JPH0558489U - Vehicle Assistance Device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] To provide a boarding / alighting assistance device for a vehicle that does not impair the habitability and appearance of the vehicle. [Structure] A main step plate 18 located inside the vehicle body is provided at the entrance / exit 11 and the main step plate 18 is used as a guide post 15
It guides you to move up and down. Main step plate 18
Is driven by a hydraulic cylinder 17 between an ascending position having the same height as the floor surface 13 in the vehicle and a descending position having the same height as the road surface. A sub-step plate 21 is connected to the main step plate 18 via a hinge 22, and the sub-step plate 21 is rotatable between a state in which the main step plate 18 is folded and a state in which it is expanded. To get on the vehicle while sitting on a wheelchair, move the main step plate 18 to the lowered position,
After the sub-step board 21 is set in the expanded state and the wheelchair is ridden there, the main step board 18 is raised to the raised position.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial application]

 The present invention relates to a vehicle passenger assistance device suitable for assisting a person sitting in a wheelchair to get on and off a bus or the like.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 For example, a device shown in FIG. 8 has been conventionally provided as a device for assisting a physically handicapped person in getting on and off a vehicle such as a bus while sitting on a wheelchair. This is a configuration in which a platform 2 is provided in the rear opening of the vehicle body via an arm 1 so that the platform 2 can be taken in and out of the vehicle. With this configuration, when the arm 1 is driven along the arm guide 4 by the hydraulic cylinder 3, the platform 2 is housed inside the vehicle and is extended to the road surface outside the vehicle as shown in the figure. Moved between states. The hydraulic cylinder 3 is driven by using the hydraulic pressure generated by the power lift motor 5 provided near the arm guide 4.

[0003] Therefore, in order to get into a bus while sitting on a wheelchair, a switch (not shown) is operated to operate the hydraulic cylinder 3 so that the platform 2 is extended to the road surface. Ride up. Next, by operating the switch again to operate the hydraulic cylinder 3, the platform 2 is raised to bring the wheelchair into the housed state with the wheelchair mounted, and then the wheelchair can be put into the vehicle.

[0004]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the device having the above structure, the arm guide 4, the hydraulic cylinder 3, the platform 2 and the like are arranged so as to be almost exposed in the vehicle interior, so that the original vehicle interior space is greatly reduced and the habitability is improved. It has the drawback that it becomes worse and the appearance is also impaired by the fact that it becomes an additional mounting structure.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle boarding / alighting assistance device that does not impair the habitability and appearance of the vehicle as much as possible.

[0006]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 The vehicle passenger assistance device according to the present invention is provided at a vehicle entrance and exit to assist passengers in getting in and out of the vehicle. A guide mechanism vertically guides the step plate between an ascending position at the same height as the floor surface inside the vehicle and a descending position at the same height as the road surface, and a drive source for driving the step plate is provided. Then, the sub-step plate is connected to the main step plate so that the sub-step plate can be displaced between an integrated state in which it is integrated with the main step plate and an expanded state in which it projects outside the vehicle body.

[0007]

[Action]

 When passengers get into a vehicle while sitting on a wheelchair, for example, the drive source is operated to lower the main step plate along the guide mechanism and move it to the lowered position at the same height as the road surface. Then, the sub-step plate, which is integrated with the main step plate, is set in an expanded state in which the sub-step plate is projected outside the vehicle body, and the wheelchair is mounted on this. At this time, since the sub-step plate is in an expanded state in which it projects outside the vehicle body, a sufficient space for mounting the wheelchair can be secured.

[0008] From this state, the drive source is operated to move the main step plate along the guide mechanism to the elevated position at the same height as the floor surface in the vehicle body. The wheelchair mounted on the car can still be lifted to the same height as the floor inside the vehicle. Then, if the wheelchair is entered from above both step boards to the floor inside the vehicle, the boarding of the vehicle is completed. To get off the vehicle, the order described above may be reversed.

On the other hand, in order to get on and off normally without getting on a wheelchair or the like from the entrance / exit of the vehicle, the sub-step plate is integrated with the main step plate, and is placed between the descending position and the ascending position. deep. Then, you can get on and off like a normal vehicle by putting your foot on the step board from the road surface.

[0010]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the device of the present invention, since the step plate at the entrance and exit, which is originally provided in the vehicle, is moved up and down, the occupant compartment space is not significantly impaired and comfort is maintained. be able to. Also, since the step plate can be moved up and down linearly, the drive mechanism for that can be simplified compared to the arm type opening / closing structure, and the bodywork structure can be simplified accordingly and the appearance is spoiled. There is no.

[0011]

【Example】

 An embodiment in which the present invention is embodied as a wheelchair access device for a small bus will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.

The overall configuration of the vehicle is as shown in FIG. 7, and an entrance / exit 11 and a door 12 for opening / closing the entrance / exit 11 are provided on the side of the vehicle body.

Although the entrance / exit 11 is shown in FIG. 1, the side body and the underbody are omitted here for simplification of the drawing. As shown in the figure, the vehicle floor 13 at the entrance / exit 11 part is receding in a square shape, and a step panel 14 is attached below the edge of the vehicle floor 13 to form an opening for vertically communicating the inside and outside of the vehicle. ing.

Two guide posts 15 corresponding to a hollow prismatic guide mechanism are vertically fixed to the left and right sides of the step panel 14, and a slider 16 is provided inside the guide posts 15 so as to be vertically movable. .. The slider 16 is connected to a rod 17a of a hydraulic cylinder 17 which is a drive source disposed in the upper portion of each guide post 15 and is vertically driven by this. The hydraulic cylinder 17 is driven by the hydraulic pressure generated by a power lift motor (not shown), and the power lift motor has a known configuration including an oil pump driven by an electric motor whose power source is a vehicle battery, for example. is there.

A main step plate 18 is connected between the sliders 16 via connecting pins 19 (see FIG. 4), and the main step plate 18 is held in a substantially horizontal state. In addition, a slit 20 having an open lower end is formed on the inner surface of the guide post 15 which faces the guide post 15, whereby the vertical movement of the connecting pin 19 is allowed.

A sub-step plate 21 is connected to the front edge of the main step plate 18. The auxiliary step plate 21 is connected to the main step plate 18 via a hinge 22 and is rotatable, and is in an integrated state (see FIG. 3) folded over the main step plate 18 and this state. Is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure and is displaced between the expanded state (see FIGS. 1 and 2) in which it is expanded so as to project outside the vehicle body. In addition, an inclined surface 21a is formed at the front end of the sub-step plate 21 for facilitating riding of a wheelchair or the like in an expanded state.

As shown in FIG. 5, a movable rubber seal 23 is attached to a peripheral portion of the main step plate 18 facing the step panel 14 by a pressing plate 24. On the other hand, a fixed rubber seal 25 is attached to the lowermost portion of the step panel 14 by a pressing plate 26 corresponding to the rubber seal 23, and when the main step plate 18 is at the position shown in FIG. 3 (hereinafter referred to as the step position). The rubber seals 23 and 25 are in contact with each other to seal the inside and outside of the vehicle.

Now, the operation of this embodiment will be described. When a person directly gets on and off like an ordinary bus, as shown in FIG. 3, the auxiliary step plate 21 is folded and integrated with the main step plate 18 so that the height of the main step plate 18 is The step position shown in FIG. With this arrangement, the passenger can easily get in and out of the vehicle by opening and closing the door 12 by using the sub step plate 21 folded on the main step plate 18 like a step of stairs. .. Such a usage pattern is exactly the same as that of an ordinary bus.

Next, a case of getting on a bus while sitting on a wheelchair will be described. In this case, the door 12 is opened, and a switch (not shown) is first operated to operate the hydraulic cylinder 17 to lower the main step plate 18 to the "lower position" where it comes in contact with the road surface. Then, the sub-step plate 21 is rotated to bring it into the expanded state shown by the solid line in FIG. Then, the car chair is mounted on both the main step board 18 and the sub step board 21. At this time, since the sub-step plate 21 is in an expanded state in which it projects outside the vehicle body, a sufficient space can be secured by both of the step plates 18 and 21, and the wheelchair can be put in stably.

Next, the switch is operated to operate the hydraulic cylinder 17 to raise the main step plate 18 to the “elevated position” shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 2, and the wheelchair is loaded into the vehicle in that state. At this time, since the main step plate 18 is located at the same height as the floor 13 of the vehicle, there is no problem in getting the wheelchair into the vehicle and it is safe.

After that, the sub-step plate 21 is folded again on the main step plate 18 to form an integrated state, the switch is operated to return the main step plate 18 to the step position, and the door 12 may be tightened. .. When the vehicle is driven in this state, the movable rubber seal 23 of the main step plate 18 comes into contact with the fixed rubber seal 25 of the step panel 14, and the seals inside and outside the vehicle become complete. Are prevented from entering.

In addition, in order to get off the bus while sitting on the wheelchair, the operation may be performed in the reverse order of the boarding procedure described above.

As described above, according to this embodiment, since the step plates 18 and 21 at the vehicle entrance / exit 11 that are originally provided in the vehicle are moved up and down, the arm guide as shown in FIG. Compared with the configuration in which the opening and closing of the platform 2 is guided by 4, the vehicle interior space is not significantly impaired, and comfort can be maintained. Further, since the main step plate 18 may be moved up and down in a straight line, the mechanism therefor has a simple structure such as the hydraulic cylinder 17 and the guide post 15, and the mounting structure is also improved as compared with the conventional arm type opening / closing structure. It's easy and can be easily retrofitted to a standard vehicle without sacrificing its appearance.

Further, since the step plates 18 and 21 do not perform the circular arc motion of the conventional platform 2 but only a simple vertical motion, the person sitting in the wheelchair is less likely to feel anxiety and is easy to use. Is good.

In the above embodiment, the sub-step plate 21 is rotatably connected to the main step plate 18 via the hinge 22. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The structure may be such that the main step plate is slid and housed, or the main step plate is slid and piled up.In short, as long as the sub step plate can be displaced between the main step plate and the integrated state and the expanded state. Good.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an entrance / exit portion in a transparent manner.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing different positions of a main step plate.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main step plate in a step position.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view of a guide post portion.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view showing a seal portion of a main step plate.

6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the entire vehicle

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a conventional boarding / alighting assistance device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 ... Entrance / exit gate 13 ... Vehicle floor 15 ... Guide post (guide mechanism) 17 ... Hydraulic cylinder (drive source) 18 ... Main step plate 21 ... Sub step plate

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A main step plate which is provided at an entrance / exit of a vehicle body to assist passengers in getting on / off, and a main step plate provided inside the vehicle body at the entrance / exit portion, and the main step plate. A guide mechanism that vertically guides between an ascending position at the same height as the floor surface inside the vehicle and a descending position at the same height as the road surface, and moves the main step plate between the ascending position and the descending position. For a vehicle, comprising a drive source for driving the main step plate and a sub-step plate that is displaceable between an integrated state in which the main step plate is integrated with the main step plate and an expanded state that projects outside the vehicle body Boarding assistance device.