US 4,180,366 A · Lift assembly for transit vehicles

Abstract

A lift system for a wheelchair or the like on a transit vehicle includes a stationary main frame secured within a doorway recess of the vehicle and a side frame that is movable relative to the main frame. An articulated platform including first and second steps is pivotally secured to the side frame. Scissors linkage is pivotally and slideably connected to the main frame and to the platform such that upon being actuated, the platform may be actuated from a first position defining first and second steps to a second position defining an extended platform. Thereafter the platform may be actuated in a manner such that the scissors linkage crosses over its center point to lower the platform from the floor level of the vehicle to the ground level. Once the wheelchair or the like is mounted on the platform the reverse actuation occurs and the scissors linkage again crosses over its center point to raise the platform from the ground level to the floor level.

Claims13

Dependent claims

In a vehicle, a lift assembly for lifting wheelchairs and the like from ground level to a floor level of the vehicle comprising:

a main frame secured to a doorway of said vehicle that defines an envelope in which said lift assembly is positioned;
means defining at least first and second steps including pivot means for pivotally connecting said first and second steps;
at least one side linkage member pivotally secured to said first and second steps;
at least one side frame member to which said linkage member is pivotally connected and supported thereby;
at least one scissors linkage member pivotally and slideably connected to said main frame and to said side frame member;
means for pivoting said step means relative to said side frame member to form a platform extending from said vehicle;
and
means for pivoting said scissors linkage to and through the center of said scissors linkage to reverse the position of said scissors linkage and move said side frame member and said platform from said floor level to said ground level.

5 more elements

In combination

a transit vehicle including a door and a recess defined in said vehicle adjacent said door;
and
a lift assembly mounted in said recess defining steps in a first position and a lift platform in a second position for lifting wheelchairs and the like from a ground level position to the level of a floor of said vehicle;
said lift assembly comprising:
articulated platform means defining in a first position steps in said recess and in a second position a platform;
platform actuating means for actuating said platform means from said first position to said second position and from said second position to said first position;
and
platform moving means for moving said platform from said floor level to said ground level and from said ground level to said floor level, said moving means including at least one scissors linkage member, said scissors linkage including first and second arms pivotally joined at the center point of each in a crossing configuration, each said first and second arm including one end stationarily and pivotally secured relative to said vehicle and said platform means, and a second end slideably secured relative to said vehicle and said platform means to allow said scissors linkage arms to cross over the center pivot point upon actuation of said platfrom means from said floor level position to said ground level position and from said ground level position to said floor level position.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lift assembly for transit vehicles

Life of this patent

Lift assembly for transit vehicles

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims13