SE538861C2

SE538861C2 - Foldable foot step with covering hatch/lid for a vehicle cab

Info

Publication number: SE538861C2
Application number: SE1550643A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Lestander Sten-Erik; Colling Morgan
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2015-05-21
Filing date: 2015-05-21
Publication date: 2017-01-10
Also published as: DE102016005891A1; SE1550643A1; BR102016011354A2

Description

25 30 35 538 861 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 not be covered at all or covered by a door extension component, like a hatch, lid or a similar cover plate. This cover may be mounted partly rotatable below the main cab door and could be operated manually by the driver or be operated mechanically by the door itself. Such known designs has drawbacks since the hatch/lid only can be attached to the door along a limited area, and tends also to be flexible and instable in operation.

A one-piece door could improve the overall strength in comparison 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 it also gives a door that is more affected by wind due to its larger 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 from the vehicle chassis is that it facilitates the entrance for a person, making it more convenient to enter the cab. On the other hand it may not be possible to cover the footstep with a hatch/lid if the lower footstep always extends from the vehicles chassis. Of this reason it is an advantage if the lower footstep is made foldable. By making the footstep foldable the width of the vehicle could also be made somewhat larger as the total width of the vehicle, including the footsteps 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. ln the patent document WO2007123447 is described an access system, including a lid installed below the cab door, for use 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 on a vehicle, on a truck. A sensor detects the e.g. opening/closing of the main door and a linear/rotary actuator controls the lid. The controlling components are connected to each other by electrical wires and a control unit transmits a signal emitted from the sensor in order to control the linear/rotary actuator for opening or closing the lid in relation to the main door. This system is relatively complicated 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 foldable footstep but will still be expensive to manufacture and assemble and is provided with a number of parts that in time may result in malfunction and/or in a time delay in maneuvering the lid.

In the patent document EP0580147 is described a system where a hydraulic cylinder piston is used as a positioning unit, alternatively as a step less door stop, mechanically connected between the vehicle framework and the door and controlled by a variable fluid flow. A passenger entrance opening, or a rearward opening of a station wagon, is to be closed by a closure unit such as a side door or a backward door or a boot lid. The positioning unit may be used for controlling the closure unit in a selected angular position such as a completely closed position or a fully opened position or an intermediate position there between. This invention is not intended for a heavy commercial vehicle and does not have any extra hatch/lid for covering a lower footstep.

Still another solution is disclosed in NL1004662. This patent document describes a door-operated foldable step for a lorry cab where the door movement operates a double-acting hydraulic master cylinder in order to operate two slave cylinders to deploy the lower footstep and a body panel. This solution is relatively complicated and includes a number of components, such as three hydraulic cylinders and several intermediate 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 link arms, a link arm system. This means that the system may be expensive to manufacture and complicated to assemble.

Several similar solutions, regarding foldable footsteps covered by a hatch or lid, exist in the market but none of these prior known systems are similar to or anticipate the present invention. The known systems have a number of disadvantages one of which is that they are designed with a relatively complex mechanism that requires a number of components 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 above mentioned problems and to provide a simple and fail-safe system 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 be mechanically/hydraulically operated without any electric components thereby saving electrical power in the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is that the system must take up minimal space in the cab and/or in the door.

A further object of the invention is that the system should be easy 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. 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 A further object of the invention is that the system must not negatively 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 to install to the chassis of the vehicle while the cab door which in turn the door and the hatch/lid should be should be installed to the framework of the cab, could be tiltable, i.e. service 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 the hatch/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 be able 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 the invention 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, a hatch/lid, covering the footstep in its folded, inactive, position.

The invention is based on the principle that the cab door movement actuates a hydraulic main cylinder which in turn controls a slave cylinder that actuate both the cover, the 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 hatch/lid, and the foldable footstep, preferably simul- taneously.

The invention facilitates in this way that the user/driver easily may automatically operate the hatch/lid and unfold the footstep into a horizontal use position only by simply and manually opening the main door of the cab when entering or exiting the cab.

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

The absence of mechanical coupling components between the cab door and the hatch/lid and the foldable footstep reduces the risk of noise/clatter from the system. The system function is not dependent on any battery voltage or air pressure. The locking mechanism of the hatch/lid, and the cab door, prevents unauthorized 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 to partly rotate around a horizontal axle arranged in the rear part of the footstep. The axle is fixed to the vehicle chassis.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings and the claims. 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described below in some preferred embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates a perspective side view, of the right side, of a conventional vehicle having a cab provided with side 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 the side 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. of a further Figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, 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. 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 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 for covering and manoeuvring at least one lower footstep for facilitating entry of a vehicle cab. The system is intended to be automatically operated by the movements of the vehicles main door, and substantially simultaneously with the main door.

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

Figure 2a illustrates the same view as figure 1 but with the side door 2 and its hatch/lid 3 opened showing an upper and a lower footstep 5,6 used for facilitating the entry to the inner compartment of the cab 1. As the lower footstep 6 has to be covered by the hatch/lid 3 it is desired that it is arranged foldable in such a way that it could be extended out from the chassis 4 when the driver needs to enter the cab 1. 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 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 first horizontal axis 7, oriented along the vehicles longitudinal axis. The covering hatch/lid 3 is rotatable around a second vertical axis 8, and preferably operated simultaneously together with the cab main door 2.

A first hydraulic cylinder 9, a main cylinder, is installed between the framework 10 of the cab 1 and the cab door 2 and is operated by movements of the cab door 2. A second hydraulic slave cylinder 11 is installed between the framework 10 of the cab 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 the first main cylinders piston 14 is pulled out forcing a hydraulic flow to the second slave cylinder 11. The slave cylinders piston 15 pulls in turn the first link 12 resulting in that the first link 12 is moved and partly rotates and in turn that the hatch/lid 3 opens at the same time as the lower footstep 6 rotates, is unfolded, to a use position.

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

When the cab door 2 is opened the main cylinders piston (not shown) is pulled and the resulting hydraulic flow will pull the slave cylinders 11 piston 15. The lever will thereby 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 partly rotate around a joint to the right in the figure forcing the hatch/lid 3 to open. The T-formed link arm 16 is arranged to, and will pull, a pulling gas spring 17. The pulling gas spring 17 is in its opposite end mechanically connected 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 be arranged 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 not be possible to open completely. This is an important feature to the driver.

When the cab door 2 is closing all mechanical movements will move in reverse order, the hatch/lid 3 will close at the same time as the footstep 6 will fold to its vertical storage position. will fold just before the hatch/lid 3 will close so the The gas spring 17 will ensure that the footstep 6 footstep 6 do not interfere the movement of the hatch/lid 3.

Figure 4 illustrates, in a perspective view, a further variant/embodiment of the system shown in figure 3, and includes the main hydraulic cylinder 9 operated by the door 2.

The link arm 16 has here a somewhat different design, and is formed like a L, but operates substantially in the same way as the system/mechanism according to figure 3. The link arm 16 is partly rotatable around a lower located joint 18 and arranged to, at the same time, and by means of a third link 20 pull the hatch/lid 3 to an open position and via a gas spring 17 unfold the lower footstep 6 to a use position. In this figure it can easily be seen that the slave cylinder 11 is directly or indirectly connected to the hinge 19 of the hatch/lid 3 in such a way that it may rotate the hatch/lid 3 outwardly. 10 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 Figure 5 illustrates, in a perspective view, a further variant/embodiment of the system shown in figures 2-4. The link arm 16 is here again T-formed, but operates substantially in 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 hatch/lids hinge and arranged to, at the same time, pull the 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 directly connected to the hinge 19 of the hatch/lid 3 in such a way that it may rotate the hatch/lid 3 outwardly.

Figure 6a and b illustrates, in a view from above, more in detail the operation of the hatch/lids hinge 19. The figure shows a somewhat U-formed hinge 19 forming a lever. A link or piston 15 is connected to the outer part of the lever and in its other end controlled by the second slave hydraulic cylinder ll pulling the link/piston 15 and hinge 19 resulting in that the hatch/lid 3 will open when the cab door 2 is manually opened. Thereby the hinge/lid 3 will open in direct relation to the doors 2 movement.

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

BENEFITS WITH THE INVENTION 11 10 15 20 25 30 35 538 861 Due to the design of the invention with the covering element the air resistance of the vehicle is reduced and thereby the fuel consumption.

The present invention provides a footstep and hatch/lid design that only requires a relatively few components to operate which make the system cost effective to manufacture and assemble, only requires a small space for these components in the 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 the hatch/lid cover the footstep may be allowed to extend further out from the chassis thereby allowing a more comfortable entry than the legal requirement normally would allow for a fixed footstep, while driving.

The invention could also be used as a hydraulic step less door stop which will dampen the opening of a cab door e.g. when the cab 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 is opened in spite of that the door still is closed allowing the driver to step on the lower footstep for reaching the engine for 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 be dampened near its outer end position and a “fall protection” may be integrated in the door stop so a maximal opening speed could 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 12 10 15 20 538 861 opening angle by means of the central locking system. And the doors inertia could be adjusted individually which may be used by garbage trucks as they make many stops resulting in that the cab doors are forces opened in a rapid manner.

The main advantages of the inventive solution are that the system 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 to handle by that it requires no extra manual operational steps in order to open the hatch/lid and unfold the footstep. And the system can therefore be controlled with only one hand opening the cab door. The design also takes up very little space in its storage position.

The above description is primarily intended to facilitate the understanding of the invention. However the invention is of course not in any way restricted to only the disclosed embodiments, but many possibilities to modifications would be apparent to a person skilled in the art within the scope of the invention without departing from the basic idea of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 13

Claims

10 15 20 25 30 538 861 CLAIMS

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

2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the foldable footstep (6) is arranged rotatable/foldable around a first horizontal axis (7) (3), vertical axis and that the covering the hatch/lid, is rotatable around a second (8). element

3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that and the first hydraulic cylinder (9) is arranged between, 14 10 15 20 25 30 538 861 linked to, a framework (lO) of the cab (l) and the cab door (2) and is operated by movements of the cab door (2).

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

5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is arranged to at the same time operate the foldable footstep (6), folding or unfolding the foldable footstep (6).

6. System according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a piston (l4) of the first hydraulic cylinder(9) is arranged to force a hydraulic flow to the second hydraulic cylinder (ll).

7. System according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that (15) (ll) is a piston of the second hydraulic cylinder arranged to pull the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) resulting in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) partly rotates thereby opening the hatch/lid (3) at the same time as the foldable footstep rotates (6), is unfolded, to its use position.

8. System according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that 15 10 15 20 25 30 538 861 the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is substantially T- or L- formed.

9. System according to any one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is arranged to operate a gas (6), fully unfold to a use position when the spring (l7) connected to the foldable footstep making the foldable footstep (6) cab door (2) is opened about 20-30 degrees.

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

11. ll. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that forms a lever and that a link (19). a somewhat U-formed hinge (19) (l5,20) is connected to the outer part of the hinge

12. l2. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that hatch/lid, the covering element (3), direct relation to the cab door (2) is arranged to open in movement.

13. System according to any one of claims 4-9, characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6)is connected to a joint (22) arranged in the cab door (2), (2). preferably welded or screwed to the cab door

14. l4. System according to any one of claims 4-9 or l3, characterized in that 16 10 15 538 861 the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is connected to a joint (2), the actual stroke of the first hydraulic cylinder (9) (22) near the hinge axis of the cab door in such a way that will be about 60-70 mm.

15. System according to claim 9, characterized in that the link arm system (l2,l3,l6) is arranged to control the foldable footstep (6) via the gas spring (l7).

16. l6. System according to any one of claims l-8, characterized in that a gas spring (l7) is arranged to fully unfold the foldable footstep (6) to its use position when the cab door (2) is opened 45 degrees.

17. Vehicle provided with a system according to one any of claims l-l6. 17