Telescopic Vehicle Ramp Assembly for Low-Slope Fast Deployment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ramp apparatuses for vehicles, particularly those designed for wheelchair accessibility, face challenges in deploying a ramp platform of sufficient length to meet legal slope standards due to storage space constraints, leading to steep slopes and complex, slow deployment mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A telescopically designed ramp apparatus with multiple interconnected platforms and a drive mechanism, including a hinge mechanism and motorized sprocket system, allows for extended deployment and retraction, reducing slope angles and improving deployment speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the ramp platform is made longer to reduce slope angle, then the slope angle is reduced to meet legal standards, but the storage space on the rear floor is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp apparatus employs a telescopic structure where multiple ramp platforms are nested within each other during storage, allowing a long deployment length to be achieved while occupying minimal storage space on the rear floor. The platforms can be extended sequentially to achieve the required length when deployed.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp platform is divided into multiple telescopic segments that can be extended and retracted independently. This segmentation allows the ramp to achieve a long deployment length when needed while maintaining a compact form factor during storage, effectively resolving the contradiction between length and storage space.
2Length of moving object
If multiple ramp platforms are extended to meet legal slope standards, then the slope requirement is satisfied, but the system complexity increases and deployment speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple ramp platforms are merged into a single integrated telescopic structure rather than operating as separate extendable platforms. This combining approach maintains the required deployment length while simplifying the control system, as a single telescopic mechanism replaces what would otherwise require multiple independent operating systems.
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 enables a longer deployment length with reduced slope angles and faster operation, enhancing usability and compliance with legal standards while optimizing storage space.
Implementation Method 1
a spring member elastically connecting the hinge shaft and the hinge bracket, and the spring member may allow the hinge shaft to be biased toward the retracted position
Implementation Method 2
The front cover may be pivotally mounted on the housing... The front cover may be pivotally mounted on the front upper panel through a hinge shaft and a hinge bracket
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment ramp apparatus for a vehicle includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body, a ramp assembly movable between a stowed position in which the ramp assembly is stowed in a cavity of the housing and a deployed position in which the ramp assembly is deployed or extended from the cavity of the housing, the ramp assembly including one or more ramp platforms telescopically connected to each other, and a front cover bridging between a leading end portion of the housing and a trailing end portion of the ramp assembly in a state in which the ramp assembly is in the deployed position.