Slope device

Abstract

To provide a slope device capable of responding to various steps.SOLUTION: A slope device 100 includes a first slope part 10 that is installed on a lower stage, a second slope part 20 that is installed on an upper stage, and a support part 30 for supporting the first and second slope parts 10 and 20 in the state of installing them on the lower stage. An angle of inclination of the second slope part 20 can be changed.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a temporary slope device. [Background technology]

[0002] Temporary slope devices have been used to easily overcome steps. The portable slope disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of slope plates, a hinge member that connects the slope plates so that they can be folded, and a plurality of stopper members that are spaced apart from each other and are arranged along the side end faces of the slope plates on the other side of each slope plate. 。 [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-342016 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The portable slope of Patent Document 1 allows the load applied to one slope plate to be transmitted to the other slope plate via a stopper member, eliminating the need to increase the rigidity of each slope plate and allowing each slope plate to be made lighter.

[0005] The present invention provides The slope portion is configured to have an upper ground contact member rotatably connected via a hinge portion. The purpose is to: [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a slope device having a first slope section and a second slope section located adjacent to the first slope section and having a changeable slope angle, wherein, assuming that the side of the first slope section is the rear side and the side of the second slope section is the front side, the second slope section has a slope member and an upper ground contact member rotatably connected to the front side of the slope member via a hinge section, the hinge section including a one-side hinge section integrally provided at the front end of the slope member and a other-side hinge section integrally provided at the rear end of the upper ground contact member, and the one-side hinge section protrudes obliquely downward and forward from the front end of the slope member Integrated with the slope member The other hinge portion has a solid circular portion formed thereon, and the other hinge portion rotates along a curved surface of the circular portion. The opening is concave and faces diagonally upwards towards the rear. It is characterized by having a protrusion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the slope device of the present invention, The slope portion is configured to have an upper ground contact member rotatably connected via a hinge portion. It is possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a slope device according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 2] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the slope device in use. [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a slope device according to a first embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a slope device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a slope device according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of a second slope member of the fourth embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a slope device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a slope device according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 9] FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of a slope device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a slope device according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a slope device according to a sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, the slope device according to this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. (First embodiment) FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the slope device 100. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the slope device 100 in use. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the slope device 100. Note that, hereinafter, the lower side of the step will be referred to as the lower step, and the upper side will be referred to as the upper step. For convenience, in the following drawings, the front side from the lower step to the upper step in the horizontal direction will be represented as Fr, the rear side as Rr, the right side as R, and the left side as L. The slope device 100 of this embodiment includes a first slope section 10, a second slope section 20, and a support section 30.

[0010] The first slope section 10 is installed in the lower section and forms a sloped surface that continues from the lower section. The first slope section 10 has a first slope member 11, a first rotating member (first member) 12, and a first fence section 14. The first slope member 11 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and is formed in the shape of a flat plate whose left-to-right length is longer than its front-to-rear length. Specifically, the ratio of the left-to-right length to the front-to-rear length of the first slope member 11 is approximately 3:1. The first slope member 11 also has a plurality of anti-slip protrusions integrally formed over its entire surface. Alternatively, the entire surface may be anti-slip processed by blasting or by attaching a checkered plate.

[0011] The first rotating member 12 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first rotating member 12 is fixed to the front end of the rear surface of the first slope member 11 with its axis aligned in the left-right direction. Here, three first rotating members 12 are fixed separately to the left, center, and right sides of the first slope member 11 via bolts or the like. The first fence section 14 is formed by connecting rectangular pillar members made of, for example, an aluminum alloy in a U-shape. The first fence section 14 is fixed to the left and right ends of the surface of the first slope member 11. The first fence section 14 has cross sections 15 that are parallel to the left and right ends of the first slope member 11. The cross sections 15 prevent a transport cart traveling on the first slope section 10 from falling off the first slope section 10. The first fence section 14 may be configured to be foldable, for example, between the first slope member 11 and itself toward the surface of the first slope member 11. The first fence section 14 may also be a plate-shaped or rod-shaped baseboard.

[0012] The second slope section 20 is installed on the upper stage and forms a sloped surface that continues from the upper stage. The second slope section 20 has a second slope member 21, a second rotating member (second member) 22, and a second fence section 24. The second slope member 21 has a configuration similar to that of the first slope member 11, but has a bent portion 21a formed on the front side along the left-right direction. The bent portion 21a is bent downward at a slight angle. By grounding the tip side of the bent portion 21a on the upper stage, it is possible to prevent a gap from being formed between the upper stage and the second slope member 21.

[0013] The second rotating member 22 has a configuration similar to that of the first rotating member 12, but as shown in FIG. 3, it has a cylindrical shape with a slightly larger diameter than the cylindrical shape of the first rotating member 12. The second rotating member 22 is fixed to the rear end of the back surface of the second slope member 21. Here, three second rotating members 22 are fixed separately to the left, center, and right sides of the second slope member 21 via bolts or the like. By making the second rotating members 22 larger in diameter than the first rotating member 12, the rear end of the second slope portion 20 can be made higher than the front end of the first slope portion 10, making it possible to connect the first slope portion 10 and the second slope portion 20. The second fence section 24 has a configuration similar to that of the first fence section 14, and includes a cross section 25. Note that the second fence section 24 may be configured to be foldable, for example, between the second slope member 21 and the second fence section 24 toward the surface side of the second slope member 21.

[0014] The support section 30 is installed on the lower stage and supports the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 at a predetermined height. In particular, the support section 30 supports the first slope section 10 so that the inclination angle of the gradient is approximately 1 / 6 or less in terms of the ratio of the height H to the distance L (described later). The support section 30 also has a pivot support section (support section) 31 and a ground contact section 34. The pivot support portion 31 rotatably supports the first slope portion 10 and the second slope portion 20, and the gradient angles of each of these portions are changeable. The pivot support portion 31 is elongated in the left-right direction. Specifically, the pivot support portion 31 has a front plate 31a, a rear plate 31b, an intermediate plate 31c, a bottom plate 31d, and a side plate 31e. The pivot support portion 31 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and can be manufactured by integrally extruding the front plate 31a, the rear plate 31b, the intermediate plate 31c, and the bottom plate 31d, and then attaching the side plate 31e by post-processing. Of the pivotal support portion 31, the portion between the front plate 31a and the intermediate plate 31c is the front support portion (front support portion) 32 that pivotally supports the second slope portion 20, and the portion between the rear plate 31b and the intermediate plate 31c is the rear support portion (rear support portion) 33 that pivotally supports the first slope portion 10. The grounding portion 34 is in contact with the lower step. The grounding portion 34 is made of, for example, a soft synthetic resin, and is fixed to the bottom plate 31d of the pivot support portion 31 via screws or the like. The lower end of the grounding portion 34 is formed with projections and recesses to increase gripping power and prevent slippage between the grounding portion 34 and the lower step.

[0015] The following describes the assembly of the slope device 100 configured as described above at a work site with a step. First, the assembler carries the first slope section 10, the second slope section 20, and the support section 30, separated, to the work site. Next, the assembler installs the support section 30 on the lower section of the step, a predetermined distance away from the upper section. Next, the assembler grounds the front side of the second slope member 21 on the upper section and inserts the second rotating member 22 into the front pivot support section 32 of the support section 30 from above to rotatably support it. Next, the assembler grounds the rear side of the first slope section 10 on the lower section and inserts the first rotating member 12 into the rear pivot support section 33 of the support section 30 from above to rotatably support it, thereby assembling the slope device 100.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the state in which the transporter cart 1 overcomes a step via the slope device 100. The transporter cart 1 has a rectangular cart body 2 and a plurality of casters 3 attached to the backside of the four corners of the cart body 2. By running the transporter cart 1 toward the slope device 100, the transporter cart 1 passes over the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 and can overcome the step. Even if the transporter cart 1 shifts left or right while running on the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20, the cart body 2 is restricted by the first fence section 14 and the second fence section 24, preventing the transporter cart 1 from falling off. In other words, the cross section 15 of the first fence section 14 and the cross section 25 of the second fence section 24 are positioned at a height that overlaps the height of the cart body 2 when viewed from the side. When the first fence portion 14 and the second fence portion 24 are used as baseboards, it is preferable that the height of the baseboards be 15 mm or more. By making the height of the baseboard 15 mm or more, the casters 3 of the transport cart 1 are prevented from climbing over the baseboards, and the transport cart 1 is prevented from falling off.

[0017] Next, a case where the slope device 100 is adapted to various steps will be described. First, generally, the transport cart 1 can overcome a step without a slope device if the step is 6% of the outer diameter of the wheel of the caster 3 of the transport cart 1. Also, in the case of a slope device, it is preferable that the inclination angle of the slope device 100 is approximately 1 / 6 or less in terms of the ratio of the height H to the distance L from front to back as shown in Figure 2, so that the user can easily push the transport cart 1. The slope device 100 of this embodiment can be used for steps of any height, ranging from a step G1 with a height that is 6% of the wheel outer diameter of the caster 3 to a step G2 with a height where the slope angle is approximately 1 / 6 of the ratio of height H to distance L.

[0018] In FIG. 3(a), the step G1 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the step G2 is indicated by a solid line. Here, the second slope section 20 is pivotally supported by the front pivot support section 32 of the support section 30 via the second pivot member 22, and is therefore pivotable around the second pivot member 22. That is, the angle of the gradient of the second slope section 20 is changeable with respect to the support section 30. Therefore, the front end of the second slope section 20 can be placed on any step height within the range from step G1 to step G2. As described above, the slope device 100 of this embodiment can accommodate a variety of steps because the angle of the second slope section 20 can be changed relative to the support section 30. Therefore, there is no need to prepare multiple types of slope devices according to the height of the steps, which reduces manufacturing costs.

[0019] Furthermore, in the slope device 100 of this embodiment, the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 are separable from the support section 30, and therefore the slope device can be easily transported or stored by separating the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 from the support section 30. Furthermore, because the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 are separable from the support section 30, the slope device can be modified to accommodate high steps, as in the second embodiment described below. Furthermore, in the slope device 100 of this embodiment, the first slope section 10 is rotatable relative to the support section 30. That is, the angle of the gradient of the first slope section 10 relative to the support section 30 can be changed. Therefore, the support section 30 can be installed even if the installation surface on which it is installed is not horizontal but inclined. In other words, the slope device 100 can be easily installed even at a work site where the installation surface is not horizontal.

[0020] Furthermore, in the slope device 100 of this embodiment, the first rotating members 12 are fixed in a spaced-apart state on the left, center, and right sides of the first slope member 11, and the second rotating members 22 are fixed in a spaced-apart state on the left, center, and right sides of the second slope member 21. In this way, by spacing the first rotating members 12 and the second rotating members 22 apart, the weight of the slope device 100 can be reduced. On the other hand, when the transport cart 1 passes, the left first rotating member 12 and the left second rotating member 22 support the left caster 3 of the transport cart 1, and the right first rotating member 12 and the right rotating member 22 support the right caster 3 of the transport cart 1. Therefore, even when the first rotating members 12 and the second rotating members 22 are spaced apart, the weight of the transport cart 1 can be supported. Furthermore, when a single-wheel carriage passes through, the central first rotating member 12 and the central rotating member 22 can support the wheels of the single-wheel carriage.

[0021] (Second embodiment) In the first embodiment, a case has been described in which the slope device 200 can accommodate steps of any height in the range from step G1 to step G2. On the other hand, for steps in which the ratio of the height H to the distance L is greater than approximately 1 / 6, i.e., for steps higher than step G2, the slope angle of the second slope section 20 becomes large. Therefore, in this embodiment, a slope device 200 will be described that can accommodate steps higher than step G2.

[0022] Fig. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the slope device 200. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the slope device 200. The slope device 200 of this embodiment includes a first slope section 10, an intermediate slope section 40, a second slope section 20, and a support section 50. Here, the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 have the same configuration as in the first embodiment. The following description will focus on the configurations that are different from the slope device 100 of the first embodiment, and the description of the same configurations will be omitted as appropriate.

[0023] The intermediate slope section 40 is located between the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20. The intermediate slope section 40 has an intermediate slope member 41, a rear rotating member (rear member) 42, a front rotating member (front member) 43, and an intermediate fence section 44. The intermediate slope member 41 has the same configuration as the first slope member 11.

[0024] The rear rotating member 42 has the same configuration as the second rotating member 22, that is, a cylindrical shape slightly larger in diameter than the cylindrical shape of the first rotating member 12. The rear rotating member 42 is fixed to the rear end of the back surface of the intermediate slope member 41. The front rotating member 43 has the same configuration as the first rotating member 12, that is, a cylindrical shape with a slightly smaller diameter than the cylindrical shape of the second rotating member 22. The front rotating member 43 is fixed to the front end of the back surface of the intermediate slope member 41. The intermediate fence section 44 has a configuration similar to that of the first fence section 14, and includes a cross section 45. Note that the intermediate fence section 44 may be configured, for example, so as to be foldable between the intermediate slope member 41 and the intermediate fence section 44 toward the front surface of the intermediate slope member 41.

[0025] The support portion 50 has a first support portion 50a and a second support portion 50b. The first support portion 50a is installed in the lower stage and supports the first slope portion 10 and the intermediate slope portion 40 at a predetermined height. Here, the first support portion 50a has the same configuration as the support portion 30 of the first embodiment and has a pivot support portion 31 and a ground contact portion 34. On the other hand, the second support portion 50b has a pivot support portion 31, a spacer portion 51, and a ground contact portion 34. The second support portion 50b is installed in the lower stage and supports the intermediate slope portion 40 and the second slope portion 20 at a predetermined height. In particular, the second support portion 50b supports the intermediate slope portion 40 so that the ratio of the height H to the distance L is approximately 1 / 6 or less. The second support portion 50b has a configuration in which a spacer portion 51 is added to the first support portion 50a.

[0026] The spacer portion 51 is elongated in the left-right direction and holds the rotation shaft support portion 31 . As shown in FIG. 5(b), the spacer portion 51 has a holding portion 52 and a fitting portion (raising portion) 53. The holding portion 52 is frame-shaped and surrounds the four sides, and holds the pivot support portion 31, which is inserted from above. On the other hand, the fitting portion 53 is integrally formed at the lower end of the holding portion 52, and is formed slightly smaller in left-right and front-to-back length than the holding portion 52. Specifically, the fitting portion 53 has approximately the same left-right and front-to-back length as the pivot support portion 31. The grounding portion 34 is fixed to the fitting portion 53. The spacer portion 51 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and can be manufactured by extrusion molding in the longitudinal direction and then sealing the left and right sides in post-processing.

[0027] The following describes the assembly of the slope device 200 configured as described above at a work site with a step. First, the assembler carries the first slope section 10, the second slope section 20, the intermediate slope section 40, and the support section 50 separately to the work site. Next, the assembler places the first support section 50a and the second support section 50b apart on the lower section of the step, a predetermined distance away from the upper section. Next, the assembler places the front side of the second slope member 21 on the upper section and inserts the second rotating member 22 into the front pivot support section 32 of the second support section 50b from above to rotatably support it. Next, the assembler inserts the front rotating member 43 of the intermediate slope section 40 into the rear pivot support section 33 of the second support section 50b from above, and inserts the rear rotating member 42 of the intermediate slope section 40 into the front pivot support section 32 of the first support section 50a from above. Next, the assembler assembles the slope device 200 by grounding the rear side of the first slope section 10 to the lower level and inserting the first rotating member 12 into the rear pivot support section 33 of the first support section 50a from above to support it rotatably.

[0028] In FIG. 5(a), the step G2 is indicated by a two-dot chain line, and the step G3 is indicated by a solid line. As shown in Figure 5(a), the slope device 200 of this embodiment can also accommodate a step G3 that is higher than step G2 by additionally disposing an intermediate slope section 40 between the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20. In this case, the inclination angles of the first slope section 10, the intermediate slope section 40, and the second slope section 20 are such that the ratio of the height H to the distance L is approximately 1 / 6 or less, allowing the user to push the transport cart 1 easily. Furthermore, in the slope device 200 of this embodiment, since the angle of the slope of the second slope section 20 relative to the support section 50 can be changed, the front end of the second slope section 20 can be placed on the ground regardless of the height of the step in the range from step G2 to step G3. Furthermore, since the slope device 200 of this embodiment has the first slope section 10, the second slope section 20 and the intermediate slope section 40 that can be separated from the support section 50, it can be modified to a slope device that can accommodate even higher steps, as in the third embodiment described below.

[0029] (Third embodiment) In the second embodiment, the slope device 200 adapted to the step G3 has been described. In the present embodiment, a slope device that can also be adapted to a step higher than the step G3 will be described. For steps higher than step G3, an intermediate slope section 40 and a third support section are added to the slope device 200 of the second embodiment. That is, the added intermediate slope section 40 is disposed between the intermediate slope section 40 and the second slope section 20 of the slope device 200. The added intermediate slope section 40 and the second slope section 20 are supported by the third support section. The third support section is configured by adding a spacer section 51 between the pivot shaft support section 31 and the spacer section 51 of the second support section 50b of the second embodiment. At this time, the fitting section 53 of the added spacer section 51 is inserted into the holding section 52 of the lower spacer section 51, and the pivot shaft support section 31 is inserted into the holding section 52 of the added spacer section 51. The third support section supports the added intermediate slope section 40 so that the inclination angle of the slope is approximately 1 / 6 or less in terms of the ratio of the height H to the distance L.

[0030] Therefore, the slope device of this embodiment can accommodate steps higher than step G3. Subsequently, by adding an intermediate slope section and a support section further including spacer section 51 to configure the slope device, it can accommodate any high step. That is, the slope device of this embodiment has multiple intermediate slope sections 40 arranged between the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20, and the support section supports the first slope section 10 and the intermediate slope section 40 on the first slope section 10 side, the second slope section 20 and the intermediate slope section 40 on the second slope section 20 side, and the spaces between the multiple intermediate slope sections 40 at different positions. In this case, the support section separately supports the spaces between the multiple intermediate slope sections 40. According to this embodiment, only the same parts are added, and there is no need to manufacture a new mold, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost of the slope device.

[0031] (Fourth embodiment) In the first to third embodiments, the second slope member 21 has the bent portion 21a on the front side. In this embodiment, the front side of the second slope member 21 is configured to be rotatable. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the second slope member 21 of this embodiment. Note that the same components as those in the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. An upper ground contact member 26 is rotatably connected to the front side of the second slope member 21 via a hinge portion 27. The upper ground contact member 26 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy, and is a flat plate whose left-right length is the same as that of the second slope member 21. The hinge portion 27 is made up of a one-side hinge portion 28 provided integrally with the front end of the second slope member 21, and a other-side hinge portion 29 provided integrally with the rear end of the upper ground contact member 26.

[0032] One-side hinge portion 28 has a curved portion 28a that protrudes in a curved shape toward the front from the underside of second slope member 21, and a circular portion 28b that is located at the front and bottom end of second slope member 21. The other-side hinge portion 29 has a protruding portion 29a that protrudes in a curved shape toward the rear and bottom from the rear end of upper-stage ground contact member 26. In hinge portion 27, protruding portion 29a rotates along the curved surfaces of curved portion 28a and circular portion 28b, thereby rotating one-side hinge portion 28 and the other-side hinge portion 29. Note that the tip of protruding portion 29a of upper-stage ground contact member 26 abuts against the underside of second slope member 21, or the rear and top end of upper-stage ground contact member 26 abuts against the tip of second slope member 21, thereby restricting the rotation angle of the other-side hinge portion 29 to a certain range (angle α shown in FIG. 6 ). In this way, by providing the hinge portion 27 on the front side of the second slope member 21, when the second slope member 21 is installed on a step G1 as shown in Fig. 3, the hinge portion 29 rotates so that the upper surface of the second slope member 21 and the upper surface of the upper ground member 26 are flush with each other. Therefore, compared to when the second slope member 21 has the bent portion 21a, the step caused by the bent portion 21a can be eliminated.

[0033] (Fifth embodiment) In the first to fourth embodiments, the first slope member 11, the first rotating member 12, the second slope member 21, the second rotating member 22, etc. are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy. In the present embodiment, a slope device 300 that is made of, for example, iron or steel and has sufficient strength will be described. Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the slope device 300. Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the slope device 300. The following description will focus on the configuration that differs from the first to fourth embodiments. The slope device 300 of this embodiment includes a first slope section 10, a second slope section 20, an intermediate slope section 40, a support section 50, and connecting members 110 (110a to 110d).

[0034] The first slope portion 10 has a first slope member 61 , a first rotating member 62 , and a restricting portion 64 . The second slope portion 20 has a second slope member 71 , a second rotation member 72 , and a restriction portion 74 . The intermediate slope portion 40 includes an intermediate slope member 91 , a rear rotating member 92 , a front rotating member 93 , and a restricting member 94 .

[0035] The first slope member 61, the second slope member 71 and the intermediate slope member 91 are made of, for example, iron or steel, and are formed in the shape of a flat plate. The first rotating member 62, the second rotating member 72, the rear rotating member 92, and the front rotating member 93 are made of, for example, iron or steel and are formed into cylindrical shapes of approximately the same diameter. The first rotating member 62, the second rotating member 72, the rear rotating member 92, and the front rotating member 93 are longer than the left-right lengths of the first slope member 61, the second slope member 71, and the intermediate slope member 91, respectively, and are fixed by bolts, welding, etc. in a state where they extend from the left and right ends of the first slope member 61, the second slope member 71, and the intermediate slope member 91.

[0036] The regulating portions 64, 74, 94 are made of, for example, iron or steel, each having a triangular or V-shaped cross section, and are fixed so as to protrude from the upper surfaces of the first slope member 61, the second slope member 71, and the intermediate slope member 91. The regulating portions 64, 74, 94 are configured as a pair along the front-to-rear direction, and are fixed at positions spaced apart in the left-to-right direction greater than the distance between the left and right casters 3 of the transport cart 1. The regulating portions 64, 74, 94 regulate the transport cart 1 so that it does not fall off the first slope member 61, the second slope member 71, and the intermediate slope member 91. The height of the regulating portions 64, 74, 94 is preferably 9 mm or more, and more preferably 12 mm or more.

[0037] The support portion 50 has a first support portion 80a and a second support portion 80b. The first support portion 80a has a rotation shaft support portion 81. The second support portion 80b has a configuration in which a spacer portion 85 is added to the rotation shaft support portion 81 of the first support portion 80a. The configuration of the second support portion 80b will be described with reference to FIG. 8(b). The second support portion 80b has a rotation shaft support portion 81 and a spacer portion 85. The pivot support portion 81 is made of, for example, iron or steel and has an elongated shape that is approximately the same length as the intermediate slope member 91 in the left-right direction. The pivot support portion 81 is U-shaped and has a front plate 81a, a rear plate 81b, and a bottom plate 81c. That is, the pivot support portion 81 has a shape in which the intermediate plate 31c and side plates of the pivot support portion 31 of the first embodiment are omitted. Furthermore, the pivot support portion 81 has a front pivot support portion 82 and a rear pivot support portion 83 fixed to the upper surface of the bottom surface 81c in parallel along the longitudinal direction of the pivot support portion 81. The front pivot support portion 82 and the rear pivot support portion 83 are spaced apart in the front-to-rear direction. The front pivot support portion 82 and the rear pivot support portion 83 are each approximately flat and support the second pivot member 72 and the front pivot member 93. Here, the front pivot support portion 82 is slightly higher than the rear pivot support portion 83. Therefore, even if the diameters of the second rotating member 72 and the front rotating member 93 are the same, the front and rear slope portions can be continuous when the second rotating member 72 and the front rotating member 93 are supported. The bottom plate 81c of the rotating shaft support portion 81 has a ground contact portion 84 on the lower surface thereof. The front shaft support portion 82 and the rear shaft support portion 83 may have concavely curved upper surfaces so as to stably support the second rotating member 72 and the front rotating member 93, respectively.

[0038] The spacer portion 85 is made of, for example, iron or steel, and is elongated with a length approximately equal to the length of the pivot support portion 81 in the left-right direction. The spacer portion 85 has a holding portion 86 and a fitting portion 87. Similar to the pivot support portion 81, the fitting portion 87 is U-shaped with a front plate 87a, a rear plate 87b, and a bottom plate 87c. A grounding portion 84 is provided on the underside of the bottom plate 87c of the fitting portion 87. The holding portion 86 is fixed to the front surface of the front plate 87a and the rear surface of the rear plate 87b of the fitting portion 87 by welding or the like, and protrudes upward. The holding portion 86 holds the pivot support portion 81, which is inserted from above, and the fitting portion 87 supports the pivot support portion 81. The first support portion 80a has the same configuration as the rotation shaft support portion 81 of the second support portion 80b, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

[0039] The connecting members 110 (110a to 110d) connect the first rotating member 62, the second rotating member 72, the rear rotating member 92, and the front rotating member 93 together. In this embodiment, a pipe clamp that connects two pipes in a parallel state can be used as the connecting member 110. The connecting member 110a connects the left ends of the first rotating member 62 and the rear rotating member 92. The connecting member 110b connects the right ends of the first rotating member 62 and the rear rotating member 92. The connecting member 110c connects the left ends of the front rotating member 93 and the second rotating member 72. The connecting member 110d connects the right ends of the front rotating member 93 and the second rotating member 72.

[0040] The following describes the assembly of the slope device 300 configured as described above at a work site with a step. First, the assembler carries the first slope section 10, the second slope section 20, the intermediate slope section 40, and the support section 50 to the work site in a separated state. Next, the assembler places the first support section 80a and the second support section 80b apart on the lower section of the step, a predetermined distance away from the upper section. Next, the assembler places the front side of the second slope member 71 on the upper section and inserts the second rotating member 72 into the front pivot support section 82 of the second support section 80b from above to rotatably support it. Next, the assembler inserts the front rotating member 93 of the intermediate slope section 40 into the rear pivot support section 83 of the second support section 80b from above, and inserts the rear rotating member 92 of the intermediate slope section 40 into the front pivot support section 82 of the first support section 50a from above. Next, the assembler places the rear side of the first slope section 10 on the ground below, and inserts the first rotating member 62 into the rear journal section 83 of the first support section 50a from above to rotatably support it. Finally, the slope device 300 is assembled by connecting the first rotating member 62 and the rear rotating member 92 with connecting members 110a and 110b, and connecting the front rotating member 93 and the second rotating member 72 with connecting members 110c and 110d.

[0041] As described above, according to this embodiment, the first slope section 10, the intermediate slope section 40, and the second slope section 20 each have a pair of restricting sections 64, 94, 74 that protrude from the upper surface and extend in the front-rear direction, thereby restricting the transport cart 1 from falling off the slope device 300. Furthermore, the restricting sections 64, 74, 94 have a triangular or V-shaped cross section, so that the surfaces facing the casters 3 of the transport cart 1 are inclined surfaces. Therefore, even if the casters 3 come into contact with the restricting sections 64, 74, 94, the inclined surfaces act to return the casters 3 inward in the left-right direction, thereby making it possible to more effectively prevent the transport cart 1 from falling off.

[0042] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, by connecting the first rotating member 62 and the rear rotating member 92, and the front rotating member 93 and the second rotating member 72 with the connecting member 110, the rigidity of the entire slope device 300 can be increased, and the transport cart 1 can run stably. The restricting portions 64, 94, 74 are not limited to having a triangular or V-shaped cross section, but may have, for example, a trapezoidal cross section. The restricting portions 64, 74, 94 are not limited to being configured in pairs on the left and right, i.e., in two rows, but may be configured in, for example, four rows. Furthermore, by adding the intermediate slope portion 40 and the third support portion, it is possible to accommodate even high steps, as in the third embodiment.

[0043] (Sixth embodiment) In the first to fifth embodiments, the first slope member 11, the second slope member 21, etc. are each, for example, a single plate-like member. In the present embodiment, a slope device 400 in which the slope member is made up of a plurality of members will be described. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the slope device 400. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of the slope device 400. Specifically, FIG. 10(a) is a plan view, and FIG. 10(b) is a side cross-sectional view. FIG. 11 is a diagram showing the configuration of a portion of the slope device 400. Specifically, FIG. 11(a) is a side cross-sectional view of the periphery of the first slope section 10, and FIG. 11(b) is a side cross-sectional view of the periphery of the intermediate slope section 40. The following description will mainly focus on configurations that differ from the first to fifth embodiments. The slope device 400 of this embodiment includes a first slope section 10, a second slope section 20, an intermediate slope section 40, and a support section 50. The first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 have the same configuration, and therefore, the description thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0044] The first slope section 10 has a first slope member 121, a first rotating member 122, and a restricting portion . The first slope member 121 is formed by connecting a plurality of elongated members 121a to 121e. The elongated members 121a to 121e are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and are generally plate-shaped and long in the left-right direction. Anti-slip ridges or grooves are provided on the surface of each of the elongated members 121a to 121e along the left-right direction. The ridges or grooves can be provided when each of the elongated members 121a to 121e is extruded.

[0045] The long members 121a and 121b are in contact with the lower step and form a sloped surface that continues from the lower step. The long members 121a and 121b are connected by a cylindrical tenon and tenon groove so that they can rotate within a small range around an axis that runs along the left-right direction. The long members 121a and 121b are also fitted with anti-slip members such as rubber at their lower ends. The left-right ends of the long member 121a have fixing holes 170. The elongated members 121c, 121d, and 121e form inclined surfaces continuing from the elongated members 121a and 121b. The elongated members 121c, 121d, and 121e are each formed in a generally U-shape that opens downward. The elongated members 121c and 121d, and the elongated members 121d and 121e are connected by T-shaped tenons and tenons, respectively. The elongated members 121c, 121d, and 121e are held connected together by connecting members 125, which are generally L-shaped and elongated in the front-to-rear direction, to the bottom ends of each member. Multiple connecting members 125 (for example, three) are arranged with gaps between them on the left and right. The elongated members 121b and 121c are connected by a cylindrical tenon and tenon groove so that they can rotate within a certain range around an axis that runs along the left-right direction. Here, the cylindrical tenon and tenon groove form a hinge portion. In this embodiment, the rotation range between the elongated members 121b and 121c is set larger than the rotation range between the elongated members 121a and 121b.

[0046] The first rotating member 122 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The first rotating member 122 is shorter than the length in the left-right direction of the first slope member 121, and is fixed to the lower end of the elongated member 121e by a substantially L-shaped tenon and tenon groove, bolts, welding, or the like. The restricting portions 124 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and have a substantially L-shaped cross section. The restricting portions 124 are fixed to the left and right ends of the surface of the first slope member 121, respectively.

[0047] The second slope section 20 has a second slope member 131, a second rotating member 132, and a restricting portion 134. In the slope device 400 of this embodiment, the second slope section 20 has the same configuration as the first slope section 10. Specifically, the second slope section 20 corresponds to the first slope section 10 rotated 180 degrees around the vertical axis. Therefore, the second slope member 131 corresponds to the first slope member 121, the second rotating member 132 corresponds to the first rotating member 122, and the restricting portion 134 corresponds to the restricting portion 124. The multiple elongated members that make up the second slope member 131 are similar to those of the first slope member 121 and are denoted by the same reference numerals.

[0048] The intermediate slope portion 40 includes an intermediate slope member 151 , a rear rotating member 152 , a front rotating member 153 , and a restricting portion 154 . The intermediate slope member 151 is formed by connecting a plurality of elongated members 151a to 151e. The elongated members 151a to 151e are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and have a generally plate-like shape that is long in the left-right direction. The elongated members 151a to 151e are each formed in a generally U-shape that opens downward. The elongated members 151a to 151e are each connected by a T-shaped tenon and tenon groove. Here, among the elongated members 151a to 151e, the elongated member 151a and the elongated member 151e have the same configuration. Furthermore, the elongated members 151a and 151e have the same configuration as the elongated members 121e of the first slope member 121 and the second slope member 131. Furthermore, among the elongated members 151a to 151e, the elongated member 151b and the elongated member 151c have the same configuration. Among the elongated members 151a to 151e, the elongated member 151d has the same configuration as the elongated member 121d of the first slope member 121 and the second slope member 131. In this way, the intermediate slope member 151 aims to reduce costs by sharing some of the elongated members or by sharing the same elongated members with the other slope members. Furthermore, the elongated members 151a to 151e are held in a connected state by connecting the lower ends of each of them with a generally L-shaped connecting member 155 that is long in the front-rear direction. A plurality of connecting members 155 (for example, three) are arranged with intervals between them on the left and right.

[0049] The rear rotating member 152 and the front rotating member 153 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and are formed in a cylindrical shape. The rear rotating member 152 and the front rotating member 153 are shorter than the length of the intermediate slope member 151 in the left-right direction and have the same configuration as the first rotating member 122 and the second rotating member 132. The rear rotating member 152 is fixed to the rear end of the back surface of the elongated member 151a of the intermediate slope member 151, and the front rotating member 153 is fixed to the front end of the back surface of the elongated member 151e of the intermediate slope member 151 by means of an approximately L-shaped tenon and tenon groove, bolts, welding, etc. The restricting portions 154 are made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and have a generally L-shaped cross section. The restricting portions 154 are fixed to the left and right ends of the surface of the intermediate slope member 151.

[0050] The support portion 50 has a first support portion 160a and a second support portion 160b. The first support portion 160 a has a rotation shaft support portion 161 . The second support portion 160b has a rotation shaft support portion 161 and a spacer portion 165. The pivot support portion 161 of the first support portion 160a is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy and has an elongated shape whose length in the left-right direction is approximately the same as or shorter than that of the first slope member 121. The pivot support portion 161 has a front plate 161a, a rear plate 161b, a bottom plate 161c, and a side plate 161d. Two insertion holes 161e are formed in the side plate 161d, into which fixing screws 171 serving as fixing members can be inserted. A receiving member 168, which is integrally formed with a front pivot support portion 162 and a rear pivot support portion 163, is fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate 161c of the pivot support portion 161. The receiving member 168 is made of, for example, rubber. The front pivot support portion 162 and the rear pivot support portion 163 have concavely curved upper surfaces that substantially match the curved outer peripheral surfaces of the first pivot member 122 and the rear pivot member 152. The front journal portion 162 is slightly higher than the rear journal portion 163 .

[0051] The rotation shaft support portion 161 of the second support portion 160b has the same configuration as the rotation shaft support portion 161 of the first support portion 160a. The spacer portion 165 is made of, for example, iron or steel, and has an elongated shape with a length approximately equal to the length of the pivot support portion 161 in the left-right direction. The spacer portion 165 has a holding portion 166 and a raised portion 167. The raised portion 167 is formed, for example, by arranging two rectangular pipes in parallel in the front-to-rear direction, and the holding portion 166 is fixed to the upper surface of the raised portion 167. The raised portion 167 also has a plurality of fixing holes 169 for fixing the second support portion 160b to the installation surface below. The spacer portion 165 is fixed to the installation surface below through the fixing holes 169 using anchor bolts or the like. The holding portion 166 is approximately U-shaped and opens upward, and holds the pivot support portion 161 inserted from above. The holding portion 166 and the raised portion 167 are connected via fixing bolts (not shown).

[0052] Furthermore, in the slope device 400 of this embodiment, at least one of the gradient start position and gradient end position is colored differently from the other to improve the visibility of the gradient start position or gradient end position. Specifically, of the first slope member 121, the elongated members 121a and 121b adjacent to or close to the boundary between the slope device 400 and the lower section are colored a different color from the elongated members 121c to 121e. Also, of the second slope member 131, the elongated members 121a and 121b adjacent to or close to the boundary between the slope device 400 and the upper section are colored a different color from the elongated members 121c to 121e. For example, if the elongated members 121c to 121e are a metallic color such as silver, the elongated members 121a and 121b may be a color other than the metallic color, such as one of the three primary colors, such as red, green, and blue, or may be colored orange. Therefore, the worker can easily recognize the start position or end position of the gradient in the slope device 400. Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where different colors are applied to the elongated members 121a and 121b, and only the elongated member 121a may be applied with a different color. Furthermore, in the slope device 400 of this embodiment, the left and right ends are colored differently from each other to improve the visibility of the left and right ends. Specifically, the restricting portions 124, 134, and 154 are colored a different color from the elongated members 121c-121e and 151a-151e. For example, if the elongated members 121c-121e and 151a-151e are a metallic color such as silver, the restricting portions 124, 134, and 154 may be a color different from the metallic color, such as one of the three primary colors of red, green, and blue, or may be colored orange or the like. Note that giving a different color to other parts may mean using a different material to give a different color, or may mean using the same material but giving it a different surface treatment (including a treatment to apply color) to give it a different color.

[0053] The following describes the assembly of the slope device 400 configured as described above at a work site with a step. First, the assembler carries the first slope section 10, the second slope section 20, the intermediate slope section 40, and the support section 50 separately to the work site. Next, the assembler places the first support section 160a and the second support section 160b apart on the lower section of the step, a predetermined distance away from the upper section. The assembler fixes anchor bolts through the fixing holes 169 to the installation surface of the lower section. Next, the assembler grounds the front side of the second slope member 131 on the upper step and inserts the second rotating member 132 into the front pivot support portion 162 of the second support portion 160b from above to rotatably support it. Next, the assembler inserts the front rotating member 153 of the intermediate slope portion 40 into the rear pivot support portion 163 of the second support portion 160b from above and inserts the rear rotating member 152 of the intermediate slope portion 40 into the front pivot support portion 162 of the first support portion 160a from above. Next, the assembler grounds the rear side of the first slope portion 10 on the lower step and inserts the first rotating member 122 into the rear pivot support portion 163 of the first support portion 160a from above to rotatably support it.

[0054] Next, the assembler inserts fixing screws 171 into the insertion holes 161e of the side plates 161d of the rotation shaft supports 161 of the first support portion 160a and the second support portion 160b. The fixing screws 171 are inserted into the first rotation member 122, the rear rotation member 152, the front rotation member 153, and the second rotation member 132. Therefore, the first slope portion 10 and the intermediate slope portion 40 are coupled to the first support portion 160a, and the intermediate slope portion 40 and the second slope portion 20 are coupled to the second support portion 160b. If necessary, anchor bolts may be used to pass through the fixing holes 170 in the elongated members 121a of the first slope member 121 and the second slope member 131 to fix them to the lower installation surface and the upper installation surface. In the slope device 400 assembled in this manner, the elongated members 121b and 121c of the second slope member 131 rotate, and the elongated members 121a and 121b become substantially flush with the upper installation surface (see FIG. 10(b)). Furthermore, when the slope device 400 is viewed from above, the support portion 50 is contained within the left-right dimensions of the first slope member 121, the intermediate slope member 151, and the second slope member 131, and does not protrude from the left-right ends (see FIG. 10(a)). Therefore, even when an operator works around the slope device 400, contact with the slope device 400 can be prevented.

[0055] As described above, according to this embodiment, the first slope member 121, the intermediate slope member 151, and the second slope member 131 are each made up of a plurality of members, specifically a plurality of elongated members 121a-121e, 151a-151e. This makes it possible to easily manufacture the first slope member 121, the intermediate slope member 151, and the second slope member 131. Note that although the description has been given here of a case where each slope member is made up of five members, the present invention is not limited to this, and each slope member may be made up of two or more, or three or more members. Furthermore, by configuring the first slope member 121 and the second slope member 131 from multiple members, specifically multiple elongated members 121a to 121e, it is possible to easily apply a process of making the elongated members 121a, 121b corresponding to the start position or end position of the gradient different colors. Furthermore, by adding the intermediate slope portion 40 and the third support portion, it is possible to accommodate even high steps, as in the third embodiment.

[0056] The present invention has been described above in conjunction with the above-mentioned embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to only the above-mentioned embodiments, and modifications and the like are possible within the scope of the present invention, and the above-mentioned embodiments may be combined as appropriate. In the first embodiment and the like described above, the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 are described as being separable from the support section 30, but at least one of the first slope section 10 and the second slope section 20 may be separable from the support section 30, or neither may be separable to prevent loss. Furthermore, in the second embodiment and the like described above, the intermediate slope portion 40 is separable from the support portion 50, but it does not have to be separable in order to prevent loss. In addition, in each of the above-described embodiments, the first rotating member, the front rotating member, the rear rotating member, or the second rotating member is cylindrical, but this is not limited to this. Any shape may be used as long as the angle of the gradient of the first slope portion 10, the intermediate slope portion 40, or the second slope portion 20 can be changed by the support portion 50. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 10: First slope portion 11: First slope member 12: First rotating member 20: Second slope portion 21: Second slope member 22: Second rotating member 30: Support portion 31: Rotation shaft support portion 34: Ground contact portion 40: Intermediate slope portion 50: Support portion 50a: First support portion 50b: Second support portion 51: Spacer portion 61: First slope member 62: First rotating member 64: Restriction portion 71: Second slope member 72: Second rotating member 74: Restriction portion 80a: First support portion 80b: Second support portion 94: Restriction portion 121: First slope member 121a to 121e: Elongated member 122: First rotating member 124: Restriction portion 131: Second slope member 132: Second rotating member 134: Restricting portion 151: Intermediate slope member 151a to 151e: Long member 154: Restricting portion 100, 200, 300, 400: Slope device

Claims

1. a first slope portion; a second slope portion positioned adjacent to the first slope portion and having a changeable slope angle; When the side of the first slope portion is defined as the rear side and the side of the second slope portion is defined as the front side, The second slope portion a slope member; and an upper ground contact member rotatably connected to a front side of the slope member via a hinge portion, The hinge portion is a first hinge portion provided integrally with a front end of the slope member, and a second hinge portion provided integrally with a rear end of the upper ground contact member, The one-side hinge portion is a solid circular portion that protrudes obliquely downward from the front end of the slope member and is formed integrally with the slope member; The other side hinge portion is A slope device characterized by having a protruding portion that rotates along the curved surface of the circular portion and is formed in a concave shape so that it opens diagonally upward toward the rear.

2. The other side hinge portion is 2. The slope device according to claim 1, wherein the rotation angle is restricted to a certain range.

3. The hinge portion is 3. The slope device according to claim 1, wherein the upper-stage grounding member is grounded to the grounded upper stage.

4. 4. The slope device according to claim 3, wherein the one side hinge portion of the hinge portions is grounded to the upper stage on which the upper stage grounding member is grounded.

Images