JPH04321447A - Elevating/sinking device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To facilitate accommodation of an elevating device for a wheelchair, etc., used with a bus, etc., by supporting an elevating table in cantilever structure on a side face supporting frame, which is borne by the step of the bus with a parallel link, in such a way as capable of being accommodated, and forming an elevating table accommodating means from a hydraulic power unit of battery driven type supported on the side face supporting frame. CONSTITUTION:A side face supporting frame 3 is installed at one side of the step S of a bus through a mount table 1 and a parallel link mechanism 2. An elevating table 4 is mounted on this frame 3 in cantilever structure and is displaced between the position, where it is collapsed and accommodated in upright attitude, and the service position where it is spread horizontally. The accommodating and spreading motions of the elevating table 4 are made by a hydraulic power unit 52 and a hydraulic cylinder 51. The power unit is driven by the battery of the bus.

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 a lifting device for wheelchairs, etc.
Equipped with an elevating mechanism fixed to the floor of a wagon, etc. near the rear opening/closing door, and an elevating platform that is raised and lowered by this elevating mechanism, the elevating platform can be used for getting on and off people or loading and unloading luggage when not in use. There is a device that can be folded and stored in an upright position so as not to get in the way (see, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 1-113034).

0003

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] According to the elevating device having the above structure, the elevating mechanism is fixed to the floor surface of the vehicle, so when it is installed at the entrance of a vehicle such as a bus, the floor space is reduced. As the road becomes narrower, there is a problem in that it becomes a hindrance to traffic. Furthermore, since the lifting platform is stored manually, there is a problem in that a great deal of labor is required to store the platform. Therefore, it is conceivable to perform the above-mentioned retracting operation using a hydraulic cylinder. However, in this case,
When attempting to supply hydraulic oil from a hydraulic power unit installed on the vehicle side to the hydraulic cylinder via a hydraulic hose, the hydraulic hose is bent each time the platform is raised and lowered, resulting in premature deterioration of the hydraulic hose. In the worst case, a new problem arises: damage.

[0004] This invention was made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and it is possible to use a wide floor surface, to easily store the lifting platform using hydraulic pressure, and to prevent premature deterioration of the hydraulic hose. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a lifting device that can prevent damage and premature breakage.

[0005]

[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 entrance while maintaining an upright state by driving the parallel link mechanism; and a side support frame. a lifting platform that is cantilever-supported by a platform, that moves up and down between the road surface and the vehicle floor in a horizontally deployed state, and that can be folded in the raised position;
A lifting platform storing means is provided for storing the folded lifting platform in an erected state along the side support frame, and the lifting platform storage means includes a hydraulic power unit driven by a battery, and a hydraulic power unit connected to the hydraulic power unit. The hydraulic power unit and the hydraulic cylinder are attached to a side support frame.

[0006]

[Operation] According to the elevating device constructed as described above, since the pedestal is fixed along one end of the step for getting on and off, no floor space is required for attaching the pedestal. Moreover, by driving the hydraulic cylinder of the lifting platform storing means, the lifting platform can be automatically stored.

Furthermore, since both the hydraulic power unit and the hydraulic cylinder constituting the platform storage means are attached to the side support frame, pressure oil is supplied to the hydraulic cylinder as the platform moves up and down and is retracted. There is no risk that the hydraulic hose used for this purpose will be bent.

[0008]

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.

The parallel link mechanism 2 includes a pair of support arms 21 arranged parallel to each other and separated by a predetermined distance. One end of each is rotatably connected to the pedestal 1, and the other end is connected to the 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 so that it does not take up extra space on the floor surface F of the vehicle or interfere with getting on and off the vehicle (see FIG. 4). Furthermore, an inspection window S1 for 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 thereof. This side support frame 3 also serves as a stopper to prevent the wheelchair from falling off from the relevant part. The elevating platform 4 is a main elevating platform 4 that is cantilever-supported by the side support frame 3.
1, an auxiliary elevating table 42 which is pivotably supported in a foldable manner with respect to the main elevating table 41, and footboards 43 and 44 which are respectively pivotably supported in an erectable manner at the ends thereof. 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 spanned between the floor surface F of the vehicle and the main platform 41, and the auxiliary platform 42
A footboard 44 attached to the footboard is spanned between the road surface and the auxiliary lifting platform 42.

The storing operation of the lifting platform 4 is automatically carried out by the lifting platform storage means 6, which includes a hydraulic cylinder 61 and a hydraulic power unit 62 as its driving source.
(See Figure 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 Figures 4 and 5)
It is rotatably connected to. 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,
Both the hydraulic cylinder 61 and the hydraulic power unit 62,
It is arranged integrally with the side support frame 3, and the lifting platform 4
Even if the hydraulic hose is repeatedly raised and lowered, and raised and lowered, there is no risk that the hydraulic hose will be bent, so that early deterioration of the hydraulic hose can be prevented. Note that the hydraulic power unit 62
The electric motor is energized by a power line wired along the parallel link mechanism 2. Since this power supply line has a diameter smaller than that of the hydraulic hose, it can exhibit sufficient durability against repeated bending as the lifting platform 4 moves up and down.

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 the 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 collapsed position (see i in the same figure), and the auxiliary lifting platform 42 is rotated by the hydraulic cylinder 71, so that the lifting platform 4 is folded (see j in the same figure). 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.

[0020]

As described above, according to the elevating device of the present invention, since the pedestal is fixed along one end of the step for getting on and off, no floor space is required for installing the pedestal, and the floor space is This will allow you to use more space. Further, the lifting platform can be easily stored by the lifting platform storing means. Furthermore, both the hydraulic power unit and the hydraulic cylinder that constitute the lifting platform storage means are integrally arranged on the side support frame, and pressure oil is supplied to the hydraulic cylinders as the lifting platform moves up and down and is retracted. Since there is no risk that the hydraulic hose for this purpose will be bent, it is possible to prevent the hydraulic hose from prematurely deteriorating or being damaged.

[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; supported by the pedestal via a parallel link mechanism rotated by a driving means; A side support frame that rotates along a vertical plane that includes one side edge of the entrance while maintaining the same position, and a side support frame that is cantilever-supported by the side support frame and horizontally deployed to rotate on the road surface and the vehicle floor. and a lifting platform that can be folded up and down in the raised position, and lifting platform storage means that stores the folded lifting platform in an erected state along the side support frame. The means includes a hydraulic power unit driven by a battery, and a hydraulic cylinder that is driven by the hydraulic power unit to raise the lifting platform, and the hydraulic power unit and the hydraulic cylinder are attached to a side support frame. Lifting device.