Articulated Barrier Transfer Device for Multi-Sided Wheelchair Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing transfer devices for wheelchairs are not adaptable for smaller private vehicles, often compromising on solidity for smaller dimensions, and are limited in flexibility as they primarily allow access and egress from one side, which is not suitable for confined spaces or uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A transfer device with articulated quadrilaterals and kinematic mechanisms that allow safety barriers to lower on all sides and form access ramps on all sides when in contact with the ground, enabling flexible access and egress from multiple directions, including sides, and capable of handling loads up to 1000 kg, suitable for private vehicles and uneven surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the transfer device is designed for smaller private vehicles, then the overall dimensions are reduced, but the solidity of the structure deteriorates causing wobbly motion during movement
Solution Approach 1:
The safety barriers are designed to change their configuration dynamically based on the platform's position. During movement, the barriers remain vertical to provide stability. When the platform contacts the ground, the barriers automatically tilt to form access ramps. This dynamic adaptation allows the structure to maintain solidity during transport while providing flexible access when stationary.
Solution Approach 2:
The safety barriers are divided into multiple segments that can move independently. Each barrier consists of a vertical portion and a ramp portion that can articulate relative to each other. This segmentation allows the barriers to maintain a compact vertical profile during movement while expanding into stable ramp configurations when needed, resolving the contradiction between compact dimensions and structural solidity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the transfer device allows access and egress from multiple sides, then the flexibility of use is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The safety barriers are designed with multi-functionality to serve multiple purposes. The same barrier structure provides both safety containment during movement and access ramp formation when stationary. The barriers can be configured to serve different sides of the platform, eliminating the need for separate structures for each function and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining high flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The articulated barriers dynamically reconfigure based on operational needs. During platform movement, the barriers maintain a compact vertical arrangement for safety. When the platform contacts the ground, the barriers automatically articulate to form inclined ramps. This dynamic behavior allows multi-sided access capability without requiring permanently extended structures, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
3Reliability
If the safety barriers remain vertical during movement, then the safety containment is improved, but the adaptability to uneven ground deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The safety barriers are designed to transition from a static vertical configuration during movement to a dynamic tilted configuration when the platform contacts the ground. This dynamic adaptation allows the barriers to maintain optimal safety containment during transport while automatically adjusting to accommodate uneven ground surfaces during loading operations, resolving the contradiction between safety and adaptability.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 3bis~5bis
AI summary
The object of the present invention is a transfer device (D) for the loading/unloading of a wheelchair (SR) on/from a vehicle (V) comprising a platform (4), whereon said wheelchair (SR) is positioned during the loading and unloading operations, movable at least from a deposit position (P4), in which it is at the level of the ground (S) to an access position (P3), in which it is at the level of the floor (P) always keeping substantially horizontal due to the fact of being indirectly constrained to the vehicle (V) by a kinematic mechanism (2). The platform (4) is provided with a front safety barrier (6; 600), rotatable to serve as a ramp (6; 600) when the platform (4) is at the level of the ground (S), and side safety barriers (7; 700), According to the invention, when the platform (4) is at the level of the ground (S), also the side safety barriers (7; 700), each substantially constituted by an articulated quadrilateral (72; 702), fold over by suitable kinematic mechanisms (8, 73; 600) while corresponding side ramps (71; 701) are made available. The advantage of the invention consists in the fact that the loading/unloading of the wheelchair (SR) from/to the ground (S) is allowed from any side of the platform (4) by virtue of the automatic folding of both the front (6; 600) and side barriers (7; 700) and of the simultaneous presentation of the corresponding ramps (6; 600), (71; 701).