Power ramp for vehicle and control method thereof

• US 8,167,093 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2009
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Changwon National University Industry Academy Cooperation Corps
• Original Assignee: Changwon National University, Industry Academy Cooperation Corps
• Inventors: Song, Jung-Il, Moon, Jae-Cheol
• Primary Examiner(s): EL CHANTI, HUSSEIN A
• Application Number:
  US12/512,807
• Publication Number:
  US 20100332085A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 187/209, 187/239, 414/539
• US Class Current: 187/209
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/061 using ramps
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 3/067 with compartment for horizontally storing the ramp or lift
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 1/431 the ramp being stored under the loading floor when not in use

Abstract

A power ramp for a vehicle and a control method thereof are disclosed. A power ramp for a vehicle includes a main frame defining an exterior appearance thereof, a base plate provided in a bottom of the main frame to define a base of the main frame, a main ramp provided on the base plate, a ramp holder having an end hingedly coupled to the main ramp to support the main ramp, at least one sliding part provided in right and left end portions of the main frame to guide forward-and-rearward motion of the ramp holder, a pair of power generating device provided in the ramp holder to supply power required for the forward-and-rearward motion of the main ramp, a pair of sliding chains longitudinally provided along the right and left end portions of the main ramp, the pair of the sliding chains supporting the main ramp to be movable forward and rearward, and a manual operation changing part provided in the main frame, the manual operation changing part selectively controlling rotation of the sliding chains to enable the main ramp to be movable manually.

Claims

1. A control method for a power ramp for a vehicle comprising;

an installation command determining step determining whether an installation command is input by a button operating to extract a main ramp;

a parking determining step determining whether a vehicle is parked if it is determined based on the result of the installation command determining step that the installation command is input;

a door open determining step determining whether a door of the vehicle is open to extract the main ramp;

a ramp extracting step extracting the main ramp by operating a motor and an alarming buzzer sound simultaneously, if it is determined that the installation command is input and that the door is open simultaneously;

a stop signal determining step determining whether a stop signal is input during the ramp extracting step;

an overload determining step determining whether an input current is over a predetermined limit current, to apply an overload to the motor during the ramp extracting step;

a complete extraction determining step determining whether the main ramp is extracted completely by determining whether there is a limit signal;

an extraction stopping step stopping the operation of the motor and stopping the alarming buzzer sound simultaneously, if it is determined that the main ramp is completely extracted;

a motor stopping step stopping the motor to stop the extraction of the main ramp, if it is determined based on the result of the overload determining step that the motor is overloaded;

an overload settlement determining step continuously re-comparing the input current and the limit current, and determining whether the input current returns below the limit current, if the motor stopping step is started; and

a time pass determining step determining whether the time taken for the input current to return below the limit current is over a predetermined time if it is determined based on the result of the overload settlement determining step that the input current returns below the limit current, and continuing the ramp extracting step if it is determined that the time taken for the input current to return below the limit current is over the predetermined time.

2. A control method for a power ramp for a vehicle comprising:

a restitution command determining step determining whether a restitution command is input by a button operating to restitute an extracted main ramp;

a ramp restituting step operating a motor to restitute the main ramp into a vehicle and alarming buzzer sound simultaneously, if it is determined based on the result of the restituting command determining step that the restitution command is input;

a stop signal determining step determining whether a stop signal is input during the ramp restituting step;

an overload determining step determining whether an input current is over a predetermined limit current, to apply an overload to the motor during the ramp restituting step;

a complete restitution determining step determining the main ramp is restituted into the vehicle completely by determining whether there is a limit signal;

a restitution stopping step stopping the operation of the motor and stopping the buzzer sound simultaneously if the main ramp is restituted completely;

a motor stopping step stopping the motor to stop the restitution of the main ramp if it is determined based on the result of the overload determining step that the motor is overloaded;

an overload settlement determining step continuously re-comparing the input current with the limit current and determining whether an input current returns below a limit current by, if the motor stopping step is started;

a time pass determining step determining whether the time taken for the input current to return below the limit current is over a predetermined time if it is determined based on the result of the overload settlement determining step that the input current returns below the limit current, and continuing the ramp restituting step if the time is over the predetermined time; and

a usage counting step adding the number of use times if the restitution stopping step is started.