated with respect to the side support frame 3 so that it can be stored along the side support frame 3 with the auxiliary lifting platform 42 stacked and folded (see FIG. 2). They are freely connected (see Figure 4). The footboard 43 attached to the main platform 41 is bridged between the floor F of the vehicle and the main platform 41, and the footboard 44 attached to the auxiliary platform 42 is connected to the road surface and the auxiliary platform 42. It is bridged between it and the lifting platform 42.

The storing operation of the elevating table 4 is performed by the elevating table storing means 6, which includes a hydraulic cylinder 61 and a hydraulic power unit 62 as its driving source (see FIG. 3). This elevating platform storage means 6 is housed inside the side support frame 3, and the tip of the piston rod 61a of the hydraulic cylinder 61 is connected to a connecting member protruding from the pivot side end of the main elevating platform 41. 41a (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Further, the rear end side of the cylinder tube 61b of the hydraulic cylinder 61 is rotatably supported by the side support frame 3. The hydraulic power unit 62 is driven by a battery mounted on the vehicle, and includes an oil tank, an electric motor, a hydraulic pump, and the like. In this way, by integrally arranging both the hydraulic cylinder 61 and the hydraulic power unit 62 on the side support frame 3, it is possible to suppress early deterioration of the hydraulic hose connected between them. That is, when the hydraulic power unit 62 is disposed on the vehicle side, the hydraulic hose is repeatedly bent as the elevator platform 4 moves up and down, leading to early deterioration and, in the worst case, rupture. However, the hydraulic power unit 62 and the hydraulic cylinder 61 are mounted on the side support frame 3.
By disposing the hydraulic hose integrally with the hydraulic hose and moving the hydraulic hose together, no bending stress is applied to the hydraulic hose, so that early deterioration of the hydraulic hose can be suppressed. In addition, since the electric motor of the hydraulic power unit 62 is energized by a power supply line having a diameter smaller than that of the hydraulic hose, sufficient durability can be exhibited even against repeated bending as the lifting platform 4 is raised and lowered.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of the elevating table 4. As shown in the figure, an auxiliary elevating table 42 is foldably connected to the main elevating table 41 via a hinge 45. . Furthermore, one step platform 43 is rotatably connected to one end of the main platform 41 via a hinge 46 , and the other step platform 44 is rotatably connected to one end of the auxiliary platform 42 via a hinge 47 . are rotatably connected via the Furthermore, the main lifting platform 41
As shown in FIG. 6, a hydraulic cylinder 71 and a V-shaped link mechanism 72 are provided for folding the auxiliary lifting platform 42 or unfolding it horizontally. One end of the link mechanism 72 is rotatably connected to the main platform 41 via a support shaft 72a, and the other end is rotatably connected to the auxiliary platform 42 via a support shaft 72b. freely connected. Further, the piston rod 71a of the hydraulic cylinder 71 is rotatably connected to the central joint of the link mechanism 72 via a support shaft 72c. Therefore, by advancing the piston rod 71a, the link mechanism 72 can be rotated about the support shaft 72a, and the auxiliary lifting table 42 can be reversed by 180 degrees and superimposed on the main lifting table 41. Note that the hydraulic cylinder 71 is driven by a hydraulic power unit 73 (see FIG. 3) attached to the side support frame 3. Further, one of the footboards 43 is moved by an electric cylinder 74 provided inside the main platform 41 into an upright position where it extends obliquely upward from the main platform 41 and a collapsed position where it extends substantially flush with the main platform 41. The rotation is operated. Further, the other footboard 44 is moved by an electric cylinder 75 provided inside the auxiliary elevator 42 into an upright position extending diagonally upward from the auxiliary elevator 42 and a collapsed position extending diagonally downward from the auxiliary elevator 42. The rotation is operated.

Furthermore, the main lifting platform 41 and the auxiliary lifting platform 4
Stoppers 48a and 48b for preventing the wheelchair mounted on the lifting platform 4 from protruding from the side surface are respectively provided on the side surface of No. 2 opposite to the side support frame 3. Further, a stopper 48c is also provided on the side surface of the auxiliary lifting platform 42 on the side support frame 3 side to prevent the wheelchair from protruding from the side surface. The stopper 48a erected on the main elevating table 41 and the stopper 48b erected on the auxiliary elevating table 42 are arranged in the width direction (see FIG. arrow x
direction). Also, stoppers 4 provided on both sides of the auxiliary lifting platform 42 are provided.
8b and 48c are arranged at positions that cover the side surfaces of the main elevator platform 41 when both elevator platforms 41 and 42 are stacked on top of each other (see FIG. 8). And the auxiliary lifting platform 42
Along the stopper 48b, there is a recess 4 into which the stopper 48a on the main lifting platform 41 side can be introduced in the overlapping state.
9 is formed. Therefore, the main lifting table 41 and the auxiliary lifting table 42 can be brought into close contact with each other in a superimposed state, and the total width in the folded state can be reduced.

Next, the operation of the above-mentioned lifting device will be explained with reference to FIG. When not in use, the elevating table 4 is stored along the side support frame 3 in a folded state with the auxiliary elevating table 42 superimposed on the main elevating table 41 (see figure a). Therefore, step S can be used without any problem for people to get on and off the vehicle. When lowering the wheelchair mounted on the vehicle onto the road surface, the hydraulic cylinder 61 is first driven and the elevator platform 4 is rotated until it becomes horizontal (see b in the same figure). When the elevating table 4 is rotated horizontally, the hydraulic cylinder 71 is driven, and the auxiliary elevating table 42 is rotated until it becomes flush with the main elevating table 41. That is, the lifting platform 4 is unfolded in a horizontal state (see c in the same figure). At this time, each footboard 43, 44 has been rotated to the laid down position. next,
The footboard 44 attached to the auxiliary lifting platform 42 is rotated to the upright position by the electric cylinder 75 (see d in the same figure). In this state, the wheelchair is mounted on the elevator platform 4 from the floor surface F of the vehicle. At this time, since the footboard 44 is erected, the wheelchair is prevented from falling off from the auxiliary lifting platform 42 side. When the wheelchair is loaded onto the lifting platform 4, the main lifting platform 41
The footboard 43 attached to the footboard 43 is rotated to the upright position by an electric cylinder 74. This prevents the wheelchair from falling off the main lifting platform 41 side. Then, the hydraulic cylinder 51 of the link driving means 5 is driven, and the lifting platform 4 is rotated until it approaches the road surface while maintaining a horizontal state. When the elevator platform 4 approaches the road surface, the footboard 44 is rotated by the electric cylinder 75 to the collapsed position. In this state, the wheelchair can be lowered from the lifting platform 4 onto the road surface (see f in the same figure and the two-dot chain line in FIG. 3).

On the other hand, when loading a wheelchair on the road into a vehicle, the wheelchair is mounted on the lifting platform 4 in the state shown in FIG. This prevents the wheelchair from falling off the platform 4 (see g in the same figure). Next, the hydraulic cylinder 51 is driven, and the elevator platform 4 is maintained horizontally.
It is rotated upward until it is almost flush with the floor surface F of the vehicle. When the upward rotation of the platform 4 is completed, the footboard 43 is rotated to the collapsed position by the electric cylinder 74, thereby closing the space between the main platform 41 and the floor surface F of the vehicle. Therefore, the wheelchair can be smoothly transferred onto the floor surface F of the vehicle. Thereafter, the footboard 44 is rotated to the folded position (see i in the figure), and the auxiliary lifting platform 42 is rotated by the hydraulic cylinder 71, so that the lifting platform 4 is folded (
(See figure j). Then, the lifting platform 4 is erected by the hydraulic cylinder 61 and stored along the side support frame 3 (see figure a). In addition, each operation of the above-mentioned elevating and lowering device is sequentially operated by button operation from a control box provided in the vicinity of the elevating and lowering device.

The elevating device of the present invention can be used not only for the above-mentioned wheelchair, but also for loading luggage into a light van or the like along with a cart.

[0021]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, according to the elevating device of the present invention, the elevating platform, which is folded and stored, can be unfolded and raised and lowered when necessary, compared to the conventional elevating device which also serves as a step for getting on and off the vehicle. This greatly simplifies the structure, and by simply attaching a pedestal to one end of the step,
Since it can be installed on a vehicle, there is no need to significantly modify the entrance/exit, and the installation cost is low, which is a unique effect.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a lifting device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the elevator platform is stored.

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the lifting platform in a horizontally unfolded state.

FIG. 4 is a front view as well.

FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway plan view of the elevator platform.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line A-A in the previous figure.

7 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 5. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a folded state of the elevator platform.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing the operation of the lifting platform, of which (
(a) is a front view showing the lifting platform in a retracted state, (b) is a front view showing the lifting platform in a rotated state from the retracted state to the horizontal state, (c) to (j) are schematic diagrams showing each operating state. FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Frame 2 Parallel link mechanism 3
Side support frame 4 Elevating table 41 Main elevating table 42 Auxiliary elevating table 5 Link drive means 52
Hydraulic power unit (drive source) 6
Lifting platform storage means 61 Hydraulic cylinder 62 Hydraulic power unit 48a
Stopper 48b Stopper 49 Recess S Step S1 Inspection window

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim 1: A pedestal fixed along one side edge of a step for getting on and off a vehicle, and supported by the pedestal via a parallel link mechanism rotated by a driving means, and the posture is adjusted by driving the parallel link mechanism. The side support frame is rotated along a vertical plane including one side edge of the step for getting on and off while maintaining the same position, and the side support frame is cantilevered by the side support frame, and when expanded horizontally, the side support frame rotates along a vertical plane that includes one side edge of the step for getting on and off. 1. An elevating device comprising: an elevating platform that is moved up and down between the elevating platform and the elevating platform and is stored along a side support frame in a folded state in the elevated position.