Automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system and associated methods

Abstract

An automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system includes a controller and a power source connected thereto, a ramp located at the existing cargo vehicle, a first automated ramp displacement mechanism for configured to selectively displace the ramp from a first position to a second position defined along a perimeter of the existing cargo vehicle while the ramp is maintained at a vertically oriented position, a second automated ramp displacement mechanism for configured to selectively displace the ramp from one of the first position and the second position to a third position, and a third automated ramp displacement mechanism for selectively adjusting a longitudinal length of the ramp while the ramp is statically disposed at a third position.

1 . An automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system configured to be selectively displaced along a perimeter of an existing vehicle, the automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system comprising:
 a ramp disposed on the existing vehicle;   a first ramp displacement mechanism configured to selectively displace the ramp from a first position to a second position defined continuously along at least three sides of a perimeter of the existing vehicle;   a second ramp displacement mechanism configured to selectively displace the ramp from one of the first position and the second position to a third position; and   a third ramp displacement mechanism for selectively adjusting a longitudinal length of the ramp;   wherein the first ramp displacement mechanism further comprises:
 a guide rail attached to at least a portion of the perimeter of the existing vehicle and extending continuously along at least three sides of the existing vehicle, and 
 a trolley operably attached to the ramp and the guide rail, wherein the trolley includes a first roller assembly and a second roller assembly pivoted along a first rotation axis and a second rotation axis, respectively, while traveling around a non-linear corner of the guide rail. 
   
     
     
         2 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller and a power source connected thereto. 
     
     
         3 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 2 , wherein each of the first ramp displacement mechanism, the second ramp displacement mechanism, and the third ramp displacement mechanism is operatively coupled to the controller and the power source. 
     
     
         4 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 2 , wherein the first ramp displacement mechanism is configured to displace the ramp along a first travel path defined along a perimeter of the existing vehicle, wherein the second ramp displacement mechanism is configured to articulate the ramp along a second travel path defined about a fulcrum axis registered parallel to the first travel path, and wherein the third ramp displacement mechanism is configured to displace the ramp along a third travel path defined along a longitudinal length of the ramp. 
     
     
         5 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 2 , wherein the controller further comprises:
 a user interface; and   a plurality of sensors operably coupled to the existing vehicle and the ramp, the sensors being configured to detect operating parameters at the existing vehicle and thereby generate and transmit corresponding notification signals to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to enable and disable the user interface upon receiving a corresponding one of the notification signals, respectively, such that each of the first ramp displacement mechanism, the second ramp displacement mechanism, and the third ramp displacement mechanism are independently enabled and disabled, respectively.   
     
     
         6 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 2 , wherein the power source is operably coupled to an existing power source of the existing vehicle, wherein the power source can be recharged by the existing vehicle as needed. 
     
     
         7 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 2 , wherein the second ramp displacement mechanism includes an articulation mechanism operably coupled to the trolley and the ramp for selectively articulating the ramp between a vertically oriented raised position and a non-vertically oriented position defined below a horizontal position relative to the vertically oriented raised position. 
     
     
         8 . The automated cargo vehicle ramp deployment system of  claim 2 , wherein the ramp further comprises a female section and a male section slidably engaged therewith, wherein the third ramp displacement mechanism includes an actuator operably engaged with the female section and the male section configured to selectively extend and retract the longitudinal length of the ramp. 
     
     
         9 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the first roller assembly includes a plurality of first bearings and a plurality of first rollers;
 wherein the second roller assembly includes a plurality of second bearings and a plurality of second rollers; and   wherein the trolley further includes a plurality of motor-mounting plates.   
     
     
         10 . A cargo transport vehicle comprising:
 at least one removable cargo transport container;   a ramp;   a ramp deployment system operably coupled to the ramp and configured to selectively displace the ramp continuously along at least three sides of a perimeter of the at least one cargo transport container; and   a trolley engaged with the ramp;   wherein the trolley and the ramp are contemporaneously displaced along a curvilinear corner of the at least one cargo transport container.   
     
     
         11 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 10 , further comprising: a controller and a power source in communication with the ramp deployment system. 
     
     
         12 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the ramp deployment system further comprises a first ramp displacement mechanism configured to selectively displace the ramp from a first position to a second position defined along the first travel path. 
     
     
         13 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the ramp deployment system further comprises: a second ramp displacement mechanism configured to selectively displace the ramp from one of the first position and the second position to a third position defined along the second travel path. 
     
     
         14 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 13 , wherein the ramp deployment system further comprises: a third ramp displacement mechanism configured to selectively adjust a longitudinal length of the ramp along the third travel path while the ramp is disposed at the third position;
 wherein each of the first ramp displacement mechanism, the second ramp displacement mechanism, and the third ramp displacement mechanism is operatively coupled to the controller and the power source.   
     
     
         15 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the first ramp displacement mechanism comprises:
 a guide rail attached to at least a portion of a perimeter of the existing vehicle;   the trolley being operably attached to the ramp and having a plurality of rollers rotatably engaged with the guide rail; and   at least one drive motor operably coupled to the trolley and positioned along the guide rail;   wherein the at least one drive motor is configured to displace the trolley in a forward and opposed rearward direction along the guide rail;   wherein the guide rail includes an upper rail and a lower rail each operably coupled to the trolley.   
     
     
         16 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 15 , wherein the trolley comprises: a center link bracket intermediately disposed between the first roller assembly and the second roller assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The cargo transport vehicle of  claim 14 , wherein the third ramp displacement mechanism comprises:
 a plurality of telescopically adjustable support legs attached to the ramp; and   a power-drive piston operably coupled to the telescopically adjustable support legs;   wherein the telescopically adjustable support legs are configured to selectively extend and retract a longitudinal length of the ramp along the third travel path upon receiving a user input at the controller.