METHOD OF CONTROLLING A VEHICLE ASSISTANCE EQUIPMENT TO FACILITATE AN OCCUPIED WHEELCHAIR HANDLING AND THE ASSISTANCE EQUIPMENT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THIS METHOD

Abstract

The vehicle assistance equipment to facilitate an occupied wheelchair (1) handling comprises a control unit (5) and at least one electrically operated winch (3) to whose strap (2) the occupied wheelchair (1) is fastened. The occupied wheelchair (1) is loaded into the vehicle or unloaded out of the vehicle using a drive-up ramp (4) of the vehicle where the winch (3) applies a force to the occupied wheelchair (1) via the strap (2) during the occupied wheelchair (1) handling to facilitate the handling. The parameters of the winch (3) operation continuously change with the changing length of the pulled out strap (2) where the monitored instantaneous load applied to the winch (3) is compared to safe limit values for load for the current position of the occupied wheelchair (1).

Claims

1. The method of controlling a vehicle assistance equipment to facilitate an occupied wheelchair (1) handling, within the framework of which the free end of the strap (2) of at least one electrically operated winch (3) forming a component of the assistance equipment is fastened to the occupied wheelchair (1), then the occupied wheelchair (1) is loaded into a vehicle or unloaded out of the vehicle using a ride of the occupied wheelchair (1) along a drive-up ramp (4) of the vehicle where the winch (3) applies a force to the occupied wheelchair (1) via a strap (2) during handling with the occupied wheelchair (1) and is controlled by a control unit (5) to facilitate the handling characterized in that the following sequence of steps is executed: a) the control unit (5) is set at least one safe limit value for load applied to the winch (3) corresponding to the weight of the occupied wheelchair (1) and/or at least one safe limit value for load applied to the winch (3) corresponding to the torque necessary for pulling the occupied wheelchair (1) in any point along the length of the strap (2) extension from the winch (3), b) the free end of the strap (2) is fastened to the occupied wheelchair (1) manually, c) the control unit (5) activates the monitoring of the instantaneous load applied to the winch (3), d) the winch (3) pre-tensions the strap (2), e) the length of the strap (2) extension away from the winch (3) to the free end of the strap (2) fastened to the wheelchair (1) is determined, f) the control unit (5) activates the winch (3) operation for pulling the occupied wheelchair (1) into the vehicle, g) during the operation of the winch (3) the control unit (5) compares the instantaneous values of load applied to the winch (3) with the safety limit values for load applied to the winch (3) set in step a), h) upon exceeding at least one safety limit value for load applied to the winch (3) the control unit (5) adjusts the parameters of the winch (3) operation or stops the winch (3), i) as soon as the instantaneous value of load applied to the winch (3) returns under the limit value, the control unit (5) adjusts the parameters of the winch (3) operation or reactivates the winch (3) again.

2. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that there is a time delay between step b) fastening the free end of the strap (2) to the occupied wheelchair (1) and step d) the strap (2) pre-tensioning.

3. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that there is a time delay between step d) pre-tensioning of the strap (2) and step f) activation of the winch (3) operation.

4. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the monitoring of the instantaneous load applied to the winch (3) according to steps a) and g) proceeds by any of the following ways or a combination thereof: detection of the winch (3) electric motor current consumption, or detection of the winch (3) electric motor revolutions, or detection of the winch (3) electric motor torque.

5. The method according to claim 1 characterized in that the length of the strap (2) is monitored by detecting the number of revolutions of the winch (3) when unwinding the strap (2) from the winch (3).

6. The method according to claim 5 characterized in that the detection of the number of revolutions is calibrated by winding the strap (2) up to the free end of the strap (2) with the subsequent resetting the number of detected revolutions.

7. The vehicle assistance equipment to facilitate an occupied wheelchair (1) handling comprising at least one winch (3) with a strap (2) to apply a force to the occupied wheelchair (1) and a control unit (5) to control the operation of the winch (3), where the vehicle is fitted with a drive-up ramp (4) for the occupied wheelchair (1) characterized in that the winch (3) is equipped with the first monitoring element (6) to monitor load applied to the winch (3) connected to the control unit (5) for signal transmission, wherein the winch (3) is also equipped with the second monitoring element (7) to monitor the length of the pulled out strap (2) that is connected to the control unit (5) for signal transmission, where the control unit (5) is also equipped with at least one data repository (8) that comprises a safety software module to stop the operation of the winch (3), a control software module to assess load applied to the winch (3), a control software module to control the operation of the winch (3) and a measuring software module to determine the length of the pulled out strap (2).

8. The assistance equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that the safety software module or the control software module comprises an instruction for a time delay between fastening the free end of the strap (2) to an occupied wheelchair (1) and the strap (2) pre-tensioning.

9. The assistance equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that the safety software module or the control software module comprises an instruction for a time delay between the strap (2) pre-tensioning and the activation of the winch (3) operation.

10. The assistance equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that the first monitoring element (6) to monitor load applied to the winch (3) consists of at least some of the following devices or a combination thereof: a device for the detection of the winch (3) electric motor current consumption, or a device for the detection of the winch (3) electric motor revolutions, or a device for the detection of the winch (3) electric motor torque.

11. The assistance equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that the free end of the strap (2) is fitted with an alarm device (9) to stop the operation of the winch (3) that is connected to the control unit (5) for signal transmission, and in that the data repository (8) of the control unit (5) comprises a calibration software module to calibrate the second monitoring element (7) to monitor the length of the pulled out strap (2).

12. The assistance equipment according to claim 11 characterized in that the second monitoring element (7) to monitor the length of the pulled out strap (2) consists of at least one optical sensor for counting the winch (3) revolutions.

13. The assistance equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that the winch (3) has at least rates of the strap (2) unwinding.

14. The assistance equipment according to claim 7 characterized in that it comprises at least one electronically controlled safety retractor (10) to safeguard the occupied wheelchair (1) that is connected to the control unit (5) where the data repository (8) of the control unit (5) comprises at least one uploaded retractor software module.

Description

EXPLANATION OF DRAWINGS

[0027] The present invention will be explained in detail by means of the following figures where:

[0028] FIG. 1 provides a schematic diagram of the assistance equipment,

[0029] FIG. 2 provides a view of the wheelchair before the start of its loading into the vehicle,

[0030] FIG. 3 provides a view of the wheelchair when riding up the drive-up ramp,

[0031] FIG. 4 provides a view of the wheelchair on the drive-up ramp,

[0032] FIG. 5 provides a view of the wheelchair before entry into the transport space of the vehicle,

[0033] FIG. 6 provides a view of the wheelchair during entry into the transport space of the vehicle,

[0034] FIG. 7 provides a view of the wheelchair in the cargo space of the vehicle,

[0035] FIG. 8 provides a view of the graph with an indicated limit value of the maximum load and with a realistic behaviour of forces applied to the winch,

[0036] FIG. 9 provides a plan view of the wheelchair before the drive-up ramp.

AN EXAMPLE OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT

[0037] It shall be understood that the specific cases of the invention embodiments described and depicted below are provided for illustration only and do not limit the invention to the examples provided here. Those skilled in the art will find or, based on routine experiment, will be able to provide a greater or lesser number of equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention which are described here. Also such equivalents will be included in the scope of the following claims.

[0038] The invention concerns assistance equipment designed for vehicles, in particular passenger vehicles, that have been adapted for the transport of an occupied wheelchair 1 in the rear part of the vehicle. An example of such a vehicle can be the Fiat Doblo passenger vehicle whose rear cargo space has been changed into transport space for an occupied wheelchair 1, where the rear part of the vehicle is fitted with a retractable drive-up ramp 4 allowing the occupied wheelchair 1 to be handled during the occupied wheelchair 1 loading and unloading. The drive-up ramp 4 is basically an inclined plane allowing the difference in height between the ground and the floor of the vehicle transport space to be surmounted.

[0039] Considering the fact that the inclined plane of the drive-up ramp 4 with the occupied wheelchair 1 is very difficult to surmount either for the person sitting in the wheelchair 1 or the assisting person, the assistance equipment designed to facilitate the problematic power phase of handling has been invented. The assistance equipment consists of a winch 3 that winds up a strap 2 using one of the strap's free ends onto a winding-up drum, shaft, etc. The strap 2 refers to a textile strap, that is non-elastic, i.e. with a constant length and resistant to mechanical damage, such as abrasion. At its free end the strap 2 is fitted with an element for fastening to the occupied wheelchair 1, for example, a snap hook. Once the strap 2 is duly fastened, the operation of the winch 3 is activated and its strength facilitates the occupied wheelchair 1 handling particularly along the inclined plane of the drive-up ramp 4. In addition, the assistance equipment consists of a control unit 5 that controls the operation of the assistance equipment. The control unit 5 consists of, for example, an integrated computer or microcomputer, a combination of logic circuits, a combination of analog circuits, etc. to be able to receive signals from connected electronic elements, to be able to process the received signals using the software modules uploaded into its data repository 8 comprised, e.g. by a flash memory, and to be able to generate control signals for the connected electronic elements. A schematic representation of an example of such assistance equipment is provided in FIG. 1.

[0040] The winch 3 is fitted with the first monitoring element 6 to monitor load applied to the winch 3. The first monitoring element 6 is connected to the control unit 5 on a wire basis. The first monitoring element 6 in one example of the invention embodiment consists of an ammeter and is connected to the power supply distribution system of the electrical drive unit of the winch 3. The current consumption, based on which the degree of load applied to the winch 3 can be calculated changes with instantaneous load applied to the winch 3. The calculation is made on a software basis by the programme integrated in the control software module for the assessment of load applied to the winch 3. Information on load applied to the winch 3 is monitored on a continuous basis.

[0041] In another example the first monitoring element 6 to monitor load applied to the winch 3 consists of an optical sensor detecting the revolutions of the winch 3. If the load applied to the winch 3 increases above the pre-set safe limit value, this situation will be demonstrated by a corresponding decrease in the winch 3 revolutions. The control unit 5 will received this item of information and can consequently change the operation parameters of the winch 3 or stop it completely. Reactivation of the winch 3 operation is performed as soon as the optical sensor detects the movement of the wheelchair 1 where such a movement is induced by the person sitting in the wheelchair or by the assisting person.

[0042] In another example of the present invention embodiment the first monitoring element 6 can consist of a device detecting the torque of the winch 3 electric motor.

[0043] The winch 3 is also fitted with the second monitoring element 7 to monitor the length of the pulled out strap 2 that is connected to the control unit 5 on a wire basis. At the same time the free end of the strap 2 is fitted with an alarm device 9 to stop the operation of the winch 3 that is connected to the control unit 5 on a wire basis. The alarm device 9 consists of, for example, a mechanical stop which, when the entry opening of the strap 2 reaches the winch 3, increases the load applied to the winch 3 in a step manner, which will result in the winch 3 operation switching off. Alternatively, the alarm device consists of an electronic passive wireless transponder that generates a signal for the control unit 5 to stop the operation of the winch 3. A person skilled in the field of automation will be able to employ other equivalent solutions. The second monitoring element 7 can consist of, for example, a light barrier dragged by the rotating part of the winch 3, e.g. a winding drum, shaft, etc., where every revolution of the rotating part is assigned a length of the strap wound up onto/unwound from the winch 3. The length of the strap is determined depending on the number of revolutions of the rotating part of the winch 3.

[0044] The winch 3 can be fitted with a clutch for disconnecting the drive unit of the winch 3, or with a multi speed gearbox allowing a higher speed of the strap 2 unwinding to be attained during manual unwinding towards the occupied wheelchair 1, and vice versa, a consequent decrease in the speed of the strap 2 winding when facilitating the occupied wheelchair 1 handling.

[0045] The assistance equipment includes electronically controlled safety retractors 10 securing the occupied wheelchair 1. To prevent the wheelchair 1 from riding away from the drive-up ramp 4, the wheelchair is safeguarded by safety retractors 10. The retractors 10 are electronically controlled by the control unit 5 to become unlocked in the case of the wheelchair 1 assisted leaving the vehicle via the drive-up ramp 4 to the ground. Signals for the retractors 10 are generated using the retractor software module uploaded to the data repository 8 of the control unit 5.

[0046] The data repository 8 of the control unit 5 comprises a safety software module whose task is to continuously compare load applied to the winch 3 with the instantaneously allowed load and if the limit values are exceeded to stop the operation of the winch 3 or apply an instruction for a change of the winch 3 operation parameters. It also includes a control software module whose task is to control the operation of the winch 3 of the assistance equipment. Last but not least, the control unit 5 in its data repository 8 comprises an uploaded software module processing signals from the second monitoring element 7 and determining the length of the pulled out part of the strap 2. The measuring software module is completed by a calibration software module that resets the data on the length of the pulled out part of the strap 2 upon every complete winding up of the strap 2 for calibration purposes.

[0047] FIG. 2 through 7 show the consecutive phases of handling related to the wheelchair 1 loading into the vehicle. The assistance equipment works in the following steps. At first the free end of the strap 2 is attached to the occupied wheelchair 1 using a hook. After a safety delay lasting for example 5 seconds, the winch 3 is activated to pre-tension the strap 2. After pre-tensioning the strap 2 there is another delay lasting 5 s. Then the winch 3 is activated and gradually changes the length of the strap 2 to move the occupied wheelchair 1 along. With the changing length of the strap 2 the control software module recalls the parameters of the winch 3 operation as the load applied to the strap 2 is changing. As it can be seen in FIG. 2, the total length of the pulled out strap 2 can be divided into three portions where the first portion l.sub.V corresponds to the level of the vehicle floor, the second portion l.sub.R corresponds to the inclined plane of the drive-up ramp 4, and the third portion l.sub.Z corresponds to the ground level. If the control unit 5 ascertains that the end of the strap is within the l.sub.R portion, the safe limit values for load applied to the winch 3 are increased. The increase is shown in the chart in FIG. 8.

[0048] If the strap 2 is not hooked to the occupied wheelchair 1, the strap 2 is winded up to its free end and the operation of the winch 3 is stopped. Subsequently, the measurement of the distance of the pulled out strap 2 is recalibrated.

[0049] The variable quantity referring to the weight of the occupied wheelchair 1 is dealt with by the control a safety software modules that include data for pre-defined intervals of permissible weights. For the transport of one particular person sitting in the wheelchair 1, a suitable interval of weights is set on a potentiometer or a different control element 11 and the control unit 5 then works completely automatically. The potentiometer or different control element 11 is installed in the vehicle and connected to the control unit 5.

[0050] If the operation of the winch 3, needs to be stopped, the person sitting in the wheelchair 1 or the assisting person can exceed the limit for load applied to the winch 3 by braking the wheelchair 1.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0051] The method of controlling the vehicle assistance equipment to facilitate an occupied wheelchair handling can be employed in the area of occupied wheelchair transport.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITIONS

[0052] 1 wheelchair

[0053] 2 strap

[0054] 3 winch

[0055] 4 drive-up ramp

[0056] 5 control unit

[0057] 6 the first monitoring element

[0058] 7 the second monitoring element

[0059] 8 data repository

[0060] 9 alarm device

[0061] 10 safety retractor

[0062] l.sub.Z distance on the ground

[0063] l.sub.R distance on the drive-up ramp

[0064] l.sub.V distance in the vehicle