Abstract: An automatic container filler (20) having a frame (22) that supports a hopper (24). A dispensing unit (26) is located at the bottom of the hopper (24) that selectively feeds a fluent material, such as sand, into a plurality of discharge chutes (28). The automatic container filler (20) is designed such that fluent material, such as sand, is fed into the hopper (24). The dispensing unit (26) moves the fluent material from the hopper (24) through the discharge chutes (28) into containers such as sandbags. The dispensing unit (26) deposits a predetermined amount of the fluent material through each of the discharge chutes (28) and into containers in sequential order.

Abstract: A ramp assembly (20) for mounting in a low floor bus (22) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly (20) includes a rectangular enclosure (24) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus (22). The ramp assembly (20) includes a reciprocating mechanism (26) for moving a ramp platform (28) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism (26) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform (28) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus (22).

Abstract: An automatic door reciprocating system (20) is disclosed. The automatic reciprocating system is adapted for use with a wheelchair lift (152) designed to be stowed in a lower compartment of a vehicle (24). The vehicle includes a floor and a sliding door (22) where the sliding door is slidable between open and closed positions. The wheelchair lift includes a platform that is movable between an upper position, where the platform is substantially coplanar with the floor, and a lower position. The automatic door reciprocating system includes a reciprocating assembly (26) for automatically reciprocating the sliding door between the opened and closed positions.

Abstract: A wheelchair ramp assembly (20) is disclosed. The wheelchair ramp assembly includes a frame attachable to a vehicle having a floor, a platform coupled to a portion of the frame, a ramp having a weight, and a reciprocating mechanism disposed between the ramp and the platform coupled to a portion of the frame, a ramp having a weight, and a reciprocating mechanism disposed between the ramp and the platform for reciprocating the ramp between a deployed position and a stowed position in response to a force. The reciprocating mechanism counterbalancing the weight of the ramp during actuation of the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions to reduce the force required to reciprocate the ramp between the deployed and stowed positions.

Abstract: A ramp assembly (20) for mounting in a low floor bus (22) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly (20) includes a rectangular enclosure (24) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus (22). The ramp assembly (20) includes a reciprocating mechanism (26) for moving a ramp platform (28) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism (26) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform (28) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus (22).

Abstract: A ramp assembly (20) for mounting in a low floor bus (22) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly (20) includes a rectangular enclosure (24) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus (22). The ramp assembly (20) includes a reciprocating mechanism (26) for moving a ramp platform (28) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism (26) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform (28) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus (22).

Abstract: A ramp assembly (20) for mounting in a low floor bus (22) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly (20) includes a rectangular enclosure (24) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus (22). The ramp assembly (20) includes a reciprocating mechanism (26) for moving a ramp platform (28) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism (26) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform (28) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus (22).

Abstract: A ramp assembly for mounting in a low floor bus or other vehicle. The ramp assembly includes a rectangular enclosure that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus. The ramp assembly includes a reciprocating mechanism for moving a ramp platform between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism raises the trailing end of the ramp platform in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus.

Abstract: A ramp assembly is provided. The ramp assembly includes a frame, a ramp platform, a reciprocating mechanism and first and second levers. The ramp platform is mounted in the frame and defines trailing and forward ends. The reciprocating mechanism extends and retracts the ramp platform along a length of the frame between stowed and deployed positions. The ramp platform is arranged when deployed such that the forward end extends down toward the ground. The first lever has a distal end attached to a first side of the trailing end of the ramp platform. The first lever is configured to rotate as the ramp platform is extended, thereby lifting the first side of the trailing end upward. The second lever includes a distal end attached to a second side of the trailing end of the ramp platform. The second lever is configured to rotate as the ramp platform is extended, thereby lifting the second side of the trailing end upward.

Abstract: A ramp assembly (20) for mounting in a low floor bus (22) or other vehicle. The ramp assembly (20) includes a rectangular enclosure (24) that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus (22). The ramp assembly (20) includes a reciprocating mechanism (26) for moving a ramp platform (28) between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism (26) raises the trailing end of the ramp platform (28) in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus (22).

Abstract: An automatic container filler (20) having a frame (22) that supports a hopper (24). A dispensing unit (26) is located at the bottom of the hopper (24) that selectively feeds a fluent material, such as sand, into a plurality of discharge chutes (28). The automatic container filler (20) is designed such that fluent material, such as sand, is fed into the hopper (24). The dispensing unit (26) moves the fluent material from the hopper (24) through the discharge chutes (28) into containers such as sandbags. The dispensing unit (26) deposits a predetermined amount of the fluent material through each of the discharge chutes (28) and into containers in sequential order.

Abstract: A platform-type wheelchair lift for mounting in the stairwell of a vehicle, such as a bus or train. The wheelchair lift includes a platform frame that is movable from a retracted position in which it is stowed underneath the vehicle to an extended position in which it extends out from the side or back of the vehicle. A wheelchair platform is movably coupled to the platform frame by a parallelogram linkage that allows the wheelchair platform to move between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair platform includes foldable outer, side, and inner wheelchair barriers that prevent a wheelchair from moving off of the wheelchair platform during operation of the wheelchair lift. The outer and inner wheelchair barriers are capable of absorbing part of the energy of an impact between a wheelchair and the barriers and in ways cause barriers to fold out.

Abstract: A ramp assembly for mounting in a low floor bus or other vehicle. The ramp assembly includes a rectangular enclosure that fits underneath the chassis of the low floor bus. The ramp assembly includes a reciprocating mechanism for moving a ramp platform between a fully deployed position and a fully stowed position. During this movement, the reciprocating mechanism raises the trailing end of the ramp platform in one translational movement with the extension of the ramp platform, such that the trailing end of the ramp platform, when deployed, is raised to the floor level of the low floor bus.

Abstract: A platform-type wheelchair lift for mounting in the stairwell of a vehicle, such as a bus or train. The wheelchair lift includes a platform frame that is movable from a retracted position in which it is stowed underneath the vehicle to an extended position in which it extends out from the side or back of the vehicle. A wheelchair platform is movably coupled to the platform frame by a parallelogram linkage that allows the wheelchair platform to move between a lowered and a raised position. The wheelchair platform includes foldable outer and inner wheelchair barriers that prevent a wheelchair from moving off of the wheelchair platform during operation of the wheelchair lift. The wheelchair platform also includes a mechanical platform interlock mechanism. The platform interlock mechanism is moveable between an unlocked and a locked position. The platform interlock mechanism is in an unlocked position when no weight is placed on the wheelchair platform.

Abstract: A rotatable shaft (12) is supported by a split bearing mounted between the shaft and a fixed object (14). In a preferred embodiment, the split bearing includes a first bearing section (16a), an identical second bearing section (16b), and a removable retainer (18) for holding the bearing sections (16a, 16b) in place. Each bearing section has a concave inner surface (32a, 32b). The first bearing section (16a) and the second bearing section (16b) are fitted to the shaft so that the concave inner surface (32a) of the first bearing section (16a) and the concave inner surface (32b) of the second bearing section (16b) face the shaft. The retainer (18) is mounted on the shaft and includes an opening (40) for receiving and holding the bearing sections (16a, 16b) adjacent to the shaft. Each bearing section (16a, 16b) is provided with a bushing (46a, 46b) that is received by bushing holes (42, 44) in the retainer (18).

Abstract: A rotatable shaft (12) is supported by a split bearing mounted between the shaft and a fixed object (14). In a preferred embodiment, the split bearing includes a first bearing section (16a), an identical second bearing section (16b), and a removable retainer (18) for holding the bearing sections (16a, 16b) in place. Each bearing section has a concave inner surface (32a, 32b). The first bearing section (16a) and the second bearing section (16b) are fitted to the shaft so that the concave inner surface (32a) of the first bearing section (16a) and the concave inner surface (32b) of the second bearing section (16b) face the shaft. The retainer (18) is mounted on the shaft and includes an opening (40) for receiving and holding the bearing sections (16a,16b) adjacent to the shaft. Each bearing section (16a, 16b) is provided with a bushing (46a, 46b) that is received by bushing holes (42, 44) in the retainer (18).

Abstract: A vehicle lift for transporting a wheelchair passenger between a ground-level position adjacent the vehicle to a position adjacent and substantially coplanar with the vehicle floor. The lift includes a pair of rails (36) attached to the vehicle. A carriage assembly (21) includes a pair of slides (34) that ride on the rails (36). The lift further includes a contact sensor (16) for detecting when the lift platform (25) contacts a curb or other object. As the platform is lowered, the relative position of the slides (34) and the rails (36) changes, the sensor (16) detects a relative position of one of the slides (34) and the corresponding rail (36). When the sensor (16) detects a relative position of the slide (34) and the rail (36) indicating that the platform (25) has contacted a curb or other object, the sensor (16) generates a control signal. A lift controller (60) stops the lowering of the platform in response to the control signal from the sensor(16).

Abstract: A linkage assembly (20) for use with a platform or step lift (22) for transmitting force from a linear actuator (228) to a ramp (40) pivotally attached to the outer edge of the platform (26) of the lift so as to cause the ramp to travel through a rotational path of at least 180 degrees. The linkage assembly is designed so that no portion thereof extends more than about 0.25 inch above the upper surface (28) of the ramp and the top surface (48) of the platform, and so that the ramp is driven downwardly toward the extended position with a force insufficient to cause serious injury to a person's feet positioned in the path of travel of the ramp. Additionally, a hinge structure (700) is provided for use with a step lift for coupling the platform with its vertical extensions (66, 68) so as to permit the latter to pivot relative to the platform as the extensions move up and down within the vertical guides (80, 82) in which the vertical extensions are slidably received.

Abstract: A step-type vehicle lift is provided with a linkage assembly (20) and horizontally oriented barrier cylinder (228) that enables movement of a barrier plate (102) between a retracted position and a barrier position while the step/platform assembly (24) is in the step position. A hinge (800) that connects the barrier plate (102) to an outer platform member (103) and is provided with at least one laterally extending projection (810). When the step/platform assembly (24) is in the step position, and the barrier plate (102) is moved to the retracted position, the projection (810) on the hinge (800) engages a slot (114) formed in the top of one of a pair of rails (108) that support the step/platform assembly (24), thereby latching the step/platform assembly (24) in the stowed position. When it is desired to extend the step/platform assembly (24) into the platform position, the barrier plate (102) is raised to the barrier position, thereby disengaging the projection (810) from the slot (114) in the rail (108).

Abstract: A linkage assembly (20) for use with a platform or step lift (22) for transmitting force from a linear actuator (228) to a ramp (40) pivotally attached to the outer edge of the platform (26) of the lift so as to cause the ramp to travel through a rotational path of at least 180 degrees. The linkage assembly is designed so that no portion thereof extends more than about 0.25 inch above the upper surface (28) of the ramp and the top surface (48) of the platform, and so that the ramp is driven downwardly toward the extended position with a force insufficient to cause serious injury to a person's feet positioned in the path of travel of the ramp. Additionally, a hinge structure (700) is provided for use with a step lift for coupling the platform with its vertical extensions (66, 68) so as to permit the latter to pivot relative to the platform as the extensions move up and down within the vertical guides (80, 82) in which the vertical extensions are slidably received.