Ramp with side reinforcements

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to ramps, for example a drive ramp for use in driving up or down the ramp for transporting a vehicle from a first level to a second level, wherein the ramp comprises a mid section with a surface and an end section provided in an extension of the surface with a contact face for resting on the higher level when the ramp is in use, where at in each side of the ramp there is provided a reinforcing side section which extends upwards or downwards with respect to the surface of the mid section and which extends upwards from the surface of the end section.

Description of Prior Art

Fig. 1 shows the use a drive ramp in general. The ramp 1 rests its one end 3, which has bevelled cut, on the ground, while at the opposite, second end, there is provided an end section 4 resting on the platform 5 of a trailer 2. Typically the second end section 4 is provided as a part bent in an angle into a fold 9 with respect to the mid section ? of the ramp 1.

In the enlarged section 6, it is illustrated that a stress zone 8 is located at the junction, the drive-up fold 9, between the second end section 4 of the ramp 1 and the mid section 7 of the ramp 1, which stress zone 8 implies a large risk of a fracture during loading of the ramp 1.

To neutralise the risk of a fracture of the fold 9 during loading, for example when a gardening tractor is driving onto the ramp 1 in order to arrive at the platform 5, the fold 9 has been reinforced by mounting a reinforcing material 10 below the fold 9 according to the prior art, as illustrated in Fig. 2. This reinforcing material 10 in form of a plate is to a great extend of the same nature as the upper face section 12 of the mid section 7 itself, and it is typically fixed to both the mid section 7 and to the second end 4 by rivets 11.

The disadvantage of a ramp according to prior art is a rather costly solution, and even in spite of the improvement of the reinforcement it is still not in accordance with ex-

pectations of most customers from a load point of view. In spite of the supporting reinforcement, the fold will still have the weakest cross section and for that reason a tendency to fracture, which diminishes the strength of the whole ramp.

A ramp of the type mentioned in the preamble is known from DE 8 427 129 Ul. The ramp disclosed does not have a contact face for the ramp to a higher level, which can contribute to make the ramp strong from a load point of view.

Description of the Invention

Therefore it is the object of the invention to provide a ramp, which is stronger from a load point of view and which still is less costly to produce.

This object is fulfilled with a ramp, for example for use in driving up or down the ramp for transporting a vehicle from a first level to a second level, wherein the ramp comprises a mid section with a surface and an end section provided in an extension of the surface with a contact face for resting on the higher level when the ramp is in use. Moreover, in each side of the ramp there is provided a reinforcing side section extending downwards from the surface of the end section. The reinforcing side section thus connects the mid section and the end section. The angle is preferably a right angle, whereby the highest stability is achieved, or an approximately right angle. Hereby, the reinforcing side sections, extending downwards from the end section, are bevelled in order to provide a lower contact face for the ramp to a higher level, for example when the ramp rests on the platform of a trailer.

A ramp of this type has larger load stability than that of prior art ramps. Because the reinforcing side section does not require an area like the reinforcement of the prior art described in the preamble in connection with prior art, there is also a saving of material. Furthermore, such a reinforcing side section can be provided as a substantially right angled, bent section of the surface and as a substantially right angled, bent part of the end section. This is provided simply and fast by the method of producing the ramp according to the invention. Thereby, the whole production becomes much less costly than the production of ramps according to the prior art.

Preferably, the reinforced side section, which connects the mid section with the end section, extends itself in an angle downwards from the surface of the mid section and from the end section, but a larger stability is achieved than for the prior art for which the side section extends itself at angle upwards.

For example the end section can be provided as an end section which is bent in an angle to the mid section. A ramp according the invention can have a mid section with a straight surface and an end section which is straight. Alternately, the mid section and/or the end section can be curved.

The reinforced side section can advantageously have a width which decreases from the mid section in the direction towards the end of the end section. Since the torque under load is at its maximum exactly at the transition from the mid section and to the end section, for example in the fold, there is no need for the side section to have the same width over the whole length to the end of the side section. For example the width can decrease so with the distance from the mid section, for example linearly, that a straight lower contact face of the side section is provided where the contact face can rest on the flat support layer of the higher level. For this purpose it is further advantageous that the angle between the end section and the mid section is larger than the angle between the end section and this lower contact face.

To provide a contact angle, which prevents the ramp from sliding on the support layer of the higher level, for example the platform of a trailer, the reinforced side section can advantageously have a width, which decreases in two steps from the mid section in the direction towards the end of the end section. Typically, such a contact angle would be positioned substantially under a bending between the mid section and the end section.

Just as for prior art, the mid section can be reinforced in each side with other, for example L-formed, side sections. According to an embodiment of the invention the side section can extend in the extension of one of these other side sections towards the end of the end section.

Even though the ramp is intended for use in transport of vehicles from a first level to a second level, the ramp can likewise find others applications, for example transport of livestock to and from a truck, or transport of a barrow on the ramp.

Short description of the drawings

The invention is described in details with reference to the drawings where

Fig. 1 shows the use of a ramp,

Figs. 2a and 2b show a ramp according to the prior art,

Figs. 3 a, 3b, 3 c show a ramp according to the invention, and

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Fig. 1 shows the use of a ramp with a marked stress zone, and Fig. 2 shows a ramp according to the prior art as described in the preamble.

Fig. 3 shows a ramp 1 according to the invention. The ramp comprises a mid section 7, which is substantially C-formed with a downward facing opening, i.e. the mid section has a flat top side 12, which is bent in the sides 13 to provide reinforcing sides 13, which with respect to the top side extends substantially perpendicularly downwards from the top side 13. Furthermore, the sides 13 are bent inwards below the flat top side 12, so that the sides together with a part which extends perpendicularly away from the vertical part of the sides 13 are approximately L-formed. This is completely in analogy with prior art and can be seen clearly at the mid part 7 in Fig. 2a. The surface 12 of the ramp 1 is provided with holes 14 to prevent water from accumulating on the surface, to reduce the weight, and to provide a more slip secure surface. Also, the first end 3 of the ramp 1 is formed with a bevelled cut-off by analogy to prior art.

The difference between prior art and the invention lies in the transition between the mid section 7 and the end section 4, wherein the sides 13 extends themselves from the end section 4 also past the fold/corner 9 to the mid section 7 to thereby reinforce the fold 9 in the stress zone 8. In this way a very stable reinforcement is obtained, which at the same time is very easy to establish during production and even at low production costs.

The sides 13 are formed so that they run in parallel with the surface 12 in the mid section 7, whereas the sides 13' in the area around the fold 9 inclines to provide a lower contact face 15, when the ramp rests on the platform 5 of a trailer. For such a contact face the angle A between the surface 12 of the mid section 7 and the end section 4 is larger than the angle between the end section 4 and the contact face 15. As shown in the figure, the mid section 7 and the end section 4 are straight, i.e. that they do not curve. The invention is more general though and is not limited to straight ramps and can advantageously also be used for curved ramps, as it is known from the prior art.

Furthermore, the side section 13' can have a width in the area at the fold 9 so that an angle 16 is formed which can function as a contact angle, when the ramp 1 rests on the platform 5.

Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the invention. In this case the ramp is curved without a fold. The side section 13' is characterized in, that it also functions as contact face 15 at the end section 4 on the higher level, for example the platform 5 of a trailer. In Fig. 4a the contact face is shown as a straight contact face, while in Fig. 4b there is shown a contact face which extends itself around an edge 17. Also in the case of the curved surface 12 and the curved end section 4 the side section 13' extends from the side section 4, which rests on the higher level, to the mid section 7 in order to thereby, from a loading point of view, to reinforce the transition between the supported end section 4 on the higher level and the mid section 7, which functions as way of transport from the lower to the upper level.

The material for a ramp according to the invention is preferably aluminium, steel or stainless steel. The surface can be treated, if that is an advantage.