VEHICLE RAMP ASSEMBLY

• Main Authors: GARLAND, Martin, REMION, Jo, LACHAT, Daisy, LINES, David
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 28.08.2019
• Subjects: CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HYGIENE; MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; TRANSPORT OR ACCOMODATION FOR PATIENTS

Provided is a ramp assembly for a vehicle, comprising a ramp for supporting one or more wheels of a vehicle and providing a bridge over stepped terrain on which the wheels of the vehicle can travel, wherein the ramp is arranged to be movable between a first configuration in which the ramp is stowed in the ramp assembly, a second configuration in which the ramp extends from the ramp assembly, and a third configuration in which the ramp is arranged to support the wheels of the vehicle as it travels over the stepped terrain, a drive mechanism for driving motion of the ramp, and a carriage coupling the drive mechanism to the ramp, the carriage having a primary actuation system to enable rotation of the ramp about a pivot, and a secondary actuation system to enable linear movement of the carriage along the ramp, the apparatus further comprising a control module for controlling the drive mechanism to drive the carriage around a curvilinear loop, and to control the carriage and drive mechanism such that the ramp is driven in a cycle from the first configuration to the second configuration to the third configuration to the first configuration. Also provided is a wheeled vehicle comprising the ramp assembly.