Braun Gmbh

Barry E Wolff

Alfred L Budd

James R Pierrou

James Robert Dupuy

A dual function, inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts having a stowable platform, the barrier being pivotably secured to the inboard end of the liftplatform, which barrier is actuated by a link to variously raise the barrier to a safety position and lower it to a bridging position in accordance with the position of the platform. The dual function barrier/bridgeplate system is particularly useful in combination with a parallelogram type lift employing an articulated lever assembly having a sliding block for leveraging the platform from a horizontal transfer orientation to a vertical, or over-vertical stowage position. There is disclosed a barrier assembly in which a spring assist system comprising a gas spring acting on one member of the articulated lever assembly and a lever arm linking a second arm of the articulated lever assembly to the barrier co-operate to actuate the barrier from a raised position when the platform is away from the transfer level and a lowered position to act as a bridge plate at the transfer level. A telescoping push arm is included which actuates the barrier by means of a pivoted link which rotates the barrier in response to the telescoping motion of the push arm. A safety interlock and load detecting system may be employed to prevent the platform from moving to the stowed position when a load greater than a predetermined weight is on the platform. An anti-free fall mechanism is disclosed comprising a pin in the slide block which engages mating slots in the telescoping push arm members to lock their length during the initial stage of deploy of the platform downwardly from the vertical stowed position.

Dual function inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts

A dual function, inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts having a stowable platform, the barrier being pivotably secured to the inboard end of the lift platform, which barrier is actuated by a link to variously raise the barrier' to a safety position and lower it to a bridging position in accordance with the position of the platform. The dual function barrier/bridgeplate system is particularly useful in combination with a parallelogram type lift employing an articulated lever assembly having a sliding block for leveraging the platform from a horizontal transfer orientation to a vertical, or over-vertical stowage position. There is disclosed a barrier assembly in which a spring assist system comprising a gas spring acting on one member of the articulated lever assembly and a lever arm linking a second arm of the articulated lever assembly to the barrier co-operate to actuate the barrier from a raised position when the platform is away from the transfer level and a lowered position to act as a bridge plate at the transfer level. A telescoping push arm is included which actuates the barrier by means of a pivoted link which rotates the barrier in response to the telescoping motion of the push arm. A safety interlock and load detecting system may be employed to prevent the platform from moving to the stowed position when a load greater than a predetermined weight is on the platform. An anti-free fall mechanism is disclosed comprising a pin in the slide block which engages mating slots in the telescoping push arm members to lock their length during the initial stage of deploy of the platform downwardly from the vertical stowed position.

A dual function, inboard barrier/bridgeplate assembly for wheelchair lifts having a stowable platform, the barrier being pivotably secured to the inboard end of the lift platform, which barrier is actuated by a link to variously raise the barrier to a safety position and lower it to a bridging position in accordance with the position of the platform. The dual function barrier/bridgeplate system is particularly useful in combination with a parallelogram type lift employing an articulated lever assembly having a sliding block for leveraging the platform from a horizontal transfer orientation to a vertical, or over-vertical stowage position. There is disclosed a barrier assembly in which a spring assist system comprising a gas spring acting on one member of the articulated lever assembly and a lever arm linking a second arm of the articulated lever assembly to the barrier co-operate to actuate the barrier from a raised position when the platform is away from the transfer level and a lowered position to act as a bridge plate at the transfer level. A telescoping push arm is included which actuates the barrier by means of a pivoted link which rotates the barrier in response to the telescoping motion of the push arm. A safety interlock and load detecting system may be employed to prevent the platform from moving to the stowed position when a load greater than a predetermined weight is on the platform. An anti-free fall mechanism is disclosed comprising a pin in the slide block which engages mating slots in the telescoping push arm members to lock their length during the initial stage of deploy of the platform downwardly from the vertical stowed position.

Improvement in wheelchair lifts generally of the dual hydraulic parallelogram type employing a lever arm assembly which assists in the rotation of the platform from the stowed position to the horizontal deployed position, by providing a gas spring disposed in the lever arm assembly connected at an outboard end to the lifting mechanism link and at an inboard end to at least one of the A arm, the B arm or the common pivot pin of the lever arm assembly. The outward force of the gas spring causes the sliding shoe of the lever arm assembly to maintain contact with the outer face of the lower link of the lifting parallelogram so that upon deployment of the lift during the gravity down phase from stowed position to horizontal transfer position, the inboard end of the platform is pulled up so that it rotates smoothly and is not subjected to free fall. This lever arm follower force member can be used alone or in conjunction with a deployment assist gas spring disposed in the lifting parallelogram, alone or in combination with 'reverse' type torsion springs disposed in one or more of the common pivot in the lever arm assembly or a pivot in the lifting assembly.

Wheelchair lift platform having internal gas spring deployment from

A wheelchair platform free fall control system comprising use of a tension means, such as at least one spring, biasing together the long and short arms of a lever arm assembly that keeps the lever arm slide block in contact with a lifting arm during gravity-down deployment of said platform from an over-vertical stowed position to a horizontal transfer position. A compression means may be used in conjunction with the lifting arm assembly to assist in overcoming the resting momentum of the lift platform mass from over-vertical outwardly until gravity takes over. The tension means may be one or more springs and the compression means may be a gas spring. The forces are preselected to provide lifting assembly over-vertical assist while keeping the sliding block in substantial contact with an arm of the lifting assembly. The springs can be used with a stud/slot interlock. Torsion springs are preferably eliminated.

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Winamac, IN, United States of America

Barry E Wolff