RAMP COVER MECHANISM FOR A WHELLCHAIR RAMP

摘要

A ramp cover mechanism for a wheelchair ramp system is provided. The wheelchair ramp system may include a flip-over ramp, which may have one or more ramp sections, that is hingedly connected to a mounting enclosure located within the vehicle threshold. A link is attached to the ramp and operates to deploy and stow the ramp in response to a drive system such as a hydraulic linear or rotary actuator. The link rests below the vehicle floor when the ramp is stowed generally flat on top of the vehicle threshold, and when the ramp is deployed, a cover plate adjacent the link is moved to conceal a gap left by the link when extended to deploy the ramp. In one embodiment, the cover plate is normally biased toward a horizontal orientation and the ramp cover mechanism includes a rotating cam that cooperates with an articulated lever assembly to raise and lower the cover plate. The cam rotates relative to the orientation of the ramp and the articulated lever assembly and may include a first link with a cam follower and a second link coupled to the first link and generally perpendicular thereto for moving the cover plate. In another embodiment, the ramp cover is normally biased toward a vertical orientation and the ramp cover mechanism includes a flexible link that is tensioned as the ramp is deployed to overcome the normal bias of the ramp cover thereby moving the cover plate to a horizontal orientation.