Device for retracting or extending a movable access ramp

Claim 1

Apparatus for retracting and extending a movable, vertically pivoting, access ramp adapted to extend between, for example, a vehicle such as a floating vessel and a platform spaced from the vehicle such as a dock, said ramp being hoistable to an inoperative stowed position on the vehicle and lowerable to an operative or working position wherein it partially rests on said platform, the access ramp including at least a first inner ramp section having an inner end hingedly connected to the vehicle, means connected between the vehicle and the first ramp section for hoisting or lowering said section about said hinged connection, and a second outer ramp section pivotable about an inner end thereof for folding downwardly against and lengthwise of said first ramp section, wherein the retracting and extending apparatus comprises at least one intermediate linking member having spaced apart first and second hinge locations; a first hinge pin connecting the linking member at said first hinge location with the outer end of said first ramp section; a second hinge pin connecting the linking member at said second hinge location with the inner end of said second ramp section, the axes of the first and second hinge pins being substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the ramp; at least one first operating means attached to the linking member for rotating the linking member relative to the first ramp section about said first hinge pin; and at least one second operating means attached to the second ramp section for rotating the second ramp section relative to the linking member about said second hinge pin.