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GB2124998A - Adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus - Google Patents

Adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2124998A
GB2124998A GB08222045A GB8222045A GB2124998A GB 2124998 A GB2124998 A GB 2124998A GB 08222045 A GB08222045 A GB 08222045A GB 8222045 A GB8222045 A GB 8222045A GB 2124998 A GB2124998 A GB 2124998A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
bar
pin
platform
pivot
arm member
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08222045A
Other versions
GB2124998B (en
Inventor
Michael Albert Sidney Marshall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
HENDERSON GROUP
Original Assignee
HENDERSON GROUP
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by HENDERSON GROUP filed Critical HENDERSON GROUP
Priority to GB08222045A priority Critical patent/GB2124998B/en
Publication of GB2124998A publication Critical patent/GB2124998A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2124998B publication Critical patent/GB2124998B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60P—VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS
    • B60P1/00—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading
    • B60P1/44—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element
    • B60P1/4414—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element and keeping the loading platform parallel to the ground when raising the load
    • B60P1/4421—Vehicles predominantly for transporting loads and modified to facilitate loading, consolidating the load, or unloading having a loading platform thereon raising the load to the level of the load-transporting element and keeping the loading platform parallel to the ground when raising the load the loading platform being carried in at least one vertical guide

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Springs (AREA)

Abstract

An adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus, including a torsion bar (3) fixedly securable at one end (3a) against rotation to a platform (1) and at the other end (3b) of the bar it is located adjacent a bore (7) through a side of the platform (1), a side plate (4) fixedly attachable to one of the runners (2) of the lifting apparatus to extend substantially parallel thereto adjacent the said side of the platform, which side plate (4) has a bore (8) therethrough, an elongated arm member (5) has a pivot pin (9) for passage through the aligned pivot bores (7, 8), to form a pivot for the platform (1), to engage with the other end (3b) of the bar (3) for rotation therewith, which arm member (5) also has a slot (12) therein for co-operation with a releasable clamping pin (13) engageable in a bore (14) in the side plate, and an adjustment means (6) for engagement with an end face (18) of the arm member (5), the arrangement being such that the torsion in the bar 3 can be adjusted. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus This invention relates to an adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus, particularly but not exclusively, suitable for use with a vehicle load lifting apparatus in the form of a vehicle tail lift.
Such a vehicle load lifting apparatus usually includes a platform slidably and pivotally mounted at one end in a pair of spaced apart substantially vertically extending guide channels and movable up and down in the channels via runners movable by electric motor or hydraulic ram operated cables housed in the channels. The channels may be mounted one on either side of a rear opening of the vehicle in the case of a tail lift, and the platform which can be pivoted from a vertical position to a horizontal position against a force resiliently biassing the platform towards the vertical position, may be moved between a vertical raised stowed position in which it closes the vehicle rear opening, a horizontal pivoted out upper working position at the vehicle opening floor level and a horizontal pivoted out lower working position substantially at ground level.
Conveniently the resilient biassing force is provided by a torsion bar fixedly connected at its ends between the platform and one of the runners. The force exerted by such a torsion bar may reduce with prolonged use and attempts have been made to provide for compensating adjustment of the force exerted by the torsion bar such as by making the connection point between the bar and platform movable axially along the bar towards or away from the other connection point so as to vary the length of, and thus the force exerted by, the torsion bar.
Whilst this proposed adjustment device is generally effective the platform movable connection point is relatively inaccessable and requires a large degree of movement for a relatively small variation in force.
There is thus a need for a generally improved adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus.
According to the present invention there is provided an adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus, including a torsion bar fixedly securable at one end against rotation to a platform of the apparatus to extend transversely of the platform so that the other end of the bar is located adjacent a pivot bore through a side of the platform, a side plate fixedly attachable to one of the runners of the apparatus to extend substantially parallel thereto adjacent the said side of the platform, which side plate has a pivot bore therethrough, an elongated arm member having a pivot pin projecting substantially at right angles from one side thereof adjacent one end thereof for passage through the aligned pivot bores, to form a pivot for the platform, into engagement with the other end of the bar for rotation therwith, which arm member also has a slot therein adjacent the other end of the member for co-operation with a releasable clamping pin engageable in a bore in the side plate, to clamp the arm member against the side plate, and an adjustment means provided on the outside face of the side plate for adjustable engagement with an end face of the arm member adjacent the slot, the arrangement being such that with the pivot bores aligned and the pivot pin engaged with the torsion bar other end, the pivot pin forms a longitudinal axial extension of the torsion bar with the arm member extending at right angles thereto along the outer surface of the side plate with respect to the torsion bar, and the force operatively exerted by the torsion bar on the platform can be varied by rotating the other end of the torsion bar more or less, with respect to the fixedly securable one end, by slackening the clamping pin, advancing or retracting the adjustment means against the arm member end face in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar and pivot pin to rotate the arm member and hence the torsion bar other end relative to the side plate, and torsion bar one end and resecuring the clamping pin.
Thus the assembly of the invention enables the torsion force of the torsion bar to be varied by axially twisting the torsion bar to a greater or lesser extent and holding the bar in this pretwisted loaded state. A large variation in the force exerted by the torsion bar can be obtained for rotational adjustment of the other end of the bar through a small angle of up to 15o Advantageously the pivot pin is connectible to the other end of the torsion bar by means of a square or hexagonal head provided on one of the pivot pin and bar engaging in a complementary shaped socket provided on the other of the pivot pin and bar.
Conveniently the adjustment means is a bored housing provided on the outer side of the side plate with the adjustment bore being screw threaded and extending transverse to the pivot pin axis and a screw threaded pin engageable in the adjustment bore for screwed adjustment along the adjustment bore against the end face of the arm member.
Preferably two such assemblies may be provided, one for each side of the platform.
For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an exploded, diagrammatic perspective view of an adjustable force torsion bar assembly of the invention shown in operative association with a platform and runner of a vehicle load lifting apparatus, and Figure 2 is an assembled view of Figure 1.
As shown in the accompanying drawings, an adjustable force torsion bar assembly of the invention is intended to operate with a vehicle load lifting apparatus, such as a tail lift, having a platform 1 and a vertical runner 2. The assembly includes a torsion bar3, a side plate 4, an arm member 5 and adjustment means 6. The bar 3, made of any convenient material, is fixedly secured at one end 3a, against rotation, to the platform 1, such as by welding to an undersurface thereof, and extends transversely of the platform 1 so that the other end 3b of the bar 3 is located adjacent a pivot bar 7 through a side of the platform 1 as shown in Figure 1.
The side plate 4 is fixedly attached to the runner 2 in any convenient manner such as by being welded thereto, and extends substantially vertically and parallel thereto adjacent the platform side. A pivot bore 8 is provided through the side plate 4. The arm member 5, conveniently a flat elongated plate, has a pivot pin 9 projecting substantially at right angles from one side thereof adjacent one end 5a thereof for passage through the aligned bores 7,8 to form a pivot for the platform 1. The pin 9 engages the end 3b of the bore 3 for rotation therewith.
Preferably this engagement is by a square or hexagonal head 10 provided on one of the pin 9 or bar 3 engaging in a complementary shaped socket 11 provided on the other of the pin 9 or bar 3. As illustrated the head 10 is on the pin 9 and the socket 11 in the bar 3. The arm member 5 also has a slot 12 therein adjacent the other end 5b for co-operation with a releasable clamping pin 13 engageable in a bore 14 in the side plate 4 to clamp the member 5 against the plate 4 as shown in Figure 2. To this end the pin 13 has a head 13a larger in size than the width of the slot 12 and an adjustment aperture such as a slot or hexagonal recess.
The adjustment means 6 preferably is a bored housing 15 on the outer side of the plate 4 with an open ended screw threaded adjustment bore 16 therethrough extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin 9, and a screw threaded pin 17 engageable in the bore 16 for screwed adjustment along the bore 16 against an end face 18 of the arm member 5, adjacent the slot 12.
Thus with the assembly attached to the platform 1 and runner 2 as shown, with the pivot bores 7,8 aligned and the pivot pin 9 engaged therein and the head 10 engaged in the socket 1 1,the pin 9 forms a longitudinal axial extension of the bar 3 with the member 5 extending at right angles to the bar 3 along the outer surface of the side plate 4 with respect to the bar 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The force operatively exerted by the bar 3 on the platform 1 can be varied by rotating the end 3b of the bar 3 more or less, relative to the fixed end 3a, by slackening the clamping pin 13 away from the arm member 5 and advancing the pin 17 against the face 18 to increase the torsion force or retracting the pin 17 to reduce the torsion force.This rotates the bar end 3b about its longitudinal axis relative to the end 3a to vary the torsion force and the torsioned bar 3 is locked in its newlytorsioned state by resecuring the clamping pin 13 againstthe arm member 5. By pretwisting the bar 3 in this way a large variation in the torsion force can be obtained for a relatively small rotational adjustment of the bar end 3b, through, for example, up to 1 So. Moreover this may be done simply and positively by the pins 13 and 17 and the torsion force variation may be produced continuously through the permitted adjustment range.
CLAIMS (Filed on 19th July 1983) 1. An adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus, including a torsion bar fixedly securable at one end against rotation to a platform of the apparatus to extend transversely of the platform so that the other end of the bar is located adjacent a pivot bore through a side of the platform, a side plate fixedly attachable to one of the runners of the apparatus to extend substantially parallel thereto adjacent the said side of the platform, which side plate has a pivot bore therethrough, an elongated arm member having a pivot pin projecting substantially at right angles from one side thereof adjacent one end thereof for passage through the aligned pivot bores, to form a pivot for the platform, into engagement with the other end of the bar for rotation therewith, which arm member also has a slot therein adjacent the other end of the member for co-operation with a releasable clamping pin engageable in a bore in the side plate, to clamp the arm member against the side plate, and an adjustment means provided on the outside face of the side plate for adjustable engagement with an end face of the arm member adjacent the slot, the arrangement being such that with the pivot bores aligned and the pivot pin engaged with the torsion bar other end, the pivot pin forms a longitudinal axial extension of the torsion bar with the arm member extending at right angles thereto along the outer surface of the side plate with respect to the torsion bar, and the force operatively exerted by the torsion bar on the platform can be varied by rotating the other end of the torsion bar more or less, with respect to the fixedly securable one end, by slackening the clamping pin, advancing or retracting the adjustment means against the arm member end face in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar and pivot pin to rotate the arm member and hence the torsion bar other end relative to the side plate, and torsion bar one end and resecuring the clamping pin.
2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pin is connectible to the other end of the torsion bar by means of a square or hexagonal head provided on one of the pivot pin and bar, engaging in a complementary shaped socket provided on the other of the pivot pin and bar.
3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adjustment means is a bored housing provided on the outer side of the side plate with the adjustment bore being screw threaded and extending transverse to the pivot pin axis, and a screw threaded pin engageable in the adjustment bore for screwed adjustment along the adjustment bore against the end face of the arm member.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

  1. **WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.
    3b of the bar 3 is located adjacent a pivot bar 7 through a side of the platform 1 as shown in Figure 1.
    The side plate 4 is fixedly attached to the runner 2 in any convenient manner such as by being welded thereto, and extends substantially vertically and parallel thereto adjacent the platform side. A pivot bore 8 is provided through the side plate 4. The arm member 5, conveniently a flat elongated plate, has a pivot pin 9 projecting substantially at right angles from one side thereof adjacent one end 5a thereof for passage through the aligned bores 7,8 to form a pivot for the platform 1. The pin 9 engages the end 3b of the bore 3 for rotation therewith.
    Preferably this engagement is by a square or hexagonal head 10 provided on one of the pin 9 or bar 3 engaging in a complementary shaped socket
    11 provided on the other of the pin 9 or bar 3. As illustrated the head 10 is on the pin 9 and the socket
    11 in the bar 3. The arm member 5 also has a slot 12 therein adjacent the other end 5b for co-operation with a releasable clamping pin 13 engageable in a bore 14 in the side plate 4 to clamp the member 5 against the plate 4 as shown in Figure 2. To this end the pin 13 has a head 13a larger in size than the width of the slot 12 and an adjustment aperture such as a slot or hexagonal recess.
    The adjustment means 6 preferably is a bored housing 15 on the outer side of the plate 4 with an open ended screw threaded adjustment bore 16 therethrough extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pivot pin 9, and a screw threaded pin 17 engageable in the bore 16 for screwed adjustment along the bore 16 against an end face 18 of the arm member 5, adjacent the slot 12.
    Thus with the assembly attached to the platform 1 and runner 2 as shown, with the pivot bores 7,8 aligned and the pivot pin 9 engaged therein and the head 10 engaged in the socket 1 1,the pin 9 forms a longitudinal axial extension of the bar 3 with the member 5 extending at right angles to the bar 3 along the outer surface of the side plate 4 with respect to the bar 3 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The force operatively exerted by the bar 3 on the platform 1 can be varied by rotating the end 3b of the bar 3 more or less, relative to the fixed end 3a, by slackening the clamping pin 13 away from the arm member 5 and advancing the pin 17 against the face 18 to increase the torsion force or retracting the pin 17 to reduce the torsion force.This rotates the bar end 3b about its longitudinal axis relative to the end 3a to vary the torsion force and the torsioned bar 3 is locked in its newlytorsioned state by resecuring the clamping pin 13 againstthe arm member 5. By pretwisting the bar 3 in this way a large variation in the torsion force can be obtained for a relatively small rotational adjustment of the bar end 3b, through, for example, up to 1 So. Moreover this may be done simply and positively by the pins 13 and 17 and the torsion force variation may be produced continuously through the permitted adjustment range.
    CLAIMS (Filed on 19th July 1983) 1. An adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus, including a torsion bar fixedly securable at one end against rotation to a platform of the apparatus to extend transversely of the platform so that the other end of the bar is located adjacent a pivot bore through a side of the platform, a side plate fixedly attachable to one of the runners of the apparatus to extend substantially parallel thereto adjacent the said side of the platform, which side plate has a pivot bore therethrough, an elongated arm member having a pivot pin projecting substantially at right angles from one side thereof adjacent one end thereof for passage through the aligned pivot bores, to form a pivot for the platform, into engagement with the other end of the bar for rotation therewith, which arm member also has a slot therein adjacent the other end of the member for co-operation with a releasable clamping pin engageable in a bore in the side plate, to clamp the arm member against the side plate, and an adjustment means provided on the outside face of the side plate for adjustable engagement with an end face of the arm member adjacent the slot, the arrangement being such that with the pivot bores aligned and the pivot pin engaged with the torsion bar other end, the pivot pin forms a longitudinal axial extension of the torsion bar with the arm member extending at right angles thereto along the outer surface of the side plate with respect to the torsion bar, and the force operatively exerted by the torsion bar on the platform can be varied by rotating the other end of the torsion bar more or less, with respect to the fixedly securable one end, by slackening the clamping pin, advancing or retracting the adjustment means against the arm member end face in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the torsion bar and pivot pin to rotate the arm member and hence the torsion bar other end relative to the side plate, and torsion bar one end and resecuring the clamping pin.
  2. 2. An assembly according to claim 1, wherein the pivot pin is connectible to the other end of the torsion bar by means of a square or hexagonal head provided on one of the pivot pin and bar, engaging in a complementary shaped socket provided on the other of the pivot pin and bar.
  3. 3. An assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the adjustment means is a bored housing provided on the outer side of the side plate with the adjustment bore being screw threaded and extending transverse to the pivot pin axis, and a screw threaded pin engageable in the adjustment bore for screwed adjustment along the adjustment bore against the end face of the arm member.
  4. 4. An adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a
    vehicle load lifting apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  5. 5. Avehicle load lifting apparatus having one according to any one of claims 1 to 4, or two assemblies according to any one of claims 1 to 4 located one on each side of the platform.
GB08222045A 1982-07-30 1982-07-30 Adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus Expired GB2124998B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08222045A GB2124998B (en) 1982-07-30 1982-07-30 Adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08222045A GB2124998B (en) 1982-07-30 1982-07-30 Adjustable force torsion bar assembly for a vehicle load lifting apparatus

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2124998A true GB2124998A (en) 1984-02-29
GB2124998B GB2124998B (en) 1985-11-13

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2356617A (en) * 1999-10-05 2001-05-30 Manganese Bronze Components Lt Ramp assembly
EP1213176A1 (en) * 2000-12-09 2002-06-12 Ross &amp; Bonnyman Limited Lifting apparatus
EP1369299A1 (en) * 2002-06-05 2003-12-10 Gerd Bär Loading tailgate with spring assisted folding of the platform
EP2604472A1 (en) * 2011-12-13 2013-06-19 MBB Palfinger GmbH Cantilever lift
US20220410785A1 (en) * 2019-10-23 2022-12-29 Maxon Industries, Inc. Torsion bar bracket with bushing

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1049759A (en) * 1962-11-06 1966-11-30 American Welding And Engineeri Manually operated loading ramp
GB2024141A (en) * 1978-06-26 1980-01-09 Ratcliff Tail Lifts Ltd Adjustable torsion bar counterbalancing
GB2024739A (en) * 1978-07-04 1980-01-16 Hassy Horticultural Dev Improvements in and relating to tractors
GB1564625A (en) * 1977-07-04 1980-04-10 Uop Inc Preload indicators for torsion springds

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1049759A (en) * 1962-11-06 1966-11-30 American Welding And Engineeri Manually operated loading ramp
GB1564625A (en) * 1977-07-04 1980-04-10 Uop Inc Preload indicators for torsion springds
GB2024141A (en) * 1978-06-26 1980-01-09 Ratcliff Tail Lifts Ltd Adjustable torsion bar counterbalancing
GB2024739A (en) * 1978-07-04 1980-01-16 Hassy Horticultural Dev Improvements in and relating to tractors

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2356617A (en) * 1999-10-05 2001-05-30 Manganese Bronze Components Lt Ramp assembly
EP1090619A3 (en) * 1999-10-05 2001-12-05 Manganese Bronze Components Limited Ramp assembly
GB2356617B (en) * 1999-10-05 2003-12-10 Manganese Bronze Components Lt Ramp assembly
EP1213176A1 (en) * 2000-12-09 2002-06-12 Ross &amp; Bonnyman Limited Lifting apparatus
EP1369299A1 (en) * 2002-06-05 2003-12-10 Gerd Bär Loading tailgate with spring assisted folding of the platform
EP2604472A1 (en) * 2011-12-13 2013-06-19 MBB Palfinger GmbH Cantilever lift
US20220410785A1 (en) * 2019-10-23 2022-12-29 Maxon Industries, Inc. Torsion bar bracket with bushing
US12214708B2 (en) * 2019-10-23 2025-02-04 Maxon Industries, Inc. Torsion bar bracket with bushing

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2124998B (en) 1985-11-13

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee