Reb Manufacturing Inc.

Reb Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Raymond L Smalley

Melvin G Risner

William D Sherman

John C Hall

Robert D Meldahl

Edward L Strohm

Ryan J Clouse

P Fred Risner

Steps are convertible into a platform of an elevator for wheelchairs such as installed in vehicles and buses, during which conversion a barrier is automatically raised from the bottom step to be at the outer edge of the platform. The barrier is operated by an extensible link under the bottom step, which link is connected between the barrier and a crank arm keyed to an oscillatible transverse shaft under the inner part of the bottom step. Two additional crank arms are keyed to the ends of this shaft and are connected to a frame for a step or riser to oscillate said shaft when the steps are extended and unfolded into their platform position. The extendible link extends the barrier into a ramp when the platform is in its lowest position for access by a wheelchair. Reciprocating motors such as hydraulic pistons extend, retract, fold and unfold the panels that form the steps and their intermediate risers. When the step panels are in the platform position, additional reciprocating motors raise and lower the platform as an elevator. Stabilizing chains and rack and pinion gears insure uniform motion of the sides of the elevator and of the extendible bottom step.

Wheelchair lifts with automatic barrier

This concerns a wheelchair lift for a vehicle having upper and lower telescopic frames pivoted about an upper horizontal axis to swing out of the side of the vehicle. The lower telescopic frame is raised and lowered by sprocket chains connected around pulleys on a single hydraulic reciprocating motor anchored to the upper frame. A platform is horizontally pivoted to thelower telescopic frame for movement between a vertical and a horizontal position, either manually or by a separate reciprocating motor. The movement of the platform into its horizontal operating position also automatically swings the telescopic frames out from the side of the vehicle. The platform has pivoted along an orthogonal edge thereof a handrail which automatically raises from an inoperative position parallel to the platform when the platform is folded into its vertical inoperative position to an operative vertical position orthogonal to the platform when the platform is in its operative horizontal position. This motion is positively effected by an offset link connected between the base of the lower telescopic frame and a rotatable and axially slideable mounting axle of the handrail. Safety devices such as manual pump for the single lift hydraulic motor and locking slots on the ends of the cam for operating the handrail when in its operative position are also provided. An outer edge of the platform is provided with a ramp-barrier mechanism that acts as a ramp when the platform is in contact with the ground and the barrier when a platform is away from the ground.

Wheelchair lift with positive automatic handrail

The disclosure concerns steps interchangeable into a platform lift, such as for wheelchairs for vehicles. Such a convertible step lift comprises a frame mounted in a rectangular notched-out floor section, which frame comprises corner posts which also act as guides for up and down movement of the platform lift. The movable platform comprises three sections foldable into a lower step, a riser, and an upper step, which sections are pivoted on shafts along their adjacent edges. The pivot shaft for upper step section and riser also is connected to reciprocating motor means for raising and lowering the platform. Lever extensions are fixedly attached to the ends of the riser, which are pivotally connected to other reciprocating motor means which unfolds the riser from an acute angle under the upper step section into a position coplanar with the upper step and at the same time moves the lower step section horizontally outwardly and upwardly into the same coplane to form the platform. At the outer edge of the lower step section is another shaft to which a barrier plate and a ramp are pivoted and normally urged into their operative positions when the step sections are in platform position. The barrier is folded down by levers and links when the platform engages the ground. An additional lever connected to an end of the riser folds the ramp and the barrier into their inoperative positions when the sections are in their step position.

Step convertible platform lift

A wheelchair lift such as for vehicles, comprising a stationary outer rectangular frame across the top of which swings an inner rectangular telescopic frame, the lower telescoping end of which has a foldable platform for the wheelchair. The inner frame swings out to clear the side of the vehicle, which swinging movement is limited by a pair of toggles that support a bridging platform between the lift platform and the floor of the vehicle. An electric motor-driven hydraulic pump, valve, and accumulator assembly provides the power for lifting the platform by telescoping the inner frame parts, and a valve in the hydraulic system damps the lowering of the platform. The folding of the platform from a vertical to a horizontal position and swinging of the inner frame may be done manually or by a separate reciprocating motor mounted on the upper telescopic frame.

Optional manual gravity wheelchair lift

An electrically controlled hydraulic lift, such as wheelchair lifts for vehicles, wherein the hydraulic reciprocating motor for operating the platform of the lift is mounted in a vertical slot so that any obstruction in the downward movement of the platform of the lift will cause the reciprocating motor to rise in the slot and operate a microswitch to automatically shut off the continued supply of fluid to the reciprocating motor. This arrangement not only prevents the crushing of obstacles that get in the downward path of the platform, but also limits the downward movement of the platform when it contacts the solid ground or floor level from which an object is to be lifted, such as an invalid in a wheelchair. If desired, the upward movement of the reciprocating hydraulic motor may be restricted by resilient means for maintaining it in the lower part of its mounting slot. The electrical control system for the supply of hydraulic pressure fluid to the reciprocating motor may also include a limit switch along the vertical path of movement of the platform. The fluid pressure supply may comprise an integral hydraulic pump and electric motor assembly unit having high and low pressure fluid outlets for respectively operating the reciprocating motor for raising and lowering the lift platform.

Lift safety switch system

A platform lift adapted for use on framework disposed within a doorway of a vehicle characterized by a platform and a ramp simultaneously movable by hydraulic means from a stored position to an operative position, and where the hydraulic means further serves to raise and lower the platform. Provision is made for independent manual movement of the platform in the event of any hydraulic failure, adding further utility to the arrangement.

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Carey, OH, United States of America

Raymond L Smalley