JP7495316B2 - Loading platform lifting device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a loading platform lifting device that is mounted on the rear of a vehicle's loading platform.

Conventionally, a loading platform lifting device has been known in which sliders are inserted into support pillars erected on both sides of the rear of a vehicle's loading platform so that the loading platform is supported by the sliders (see, for example, Patent Document 1). This loading platform lifting device is used to load and unload luggage between the ground and the loading platform by raising and lowering the loading platform, which is in a horizontal position, along the support pillars.

The loading platform lifting device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a mounting member mounted on a pair of left and right pillars that is fixed to the floor of the loading platform or the chassis frame of the vehicle using fastening means such as bolts. The lower side of the pillars of the loading platform lifting device in the same document is fixed to the bottom of the loading platform using corner ribs (referred to as "rib plates" in Patent Document 1) and fastening means such as bolts. This loading platform lifting device uses fastening means, rather than welding means, at the points where it is fixed to the loading platform.

JP 2014-24494 A

Generally, the manufacturer that produces the vehicle on which the loading platform lifting device is installed (hereinafter referred to as the "vehicle manufacturer") and the manufacturer that produces the loading platform lifting device (hereinafter referred to as the "equipment manufacturer") are separate companies, and the loading platform lifting device is installed on the vehicle at the vehicle manufacturer's factory or the equipment manufacturer's factory.

When a loading platform lifting device is installed on a vehicle at the vehicle manufacturer's factory, the device manufacturer completes welding where welding is required (for example, the joints between the pillars and the installation members) and transports the assembled loading platform lifting device unit to the vehicle manufacturer's factory, etc. Then, at the vehicle manufacturer's factory, etc., the transported loading platform lifting device unit is installed on the vehicle's loading platform using only fastening means such as bolts, without using welding means.

When mounting a platform lifting device on the bed of a vehicle, the support pillars of the platform lifting device must be installed at an appropriate angle, for example, perpendicular to the floor of the bed. Usually, the bottom surfaces of the pillars and the installation members are aligned at right angles beforehand at the equipment manufacturer's factory, and then these members are welded together. Therefore, when the installation members are placed on the floor of the bed and fastened with bolts or the like, the pillars are installed at approximately perpendicular angles to the floor of the bed.

However, even if the pillars and bodywork are welded together at a right angle, there is a certain tolerance in the perpendicularity, and since there are individual differences in the floor surface of the loading platform, the perpendicularity of the pillars relative to the floor surface of the loading platform may not be within the appropriate range.

The loading platform is supported on both sides by left and right sliders that move up and down inside the support pillars. If the left and right support pillars are not precisely aligned at right angles to the floor of the loading platform, it may be difficult to smoothly raise and lower the loading platform. Furthermore, the load placed on the loading platform is not necessarily placed in the center of the loading platform, but is often placed in a position biased to one side or the other. In this case, the load on the left and right support pillars during use is not uniform, and the installation members installed between the left and right support pillars are twisted. As the left and right support pillars and installation members are often subjected to biased loads to the left and right, it is important to align the left and right support pillars at right angles to the floor of the loading platform in order to suppress deterioration over time. Naturally, such proper angle alignment, such as alignment at right angles, is also important when the equipment is mounted on the loading platform of a vehicle in the equipment manufacturer's factory.

The present invention was devised in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a loading platform lifting device that can be easily installed in the correct position relative to the loading platform, such as by aligning the support posts at right angles to the floor of the loading platform.

The load-receiving platform lifting device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of left and right support pillars, an installation member installed between the support pillars, a load-receiving platform that is raised and lowered along the support pillars, and a connector having a connection structure on each end for connecting to other members, one end of the connector being connected to the underside of the support pillars using the connection structure. The load-receiving platform lifting device further comprises a length adjustment means for adjusting the length of the connector, or a connection position adjustment means for adjusting the connection position of the connector relative to the support pillars.

Examples of the above-mentioned connection structure include an axis, an axis hole, a bolt hole, a male thread (e.g., a bolt), and a female thread (e.g., a nut) provided on the connector.

With a loading platform lifting device having such a configuration, the installation member and the support are mounted on the loading platform of the vehicle, and the other end of the connector is connected to the loading platform using a connection structure. By then adjusting the length of the connector using a length adjustment means, or by adjusting the connection position of the connector relative to the support using a connection position adjustment means, the support can be easily set at an appropriate angle to the floor of the loading platform, for example at a right angle.

The load-receiving platform lifting device according to the second aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of left and right support pillars, an installation member installed between the support pillars, a load-receiving platform that is raised and lowered along the support pillars, and a connector having one end connected to the lower end of the support pillar, and further comprises a length adjustment means for adjusting the length of the connector, or a connection position adjustment means for adjusting the connection position of the connector relative to the support pillars.

With a loading platform lifting device having such a configuration, the installation member and the support are mounted on the loading platform of the vehicle, and the other end of the connector is connected to the loading platform. Then, by using the length adjustment means to adjust the length of the connector, or by using the connection position adjustment means to adjust the connection position of the connector relative to the support, the support can be easily aligned perpendicularly to the floor of the loading platform.

The loading platform lifting device according to the third aspect of the present invention comprises a pair of left and right support pillars erected on both sides of the rear of the loading platform, a mounting member erected between the support pillars, a loading platform that is raised and lowered along the support pillars, and a connector having one end connected to the underside of the support pillars and the other end connected to the loading platform, and further comprises a length adjustment means for adjusting the length of the connector, or a connection position adjustment means for adjusting the connection position of the connector relative to the loading platform and/or the support pillars.

With a loading platform lifting device having such a configuration, the support pillar can be easily aligned perpendicularly to the floor of the loading platform by adjusting the length of the connector using the length adjustment means, or by adjusting the connection position of the connector relative to the support pillar using the connection position adjustment means.

The fourth aspect of the present invention is a loading platform lifting device according to any one of the first to third aspects, in which the connector is configured using a turnbuckle.

This invention makes it easy to install the loading platform lifting device in the correct position relative to the loading platform, including by aligning the support posts at right angles to the floor of the loading platform.

1 is a perspective view showing a loading platform lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a left side view showing a load-receiving platform lifting and lowering device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and shows the inside of the support pillar with a portion of the support pillar omitted. 1 is a plan view showing a loading platform lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention; 1 is a left side view showing a loading platform lifting device according to an embodiment of the present invention, however, a cover that covers a connector is omitted. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a connector according to another embodiment of the present invention.

The loading platform lifting device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the loading platform lifting device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the rear end of a loading platform 3 mounted on a chassis frame 2 of a vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 is intended for use as a "light vehicle" as defined by the Enforcement Regulations of the Road Transport Vehicle Law.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the load-receiving platform lifting device 100 includes a pair of left and right support columns 5, a mounting member 6, a slider 7, a load-receiving platform 8, a slider lifting device 9, and a connector 10. Each part will be described in detail below.

As shown in FIG. 3, the support pillars 5 are erected on both sides of the rear of the loading platform 3. In this embodiment, rectangular cutouts 3a are provided on both sides of the rear end of the loading platform 3 when viewed from above, and the support pillars 5 are erected so as to fit into the cutouts 3a. The support pillars 5 are made of hollow members, and the sliders 7, slider lifting devices 9, etc. are provided inside the support pillars 5.

The installation member 6 is installed between the supports 5 by welding both ends to the supports 5. In this embodiment, a plate material is used as the installation member 6, but other shapes of members may be used as the installation member 6. The installation member 6 is fastened to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 using fasteners 12. Therefore, the pair of left and right supports 5 are fixed to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 via the installation member 6. For example, bolts and nuts are used as the fasteners 12. Although not shown, the installation member 6 is fixed to the chassis frame 2 using a predetermined member and fasteners such as bolts. The configuration for fixing the installation member 6 to the chassis frame 2 in this manner is known and is described, for example, in Patent Document 1.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slider 7 is inserted into each support 5 so that it can move up and down freely. A bracket 7a is provided on the rear side of the lower end of the slider 7, and the bracket 7a protrudes rearward through a slit 5a (see FIG. 1) provided on the rear surface of the support 5.

The load receiving platform 8 is supported by the bracket 7a of the slider 7 and can rotate between an upright position (see the load receiving platform 8 shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2) and a horizontal position (see the load receiving platform 8 shown by the solid line in FIG. 2). The load receiving platform 8 rises and falls as the slider 7 rises and falls within the support 5.

The slider lifting device 9 is a device for lifting and lowering the slider 7, and is composed of a hydraulic pump (not shown), a hydraulic cylinder 13, a wire 14, a movable pulley 16, a fixed pulley 17, etc. The hydraulic cylinder 13 has its bottom side, which is the upper side, fixed to the inner wall of the support 5, and expands and contracts by supplying and discharging pressurized oil from the hydraulic pump. A fixed pulley 17 equipped with two rows of pulleys, one on the left and one on the right, is fixed to the upper part of the support 5. The inside of the support 5 is divided into a front chamber 5A and a rear chamber 5B by a partition wall 18, except for the upper part. The fixed pulley 17 is arranged in the communication part between the front chamber 5A and the rear chamber 5B formed at the upper part of the support 5. A movable pulley 16 is attached to the tip of the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 13. The movable pulley 16 is capable of moving up and down in the front chamber 5A as the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 13 expands and contracts. The movable pulley 16 is composed of two rows of pulleys, one on the left and one on the right, corresponding to the two rows of pulleys of the fixed pulley 17. A wire 14 is stretched between the fixed pulley 17 and the movable pulley 16. One end of the wire 14 is attached to a bracket 14a provided in the middle of the partition wall 18 so as to be located in the front chamber 5A, and the other end is attached to a bracket 14b provided on the slider 7 so as to be located in the rear chamber 5B. When the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 13 extends, the slider 7 rises together with the wire 14 in the rear chamber 5B that rises toward the fixed pulley 17. On the other hand, when the rod of the hydraulic cylinder 13 contracts, the slider 7 descends together with the wire 14 that is sent downward from the fixed pulley 17 into the rear chamber 5B. Although not shown, the slider 7 arranged on the right support 5 is raised and lowered based on the following configuration.

Below the pair of left and right pillars 5, a connecting member (not shown) that connects the pillars 5 extends in the vehicle width direction. This connecting member is hollow, and its hollow portion connects to the rear chamber 5B of both pillars 5. An intermediate pulley (not shown) is arranged in the connecting portion, and another wire attached to a bracket 14a arranged in the front chamber 5A of the left pillar 5 passes through the rear chamber 5B via a fixed pulley 17 and is led to the right pillar 5 through the intermediate pulley. In the right pillar 5, the wire led through the lower intermediate pulley extends to the upper side and is attached to the right slider 7 through a fixed pulley arranged on the upper side of the pillar 5. With this configuration, the right slider 7 also moves up and down in accordance with the extension and contraction of the hydraulic cylinder 13 arranged in the left pillar 5. The configuration of the slider lifting device 9 described above is publicly known and is described, for example, in JP 2007-331630 A.

The connector 10 has a connecting structure at both ends for connecting to other components. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, one end is connected to the lower end of the support pillar 5 via a bracket 21, and the other end is connected to the bottom of the bed 3 via a bracket 22. In this embodiment, both ends of the connector 10 are supported (axially supported) by the support pillar 5 and the bed 3 via axles 23, 24 in the vehicle width direction, respectively. Although not shown, a similar connector 10 is also connected between the right-side support pillar 5 and the bed 3.

The connector 10 has a length adjustment means A for adjusting its own length. In this embodiment, a turnbuckle is used as the length adjustment means A. The turnbuckle (connector 10) illustrated in FIG. 4 is composed of a turnbuckle body 10a, a right-handed bolt 10b whose one end is screwed into one side of the turnbuckle body 10a, a left-handed bolt 10c whose one end is screwed into the other side of the turnbuckle body 10a, shuttlecocks 10d fixed to the other ends of the right-handed bolt 10b and the left-handed bolt 10c, and anti-rotation nuts 10e screwed into the turnbuckle body 10a. In this embodiment, one shuttlecock 10d is supported on the lower end of the support 5 via a bracket 21, and the other shuttlecock 10d is supported on the bottom of the loading platform 3 via a bracket 22. In addition, a cover 11 that covers the connector 10 is attached to the connector 10 using a fastener such as a bolt, as shown in FIG. 2.

When the above-mentioned loading platform lifting device 100 is mounted on the loading platform 3 of the vehicle 1, the left and right support pillars 5 are placed in the notches 3a formed on both sides of the rear end of the loading platform 3, and the installation member 6 is bolted to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3. Next, the bracket 21 attached to one end of the installation member 6 is fastened to the lower end of the support pillar 5 using a fastener, and the bracket 22 attached to the other end is fastened to the bottom of the loading platform 3 using a fastener. Then, the length of the connector 10 is adjusted using the length adjustment means A to make the support pillar 5 perpendicular to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3. For example, if the upper side of the support pillar 5 above the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 is inclined forward, the length adjustment means A is used to shorten the length of the connector 10, thereby bringing the angle of the support pillar 5 closer to a right angle with respect to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3. If the side of the support 5 above the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 is inclined backward, the length adjustment means A is used to lengthen the connector 10, thereby bringing the angle of the support 5 closer to a right angle relative to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3. As described above, with the loading platform lifting device 100 according to this embodiment, the length adjustment means A can be used to easily bring the support 5 to a right angle relative to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3.

<Another embodiment 1>
In the above-described embodiment, the connector 10 may be replaced with a connector 10A whose length cannot be adjusted, as shown in Fig. 5(a), provided that a first connector position adjustment means B for adjusting the connector position of the connector 10A relative to the platform 3 in the front-rear direction and a second connector position adjustment means C for adjusting the connector position of the connector 10A relative to the support 5 in the up-down direction are provided.

One end of the connector 10A is pivotally supported on the platform 3 via a bracket 22, and the other end is pivotally supported on the support 5 via a bracket 21. In this embodiment, although the length of the connector 10A itself cannot be adjusted, the support 5 can be easily aligned perpendicularly to the floor surface 3b of the platform 3 by adjusting the connection position of the connector 10A relative to the platform 3 or the support 5. The first connection position adjustment means B is, for example, a long hole in the bolt hole 3c of the bracket 22 or the platform 3, which allows the connection position to be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the long hole. In the example shown in FIG. 5(a), the bolt hole 3c of the platform 3 is a long hole. The second connection position adjustment means C is, for example, a long hole in the bolt hole 5c of the bracket 22 or the support 5, which allows the connection position to be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the long hole. In the example shown in FIG. 5(a), the bolt hole 5c of the support 5 is a long hole.

In this embodiment, if the side of the support 5 above the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 is inclined forward, the first connection position adjustment means B can be used to move the connection position of the connector 10A to the loading platform 3 forward, thereby making the angle of the support 5 relative to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 a right angle. Alternatively, the angle of the support 5 relative to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 can be made a right angle by using the second connection position adjustment means C to move the connection position of the connector 10A to the support 5 downward.

On the other hand, if the upper side of the support 5 above the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 is inclined backward, the first connection position adjustment means B can be used to move the connection position of the connector 10A to the loading platform 3 backward, so that the angle of the support 5 to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 is set to a right angle. Alternatively, the angle of the support 5 to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3 can be set to a right angle by using the second connection position adjustment means C to move the connection position of the connector 10A to the support 5 upward. Since the connector 10A is provided in this way, it is possible to make a subtle angle adjustment of the support 5 to the floor surface 3b of the loading platform 3, so that depending on the use and condition of the vehicle 1, a state in which the angle is slightly changed rather than a strict right angle can be set as the appropriate state. In this embodiment, both the first connection position adjustment means B and the second connection position adjustment means C are provided, but it is also possible to provide only one of them.

<Another embodiment 2>
In the above-described embodiment, the connector 10 may be replaced with a connector 10B that cannot adjust the length and does not have a pivot structure, as shown in FIG. 5(b). However, as in <Other embodiment 1>, it is assumed that the first connection position adjustment means B and the second connection position adjustment means C are provided. In this embodiment, the length of the connector 10B itself cannot be changed, but the first connection position adjustment means B or the second connection position adjustment means C can be used to adjust the connection position of the connector 10B relative to the platform 3 or the support 5, so that the support 5 can be easily aligned at a right angle relative to the floor surface 3b of the platform 3. In this embodiment, only one of the first connection position adjustment means B and the second connection position adjustment means C may be provided.

<Regarding the loading platform lifting device to which the present invention can be applied>
In the above-described embodiment, a loading platform lifting device of the type that is mounted on the vehicle bed using a fastening means has been described, but the application of the present invention is not limited to this loading platform lifting device, and it can also be applied to a loading platform lifting device of the type that is mounted on the vehicle bed using a welding means. Naturally, the present invention is not limited to light vehicles, and can also be applied to vehicles of higher specifications. As for the configuration of the loading platform lifting device, a hollow cross member with the vehicle width direction as the longitudinal direction may be used as the installation member, and a configuration in which a hydraulic cylinder is provided within the installation member may also be used.

The connector may be provided with all of the length adjustment means A, the first connection position adjustment means B, and the second connection position adjustment means C in each of the above-mentioned embodiments, or may be a combination of these means A to C. Furthermore, the connector may be provided with the above-mentioned configurations as long as the configurations do not deviate from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the length adjustment means A may have a structure in which multiple plate members are fastened, and the bolt holes may be elongated, so that the connection position can be adjusted in the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes. In addition, all of the connectors described above are provided in a state in which they are hung diagonally between the loading platform 3 and the support 5, but they may be provided with an approximately L-shaped connector having a vertical section whose longitudinal direction is the vertical direction and a horizontal section whose longitudinal direction is the horizontal direction, and the length of at least one of the vertical section and the horizontal section may be adjustable. In addition, such an approximately L-shaped connector may be provided with the first connection position adjustment means B and the second connection position adjustment means C.

Furthermore, by providing the length adjustment means A, the first connection position adjustment means B, or the second connection position adjustment means C according to the present invention, it becomes possible to make slight angle adjustments to the support pillar 5 not only at the time of manufacturing and shipping, but also when the vehicle 1 or the loading platform lifting device 100 has already been installed.

The present invention can be applied, for example, to a loading platform lifting device mounted on the rear of a vehicle's loading platform.

100 Load receiving platform lifting device 3 Loading platform 5 Support 6 Installation member 8 Load receiving platform 10, 10A, 10B Connector 23, 24 Shaft A Length adjustment means B First connecting position adjustment means C Second connecting position adjustment means

Claims (4)

A pair of left and right pillars,
An installation member installed between the pillars;
A loading platform that is raised and lowered along the support pillar;
A connector having a connecting structure on each end side for connecting to another member, and one end side is connected to the lower side of the support column using the connecting structure;
A loading platform lifting device comprising:
2. A platform lifting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a length adjusting means for adjusting the length of said connector; or a connection position adjusting means for adjusting the connection position of said connector relative to said support. A pair of left and right pillars,
An installation member installed between the pillars;
A loading platform that is raised and lowered along the support pillar;
A connector having one end connected to the lower end of the support pole;
A loading platform lifting device comprising:
2. A platform lifting device according to claim 1, further comprising: a length adjusting means for adjusting the length of said connector; or a connection position adjusting means for adjusting the connection position of said connector relative to said support. A pair of left and right support pillars erected on both sides of the rear of the loading platform;
An installation member installed between the pillars;
A loading platform that is raised and lowered along the support pillar;
A connector having one end connected to the lower side of the support and the other end connected to the loading platform;
A loading platform lifting device comprising:
A loading platform lifting device further comprising a length adjustment means for adjusting the length of the connector, or a connection position adjustment means for adjusting the connection position of the connector relative to the loading platform and/or the support pillar. In the loading platform lifting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A loading platform lifting device, characterized in that the connecting device is constructed using a turnbuckle.

Images