JPS6327012Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a device for adjusting the inclination of the steps during kneeling of an air suspension vehicle, such as a large bus, which has left and right bellows that supply air at a predetermined pressure between the wheels and the frame. It is something.

Air suspension vehicles are equipped with a leveling valve installed between the air tank and the left and right bellows, and when the vehicle height falls below a predetermined value, this leveling valve opens to maintain the predetermined vehicle height. . On the other hand, when passengers get on and off the bus, it is convenient for passengers to get on and off the bus if the entrance is low, so it is required to lower the vehicle height on the side with the entrance. In order to lower the vehicle height, it is preferable to close the kneeling switch and remove air from the bellows to perform kneeling. On the other hand, kneeling the vehicle in this manner had the disadvantage that the steps at the entrance and exit were tilted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a kneeling step adjustment device for an air suspension vehicle, which prevents the step at the entrance/exit from tilting during kneeling.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 shows an air suspension vehicle 1 equipped with a kneeling step adjustment device 10 according to the present invention.
2, the air suspension vehicle 12 has left and right bellows 1 to which air is supplied from an air tank (not shown) through a leveling valve (also not shown).
A kneeling device 18 (see FIG. 3) is provided for removing air from the bellows 14 of one of the bellows 4 and 14' having the entrance 16 (see FIG. 2). This kneeling device 18 is driven by a kneeling switch 22 which generates a kneeling command from a battery power source 20.

In the kneeling step adjustment device 10 of the present invention, each step portion 24A, 24B of the step 24 of the entrance/exit door 16 is pivotally supported on the vehicle body by the fulcrum 26A, 26B. , 24B so as to be horizontal according to the inclination of the entrance/exit 16.
and step control means 30 for driving this driving means 28 when the kneeling switch 22 is closed.

In the illustrated embodiment, the drive means 28 comprises air cylinders 34A, 34B pivotally mounted on vertical fixed walls 32A, 32B of the step 24; in the embodiment of FIG.
4B is biased by springs 38A, 38B so that its piston rods 36A, 36B extend.

The step control means 30 consists of a solenoid valve 40 with an exhaust port, and this solenoid valve 40 is energized when the kneeling switch 22 is closed. The solenoid valve 40 is normally open and draws air from the air tank 42 to the air cylinder 34.
A, 34B and its piston rod 36
A, 36B are contracted. Therefore, each step portion 24A, 24B is raised as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, and the step 24 is maintained horizontally when the vehicle is running horizontally. When the kneeling switch 22 is closed when the vehicle is kneeling, the vehicle tilts as shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, but at the same time, the electromagnetic valve 40 closes and its exhaust port 40a is opened to remove the air from the air cylinders 34A and 34B. . For this reason, when the vehicle is kneeling, the step 2
4 is tilted, its step portions 24A, 24B are adjusted horizontally as shown by dotted lines in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows a modification of the driving means 28, and in this modification, the driving means 28 also includes air cylinders 34A, 3
4B, these air cylinders 3
Normally, springs 38A and 38B cause the piston rods 36A and 36B to raise the step portions 24A and 24B as shown by solid lines in FIG. Therefore, in this modified example, contrary to the previous embodiment, the solenoid valve 40 is closed during normal running to open the exhaust port, while during kneeling, it is opened to supply air from the air tank to the air cylinders 34A, 34B during the step. Parts 24A and 24B are kept horizontal.

According to the present invention, as described above, since the steps are kept horizontal when the vehicle is kneeling, it is possible to safely get on and off the vehicle, which is a practical benefit.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1 and 2 are a schematic plan view and a rear view, respectively, of an air suspension vehicle equipped with a kneeling step adjustment device according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a schematic system diagram of the kneeling step adjustment device according to the present invention. , FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a modification of the driving means. 10... Kneeling step adjustment device, 12
...Air suspension vehicle, 14, 14'...Bellows, 16...Gateway, 18...Kneeling device, 22...Kneeling switch, 24...Step, 24A, 24B...Step portion, 26
A, 26B... Fulcrum, 28... Drive means, 34
A, 34B...Air cylinder, 38A, 38B...
...Spring, 40...Solenoid valve, 40a...Exhaust port, 42...Air tank.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] (1) In an air suspension vehicle equipped with a kneeling device that lowers the vehicle height on the entrance/exit side by closing a kneeling switch when the air suspension vehicle is stopped, Each step portion is pivotally supported by the vehicle body, and includes a drive means for driving each step portion so as to be horizontal according to the inclination of the entrance/exit, and a step control means for driving the drive means when the kneeling switch is closed. A kneeling step adjustment device for air suspension vehicles consisting of: (2) The kneeling step adjustment device for an air suspension vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the driving means is an air cylinder. (3) The air cylinder is normally biased by a spring to move down the step portion, and the step control means normally supplies air from an air tank to the air cylinder and closes the exhaust port when the kneeling switch is closed. Utility model registration claim 2, which comprises a solenoid valve that is opened to exhaust air from the air cylinder.
Kneeling step adjustment device for air suspension vehicles as described in Section 1. (4) The air cylinder is normally spring-biased to move up the step, and the step control means is normally closed to open the exhaust port and opens when the kneeling switch is closed to drain the air from the air tank. The kneeling step adjustment device for an air suspension vehicle as claimed in claim 2, which comprises a solenoid valve that supplies air to a cylinder.