AU599538B2 - Lifting device for a vehicle - Google Patents

Description

599538 t Name of Applicant Address of Applic e i Actual Inventor Address for Servi I I i l I

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This document contains the amendments made under Section 49 and is correct for printing.

COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1952 GRAFTON INDUSTRIES PTY LTD "ant 12-20 Swallow Road SOUTH GRAFTON NSW 2461

AUSTRALIA

MEINDERT ANTO1,.US OLYSLAGERS .ce c GRANT ADAMS COMPANY Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 9 NATIONAL MUTUAL CENTRE 144 Edward Street BRISBANE QUEENSLAND 4000

AUSTRALIA

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*4 4 I COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR THE INVt NTION ENTITLED: LIFTING DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE The following statement is a full description of the invention including the best method of performing it known to the applicant.

1 a vhice.THIS INVENTION relates to a lifting device for Australian Patent No. 554494 (AU-B-11025/83) (K G Wyborn) discloses a wheelchair hoist for vehicles.

While the hoist has proved to be a considerable benefit to paraplegics and other wheelchiair user,-,, two problem areas arise. If the cable should fail, the spring rapidly raises the carrier frame to the lifting position and may throw the wheelchair from the hoist.

secondly, because of the length of the carrier frame, it is not possible to install, the hoist on utilities or some small sedans.

it is an object of the present invention to a lifting device for vehicles which overcomes or both, of the deficiencies of tho Wyborn hoist.

It is a preferred object to provide a device which is simpler and easier to manufactu.re.

in a broad aspect, the present invention resides in a lifting device for a vehicle including: an elongate mounting frame; k at least two closely spaced bracket means at each end of the mounting frame, for scuring the mounting frame on a vehicle roof; an arm, hingedly mounted at one end adjacent one end of the mounting framo, the -arm being movable between a lifting position, extending from a side of the vehicle, and a travelling position overlying the ivehicle roof; article support moans at or adjacent the other and of the arm; winch and cable moans for hoisting an article to, or lowering It from, the arm in its lifting position, the winch being mounted on the mounting f rame at the other end thereof the cable passi,ng over the other end of the arm,spring loading means biassing the aaEE4:eE- 9.*4ame-to its lifting position; and an inertia ree-l-type seat belt attached to the other end of the arm, the reel being mounted on the mounting frame to prevent the arm being raised too rapidly to the lifting position should the cable fai..

For vehicles without gutter raiLls, a suitable extrusion may be fixed to the vehicle roof as anchor for the mounting brackets on the hoist.

Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

To enable the invention to be fully understood, a preferred embodiment will now be descr-ibed with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 15 FIG I is a top perspective view of the hoist with the arm in the travelling position; '2FIG 2 is a bottom perspective view corresponding to FIG 1; FIGS 3 and 4 are respective side views of t 20 the hoist; and FIG 5 Is a sectional end3 view of the .2 extrusion on gutterless vehicle roofs.

Referring to FIGS 1 to 4, the hoist 10 has a too mounting f rame 11 which is rectangular in plan view, with parallel side rails 12 connected by end bars 13, 4 #0 14. The frame can be mounted on, and secured to, the .gutter rails 100 on a vehicle roof 101 by pairs of the mounting brackets 15, 15 adjacent each end of the mounting frame 11 (sec FIGS 6 and 7).

An arm 17 is welded at one end to an axle 18 iP rotatably mounted at one end of the mou~nting frame. The arm 17 Is movable between a substantially horizontal travelling position, as shown, and a substantially vertical lifting position (not shzwn) and is biassed 4~ 4* 4' 4' 4' 4' .4 *4 4' 4' 4' 44 4~ 44' 4' t44'C 44 4' 4' 4' 4' 4' 4' C 4 4' e 4' 44 4' ii 4' 4 i I, 4' lii 4 4' towards the latter position by a pair of coil springs 19 wound around the axle, the ends of the springs engaging the arm and the side rails 12.

A cross arm 20 is fixed intermediate the Slength of the arm 17 and is provided with end plates 21 to engage and support one of the wheels 105 of a -wheelchair 102 when the latter is attached to the hoist The frame 103 of the wheelchair 102 is engaged by a hook 22 attached to one end of the cable 23 attached to the winch (not shown) within the cover 24.

The ca ble passes over a pulley (not shown) at the free end of the arm 17 and through a guide tube An inertia-reel seat belt assembly has its reel (not shown) mounted within the cover and the belt 15 26 attached to the free end of the arm 17. 'If the cable 23 should break, the seat belt assembly will prevent the a.rm 3.7 being thrown violently upwards towards its lfiting position by the springs 19.

The winch (not shown) Is connected to the 20 vehicle's electrical supply and Is controlled from within the vehicle 104 by suitable switches (not shown).

The operation of the hoist 10 is generally as for the Wyborn hoist, The cable 23 Is played out and the arm 11 is movad to its raised position by the springs 19. The cable 23 is further played and the hook 22 attached to the wheelchair frame 103, The Winch is then reversed to reel in the cable and the wheelchair 102 is raised until the hook 22 engages the guide tube and the whool 105 of the wheelchair adjacont. the vehicle Is engaged by the cross arm 20 and end plates 21.

As the cable is furthar reeled in) the arm 17 is pulled down to the travelling position as shown. (If desired, an octupus strap 10)7 mnay be used to assist in scuring the wheelchair 102 on the hoist.) The *4 operation is reversed to lower the wheelchair 102 f or use.- As the mounting frame 12. is very narrow i.e.

the mounting bracket 15 and 16 at each end are close together, the hoist 10 can be fitted to utilities or small sedans.

in certain vehicles, the gutter rails 100 are dispensed with and concealed gutters are used. on such vehicles, a substitute gutter section 30 is provided to enable the mounting brackots 15, 16 to be secured to the vehicle roof 101.

'Referring to FIG. 5, the substitute gutter section 30 is formed by an aluminium extrusion and may be provided in short lengths for each mounting bracket or longer lengths for each bracket pair along one side of the vehicle. The section has a mounting base 31.

fixed to the concealed gutter of the vehicle roof 101 by suitable fasteners screws, rivets) and a gutter base 32 engagable by the mounting brackets 15, 16.

various changes and modifications may be made to the embodiment described without departing from the present Invention defined in the appended claims.

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Claims (7)

1. A lifting device for a vehicle including: an elongate mounting frame; at least two closely spaced bracket means at each end of the mounating frame for securing the mounting frame on a vehicle roof; an arm, hingedly mounted at one end adjacent one end of the mounting frame, the arm being movable between a lifting position, extending from a side of the vehicle, and a travelling position overlying the vehicle roof; article support means at or adjacent the other end of the arm; winch and cable means for hoisting an 15 article to, or lowering it from, the arm in its lifting position, the winch being mounted on the mounting frame at the other end thereof, the cable passing over the other end of the arm; OTI spring loading means biassing the 00a*19V~ fr~-am to its lifting position; and an inertia real-type seat belt attached to the other and of the arm, the reel being mounted on the moutantirng frame to prevent the arm being raised too rapidly to the lifting position should the cable fail.

2. A device~ according to Claim 2 wherein: the article support moans comprises a cross arm f ixed to the arm and spaced from the other end of the arm and a pair of end plates on the cross arm to engage and support a wheel of a wheelchair or other article, supported by the device.

3. A device according to Claim I. or Claim 2 and further including: hook means attached to one end of the cable to raleasably engage an article supportad by the device, 3S the hook engaging a guide tube on the f rame when thie cu.bld is reeled it by the Winch, z 6 k If 4 1'

4. A device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein: the bracket means for securing the mounting frame on the vehicle roof include a pair of brackets at each end of the mounting frame engaging gutter rails along the sides of the vehicle roof or extension brackets fitted in concealed gutters along the sides of the vehicle roof.

A lifting device for a vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS 1 to 4, 6 and 7; or FIGS 1 to 7, of the accompanying drawings.

6. A vehicle fitted with the lifting device "t substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to FIGS 1 to 4, 6 and 7; or FIGS 1 to 7, of the accompanying drawings. DATED this fifth day of April 1990. GRAFTON INDUSTRIES PTY LTD by their Patent Attorneys GRANT ADAMS COMPANY t i 1.4'

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