SE1550643A1 - Foldable foot step with covering hatch/lid for a vehicle cab - Google Patents

Abstract

18 ABSTRACT The invention relates to a system for covering and preferablymanoeuvring at least one lower foldable footstep (6) located below a main cab door (2) of a vehicle cab (l) and intended when the cab door (2)(3),that in for facilitating entrance to the cab (l)is opened, automatically controlling a covering element(6),(l), (9,ll). such as a hatch/lid located outside the footstepits closed position prevents entering the cab comprisinga first and a second hydraulic cylinders The inventionis achieved by that the first hydraulic cylinder (9) ismechanically connected to,(2),mechanically connected to the foldable footstep(3), and covering element and arranged to be controlled by,that the second hydraulic cylinder (ll) is(6) and the the cab doorcovering element arranged to control this footstep (6)(3),(9,ll) and that the first and secondhydraulic cylinders communicate hydraulically with eachother in such a way that when the cab door (2) is manuallyopened the covering element (3) is opened and the foldablefootstep (6) is automatically unfolded to a use position substantially simultaneously. (Figure 3)

Description

FOLDABLE FOOT STEP WITH COVERING HATCH/LID FOR A VEHICLE CAB TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a system for automaticallymanoeuvring a movable body panel like a cover/lid arrangedbelow the main door of a commercial vehicle cab, andpreferably also at least one foldable footstep intended forfacilitating entry into the cab. The invention particularly relates to an automatic mechanism that controls the cover, andthe footstep, in relation to the movements of the main door ofthe cab. The invention also refers to a vehicle provided with a system according to the invention.

BACKGROUND ART Heavy commercial vehicles, such as trucks, are normallyequipped with highly placed driver compartments or cabs.Footsteps are arranged for facilitating entrance to the cabs.Many trucks are intended for long-distance transportation andthere is a general desire to reduce the air resistance of thevehicles in order to reduce its fuel consumption. A furtherimportant desire is to reduce the possibility for unauthorizedpersons to enter the cab from outside when the main door isclosed, thereby reducing the risk for assault and robbery,which is a large problem in same markets. If it is impossibleto climb the footsteps of the truck it would also be difficultto reach up to the driver and pursue a robbery. In the sametime, a system for preventing anyone from climbing the cabshould not automatically cause the driver/owner to makespecial operations every time he or she needs to enter or exit the cab.

Some of the cabs footsteps, and at least the higher placed footsteps, are normally covered by the vehicles main cab door,when this is closed, while a lower located footstep may be notbe covered at all or covered by a door extension component,like a hatch, lid or a similar cover plate. This cover may bemounted partly rotatable below the main cab door and could beoperated manually by the driver or be operated mechanically bythe door itself. Such known designs has drawbacks since thehatch/lid only can be attached to the door along a limitedarea, and tends also to be flexible and instable in operation.A one-piece door could improve the overall strength incomparison with a door system provided with an extra extension component.

The use of an integrated door extension component gives a heavier door to handle every time it should be opened, and italso gives a door that is more affected by wind due to itslarger outer surface. It may also be a desire to limit the total height of the door of manufacturing reasons.

An advantage of a lower footstep extending further out fromthe vehicle chassis is that it facilitates the entrance for aperson, making it more convenient to enter the cab. On theother hand it may not be possible to cover the footstep with ahatch/lid if the lower footstep always extends from thevehicles chassis. Of this reason it is an advantage if thelower footstep is made foldable. By making the footstepfoldable the width of the vehicle could also be made somewhatlarger as the total width of the vehicle, including thefootsteps and in driving mode, have to be 2500 mm or less.Many attempts have been made to provide a simple and user- friendly solution to these problems.

In the patent document WO2007123447 is described an access system, including a lid installed below the cab door, for use on a vehicle, on a truck. A sensor detects the e.g.opening/closing of the main door and a linear/rotary actuatorcontrols the lid. The controlling components are connected toeach other by electrical wires and a control unit transmits asignal emitted from the sensor in order to control thelinear/rotary actuator for opening or closing the lid inrelation to the main door. This system is relativelycomplicated as it includes a number of components, like electronic sensors, wires, a control unit and some type of electrical motor or similar. The system has no foldablefootstep but will still be expensive to manufacture andassemble and is provided with a number of parts that in timemay result in malfunction and/or in a time delay in maneuvering the lid.

In the patent document EP0580147 is described a system where ahydraulic cylinder piston is used as a positioning unit, alternatively as a step less door stop, mechanically connectedbetween the vehicle framework and the door and controlled by avariable fluid flow.

A passenger entrance opening, or a rearward opening of a station wagon, is to be closed by aclosure unit such as a side door or a backward door or a bootlid. The positioning unit may be used for controlling theclosure unit in a selected angular position such as acompletely closed position or a fully opened position or anintermediate position there between. This invention is notintended for a heavy commercial vehicle and does not have anyextra hatch/lid for covering a lower footstep.Still another solution is disclosed in NL1004662. This patentdocument describes a door-operated foldable step for a lorrycab where the door movement operates a double-acting hydraulicmaster cylinder in order to operate two slave cylinders todeploy the lower footstep and a body panel. This solution isrelatively complicated and includes a number of components, such as three hydraulic cylinders and several intermediate link arms, a link arm system. This means that the system maybe expensive to manufacture and complicated to assemble.Several similar solutions, regarding foldable footstepscovered by a hatch or lid, exist in the market but none ofthese prior known systems are similar to or anticipate thepresent invention. The known systems have a number ofdisadvantages one of which is that they are designed with arelatively complex mechanism that requires a number ofcomponents or need several operational steps in order to use the system.

SUMARY OF THE INVENTION One object of the present invention is to solve the abovementioned problems and to provide a simple and fail-safesystem for covering a foldable footstep with a hatch/lid,below the main door, that is automatically opened when the main cab door is opened.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system containing as few components as possible.

A further object of the invention is that the system should bemechanically/hydraulically operated without any electriccomponents thereby saving electrical power in the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is that the system must takeup minimal space in the cab and/or in the door.A further object of the invention is that the system should beeasy to handle and fast performing in such a way that the the hatch/lid, foldable footstep and the cover, will operate more or less synchronously.

A further object of the invention is that the system must notnegatively affect the manual power needed to open the main door.

A further object of the invention is that the covering hatch/lid and the foldable footstep should be possible toinstall to the chassis of the vehicle while the cab doorshould be installed to the framework of the cab, which in turn could be tiltable, i.e. the door and the hatch/lid should beservice has to and the hatch/lid and the door possible to separate from each other when e.g.be done to the vehicle engine,should still be possible to operate/open simultaneously when the cab is folded to its operating mode again.

A further object of the invention is that the door and thehatch/lid must not create noise/clutter, neither at driving the vehicle or at opening/closing the door.

A further object of the invention is that the footstep must beable to be completely unfolded to a use position when the door is opened at a 45 degree angle.

These and further objects and advantages is achieved by theinvention by a system designed in accordance with the features recited in claim l.

The present invention refers to a mechanism for manoeuvring at least one foldable footstep, intended for entering a vehicle cab, and at the same time for manoeuvring a cover, ahatch/lid, covering the footstep in its folded, inactive,position.

The invention is based on the principle that the cab doormovement actuates a hydraulic main cylinder which in turn controls a slave cylinder that actuate both the cover, the hatch/lid, and the foldable footstep, preferably simul- taneously.

The invention facilitates in this way that the user/drivereasily may automatically operate the hatch/lid and unfold thefootstep into a horizontal use position only by simply andmanually opening the main door of the cab when entering orexiting the cab.

The hatch/lid could also be locked in its closed position. Thehatch/lid locking mechanism may be controlled by the central locking system in the vehicle.

The absence of mechanical coupling components between the cabdoor and the hatch/lid and the foldable footstep reduces the risk of noise/clatter from the system. The system function isnot dependent on any battery voltage or air pressure. The locking mechanism of the hatch/lid, and the cab door, preventsunauthorized opening and results in a safe vehicle and reduces the risk for noise/clatter while driving.

Due to the design the system takes up very little space in the cab and in the region of the door.

The foldable foot step is preferably formed out of metal profiles or frames of steel or aluminum and is arranged topartly rotate around a horizontal axle arranged in the rearpart of the footstep. The axle is fixed to the vehicle chassis.

Further features and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following, more detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described below in some preferred embodimentsillustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective side view, of the rightside, of a conventional vehicle having a cab provided withside doors and hatches/lids that covers one or more footsteps located below the main door.

Figure 2a illustrates the same view as figure l but with theside door and its hatch/lid opened showing an upper and a lower footstep used for facilitating the entry to the cab.

Figure 2b illustrates more in detail, in a perspective view, one example of the mechanical/hydraulic parts of the system according to the invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a side view of, and another embodiment of, a system according to the invention, but here illustrated from the left side of the cab.

Figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, of a further embodiment on the system shown in figure 2 and 3, and also showing the main hydraulic cylinder mechanically operated by the main door.

Figure 5 illustrates in a side view, a further embodiment of the system shown in figure 2, 3 and 4, not showing the main hydraulic cylinder.

Figure 6a illustrates, in a view from above, more in detail the hinge of the hatch/lid, in its closed position.

Figure 6b illustrates, in a view from above, more in detail the hinge of the hatch/lid, in its open position.

Figure 7 illustrates, in a side view, more in detail the mechanical connection, the joint, between the chassis and the main door of the cab.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention thus relates to a system/mechanism forcovering and manoeuvring at least one lower footstep forfacilitating entry of a vehicle cab. The system is intended tobe automatically operated by the movements of the vehiclesmain door, and substantially simultaneously with the maindoor.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective side view, of the rightside, of a heavy commercial vehicle having a cab l providedwith side/main doors 2 and a hatch/lid 3 that covers one orlocated inside/below the main door 2. The hatch/lid 3 and a foldable footstep(s) more footsteps (not shown)are mounted tothe chassis 4 of the vehicle while the cab door 2 is mountedto the framework of the cab l. The cab l is tiltable (notshown) cab l. as the engine is located in the center of or below theThe hatch/lid 3 is possible to separate from the cab door 2 when e.g. service has to be done to the vehicle engineand the cab l is tilted forward. The hatch/lid 3 and the door2 is than still possible to operate/open simultaneously when the cab l is folded back to the vehicles driving mode.

Figure 2a illustrates the same view as figure l but with theside door 2 and its hatch/lid 3 opened showing an upper and alower footstep 5,6 used for facilitating the entry to theinner compartment of the cab l. As the lower footstep 6 has tobe covered by the hatch/lid 3 it is desired that it isarranged foldable in such a way that it could be extended out from the chassis 4 when the driver needs to enter the cab l.

Figure 2b illustrates more in detail, in a perspective view,one example of the mechanical parts of the system according to the invention.

The lower footstep 6 is thus rotatable/foldable around a firsthorizontal axis 7, oriented along the vehicles longitudinalaxis. The covering hatch/lid 3 is rotatable around a secondvertical axis 8, and preferably operated simultaneouslytogether with the cab main door 2.

A first hydraulic cylinder 9, a main cylinder, is installedbetween the framework 10 of the cab 1 and the cab door 2 and is operated by movements of the cab door 2. A second hydraulicslave cylinder 11 is installed between the framework 10 of thecab 1 and a first link 12 that controls/operates, closes or opens, the hatch/lid 3. The first link 12 also operates the foldable footstep 6 via a second link 13, folding or unfolding the footstep 6.

When the cab door 2 is manually opened it results in that thefirst main cylinders piston 14 is pulled out forcing ahydraulic flow to the second slave cylinder 11. The slavecylinders piston 15 pulls in turn the first link 12 resultingin that the first link 12 is moved and partly rotates and inturn that the hatch/lid 3 opens at the same time as the lowerfootstep 6 rotates, is unfolded, to a use position.

Figure 3 illustrates a side view of another example of asystem according to the invention, but here installed on theleft side of the cab 1. In this case a T-formed link arm 16 isused.

When the cab door 2 is opened the main cylinders piston (notshown) is pulled and the resulting hydraulic flow will pull the slave cylinders 11 piston 15. The lever will thereby partly rotate around a joint to the right in the figureThe T-formed link arm 16 is The forcing the hatch/lid 3 to open. arranged to, and will pull, a pulling gas spring 17.pulling gas spring 17 is in its opposite end mechanicallyconnected to the foldable footstep 6 and will, with a short time delay, due to its internal design and spring, rotate the footstep 6 to a use position. The pulling gas spring 17 may bearranged to pull the foldable foot step 6 completely out to its use position when the main door 2 is opened only about 20-30 degrees, 23-25 degrees. This means that the footstep 6 e.g.will be fully unfolded and usable to the driver even if the vehicle is parked in narrow spaces and the cab door 2 may notbe possible to open completely. This is an important feature to the driver.

When the cab door 2 is closing all mechanical movements willmove in reverse order, the hatch/lid 3 will close at the sametime as the footstep 6 will fold to its vertical storageposition. The gas spring 17 will ensure that the footstep 6will fold just before the hatch/lid 3 will close so thefootstep 6 do not interfere the movement of the hatch/lid 3.a further Figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, variant/embodiment of the system shown in figure 3, andincludes the main hydraulic cylinder 9 operated by the door 2.The link arm 16 has here a somewhat different design, and isformed like a L, but operates substantially in the same way asthe system/mechanism according to figure 3. The link arm 16 ispartly rotatable around a lower located joint 18 and arrangedto, at the same time, and by means of a third link 20 pull thehatch/lid 3 to an open position and via a gas spring 17 unfoldthe lower footstep 6 to a use position. In this figure it caneasily be seen that the slave cylinder 11 is directly orindirectly connected to the hinge 19 of the hatch/lid 3 in such a way that it may rotate the hatch/lid 3 outwardly. 11 Figure 5 illustrates, in a perspective view, a further variant/embodiment of the system shown in figures 2-4. Thelink arm 16 is here again T-formed, but operates substantiallyin the same way as the system/mechanism according to figures 2-4. The link arm 16 is partly rotatable around a lower located joint 18 and arranged to, at the same time, pull the hatch/lids hinge 19 and via a gas spring 17 or a link 21 unfold the lower footstep 6 to a use position. In this figure it can easily be seen that the slave cylinder 11 is directlyconnected to the hinge 19 of the hatch/lid 3 in such a way that it may rotate the hatch/lid 3 outwardly.more in Figure 6a and b illustrates, in a view from above, detail the operation of the hatch/lids hinge 19. The figureshows a somewhat U-formed hinge 19 forming a lever. A link orpiston 15 is connected to the outer part of the lever and inits other end controlled by the second slave hydrauliccylinder 11 pulling the link/piston 15 and hinge 19 resultingin that the hatch/lid 3 will open when the cab door 2 ismanually opened. Thereby the hinge/lid 3 will open in directrelation to the doors 2 movement.

Figure 7 illustrates, in a perspective side view, more indetail the operation of the main hydraulic cylinder 9 by themain door 2. A link or piston 14 is connected to a joint 22welded or screwed to a console 23 connected to the cab door 2,preferably near the hinge axis of the door 2, in such a waythat the actual possible stroke of the main cylinder 9 will beabout 60-70 mm. When the cab door 2 is closed the maincylinder 9 will be compressed and when the cab door 2 is fullyopened the main cylinder 9 will be in its most extended position.

BENEFITS WITH THE INVENTION 12 Due to the design of the invention with the covering elementthe air resistance of the vehicle is reduced and thereby the fuel consumption.

The present invention provides a footstep and hatch/lid designthat only requires a relatively few components to operatewhich make the system cost effective to manufacture andassemble, only requires a small space for these components inthe vehicle, is rigid/stable in use and easy for the driver to operate and use, i.e. to fold into a use position and back to a stowed position.

If the lower footstep is operated simultaneously with thehatch/lid cover the footstep may be allowed to extend furtherout from the chassis thereby allowing a more comfortable entrythan the legal requirement normally would allow for a fixedfootstep, while driving.

The invention could also be used as a hydraulic step less doorstop which will dampen the opening of a cab door e.g. when thecab is tilted for service. The hydraulic cylinder system may replace the existing mechanical door stop, allowing, for example, opening the door without opening the hatch/lid (e.g. in confined spaces) or, at tilting the cab, the hatch/lid isopened in spite of that the door still is closed allowing thedriver to step on the lower footstep for reaching the enginefor service purposes etc.

The advantageous of this is that a door step function may be made easily adjustable, dampened outwards but lighter e.g. inwards. The door will stop exactly where it is left, e.g. it will function as a step less door stop. The door may bedampened near its outer end position and a “fall protection”may be integrated in the door stop so a maximal opening speedcould be set in such a way that the door will not open rapidly when the cab is tilted. The door may also be “locked” in any 13 opening angle by means of the central locking system. And thedoors inertia could be adjusted individually which may be usedby garbage trucks as they make many stops resulting in thatthe cab doors are forces opened in a rapid manner.

The main advantages of the inventive solution are that thesystem contains relatively few components which make the system cost effective to manufacture and assemble.

The system according to the invention will be fast and easy tohandle by that it requires no extra manual operational stepsin order to open the hatch/lid and unfold the footstep. Andthe system can therefore be controlled with only one handopening the cab door. The design also takes up very little space in its storage position.

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate theunderstanding of the invention. However the invention is ofcourse not in any way restricted to only the disclosedembodiments, but many possibilities to modifications would beapparent to a person skilled in the art within the scope ofthe invention without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (17)

1. l. System for covering and pfe§erab¿y manoeuvring at least one(6) (2) and intended for facilitating entrance to leweæ foldable footstep located below a m iæ~c &(l) the cab when the cab door of a vehicle cab(2) is opened,(3), ¿Wfootstep automaticallysuch as a hatch/lid(6), controlling a covering element that in its closed located outside the §¿“ position prevents entering the cab (l), comprising a first anda second hydraulic cylinders (9,ll), characterized in that that the first hydraulic cylinder (9) is mechanically connected to, and arranged to be controlled by, the cab door (2),that the second hydraulic cylinder (ll) is mechanicallyconnected to the foldable footstep (6) and the covering element (3), and arranged to control the movement of the;¿ *footstep (6) and the covering element (3), andthat the first and second hydraulic cylinders (9,ll) communicate hydraulically directly with each other in such a way that when the cab door (2) (3) is manually opened the covering element is opened and the foldable footstep (6) is automatically unfolded to a use position.

2. System according to claim l, characterized in that the lower (6)around a first horizontal axis(3), vertical axis is arranged rotatable/foldable(7) is rotatable around a second ymfootstep and that the coveringthe hatch/lid,(8). element System according to claim lmgr

3. | 3.characterized in that is | the first hydraulic cylinder (9), th; ung: cyliglzr, 5 l arranged between, and linked to, (lO) of the(1) (2) the cab door ¿Mframework and the cab door (2)- cab and is operated by movements of

4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a~the second hydraulic s (ll) is installed (1) ave~cylinder (10) ehe~a framework of the cab and a ß (l2,l3,l6) between arm system that controls/operates, closes or opens, the covering element (3), the hatch/lid, substantiallysimultaneously with the cab door (2).

5. System according to :ny p: ;:di g ;l;;u:¿" characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is arranged to at the same time operate the foldable footstep (6), (6)- folding or unfolding the (footstep

6. System according to an; ““""fi*"” characterized in that (14) a piston of the first w pietefim+l4%~is arranged to force a hydraulic flow to the second-elaee gl 'rwcylinder (ll).

7. System according to ;ny 3: ;:di g cl one of siat* _;;m:any characterized in that ëeíšÄäɧíL_(¥ÉliÅl pisten»(là)Mis arranged to pull the link arm system (l2,l3,l6)(l2,l3,l6) (3) resulting in that the link arm system partly rotates thereby opening the hatch/lid at the same time as the _ (6), to its use ímfootstep rotates is unfolded, position. C cylindere¿(ll) il i* ;t:.í;| t...

8. System according to :ny 3: ;2di g claimcany one of characterized in that the link arm system (12,13,16) is substantially T- or L-formed.9. System according to :ng 3: ;2di g cl imcany one of i. _.\' :Q

9. L.\« \» , characterized in that the link arm system (12,13,16) is arranged to operate a gas (6), fully unfold to a use position when the spring (17) connected to the foldable footstep making the footstep (6) cab door (2) is opened about 20-30 degrees.

10. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe second hydraulic eiave cylinder (11) (3), the hatch/lid, is arranged tooperate the covering element in such a way that it rotates outwardly.

11. System according to any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that(19) forms a lever and that a (19). ä somewhat U-formed hinge link (15,20) is connected to the outer part of the hinge

12. System according to any one of : preceding claims, characterized in that the covering element (3), hatch/lid, direct relation to the cab door (2) is arranged to open in movement.

13. System according to :ry tzgcziing 'yï any one of-å characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6)is connected to a joint (22) arranged in the cab door (2), preferably welded or screwed tothe cab door (2).

14. l4. System according to :ry prficziing ,l;im; any one of-Q or -É, characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is connected to the~a_joint(2), that the actual stroke of the first mfl-m h (22) near the hinge axis of the cab door in such a way pwcylinder (9) will be about 60-70 mm.

15. System according to ;Lj pïçcflfiing characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is arranged to control the foldable foot step (6) via a gas spring (l7).

16. l6. System according to any one of pï characterized in that theflawgas spring (17) is arranged to fully unfold the f footstep (6) to its use position when the cab door (2) is opened 45 degrees.

17. l7. Vehicle provided with a system according to one any of she claims l-16.