VEHICLE WITH LIFTING FLOOR

Abstract: A method of modifying a vehicle to contain a wheel chair lift (24) accessible from the rear of the vehicle, which is moveable from a ground engaging loading position and a raised transport position, and a vehicle so modified. The vehicle comprising a well (8) cut through the floor (15) of the vehicle and the two longitudinal rails (2 and 3) of the chassis such that the outer walls (6) of two longitudinal rails (2 and 3) remain and the well (8) is open to the rear of the vehicle. A reinforcing torque box (11) is connected across the vehicle and is connected to the rails (2 and 3) forming one boundary of the well (8). Reinforcing plate means (9) are welded to the floor (15) of the vehicle and wraps around central portion (12) of the torque box and the walls (6) of the chassis rails (2 and 3) and are welded thereto. A drop bed (24) is secured in the well (8).

Description: Vehicle with lifting floor 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 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, and also there is some modification of the chassis, with resultant problems. The present invention seeks to ameliorate these problems by providing a vehicle having: a chassis having two longitudinal rails at the rear thereof, each rail having a box cross section having an inner and an outer facing opposed side wall: a floor supported by said chassis a well, cut through the floor of the vehicle and the two longitudinal rails of the chassis, leaving the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails, such that the well is open at the rear of the vehicle; a torque box assembly welded across the said two longitudinal rails, forming a boundary of the well; reinforcing plate means, covering and secured to the floor of the vehicle adjacent said well, and having its edges located adjacent the well, projecting into the well and wrapped around and secured to the torque box assembly and the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails and; a drop bed adapted to be raised and lowered through said well from a ground engaging loading position and a raised transporting position In another form the invention comprise a modified sway arm, comprising: a first end having two arms, extending in a first plane, therefrom, and terminating in two aligned connectors for pivotally connecting to the vehicle; a second end extending in a second plane normal to the first plane and terminating in a wheel bearing assembly mount; shock absorber mounting means located intermediate the two ends; and a spring mount located intermediate the two ends. In a further form the invention comprises a vehicle having: a chassis having two longitudinal rails at the rear thereof, each rail having a box cross section having an inner and an outer facing opposed side wall: a floor supported by said chassis a well, cut through the floor of the vehicle and the two longitudinal rails of the chassis, leaving the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails, such that the well is open at the rear of the vehicle; a torque box assembly welded across the said two longitudinal rails, forming a boundary of the well; reinforcing plate means, covering and secured to the floor of the vehicle adjacent said well, and having its edges located adjacent the well, projecting into the well and wrapped around and secured to the torque box assembly and the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails; an original sway arm support and a modified sway arm support located on each side of the well ; two modified sway arm, each having a first end having two arms, extending in a first plane, therefrom, and terminating in two aligned connectors pivotally connected to a respective original and modified sway arm support, a second end extending in a second plane normal to the first plane and terminating in a wheel bearing assembly mount, shock absorber mounting means located intermediate the two ends, and a spring mount located intermediate the two ends; a shock absorber connected between each modified sway arm shock absorber mounting means and the vehicle; a spring mounted between the spring mounting means on each of the modified sway arm and the vehicle; and a drop bed adapted to be raised and lowered through said well from a ground engaging loading position and a raised transporting position 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 rear an unmodified vehicle; Figure 2 illustrates a schematic view of the rear of a partial modification of the vehicle shown in figure 1 Figure 3 illustrates a schematic view of the torque box arrangement of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 illustrates a schematic view of the vehicle shown in figure 1 , showing the torque box in position in one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 illustrates a schematic plan view of the reinforcing plate arrangement of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 6 illustrates the reinforcing plates illustrated in figure 5 in position on the partially modified vehicle as shown in figure 2; Figure 7 illustrates an exploded schematic view of the an embodiment of the present invention showing the attachment of the drop bed in the thus modified vehicle shown in figure 2; Figure 8 illustrates a schematic view of the drop bed locking mechanism of one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 9 illustrates schematically the connection of the modified sway arm according to an embodiment of the present to the vehicle; Figure 10 illustrates a schematic rear view of the an embodiment of the present invention showing in figure 1 , modified, with the drop bed in its raised transport position; Figure 11 illustrates a schematic rear view of the an embodiment of the present invention showing in figure 1 , modified, with the drop bed in its lowered loading position. 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. If the rear wheels which are located on a full axle are not removed to accommodate the tray, an additional extension of the body of the vehicle is required. With the present invention this difficulty is ameliorated. In the present case, a Mercedes VITO mini van is used for the conversion; the vehicle is front wheel drive vehicle, and has its rear wheels located on sway arms. Further, the floor structure comprises a floor (1 ) supported upon a chassis comprising two longitudinally extending rails (2 & 3), each comprising a box structure having an upper wall (4), an opposed bottom wall (5), an inner side wall (7) and an outer side wall (6), as shown in figure 1. As shown in figure 2, a well (8) is cut through the floor (1 ) at the rear of the vehicle, removing the upper wall (4), the bottom wall (5) and the inner wall (7) of each of the rails (2 & 3) such that the well is open to the rear of the vehicle. A torque box assembly (11 ), as shown in figure 4, is connected across the uncut portion of the rails (2 & 3) adjacent the well (8). The torque box assembly, as shown in figures 3, comprises a central tubular member (12) welded between the rails (2 & 3) with side extensions (13 & 14) welded to the rails (2 & 3) and the floor (1 ), on the outer sides of the rails (2 & 3). Additionally, if required, the central tubular member (12) and the side extensions (13 & 14) can be of the same thickness, and a reinforcing plate is welded across the top surfaces of the central tubular member (12), the rails (2 & 3) and the side extensions (13 & 14), and another reinforcing plate is welded across the bottom surfaces of the central tubular member (12), the rails (2 & 3) and the side extensions (13 & 14). As shown in figure 6, reinforcing plates (9), as shown in figure 5, of any required thickness (in this case 6 mm of steel checkerboard plate) are welded to the floor (1 ) with the free edges (10), bent so as to wrapped around and the remaining outer walls (6) of the rails (2 & 3). Additionally an extra reinforcing plate (not shown) is welded between the reinforcing plates (9) and to the central tubular member (12)) of the torque box assembly, with the free edges thereof bent so as to wrapped around and be welded to the central tubular member (12) of the torque box assembly. The reinforcing plate could be a single integral structure rather than the three components. Further the reinforcing plate (9), as shown in figure 5, has cut outs (48) the edges of which are welded to the floor (1 ). Thus the whole rear of the vehicle is rigidly braced by the remaining floor (15), the reinforcing plate or plates (9), the existing chassis and the body work and roof. As shown in figures 5, 6, 7 & 8, the reinforcing plate (9) has cut outs (16) to receive the wheel arches (17). Further a connection position (18) is located on each side of the wheel arch cut out (16) to which is attached a hydraulic cylinder (19). A hole (20) is drilled through the reinforcing plate (9) and the remaining floor (1 ), to allow the cylinder rod (21 ) extend therethrough. A further hole (22) is drilled through the reinforcing plate (9) and the remaining floor (1), to allow the pin (23) of the drop bed (24) as shown in figures 7 & 8 to project therethrough. As shown in figures 7 & 8, the cylinder rods (21 ) are connected to the connection point (29) of the arms (25) of the drop bed (24. The drop bed (24) has a floor (26) supported on the two arms (25) and has a wall (27), extending on three sides of the drop bed (24), which is open to the rear and has a small ramp (28) allowing wheel on access to the drop bed (24). Locking pins (23) are located on the arms (25) inwardly of the cylinder rod (21) and an elastomeric seal (30) runs along the length of the wall (27), such that when the drop bed (24) is raised, as shown in figure 8, the elastomeric seal (30) abuts and seals against the re-entrant lip (31 ) (shown in figure 31 ), of the portion of the reinforcing plate (9) wrapped around the outer wall (6) of the rails (2 & 3), with the locking pin (23) engaging in the tube (32), located on the floor (1), through the hole (22) therein, and the walls (27) of the drop bed (24) extending above the floor (1 ) of the vehicle.. As shown in figure 8, to secure the drop bed (24) in the transport position, as shown in figure 10, in the case of failure of the hydraulics, a locking mechanism is provided. This mechanism comprises a solenoid (33) which reciprocates the locking rod (34), which is slideably held in bushes (35). Thus, with the locking pins (23) engaged in the tubes (32), the locking rods project through the respective tubes (32) and locking pins (23), securing the drop bed (24) to the floor (1 ). In its loading position, the drop bed (24) engages the ground as shown in figure 11 and the walls (27) slideably engage on the portion of the reinforcing plate (9) which projects into the well (8). If required, lubricating means could be located on the walls of the well (8) or on the walls (27) of the drop bed (24) as bearing points to stabilise the movement of the drop bed (24). In the Mercedes VITO mini-van, it is necessary to remove and modify the existing suspension. Thus as shown in figure 9, a modified sway arm (36) replaces the existing sway arm. The existing shock absorber and coil spring (not shown) can still be used. Further almost all existing brake and electrically lines can be used. Because the sway arm and part of floor and chassis have been modified, only the existing outer sway arm support (37) can be used, and a new inner sway arm support (38) is constructed, to which is connected the new sway arm (36), as shown in figure (12). The new sway arm support (38) can be constructed as shown in figure 3, in which a support plate (45) has two opposed pivot mounts (46) and a back plate (not shown) connected therebetween. As shown in figure 9, the new sway arm (36) has a bifurcated end, whose free ends (41 ) terminate with cylindrical connectors (39) which are connected on bushes (40) to the sway arm supports (37 & 38). The other end has a wheel bearing mount (42) into which the existing wheel and wheel bearing (not shown) is easily fitted. A coil spring connection (43) and a shock absorber connection (44) are located intermediate the ends, to which the existing coil spring and shock absorber (not shown) are fitted.. Thus a vehicle utilising the present invention can be converted to incorporate a rear access wheel chair, with minor modifications to the vehicle. It should be obvious to people skilled in the art that modifications and alterations could be made to the above embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention

Claims: The claims 1. A vehicle having: a chassis having two longitudinal rails at the rear thereof, each rail having a box cross section having an inner and an outer facing opposed side wall: a floor supported by said chassis a well, cut through the floor of the vehicle and the two longitudinal rails of the chassis, leaving the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails, such that the well is open at the rear of the vehicle; a torque box assembly welded across the said two longitudinal rails, forming a boundary of the well; reinforcing plate means, covering and secured to the floor of the vehicle adjacent said well, and having its edges located adjacent the well, projecting into the well and wrapped around and secured to the torque box assembly and the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails and; a drop bed adapted to be raised and lowered through said well from a ground engaging loading position and a raised transporting position. 2. A vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing plate means is a one piece construction. 3. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein operating means are provided on each side of the well to engage through said reinforcing plate and said to the drop bed. 4. A vehicle according to claim 3 wherein the operating means engage on outriggers extending from the drop bed. 5. A vehicle according to claims 3 $ 4, wherein the operating means are hydraulic cylinders. 6. A vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the drop bed has a locking rods which, in the raised transporting position, protrudes through the floor and the reinforcing plate, and is engagable by a locking mechanism. 7. A vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the locking rods are located on outriggers. 8. A modified sway arm, comprising: a first end having two arms, extending in a first plane, therefrom, and terminating in two aligned connectors for pivotally connecting to the vehicle; a second end extending in a second plane normal to the first plane and terminating in a wheel bearing assembly mount; shock absorber mounting means located intermediate the two ends; and a spring mount located intermediate the two ends. 9. A vehicle having: a chassis having two longitudinal rails at the rear thereof, each rail having a box cross section having an inner and an outer facing opposed side wall: a floor supported by said chassis a well, cut through the floor of the vehicle and the two longitudinal rails of the chassis, leaving the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails, such that the well is open at the rear of the vehicle; a torque box assembly welded across the said two longitudinal rails, forming a boundary of the well; reinforcing plate means, covering and secured to the floor of the vehicle adjacent said well, and having its edges located adjacent the well, projecting into the well and wrapped around and secured to the torque box assembly and the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails; an original sway arm support and a modified sway arm support located on each side of the well ; two modified sway arm, each having a first end having two arms, extending in a first plane, therefrom, and terminating in two aligned connectors pivotally connected to a respective original and modified sway arm support, a second end extending in a second plane normal to the first plane and terminating in a wheel bearing assembly mount, shock absorber mounting means located intermediate the two ends, and a spring mount located intermediate the two ends; a shock absorber connected between each modified sway arm shock absorber mounting means and the vehicle; a spring mounted between the spring mounting means on each of the modified sway arm and the vehicle; and a drop bed adapted to be raised and lowered through said well from a ground engaging loading position and a raised transporting position. 10. A vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing plate means is a one piece construction. 11. A vehicle according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein operating means are provided on each side of the well to engage through said reinforcing plate and said to the drop bed. 12. A vehicle according to claim 11 , wherein the operating means engage on outriggers extending from the drop bed. 13. A vehicle according to claims 3 & 4, wherein the operating means are hydraulic cylinders. 14. A vehicle according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the drop bed has a locking rods which, in the raised transporting position, protrudes through the floor and the reinforcing plate, and is engagable by a locking mechanism. 15. A vehicle according to claim 14, wherein the locking rods are located on outriggers. 16. A method of modifying a vehicle having a chassis having two longitudinal rails at the rear thereof, each rail having a box cross section having an inner and an outer facing opposed side wall, and a floor supported by said chassis, by inserting a lift bed accessible to the rear of the vehicle; comprising the steps of: cutting through the floor and rear of the vehicle and the two longitudinal rails of the chassis, leaving the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails, to form a well which is open at the rear of the vehicle; welding a torque box assembly across the said two longitudinal rails, forming a boundary of the well welding reinforcing plate means to the floor of the vehicle adjacent said well, and having its edges located adjacent the well, projecting into the well and wrapped around and welded to the torque box assembly and the outer walls of the said longitudinal rails; attaching operating means to the reinforcing plates which extend through the floor and engage with a drop bed which is located in said well such that said drop bed is adapted to be raised and lowered through said well between a ground engaging loading position and a raised transporting position. SUBSTITLTTE SHEET (Rule 26) (RO/AU) 17. A method of modifying a vehicle, according to claim 16, including the step of connecting two modified sway arm, each having a first end having two arms, extending in a first plane, therefrom, and terminating in two aligned connectors, a second end extending in a second plane normal to the first plane and terminating in a wheel bearing assembly mount, shock absorber mounting means located intermediate the two ends, and a spring mount located intermediate the two ends; by pivotally connecting to a respective the two aligned connectors; connecting a shock absorber between each modified sway arm shock absorber mounting means and the vehicle; and connecting a spring between the spring mounting means on each of the modified sway arm and the vehicle. 18. A vehicle according to claim 17 comprising the steps of connecting a wheel to the wheel mount. 19. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 20. A swing arm substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Inventors: PAGE ROBERT LEONARD GEORGE, PAGE, ROBERT, LEONARD, GEORGE
Applicants: PAGE ROBERT LEONARD GEORGE, WORKMAN IND PTY LTD, PAGE, ROBERT, LEONARD, GEORGE, WORKMAN INDUSTRIES PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: B60P1
IPC codes: A61G3, B60P1, B60P3, B62D25