Step device and vehicle

Abstract

To provide a step device and a vehicle that allow a step to be overhung outward from below a cargo box, without requiring an operation of a button or a switch or the like.SOLUTION: A step device comprises: a step which can be moved between a storage position located below a cargo box, and an overhanging position of overhanging outward from below the cargo box; a door sensor for detecting a posture of a door part of the cargo box; and a movement controlling unit for controlling movement of the step according to a detection result of the door sensor. The movement controlling unit causes the step to move toward the overhanging position, when an open posture of the door part is detected.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present application relates to a step device and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 below discloses a vehicle equipped with a loading platform lifting device. This loading platform lifting device retracts and stores the loading platform under the loading platform when the vehicle is traveling, and pulls the loading platform out from under the loading platform during loading and unloading operations, lifting and lowering the loading platform between the floor level of the loading platform and the ground level.

[0003] However, some workers want to use a step to get onto the loading platform. For example, if a worker wants to use the loading platform as a step, the worker needs to operate a button or switch to extend the loading platform outward from under the loading platform. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6847559 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a step device and a vehicle that can extend a step outward from under a cargo box without operating a button, switch, or the like. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The step device comprises a step that can move between a storage position located under the cargo box and a protruding position that protrudes outward from under the cargo box, a door sensor that detects the position of the door section of the cargo box, and a movement control unit that controls the movement of the step based on the detection result of the door sensor, and when the open position of the door section is detected, the movement control unit moves the step toward the protruding position.

[0007] The vehicle includes the step device and a vehicle body to which the step device is attached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a side view of a main part of a vehicle according to an embodiment, showing a state in which the loading platform is located in a storage position; [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a rear view of the main part of the vehicle according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the loading platform is located in a storage position. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 is a side view of the loading platform lifting device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the loading platform is located at a lower end position. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a side view of the loading platform lifting device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the loading platform is located at the upper end position; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a plan view of the loading platform lifting device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which the loading platform is located at a storage position; [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a side view of the loading platform lifting device according to the embodiment, showing a state in which a part of the loading platform protrudes from under the loading box. [Figure 7] Enlarged view of region VII in Figure 2 [Figure 8] Cross section of line VIII-VIII in Figure 2 [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a control block diagram of the loading platform lifting device according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In each drawing, the dimensions of the components may be enlarged or reduced relative to the actual dimensions, for example, to facilitate understanding, and the dimensional ratios between the drawings may not be consistent. Note that in each drawing, for example, to facilitate understanding, some of the components may be omitted.

[0010] Terms including ordinal numbers such as "first" and "second" are used to describe various components, but these terms are used only to distinguish one component from another, and the components are not particularly limited by these terms. The number of components including ordinal numbers is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, one. Furthermore, the ordinal numbers used in the following specification may differ from the ordinal numbers described in the claims.

[0011] In the following description, the first horizontal direction D1 is also referred to as the front-to-back direction, and the direction of the arrow in each drawing is the forward direction, and the direction opposite to the arrow in each drawing is the rearward direction. The second horizontal direction D2 is also referred to as the left-to-right direction, and the direction of the arrow in each drawing is the leftward direction, and the direction opposite to the arrow in each drawing is the rightward direction.

[0012] That is, each direction is the direction seen from the perspective of a person (driver) sitting in the driver's seat of the vehicle. Note that the terms front, back, left, and right are used for the sake of convenience of explanation, and in reality, the front and back may be reversed, the left and right may be reversed, or the front, back, left, and right may be swapped (rotated 90 degrees). Furthermore, the third direction D3 is the up-down direction D3.

[0013] An embodiment of a vehicle and a step device will be described below with reference to Figures 1 to 9. Note that the following embodiment is provided as an example to help understand the configuration of the vehicle and the step device, and is not intended to limit the configuration of the vehicle and the step device.

[0014] 1, a vehicle 1 includes, for example, a vehicle body 2 and a loading platform lifting device 3 attached to the vehicle body 2. The vehicle 1 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cargo handling vehicle as in this embodiment. That is, the vehicle body 2 may include, for example, a body frame 2a and a cargo box 2b disposed at the rear end of the vehicle body 2 and on top of the body frame 2a as in this embodiment.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 2, the cargo box 2b may include a box portion 2d and a door portion 2e. The door portion 2e may be provided so as to close an opening at the rear of the box portion 2d. The cargo box 2b is loaded and unloaded by opening the door portion 2e. The door portion 2e is not particularly limited, but may include three doors 2f to 2h. The doors 2f and 2g are connected to the box portion 2d so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vertical direction D3, and the door 2h is connected to the door 2g so as to be rotatable about an axis in the vertical direction D3.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the loading platform lifting device 3 may include, for example, a loading platform 4 having a loading surface 4a, a base portion 5 attached to the vehicle frame 2a, a moving mechanism 6 that moves (slides) the loading platform 4 and the base portion 5 in the forward / backward direction D1, and a lifting mechanism 7 that raises and lowers the loading platform 4 (moves it in the up / down direction D3).

[0017] The receiving platform 4 may include, for example, a first receiving portion 4b and a second receiving portion 4c disposed behind the first receiving portion 4b and having a front end portion (base end portion) rotatably connected to a rear end portion (tip end portion) of the first receiving portion 4b, as in the present embodiment. As a result, when the receiving platform 4 is not in use, the second receiving portion 4c is folded so as to overlap the first receiving portion 4b, as shown in FIG.

[0018] On the other hand, when the receiving platform 4 is used, the second receiving section 4c is deployed so that the receiving surface 4a of the first receiving section 4b and the receiving surface 4a of the second receiving section 4c are flush with each other, as shown in Fig. 3. The number of receiving sections 4b, 4c is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, two as in this embodiment, or may be, for example, three or more, or may be, for example, only one.

[0019] A step 4d (see FIGS. 5 and 6) may be provided on the back surface (the surface opposite to the receiving surface 4a) of the second receiving portion 4c at the center in the left-right direction D2 of the front end (base end) thereof. The step 4d is an elongated member with a rectangular cross section.

[0020] The movement mechanism 6 may include, for example, a guide unit 6a that guides the base unit 5 in the front-rear direction D1, and a front-rear drive unit (lateral drive unit) 6b ​​(see FIG. 5) that moves the base unit 5 in the front-rear direction D1, as in this embodiment. The front-rear drive unit 6b is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a cylinder that can extend and retract in the front-rear direction D1 or a motor. This causes the base unit 5 to move in the front-rear direction D1.

[0021] Therefore, when the receiving platform 4 is not in use, the receiving platform 4 and the base 5 are located in the storage position, which is the front end position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this way, the receiving platform 4 is made compact and stored under the cargo box 2b or the body frame 2a. On the other hand, when the receiving platform 4 is in use, the receiving platform 4 and the base 5 are located in the receiving position, which is the rear end position, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0022] 6, the receiving platform 4 and the base portion 5 may be positioned in a protruding position in which a portion of the receiving platform 4 protrudes outward (rearward) from below the cargo box 2b. In this protruding position, at least the step 4d protrudes outward from below the cargo box 2b, and a worker can use the step 4d as an aid when getting on to the cargo box 2b, for example.

[0023] 3 and 4, the lifting mechanism 7 may include, for example, first and second link units 8 and 9 connected to the receiving platform 4 and the base unit 5, and a lifting drive unit 10 that raises and lowers the receiving platform 4. This allows the receiving platform 4 to rise and lower from a lower end position as shown in FIG. 3 to an upper end position as shown in FIG. 4.

[0024] The lifting drive unit 10 is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, a motor, or may be, for example, an extendable cylinder 10a as in this embodiment. The cylinder 10a may include, for example, a first cylinder shaft 10b rotatably connected to the first link unit 8 and a second cylinder shaft 10c rotatably connected to the base unit 5 as in this embodiment.

[0025] The first link portion 8 may, for example, as in this embodiment, include a first load receiving shaft portion 8a rotatably connected to the load receiving platform 4 (specifically, the front end portion of the first load receiving portion 4b), and a first base shaft portion 8b rotatably connected to the base portion 5. For example, as in this embodiment, when viewed in the left-right direction D2, the first load receiving shaft portion 8a may be arranged at a first end portion of the first link portion 8, and the first base shaft portion 8b may be arranged at a second end portion of the first link portion 8.

[0026] Furthermore, the second link portion 9 may include, for example, as in this embodiment, a second load receiving shaft portion 9a rotatably connected to the load receiving platform 4 (specifically, the front end portion of the first load receiving portion 4b), and a second base shaft portion 9b rotatably connected to the base portion 5. For example, as in this embodiment, when viewed in the left-right direction D2, the second load receiving shaft portion 9a may be arranged at a first end portion of the second link portion 9, and the second base shaft portion 9b may be arranged at a second end portion of the second link portion 9.

[0027] As a result, the first link portion 8 and the second link portion 9 form a parallel link mechanism. Therefore, when the receiving platform 4 is raised or lowered by the first and second link portions 8, 9 rotating about the base shaft portions 8b, 9b, respectively, the receiving surface 4a is maintained in a horizontal position. Note that when the receiving platform 4 is located at the upper end position, the height of the receiving surface 4a of the receiving platform 4 may be adjusted to the height of the floor surface 2c of the box 2b, for example.

[0028] 5, the loading platform lifting device 3 may also include a power unit 11 arranged at one end of the base 5 in the left-right direction D2. The power unit 11 includes a control device that controls the drive of the loading platform lifting device 3. The loading platform lifting device 3 may also include a switch box (not shown) arranged at the other end of the base 5 in the left-right direction D2. The switch box outputs an operation command to the control device to raise / lower or move (slide) the loading platform 4.

[0029] 2, the receiving platform lifting device 3 may also include a door sensor 12 that detects the position of the door portion 2e of the container 2b. The door sensor 12 is not particularly limited, but may be disposed above the door 2h in the closed position to detect the position of the door 2h. The door sensor 12 is, for example, a non-contact proximity switch.

[0030] The door sensor 12 detects, for example, a detection bracket 12a provided at the upper end of the door 2h. The detection bracket 12a is a plate-shaped member extending upward from the upper end of the door 2h. As shown in FIG. 8, when the door 2h is in the closed position, the detection bracket 12a faces the door sensor 12 with a small gap between them. As a result, when the door sensor 12 detects the detection bracket 12a, the door 2h is in the closed position, and when the door sensor 12 does not detect the detection bracket 12a, the door 2h is in the open position. In this embodiment, the closed position of the door 2h is a position in which the door 2h is completely closed, and all other positions are open positions. In other words, the open position of the door 2h may be a position in which the door 2h is slightly open or a position in which the door 2h is completely open. The door sensor 12 transmits the detection result to the movement control unit 13, which will be described later.

[0031] The receiving platform lifting device 3 may also include a movement control unit 13 that controls the movement of the receiving platform 4. The movement control unit 13 may be included in the control device. The movement control unit 13 sends an instruction to the front-rear drive unit 6b of the movement mechanism 6 based on the detection result of the door sensor 12. Specifically, when the movement control unit 13 receives a detection result from the door sensor 12 that the door 2h is in an open position, it sends an instruction to the front-rear drive unit 6b to operate to move the receiving platform 4 backward. On the other hand, when the movement control unit 13 receives a detection result from the door sensor 12 that the door 2h is in a closed position, it sends an instruction to the front-rear drive unit 6b to operate to move the receiving platform 4 forward. In other words, the receiving platform 4 automatically moves in the front-rear direction D1 in conjunction with the opening and closing of the door 2h. This allows the worker to protrude the receiving platform 4 from under the cargo box 2b by simply opening the door 2h without operating a button, switch, or the like, and then use the step 4d of the protruding receiving platform 4 to move up and down. Moreover, the worker can store the cargo receiving platform 4 under the cargo box 2b simply by closing the door 2h.

[0032] As described above, in this embodiment, the vehicle 1 is equipped with the step device (in this embodiment, a loading platform lifting device) 3 and a vehicle body 2 to which the step device (in this embodiment, a loading platform lifting device) 3 is attached.

[0033] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, the step device 3 is preferably configured to include a step 4d that can move between a storage position located below the cargo box 2b and a protruding position that protrudes outward from below the cargo box 2b, a door sensor 12 that detects the position of the door portion 2e of the cargo box 2b, and a movement control unit 13 that controls the movement of the step 4d based on the detection result of the door sensor 12, and the movement control unit 13 moves the step 4d toward the protruding position when the open position of the door portion 2e is detected.

[0034] With this configuration, the worker can make the step 4d extend outward from below the packing box 2b simply by opening the door portion 2e without operating any buttons or switches.

[0035] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, in the step device 3, it is preferable that the movement control unit 13 moves the step 4d toward the storage position when the closed position of the door portion 2e is detected.

[0036] With this configuration, the worker can store the step 4d under the packing box 2b simply by closing the door portion 2e without operating any buttons or switches.

[0037] Furthermore, as in this embodiment, the step device 3 is equipped with a receiving platform lifting device 3 attached below the cargo box 2b, and the receiving platform lifting device 3 is equipped with a receiving platform 4, a lifting mechanism 7 for raising and lowering the receiving platform 4, and a moving mechanism 6 for moving the receiving platform 4 in the forward and backward direction D1 between a front end position below the cargo box 2b and a rear end position extending out from below the cargo box 2b, and it is preferable that the step 4d is composed of at least a part of the receiving platform 4 and the movement control unit 13 controls the movement of the receiving platform 4.

[0038] With this configuration, the worker can simply open the door 2e to cause the receiving platform 4 to extend outward from under the cargo box 2b without operating any buttons or switches, and can then use the step 4d of this extending receiving platform 4 to ascend and descend.

[0039] The vehicle 1 and the step device 3 are not limited to the configurations of the above-described embodiment, and are not limited to the above-described effects. Furthermore, the vehicle 1 and the step device 3 can be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit of the present invention. For example, it is possible to arbitrarily select one or more of the configurations, methods, etc. of the various modified examples described below and adopt them in the configurations, methods, etc. of the above-described embodiment.

[0040] (1) In the step device 3 according to the above embodiment, the door section 2e is configured to have three doors 2f to 2h. However, the step device 3 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the door section 2e may be configured to have two doors that open like a double door.

[0041] (2) Furthermore, the step device 3 according to the above embodiment is configured to include one door sensor 12. However, the step device 3 is not limited to this configuration. For example, the step device 3 may be configured to include multiple door sensors 12. In this case, the multiple door sensors 12 may each detect the position of the corresponding door 2f to 2h.

[0042] (3) Furthermore, in the step device 3, if the door section 2e has two doors that open like a folding door, the door sensor 12 may detect only one of the left and right doors, or may detect both the left and right doors separately.

[0043] (4) Furthermore, when door sensors 12 are provided for multiple doors, the movement control unit 13 may extend step 4d when the open position of at least one door is detected, or may extend step 4d when the open position of all doors is detected.

[0044] (5) In the receiving platform lifting device 3 according to the above embodiment, the door sensor 12 is disposed above the door 2h in the closed position. However, the receiving platform lifting device 3 is not limited to this configuration. The door sensor 12 may be a sensor that rotates at least one of the doors 2f-2h to the side of the cargo box 2b and detects that the door has rotated to a predetermined position. In this case, the door sensor 12 may be a proximity switch provided on the side of the cargo box 2b. As a result, when the door sensor 12 detects the door 2f-2h (detection bracket 12a) to be detected, the door 2f-2h is in the open position. When the door sensor 12 does not detect the door 2f-2h (detection bracket 12a), the door 2f-2h is in the closed position. In other words, the open position of the doors 2f-2h is a position in which the doors 2f-2h are rotated to a position substantially parallel to the side of the cargo box 2b, and all other positions are closed positions.

[0045] (6) Furthermore, in the step device 3 according to the above embodiment, when the step 4d is in the extended position, a portion of the receiving platform 4 extends outward from below the cargo box 2b. However, the step device 3 is not limited to this configuration. For example, when the step 4d is in the extended position, the entire receiving platform 4 may extend outward from below the cargo box 2b. In this case, the entire second receiving portion 4c of the receiving platform 4 may be used as a step.

[0046] (7) Furthermore, in the step device 3 according to the above embodiment, the step 4d is configured as at least a part of the receiving platform 4. However, the step device 3 is not limited to such a configuration. The step 4d may be a separate member from the receiving platform 4. [Explanation of symbols]

[0047] 1...vehicle, 2...vehicle body, 2a...vehicle frame, 2b...packing box, 2c...floor surface, 2d...box section, 2e...door section, 2f-2h...door, 3...load receiving platform lifting device (step device), 4...load receiving platform, 4a...load receiving surface, 4b...first load receiving section, 4c...second load receiving section, 4d...step, 5...base section, 6...moving mechanism, 6a...guide section, 6b...front / rear drive section, 7...lifting mechanism, 8...first link section, 8a...first load receiving shaft section, 8b...first base shaft section, 8c... Link contact portion, 8d...link body, 8e...first connecting body, 9...second link portion, 9a...second load receiving shaft portion, 9b...second base shaft portion, 10...lifting drive portion, 10a...cylinder, 10b...first cylinder shaft portion, 10c...second cylinder shaft portion, 11...power unit, 12...door sensor, 12a...detection bracket, 13...movement control portion, D1...first horizontal direction (front-to-back direction), D2...second horizontal direction (left-to-right direction), D3...up-down direction

Claims

1. a step movable between a storage position located under the cargo box and an extended position extending outward from under the cargo box; a door sensor that detects the position of the door portion of the packing box; a movement control unit that controls the movement of the step based on the detection result of the door sensor, The movement control unit is configured to move the step toward the extended position when the open position of the door unit is detected.

2. The step device according to claim 1 , wherein the movement control unit moves the step toward the storage position when the closed position of the door unit is detected.

3. A loading platform lifting device is provided which is attached below the loading box, The loading platform lifting device is The cargo receiving platform includes a lifting mechanism for lifting and lowering the cargo receiving platform, and a moving mechanism for moving the cargo receiving platform in the front-to-rear direction between a front end position below the cargo box and a rear end position protruding from below the cargo box, 3. The step device according to claim 1, wherein the step is configured by at least a part of the loading platform, and the movement control unit controls the movement of the loading platform.

4. A step device according to claim 1 or 2; A vehicle comprising: a vehicle body to which the step device is attached.

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