Platform lift with enhanced occupant sensing, platform lifting and locking

12167,986

17/191544

March 03, 2021

A lift for a vehicle includes a platform configured to support an occupant thereon, a parallelogram mechanism to move the platform between a stowed position and a deployed position, a base to mount the parallelogram mechanism to a vehicle floor, a hydraulic system to move the platform through the parallelogram mechanism, a mechanism to fold and unfold the platform, an occupant retention device, a control unit to control a movement of the platform. The occupant retention device can include any one of a belt, a bridgeplate and a roll stop. The lift can also include a platform movement control device that can be provided as an acoustic sensor array, a bridgeplate lock and a platform stow lock. A light assembly can be mounted on the platform as a visual warning of the platform operation. The power connection to the control unit can include an encapsulated decouplable power interface.

MPOWER MOBILITY, INC. (Tarzana, CA, US)

1. A lift for a vehicle, said lift comprising: a platform configured to support an occupant thereon; a parallelogram mechanism to move the platform between a stowed position and a deployed position, the parallelogram mechanism comprising two lower arms, two upper arms, two vertical arms and two cylinders, each cylinder is in a first pivotal connection with a respective lower arm and in a second pivotal connection with a respective upper arm; a base to mount the parallelogram mechanism to a vehicle floor; a control assembly comprising a control enclosure and a hydraulic system to move the platform through the parallelogram mechanism; and a platform lock integrated with the control assembly, said platform lock at least including: an arm pivotally attachable to an exterior wall surface of the control enclosure, the arm comprising: an angled edge surface configured to contact a target and pivot an arm in a first direction in a response to a contact with the target, and an edge notch configured to receive the target therewithin, a lock actuator mountable on an interior wall surface of the control enclosure; a pivotal connection between a movable portion of the lock actuator and the arm, and a tension spring having one end connectable to the arm and having another end connectable to the exterior wall surface of the control enclosure, the lock actuator operable to move the arm, in the first direction, into an unlock position to disengage the target, the tension spring configured to return the arm, in an opposite direction, into a locked position.

2. The lift of claim 1 , further comprising an electrical power connector, said electrical power connector defining an encapsulated decouplable power interface between the control enclosure and an external source of electric energy.

3. The lift of claim 1 , further comprising a light assembly, said light assembly being mounted on a side barrier of said platform.

4. The lift of claim 3 , wherein said light assembly comprises: a housing, the housing at least including a cavity along a length of the housing, a hollow interior and two side grooves along the length of the housing, each side groove from the two side grooves being disposed within one side surface of the housing; two light emitting diode (LED) strips, each LED strip being sized and shaped to fit into a respective side groove, the two LED strips illuminate both sides of the housing in a response to being coupled to a source of electric power; a load bearing ground contact; and two end caps, each end cap having an abutment sized and shaped to fit into the hollow interior, the each end cap terminating a respective end of the housing.

5. The lift of claim 1 , further comprising a roll stop pivotally attached to one end of the platform.

6. The lift of claim 1 , further comprising a replaceable load bearing ground contact device on each vertical arm.

7. A lift platform lock, comprising: an actuator comprising a movable portion being configured to move in a linear direction; a first arm, the first arm mounted in a pivotal connection with each of the actuator and a stationary member; a second arm with a hook-shaped portion, the second arm being fastened to the first arm, the second arm configured to move linearly along a length of the first arm and to pivot with the first arm; and a spring, the spring connected to each of the second arm and the stationary member; the actuator operable to pivot the second arm through the first arm into an unlock position; the spring operable to pivot the second arm into a lock position; the hook-shaped portion configured to engage a target on a platform in the lock position; the hook-shaped portion configured to disengage the target in the unlock position.

8. The lift platform lock of claim 7 , wherein the stationary member comprises a control enclosure in a control assembly of a lift, the control assembly further comprising a hydraulic system to move the platform through a parallelogram mechanism.

9. The lift platform lock of claim 7 , wherein the stationary member comprises a control enclosure in a control assembly of a lift, the control enclosure containing hydraulic components which are configured to move the platform between stow and deployed positions, the actuator further comprising a stationary portion mountable to an interior wall surface of the control enclosure.

10. A stow lock assembly for a lift for a vehicle, the vehicle comprising a control assembly with a control enclosure and a hydraulic system to move a platform through a parallelogram mechanism, the stow lock assembly comprising: an arm pivotally attachable to an exterior wall surface of the control enclosure, the arm comprising: an angled edge surface configured to contact a target and pivot an arm in a first direction in a response to a contact with the target, and an edge notch configured to receive the target therewithin; a lock actuator with a movable portion and a stationary portion, the stationary portion attachable to an interior wall surface of the control enclosure; a pivotal connection between the movable portion and the arm; and a tension spring having one end connectable to the arm and having another end connectable to the exterior wall surface of the control enclosure; the lock actuator operable to pivot the arm into an unlock position; the tension spring configured to return the arm into a locked position.

11. The stow lock assembly of claim 10 , further comprising a lift platform and a bridgeplate pivotally attached to one end of the lift platform.

12. The stow lock assembly of claim 11 , further comprising a tension overload annunciation device installed within one lower arm, the tension overload annunciation device at least including: a hollow housing disposed for a movement within the one lower arm, the hollow housing having a connection with one end of a respective cable; a spring, the spring being seated, at one end, on a pivot between the one lower arm and a respective vertical arm, the spring resting against an exterior wall surface of the hollow housing, a switch mounted stationary within the one lower arm and within the hollow housing, the switch being independent from the movement of the hollow housing; and a switch target being mounted with the hollow housing for the movement therewith; the switch operable by the switch target to generate an output signal in a response to a cable being overloaded due to a load on the lift platform.

13. A lift for a vehicle, said lift comprising: a platform configured to support an occupant thereon; a parallelogram mechanism to move the platform between a stowed position and a deployed position, the parallelogram mechanism comprising two lower arms, two upper arms, two vertical arms and two cylinders, each cylinder is in a first pivotal connection with a respective lower arm and in a second pivotal connection with a respective upper arm; a base to mount the parallelogram mechanism to a vehicle floor; a control assembly comprising a control enclosure and a hydraulic system to move the platform through the parallelogram mechanism; and a platform lock integrated with the control assembly, the platform lock at least including: a first arm, said first arm having a first end, a second end spaced apart from said first end along a length of said first arm, a first elongated slot through a thickness of said first arm between first and second ends, a length of said first elongated slot aligned normal to said length of said first arm, a first connection, said first connection being between said first end and a vertically disposed wall of the control enclosure, said first connection configured to allow a pivotal movement of said first arm about the vertically disposed wall, said first connection comprising a first aperture through said thickness of said first arm adjacent said first end thereof, a second aperture though a thickness of the vertically disposed wall and a fastener passing through first and second apertures, a second arm, said second arm having a first end, a second end spaced apart from said first end of said second arm along a length of said second arm, a spring seat upstanding on a first edge of said second arm adjacent said first end of said second arm, a first edge notch in said second arm between first and second ends of the second arm, said first edge notch sized and shaped to allow access to said first elongated slot, a second edge notch in said second arm and a taper in said second end of said second arm, said taper and said second edge notch defining a hook-shaped portion of said second arm, a second connection, said second connection being between said first arm and said second arm so that said second arm pivots with said first arm, said second connection configured to move said second arm along a length of said first arm, said second connection comprising two third apertures through said thickness of said first arm between said first and second ends thereof, two second elongated slots through a thickness of said second arm between said first and second ends of said second arm, a length of each second elongated slot aligned along said length of said first arm, each second elongated slot is aligned, during use, with a respective third aperture in said first arm, and fasteners fastening said second arm to said first arm at said each second elongated slot aligned with said respective third aperture, an actuator, said actuator having a stationary portion affixed to the vertically disposed wall and a movable portion disposed for a linear movement in a vertical direction, a third connection, said third connection being between a free end of said movable portion and said first end of said first arm, said third connection comprising a link pivotally coupled to said free end of said movable portion and to a flange on said first end of said first arm, and a tension spring, said tension spring having a first end attached to a spring seat on said second arm and having an opposite second end attached to a spring seat on the vertically disposed wall, said actuator, in a response to being energized, moves said movable portion in an upward direction and pivots said first arm and said second arm, at said first connection about the vertically disposed wall in said upward direction, into an unlock position, said tension spring configured to pivot said first arm and said second arm in a downward direction into a lock position in a response to said actuator being deenergized, said hook-shaped portion configured to selectively engage a target on the platform in said lock position and disengages the target in said unlock position, said platform being prevented from a movement when said hook-shaped portion selectively engages said target.

14. A lift for a vehicle, said lift comprising: a platform configured to support an occupant thereon; a parallelogram mechanism to move the platform between a stowed and a deployed position, the parallelogram mechanism comprising two lower arms, two upper arms, two vertical arms and two cylinders, each cylinder is in a first pivotal connection with a respective lower arm and in a second pivotal connection with a respective upper arm; a base to mount the parallelogram mechanism to a vehicle floor; a control assembly comprising a control enclosure and a hydraulic system to move the platform through the parallelogram mechanism; and a platform lock integrated with the control assembly, the platform lock at least including: an actuator comprising a movable portion being configured to move in a linear direction, a first arm, said first arm mounted in a pivotal connection with each of said actuator and the control enclosure, a second arm with a hook-shaped portion, said second arm being fastened to said first arm, said second arm configured to move linearly along a length of said first arm and to pivot with said first arm, and a spring, said spring connected to each of said second arm and the control enclosure, said actuator operable to pivot first and second arms upwardly into an unlock position, said spring operable to pivot said first and second arms downwardly into a lock position, said hook-shaped portion configured to selectively engage a target on a platform in said lock position and disengages the target in said unlock position, said platform being prevented from a movement in a response to said hook-shaped portion selectively engaging said target.

15. A lift for a vehicle, said lift comprising: a platform configured to support an occupant thereon; a parallelogram mechanism to move the platform between a stowed position and a deployed position, the parallelogram mechanism comprising two lower arms, two upper arms, two vertical arms and two cylinders, each cylinder is in a first pivotal connection with a respective lower arm and in a second pivotal connection with a respective upper arm; a base to mount the parallelogram mechanism to a vehicle floor; a control assembly comprising a control enclosure and a hydraulic system to move the platform through the parallelogram mechanism; a platform lock integrated with the control assembly; a bridgeplate pivotally attached to one end of the platform; a cam-shaped edge surface on each end of the bridgeplate; two arms, each arm from the two arms being pivotally mounted to the platform, the two arms being rigidly connected therebetween so that the two arms substantially rotate in unison with each other; two cables, each cable from the two cables having one end connected to a respective arm and having an opposite end connected to a respective lower arm of the parallelogram mechanism; and a cam operated mechanism, the cam operated mechanism configured to pull the two cables as the platform is being lowered, through the parallelogram mechanism, from a floor level position; the each cable configured to pull against the respective arm, as the platform is being lowered from the floor level position and raising the respective arm against the cam-shaped edge surface into a generally vertical barrier position.

16. The lift of claim 15 , wherein the cam operated mechanism comprises: two other arms, each other arm is mounted stationary on one end of the base, the each other arm comprises another cam-shaped edge surface having an upwardly disposed straight edge surface portion, an upwardly disposed concave edge surface portion and a riser, the riser connecting the upwardly disposed straight edge surface portion with the upwardly disposed concave edge surface portion; an extension on each lower arm in the parallelogram mechanism, the extension extending outwardly from a pivotal connection between the each lower arm and a stationary end of a respective cylinder; and two movable links, each movable link comprising a Z-shaped body, a roller mounted for a rotation on one end of the each movable link, a sheave mounted on an opposite end of the each movable link, and a third pivotal connection between a respective extension and mediate ends of the sheave; the roller rotatable on the another cam-shaped edge surface.

17. The lift of claim 15 , further comprising a bridgeplate and threshold area monitoring system.

18. The lift of claim 17 , wherein the bridgeplate and threshold area monitoring system comprises a first sensor array and a second sensor array.

19. The lift of claim 15 , further comprising a bridgeplate and threshold safety warning system.

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