PASSENGER VEHICLE
A passenger vehicle that is operable along a ground surface is provided. The passenger vehicle includes a vehicle frame that has a beam with an aperture extending through the beam, a floor at least partially supported by the beam, and a ramp assembly positioned below the floor. The ramp assembly extends through the aperture. The ramp assembly includes a ramp platform that is movable between a stowed position in which the ramp platform extends through the aperture and a deployed position in which the ramp platform extends between the vehicle frame and the ground surface.
1 . A passenger vehicle that is operable along a ground surface, the passenger vehicle comprising:
a vehicle frame including a beam that has an aperture extending through the beam;
a floor at least partially supported by the beam; and
a ramp assembly positioned below the floor, the ramp assembly extending through the aperture, the ramp assembly including a ramp platform that is movable between a stowed position in which the ramp platform extends through the aperture and a deployed position in which the ramp platform extends between the vehicle frame and the ground surface.
2 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is an elongated aperture.
3 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the beam includes a first horizontal section, a second horizontal section opposite the first horizontal section, and a vertical section integrally formed with and extending between the first and second horizontal sections, the aperture extending through the vertical section.
4 . The passenger vehicle 1 , wherein a perimeter of the aperture is defined by the beam.
5 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the aperture is fully bounded by the beam.
6 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein
the beam defines a length, a thickness, and a height, and
the aperture defining a length, a thickness, and a height,
wherein the length of the aperture is less than the length of the beam and the height of the aperture is less than the height of the beam.
7 . The passenger vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the height of the aperture is at least 25% of the height of the beam.
8 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle frame further includes a reinforcement member coupled to each side of the aperture and to opposite surfaces of the beam.
9 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle frame further includes a first support member and a second support member, each of the first and second support members being supported by the beam, the first support member being positioned adjacent a first end of the aperture and the second support member being positioned adjacent a second end of the aperture.
10 . The passenger vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the ramp assembly further includes
a first ramp support member positioned within the aperture on a first side,
a second ramp support member positioned within the aperture on a second side, the ramp platform being movably positioned between the first ramp support member and the second ramp support member;
a carrier hingedly coupled to a distal end of the ramp platform, and
a drive mechanism operably coupled to the carrier and configured to move the ramp platform between the stowed position and the deployed position.
11 . A passenger vehicle that is operable along a ground surface, the passenger vehicle comprising:
a passenger portion having a vehicle frame including a beam, and an aperture extending through the beam, the aperture having a perimeter that is bounded by the beam;
a floor at least partially supported by the beam; and
a ramp assembly positioned below the floor, the ramp assembly extending through the aperture and supported by the beam, the ramp assembly including a ramp platform that is movable between a stowed position in which the ramp platform extends through the aperture and a deployed position in which the ramp platform extends between the vehicle frame and the ground surface.
12 . The passenger vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle frame further includes a first support member and a second support member, each of the first and second support members being supported by the beam, the first support member being positioned adjacent a first end of the aperture and the second support member being positioned adjacent a second end of the aperture.
13 . The passenger vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vehicle frame further includes a reinforcement member coupled to the perimeter of the aperture.
14 . The passenger vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the beam includes a first horizontal section, a second horizontal section opposite the first horizontal section, and a vertical section integrally formed with and extending between the first and second horizontal sections, the aperture extending through the vertical section.
15 . The passenger vehicle of claim 14 , wherein the aperture is fully bounded by the web.
16 . The passenger vehicle of claim 11 , wherein
the beam defines a length, a thickness, and a height, and
the aperture defining a length, a thickness, and a height,
wherein the length of the aperture is less than the length of the beam and the height of the aperture is less than the height of the beam.
17 . The passenger vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the height of the aperture is at least 25% of the height of the beam.
18 . The passenger vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the ramp assembly further includes
a first ramp support member positioned within the aperture on a first side,
a second ramp support member positioned within the aperture on a second side, the ramp platform being movably positioned between the first ramp support member and the second ramp support member;
a carrier hingedly coupled to a distal end of the ramp platform, and
a drive mechanism operably coupled to the carrier and configured to move the ramp platform between the stowed position and the deployed position.