WO2002071995A1

WO2002071995A1 - Bus access platform for persons of reduced mobility

Info

Publication number: WO2002071995A1
Application number: PCT/ES2001/000095
Authority: WO
Inventors: José Luis MONTEJO ELORRIAGA; Javier Beramendi Echeverria
Original assignee: Suministros Y Servicios Unificados De Carroceria, S.L.
Priority date: 2001-03-13
Filing date: 2001-03-13
Publication date: 2002-09-19

Abstract

The invention relates to a platform comprising numerous sections (1-2-3-4-5) which are articulated such that said sections can adopt a coplanar configuration, in order to form the actual platform, or form standard bus access steps by moving said sections in a manner that is suitable to each one. The actual platform is mounted on top of a support structure (7) with lateral guides (6) that are used to extend and retract said platform. The support structure (7) is solidly connected to a moveable column (20) that can be moved vertically on a fixed column (21) which is connected to the structure of the bus, such that, by means of a motor (26), the actual platform can be raised or lowered to adopt three operating positions: a lower limit position wherein, in the deployed position, the platform is at ground level; an intermediate position wherein the platform forms standard bus access steps; and an upper limit position wherein, in the deployed position, the platform is coplanar with the floor (27) of the bus.

Description

COACH AND BUS ACCESS PLATFORM FOR DISABLED PEOPLE

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a platform that has been specially designed to facilitate the access of disabled persons on wheelchairs to a coach or bus.

The object of the invention is to achieve a platform with a practically zero volumetric occupation under the floor of the coach or bus, capable of flush with the ground, facilitating access to it from the wheelchair, and subsequently flush with the floor of the coach or bus, to facilitate in turn the access of said wheelchair to the interior thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the field of public transport, specifically in the case of coaches and buses, the use of ramps that facilitate access to the interior of disabled people, on wheelchairs, platforms in some sliding cases and in more and more generalized areas other extensibles that, with different mechanical solutions, present as common denominator the fact that they are established in an inoperative situation under the floor of the coach or bus, assuming a very important volumetric occupation in this area. This solution, which is not a problem in coaches and buses with its engine in extreme anterior or posterior extreme arrangement, creates a major problem in coaches and buses that carry their engine in central layout, since the location itself does not give space enough to house the platform, which limits the use of it, not allowing its widespread implementation.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The platform that the invention proposes solves in a fully satisfactory manner the above-mentioned problem, so that it can be implanted on any coach or bus, regardless of the provision therein of the corresponding engine, and this on the basis that its special conception does not require a space under the floor of said coach or bus, for its proper implementation and functionality.

To do this, and more specifically, said platform fundamentally focuses its characteristics on the fact that it is obtained from the classic steps of access to the coach or bus for the general public, materialized in a plurality of articulated sections that, through the mechanism of Appropriate drives are capable of configuring steps, when the articulated sections are retracted, or a flat platform, when the sections are extended.

This structure is also mounted on a vertically movable support and capable of adopting three positions in height, an intermediate position, the conformation of the classic steps and which will be the usual in the coach or bus, a lower extreme position in which said steps become a platform that is substantially flush with the ground, and an extreme upper situation in which the said platform is in turn flush with the coach floor or bus, so that in the lower extreme position a disabled person can access the platform directly from the ground, without the slightest problem to the effect, and after the proper elevation of the same, you can also access without any problem inside the coach or bus

The said support structure of the platform has extensible lateral guides, driven for example by a rack system that is attached to one of the outer sections of the platform, so that the movement of the rack produces the extension or folding of the same, said support structure being mounted on vertical guides belonging to a lifting column, which by means of a spindle system allows the lifting and lowering thereof.

According to another of the features of the invention, it has been provided that the free and extreme sector of said platform is capable of tilting downwards to define a small ramp that facilitates access to the platform, when necessary, and that in addition said terminal section has a hatch that can be tilted upwards, to constitute a retention stop that ensures the positional maintenance of the wheelchair on the platform during the ascent maneuver, offering full security for the disabled person.

As is evident from the above exposed, by normally constituting the access platform for disabled people, the steps of access to the coach or bus, with the classic arrangement of the same, the impact of said platform in the context of the coach or bus, that is to say from the point of view of supplementary volumetric occupation, is practically nil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. In an illustrative and non-limiting manner, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a schematic representation in side elevation of a platform for access to coaches and buses for disabled persons made in accordance with the object of the present invention, in which the normal stair position is represented in a continuous line. in broken lines the limit positions of the platform deployed at ground level and at the level of the coach or bus floor.

Figure 2. - Shows a plan view of the assembly represented in the previous figure, partially sectioned to show more clearly its structure.

Figure 3.- Finally, it shows three schematic representations in perspective of the set represented in the previous figures, corresponding to the three basic positions of the platform.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures outlined, it can be seen how the platform itself is constituted by five articulated sections (1), (2),

(3), (4) and (5), mounted on a pair of extensible and lateral guides (6) mounted in turn on a support structure (7) that will be discussed later, each of these lateral guides being (6) triple, so that one element thereof is integral to the support structure (7), another element is integral to the section

(4) of the articulated and extensible platform, and the third element is the one that relates the previous two through bearings or any other appropriate means of sliding.

An electric motor (8), mounted on the support structure (7), acts through its pinion of attack (9) on a rack (10) attached to the terminal element of one of the guides (6), for extension and retraction of the same, with the consequent extension of the platform or folding of it configuring the stirrup or step of access to the interior of the coach or bus, for which purpose the joints (11) between the different sections (1-2-3-4 -5) of the platform, and the articulation of the initial section (1) to the support structure itself (V), will be properly structured with stops (12) that favor the folding of said sections only in the correct direction.

With the mobile stirrup, defined by the different sections (1-2-3-4-5) of the mobile platform, two lateral and fixed stirrup sectors (13) participate, in solidarity with the structure of the coach or bus, which also to increase the width of the steps when the platform acts as such, they allow to accommodate a pair of hydraulic cylinders (14-14 ') that stabilize the steps in working situation. In this sense the support structure

(7) incorporates a hole in each of its sides that, in a retracted position of the platform, are respectively facing the lower cylinders (14 '), so that in the extension of these they are housed in such holes and serve as support for The step. The pair of upper cylinders (14) can in turn be accommodated in holes (15) provided in turn in side lugs (16) that incorporates the second section (2) of the platform to also help support it when they are in a stowed position.

The end or front section (5) of the platform, cantilever with respect to the guides (6), is assisted by a pair of small pneumatic cylinders (17) that allow its downward tilting, to establish a small access ramp from the ground to the platform, as shown by the lower extreme position of figure 1. In addition on this section (5) a small hatch (18) is established, tilting upwards, with the contest of two other small pneumatic cylinders ( 19), so that this trapdoor (18) acts as a retention stop for the wheelchair, when it is positioned on the properly extended platform.

To adopt said platform the different height positions provided for it, the support structure (7) is integral with a lateral and mobile column (20) movable vertically on a fixed column (21) conveniently in solidarity with the structure of the coach or bus , on one of the sides of the access door, said mobile column (20) materializing in a carriage (22) with wheels (23) to facilitate its sliding and with a nut on which a spindle (24) acts to raise and lower it, a spindle that receives the movement, through a suitable transmission (25), of a motor (26) established in the upper end of the fixed column ( 21), being both the engine (26) for lifting and lowering the platform and the engine (6) for folding and unfolding it, duly commanded through a programmable automaton and from maneuver push-buttons established in the driver's area and in the access area of the coach or bus platform.

According to this structuring, the operation of the platform is as follows:

From the normal position shown in a continuous line in Figure 1, in which the platform (1-2-3-4-5) constitutes the classic stirrup or steps of access to the coach or bus, with its section (1) in a vertical position and attached to the coach or bus body, the section (2) in a horizontal position constituting the upper step, in a situation of adequate distance from the floor (27) of the coach or bus, the section (3) in provision oblique, the section (4) in horizontal arrangement and the section (5) also in horizontal arrangement as an extension of the previous one, to form the bottom step, when a disabled person wishes to access the coach or bus will press the corresponding drive button, provided in the driver's area, which will cause a descent of the mobile column (20) to ground level, with the consequent decrease in the support structure (7), while the motor drive (8) will cause the expansion of the platform that will adopt the substantially horizontal position shown in the lower part of figure 1, and at the same time that the pneumatic cylinders (17) will cause the tilting down of the terminal section (5) for a perfect adaptation on the ground. Obviously during this maneuver the cylinders (14-14 ') will have been retracted to allow the extension of the different constituent sections of the platform. Once the disabled person in his wheelchair has accessed the extended platform, the driver or the disabled will press the lift button, which will first activate the pneumatic cylinders (19) to raise the retention hatch (18) for the wheelchair, and then the electric motor (26) will be operated so that the platform is raised to the upper limit situation represented in broken lines at the upper level of Figure 1, where said platform will be flush with the floor (27) of the coach or bus.

Once the disabled person has entered the coach or bus, the platform descends to the intermediate position and simultaneously the drive in the opposite direction of the engine (8) for the folding of the different constituent sections of the platform and its transformation into the pair of steps mentioned above and shown in continuous line in figure 1, after which the cylinders will be activated

(14 ') to achieve the blocking of the steps.

Obviously, when the disabled person intends to get off the bus, a reverse maneuver will occur, through push buttons established inside the bus.

Claims

R E I V I N D I C A C I O N E S

I ^a .- Platform for access to coaches and buses for disabled people, specifically for people in wheelchairs, whose purpose is to allow access of said wheelchairs from the ground level to the level of the coach or bus floor, characterized in that said platform is structured based on a plurality of articulated sections (1-2-3-4-5) capable of adopting a coplanaπa arrangement, corresponding to the platform itself, or of forming a series of determining couplings of the Access steps to the interior of the coach or bus for normal persons, said platform being also movable vertically, in order to adopt three working positions, an intermediate position in which it configures the said steps, a lower limit situation and extension in which allows its flush with the ground, and another upper limit and extension situation in which it is flush with the ground (2 7) of the coach or bus.

2 .- Access Platform coaches and buses for disabled people according ^to claim I, characterized in that the platform itself (1-2- 3-4-5) is mounted on a support structure (7) to which articulates by means of a hinge (11) the proximal edge of the initial section (1) and in which two telescopic and lateral guides (6) are established, each structured by three elements, one fixed to the structure (7), another to which the fourth section (4) of the platform itself is united and an intermediate and sliding one that relates the other two, also establishing on the support structure (7) a motor (8) that, through an attack pinion (9), acts on a zipper in solidarity with the third element of a of the lateral guides (6) for extension and retraction of the platform.

3 .- Access Platform coaches and buses for disabled people, according to previous claims, wherein the end portion (5) of the platform itself is assisted by a pair of pneumatic cylinders lower (17) allowing pivoting of the same in descending direction, to facilitate the access to the platform when in lower limit position of the platform it does not reach the ground level, establishing in said terminal section (5) an upward, assisted tilting hatch (18) by another pair of small pneumatic cylinders (19), constituting a retention stop for the wheelchair during the platform lifting maneuver.

4 .- Access Platform coaches and buses to discapac people Tadas, according to previous claims, characterized in that on both sides of the platform itself (1-2-3-4-5) or steps are set fixed abutments (13) , which in addition to extending the length of the steps, houses pneumatic cylinders (14-14 '), which, in a retraction situation, allow the platform to be extended and which, in an extraction situation, block it when it configures the classics access steps inside the coach or bus.

5 .- Access Platform coaches and buses for disabled people, according to previous claims, characterized in that the support structure (7) is secured to a vertical traveling column (20) sliding with the assistance of wheels (23) on a column higher and fi a (21), in solidarity with the structure of the coach or bus, incorporating the mobile column (20) a nut in which a spindle (24) driven by an electric motor (26) plays, which, conveniently commanded by a programmable automaton , like the platform extension motor (8) itself, it allows to establish the three work positions planned for the platform (1-2-3-4-5).

6 ^a .- Platform for access to coaches and buses for disabled persons, according to previous claims, characterized in that in a stowed position, that is, when it constitutes the access steps, section 1 is attached to the structure and is arranged vertically and attached to the side of the coach or bus, the section 2 in horizontal position constituting the upper step, the section (3) in oblique arrangement and the sections 4 and 5 in horizontal arrangement constituting the lower step, leaving the support structure (7) completely hidden under the steps and the whole of the sections (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) arranged as a continuation of the steps or fixed stirrups (13), while in the extended position, that is, constituting the access platform, the sections ( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) are coplanarly arranged, leaving the sections (1, 2, 3, 4) supported on the structure (7) and guides (6), while the section (5) is in cantilever

7 ^a .- Platform for access to coaches and buses for people with disabilities, according to previous claims, characterized in that the support structure (7) has vertical lugs (12), as a stop, which are arranged in the vicinity of the area of articulation of sections (1) and (2) so that at that point the platform, in its extended position, is not left perfectly flat but with a slight elevation in order to facilitate the folding of the platform caused by the retraction of the rack (10).

8 ^a .- Platform for access to coaches and buses for disabled people, according to previous claims, characterized in that outside the coach or bus, two push buttons, one for extension of the platform and another for the extension of the platform and another for the extension of the platform are established elevation of the same, while inside the coach or bus two other buttons are set for the opposite direction.