GB2132582A - Tail lifts - Google Patents

Abstract

A tail lift for a road transport vehicle has a platform (3) which can be moved up and down in front of an access opening (2) of the vehicle. The platform (3) is also movable between a load-carrying position and a stowed position. In the latter position the platform is retracted clear of the access opening (2). For example, the platform may be formed in two hinged parts (8,9) which can be folded and then inserted (by sliding along roller tracks) into a storage compartment (10) under the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Tail lifts This invention relates to a tail lift of the kind (hereinafter referred to as the kind defined) which is provided for use with a road transport vehicle to assist in loading and unloading and which comprises a platform which is mounted so as to be movable upwardly and downwardly on an upright support structure fixed to the vehicle alongside an access opening thereto.

With known tail lifts of the kind defined it is usual for the platform to be pivotally mounted on the upright support structure so as to be movable between a horizontal operational position and a vertical stowed position, the platform extending over the vehicle access opening in the latter position. However, with this known arrangement the problem can arise that, inconveniently, it may be necessary to move the platform from the stowed position to the operational position to provide access to the interior of the vehicle even when loading or unloading is not required.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or at least appreciably reduce this problem.

According to the invention therefore there is provided a tail lift of the kind defined wherein the said platform is mounted on the said upright structure so as to be movable between an operational position and a stowed position characterised in that in the said stowed position the platform is retracted clear or substantially clear of said access opening.

With this arrangement it will be appreciated that it need not be necessary to move the platform out of its stowed position to give access to the interior of the vehicle to which the tail lift is applied.

Preferably, the platform is of a foldable construction to facilitate retraction and stowage.

In particular, the platform may be formed from front and back parts which are hinged together so that the back part (i.e. the part further from the vehicle) can be folded on top of the other part.

Preferably also, the platform is adapted to be moved into its final stowed position by sliding, particularly by sliding horizontally. Runners or rollers or the like may be provided for easy sliding movement.

Most conveniently, the platform may be retractable' beneath a loading surface of the vehicle to which the tail lift is applied, and a storage compartment may be provided to receive the retracted platform.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, where the platform is adapted to.be movable vertically on a pair of upright guides disposed respectively at opposite sides of the vehicle access opening, slidable support arms are provided on the guides and the platform is releasably engageable with such arm whereby in an operational state the platform is fixed securely relative to the arms and in a non-operational state the platform is released from the arms so as to be movable relative thereto respectively into and out of the said stowed position. Runners or rollers or the like may be provided on the arms so as to facilitate such movement of the platform.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic rear perspective view of one form of a tail lift according to the invention in an operational position; and Fig. 2 is a view of the arrangement of Fig. 1 in the stowed position.

The tail lift shown in the drawings is applied to a road transport vehicle having a load-carrying compartment, such as a van body, with a lower load supporting surface or deck 1 and a rear access opening 2.

As shown in Fig. 1, the tail lift comprises a platform 3 which projects horizontally rearwardly away from the vehicle and is mounted on a pair of upright guide channels 4 fixed respectively on opposite sides of the opening 2. The platform 3 is connected to and is located between a pair of parallel arms 5 which project horizontally at right angles to the rear edge 6 of the vehicle deck 1, such arms 5 being joined by hinges to carriages 7 which are slidable up and down along the channels 4, a suitable powered, drive mechanism (not shown) being provided in conventional manner for effecting this sliding movement.

The platform 3 is generally rectangular and is formed in two narrow rectangular parts of approximately similar size extending parallel to the rear deck edge, namely: a front part 8 and a rear part 9 respectively near to and remote from said edge 6, such parts 8, 9 being hinged together at adjoining long edges thereof. The arms 5 extend up to the region of the adjoining edges.

In the operational position shown in Fig. 1 , the two platform parts 8, 9 are rigidly locked relative to each other and relative to the arms 5 as for example by automatic interengagement of releasable catches or the like (not shown), and the platform 3 can be used for loading and unloading purposes in conventional manner.

Beneath the deck 1, behind the bottom ends of the columns 4, there is mounted a marwardly- open metal box-shaped storage compartment 10, and the platform 3 can be retracted into this to adopt the stowed position indicated in Fig. 2. The retraction procedure involves the following steps: The tail lift drive is operated to move the platform 3 to a position slightly above the bottoms of the columns 4, as shown in Fig. 1. Retractable spring-loaded stop members 11 connected to the inner sides of the columns 4 are moved manually outwardly to overlie the arms 5 and the platform 3 is then moved slightly upwardly until the arms 5 engage the stop members 11. The platform 3 is now precisely located relative to the storage compartment 10.In particular, the bottom surface of the platform 3 is aligned with two sets of rollers 12 or runners at opposite sides of the bottom surface of the storage compartment 10.

The platform 3 is then folded by hinging the rear part 9 on top of the front part 8 and the folded structure is then pushed manually into the storage compartment 10, after first releasing the catches or the like used to lock the platform 3 in its operational position, as appropriate. Movement of the folded platform into the compartment 10 is facilitated by the action of the runners 12 and, for the same reason, corresponding runners may be provided on the arms 5.

The folded platform can be retracted fully into the compartment 10 and, as indicated in Fig. 2, a cover 13 is then applied to the open rear end of the compartment and the stop members 11 are retracted and the arms 5 are hinged inwardly against this cover 13 between the columns 4 where they are held in position by a releasable catch mechanism.

In this stowed position the platform is stored conveniently at a protected location well clear of the vehicle access opening.

When required, the platform is returned to its operational position in the following manner: The arms 5 are released and swing outwardly on their hinges and the cover 13 is removed. The tail lift is operated to move the arms 5 to a position at which they are below and in engagement with the spring-loaded stops 11 and the folded platform is now pulled out of the compartment into engagement with the arms 5 sliding on the runners 12. The platform 3 is then unfolded and locked in position and the tail lift is lowered slightly to allow the stops 11 to be moved out of the way.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiment which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, some or all of the above described manual operations may be powered under appropriate push button control.

Claims (12)

1. A tail lift of the kind defined wherein the said platform is mounted on the said upright support structure so as to be movable between an operational position and a stowed position characterised in that in the said stowed position the platform is retracted clear or substantially clear of said access opening.

2. A tail lift according to claim 1, wherein said platform is of a foldable construction.

3. A tail lift according to claim 2, wherein said platform is formed from front and back parts which are hinged together so that the back part (i.e. the part further from the vehicle) can be folded on top of the other part.

4. A tail lift according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the platform is adapted to be moved into its final stowed position by sliding.

5. A tail lift according to claim 4, wherein said sliding constitutes horizontal sliding.

6. A tail lift according to claim 4 or 5, wherein runners or rollers are provided for easy sliding movement.

7. A tail lift according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the platform is retractable beneath a loading surface of the vehicle to which the tail lift is applied.

8. A tail according to claim 7, wherein a storage compartment is provided to receive the retracted platform.

9. A tail lift according-to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the platform is adapted to be moved vertically on a pair of upright guides disposed respectively at opposite sides of the vehicle access opening, characterised in that slidable support arms are provided on the guides and the platform is releasably engageable with such arm whereby in an operational state the platform is fixed securely relative to the arms and in a nonoperational state the platform is released from the arms so as to be movable relative thereto respectively into and out of the said stowed position.

10. A tail lift according to claim 9 and claim 6, wherein said runners or rollers are provided on the arms.

11. A tail lift substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

12. A vehicle incorporating a tail lift according to any one of claims 1 toll.