Stairlifts

摘要

The invention provides a levelling system for the chair of a stairlift, a characteristic feature of the system being the provision of a safety back-up or locking mechanism that will lock the position of the chair in the event of failure within the levelling drive. This locking mechanism preferably includes a locking wheel that is in partial mesh with a geared wheel forming part of the levelling drive. In the event of failure within the drive the locking wheel meshes to lock the position of the chair.

主权项

1. A method of providing a safety facility for a stairlift having a carriage moveable along a rail, the method including the steps of:
mounting a chair pivotally on said carriage; providing a leveling motor operable to provide rotation of said chair relative to said carriage; providing a transmission linking an output of said leveling motor to said chair, said transmission further including a geared surface that is rotatable with rotation of said chair; providing a locking mechanism; in a normal mode said leveling motor driving said transmission to provide rotation of said chair relative to said carriage, said locking mechanism being in non-contacting mesh with said geared surface; and in a failure mode an uncontrolled rotational movement of said chair relative to said carriage causing rotation of said geared surface which causes said locking mechanism to contact with said geared surface and preventing further pivotal movement of said geared surface and said chair.