Hydraulic wheelchair lift

Abstract

Wheelchair lift for a van-type vehicle having a pivotable frame which may be swung from within to without the vehicle, a slide frame telescopically movable relative to the swing frame and a wheelchair supporting platform carried at the lower end of the slide frame. The platform is pivotable to and from a horizontal position in an upright folded position, generally coplanar with the swing frame so that the entire assembly is disposed within the vehicle. A hydraulic ram having a power stroke in one direction and a return stroke in the opposite direction provides means for taking up cables disposed on opposite sides of the swing frame and is operatively connected to both the side frame and the platform. The power stroke of the ram causes the slide and the platform carried thereby to be raised from the ground level to the floor level of the vehicle for transfer of a wheelchair to and from the platform of the vehicle. The power stroke of said ram also causes the pivotal movement of the platform to its folded position after the weight of the wheelchair has been removed from the platform. Mechanisms are provided which, upon the movement of the platform to its folded position, cause mechanical energy to be stored which is used to initiate subsequent unfolding movement of the platform and swing frame. The pivotable movement of the platform and the downward movement of the slide is caused by gravity and the rate thereof is controlled by release of hydraulic pressure from the high pressure end of the ram.