RETRACTABLE STEPS FOR LOW FLOOR VEHICLES FOR TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS

摘要

In one embodiment, a vehicle for transporting passengers can include a passenger section, an elevated passenger section, a subfloor discontinuity, and a retractable step. The subfloor discontinuity can be located between the passenger section and the elevated passenger section. The subfloor discontinuity can span the elevation change. The retractable step can be located at the subfloor discontinuity. The retractable step can include a housing, a riser door, and an articulating tread. The housing can at least partially surrounds a volume. The riser door can be in rotatable engagement with the housing such that the riser door rotates into and out of the volume of the housing. The articulating tread can be in rotatable engagement with the housing such that the riser door rotates into and out of the volume of the housing. The retractable step can articulate between a step position and a ramp position.

主权项

1. A vehicle for transporting passengers comprising:
a chassis comprising a front axle, a rear axle that is offset from the front axle by an axle distance and a frame that supports the front axle and the rear axle; a passenger section coupled to the frame, wherein the passenger section spans at least a portion of the axle distance; an access ramp frame adjacent to the passenger section, the access ramp frame having a lowered end and a raised end, wherein the access ramp frame gradually increases in elevation from the lowered end to the raised end; an elevated passenger section that is elevated with respect to the passenger section by an elevation change, wherein the elevated passenger section is above and clear of the rear axle; a subfloor discontinuity located between the passenger section and the elevated passenger section, wherein the subfloor discontinuity spans the elevation change; and a retractable step located at the subfloor discontinuity, wherein the retractable step comprises a housing that at least partially surrounds a volume, a riser door that is in rotatable engagement with the housing such that the riser door rotates into and out of the volume of the housing, and an articulating tread that is in rotatable engagement with the housing such that the riser door rotates into and out of the volume of the housing, and wherein the retractable step articulates between a step position and a ramp position.