SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR RAISING AND LOWERING PEOPLE

摘要

A system is provided for raising and lowering a person in either a raising mode or a lowering mode of operation. The system comprises: a seat (10); a footplate (12); a linkage supporting the seat and capable of moving the seat between an upper position and a lower position; and at least one energy store coupled to the seat-supporting linkage. The seat-supporting linkage, in the lowering mode of operation, moves the seat and a person sitting on it from an upper position (Fig l(f)) to a lower position (Fig l(h)) under gravitational forces and the energy store is coupled to the seat- supporting linkage in such a way that it stores the energy so released. The footplate (12) can be lowered by the user transferring part of his weight to the footplate (12), which causes further energy to be stored. These steps can be repeated. In the raising mode of operation of the system, the footplate is raised (Fig l(b) and (c)) using the energy stored. The seat-supporting linkage moves the seat and a person sitting on it from the lower position to the upper position (Fig l(d) and (e)); the energy store applies an upward force to the seat to assist this upward movement but a supplementary force is also provided by the user pressing down on the footplate.