GB2053811A

GB2053811A - Boarding means for vehicles having an elevated driving location

Info

Publication number: GB2053811A
Application number: GB8017477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kockum Landsverk AB
Current assignee: Kockum Landsverk AB
Priority date: 1979-05-31
Filing date: 1980-05-28
Publication date: 1981-02-11
Also published as: SE7904758L; DE3020206A1; SE427641B; FR2457791A1; GB2053811B

Abstract

The boarding means comprises a flight of steps (14) which is pivoted in dependence on the pivotal movement of the door (12), about a substantially vertical axis between an operative position (Figure 2) wherein the flight of steps projects in an inclined position downwards from the vehicle, and an inoperative position (Figure 1) wherein the flight of steps is located inwardly of the vehicle profile. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Boarding means for vehicles The invention relates to boarding means for vehicles having an elevated driving location, for example large vehicles such as large heavy trucks, so-called dumpers, work machines and agricultural machines such as combine harvesters.

In vehicles having an elevated driving location, the boarding means (also referred to as a boarding ramp) in most cases is arranged as footsteps in the body wall or as a more or less vertically mounted ladder on the outside of the body wall. If such boarding ramps are provided, it is inconvenient to enter and to leave the driving location, particularly when one has to operate the handle on the door at the driving location in order to open or close the door, standing on the boarding ramp at a height over the ground, which may not be neglected, and additionally risks are involved because there is every chance of being injured if one's grip or foothold is lost and one falls to the ground or if the door should be blown to when one's head is at the level of the lower edge of the door.The reason for arranging the boarding ramp without exception in this inconvenient and risky manner is that the boarding ramp cannot be arranged as a flight of steps projecting from the vehicle at a convenient inclination because such a flight of steps will be easily demolished when driving in narrow spaces or rough country.

However, the problems involved in arranging a convenient and safe boarding ramp to an elevated driving location of large vehicles in such a way that the boarding ramp does not interfere when the vehicle is operated, have been observed before, and e.g. according to German laid-open specification No.

2,111,140 there is proposed a flight of steps which, in the operative position thereof, projects from the vehicle at such inclination that it can be conveniently entered upon, but which is made in two parts interconnected by guides, one part of which is connected to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis arranged along the vehicle, in order that the flight of steps shall be lifted from the ground and at the same time shall be drawn towards the side of the vehicle body where the flight of steps is located inside the maximum width of the vehicle.

The operation of the flight of steps in that case is performed by means of a lever provided specifically for this purpose, which can be reached and operated from the driving location.

In another arrangement shown and described in U.S. patent specification No. 3,997,183, a ladder is pivoted about a horizontal axis extending transversely of the vehicle, between a lower position which is the operative position and in which the ladder extends downwardly from the vehicle, and an upper, inoperative position, displaced 180 in relation to the operative position, wherein the ladder is withdrawn into a pocket below the floor plate of the driving location. Also in this case the ladder is operated by means of a specific operating member at the driving location, constructed as an operating bow pivotally mounted at the side of the vehicle.

According to French patent specification No. 7631 513 (publication No. 2,368,388), there is provided on a caravan-like vehicle a flight of steps which, in the operative position thereof, projects from the vehicle at such inclination that it can be conveniently entered upon when one shall enter or leave the vehicle. The lower part of the flight of steps in that case can be swung upwards manually towards the upper part about a horizontal axis. The upper part of the flight of steps is mounted for pivotal movement about a vertical axis such that the folded flight of steps can be swung manually about this axis into a space specifically arranged below the floor of the vehicle.

According to the present invention there is provided boarding means for a vehicle having an elevated driving location, comprising a flight of steps which is pivotally mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis between an operative position in which the flight of steps projects in an inclined position downwards from the vehicle, and an inoperative position in which the flight of steps is located inwardly of the vehicle profile, the flight of steps being operatively connected with a door for access to the driving location in such a manner as to be swung between the operative position and the inoperative position in dependence on pivotal movement of the door between opened and closed positions.

In accordance with the present invention in another aspect there is provided boarding means for a vehicle having an elevated driving location, comprising a flight of steps pivotally mounted for movement about a non-horizontal axis between an operative position in which the flight of steps projects from the vehicle, and an inoperative position in which the flight of steps is located inwardly of the operative position, the flight of steps being operatively connected with a door for access to the driving location in such a manner as to be swung between the operative position and the inoperative position in dependence on pivotal movement of the door between opened and closed positions.

One purpose of the present invention in a preferred arrangement is to provide a boarding ramp for vehicles, by means of which it is convenient to enter and leave the driving location without risk on a flight of steps which in the operative position projects from the vehicle but in the inoperative position is completely let into the body of the vehicle and which can be operated in a convenient manner from the driving location and from the ground, respectively.

It is true that it has been proposed before to operate footsteps on buses and trams by the pivotal movement of the door about a vertical axis between opened and closed positions but only in connection with single steps which are pivoted about a horizontal axis, and not in connection with flights of steps.

An embodiment of such a step operated by means of a door is shown and described in US patent specification No. 3,095,216. These prior art arrangements do not, however, solve the problems encountered in arranging a boarding ramp for a large vehicle having an elevated driving location where a single step is not sufficient in order that the driving location shall be reached from the ground, and cannot be directly applied to the operation of flights of steps.

Considering that the door arranged at the entrance opening of the driving location in large vehicles having an elevated driving location, particularly in such large and heavy vehicles, so-called dumpers or loading trucks, which are used in mines and for extensive excavation works, is of a sturdy, heavy construction and accordingly is mounted on the driver's cabin by means of sturdy hinges, a particu larly advantagous embodiment of the invention is that these hinges are used for the pivotal mounting of the flight of steps by the flight of steps being constructed as an integrated part of the door and being pivoted together with the door on the hinges thereof about a substantially vertical axis between operative and inoperative positions, corresponding to the opened position and the closed position, respectively, of the door.In this embodiment the hinges of the door can support the flight of steps in the operative position thereof without the flight of steps touching the ground.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective side view of the front portion of a loading truck, the door being closed and a boarding ramp embodying the invention being in an inoperative position; Figure 2 is a fragmentary front perspective view of the loading truck with the door open and the boarding ramp in an operative position; Figure 3 is a side view of the door and the boarding ramp constructed as an integrated unit; Figure 4 is a front view of the unit in Figure 3, the lower step of the flight of steps being in the operative position; FigureS is a fragmentary view, corresponding to Figure 4 but having the lower step of the flight of steps folded upwards;; Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a latch mechanism for latching the door and the flight of steps in an open position; Figure 7 is a detail view taken along line VII - Vll in Figure 6; and Figure 8 is a detail view taken along line VIII - VIII in Figure 6.

A loading truck shown in Figures 1 and 2 is provided at the front portion thereof with a driver's cabin 10 enclosing the driving location and located to a major extent over the front wheels 11 of the vehicle. On a loading truck of the kind referred to herein such as a large and heavy dumper to be used in mines or for extensive excavation works the wheels may be as tall as a man or even taller.

Consequently, the driving location is disposed at a considerable height over the ground. The driver's cabin is provided with a large and sturdy door 12 and this door is supported by means of sturdy hinges 13 for pivotal movement about a vertical axis.

A boarding ramp 14forthe driving location comprises two strings 15 and five steps 16 arranged therebetween. One string is connected to or integral with the door such that the outside thereof is flush with the outside of the door, and the two uppermost steps are also connected to the door at the inside thereof. A handrail 17 is provided along the flight of steps and the upper end thereof is connected to the door 12 while the lower end is connected to the outer string 15. Behind the four upper steps 16 a metal sheet 18 is arranged which is connected to the strings and also can be connected to the steps.

The lowermost step 16 is pivoted for lateral movement by the lower portion 15a of each string forming a link which connects the lowermost step 16 with the rest of the flight of steps as shown in Figures 3 and 4, portion 1 5a being connected to the lowermost step 16 and the rest of the flight of steps at joints 19. The lowermost step 16 forms together with the lower portions 1 5a of the two strings and the rest of the flight of steps a link parallelogram such that the lowermost step 16 can be swung between the operative position shown in Figure 4 and the lifted position shown in Figure 5.

When the door 12 is closed, Figure 1, the boarding ramp 14 is located in front of one front wheel 11 and the lower portion of the flight of steps is lifted by the lowermost step 16 being swung to the position according to Figure 5 such that the lowermost step in this position of the flight of steps is located at the same level as or above the lower edge of the bumper 20 of the vehicle, which is indicated by a dot and dash line in Figure 5.

However, when the door 12 is open according to Figure 2 the lowermost step 16 is lowered and the flight of steps is in the operative position thereof wherein the flight of steps projects in a cantilever fashion from the vehicle at a predetermined inclination in order that the driver can easily enter upon the flight of steps and enter or leave the driver's cabin.

Due to the fact that the hinges 13 are of a sturdy construction the flight of steps can take up the load to which it is then exposed, without being supported by the ground at the lower end thereof.

In order that the lower step 16 shall be swung automatically between the operative position according to Figure 4 and the lifted position according to Figure 5 when the door 12 is opened and closed and accordingly the boarding ramp 14 is swung between the withdrawn inoperative position according to Figure 1 wherein the flight of steps is located completely inside the profile of the vehicle, and the operative position according to Figure 2 wherein the flight of steps projects from the vehicle, the portion 15a is provided with an arm 21, projecting rigidly therefrom, which has at the outer end thereof a roller 22 received in a guide 23 in the vehicle body, e.g. made of flat iron, as shown in Figure 2. The guide ailows movement of the roller 22 laterally when the roller is moving along the guide.

By means of the guide there is provided a pivotal movement ofthe link parallelogram forming the lower portion of the flight of steps but it is of course possible to arrange the automatic pivotal movement of this portion in another manner and it is also possible to make the lower portion of the flight of steps of rubber such that this portion although it projects from the vehicle at the bottom, can hit an obstacle without being damaged. Of course, the lower portion 1 5a of each string is not necessarily a continuous metal sheet; it can consist of two links only so that there are openings at the sides of the lowermost step 16.

The door 12 is provided with a conventional lock mechanism 24 having a lock bolt 25 co-operating with an abutment in the door frame in the closed position of the door. The lock 24 is operated from the interior of the driver's cabin by means of a doorhandle 26 located in the conventional manner, which is connected with the lock by means of a link 27, while the lock is operated from the outside by means of a handle 28 disposed at a lower level on the door, viz.

on the portion thereof forming the outer string of the flight of steps. The handle 28 is connected by means of a link 29 to an arm 30 fixedly connected to a shaft 31 which is mounted in the strings 15 at the top of the boarding ramp 14, and a link 32 extends from this arm 30 to the lock. The handle 28 is located at such level that it can easily be reached from the ground when the door 12 shall be opened and closed.

It should be prevented, of course, that the door and the boarding ramp swing inwards to the closed and inoperative position, respectively, when one enters upon the flight of steps, and for the purpose of latching the door in the open position and thus latching the flight of steps in the operative position according to Figure 2 a latch mechanism is provided which is shown in Figures 3 to 5 and, as far as some details are concerned, in Figures 6 and 7. The latch mechanism comprises a latch 33 fixedly connected to the shaft 31. In the position according to Figure 7 wherein the handle 26 or 28 is not depressed, this latch projects upwards into a recess 34 in the floor or floor plate 35 of the driving location in the open position of the door 12 and into a corresponding recess in the closed position of the door.By the engagement between the latch 33 and the floor or floor plate 35 pivotal movement of the door is accordingly prevented when the door is in the open position thereof while such engagement provides supplementary locking of the door in the closed position thereof in addition to that provided by means of the lock bolt 25.

The latch 33 can possibly be formed such that it abuts the upper side of the floor or floor plate 35 in the engaged position thereof in order to help to support the boarding ramp 14 in the open position thereof, It is of course conceivable to have latch mechanisms of other types but the one disclosed herein is simple and effective.

When the door 12 is closed and the boarding ramp 14 is in the inoperative position thereof shown in Figure 1, wherein the flight of steps is located ahead of one front wheel 11,the metal sheet 18 forms part of the wheel housing for this front wheel, but it is of course also conceivable to allow the flight of steps to move into a space in the body, arranged ahead of the wheel housing proper.

As mentioned initially, it is advantageous to arrange the boarding ramp 14 and the door 12 as an integrated unit in the manner described in connection with the disclosed embodiment, but it is also within the scope of the invention to arrange the boarding ramp for individual pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis and to arrange an operative connection between the boarding ramp and the door such that the boarding ramp is swung between the operative position and the inoperative position in dependence on the door being opened and closed.

It is also to be appreciated that the said steps provided in accordance with the invention are not limited to steps formed with horizontal surfaces in the form of a staircase structure, but may for example be provided by rungs of a ladder structure.

Claims

1. Boarding means for a vehicle having an elevated driving location, comprising a flight of steps which is pivotally mounted for movement about a substantially vertical axis between an operative position in which the flight of steps projects in an inclined position downwards from the vehicle, and an inoperative position in which the flight of steps is located inwardly of the vehicle profile, the flight of steps being operatively connected with a door for access to the driving location in such a manner as to be swung between the operative position and the inoperative position in dependence on pivotal movement of the door between opened and closed positions.

2. Boarding means according to claim 1, in which the flight of steps is connected to the door, the substantially vertical pivot axis thereof being formed by the hinges of the door.

3. Boarding means according to claim 2, in which the flight of steps is formed as an integral portion of the door.

4. Boarding means according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the flight of steps is arranged to be received by the body of the vehicle in the inoperative position thereof.

5. Boarding means according to any of claims 1 to 4 in which one of the strings of the flight of steps joins the door flush with the outside thereof.

6. Boarding means according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the flight of steps is provided with a metal sheet along the rear edges of the steps, said metal sheetforming part of a wheel housing of the vehicle.

7. Boarding means according to any of claims 1 to 6 in which the door is provided with a latch for latching the door in open position with the flight of steps in the operative position.

8. Boarding means according to claim 7, in which the latch is operated by means of the lock handle of the door.

9. Boarding means according to claim 8, in which the outside lock handle of the door is located on the flight of steps at such level that it can be reached from the ground.

10. Boarding means according to any of claims 7 to 9 in which the latch engages with an abutment in the latching position thereof to receive part of the load of the flight of steps when entered upon.

11. Boarding means according to any of claims 1 to 10 in which the lower portion of the flight of steps is mounted for lateral pivotal movement.

12. Boarding means according to claim 11, in which the lower portion of the flight of steps is guided in the vehicle body to be pivoted laterally, at pivotal movement of the flight of steps between the operative position and the inoperative position, between an operative position wherein said lower portion forms an extension of the rest of the flight of steps, and an inoperative position wherein said lower portion of the flight of steps is lifted below the vehicle.

13. Boarding means for a vehicle having an elevated driving location, comprising a flight of steps pivotally mounted for movement about a non-horizontal axis between an operative position in which the flight of steps projects from the vehicle, and an inoperative position in which the flight of steps is located inwardly of the operative position, the flight of steps being operatively connected with a door for access to the driving location in such a manner as to be swung between the operative position and the inoperative position in dependence on pivotal movement of the door between opened and closed positions.

14. Boarding means for a vehicle substantiatjy as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.