EP0495713B1 - Off-road motor vehicle for a paraplegic handicapped person - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an all terrain vehicle for paraplegic disabled people.

It applies to paraplegic handicapped people who usually move in a wheelchair and who wish to use, without any outside help and without leaving their wheelchair, either for professional or leisure needs, a motorized vehicle likely to use uneven terrain.

Many adaptations of wheelchairs are already known, ranging from a simple motorization for movement on united floors to a crawler wheelchair enabling obstacles to be overcome such as stairs (FR-A. 2.590 162) or even motorized systems capable of towing the wheelchair. (FR-A. 2.252 080).

There are transfer devices for the disabled person sitting on his wheelchair either with slides and hoist (FR-A 2.456.002 and DE-A-3414204) or by means of a door folded down to ground level and then raised to level from the floor using jacks (FR-A. 2.506.154).

All these achievements have many drawbacks, either by their complexity or because they do not allow the paraplegic disabled to be fully autonomous or because they cannot be used in rough terrain.

We also know vehicles designed for paraplegic disabled allowing their use completely independently without the disabled need to leave his chair. The loading is generally done from the rear either thanks to an articulated floor forming an inclined plane (EP-O.251.136) or thanks to a movable floor lowered to ground level (FR-A- 2.315.254 - FR-A - 2.521.500) then reassembled in the driving position using jacks. The passenger compartment is arranged so that the disabled person can drive the vehicle, seated in his chair stowed on the floor.

However, these vehicles, most often of the sedan type, comprise complex mechanisms, intended for traveling on the road; they cannot be used in rough terrain.

The object of the present invention is precisely an all-terrain motor vehicle which overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art listed above.

According to the invention, its use is entirely autonomous and the paraplegic handicapped person remains in his wheelchair both when boarding the vehicle and during its use and disembarking.

The installation of the wheelchair in the vehicle is carried out from the front of the vehicle without great effort and its stowage is carried out almost automatically by a simple operation of a balanced tubular frame.

The use of light tubular elements combined with four-wheel drive of small diameter makes it possible to lower the center of gravity of the vehicle giving it great stability in uneven terrain, the controls both of the powertrain and of the vehicle arranged on each side of the wheelchair rolling make driving easier. All elements must be robust, reliable, easy to access and easy to maintain.

Finally, the advantages listed above must be obtained without excessive complexity.

• un châssis réalisé en deux parties, l'une tubulaire formant un arceau vertical terminé par une base en forme de U ouvert vers l'avant, l'autre constituée par deux poutres-caisson prolongeant les branches du U entre lesquelles le paraplégique assis sur son fauteuil roulant vient s'insérer.
• un ensemble comportant deux éléments coopérant entre eux pour charger, arrimer, décharger le fauteuil roulant dans le véhicule l'un constitué par un cadre tubulaire en forme d'arceau l'autre par deux sabots, ces deux éléments sont articulés en rotation sur le châssis et liés entre eux par deux biellettes.
• une chaîne cinématique transmettant le mouvement du groupe motopropulseur placé à l'arrière sur l'axe du châssis tubulaire aux quatre roues motrices fixées sur les poutres-caisson.
• des commandes permettant le démarrage, l'arrêt et la conduite du groupe motopropulseur et du véhicule.

These characteristics are achieved in accordance with the invention thanks to the fact that the motor vehicle intended for a paraplegic handicapped person seated on his wheelchair allowing its use without any external aid is characterized in that it comprises in combination:

• a frame made in two parts, one tubular forming a vertical arch ending in a U-shaped base open towards the front, the other constituted by two box girders extending the branches of the U between which the paraplegic seated on his wheelchair is inserted.
• an assembly comprising two elements cooperating with one another to load, secure, unload the wheelchair in the vehicle, one consisting of a tubular frame in the form of an arch, the other by two shoes, these two elements are articulated in rotation on the chassis and linked together by two links.
• a kinematic chain transmitting the movement of the powertrain placed at the rear on the axis of the tubular chassis to the four driving wheels fixed on the box girders.
• controls for starting, stopping and driving the powertrain and the vehicle.

Thanks to these elements and their arrangement, the paraplegic handicapped person seated on his wheelchair is completely autonomous.

It can thus be installed in the vehicle, get out of it, start the powertrain, ensure the driving of the vehicle in excellent safety conditions despite the uneven ground. In addition, the kinematic chain conventionally comprises, with a mechanical gearbox, a clutch centrifugal, a differential, cardan shafts, belts and chains but can be carried out using an automatic gearbox instead of the mechanical gearbox and the centrifugal clutch.

The powertrain is started by any suitable means, manual or electric launcher.

Preferably, the two box girders forming a sealed casing for transmitting movement to the four driving wheels are each articulated around an axis fixed on the chassis and limited in rotation by an elastic suspension connecting the tubular chassis to the beams.

This characteristic makes it possible to obtain a suspension of the four independent wheels two by two, which makes it easier to drive the vehicle on uneven ground.

According to a preferred embodiment, the tubular frame forming a bumper and serving as a lever for actuating the two shoes is held in any position relative to the chassis by an adjustable immobilization device disposed on each side of the tubular frame.

This adjustable immobilization device consists of a rod sliding in a cylinder and braked by a clamping-type bracing system with flanges and spring, the control of which is brought on each side of the tubular frame within easy reach of the driver. .

Thanks to these characteristics, the tubular frame can be positioned relative to the chassis according to the type or diameter of the wheels used on the vehicle or according to the profile of the terrain over which it is traveling. It may indeed be interesting to modify the ground clearance of the vehicle during the journey.

Preferably the links connecting the tubular frame to the shoes are adjustable, according to the diameter of the vehicle wheels so that the entry of the shoes forming an inclined plane is flush with the ground in the low position to facilitate access in reverse from the wheelchair.

The immobilization of the wheels of the wheelchair introduced into the shoes with a truncated cylindrical profile is ensured, longitudinally by a horizontal crosspiece connecting the shoes and adjustable in length according to the way of the wheelchair and, laterally by two flanges arranged on either side of each hoof.

The vertical immobilization of the wheelchair is ensured by a cylindrical crank pin fixed on the inner flange, of each of the shoes adjustable in height according to the diameter of the wheels of the wheelchair and, coming to bear on the rear part of said wheelchair, preventing it tilting forward during the road positioning maneuver obtained by tilting the tubular frame forward.

According to these characteristics, the shoes make it possible to position stowage and lock the wheelchair on the vehicle. The adjustment systems used allow armchairs of variable dimensions. These settings are made according to the type of wheelchair before the first use of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to driving the vehicle obtained by acting on two levers articulated in rotation and arranged on either side of the tubular frame which actuate one a rotary handle acting on the gases of the powertrain and each a device braking operating on each of the discs arranged at the outlet of the powertrain so as to make a turn by shifting of the vehicle by actuating a single lever, to brake the vehicle by simultaneously actuating the two levers.

The braking of the parked vehicle is carried out automatically by maneuvering the tubular frame upwards when stationary, which actuates a braking device operating on each of the discs arranged at the outlet of the powertrain.

Thanks to the arrangements of simple and easily accessible vehicle control control devices, driving is easy and safe. The turning radius of the vehicle is very small because the turning of the vehicle is achieved by shifting obtained by braking of the two wheels on the same side.

In addition to the stop the vehicle is perfectly and automatically immobilized facilitating the disembarking and the embarkation of the wheelchair on the vehicle.

• la figure 1 est une coupe schématique transversale de l'ensemble selon l'invention, véhicule en position de marche et fauteuil roulant représenté en traits pleins,
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des demi-vues schématiques respectivement de dessus et arrière montrant le positionnement du fauteuil roulant dans le châssis du véhicule en position de marche,
• les figures 4, 5 et 6 sont des vues schématiques respectivement de côté, de dessus et arrière illustrant la chaîne cinématique allant du groupe motopropulseur aux quatres roues motrices,
• la figure 7 est une vue schématique de côté illustrant le dispositif d'articulation et de suspension de la poutre-caisson sur le châssis,
• les figures 8 et 9 sont des vues schématiques respectivement en coupe et de dessus du dispositif d'embarquement en position haute, cadre relevé, illustrant le positionnement des éléments au moment du chargement du fauteuil roulant,
• les figures 10 et 11 sont des vues schématiques respectivement en coupe et de dessus du dispositif d'embarquement en position haute, cadre baissé, illustrant le positionnement des éléments une fois le fauteuil roulant chargé dans les sabots,
• la figure 12 est une vue partielle agrandie du dispositif d'immobilisation du cadre tubulaire,
• la figure 13 est une vue schématique de côté du véhicule montrant les différentes commandes d'embarquement, de débarquement du groupe motopropulseur et de conduite du véhicule.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment given by way of illustration:

• FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic cross-section of the assembly according to the invention, vehicle in running position and wheelchair shown in solid lines,
• FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic half-views respectively from above and rear showing the positioning of the wheelchair in the chassis of the vehicle in the driving position,
• Figures 4, 5 and 6 are schematic side, top and rear views respectively illustrating the kinematic chain from the powertrain to the four-wheel drive,
• FIG. 7 is a schematic side view illustrating the hinge and suspension device of the box girder on the chassis,
• FIGS. 8 and 9 are schematic views respectively in section and from above of the boarding device in the high position, raised frame, illustrating the positioning of the elements when the wheelchair is loaded,
• FIGS. 10 and 11 are schematic views respectively in section and from above of the boarding device in the high position, lowered frame, illustrating the positioning of the elements once the wheelchair has been loaded into the shoes,
• FIG. 12 is an enlarged partial view of the device for immobilizing the tubular frame,
• FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of the vehicle showing the various boarding, disembarking and powertrain controls.

As illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, the vehicle according to the invention comprises a chassis made in two parts, one of steel tubes forming a vertical hoop 1 ending in a base 1 ′ in square sections of shaped U open towards the front the other is constituted by two box girders 2 in rectangular profiles. The different elements of the chassis are made in mechanically welded technique. The box girders 2 extending the branches of the U from the base 1 ′ of the chassis are articulated in rotation about an axis A, the fixed part of which is welded to the base 1 ′ of the chassis and the other part rotates in an elastic joint waterproof mounted on each of box beams 2. These figures also show that the vehicle, according to the invention, comprises a set of two elements, one of which consists of a frame 4 of steel tubes in the shape of a bow towards the front forming bumper, the other consists of two shoes 5 of truncated cylindrical profile. These two elements are articulated in rotation, the tubular frame 4 around an axis B whose fixed part is welded to the tubular frame 1 and the other part rotates in a bearing mounted on each side of the frame 4, the shoes 5 around an axis C whose fixed part is welded to the shoe and the other part rotates in a bearing mounted on each side of the base 1 ′ of the chassis.

These two elements cooperate with each other by means of two rods, the ends of which are fixed one at D on the frame 4 the other at E on the shoes.

In addition, the tubular frame 4 is connected to the base 1 ′ of the chassis by two immobilizing devices 10-11, the ends of which are fixed, one at F on the base 1 ′ of the chassis, the other at G on the tubular chassis. 4. The operation of these elements when loading, stowing, unloading the wheelchair will be explained later.

Figures 4 to 6 illustrate the kinematic chain of the vehicle according to the invention. This kinematic chain transmits the movement of the powertrain 7 to the four drive wheels 8.

It is made up of a low-displacement four-stroke petrol engine such as the 140 cm³ HONDA GX 140 stationary engine providing an air-cooled power of 3.68 KW, equipped with its fan, a petrol tank, a centrifugal clutch to start the vehicle at any speed, from a mechanical gearbox to four gears plus reverse, such as the CITROEN gearbox intended for two horses and two brake discs arranged on either side of the gearbox, cardan links 20-21 between the output shaft box and the entry of box girders 2 allowing the movements of box girders 2 with respect to the chassis 1-1 ′ on which is mounted the powertrain 7, connecting by chains 22-23 between the pinions 24 and 25. The box girders 2 of rectangular section are terminated at the rear by a housing supporting the pinion 24 and transmitting the movement to the pinion 25 via the chain 22. The front and rear pinions 25 are connected together by the chain 23 so that the four wheels are driving. Self-aligning ball bearings are sealed.

There is shown in Figure 7 a schematic side view of the beam 2 and the base 1 'of the frame. It illustrates the relative movement of these two elements articulated around the axis A. This movement is limited in amplitude by an elastic suspension 9 playing the role of damper between the two elements. The chassis 1 ′, the box girder 2 equipped with its two wheels 8 and the suspension 9 in the rest position are shown in solid lines, in dashed lines these same elements in the extreme extension position.

Figures 8 to 11 illustrate the operation of the boarding, positioning and securing devices for the wheelchair in the vehicle. There is shown in Figure 8 a schematic sectional view of the operation of the wheelchair boarding device in the low position when the vehicle is stopped. The wheelchair is shown in solid lines when he shows up for boarding. The hoof 5 articulated in rotation on the base 1 ′ of the chassis touches the ground so that the handicapped person seated on his wheelchair has only a small effort to make in order to cross the threshold of the hoof while backing up. This threshold is constituted by a horizontal cross member 15 identified in Figure 9 adjustable in length depending on the path of the wheelchair. This adjustment is made once and for all before the first use of the vehicle. The position of the shoe 5 relative to the ground is adjusted as a function of the diameter of the wheels of the vehicle by means of the rod 6 adjustable in length and articulated on the shoe at E and on the tubular frame at D.

The truncated cylindrical profile with a diameter close to that of the wheel of the wheelchair keeps the wheel longitudinally in position. By engaging in the shoe 5 the wheelchair comes to position the rear part of its chassis below the cylindrical crank pin 17 made of steel covered with Teflon.

This crankpin is adjustable in height by means of a slide made on the internal flange 16 of the shoe 5, the immobilization being obtained by screw-washer-nut. This adjustment is made according to the diameter of the wheelchair wheels. This adjustment is made once and for all before the first use of the vehicle.

In Figure 9 there is shown a schematic half-view from above of the wheelchair boarding device in the low position, vehicle stationary. The wheelchair is shown in solid lines when it arrives for boarding. Its lateral immobilization is obtained by the flanges 16 of the shoe 5. The shoes articulated on the base 1 ′ of the chassis are interconnected by the cross member 15 adjustable in length. The rear part of the wheelchair chassis slides under the crank pin 17 in Teflon.

There is shown in Figure 10 a schematic sectional view of the operation of the wheelchair boarding device in the low position, vehicle stopped. From the low position shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the high vehicle position in the driving position represented by FIGS. 1-2-3 is obtained by tilting the tubular frame 4 forwards. This movement is carried out without great effort by the handicapped person because the handicapped-wheelchair assembly is balanced by the tubular frame 4. In fact the center of gravity of the tubular frame is located towards the front by construction. Balancing is carried out for an average weight of the disabled person seated on his wheelchair. For weights deviating from this average it is possible to achieve balancing by moving the axis D of the link 6 thanks to three holes made on the frame 4 so as to increase or decrease the lever arm B D. When the wheelchair rises, the crank pins 17 pressing on the rear part of the chassis prevent the wheelchair from tilting forwards, thus keeping it in a horizontal position, a position produced at the time of boarding.

In Figure 11 there is shown a schematic half-view from above of the wheelchair boarding device in the high position, vehicle in the running position. The wheelchair is shown in solid lines. Its lateral immobilization is achieved by the flanges 16 of the shoe 5, longitudinal by the cross member 15 by pressing on the wheels of the chair rolling positioned in the cylindrical profile of the shoe 5, vertical by the crank pin 17.

There is shown in FIG. 12 an enlarged partial view of the device for immobilizing the tubular frame 4. We have seen previously that the tubular frame 4 had mainly two low and high positions and that this movement was obtained by the handicapped person tilting said frame 4 articulated in rotation about the axis B. The immobilization is obtained in any position by a rod 10 articulated on the tubular chassis 4 in G and sliding in a cylinder 11 articulated on the base 1 ′ of the chassis in F. The rod 10 is immobilized by two flanges 12 and a spring 13 holding them apart. This system works by bracing like a clamp. The sliding of the rod 10 in the cylinder 11 is obtained by bringing the two flanges together using a cable 26 sliding in a sheath 27. The control of this cable is obtained by a handle 14 of the bicycle brake type arranged on the side and other of the tubular frame 4 and within reach of the driver's hands (see Figure 13).

This immobilization system makes it possible to position the tubular frame 4 in any position ranging from the highest position to the lowest. This adjustment is particularly useful, in the high position as a function of the diameter of the wheels 8 of the vehicle so that the shoes 5 can be flush with the ground, in the low position as a function of the profile of the ground on which the vehicle is moving. It may indeed be advantageous to modify the ground clearance of the vehicle thanks to the movement of the tubular frame 4.

The various controls, boarding, powertrain, driving the vehicle are illustrated in the figure 13 which is a schematic side view of the vehicle. The immobilization control of the tubular frame 4 is obtained by action on the handle 14 controlling the cable 26 in the sheath 27 allowing the rod 10 to slide in the cylinder 11. The starting device of the powertrain 7 is a manual launching of which the cable 28 is brought within easy reach of the disabled person via a pulley 29 fixed to the hoop of the chassis 1 so that the usual movement from bottom to top is transformed into movement from top to bottom easier to do for the disabled person sitting in his chair.

Two handles 18 are fixed on either side of the tubular frame 4, one is free to rotate on its axis forming a throttle grip, the two handles form levers articulated in front-rear rotation relative to the tubular frame 4. These levers 18 actuate brake master cylinders, of the CITROEN type, transmitting the movement to a caliper-pad braking system of the CITROEN type operating on the discs arranged at the outlet of the gearbox. Each cylinder master lever assembly is clamped on the tubular frame 4 and can slide allowing longitudinal adjustment according to the morphology of the conductor.

By operating on the left lever the two left wheels are braked, the right wheels not being the vehicle operates by shifting a turn to the left. It is the same by operating on the right lever. By simultaneously operating the left and right levers 18, the vehicle is braked, until it comes to a complete stop, if desired.

Furthermore, a device not shown in FIG. 13 makes it possible to brake the vehicle when parking. A sliding cable in a sheath actuates a brake caliper-pads device arranged on the two discs at the outlet of the gearbox. The cable is fixed to the frame 1 ′, the sheath on one of the shoes 5, the relative movement of the shoe 5 relative to the frame 1 ′ allows this braking to be carried out when the tubular frame 4 is raised in the high position. In this way the vehicle is automatically braked when stopped, which in particular has the advantage of keeping the vehicle stationary when disembarking or boarding the wheelchair, thus facilitating the maneuver.

The invention makes it possible to achieve the goals mentioned above: the use of an all-terrain motor vehicle by a paraplegic disabled person without any outside help and without leaving his wheelchair.

Not only is the paraplegic disabled fully autonomous, but the efforts he has to make to get into the vehicle, disembark, stow it, start the powertrain, drive it are very low.

The accessibility of all the organs is very large so that the disabled person can practice small maintenance operations himself.

In addition, the design of the four-wheel drive vehicle with independent two-by-two suspension combined with very easy driving make it a very safe vehicle even in rough terrain. Such are the interests of the present invention.

Alternative embodiments of the vehicle not shown would in particular allow the use of a motorized wheelchair itself.

In addition, the vehicle according to the invention can tow self-propelled tools such as a brushcutter. For intensive use it is recommended to fit a more powerful HONDA 240 cc engine on the vehicle. For long road journeys the vehicle can be placed on a light trailer and disembarked when it is used on uneven ground. The present invention is therefore not limited to the single embodiment described above.

Claims (9)

1. Off-highway vehicle for a paraplegic handicapped person seated on his wheelchair enabling it to be used without the need for external aid, characterized in that it includes a combination of: a chassis made up of two portions, one being tubular forming a vertical small arch (1) ended by a U-shaped base open towards the front, the other being constituted by two box plate girders (2) extending the branches of the U between which the paraplegic seated in his wheelchair (3) is installed, a unit comprising two elements cooperating together for loading, stowing and unloading the wheelchair (3) with respect to the vehicle, one element being a tubular frame (4) with the shape of an arch and the other being constituted by two shoes (5), said tubular frame (4) being articulated in rotation about an axis (C) integral with the shoe and rotating in a bearing mounted at the base (1') of the chassis, said two elements being interconnected by two rocker bars (6), a kinematic chain transmitting the movement of the drive train (7) placed to the rear on the axis of the tubular chassis (1) to the four driving wheels (8) fixed to the box plate girders (2), controls permitting the starting, stopping and controlling of the drive train and the vehicle.
2. Motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that the two box plate girders (2) forming a sealed housing for transmitting the movement to the four driving wheels (8) are each articulated around an axis (A) secured to the chassis and rotary-limited by an elastic suspension (9) linking the tubular chassis to the girders.
3. Motor vehicle according to claims 1, characterized in that the tubular frame (4) forming a fender and used as a lever to activate the two shoes (5) is kept in any position with respect to the chassis by means of an adjustable immobilization device (10-11) disposed on each side of the tubular frame (4).
4. Motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that the adjustable immobilization device (10-11) is constituted by a rod (10) sliding into a cylinder (11) and braked by a clamp type arch lever system with flanges (12) and a spring (13) whose control (14) is brought on each side of the tubular frame (4) within reach of the hand of the driver.
5. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the rocker bars (6) linking the tubular frame (4) to the shoes (5) are adjustable according to the diameter of the wheels of the vehicle so that the inlet of the shoes (5) forming an inclined plane are flush with the ground in a low position so as to facilitate the rear working access of the wheelchair (3).
6. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 5, characterized in that the immobilization of the wheels of the wheelchair (3) introduced into the shoes (5) with a truncated cylindrical profile is ensured, firstly longitudinally by a horizontal crossmember (15) linking the shoes (5) and being length-adjustable according to the track of the wheelchair (3), and laterally by two flanges (16) disposed on both sides of each shoe (5).
7. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6, characterized in that the vertical immobilization of the wheelchair (3) is provided by a cylindrical crank pin (17) secured to the internal flange (16) of each of the height-adjustable shoes (5) according to the diameter of the wheels of the wheelchair (3) and coming to rest on the rear portion of said wheelchair, thus preventing it from tilting forwards during the starting position placing manoeuvre obtained via the tilting forward of the tubular frame (4).
8. Motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the vehicle is controlled by acting on two rotary-joined levers (18) and disposed on both sides of the tubular frame (4), one lever activating a rotating handle acting on the gases of the drive train and each lever on a braking device operating on each of the disks disposed at the drive train outlet (7) so as to effect a turn via the movement of the vehicle by activating a single lever and to brake the vehicle by simultaneously activating both the levers.
9. Motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, characterized in that the braking of the vehicle when parking is embodied automatically by manoeuvring on stopping the tubular frame (4) upwards which activates a braking device operating on each of the disks disposed at the drive train outlet (7).

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