Vehicle ramp assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10695240-B2
Application number	US-201716342405-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 19, 2017
Priority date	Oct 21, 2016
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

A vehicle ramp assembly as disclosed includes a ramp for supporting one or more wheels of a vehicle and providing a bridge over stepped terrain on which the wheels of the vehicle can travel. The ramp can move among a first configuration where the ramp is stowed in the ramp assembly, a second configuration where the ramp extends from the ramp assembly, and a third configuration where the ramp is supports the vehicle wheels as it travels over stepped terrain. A drive mechanism for the ramp, and a carriage coupling the drive mechanism to the ramp enable rotation of the ramp. A secondary actuation system enables linear movement of the carriage along the ramp. A control module can drive the carriage around a curvilinear loop, such that the ramp is driven in a cycle from the first configuration to the second configuration to the third configuration to the first configuration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A ramp assembly for a vehicle, the ramp assembly comprising:
a ramp for supporting one or more wheels of a vehicle and providing a bridge over stepped terrain on which the wheels of the vehicle can travel, wherein the ramp is configured to be movable between a first configuration in which the ramp is stowed in the ramp assembly, a second configuration in which the ramp extends from the ramp assembly, and a third configuration in which the ramp is arranged to support the wheels of the vehicle as it travels over the stepped terrain;
a drive mechanism for driving motion of the ramp with a conveyor belt and one or more drive gears for driving the conveyor belt;
a carriage coupling the conveyor belt to the ramp, the carriage having a primary actuation system to enable rotation of the ramp about a pivot, and a secondary actuation system to enable linear movement of the carriage along the ramp; and
a control module for controlling the drive mechanism and the carriage such that a point of coupling of the carriage to the conveyor belt will be driven around a curvilinear loop and the ramp is configured to be driven in a cycle from the first configuration to the second configuration to the third configuration to the first configuration.

2. A ramp assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism comprises:
a guide track arranged around the conveyor belt and configured to support the carriage as it is driven around the curvilinear loop.

3. A ramp assembly according to claim 1 , comprising:
a carriage locking mechanism for locking a position of the carriage on the curvilinear loop by locking the position of the carriage with respect to the drive mechanism.

4. A ramp assembly according to claim 1 , comprising:
a ramp locking mechanism for locking a position of the ramp with respect to the carriage.

5. A ramp assembly according to claim 1 , comprising:
sensing means for sensing stepped terrain, wherein the control module is configured to control the drive mechanism and the carriage in accordance with information received from the sensing means such that the ramp assembly will enable a vehicle to travel over the stepped terrain on the ramp.

6. A ramp assembly according to claim 5 , wherein the carriage comprises:
a rotary drive means for driving rotation of the ramp about a rotation axis of the rotary drive means when the carriage is positioned towards an end of the ramp, and the control means is configured to control the rotary drive means to control an angle of rotation of the ramp.

7. A ramp assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the ramp is telescopic, and the control module is configured to control extension of the ramp in accordance with information received from the sensing means and the angle of rotation of the ramp.

8. A ramp assembly according to claim 1 , in combination with a vehicle, wherein the ramp comprises:
two or more elongate portions, each elongate portion being arranged to support a respective one or more wheels of the vehicle.

9. A ramp assembly according to claim 1 , comprising:
a plurality of wheels, the ramp assembly being arranged in a space surrounded by the plurality of wheels.

10. A wheeled vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis; and
the ramp assembly of claim 1 .

11. A wheeled vehicle according to claim 10 , which is a wheelchair, wherein the first configuration is such that the ramp is positioned above the wheels of the wheelchair.

12. A wheeled vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the control module is configured to suspend operation of the drive mechanism when the ramp is in the third configuration and the wheelchair is driven over stepped terrain on the ramp, and the secondary actuation system is configured to be driven by the driving of the wheelchair to move the carriage from the front of the ramp to the rear of the ramp;
wherein after the wheelchair has travelled over the ramp, the ramp is arranged to extend to a rear of the wheelchair, and the control module is configured to reactivate control of the drive mechanism to drive the ramp to the first configuration.

13. A wheeled vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the control module is configured to control the drive mechanism to drive the wheelchair on the ramp.

14. A ramp assembly for a vehicle, the ramp assembly comprising:
a ramp for supporting one or more wheels of a vehicle and providing a bridge over stepped terrain on which the wheels of the vehicle can travel, wherein the ramp is arranged to be movable between a first configuration in which the ramp is stowed in the ramp assembly, a second configuration in which the ramp extends from the ramp assembly, and a third configuration in which the ramp is arranged to support the wheels of the vehicle as it travels over the stepped terrain;
a drive mechanism for driving motion of the ramp with a rack and pinion system;
a carriage coupling the drive mechanism to the ramp, wherein the rack is a looped guide track arranged to support the carriage, and the carriage is coupled to the pinion mounted on the rack, the carriage having a primary actuation system to enable rotation of the ramp about a pivot, and a secondary actuation system to enable linear movement of the carriage along the ramp; and
a control module for controlling the drive mechanism and the carriage such that the pinion will be driven along the rack around a curvilinear loop and the ramp is configured to be driven in a cycle from the first configuration to the second configuration to the third configuration to the first configuration.

15. A ramp assembly according to claim 14 , comprising:
a carriage locking mechanism for locking a position of the carriage on the curvilinear loop by locking the position of the carriage with respect to the drive mechanism.

16. A ramp assembly according to claim 14 , comprising:
a ramp locking mechanism for locking a position of the ramp with respect to the carriage.

17. A ramp assembly according to claim 14 , comprising:
sensing means for sensing stepped terrain, wherein the control module is configured to control the drive mechanism and the carriage in accordance with information received from the sensing means such that the ramp assembly will enable a vehicle to travel over the stepped terrain on the ramp.

18. A ramp assembly according to claim 14 , in combination with a vehicle, wherein the ramp comprises:
two or more elongate portions, each elongate portion being arranged to support a respective one or more wheels of the vehicle.

19. A ramp assembly according to claim 14 , comprising:
a plurality of wheels, the ramp assembly being arranged in a space surrounded by the plurality of wheels.

20. A wheeled vehicle comprising:
a vehicle chassis; and
the ramp assembly of claim 14 .

Assignees

• Airbus Defence & Space Ltd

Inventors

• Garland Martin
• Lines David
• Lachat Daisy
• Remion Jo

Classifications

• A61G3/061

  using ramps · CPC title

• A61G5/06

  with obstacle mounting facilities, e.g. for climbing stairs, {kerbs or steps} · CPC title

• A61G5/066 Primary

  with endless belts · CPC title

• A61G5/061 Primary

  for climbing stairs · CPC title

• A61G3/062

  using lifts connected to the vehicle · CPC title