VEHICLE

Description

[0001] This invention relates to vehicles and particularly to vehicles for use by people with impaired mobility who normally use a wheelchair.

[0002] Wheelchairs may be pushed by an accompanying pedestrian, propelled by hand or powered. Mostly, however, they are essentially confined to even, level or only slightly inclined surfaces, lawns, pavements or roads, outdoors. Wheelchairs are not suitable for irregular terrain such as rough pasture and wheelchair-bound people are thus precluded from many rural pursuits such as shooting, fishing and orienteering.

[0003] US 4518057 provides a means by which wheelchair-bound people can have road mobility, comprising a tricycle powered wheelchair carrier which is articulated to lower a wheelchair-receiving platform, so that a wheelchair can be ridden on, the platform then being elevatable for use.

[0004] Such an arrangement is unsuited to all-terrain pursuits, however.

[0005] The present invention provides a means by which wheelchair-bound people can follow such pursuits.

[0006] The invention comprises a vehicle adapted to carry a wheelchair, comprising a chassis on ground-engaging wheels and having a floor pan, the chassis being in two articulated parts whereby the floor pan is tiltable to form a ramp, characterised in that steering of the vehicle is effected by controlled articulation of the two chassis parts.

[0007] The floor pan/ramp may be tiltable by means of a hydraulic ram arrangement, which may comprise ram means connected between the chassis and the floor pan/ramp.

[0008] The vehicle may have front and rear wheel drive - a four-wheeled vehicle would have four wheel drive. Each wheel may be driven by an individual motor, which may be a hydraulic motor, supplied with hydraulic fluid from a pump, which may be driven by an internal combustion engine.

[0009] A forward part may have the floor pan/ramp and a rear part may carry a power unit.

[0010] Controlled articulation of the two parts may be by hydraulic ram means. The two parts may tilt relatively so as to maintain all wheel ground contact.

[0011] A control arrangement for traction and steering may be provided, which may comprise a joystick controlling steering by left and right movements and traction (including reverse) by fore and aft movements.

[0012] The vehicle may have restraint means for a wheelchair, which may comprise a raisable and lowerable front wall to the floor pan.

[0013] One embodiment of a vehicle according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1

is a side elevation;

Figure 2

is a side elevation like Figure 1 showing the floor pan tilted;

Figure 3

is a plan view;

Figure 4

is a front elevation; and

Figure 5

is a rear view.

[0014] The drawings illustrate a vehicle 11 adapted to carry a wheelchair 12 (Figure 4) comprising a chassis 13 on ground-engaging wheels 14A (front), 14B (rear) and having a floor pan 15 adapted to receive and unload a wheelchair by tilting to form a ramp.

[0015] The floor pan 15 is tiltable by means of a hydraulic ram arrangement comprising ram means 16, one on each side, connected between the chassis 13 and the floor pan/ramp 15. In effect, the ram means 16 pitch the vehicle up and down about a rear axle 17 carrying the rear wheels 14B.

[0016] The vehicle 11 has four wheel drive, each wheel 14A, 14B being driven by an individual motor. Whilst it is feasible to use electric drive, battery requirements using conventional technology impose a prohibitive weight requirement for reasonably sustained operation, and a practical arrangement as illustrated uses hydraulic motors 18 supplied with hydraulic fluid from a pump 19. The pump 19 is driven by an internal combustion engine 21 with a fuel tank 22.

[0017] The chassis 13 is in two parts, a forward part 13A and a rear part 13B which are articulated. The forward rear part 13A has the floor pan/ramp 15, the rear part 13B carries the power unit - engine 21 and pump 19.

[0018] Steering is effected by controlled articulation of the two parts 13A, 13B, controlled by hydraulic ram means 23. The two parts 13A, 13B tilt relatively (as seen in Figure 5) so as to maintain four wheel ground contact.

[0019] The forward chassis part 13A has side members 24 carrying a control arrangement 25 which comprises a joystick 26 controlling steering by right and left movements and traction (including reverse) by fore and aft movements. The control arrangement also has valving, not shown, for the floor pan tilting, and other controls may be added as required for lights and direction indicators, adapting the vehicle for road use as well as off-road use.

[0020] Restraint means - hooks or the like, not shown, for straps, and a raisable and lowerable front wall 15A for the floor pan 15 - are provided. The side members 24 and a rear wall 15B to the floor pan 15 act as primary restraint. A roll-over bar 27 provides additional safety.

[0021] The vehicle can have the usual vehicle accoutrements - mudguards 28, an optional canopy, not shown, for example.

[0022] Friction braking may be provided but is not necessary with hydraulic drive. A speed limiter may be incorporated for safety reasons - a safe speed might be, say, 12Kph, over rough terrain, but for road use the limit might be set higher, say, 30Kph, and a road/off road switch may be incorporated in the control arrangement 25.

[0023] The control arrangement 25 may be situated either to right or to left of the vehicle, a matching box on the other side being available for carrying requirements such as cartridges, fishing tackle, refreshments and so on.

[0024] The vehicle can be of suitably rugged construction, and the illustrated design has a low centre of gravity giving good stability even on inclines. Wide, high-grip tyres facilitate soft terrain or beach operation, and since the engine and electrics are mounted high up (a battery for engine starting, lighting and so on is conveniently carried on the floor pan, beneath the wheelchair) the vehicle can also be driven into tide, for sea fishing.

[0025] Though the tilting floor pan has been described as of pre-eminent importance, it is possible to envisage other arrangements facilitating wheelchair access - a deeper front wall 15A, for example, might provide a suitable ramp without lowering the floor pan 15 as a whole. Or the floor pan itself may simply be lowerable flat to the ground allowing the wheelchair to be driven or pushed straight on to it, then the floor pan elevated hydraulically to afford adequate ground clearance. Tilting about the rear axle appears to have the merit of simplicity of construction combined with ease of operation and use.

Claims

1. A vehicle (11) adapted to carry a wheelchair (12) comprising a chassis (13) on ground-engaging wheels (14A, 14B) and having a floor pan (15), the chassis (13) being in two articulated parts (13A, 13B), whereby the floor pan (15) is tiltable to form a ramp characterised in that steering of the vehicle (11) is effected by controlled articulation of the two chassis parts (13A, 13B).

2. A vehicle according to claim 1, in which the floor pan (15) is tiltable by means of a hydraulic ram arrangement to form a ramp.

3. A vehicle according to claim 2, in which the hydraulic ram arrangement comprises ram means (16) connected between the chassis (13) and the floor pan/ramp (15).

4. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, having front and rear wheel drive.

5. A vehicle according to claim 4, having four wheel drive.

6. A vehicle according to claim 5, each wheel being driven by an individual motor (18)

7. A vehicle according to claim 6, in which the motors are hydraulic motors supplied with hydraulic fluid from a pump (19).

8. A vehicle according to claim 7, in which the pump (19) is driven by an internal combustion engine (21).

9. A vehicle according to any of claims 1 to 8, of which the chassis comprises a forward part (13A) having the floor pan/ramp and a rear part (13B) carrying a power unit (21, 19).

10. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which the articulation is controlled by hydraulic ram means (16).

11. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 10, in which the two articulated parts (13A, 13B) tilt relatively so as to maintain all wheel ground contact.

12. A vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, having a control arrangement (25) for traction and steering.

13. A vehicle according to claim 12, in which the control arrangement comprises a joystick (26) controlling steering by left and right movements and traction (including reverse) by fore and aft movements.

14. A vehicle according to claim 13, having restraint means (15A) for a wheelchair.

15. A vehicle according to claim 14, said restraint means comprising a raisable and lowerable front wall (15A) to the floor pan (15).

Revendications

1. Véhicule (11) destiné au transport d'un fauteuil roulant (12), comprenant un châssis (13) placé sur des roues (14A, 14B) de contact avec le sol et ayant une cuvette de sol (15), le châssis (13) étant formé par deux parties articulées (13A, 13B) si bien que la cuvette de sol (15) peut pivoter pour former une rampe, caractérisée en ce que la direction du véhicule (11) est réalisée par articulation contrôlée des deux parties de châssis (13A, 13B).

2. Véhicule selon la revendication 1, dans lequel la cuvette de sol (15) peut pivoter sous la commande d'un ensemble à vérins hydrauliques pour la formation d'une rampe.

3. Véhicule selon la revendication 2, dans lequel l'ensemble à vérins hydrauliques comprend un dispositif à vérins (16) rencardé entre le châssis (13) et la cuvette de sol-rampe (15).

4. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 3, ayant les roues avant et arrière motrices.

5. Véhicule selon la revendication 4, ayant les quatre roues motrices.

6. Véhicule selon la revendication 5, dans lequel chaque roue est entraînée par un moteur individuel (18).

7. Véhicule selon la revendication 6, dans lequel les moteurs sont des moteurs hydrauliques qui reçoivent un fluide hydraulique d'une pompe (19).

8. Véhicule selon la revendication 7, dans lequel la pompe (19) est entraînée par un moteur à combustion interne (21).

9. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8, dont le châssis comprend une partie avent (13A) ayant la cuvette de sol-rampe et une partie arrière (13B) portant une unité motrice (21, 19).

10. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 9, dans lequel l'articulation est commandée par un dispositif à vérins hydrauliques (16).

11. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 10, dans lequel les deux parties articulées (13A, 13B) pivotent l'une par rapport à l'autre afin qu'elles assurent le maintien du contact avec le sol de toutes les roues.

12. Véhicule selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 11, ayant un ensemble de commande (25) de traction et de direction.

13. Véhicule selon la revendication 12, dans lequel l'ensemble de commande comprend une manette de commande (26) qui commande la direction par des déplacements à gauche et à droite et la traction (y compris la marche arrière) par des déplacements vers l'avant et vers l'arrière.

14. Véhicule selon la revendication 13, ayant un dispositif (15A) de retenue d'un fauteuil roulant.

15. Véhicule selon la revendication 14, dans laquelle le dispositif de retenue comprend une paroi avant (15A) qui peut être soulevée et abaissée sur la cuvette de sol (15).

Ansprüche

1. Fahrzeug (11), das zum Tragen eines Rollstuhls (12) geeignet ist, mit einem Fahrgestell (13) auf mit dem Untergrund in Eingriff tretenden Rädern (14A, 14B) und mit einer Bodenwanne (15), wobei das Fahrgestell (13) aus zwei Gelenkteilen (13A, 13B) besteht, wodurch die Bodenwanne (15) kippbar ist, um eine Rampe zu bilden, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß das Lenken des Fahrzeugs (11) bewirkt wird durch eine gesteuerte Gelenkverbindung der beiden Fahrgestellteile (13A, 13B).

2. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 1, bei welchem die Bodenwanne (15) mittels einer hydraulischen Kolbenanordnung zur Bildung einer Rampe kippbar ist.

3. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 2, bei welchem die hydraulische Kolbenanordnung Kolbenmittel (16) aufweist, die zwischen dem Fahrgestell (13) und der Bodenwanne/Rampe (15) angeordnet ist.

4. Fahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, welches einen Vorder- und Hinterradantrieb aufweist.

5. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch , welches einen Vierradantrieb aufweist.

6. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 5, bei dem jedes Rad durch einen individuellen Motor (18) angetrieben wird.

7. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 6, bei welchem die Motoren hydraulische Motoren sind, denen Hydraulikfluid von einer Pumpe (19) zugeführt wird.

8. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 7, bei welchem die Pumpe (19) durch eine Verbrennungsmaschine (21) angetrieben wird.

9. Fahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 8, bei dem das Fahrgestell einen vorderen Teil (13A) mit der Bodenwanne/Rampe und einen hinteren Teil (13B), der eine Leistungseinheit (21, 19) trägt, aufweist.

10. Fahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 9, bei welchem die Gelenkverbindung durch hydraulische Kolbenmittel (16) gesteuert wird.

11. Fahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 10, bei welchem die beiden Gelenkteile (13A, 13B) sich relativ zueinander neigen, so daß alle Räder Kontakt mit dem Untergrund behalten.

12. Fahrzeug nach einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 11, welches eine Steueranordnung (25) für den Zug und die Lenkung aufweist.

13. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 12, bei welchem die Steueranordnung einen Steuerknüppel (26) aufweist, der die Lenkung durch Links- und Rechtsbewegungen und den Zug (einschließlich Rückwärtsrichtung) durch Vor- und Rückwärtsbewegungen steuert.

14. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 13, welches Haltemittel (15A) für einen Rollstuhl aufweist.

15. Fahrzeug nach Anspruch 14, bei dem die Haltemittel eine heb- und senkbare Vorderwand (15A) für die Bodenwanne (15) aufweisen.

Drawing