Passenger ingress and egress assistance apparatus
An embodiment passenger ingress and egress assistance apparatus includes a case having a cavity defined therein, a moving body configured to move in the cavity of the case in a longitudinal direction of the case, a platform configured to be stowed in and deployed from the cavity of the case by a movement of the moving body, and a hinge mechanism configured to pivotally connect the platform to the moving body.
1 . An apparatus for passenger ingress and egress assistance, the apparatus comprising:
a case having a cavity defined therein;
a moving body configured to move in the cavity of the case in a longitudinal direction of the case;
a platform configured to be stowed in and deployed from the cavity of the case by a movement of the moving body; and
a hinge mechanism configured to pivotally connect the platform to the moving body,
wherein:
the hinge mechanism comprises a shaft disposed between the moving body and the platform,
the platform is connected to the shaft by a first lift bar, a second lift bar, and a bracket assembly,
a first end of the first lift bar and a first end of the second lift bar are connected to the bracket assembly,
a second end of the first lift bar and a second end of the second lift bar are pivotally connected to the platform,
the bracket assembly comprises a first bracket adjacent to the shaft and a second bracket spaced apart from the first bracket, and
the first end of the first lift bar is fixed and connected to the shaft through a connector, and the first end of the second lift bar is connected to the first bracket and the second bracket through a pivot pin.
2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the platform is configured to move between a downward horizontal position and an upward horizontal position by the hinge mechanism in a state in which the platform is fully deployed from the cavity of the case,
the downward horizontal position refers to a position in which the platform is substantially horizontal below the case, and
the upward horizontal position refers to a position in which a bottom wall of the platform is substantially horizontal above a bottom surface of the case.
3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the upward horizontal position refers to a position in which the bottom wall of the platform is horizontally aligned with a top surface of the case.
4 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein:
the platform is configured to move between an upward horizontal position and an inclined position by the hinge mechanism in a state in which the platform is fully deployed from the cavity of the case,
the upward horizontal position refers to a position in which a bottom wall of the platform is substantially horizontal above a bottom surface of the case, and
the inclined position refers to a position in which the platform is inclined with respect to the case at a predetermined angle.
5 . The apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the upward horizontal position refers to a position in which the bottom wall of the platform is horizontally aligned with a top surface of the case.
6 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a ramp cover pivotally mounted on a trailing portion of the platform.
7 . The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the ramp cover comprises:
a first portion inclined at a first predetermined angle; and
a second portion bent from the first portion at a second predetermined angle.
8 . An apparatus for passenger ingress and egress assistance, the apparatus comprising:
a case having a cavity defined therein;
a moving body configured to move in the cavity of the case in a longitudinal direction of the case;
a platform configured to be stowed in and deployed from the cavity of the case by a movement of the moving body; and
a hinge mechanism configured to pivotally connect the platform to the moving body, the hinge mechanism comprising:
a shaft disposed between the moving body and the platform; and
an actuator configured to rotate the shaft,
wherein:
the platform is connected to the shaft by a first lift bar, a second lift bar, and a bracket assembly,
a first end of the first lift bar and a first end of the second lift bar are connected to the bracket assembly,
a second end of the first lift bar and a second end of the second lift bar are pivotally connected to the platform,
the bracket assembly comprises a first bracket adjacent to the shaft and a second bracket spaced apart from the first bracket,
the first end of the first lift bar is fixed and connected to the shaft through a connector,
the first end of the second lift bar is connected to the first bracket and the second bracket through a pivot pin.
9 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a first lock assembly mounted on the moving body and configured to lock and unlock the bracket assembly to the moving body.
10 . The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein:
the first bracket has a first striker pin, and
the first lock assembly comprises a first catch configured to engage and disengage the first striker pin and a first pawl configured to engage and disengage the first catch.
11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
the first catch has an opening,
the opening of the first catch is disposed above the first striker pin, and
the first striker pin is configured to be engaged to and disengaged from the opening of the first catch.
12 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein:
the first catch is parallel to the first bracket, and
the first pawl is perpendicular to the first catch.
13 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a second lock assembly mounted on the second bracket and configured to lock and unlock the second lift bar to the bracket assembly.
14 . The apparatus according to claim 13 , wherein:
the second lift bar has a second striker pin, and
the second lock assembly comprises a second catch configured to engage and disengage the second striker pin and a second pawl configured to engage and disengage the second catch.
15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the second catch and the second pawl are parallel to the second bracket, and
the second catch and the second pawl are flush with each other.
16 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein:
the second catch has an opening,
the opening of the second catch is disposed above the second striker pin, and
the second striker pin is configured to be engaged to and disengaged from the opening of the second catch.
17 . The apparatus according to claim 8 , further comprising a ramp cover pivotally mounted on a trailing portion of the platform, wherein the ramp cover comprises a first portion inclined at a first predetermined angle and a second portion bent from the first portion at a second predetermined angle.