Patent ID: 6210098
Filing Date: 2001-04-03
Classification: A61G,B60P,B60R,F16H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A ramp assembly comprising:a frame for mounting below a floor of a vehicle;a ramp platform mounted in the frame and defining trailing and forward ends, and extendible and retractable along a length of the frame between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein one end of the ramp platform contacts a surface;a reciprocating mechanism for extending and retracting the ramp platform along the length of the frame between the stowed and the deployed positions;a motor on the reciprocating mechanism that reciprocates back and forth with the ramp platform between the stowed and deployed positions;a drive pulley on the motor that is rotated by operation of the motor;a belt extending along the length of the frame and attached at opposite ends to the frame and engaged by the drive pulley, such that operation of the motor and rotation of the drive pulley causes the ramp platform to move back and forward within the frame;a belt release mechanism which, when engaged releases the tension of the belt; anda belt clutch assembly for releasing the belt from the drive pulley when the tension is released from the belt, wherein the belt clutch assembly comprises:first and second pulley mounting plates;a first idler pulley mounted between the first and second pulley mounting plates and having a first axis of rotation;a second idler pulley mounted between the first and second pulley mounting plates, the second idler pulley having an axis of rotation parallel to that of the first idler pulley;a drive shaft extending through the first and second pulley mounting plates, the drive shaft having an axis of rotation parallel to and between the axes of rotation of the first and second idler pulleys;the drive pulley being mounted on the drive shaft; anda clutch band supported by the pulley mounting plates for releasing the belt from the drive pulley when the tension is released from the belt.