GB2332418A - Movable lift - Google Patents

Abstract

A lift 1 has a platform 5 partially surrounded by a robust frame 4 having wheels 6,7. The platform is raised or lowered by e.g. bands 9, 10 mounted on reels 30. The reels are connectable to (via pin 28) or dis-connectable from wheels 6 to either rotate therewith for raising or lowering the platform or to be held by pin 26 to lock the platform in position. The reels are mounted on splined 11, split sleeves 21A, 21B running on axles 20 and moved by links 23 by a foot or hand control 24. The lift is preferably foldable (Figs 5 and 6) and is preferably for use by wheel chaired passengers to alight or enter on a bus or railway coach and can be carried as part of the onboard equipment. The raising or lowering of the platform can instead be carried out via an electric motor (40, Fig 10) or a hand crank (42, Fig 11).

Description

2332418 MOVABLE DISABLED PERSONS' LIFT This specification relates to

apparatus for raising and lowering disabled people, e.g. in wheelchairs, for example, to enable them to enter and leave vehicles, e.g. trains, buses, etc., or to access platforms, etc. The apparatus is portable and movable relative to the vehicle to be entered or left.

This specification is written on the basis of its application for assisting disabled people but it may equally be used for handling goods.

People who care for the disabled are constantly aware of the problems of having to get wheelchairs up and down steps. One aspect of this is getting into and out of vehicles, e.g. buses and trains, or up onto platforms, etc.. Portable ramps are usually used for this purpose but they have the disadvantage that they may shp off the higher point and the carer has the physical job of pushing, or pulling, the wheelchair and disabled person up the ramp. Sometimes, this effort can cause the ramp to move and accidents have resulted. SiMilarly, when a wheelchair is taken down a ramp, it could tend to 'run away' and catch the carer unawares - another cause of mishaps. Developments including the locking of the ramp into position on the train or bus platform are known 20 but this adds extra time and problems in securing the locking device.

Permanent lift installations are, of course, known but these are not applicable for use with trains and buses, which stop randon-dy. Movable hydraulic lifting platforms, e.g. as used in supermarkets to lift pallets, are known but these are too massive to be lifted 25 onto, and off, trains and buses as part of their on-board equipment.

What is required is a simple, robust means of raising a person in a wheelchair to the height of the platform on a bus or train so that the carer does not have to exert excessive physical effort in order to get the wheelchair onto, or off, the bus or train. 30 Ideally, the means is foldable and easily portable.

1 According to the invention there is provided lifting apparatus comprisin& a platform., a robust frame, partly surrounding yet allowing access to said platform; 1) 2) 3) wheels attached to said robust frame; 4) a lifting member, one end of which is attached to said platform, operable to raise or lower said platform while maintaining it essentially horizontal; 5) a lifting mechanism, to which the other end of said lifting member is attached, having a first mode of operation in which said lifting mechanism and/or said lifting member is locked so that said platform is fixed at a predetermined height and a second mode of operation in which the lifting mechanism is operable to raise, or lower, said platform; and 6) means to lock said lifting mechanism in either of its two modes of operation and to change between the one mode of operation and the other.

In a first variation of the apparatus of the invention, lifting members are provided at each comer of said platform.

In a second variation of the apparatus of the invention, the two lifting members on each side of said platform are run separately but come together and are wound together round the same lifting mechanism.

In a third variation of the apparatus of the invention, the fifting mechanism is connectable to the wheels so that moving the apparatus in a first direction causes said platform to be raised and moving the apparatus in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, causes said platform to be lowered.

In a fourth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the wheels are in pairs with one pair located at the front and another pair at the rear.

In a fifth variation of the apparatus of the invention, one of the pairs of wheels is steerable.

2 In a preferred application, the platform is of a size to accommodate a disabled persons' wheelchair and its occupant and the robust frame forms a support on three sides of the platform, so that the wheelchair may access and leave the platform via the fourth side. Preferably, the lifting member is a webbing strap and, ideally, four such straps are provided, with one at each comer of the platform. The lifting mechanism may be formed around the axle connecting one of the two pairs of wheels on which the robust frame is mounted. Various mechanisms are available for locking the lifting straps and/or the fifting mechanism in one of two modes of operation but a preferred means is via a pair of split coaxial sleeves surrounding the axle between the pair of wheels and rotationally locked to this axle via a spline so that the split sleeves are slidably mounted on it.

In a preferred design, a portion of the external circumferences of the split sleeves is used as a drum, around which the lifting straps are coiled. A particular inventive feature is that the front and rear lifting straps from each side of the platform are wound together round the portion of the sleeve which forms the drum on each side of the robust frame. This has the advantage that rotation of the drum causes essentially equal lengths of both front and rear straps to be wound in, or paid out.

Sliding the sleeves co-axially along the axle permits locking pins to be either engaged or disengaged so that the lifting mechanism may be either locked against rotation, i.e. locking the platform at a predetermined height, or locked rotationafly to the wheels on that particular axle, so that movement of the frame in a first direction, e.g. pulling backwards, causes the straps to be wound onto the drum thus raising the platform.

Movement in the opposite direction, i.e. pushing forwards, reverses the process and pays the straps out thus lowering the platform. A locking means is provided to lock the lifting mechanism in either of its two modes.

In a sixth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the lifting mechanism is operated electrically.

3 In a seventh variation of the apparatus of the invention, the lifting mechanism is operated by a hand cranked arrangement.

In another preferred design, the lifting mechanism is electrically operated, ideally by a rechargeable battery means. A further preferred design of lifting mechanism uses a mechanical hand-cranked arrangement. In both these alternatives, means of locking the platform are provided.

In an eighth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the platform is lockable to the robust ftame.

In a preferred design, guides are provided between the platform and vertical members of the frame to stabilise the platform as it moves up and down. Such guides could incorporate locking means to grip the frame members either in the event of failure of a webbing strap or as the means to secure the platform at the desired height. This principle is used as a safety measure on lifts.

In a ninth variation of the apparatus of the invention, the robust frame is foldable.

In a preferred design, the apparatus is foldable so that it may be collapsed on itself by, for example, releasing clips, etc. This gives a compact unit which is portable. In one particular application, it may be provided as part of the equipment of a railway carriage for use by disabled people getting on to and alighting fiorn the carriage at any station where the train stops.

A wheelchair, with its occupant, is both bulky and heavy so that the robust fiame must be strong enough to carry its load with the platform at a low level or at an elevated height, as well as accommodating the stresses generated pushing and pulling it around, for example, a station platform.. It will be appreciated that the disabled person and )o wheelchair will be placed in the frame and raised to a predetermined height so that the frame may then be pushed forwards to the open door of the carriage to allow the disabled person access. In order to manoeuvre the apparatus around obstacles, it is 4 preferred that one of the pairs of wheels is steerable. For simplicity of design, it is preferred that the steerable wheels are the pair not connected to the lifting mechanism.

For a clearer understanding of the invention and to show how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the following drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the Movable Disabled Persons' Lift of the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the lift; Figure 3 is an overhead view of the lift; Figure 4 is a diagrammatic representation of the paths of the straps used in the lift; Figure 5 is a side elevation showing the structural members of a side frame 2 and how they collapse into the folded form; Figure 6 shows the lift in its folded form, Figure 7 shows the locking/drive mechanism in its unlocked mode with the wheels 6 free to rotate independently; Figure 8 shows the locking/drive mechanism midway between the unlocked and locked positions; and Figure 9 shows the locking/drive mechanism in the locked position with both wheels 6 locked together.

Figure 10 is a part sectional elevation of the lower part of a side frame of the lift.

Figure 11 is a part sectional elevation of the upper part of a side frame of the lift.

In the following description, the same reference numeral is used for identical parts, or

2:5 different components fulfilling the same function.

Fig 1 shows a rear elevation of lift 1 consisting of two side frames 2, 3 separated by a rear frame 4 consisting of a top cross member 16 and a bottom cross member 17.

Platform 5 is shown in a raised position. Fig 2 shows a side elevation with the rear frame 4 and the front 12, side 13 and rear members 14 of side frames 2, 3. Platform 5 is supported by pairs of rear 9 and front 10 lifting straps respectively. Straps, e.g.

nylon webbing, are preferred for this example, as will become apparent later, but cables are equally applicable. Side members 29 (Fig 5) at the bottom and 13 at the top and diagonal bracing 15 give the lift 1 overall rigidity. Thus the lift consists of three frames 2, 3 and 4 forming a rectangular U- shape around platform 5 (Fig 3).

Lift I is mounted on rear wheels 6 and front wheels 7. The rear wheels can rotate independently on axle 20 (Fig 7), when not locked (see later), and the front wheels 7 have independent steering. Thus lift I can be moved as a unit around tight curves, when required. Platform 5 is supported by four lifting straps, one at each comer. The rear straps are both designated 9 and the front straps are both designated 10 (Fig 3).

As shown in Fig 4, the rear 9 and ftont 10 straps on one side, e.g. 2, of lift 1 are coiled together round a single drum 30. The other straps 9, 10 on the other side (3) are similarly coiled round another drum 30. Both drums 30 are the same diameter and formed by the outer circumferences of sleeves 21 (Fig 7). Sleeves 21 are located around axle 20.

Referring to Fig 7 bottom rear frame cross member 17 carries members 18 which locate 19 the ends of axle 20. Wheels 6 are free to rotate independently on axle 20. Split sleeves 2 1 A, 2 1 B are located coaxially around axle 20 so that each may be slid independently of the other along axle 20. An internal spline I I locks axle 20 and sleeves 21 together rotationally but allows relative lateral movement of sleeves 21. A foot-operated control means 24 is provided, slidably located with respect to cross member 17. The operation of member 24 moves the two members 23, one end of each being attached 34 (Fig 9) to one of the two split sleeves 21A and 21B respectively.

The method of attachment 34 of members 23 to sleeves 21 A and 21B is such that it allows the sleeves to be moved axially along spline I I yet does not prohibit rotation of sleeves 2 1 A, 2 1 B with axle 20, e. g. like the fork selector mechanism which moves the layshaft in a gear box.

Members 25, fast with cross member 17, carry first locking pins 26 which engage with holes (not shown) in members 22A and 22B, fast with sleeves 2 1 A and 2 1 B 6 respectively. This stops sleeves 21 A and 21 B (and axle 20) from rotating. Drums 30 are formed by the outer circumference of split sleeves 2 1 A, 2 1 B so that, when first pins 26 engage with holes in members 22A, 22B, straps 9 and 10 are locked and platform 5 remains at its pre-set height. Wheels 6 are ftee to rotate individually on 5 axle 20.

Fig 8 shows part operation of foot control means 24. Here members 23 have started to move sleeves 21 A, 2 1 B apart along spline 11. The result is that first pins 26 are about to disengage with members 22A and 22B respectively. Fast with split sleeves 21 A, 21B are members 27 carrying second locking pins 28. In Fig 7, second locking pins 28 are clear of wheels 6 but in Fig 8, pins 28 are starting to engage with holes (not shown) in wheels 6. It will be noted that both first 26 and second locking pins 28 are both engaged, so that there is no point when the platform 5 is not locked.

In Fig 9, foot control means 24 has completed its full movement and split sleeves 2 1 A, 21B are at their maximum separation distance. As shown, first locking pins 26 are clear of members 22X 22B and second locking pins 28 are fully engaged with the holes (not shown) in wheels 6. Thus the locking of drums 30 has now been transferred to wheels 6, which are now locked together via pins 28 sleeves 21A and 21B and spline 11. If apparatus I is now moved backwards, both drums 30 will rotate at the same rate to wind in straps 9 and 10 simultaneously so that platform 5 is lifted everdy, i.e. remains parallel to ground 8. If the apparatus I is pushed forward, drums 30 will unwind and straps 9, 10 will be paid out evenly together so that platform 5 is lowered gently onto ground 8. The apparatus has been designed so that pulling back-wards (rather than pushing forwards) raises platform 5; tl-s is because pulling is a more controlled operation in this situation.

Rear top cross member 16 forms a convenient handle by which to push, pull and otherwise manoeuvre apparatus 1. Means 24 has been described as a 'foot controP; 3 operation of the means with a foot is convenient when holding apparatus 1 steady via bar 16, but a hand operated means, e.g. a lever (not shown) attached to bar 16 and 0 connected to means 24 by rods or cables in sheaths, etc., is equally possible.

7 The mode of operation is as follows. Consider a disabled person, in a wheelchair, wishing to get on to a train in a station.

1) With platform 5 at ground level, the wheelchair is pushed by the carer, or moved by the disabled person, on to the platform and the wheelchair brakes applied.

2) The carer now goes to the rear of apparatus I and presses down on foot control means 24 to move it to the position shown in Fig 9, i.e. with second locking pins 28 engaged with wheels 6.

3) The carer now pulls the apparatus I straight backwards (because wheels 6 are locked together) via bar 16, so that wheels 6 cause drums 30 to rotate. Lifting straps 9 and 10 on each side of platform 5 are wound in together and platform 5 is lifted horizontally to the desired height.

4) When this height is reached, the carer stops pulling on bar 16 but holds bar 16 still and operates foot control 24 to disengage second locking pins 28 and re-engage first locking pins 26. Wheels 6 are now free to rotate independently.

5) Apparatus 1 may now be pushed forwards, and turned as required up to the door of the train where platform 5, which extends forward of the apparatus (Fig 2) can reached into the train. A small ramp (not shown) accommodates any Minor height difference between that of platform 5 and the floor of the train so that the wheelchair may be simply wheeled off into the train.

6) Lift 1 is now pulled backwards clear of the train.

7) To alight, the procedure is reversed.

8 The means of raising platform 5 by pulling lift I backwards requires a reasonable level of ffiction between ground 8 and wheels 6. Some railway concourses are finished with marble-like surfaces and there may not always be adequate ffiction. A further point is that a reasonable amount of physical effort is required to pull lift I backwards to raise platform 5 with a wheelchair and person thereon. Thus alternative lifting mechanisms may advantageously be provided. Fig 10 shows one alternative where the motive power is provided by electric motor 35 from rechargeable battery 40 via connection 39. A drive 37 ftom pinion 36 rotates gearwheel 38 which is fast with drum 30 around which webbing members 9 and 10 are attached. As shown in Fig 10, drum 30 is a sleeve around axle I I but may be a separate shaft or sleeve running along the width of rear frame 4.

Drive 37 is preferably a roller chain with pinion 36 and gear wheel 38 having appropriate sprockets. A roller chain will give a more positive drive than a V-belt which may stretch and slip. Battery 4 is preferably rechargeable via a mains plug (not shown). The relative sizes of pinion 36 and gear wheel 38 and the ratio of the circumferences of gear wheel 38 to that of drum 30, combine to give a significant step down ratio to provide the required mechanical advantage for motor 35 to raise a heavy load on platform 5. Locking means (not shown) may be provided either by the electrical system or mechanically acting on webbing 9 and 10.

A further alternative is shown in Fig 11. Here drum 30 extends the width of rear frame 4 at the upper joint with side members 13. A gear wheel 41, fast with drum 30 is operated via worm gear 42 and hand crank 43. Again a high ratio is provided so that the hand effort on handle 43 is minimised. Because such a high ratio is provided, the inherent friction may be sufficient to lock platform 5 at the desired height. If not, a locking means can be provided to prevent rotation of handle 43. As shown, hand crank 43 is placed at the top of fift 1 where it is convenient to use, i.e. without the necessity for bending.

M 9 The two alternatives shown in Figs 10 and 11 are other means by which the lifting operation may be accomplished. The man skilled in the art will be aware of other variations for accomplishing this lifting operation failing within the scope of the disclosure.

To improve the stability of platform 5 when being raised or lowered, guides (not shown) may be provided engaging with the vertical frame member(s). Such guides could also incorporate means to lock platform 5 to the vertical member(s) in the event of failure of a webbing strap, e.g. as used on lifts. Such locks could also be used as the 10 normal means of locking platform 5 at the desired height.

Fig 5 shows the detailed construction of side frames 2 and 3. They consists of two vertical members 12 and 14, one horizontal member 29 at the bottom and another 13 at the top. Diagonal bracing 15 is provided, with a pin joint 32 into member 13.

Members 12, 13, 14, 15 and 29 are preferably formed of hollow rectangular stainless steel tubes. Lifting straps 9 and 10 pass through the hollow centres of these tubes. Strap 9 passes up rear tube 14 and over the top, as shown in Fig 4. Where strap 9 goes over the edge of the top of tube 14, a rounded member is provided to act as a bearing surface so that strap 9 does not chafe against any sharp edges. Strap 10 passes similarly along bottom side tube 29 and up front side tube 12. Rounded bearing members are provided at the hinge joint between tubes 29 and 12 and at the top of tube 12. This arrangement greatly simplifies the construction of the apparatus and keeps the lifting straps clean, and out of the way so that they do not get snagged on sharp edges, etc.

Cables could be used instead of webbing straps, but would require pulleys of reasonable diameter to pass the cables round sharp radius comers. For this reason, webbing straps are preferred but cables are a possible alternative.

As shown in Fig 5, apparatus 1 is designed to be foldable. The folding procedure is as follows.- A) Top member 13 is unclipped 31 from member 12, unpinned 32 fi-om member 15 and rotated anti-clock-wise about hinge 33 to lie parallel to member 14.

B) Front member 12 is hinged downwards to lie on top of member 29. Strap 10 is folded as this action takes place.

C) Bracing member 15 is folded clockwise onto the top of member 12.

D) Rear tube 14 (and top member 13) are rotated clockwise about axle location 19 onto the top of bracing tube 15, as shown in Fig 6.

Conveniently a strap may be secured round the whole bundle to pern-fit easy handling if the lift is to be loaded onto the train as part of its equipment. An alternative use is that the lift will remain fully assembled on the platform for use on whichever train happens to arrive. The lift is reassembled following the above procedure in reverse.

In the above description, first 26 and second 28 pins provide the locking means in the two modes of operation of the lifting mechanism, which is a sliding sleeve arrangement. This is just one of a number of engineering options for both locking and lifting devices which could fulfil the same functions. Another is via gearing means and the man ski-1led in the art will know of other alternatives which are equally applicable, 25 all failing within the scope of the above invention.

ITC281 11

Claims (1)

1. What I claim is:-

   1 Lifting apparatus comprising..

   1) a platform, 2) a robust fi-ame, partly surrounding yet allowing access to said platform; 3) 4) wheels attached to said robust frame. a lifting member, one end of which is attached to said platform, operable to raise or lower said platform while maintaining it essentially horizontal; 5) a lifting mechanism, to which the other end of said lifting member is attached, having a first mode of operation in which said lifting mechanism or lifting member is locked so that said platform is fixed at a predetern-dned height and a second mode of operation in which the lifting mechanism is operable to raise, or lower, said platform; and 6) means to lock said lifting mechanism in either of its two modes of operation and to change between the one mode of operation and the other.

   2.

   Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, where a plurality of lifting members is provided.

   3. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein two lifting members are provided on each side of said platform.

   4. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheels are arranged in pairs.

   5, 6.

   Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one pair of wheels is steerable.

   Lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said platform is accessible by a wheelchair and its occupant.

   12 Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lifting mechanism is connected to the wheels so that moving the apparatus in a first direction causes said platform to be raised and moving the apparatus in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, causes said platform to be lowered.

   8. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said lifting mechanism consists of a sleeve co-axially located around an axle on which a pair of wheels is rotatably mounted.

   9. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein said co-axial sleeve is slidably located around said axle and rotationaIly connected to said axle.

   10. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claims 8 and 9 wherein said co-axial sleeve has two positions; a first position in which it is rigidly locked to said robust frame so that neither said sleeve nor said axle can rotate; and a second position in which it is rigidly locked to at least one wheel of said pair of wheels so that movement of said lifting apparatus causes said one wheel, said co-axial sleeve and said axle to rotate together as a single entity.

   11. Lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said lifting members are webbing straps.

   12. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein one end of said lifting member is attached to said platform and the other end is attached to said co- axial sleeve.

   Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the fifting members attached to one side of said platform are wound together round a single part of said coaxial sleeve.

   14. Lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, when said coaxial sleeve 13 is in its second position, wherein movement of the apparatus in a first direction causes said co-axial sleeve to rotate and wind in said lifting members thus raising said platform and wherein movement in a second direction, opposite to said first direction, causes said co-axial sleeve to rotate in the opposite sense thus lowenng said platform.

   15. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein a control means is provided to move said co-axial sleeve between its first and second positions and lock it in either the first or second position.

   16. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said control means is foot operated. 17. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein said control means is hand 15 operated. 18. Lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said robust frame is constructed wholly or partly of hollow tubular members. 20 19. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said hollow tubular members are square or rectangular in section. 20. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 18 wherein said lifting members are run inside said hollow tubular members. 25 21. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lifting mechanism is electrically powered.

   22. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the electrically powered mechanism is battery operated.

   Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 22 wherein the battery is rechargeable.

   14 24. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the lifting mechanism is driven by a hand cranked means.

   25. Lifting apparatus as claimed in claims 21 to 24 wherein means are provided to lock the platform at a predetermined height 26. Lifting means as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means to lock the platform at a predetermined height is incorporated in guides between said platform and structural members forming a part of said robust frame.

   27, Lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said robust frame is foldable.

   28. Lifting apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said apparatus is part of the onboard equipment of a vehicle.

   29. Lifting apparatus as described by the above description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

   ITC281