IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0573050
(2012-08-16)
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등록번호 |
US-8668217
(2014-03-11)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Ziaylek, Michael P.
- McGinty, W. Brian
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출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
10 인용 특허 :
55 |
초록
▼
An automatically deployable step apparatus particularly usable with vehicle such as a fire truck having a passenger compartment at substantial distance from the surrounding environmental surface which provides powered movement between a deployed position and a retracted position and can be mounted i
An automatically deployable step apparatus particularly usable with vehicle such as a fire truck having a passenger compartment at substantial distance from the surrounding environmental surface which provides powered movement between a deployed position and a retracted position and can be mounted in a relatively small restricted area in order to avoid interference with a truck cab which tilted to provide engine access, said apparatus utilizing a unique over-center locking mechanism to provide secure locking of the step in the deployed position while maintaining an apparatus having limited overall dimensions. A unique linkage system is provided for facilitating accurately powered automated movement.
대표청구항
▼
1. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle which comprises: A. a main housing bracket attachable to a vehicle to facilitate access thereinto, said main housing bracket including a main housing plate which defines an upper surface and a lower surface facing away from
1. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle which comprises: A. a main housing bracket attachable to a vehicle to facilitate access thereinto, said main housing bracket including a main housing plate which defines an upper surface and a lower surface facing away from one another, said main housing plate defining a position control slot therein;B. a driven arm assembly pivotally attached to said main housing plate and movable with respect thereto between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outwardly therefrom, said driven arm assembly including a driven arm cross member;C. a free arm assembly pivotally attached to said main housing plate and movable with respect thereto between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outwardly therefrom;D. a step plate pivotally attached to said driven arm assembly to be movable therewith between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outward therefrom, said step plate also being pivotally attached to said free arm assembly to be movable therewith between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outward therefrom, said step plate being oriented approximately horizontally responsive to being in the deployed position;E. a drive means operatively connected to said driven arm assembly for powering movement thereof between said retracted position and said deployed position;F. drive control linkage operatively attached to said drive means and to said driven arm assembly and moveable between a retracted and extended position to control movement of said driven arm assembly, said free arm assembly and said step plate between the respective retracted and deployed positions thereof; andG. a linkage position control assembly attached with respect to said drive control linkage and moveably attached to said main housing plate for maintaining limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage, said linkage position control assembly including a position control stud secured to said drive control linkage and extending through said position control slot to be moveable therewithin to allow operative movement of said drive control linkage while maintaining limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage. 2. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said linkage position control assembly includes: A. an upper position control washer positioned extending around said position control stud in slideable abutment with respect to said upper surface of said main housing plate; andB. a lower position control washer positioned extending around said position control stud in slideable abutment with respect to said lower surface of said main housing plate, said main housing plate being maintained in a position between said upper position control washer and said lower position control washer which are moveable along with said position control stud along said position control slot to facilitate maintaining of limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage. 3. A automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive means further includes drive output rod operative attached to said drive control linkage, said drive output rod being moveable longitudinally to an extended position to power movement of said drive control linkage and said step plate to the deployed position and being moveable longitudinally to a retracted position to power movement of said drive control linkage and said step plate to the retracted position. 4. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 3 wherein said drive control linkage includes: A. an output arm pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate and movably secured with respect to said drive output rod;B. an intermediate link pivotally attached with respect to said output aim at a position thereon spatially disposed from said drive output rod with said output arm being pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate at a position thereon located between said intermediate link and said output arm;C. an intermediate coupling member moveably attached to said intermediate link at a location thereon spatially disposed from said output arm;D. an outer locking lever assembly pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate, said outer locking lever assembly including: (1) a first outer locking lever pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate, said first outer locking lever defining a first outer locking lever abutment surface thereon;(2) a second outer locking lever pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate at a location spatially disposed from said first outer locking lever, said second outer locking lever defining a second outer locking lever abutment surface thereon;(3) a linking pin extending through said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever, said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever being pivotally moveably mounted with respect to said linking pin;(4) an inner locking lever being pivotally mounted with respect to said intermediate coupling member to be moveable therewith and also pivotally moveably mounted with respect to said linking pin, said inner locking lever defining an inner locking lever abutment surface adapted to be moveable into abutting contact with said intermediate coupling member, said inner locking lever abutment surface and said first outer locking lever abutment surface and said second outer locking lever abutment surface each being moveable approximately into abutting engagement with said driven arm cross member responsive to movement of said drive control linkage to the extended position thereof to facilitate locking of said step plate in the deployed position; and(5) a driven cross member drive link assembly pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member to facilitate powering of movement of said driven arm assembly between the deployed and retracted position thereof. 5. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said driven cross member drive link assembly includes: A. a first driven cross member link pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member; andB. a second driven cross member link pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin at a position spatially disposed from said first driven cross member link and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member. 6. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 5 wherein said first driven cross member link is positioned between said first outer locking lever and said inner locking lever and wherein said second driven cross member link is positioned between said second outer locking lever and said inner locking lever. 7. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 6 wherein said inner locking lever is positioned between said first driven cross member link and said second driven cross member link. 8. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said drive control linkage includes a housing pivot bracket fixedly secured to said lower surface of said main housing plate and extending outwardly away therefrom and wherein said output arm is pivotally moveably attached to said housing pivot bracket and said main housing bracket at a position located therebetween to facilitate pivotal movement of said output arm with respect to said main housing plate. 9. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 8 wherein said housing pivot bracket includes a housing bracket pin positioned extending through said output arm and through said main housing plate to facilitate pivotal movement of said output arm with respect to said housing plate. 10. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein the pivotal attachment of said intermediate link with respect to said intermediate coupling member is oriented perpendicularly with respect to the pivotal attachment of said inner locking lever with respect to said intermediate coupling member and spatially disposed with respect thereto. 11. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 4 wherein said main housing bracket includes a housing drive boss assembly comprising: A. a first housing drive control boss member mounted upon said lower surface of said main housing plate and extending outwardly therefrom, said first housing drive control boss member defining a first housing drive control boss hole extending therethrough;B. a second housing drive control boss member mounted upon said lower surface of said main housing plate at a position spatially disposed from said first housing drive control boss member and extending outwardly from said lower surface, said second housing drive control boss member defining a second housing drive control boss hole extending therethrough; andC. a housing drive pin positioned extending through said first housing drive control boss hole and through said second drive control boss hole, said housing drive pin also extending through said first outer locking lever and through said second outer locking lever to facilitate pivotal movement thereof and attachment thereof with respect to said lower surface of said main housing plate. 12. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 11 wherein said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever are each positioned spatially disposed from one another and between said first housing drive control boss member and said second housing drive control boss member. 13. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 11 wherein movement of said drive control linkage from the retracted position to the extended position caused movement of said linking pin to an overcenter position beyond a plane defined by said housing drive pin and said driven arm cross member. 14. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said driven arm assembly includes: A. a first driven arm member pivotally attached with respect to said main housing plate; andB. a second driven arm member pivotally attached with respect to said main housing plate at a position spatially disposed from said first driven arm member, said driven arm cross member fixedly secure to said first driven arm member and said second driven arm member to coordinate simultaneous driven movement thereof. 15. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 1 wherein said free arm assembly includes: A. a first free arm member pivotally attached with respect to said main housing plate; andB. a second free arm member pivotally attached with respect to said main housing plate at a position spatially disposed from said first free arm member; andC. a free arm cross member fixedly secure to said first free arm member and said second free arm member to coordinate simultaneous movement thereof. 16. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle as defined in claim 15 wherein said driven arm assembly is positioned between said first free arm member and said second free arm member of said free arm assembly. 17. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle which comprises: A. a main housing bracket attachable to a vehicle to facilitate access thereinto, said main housing bracket including a main housing plate which defines an upper surface and a lower surface facing away from one another;B. a driven arm assembly pivotally attached to said main housing plate and movable with respect thereto between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outwardly therefrom, said driven arm assembly including a driven arm cross member;C. a free arm assembly pivotally attached to said main housing plate and movable with respect thereto between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outwardly therefrom;D. a step plate pivotally attached to said driven arm assembly to be movable therewith between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outward therefrom, said step plate also being pivotally attached to said free arm assembly to be movable therewith between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outward therefrom, said step plate being oriented approximately horizontally responsive to being in the deployed position;E. a drive means operatively connected to said driven arm assembly for powering movement thereof between said retracted position and said deployed position, said drive means further includes drive output rod which is moveable longitudinally to an extended position to power movement of said step plate to the deployed position and being moveable longitudinally to a retracted position to power movement of said step plate to the retracted position;F. drive control linkage operatively attached to said drive output rod of said drive means and to said driven arm assembly and moveable between a retracted and extended position to control movement of said driven arm assembly, said free arm assembly and said step plate between the respective retracted and deployed positions thereof, said drive control linkage includes:(1) an output arm pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate and movably secured with respect to said drive output rod;(2) an intermediate link pivotally attached with respect to said output arm at a position thereon spatially disposed from said drive output rod with said output arm being pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate at a position thereon located between said intermediate link and said output arm;(3) an intermediate coupling member moveably attached to said intermediate link at a location thereon spatially disposed from said output arm;(4) an outer locking lever assembly pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate, said outer locking lever assembly including: (a) a first outer locking lever pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate, said first outer locking lever defining a first outer locking lever abutment surface thereon;(b) a second outer locking lever pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate at a location spatially disposed from said first outer locking lever, said second outer locking lever defining a second outer locking lever abutment surface thereon;(c) a linking pin extending through said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever, said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever being pivotally moveably mounted with respect to said linking pin;(d) an inner locking lever being pivotally mounted with respect to said intermediate coupling member to be moveable therewith and also pivotally moveably mounted with respect to said linking pin, said inner locking lever defining an inner locking lever abutment surface adapted to be moveable into abutting contact with said intermediate coupling member, said inner locking lever abutment surface and said first outer locking lever abutment surface and said second outer locking lever abutment surface each being moveable approximately into abutting engagement with said driven arm cross member responsive to movement of said drive control linkage to the extended position thereof to facilitate locking of said step plate in the deployed position;(e) a driven cross member drive link assembly pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member to facilitate powering of movement of said driven arm assembly between the deployed and retracted position thereof; andG. a linkage position control assembly attached with respect to said drive control linkage and moveably attached to said main housing plate for maintaining limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage. 18. An automated retractable step apparatus to facilitate access to a vehicle which comprises: A. a main housing bracket attachable to a vehicle to facilitate access thereinto, said main housing bracket including a main housing plate which defines an upper surface and a lower surface facing away from one another, said main housing plate defining a position control slot therein;B. a driven arm assembly pivotally attached to said main housing plate and movable with respect thereto between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outwardly therefrom, said driven arm assembly including a driven arm cross member;C. a free arm assembly pivotally attached to said main housing plate and movable with respect thereto between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outwardly therefrom;D. a step plate pivotally attached to said driven arm assembly to be movable therewith between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outward therefrom, said step plate also being pivotally attached to said free arm assembly to be movable therewith between a retracted position adjacent said lower surface of said main housing plate and a deployed position extending outward therefrom, said step plate being oriented approximately horizontally responsive to being in the deployed position;E. a drive means operatively connected to said driven arm assembly for powering movement thereof between said retracted position and said deployed position, said drive means further includes drive output rod which is moveable longitudinally to an extended position to power movement of said step plate to the deployed position and being moveable longitudinally to a retracted position to power movement of said step plate to the retracted position;F. drive control linkage operatively attached to said drive output rod of said drive means and to said driven arm assembly and moveable between a retracted and extended position to control movement of said driven arm assembly, said free arm assembly and said step plate between the respective retracted and deployed positions thereof, said drive control linkage includes: (1) an output arm pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate and movably secured with respect to said drive output rod;(2) an intermediate link pivotally attached with respect to said output arm at a position thereon spatially disposed from said drive output rod with said output arm being pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate at a position thereon located between said intermediate link and said output arm;(3) an intermediate coupling member moveably attached to said intermediate link at a location thereon spatially disposed from said output arm;(4) an outer locking lever assembly pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate, said outer locking lever assembly including: (a) a first outer locking lever pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate, said first outer locking lever defining a first outer locking lever abutment surface thereon;(b) a second outer locking lever pivotally mounted with respect to said main housing plate at a location spatially disposed from said first outer locking lever, said second outer locking lever defining a second outer locking lever abutment surface thereon;(c) a linking pin extending through said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever, said first outer locking lever and said second outer locking lever being pivotally moveably mounted with respect to said linking pin;(d) an inner locking lever being pivotally mounted with respect to said intermediate coupling member to be moveable therewith and also pivotally moveably mounted with respect to said linking pin, said inner locking lever defining an inner locking lever abutment surface adapted to be moveable into abutting contact with said intermediate coupling member, said inner locking lever abutment surface and said first outer locking lever abutment surface and said second outer locking lever abutment surface each being moveable approximately into abutting engagement with said driven arm cross member responsive to movement of said drive control linkage to the extended position thereof to facilitate locking of said step plate in the deployed position;(e) a driven cross member drive link assembly pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member to facilitate powering of movement of said driven arm assembly between the deployed and retracted position thereof, said driven cross member drive link assembly including:(f) a first driven cross member link pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member;(g) a second driven cross member link pivotally moveably attached to said linking pin at a position spatially disposed from. said first driven cross member link and pivotally moveably attached to said driven arm cross member; andG. a linkage position control assembly attached with respect to said drive control linkage and moveably attached to said main housing plate for maintaining limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage, said linkage position control assembly including: (1) a position control stud secured to said drive control linkage and extending through said position control slot to be moveable therewithin to allow operative movement of said drive control linkage while maintaining limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage;(2) an upper position control washer positioned extending around said position control stud in slideable abutment with respect to said upper surface of said main housing plate; and(3) a lower position control washer positioned extending around said position control stud in slideable abutment with respect to said lower surface of said main housing plate, said main housing plate being maintained in a position between said upper position control washer and said lower position control washer which are moveable along with said position control stud along said position control slot to facilitate maintaining of limited spacing between said lower surface of said main housing plate and said drive control linkage.
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