VEHICLE WITH LIFT BED

Abstract: A vehicle adapted to be modified to provide wheel chair access at the rear of the vehicle. The existing suspension is removed and a well is cut in the floor of the vehicle, open to the rear. A transverse member (15, 16) is connected across the chassis longitudinal members (17) and two longitudinal members (2 and 5) extend from the transverse member (15 and 16) and are connected to the floor of the vehicle around the edges of the well in the floor. Suspension means in the form of a trailing arm (9) is pivotally connected to the transverse member (15 and 16), and suspension means (13, 23 and 34) is associated with the trailing arm. A tray (6) is attached by means of an operating means (3) to be raised and lower in the well, to allow access to the tray (6) from the ground and raised to a transport position.

Description: Vehicle with lift bed The present invention relates to a vehicle having a raising and lowering floor section at the rear of the vehicle, and in particular to a method of modifying an existing vehicle to have a raising and lowering floor section at the rear of the vehicle. Standard vehicles such as vans and trucks have been used for the transportation of cargo. However, because of the height of the tray or bed above the ground, loading, unloading and positioning of cargo can be difficult, especially with heavy objects. This problem has been overcome with the use of fully modified trays which fit onto the existing chassis. To assist in the transportation of disabled people special vehicles have been developed having ramps and lifting trays to transport the wheel chair disabled. The tray is moved from a ground engaging loading position to a raised transport position. To modify an existing vehicle it is necessary that a section of the floor be cut out, to receive the tray. Usually this is a section of the floor facing the side of the vehicle. The rear is chosen only if the rear of the floor extends well passed the rear axle. However, vehicles such as taxis and "people movers" have been used to transport people in wheel chairs. This requires, usually, a major modification to the structure of the vehicle, with resultant problems with the modification of the suspension, and use inclined ramps and swinging beds. The suspension and wheel mounts must be altered, and usually the rear wheels are located on a full axle which has to be removed to accommodate the tray, with resultant problems. The present invention seeks to ameliorate these problems by providing a vehicle having a floor located at the rear of the vehicle, comprising: a well located in the said floor and open to the rear of the vehicle; a u-shaped frame located on the closed sides of said well; operating means located on said frame; a tray located in said well and connected to said operating means whereby the operating means moves said tray between a raised transport position and a ground engaging loading position such that said tray retains substantially the same orientation throughout its movement between said transport position and said loading position, a first torsion bar connected to said u-shaped frame; a first trailing arm connected to the first torsion bar; a first wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the free end of the first trailing arm; a second torsion bar connected to said u-shaped frame; a second trailing arm connected to the first torsion bar; and a second wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the free end of the second trailing arm. In a further form the invention provides a vehicle having two longitudinally extending chassis members and a floor located at the rear of the vehicle, comprising: a transverse bar connected across the two longitudinally extending chassis members and having its ends extending outwardly from said two longitudinally extending chassis members ; two arm members extending rearwardly from said transverse bar, forming a u-shaped frame therewith; a well located in the said floor between said transverse bar and said two arm members, and open to the rear of the vehicle; operating means located on said frame; a tray located in said well and connected to said operating means whereby the operating means moves said tray between a raised transport position and a ground engaging loading position such that said tray retains substantially the same orientation throughout its movement between said transport position and said loading position, a first trailing arm pivotally connected, at its first end, adjacent one end of the transverse bar; a first wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the second end of the first trailing arm; a second trailing arm connected pivotally connected, at its first end, adjacent the second end of the transverse bar; a second wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the other end of the second trailing arm; a first shock absorber mounted at or adjacent the second end of the first trailing arm and connected to said vehicle; and a second shock absorber mounted at or adjacent the second end of the second trailing arm and connected to said vehicle; The present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a schematic view of the frame and tray and suspension of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates schematically a close up view of the trailing arm and suspension system of the embodiment shown in figure 1 ; Figure 3 illustrates a schematic side view of the frame and tray operating arrangement of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a schematic opposite side view of the frame and tray operating arrangement of the embodiment shown in figure 1 ; Figure 5 illustrates a schematic prospective view of the suspension arrangement of another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates an view of one embodiment of the trailing arm; and Figure 7 illustrates a close up view of the connection of the trailing arm to the transverse bar. As mentioned previously vehicles such as taxis and "people movers" present difficulties, if they are modified to provide a rear access to transport people in wheel chairs. This requires, usually, a major modification as the support structure, suspension and wheel mounts must be altered. Usually the rear wheels are located on a full axle which has to be removed to accommodate the tray. With the present invention ameliorates these difficulties. Using a front wheel drive vehicle, the rear axle and suspension is removed and a well cut in the floor at the rear of the vehicle, In some cases it is also necessary to cut the rear longitudinal chassis members. A yoke shaped frame (1 ) is secured around the well (not shown). The two arms (2) reinforce the floor of the vehicle. Supported on the arms (2) are lifting devices in this case hydraulic cylinders (3). As shown the cylinder rods (4) extend through the arms (2) of the yoke shaped frame (1). The free end of the rods (4) are connected to support brackets (5) on the tray (6). The tray (6) has side walls (7) and a ramp or tail gate (8). Thus in use the tray (6) is raised and lowered by the hydraulic cylinders (3) with the side walls (7) sliding between the arms (2) of the frame (1 ). If required lubricating means could be located on the arms (2) or side walls (7) as bearing points to stabilise the movement of the tray (6). The suspension and wheel axle assembly is replaced by a separate suspension mounting for each wheel. One embodiment is shown in figure 2. In this form the suspension comprises a trailing arm (9) having on one end a stub axle and wheel mount (10). The trailing arm (9) has a hole (11 ) in the other end into which is rigidly fitted a tubular member (12). The tubular member (12) is embedded in a resilient rubber like matrix (13), held in a tubular support (14). As shown in figure 1 , each tubular support (14) is rigidly attached to the base (15) of the frame (1 ), such that the trailing arm (9) under normal loading extends at any suitable angle with respect to the side arms (2) of the frame, preferably at 30°. Additionally a spring over shock absorber (not shown) can be fitted between the trailing arm (9) and the respective side arm (2), if required. Rather than use hydraulic lifters any suitable drive units, such as worm drives, could be used and additional guiding means such as shown in International application no. PCT/AU98/00400, and is incorporated into the present description by way of reference, could be used to stabilise the movement of the tray. Further other forms of torsion bar suspension could be used.. A further embodiment is shown in figures 5, 6 & 7. Using a front wheel drive vehicle, the rear axle and suspension is removed and a well is cut in the floor at the rear of the vehicle, cutting the two longitudinally extending chassis members (17). As show in figure 5, a transverse bar (16) is welded to the ends (26) of the two chassis members (17), with the two ends (18 & 19) of the transverse bar, extending beyond the two chassis members (17) . Two arms (25) are welded to the transverse bar (16) to form a u-shaped frame around the well (not shown). The two arms (25) and the transverse bar (16) are welded to the floor of the vehicle to reinforce the floor of the vehicle around the well. As shown in figures 3 & 4, lifting devices, in this case hydraulic cylinders (3), are supported on the arms (25), with the cylinder rods (4) extend through the arms (25). The free end of the rods (4) are connected to support brackets (5) on the tray (6). Thus in use the tray (6) is raised and lowered by the hydraulic cylinders (3) with the side walls sliding between the arms (25). If required lubricating means could be located on the arms (25) or side walls as bearing points to stabilise the movement of the tray (6). The suspension and wheel axle assembly is replaced by a separate suspension mounting for each wheel. One embodiment is shown in figure 5, 6 & 7. In this form the suspension comprises a trailing arm (9) having on one end (20) a stub axle and wheel mount (10). The trailing arm (9) is pivotally attached at the other end to the transverse bar (16), and lies external of the two chassis members (17) and the two arms (25). The trailing arm (9), in a preferred form is shown in figure 6, and is connected by a suitable bush (not shown) to the transverse bar (16), as shown in figures 5 & 7, with the trailing arm (9) pivotally suspended between the bracket (27) and the end plate (28), which is welded to the bracket (29) on the end (18) of the transverse bar (16). The other end (30) of the end plate (28) is preferably connected to the body of the vehicle for further support, and an additional brace (31 ) is connected at one end to the transverse bar (16), preferably at area (32), and at the other end (33) to the existing spring arm mount ( not shown) on the vehicle body. A shock absorber of any suitable construction can be fitted from the free end (20) of the trailing arm (9) to a shock absorber mount (21 ) on any suitable position on the vehicle body, such as the wheel arch (22), as shown in figure 5. A suspension spring (23) can be fitted between the trailing arm (9) and the wheel arch (22), with a bump stop (24) located as shown in figure 5, on the trailing arm (9) Rather than use hydraulic lifters any suitable drive units, such as worm drives, could be used and additional guiding means such as shown in US Patent 5,630,693, and is incorporated into the present description by way of reference, could be used to stabilise the movement of the tray. Thus with the modifications to the vehicle, a rear access door can be fitted such that the tray can be lowered to the ground and a wheel chair driven onto the tray and the tray raised to the travel position and the rear door closed and the wheel chair locked in position. Depending upon the dimensions of the vehicle, two wheel chairs could be held on the tray. It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that variations and modifications could be made to the above described embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims: The claims are: 1 A vehicle having a floor located at the rear of the vehicle, comprising: a well located in the said floor and open to the rear of the vehicle; a u-shaped frame located on the closed sides of said well; operating means located on said frame; a tray located in said well and connected to said operating means whereby the operating means moves said tray between a raised transport position and a ground engaging loading position such that said tray retains substantially the same orientation throughout its movement between said transport position and said loading position, a first torsion bar connected to said u-shaped frame; a first trailing arm connected to the first torsion bar; a first wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the free end of the first trailing arm; a second torsion bar connected to said u-shaped frame; a second trailing arm connected to the first torsion bar; and a second wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the free end of the second trailing arm. 2. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises at least one hydraulic rams, located on each of the arms of the u- shaped frame. 3. A vehicle according to claim 1 wherein the operating means comprises a worm drive located on each of the arms of the u-shaped frame. 4. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims in which each torsion bar comprises a connector member embedded in an elastomeric matrix held in a tubular member; said connector member being rigidly connected to the respective trailing arm. 5. a vehicle having two longitudinally extending chassis members and a floor located at the rear of the vehicle, comprising: a transverse bar connected across the two longitudinally extending chassis members and having its ends extending outwardly from said two longitudinally extending chassis members ; two arm members extending rearwardly from said transverse bar, forming a u-shaped frame therewith; a well located in the said floor between said transverse bar and said two arm members, and open to the rear of the vehicle; operating means located on said frame; a tray located in said well and connected to said operating means whereby the operating means moves said tray between a raised transport position and a ground engaging loading position such that said tray retains substantially the same orientation throughout its movement between said transport position and said loading position, a first trailing arm pivotally connected, at its first end, adjacent one end of the transverse bar; a first wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the second end of the first trailing arm; a second trailing arm connected pivotally connected, at its first end, adjacent the second end of the transverse bar; a second wheel stub axle mounting located at or adjacent the other end of the second trailing arm; a first shock absorber mounted at or adjacent the second end of the first trailing arm and connected to said vehicle; and a second shock absorber mounted at or adjacent the second end of the second trailing arm and connected to said vehicle. 6. A vehicle according to claim 5, wherein the transverse bar comprises an end plate on each end which is connected to the body of the vehicle, and a brace which is parallel to the longitudinally extending chassis members but lies in a plane normal to the end plates and is connected the body of the vehicle. 7. A vehicle according to claims 6 or 7 wherein each trailing arm has a coil spring and a shock absorber connected adjacent its free end and connected to the body of the vehicle. 8. A vehicle substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: ISLES RICHARD, ISLES, RICHARD
Applicants: ISLES RICHARD, WORKMAN IND PTY LTD, ISLES, RICHARD, WORKMAN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A61G3
IPC codes: A61G1, A61G3, B60P1