A mechanism for deploying and aligning a ramp relative to a platform includes a main bearing operatively associated with the platform and rotatable about a main pivot axis; a drive member disposed on the main bearing, the drive member being adapted to drive the main bearing to rotate about the main pivot axis; a rotating member disposed on the main bearing and rotatable about the main pivot axis with the main bearing; and a ramp member rotatably connected to the rotating member at a pivot point eccentric to the main pivot axis. Rotation of the rotating member causes the ramp member to move between a stowed position and a deployed position in an arcuate path about the main pivot axis.

A method is disclosed for deploying a ramp assembly. The ramp assembly includes a ramp portion rotatable between a stowed position and a deployed position. The ramp assembly further includes a panel rotatable about a first end, wherein the ramp portion supportingly engages a second end of the panel to elevate the second end of the panel as the ramp portion moves toward the deployed position. The method includes the step of rotating the ramp portion until the ramp portion contacts an alighting surface. The method further includes the step of rotating the ramp portion until one of a first condition and second condition occurs. The first condition is that the ramp portion has reached a maximum slope. The second condition is that the second end of the panel has reached a predetermined elevation.

A lifting apparatus comprises: a base part, a lifting rope, a sheave assembly, a first rotatably mounted sheave, around which the rope passes and from which the rope extends downwardly to a load, a second rotatably mounted sheave and a drive for moving the sheave assembly. The sheave assembly is mounted for pivotal movement relative to the base part about an axis of pivoting spaced from the axis of rotation of the first sheave and coincident with the axis of rotation of the second sheave. During movement of the load relative to the base part, the first sheave is moved by the drive to compensate for that relative movement, the movement of the first sheave being such that the vertical component of the movement of the first sheave relative to the load is less than the vertical component of the movement of the base part relative to the load.

A ramp assembly comprises a support defining each of a vertical axis and a horizontal axis, a ramp being coupled to the support and being configured to support an passenger thereon. An optional actuator mechanism may be coupled to at least one of the support, the ramp, a power source and a controller, the actuator mechanism configured, in a response to a control signal from the controller or in a response to a manual force, to rotate the ramp about the vertical axis between a stowed position and a deployed position or rotate the ramp about the horizontal axis between the deployed position and a ground engaging position. The actuator may comprise a motor with a gearbox and two gears to rotate the ramp about the vertical axis. The actuator may comprise a linear actuator to rotate the ramp about the horizontal axis.

A portable slope comprising at least a plate member and a first reinforcing part, and configured in a manner such that the first reinforcing part extends in the longitudinal direction of the slope, a hollow part is formed between the plate member and the first reinforcing part, the shape of the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first reinforcing part is quadrangular, and the like. Provided is a portable slope to be used to bridge a difference in step produced between buildings and train car bodies, the portable slope being lightweight and exhibiting excellent load bearing characteristics and durability, making it possible for a wheelchair-user to safely travel on the slope by the positioning of derailment prevention walls on both lateral surfaces of the slope, and further exhibiting excellent portability as a result of the slope itself being lightweight.

A portable slope comprising at least a plate member and a first reinforcing part, and configured in a manner such that the first reinforcing part extends in the longitudinal direction of the slope, a hollow part is formed between the plate member and the first reinforcing part, the shape of the cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the first reinforcing part is quadrangular, and the like. Provided is a portable slope to be used to bridge a difference in step produced between buildings and train car bodies, the portable slope being lightweight and exhibiting excellent load bearing characteristics and durability, making it possible for a wheelchair-user to safely travel on the slope by the positioning of derailment prevention walls on both lateral surfaces of the slope, and further exhibiting excellent portability as a result of the slope itself being lightweight.

A motor coach comprises a front door, a front stairwell, an upper aisleway, upper seats, a side door and a mobility impaired area. The front stairwell leads from the front door. The upper aisleway leads from the front stairwell. The upper aisleway is generally at the level of the top of the upper stairwell. The upper seats are along the upper aisleway. The side door may be lower than or at the same height as the front door, and leads to the mobility impaired area, which is inside and generally at the level of the bottom of the side door. The upper aisleway, upper seats, and mobility impaired area are all together in one unified passenger compartment while separated by differences of location of doors for loading and heights of floors. Numerous advantages flow, including but not limited to the following: loading and unloading times for mobility impaired passengers are substantially improved, especially as compared to typical high floor, wheelchair lift equipped coaches.

A motor coach comprises a front door, a front stairwell, an upper aisleway, upper seats, a side door and a mobility impaired area. The front stairwell leads from the front door. The upper aisleway leads from the front stairwell. The upper aisleway is generally at the level of the top of the upper stairwell. The upper seats are along the upper aisleway. The side door may be lower than or at the same height as the front door, and leads to the mobility impaired area, which is inside and generally at the level of the bottom of the side door. The upper aisleway, upper seats, and mobility impaired area are all together in one unified passenger compartment while separated by differences of location of doors for loading and heights of floors. Numerous advantages flow, including but not limited to the following: loading and unloading times for mobility impaired passengers are substantially improved, especially as compared to typical high floor, wheelchair lift equipped coaches.

An extended range sliding door hinge may include a track bracket assembly and an intermediate bracket. The track bracket assembly is sized to be operatively received by a vehicle door track assembly. A first end of the intermediate bracket is movably mounted to the track bracket assembly so that the intermediate bracket may be moved with respect to the track bracket assembly between a retracted position and an extended position. A second end of the intermediate bracket is sized to operatively engage a vehicle sliding door. The extended range sliding door hinge allows the vehicle sliding door to be moved between a standard position when the intermediate bracket is in the retracted position and an extended position when the intermediate bracket is in the extended position.

A ramp system includes: a ramp main body provided in a door opening and configured to be able to advance from a vehicle floor toward a road surface; a ramp-state detection device configured to detect an advancing-retracting state of the ramp main body; a display device configured to display an image in a display area observable from an operator seat; and a UI controller configured to control display on the display device. The UI controller causes the display device to display a state image including an image indicative of the advancing-retracting state.