Loading system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10898396-B2
Application number	US-201816191001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Jan 26, 2021
Grant date	Jan 26, 2021

Abstract

A loading system for loading a wheelchair into a rear loading space of a vehicle includes at least one loading device disposable on the vehicle. The loading system has at least one first coupling unit disposable on a rear side of a backrest of the wheelchair and fixable to the wheelchair. The loading device has at least one second coupling unit capable of being coupled to the first coupling unit, at least one telescopic loading arm which at an end portion is connected to the coupling unit pivotable about a free pivot axis, and at least one pivot bearing fastenable to a front side end portion of the loading space, by which a pivot bearing the loading arm at another end portion is connected pivotable about a locationally-fixed pivot axis that runs parallel with and spaced apart from the free pivot axis transverse to a vehicle longitudinal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A loading system for loading a wheelchair into a rear loading space of a vehicle and for loading the wheelchair from the loading space, comprising:
at least one first coupling unit disposed on a rear side of a backrest of the wheelchair and fixable to the wheelchair; and
at least one loading device disposed on the vehicle, including
at least one second coupling unit configured to couple to the first coupling unit,
at least one telescopic loading arm disposed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle and, by way of an end portion, is connected to the second coupling unit to pivot about a free pivot axis in a transverse direction of the vehicle, and
at least one pivot bearing configured to fasten to a front side end portion of the loading space, by way of which the loading arm is connected to pivot about a locationally-fixed pivot axis that runs parallel with the free pivot axis in the transverse direction and longitudinally spaced apart from the free pivot axis; and
an actuating unit connected to the loading coupling unit at a first end, and to the loading arm via a bearing member that is guided so as to be displaceable within the loading arm at a second end,
wherein a travel direction of the vehicle defines the longitudinal direction,
wherein the telescopic loading arm disposed includes:
a rear arm element connected to the end portion of a loading coupling unit to pivot about the free pivot axis,
a front arm element having a first slot and connected to the pivot bearing, and
a middle arm element retractably connected between the rear arm element and the front arm element, the middle arm element having a second slot overlapping with the first slot,
wherein the bearing member is configured to slide through the first slot and second slot.

2. The loading system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the loading arm is connected to pivot to an end portion of the second coupling unit, the end portion in relation to a vertically-aligned coupling position of the second coupling unit disposed on a floor of the vehicle.

3. The loading system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pivot bearing has at least two bearing units that are disposable onto mutually opposite end portions of the loading space and fastenable to the vehicle, and at least one axle that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is mounted on the bearing units, the loading arm being connected to the axle.

4. The loading system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the loading device has at least one actuator for telescoping the loading arm, the actuator being disposed within the loading arm.

5. The loading system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the loading device has at least one actuation electronics system which is configured to actuate the at least one activation unit, the actuator, and the actuating unit in such a manner that the loading arm for loading the electric wheelchair into the loading space is deployed, the second coupling unit simultaneously, in a temporally-overlapping manner, or thereafter, is pivoted to a vertical coupling position, the second coupling unit then is transferred to a coupling state in which the second coupling unit is capable of being coupled to the first coupling unit, the second coupling unit then is pivoted in the direction of the loading space, and the loading arm finally is retracted.

6. The loading system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the loading device is configured to be electro-hydraulic.

7. A wheelchair loading system for a vehicle, comprising:
a loading coupling unit configured to couple to a backrest of a wheelchair;
a telescopic loading arm disposed in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and connected to an end portion of a loading coupling unit to pivot about a free pivot axis in a transverse direction of the vehicle;
a pivot bearing fastened to a front side of a vehicle loading space connected to the loading arm to pivot about a locationally-fixed pivot axis parallel with the free pivot axis in the transverse direction, and longitudinally spaced apart from the free pivot axis; and
an actuating unit connected to the loading coupling unit at a first end, and to the loading arm via a bearing member that is guided so as to be displaceable within the loading arm at a second end,
wherein a travel direction of the vehicle defines the longitudinal direction,
wherein the telescopic loading arm disposed includes:
a rear arm element connected to the end portion of a loading coupling unit to pivot about the free pivot axis,
a front arm element having a first slot and connected to the pivot bearing, and
a middle arm element retractably connected between the rear arm element and the front arm element, the middle arm element having a second slot overlapping with the first slot,
wherein the bearing member is configured to slide through the first slot and second slot.

8. The system as claimed in claim 7 , further comprising a wheelchair coupling unit disposed on a rear side of a backrest of the wheelchair and fixable to the wheelchair, configured to couple to the loading coupling unit.

9. The system as claimed in claim 8 , further comprising an activation unit configured to:
transfer from an uncoupling state in which the loading coupling unit is incapable of being coupled to the wheelchair coupling unit to a coupling state in which the loading coupling unit is capable of being coupled to the wheelchair coupling unit; and
transfer from the coupling state in which the loading coupling unit is capable of being coupled to the wheelchair coupling unit to the uncoupling state in which the loading coupling unit is incapable of being coupled to the wheelchair coupling unit.

10. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the pivot bearing comprises at least two bearing units that are disposable onto mutually opposite end portions of the loading space and fastenable to the vehicle, and at least one axle that runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is mounted on the bearing units, the loading arm being connected to the axle.

11. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the loading system comprises at least one actuator for telescoping the loading arm, the actuator being disposed within the loading arm.

12. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the loading system comprises is configured to be electro-hydraulic.

13. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the loading coupling unit comprises at least two elements disposed to be adjustable relative to one another.

14. The system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the loading coupling unit comprises at least one electrical signaling unit.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Celis Robin
• De Wael Berten
• Keyken Nico

Classifications

• A61G3/0209 Primary

  with storage means for unused wheelchair or stretcher · CPC title

• B60P3/00

  Vehicles adapted to transport, to carry or to comprise special loads or objects (ambulances or other vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00; hearses A61G21/00; fire-fighting land vehicles A62C27/00; refuse-collecting vehicles B65F3/00, B65F7/00; snow-removing vehicles E01H; armoured or armed vehicles F41H7/00; self-propelled mine-clearing vehicles F41H11/16) · CPC title

• A61G3/062

  using lifts connected to the vehicle · CPC title

• Y10S414/134

  Handicapped person handling · CPC title

• A61G3/0808 Primary

  Accommodating or securing wheelchairs · CPC title