Vehicle Ramp Assembly Installation Method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fold-out ramps for vehicles face challenges such as increased weight and torque requirements for longer ramps, limited length due to space constraints, and installation complexities related to recesses and vehicle chassis locations, which affect operability and accessibility for wheelchair-bound passengers.
Innovation Solution
A method for installing a ramp assembly into a vehicle using first and second ramp support members, where mounts are affixed to support the ramp assembly in a stowed position with the top surface facing upward, allowing for adjustment to be flush with the vehicle floor and secured to maintain a vertical position, addressing the weight and space issues through strategic positioning and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the ramp length is increased to provide a more gradual slope for wheelchair accessibility, then the accessibility is improved, but the weight and torque requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp assembly is divided into multiple segments or sections that can be folded or telescoped. This segmentation allows the ramp to achieve a longer extended length for better accessibility while maintaining a compact stowed size, thereby reducing the required weight and torque compared to a single-piece ramp of the same extended length.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp assembly incorporates movable components such as foldable sections or telescopic mechanisms that allow the ramp to dynamically change its length. When not in use, the ramp folds into a compact configuration; when needed, it extends to provide a gradual slope. This dynamic capability enables long ramps without the permanent weight penalty of a fixed-length ramp.
2Ease of operation
If the ramp length is increased to improve accessibility, then the slope becomes more gradual, but the space required in the vehicle increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp is segmented into multiple foldable or telescopic sections that can be collapsed into each other. This allows the ramp to occupy minimal space when stowed within the vehicle while extending to a longer length when deployed for wheelchair access, effectively resolving the conflict between ramp length and storage volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The ramp sections are designed to nest within each other when retracted, similar to a nested doll structure. The smaller sections fit inside larger ones, minimizing the overall volume required for storage while maintaining the capability to extend to a longer operational length for improved accessibility.
3Ease of operation
If the ramp assembly is designed to be longer for better accessibility, then the slope is more gradual, but the torque required to reciprocate the ramp increases
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the ramp into multiple sections connected by hinges or telescopic mechanisms, the system reduces the torque requirement. Each segment can be moved independently with smaller torque, and the segments work together to achieve the longer extended length, avoiding the need for large torque to move an entire long ramp as a single piece.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic foldable or telescopic design allows the ramp to be reciprocated in a staged manner. Rather than requiring large torque to move a long rigid ramp, the system uses a sequence of smaller movements across multiple joints or sections, each requiring less torque, thereby enabling long ramps with reduced force requirements.
4Ease of operation
If the ramp assembly uses a recess or well in the vehicle floor for storage, then the ramp can be stowed, but installation challenges arise that affect operability
Solution Approach 1:
The ramp assembly is designed with universal mounting features that can accommodate various vehicle floor configurations without requiring custom recesses or wells. The support members and mounting mechanisms are standardized to work with different floor types and chassis locations, simplifying installation while maintaining stowability functionality across multiple vehicle platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary mounting components or adapter mechanisms that facilitate the connection between the ramp assembly and the vehicle floor. These intermediaries simplify the installation process by providing standardized interfaces that bridge the ramp system with various floor configurations, reducing installation complexity while preserving the stowability function.
Data Source
AI summary
Exemplary methods are provided for installing a ramp assembly into a vehicle. The vehicle includes a floor, a vehicle well disposed in the floor, and first and second ramp support members. In one embodiment, ramp assembly mounts, such as movable mounting blocks, are utilized for installing the ramp assembly into the vehicle.