Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Ladder with land vehicle
Patent
1997-12-11
1999-09-28
Swann, J. J.
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Ladder with land vehicle
182 88, 182 91, 280166, E06C 516
Patent
active
059572370
ABSTRACT:
A collapsible step assembly has upper and lower steps, and a housing which mounts below the door of a vehicle. The steps and housing are interconnected by pivotally mounted linkages. A pivot rod extends transversely through the housing with a linkage fastened to each end. A link arm is connected to the rod with a universal ball joint. The link arm is swivelly mounted to a drive gear with teeth which extend circumferentially along an arcuate edge portion. The drive gear is pivotally mounted to the housing and engages a drive gear extending from a motor. The drive gear rotates the pivot rod and, hence, the steps between retracted and extended positions. A flat outer edge of the drive gear abuts a mechanical stop in the extended position. When the user steps on the steps while they are extended, the stop will resist countertorque on the pivot rod from being applied through the gears to the motor. The geometry of the drivetrain causes the pivot point of the link arm to move past a central position to an overcenter position. In the overcenter position, a force on the link arm would tend to cause the drive gear to abut the stop so that the drive gear does not absorb any force.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3957284 (1976-05-01), Wright
patent: 4073502 (1978-02-01), Frank
patent: 4106790 (1978-08-01), Weiler
patent: 4110673 (1978-08-01), Nagy
patent: 5505476 (1996-04-01), Maccabee
Owner's Manual #874 for Electric Steps Kwikee Products Company, Inc., Mar. 1996.
Bradley James E.
Ririe Andrew J.
Specific Cruise Systems, Inc.
Swann J. J.
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