Vehicle Ramp Assembly with Tilt Sensor and Counterweight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fold out ramps for vehicles face challenges such as increased torque requirements due to longer lengths, difficulty in manual operation, and obstacles created by the ramp storage depression, as well as variations in deployment angles caused by road crown and vehicle tilting features, which affect the accessibility and safety for wheelchair-bound passengers.
Innovation Solution
A ramp assembly with a rotatable ramp portion that senses its angle relative to a horizontal plane, providing an alert when the angle reaches a predetermined value, allowing for adjustable deployment and improved accessibility while accounting for vehicle tilting and road conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ramp length is increased to provide a more gradual slope, then accessibility for wheelchair passengers is improved, but the weight and torque requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A counterweight mechanism is integrated into the ramp assembly to offset the weight of the extended ramp. The counterweight is positioned to create a balancing moment that reduces the net torque required to deploy and retract the ramp, enabling manual operation of longer, more accessible ramps without requiring excessive force.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp system transitions from a static fixed-angle design to a dynamic adjustable-angle configuration. The ramp can be positioned at multiple discrete angles (e.g., 5°, 10°, 15°) relative to the vehicle floor, allowing optimization of the slope gradient for different curb heights and road conditions while maintaining manageable torque requirements through the counterbalance mechanism.
2Ease of operation
If a power source is added to reduce manual operation difficulty, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The counterweight mechanism enables the ramp to be self-servicing during deployment and retraction. The gravitational force on the counterweight automatically provides the necessary force to move the ramp between positions, requiring minimal human intervention and eliminating the need for complex powered actuation systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the ramp is designed to accommodate varying deployment angles, then adaptability to different conditions is improved, but measurement precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
A sensor system continuously monitors the ramp's deployment angle and provides feedback to both the control system and the user. The sensor detects the ramp's position relative to the vehicle floor and generates signals that activate indicators (such as LEDs or display elements) to show when the ramp has reached predetermined angle positions, ensuring accurate positioning without requiring complex manual measurement.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the vehicle includes a kneeling feature to reduce curb height, then adaptability is improved, but the absolute ramp angle increases due to road crown
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp system is designed with dynamic angle adjustment capability that works in conjunction with the vehicle's kneeling feature. The ramp can be deployed at multiple discrete angles relative to the vehicle floor, allowing the system to compensate for the increased absolute angle caused by road crown and kneeling, thereby maintaining an accessible slope gradient for wheelchair passengers.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances the accessibility and safety of wheelchair-bound passengers by providing a more gradual slope and adjustable deployment, ensuring the ramp is safely and easily operated, even in varying conditions, and alerts the operator to critical deployment angles.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor senses an angle of the ramp portion relative to a horizontal plane
Data Source
AI summary
A ramp assembly for providing a transition surface between a vehicle floor and an alighting surface is disclosed. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion that is rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. A sensor senses an angle of the ramp portion relative to a horizontal plane and provides a sensor output that corresponds to the angle of the ramp portion relative to the horizontal plane. The ramp assembly further includes a controller that receives the sensor output and an alert device. The controller controls the alert device to provide an alert when the angle of the ramp portion relative to the horizontal plane reaches a predetermined value.