Patent ID: 7905324
Filing Date: 2011-03-15
Classification: B60R,E02F

Abstract:
1. An access system for a moveable vehicle having a longitudinal axis, comprising: an access device attached to the vehicle and movable between a stowed position and an access position, wherein a bottom end of the access device is disposed at a first horizontal distance from the longitudinal axis in the stowed position and is disposed a second greater horizontal distance from the longitudinal axis in the access position, the access device being configured to provide access to the moveable vehicle when in the access position; a biasing device associated with the access device and configured to apply a continuous biasing force to bias the access device toward the access position; an actuator device associated with the access device and configured to apply a selective actuating force to the access device, the actuating force being controllable to be greater than the biasing force to move the access device to the stowed position and controllable to be less than the biasing force to allow the biasing force to move the access device to the access position; and a parking brake mechanism including a parking brake and a hydraulic circuit, the parking brake mechanism being configured to selectively engage and disengage the parking brake, wherein the parking brake is engaged when the hydraulic circuit is at a first pressure and disengaged when the hydraulic circuit is at a second higher pressure; wherein the hydraulic circuit is associated with the actuator device to generate the actuating force, and wherein the actuating force at the first pressure is less than the biasing force and wherein the actuating force at the second higher pressure is greater than the biasing force, such that the access device is in the access position when the parking brake is engaged and in the stowed position when the parking brake is disengaged.