Ramp assembly with tilt sensor
AssigneeLift-U, Division of Hogan Mfg., Inc.
InventorsDavid Johnson, Donald Morris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface between a vehicle floor and an alighting surface is disclosed. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A target operably associated with the ramp portion so that the target reciprocates along a predetermined path when the ramp portion reciprocates between the stowed position and the deployed position. A sensor fitting maintains a fixed orientation relative to a horizontal plane. A sensor is mounted to the sensor fitting such that the sensor senses the target when the ramp portion is in a predetermined position.
Claims17
A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface from a vehicle floor to an alighting surface, the ramp assembly comprising:
- (a) a ramp portion coupled for reciprocating movement between a stowed position and a deployed position, the ramp portion being rotatable about an axis associated with a first end of the ramp portion;
- (b) a target operably associated with the ramp portion, the target reciprocating along a predetermined path when the ramp portion reciprocates between the stowed position and the deployed position,
- (c) a sensor fitting rotatably mounted about an axis that maintains a fixed position relative to the vehicle floor, the sensor fitting maintaining a fixed orientation relative to a horizontal plane;
- and
- (d) a sensor mounted to the sensor fitting, wherein the sensor senses the target when the ramp portion is in a predetermined position relative to the horizontal plane and sends a signal to a controller, the signal indicating that the ramp portion has reached the predetermined position.
A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface from a vehicle floor to an alighting surface, the vehicle floor having an orientation relative to a horizontal plane, the ramp assembly comprising:
- (a) a ramp portion coupled for rotating movement between a stowed position and a deployed position;
- (b) a drive assembly operatively coupled to the ramp portion, the drive assembly moving to drive the ramp portion between the stowed position and the deployed position;
- (c) a sensor configured to sense a position of an element of the drive assembly, the position of the element corresponding to an angle of the ramp portion relative to a horizontal plane, the sensor providing a sensor output when the ramp portion has deployed to at least a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane, wherein the predetermined angle is independent of the orientation of the vehicle floor relative to the horizontal plane;
- and
- (d) an alert device providing an alert in response to the sensor output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.