EP2888159B1 - Platform steps - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention is based on a swing-out staircase, which is located under a bathing or tender platform, according to the preamble of the first claim.

State of the art

Folding, lowerable or otherwise adjustable stairs are known, which are extended manually or by motor and the stairs can often be adjusted. The adjustment of the stages is positively controlled by means of external push rods or by means of chain drives.

Also, fold-out rear parts are known, which serve as a bathing platform or as a carrier for the entry and leaching of dinghies.

In water vehicles also extendable stairs from the hull or from the floating platform are known as described, for example, in the patent CH 702460 or in the patent US 6,789,648 B2 or parts of the swimming platform are left in an arc in the water, where there are stair elements, as described in the patent US 7,121,226 B2 or a scissor lift with manual operation in the patent US 4,733,752 ,

Presentation of the invention

The invention is based on the object in terrestrial, as auch.im nautical area, a swinging staircase on a platform or on a platform or platform formed with lateral carriers, to install.
This is effected by means of adjustable steps, which can be folded from a closed position for a corresponding activity in a desired position and the position of the staircase when pivoting the stairs, while the lowest step also serves as a cover or in the nautical area additionally acts as a buoyancy agent and a ladder hinged with a guide element, so that the ladder is forcibly folded at a certain point.

As an example, a watercraft, which has at its rear a bathing or tender platform, shortly called platform and attached to the bottom of a staircase. Unlike ladders that have rungs, stairs have kicks and are therefore barefoot to walk comfortably. Those which have adjustable steps, remain stable in position when swinging and need less space in the closed state.
For commercial or recreational purposes, watercraft require access to the water, which can be easily and inexpensively provided by ladder or stairs. Such ladders are often mounted under a cover on the platform or under the platform are in a cassette in which a ladder or stairs is mounted and which can be extended manually or by technical means and finally lowered.

This allows people to easily get in or out of the water and on large stairs, this can also serve as a support for Wasserskier or wakeboards, so that the athlete, e.g. can get into the binding with less effort.

Although ladders on the platform are inexpensive, they are not very convenient to handle and can not be used for purposes other than just getting in and out. Stairs are much more comfortable, but the extension and retraction from the Cassette technically complex and thus susceptible to repair, or the displacement mechanism can tilt in the cassette and thus is such a staircase useless.

This is where the invention begins, in that the staircase has no adjusting rod, but can be pivoted freely and directly downwards about an axis of rotation. In the closed state, the swing-out staircase is practically in the platform, since this is usually hollow-shaped, otherwise at this point a corresponding recess is made, so that the stairs is perceived as sunk, integrated element on the platform. The last stage, which can also be a standalone platform and at the same time covers the lower part of the platform, also has a hydrodynamic function, so that when the vessel is moving, the spray water and the spray behind the stern, by means of the smooth and the correspondingly shaped underbody Stair, which derives water streamlined. This last stage may also be designed to have a trim tab function when in motion, i. generates a dynamic buoyancy and generated at standstill of the vessel, designed as a buoyancy body, a static buoyancy.

The swinging of the stairs by means of a set of pivot arms, advantageously on both sides of the staircase, which represent a parallelogram and are moved by a working cylinder. Due to the lowest level, which can also be designed as a cover and flow body, this can be very generously dimensioned so that one or more people can sit comfortably on the level and depending on Ausschwenkwinkel, sitting above or just below the waterline or space is enough to B. to attach a water ski on the foot or take diving bottles or capture after swimming the level and climb with little effort this. By means of electronic aids, the safety and function of such a staircase in the handling can still be supplemented.

In addition, a ladder can be manually unfolded at the stairs or by means of a linkage automatically with the extension of the stairs another stair or ladder be unfolded to descend deeper into the water and even easier to climb out of the water.

A handrail is definitely a great help when getting in and out of the water and can be attached to the staircase so that it can be folded out manually or automatically.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of the first claim.

The core of the invention is by means of a staircase on which manual or automatically extendable handrails are mounted and the stairs are characterized in that the steps remain stable in position by means of a parallelogram when swinging the stairs and the lowest level platform for entry and exit and seating represents, at the same time as a cover, and flow body is used and it can be additionally mounted a ladder, and as soon as the stairs are partially swung, can serve as a trim means.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The same elements are provided in the various figures with the same reference numerals.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Plattform mit einer darunter angebrachten ausschwenkbaren Treppe mit zwei verstellbaren Treppenstufen an einem Parallelogramme, welche von einem Wirkzylinder betätigt werden, sowie ein ausklappbarer Handlauf, ausklappbare Leiter, als auch ein Notschalter und ein Sicherheitsschalter.

Fig. 2

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Plattform mit einer darunter angebrachten ausschwenkbaren Treppe mit zwei verstellbaren Treppenstufen an einem Parallelogramm, welche von einem Wirkzylinder betätigt werden, sowie ein zusätzliche, automatisch ausklappbare Leiter und Unterwasserlampen in einem gestuften Auftriebskörper.

Fig. 3

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer Plattform mit einer darunter angebrachten ausschwenkbaren Leiter bestehend aus zwei Leiterelementen und gehalten von einem Scharnier mit einem automatisch ausklappbaren Handlauf und einer unter der Plattform angebrachten Bügel

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic side view of a platform with a mounted underneath swinging staircase with two adjustable steps on a parallelograms, which are operated by an active cylinder, and a fold-out handrail, foldable ladder, as well as an emergency and a safety switch.

Fig. 2

a schematic side view of a platform with an attached underneath swinging staircase with two adjustable steps on a parallelogram, which are actuated by an active cylinder, and an additional, automatically foldable ladder and underwater lights in a stepped buoyancy body.

Fig. 3

a schematic side view of a platform with an attached underneath swingable ladder consisting of two conductor elements and held by a hinge with an automatically folding handrail and mounted under the platform bracket

Only the elements essential for the immediate understanding of the invention are shown schematically.

Way to carry out the invention

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a mounted on a watercraft 2 with a below the platform 1 swivel staircase 3 with two adjustable steps 4a, 4b on a set of pivot arms 5a, 5b, which form a parallelogram, one of which is operated by an active cylinder 6, an emergency switch 7, a safety switch 8, and a fold-out handrail 9 has.

Since most of the platform 1 are hollow-shaped and can be attached to the closed platform 1 a recess, thus a staircase 3 can be practically fully integrated under such a platform 1. The pivot arms 5, which are mounted on both sides of the respective steps 4a, 4b, can be mounted horizontally as a parallelogram with little height. The active cylinder 6, which is preferably attached to both sides of the parallelogram or placed centrally, for example on the rotary rod 10, which advantageously connects the two pivot arms 5a and at the same time the step 4b drehlagert, thus the stairs 3 is operated.
Not shown is the button to operate the active cylinder 6, which may be an electric or hydraulic cylinder and which extends the stairs 3 and retracts and holds the desired Ausschwenkposition. Not shown is a possibly separate Schwenkarmsperre. The advantage is that the step 4a on the one hand forms a cover, on the other hand represents a means to be able to stand on it, to sit or to turn off equipment such as diving bottles. Depending on the design of the action cylinder 6, the pivot arms 5 can be practically adjusted by 180 degrees at an angle and thus heavy goods, such as the above-mentioned diving bottles, completely power up and then move accordingly with little effort on the platform 1 and then the stairs 3 again completely closed under the platform 1 to pivot.

Shown is also the step 4b, which represents an intermediate step in long pivoting arms 5a, 5b, so that a simpler up and down is possible. The step 4b is rotatably mounted on the pivot arm 5b by means of the pivot bearing 11 and placed on the rotary rod 10 only, so that when swinging the stairs 3, no objects between the step 4a and step 4b can jam. Furthermore, the step 4b can be folded up according to arrow K and thus form a comfortable back element when someone sits on the step 4a. The step 4b and the top of the step 4a may be coated with a PUR plastic and thus represent a pleasant foam padding.
The step 4a, 4b can be ergonomically designed and have technical means 14, such as equipped with a rod guide in which a mobile grill can be used and in this way the cockpit of the watercraft 2 is spared by smoke and oil spills, or in the staircase 4a , 4b underwater lamps can be let in, see Fig.2 ,

Of course, the step 4b can also be moved longitudinally and occupy a shape and position, so that when the pivot arms 5a, 5b have been completely swung, the step 4a and 4b step form virtually a platform surface behind the platform 1 and thus the overall platform is increased accordingly.
The step 4a, which also serves as the lower cover of the platform 1, may also have a hydrodynamic shape, so that spray and spray are rejected as streamlined as possible, since certain water turbulence reduce the efficiency of the vessel during the journey measurable. Also helps the staircase level 4a at start, especially in heavy yachts and heavily loaded sports boats to bring the vehicle as fast as possible by making this a huge trim flap. A flat position of the underside of the step 4a is sufficient, since the hull of the watercraft 2 already contributes enough to an (unfavorable) angular position in the starting phase. If the staircase 4a is still equipped with a V-shaped hydrodynamic bottom part, ie a Aufkimmung like on the hull, this also improves the price stability in the starting phase. If the staircase 3 is technically and materially equipped accordingly, the stairway step 4a can also be used as a trim flap during the journey, since the waterline WL is at the height of the cavitation plate 12 of a Z drive 13 during a glide ride. In this case, the front of the step 4a must be designed so that no flow of water via the step 4a device, but can flow through only on the underside.

If the vessel is at anchor, the extended staircase 3 with the step 4 a can also serve as a buoyant body by having a corresponding buoyancy volume. If this is done with a closed-cell plastic, such buoyancy is unsinkable and the static buoyancy produces a buoyancy up, as compensation for the weight of people or equipment, which are on the step 4a or on the platform 1 and causes a downward force ,
In addition, the swung by 90 °, for example staircase 3 acts in waves at anchor as rolling and dampening dampening, since in waves at the step 4 a quasi vertically flowed water the staircase 4 a is flowed around accordingly and thus represents a massive flow brake.
At the stair step 4a also a conductor 15 can be mounted according to stored by means of the pivot bearing 23, wherein the conductor 15 rests when not in use on the step 4a. Is on the step 4a a seat cushion attached, so recesses can be created that leave the head 15 with its sprouts 16 the necessary space. This can be unfolded with a single movement, the ladder according to arrow X and an additional, comfortable descent into the water or easier climbing a rung 16 to allow under water and thus ensure a simple ascent to the step 4a.

Under the platform 1 is also an electrical, waterproof emergency switch 7, in case someone falls into the water, this can press the emergency switch 7 independently and thus the stairs 3 extends. Also located under the stairs 3, a safety switch 8, which ensures that when a watercraft 2 has a Z-drive 13 and this is powered up, the stairs 3 can not be driven down for collision reasons. Likewise, the safety switch 8 can cause the steering of the Z drive 13 to be straightened out first when swinging the staircase 3, so that the pivot arms 5a, 5b also experience no collision with the Z drive 13.

Otherwise, the safety switch 8 also serves to ensure that the upper end position of the staircase 3 can be detected and if with the tachometer coupled to the controller, the speed of the motor is limited or the engine can not be started at all or an alarm sounds as long as the staircase 3 is not fully powered up. For the trim tab control, a separate key assignment is provided and an angle sensor or stroke sensor on the active cylinder 6, not shown here, ensures that only in a certain swivel range, the step 4a can be operationally active.

A staircase 3 without a good handrail 9 is only a lean staircase, so that a handrail 9 is attached to the pivot arm 5a, which automatically swings it out by means of a forced translation between the pivot arm 5a and handrail 9, not shown here. Such compulsory translation may e.g. done by means of gears. Or the swinging out of the handrail 9 takes place manually and is mechanically locked in the desired position or the handrail 9 is unfolded and held by means of an electric or hydraulic active agent, especially if the active agent also has an angle sensor as on one of the pivot arms 5a, 5b or a Hubmessgeber has the effective cylinder 6, so that by means of a controller, the algorithm is set so that when swinging the pivot arms 5a, 5b from a certain angle value of the handrail 9 is vertical and in a further pivoting the pivot arms 5a, 5b, the handrail 9 remains vertical ,

Not shown is the controller which, among other things synonymous with two electric acting cylinders takes over.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of a mounted on a watercraft 2 under the platform 1 pivoting staircase 3 with two adjustable stairs 4a, 4b on a set of pivot arms 5, which form a parallelogram, covered by the cover 17, of which a pivot arm 5a actuated by an active cylinder 6 becomes. Furthermore, the step 4a has a positively controlled ladder 15, and a buoyant body 18 with steps 19 and integrated LED lamps 20th

For larger yachts, the swinging staircase 3 would possibly have additional stairs 4a, 4b, but space-saving and lightweight is always a positively controlled conductor 15, which has an adjusting rod 21 which is connected on the one hand to the pivot arm 5a and the ladder handle 22 and by means of the pivot bearing 23, the ladder 15 pivots, here at the same angle as the ausschwenk-bare staircase 3. So that a person can stand deeper in the water or a person finds a quick grip on one of the rungs 16 after swimming. An extension of the ladder 15 is also possible as in Fig. 3 described. In addition, the parallelogram, consisting of the pivot arms 5a, 5b wrapped by the cover 17. This can be achieved by means of a U-shaped pivot arm 5a and the pivot arm 5b located therein, or a metal or plastic shell comprises the two pivot arms 5a, 5b. This ensures that at no time can someone put his hand or fingers or any other part of the limb in the parallelogram to its damage. Alternatively, the pivot arms 5a, 5b must be set accordingly far apart.

The step 4b may also have a buckling element as the backrest 4c, should the step 4a be long enough. This can also serve as a hydrodynamic element in the closed or semi-closed state. The aerodynamic buoyancy body 18 is an element that can generate both static and dynamic buoyancy, and therefore has steps 19 that cause stalling above a given velocity, thereby reducing friction on the buoyant body 18. In addition, the buoyant body may have a lift-up, so that it stabilizes the course when in contact with water. Ideally located at one of these stages 19 a recess 24 for the rung 16 of the positively controlled swing-out ladder 15 or the rung 16 itself forms the conclusion of a flow-breaking step 19. Furthermore, the buoyancy body 18 at the same time serve as a carrier of LED lamps, which in the night with a partially swiveled out staircase 3 illuminate the underwater behind a watercraft or at ramped up stairs 3, when driving back into a harbor place, similar to the reversing lights on an automobile, possibly hindemisse would recognize.

Of course, instead of a positively controlled ladder 15, a staircase, i. at each swivel angle positional, horizontal kicks, be used by means of another parallelogram.

The handrail 9 is rotatably mounted in this case on the pivot arm 5a, wherein the handrail 9 has a pin 25 and the spring 26 on the one hand on the handrail 9 engages and on the other hand on the pivot arm 5a. A rope 27, which is a steel or high-quality plastic rope is attached to the handrail 9, as well as the chassis 28. In the extended position of the stairs 3, the handrail 9 is swung in the desired position, ie the rope 27 is stretched and so that the handrail 9 can not be pulled backwards. For securing to the front, a stop 29 is attached to the handrail 9 so that it remains firmly in position.
Now, if the staircase 3 clockwise pivoted in accordance with the drawing, so relaxes the rope 27 and the spring 26 rotates the handrail 9 also in a clockwise direction, until finally the pivot arms 5a, 5b and the handrail 9 are practically horizontal below the platform 1.

On buoyancy body 18 or at another suitable location in the lower part of the staircase 18 is a pressure switch 30, which can be additionally supported by a pressure plate 31. The function for this is, should the handlebar of the watercraft have forgotten to start the stairs 3 after use and losfährt, the water flow of the moving watercraft on the pressure plate 31 and from a given water pressure is between the pressure switch 30 and the pressure plate 31 lying spring element and actuates the pressure switch, which thus triggers the startup of the stairs. The pressure switch may be a piezo switch, equipped with a radio module and an antenna which protrudes beyond the water surface and can be operated by radio so that the active cylinder 6.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of a platform 1 at the rear of a watercraft 2 with an attached underneath swinging and folding pivot conductor 33 consisting of two conductor elements 33a, 33b and held by a hinge 32, and an automatically folding handrail 9 and a mounted under the platform 1 bracket 34th

Linguistically, a staircase is a staircase with horizontal steps, while a ladder is a stairway with rungs. For a stair which is pivotable, it needs a mechanism that keeps the stages stable during the pivoting process, which is ideally realized with a parallelogram, as in Fig. 1 and 2 , shown.
A simpler version is to swivel out a ladder, but in most cases the platforms are too short to install underneath a sufficiently long ladder that, when swung out, reaches deep enough to give swimmers a comfortable height of rungs to comfortably return to Swim platform to rise.

This disadvantage is achieved by means of the foldable and pivotable pivoting ladder 33. The pivoting ladder 33 is fixed to the chassis 28 by means of the pivot bearing 23, the chassis 28 being mounted below the platform 1. On the chassis 28 of the active cylinder 6 is fixed which engages the conductor element 33 a. This has on one side of the pivot bearing connection and opposite the hinge 32 to which the conductor element 33b is connected. On the conductor element 33b, ideally directly on the hinge 32, a cam 35 is mounted, which may also be a role and when pivoting the pivot conductor 33 according to arrow S at a certain point with the bracket 34 on the ramp 36 "collided" and the cam 35th so that the conductor element 33b pressed up until it is folded almost horizontally and finally rests on the conductor element 33a. A rubber buffer element ensures that there is little noise at the end stop. The bracket 34 may be mounted below the platform 1 or at the stern of the watercraft 2, ideally adjustable so that the cams 35 are compatible with the ramp 36. The ramp 36 can be designed in any shape and angle of attack, which ultimately ensures that the conductor element 33b folds up gently and safely.

Also, the pivoting conductor 33 may have a handrail, which automatically retracts and retracts by a pin 25 is attached to the conductor element 33a which has a spring-loaded - eg by means of a leg spring - pulley 37 and the pulley 37 is connected by means of the cable 27 to the chassis 28. In the pivoted-out position of the pivot conductor 33, the cable 27 is tensioned, the handrail has unrolled over the pivoting stroke by means of the cable 27 of the pulley 37 and is at a given point at the stop. The front stop on the handrail 9 is adjusted accurately by means of the longitudinally adjustable stop 29. When swinging the pivot conductor 33 of the handrail 9 rotates due to the spring force of the spring 26 and according to the available length of the cable 27 inwardly to the conductor element 33 a at the stop under the platform 1, respectively. is at the stroke length of the action cylinder 6 and shortly before the end stop the pulley 37 engages with the recess 38 in the edge of the pulley 37 in the locking pin 39, which ensures that when driving the watercraft 2 in waves the handrail 9 is not always against the Spring force uncontrollably pivots down, but is held by the locking pin 39.

This ensures that even the active cylinder 6, in the case of this is a hydraulic, does not crawl slowly in leakage from the final position under the platform 1 and thus the handrail 9 is no longer held securely by the locking pin 39 in position, this can be done by an angle or distance sensor can be determined early enough and optionally actuate the hydraulics to bring the pivoting conductor 33 back to the "home" position. Easier this can be achieved by means of a switch, not shown here, which is contacted when pivoting the pivot conductor 33 at the top stop, but only when uncontrolled downwardly lowering the pivot conductor 33, the contact is triggered and thus the pivot conductor 33 is moved back again. Another variant is that when driving the watercraft 2 at a certain time interval, the hydraulics is started and the pivoting ladder 33 tries to go up in each case.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown and described.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

platform

2

water craft

3

Stair swinging out

4a, 4b

steps

4c

backrest

5a, 5b

swivel arm

6

operating cylinder

7

Emergency switch

8th

safety switch

9

handrail

10

rotating rod

11

pivot bearing

12

cavitation plate

13

Z-drive

14

technical means

15

ladder

16

sprouts

17

cover

18

buoyancy

19

stages

20

led Lamps

21

control rod

22

Head handle

23

pivot bearing

24

recess

25

spigot

26

feather

27

rope

28

chassis

29

attack

30

pressure switch

31

printing plate

32

hinge

33

Tilt Head

33a, 33b

conductor elements

34

hanger

35

cam

36

ramp

37

pulley

38

deepening

39

locking pin

40

contact switch

3.33

staircase

K

Folding path steps 4b

S

Swivel path stairs 3

WL

waterline

X

Pivoting ladder 15

Claims (14)

1. A stairway (3, 33)
   the stairway (3, 33) has a chassis (28) which is attached under the platform (1), and
   the stairs (3) have swinging arms (5a,5b) which can be swung out by means of an operating cylinder (6) with a positionally constant horizontal step (4a) and at least one positionally constant horizontal step (4b) on which a pivot bearing (23) is attached,
   characterized in that the stairway has a swinging ladder (33) which has ladder elements (33a,33b) that can be swung out by means of an operating cylinder (6) connected to hinge (32), and a cam (35) is attached to the ladder element (33b) and positively controls the ladder element (33b) upon contacting the bracket (34) in order to swing it up to the ladder element (33a),
   a pin (25) is attached to the swinging arm (5a) or the ladder element (33a) and the handrail (9) is mounted thereupon by being pivoted, and a spring (26) acts between the handrail (9) and swinging arm (5a) or ladder element (33a), and a rope (27) is attached directly or indirectly by means of the pulley (37) on the handrail (9), and the other rope end is attached to the chassis (28), and
   when the stairway (3, 33) is in a closed state, the swinging arms (5a,5b) relative to the steps (4a,4b) and the platform (1), or the ladder element (33a) relative to the ladder element (33b) and to the platform (1), are more-or-less parallel to each other and are accessible when swung out.
2. The stairway (3, 33) according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   a foldable ladder (15) is attached to the pivot bearing (23) of the stair (4a) and can be unfolded manually or positively controlled by means of an adjusting rod (21) and ladder grip (22).
3. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the step (4b) can be folded up, moved longitudinally, or has a backrest (4c).
4. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that
   the step (4a) has a hydrodynamics shape or a buoyancy element (18) on the bottom side which generates static or dynamic buoyancy.
5. The stairway (3, 33) according to claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the buoyancy body (18) has steps (19), or a recess (24), or a V-shaped deadrise.
6. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   LED lamps (20) are integrated in the step (4a, 4b) or in the buoyancy body (18) and automatically shine when traveling backwards.
7. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a pressure switch (30), or an emergency switch (7), or a contact switch (40) or a safety switch (8), or an angle or stroke sensor is attached under the platform (1).
8. The stairway (3, 33) according to claim 7,
   characterized in that
   the contact switch (40) generates contact only when pressure is relieved and moves the stairway (3, 33) back upward, and this function is overlooked when intentionally swinging out the stairway (3.33).
9. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the step (4a) or the buoyancy body (18) also serves as a trim tab and wave suppressor.
10. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the stairs (3) which can be swung out have a controller which detects the position of the stairs (3) by means of the safety switch (8) under the platform (1) and, when the stairs (3) are not in a fully elevated position, the watercraft motor can only achieve a maximum, predetermined engine speed, or a warning tone sounds when the watercraft engine starts, or the stairs (3) cannot be lowered when the stern drive (13) is tilted upward or when the stern drive assumes a steering angle (13).
11. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the operating cylinder (6) functions hydraulically or electrically.
12. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the parallelogram consists of the two swinging arms (5a, 5b), and one of the swinging arms (5a,5b) has a correspondingly dimensioned U-profile so that the other swinging arm (5a,5b) can fit within it, or a separate cover (17) encloses the parallelogram, or the distance of the two swinging arms (5a,5b) relative to each other prevents body members from being clamped.
13. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the locking pin (39) locks the handrail (9) when the stairway (3, 33) is closed.
14. The stairway (3, 33) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in that
    the pressure switch (30) is a piezo switch.

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