ES2880105T3 - Access device to the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

Access device (1) to the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle (100), the device including: - a frame (3), - an access platform (6), - a ladder (2) comprising two uprights (10, 11) and a set of bars, said ladder being, at its upper end, carrying said access platform (6) and being related, at its lower end, to the frame (3), - a structure of support (4) of said ladder (2) with respect to the frame (3), characterized in that the connection between the ladder (2) and the frame (3) is at least one joint (14) that makes a hinge joint following an axis parallel to the bars of the ladder, and because said ladder (2) can tilt relative to the frame (3) between a first inclined position, called "working position", and a second position corresponding to the vertical position, called "rest position", or vice versa.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Access device to the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle

The invention relates to an access device for enclosures that can contain bulk products, packaged in liquid, powder or bulk form. It is aimed at a ladder handling or maintenance device designed to approach a tank of a heavy vehicle or a tank car or, more generally, to any enclosure that has a plurality of hatches, lids or lids at the top. mobiles that allow the supply, the unloading of the products, or also the passage of a person for inspection or control purposes, or also for cleaning or maintenance operations of said enclosure.

Devices are known that allow access to the upper parts of the tanks. These are generally of two types.

The first type of device is fixed to the ground. Generally, it is an installation that comprises a walkway mounted facing the loading or unloading docks, the walkway generally being equipped with a handrail that prevents any accidental fall. In this type of configuration, the gangway remains fixed and does not move along the train or truck, the relative displacement in the direction of the track takes place by displacement of the road or rail convoy. As it is easily conceived, this type of installation is intended for industries or specialized centers that have a significant treatment capacity, and this in a specified period of time. Additionally, the operations require the involvement of several operators, which increases the economic cost of operation, which is not negligible at first, taking into account the initial investment associated with this type of specific installation.

The second type of device known from the prior art is mobile. The access devices are embodied in the form of a ladder provided, on the one hand, at its upper end, with an access platform, occasionally secured by a sill and, on the other, at its lower end, with a frame provided with means of movement. . The ladder is fixedly held in an inclined position relative to the frame.

Now, this type of device generally has a considerable mass, which is especially arranged in height, by virtue of the presence of the platform at the upper end of the ladder, which can make it difficult for operators to move the device. Additionally, the front access requires a lot of space facing the cistern for its placement.

Document US 8746403 B discloses a device for accessing the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle according to the preamble of independent claim 1. Therefore, the present invention aims to alleviate these drawbacks by proposing an improvement introduced in the devices cistern access that combines great ease of handling with optimal security conditions. It is also aimed at limiting the space occupation of access devices.

The present invention proposes an access device to the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle, including the device:

- a frame,

- an access platform,

- a ladder comprising two uprights and a set of bars, said ladder, at its upper end, carrying said access platform and being related, at its lower end, to the frame. According to the invention, the connection between the ladder and the frame is at least one joint that makes a hinge joint along an axis parallel to the bars of the ladder. The device comprises a supporting structure for said ladder with respect to the frame.

The access device according to the invention is established and configured in such a way that said ladder can be tilted relative to the frame between a first inclined position, called "working position", and a second position corresponding to the vertical position, called "rest position. ”.

The invention makes it possible, in the rest position, to shift the center of gravity of the device in order to bring it closer to the center of the volume occupied by the device, thus making it possible to improve the stability of said device, particularly when moving. Additionally, the device becomes less cumbersome in the rest position. Optional features of the invention, complementary or replacement, are listed below.

The joint between the ladder and the frame is a pivot joint. Preferably, the hinge is established between an upright of the ladder and the frame. For example, the lower end of the ladder upright comprises a pivot shaft established to cooperate with a hole established on or within the frame. According to a preferred embodiment, the device comprises two joints, each hinge being arranged at a lower end of an upright of the ladder.

According to an embodiment, the support structure comprises a stop structure arbitrated on the frame, and a positioning frame integral with the ladder, so that the inclined position, called the "working position" of the ladder, is This is achieved by placing the positioning frame resting on the stop frame. This feature allows the mass of the support structure to be distributed on both sides of the frame in the rest position, facilitating the movement of the device. For example, the stop structure is raised to a height of between one and two meters from the frame, and the positioning frame is arranged between the ladder and the stop structure. The angle of inclination of the ladder, in the working position, can be between 60 and 80 degrees.

According to other embodiments, and for the same given or chosen angle of inclination, the stop structure is raised to a more or less high height so that the size of the positioning frame is reduced or increased, in order to that the ladder is inclined according to the angle given or chosen.

According to other more particular embodiments, the support structure can only be the stop structure, so that the ladder is supported on said stop structure through the uprights of the ladder, or only the positioning frame, so that the ladder is supported on the frame through the positioning frame.

Preferably, the access device comprises means for controlling the tilting of the ladder between the first and second positions, or vice versa.

For example, the tilting control means include a winch, at least one pulley integral with the frame and a cable. The cable connects the winch, the at least one pulley and the ladder. The cable can be attached to the upright of the ladder or to the solid positioning frame of the ladder. Preferably, the device comprises a winch structure arbitrated on the frame. Said winch structure comprises a mast at the free end of which the at least one pulley is positioned, in order to position the portion of cable between the ladder and the at least one pulley in a direction substantially orthogonal to the ladder. This organization makes it possible to facilitate the pivoting of the ladder with respect to the frame.

Preferably, the access device comprises retaining means established and configured to limit the angular displacement of the ladder in the vertical position, called "rest position", in the tilting from the first position to the second position.

For example, the retaining means comprise at least two mutually cooperating levers, a first lever being attached to the stop structure and a second lever being attached to the positioning frame, in order to determine a compass.

According to one embodiment, the uprights of the ladder are each constituted from a first arm and a second telescopic arm, in order to adapt the height of the ladder.

Preferably, the access device includes rolling means capable of moving the frame along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge joint of the articulation, so that the access device can move along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the vehicle. tank truck type. The rolling means allow to facilitate the movement and the maneuverability of the access device. In particular, when the ladder is in the vertical position, the device can be inserted into a tight space. For example, when there are two tanker trucks arranged side by side, the device can be inserted between said trucks without having to maneuver facing one of them for placement.

For example, the rolling means comprise:

- at least one running wheel attached to the frame and

- a cradle articulated with respect to the frame and supporting at least one steering wheel, said cradle being able to adopt two different positions depending on its angular position with respect to the frame.

Said at least one running wheel and said cradle are arranged on both sides of the ladder.

Other advantages and particularities of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description of the practices and embodiments, in no way limiting, and the following accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the access device in working position according to an embodiment, the device being located along a tank truck, the platform being arranged above a tank;

figure 2 is a side elevation view of the access device in the configuration of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevation view of the access device in a vertical position corresponding to the rest position, the device comprising retaining means not attached to the ladder;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of the access device in the configuration of Figure 3, the retaining means being attached to the ladder; Y

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the frame on which a stop structure and rolling means are located according to an embodiment.

For the sake of clarity and conciseness, the references in the figures correspond to the same elements.

The embodiments that we are going to describe are not at all limiting, variants of the invention that do not comprise more than a selection of described characteristics, isolated from the other described characteristics (even if this selection is isolated within the a sentence covering those other characteristics), if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention from the prior art. This selection comprises at least one characteristic, preferably functional, without structural details, or with only part of the structural details, if this part, only, is sufficient to confer a technical advantage or to differentiate the invention with respect to the prior state of the art. .

Furthermore, the different characteristics, forms, variants and embodiments of the invention can be associated with each other according to various combinations as long as they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive, as long as this combination is within the scope of the invention as it is. defined by the accompanying claims.

Figures 1 and 3 illustrate an access device 1 to the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle 100. The access device 1 comprises a ladder 2 comprising longitudinal posts 10, 11 between which bars are arranged. The ladder 2 is called telescopic, in such a way that each upright is made up of a first lower arm 10a, 11a and a second upper arm 10b, 11b, sliding relative to each other and operated especially by means of a winch (not visible in the figures). With reference to figure 1, the upright 10b is provided with a handrail 12 and the upright 11b is provided with a handrail 13. The access device comprises a platform 6, also called cantilever, provided with a handrail, intended to pass through be located above the hatches or covers provided at the top of the tank of the tanker truck 100.

The access device comprises a frame 3, made by assembling several metal joists, which is directly or indirectly the carrier of all the elements of the access device. In particular, the ladder 2 is connected to the frame 3, especially by means of the lower ends of the first arms 10a, 11a of the ladder. The ladder 2 is connected to the frame 3 by means of a pivot joint. With reference to Figures 1 and 5, the pivot joint is established to make a hinge joint following a pivot axis 14a parallel to the bars of the ladder. The pivot axis 14a is substantially horizontal. The pivot joint comprises two pivot joints 14, each pivot joint being related to both a lower end of an upright 10, 11 of the ladder and to the frame 3. With reference to Figure 5, the joint comprises a pivot shaft (not visible) and a U-shaped foot 15 at each lower end of the uprights 10, 11 of the ladder. Each foot 15 comprises a base fixedly attached to the frame 3 and vertical legs that each have a hole, both holes being coaxial with each other, the female part of the joint making, to receive the pivot shaft. The pivot shaft is attached, for example, to a lower end of an upright of the ladder.

The articulation allows the ladder to pivot between a first inclined position, called the "working position" (see figures 1 and 2), and a second position corresponding to the vertical position, called the "rest position" (see figures 3 and 4). or vice versa.

The device comprises a support structure 4 of the ladder 2 in its inclined position with respect to the frame 3, see Figures 1 and 2.

With reference to Figures 2 to 5, the support structure 4 comprises, on the one hand, a stop structure 31 that is fixed to the frame 3 and, on the other, a positioning frame 21 integral with the ladder 2.

The stop structure 31 comprises an assembly of metal beams established and configured to support the weight of the access platform 6 and ladder 2 assembly, including the stop structure 31:

- two vertical beams 41, attached to frame 3,

- two inclined beams 42, each beam 42 being connected both to frame 3 and to a beam 41, such that each set of beams 41,42 forms a triangle in a plane orthogonal to frame 3,

- a transverse beam 45 arranged between each set of beams 41,42 (visible in figure 5) and

- Centering lugs 43 of the positioning frame 21 with respect to said abutment structure.

For example, the abutment structure is raised to a height of between 1 and 2 meters, preferably about 1.5 meters. For example, the angle between the inclined beam 42 and the frame 3 (substantially horizontal) is between 40 and 60 degrees, preferably approximately 45 degrees.

The positioning frame 21 comprises a truss-shaped joist assembly, established and configured to bear on the abutment structure 31, in order to locate the ladder in the inclined position called "working position". The positioning frame 21 is fixed only to the first arms 10a, 11a of the uprights of the ladder. In an arrangement facing each upright 10, 11 of the ladder, there is a set of joists. The joist assemblies are joined by cross bars, not visible in the figures. For the sake of clarity, only the joists facing upright 10 will be described. Said positioning frame 21 includes, with reference to Figures 2 to 5:

- some running joists 25, 26, 28 joined together, keeping at a distance from the upright 10 of the ladder,

- Support beams 22, 23 joined together at a common end, the beam 22 being arranged substantially parallel to a beam 42 in the working position, and the beam 23 being arranged substantially vertically in the working position, being joined between yes the support beams 22, 23 in correspondence with the centering lugs 43 in the working position, and joined to the running beams so that all the beams form a triangle;

- reinforcing beams 24 extending between the running beams and the support beams in a direction roughly orthogonal to the upright 10 of the ladder.

By virtue of its lattice-like organization, the joists of the positioning frame 21 are thinner, so that the frame 21 is lighter than the abutment structure 31.

The access device comprises control means 5 for tilting the ladder 2 between the first position and the second position. With reference to Figures 1 and 2, the tilt control means 5 include a winch 51, a diverter pulley 52 and a cable 53 that connects the winch 51, the diverter pulley 52 and the ladder 2. The winch allows pulling of the ladder, via cable 53 and diverter pulley 52, in order to pivot the ladder. The cable 53 is attached to the ladder 2 by a tie point 54 on the positioning frame, see Figures 2 and 4. The access device additionally comprises a winch structure 35 arbitrated on the frame 3. The winch structure 35 comprises a mast 36 arranged vertically and fixed, at its lower end, to the frame 3, near a joint 14. At the free upper end of the mast, the diverter pulley 52 is positioned, the axis of rotation of which is integral with the mast 36, in order to position the portion of cable 53T between the ladder 2 and the pulley 52 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the ladder 2, which allows to facilitate the pivoting of the ladder 2. Additionally, with reference to figure 2, the winch frame 35 comprises support beams 37 inclined between the mast 36 and the frame 3, in the configuration of the mast support bracket 36 when the ladder 2 is tilted from the working position to the vertical position of rest, the rest position having been represented by the dotted line and referenced with "V" in figure 2. With reference to figure 1, the mast 36 is made by an assembly of two metal joists, so that each Joist is supported by support beam 37.

The access device additionally comprises retaining means 7 established and configured to limit the angular displacement of the ladder 2 in the vertical position, called the "rest position", in the tilting from the first position to the second position. With reference to Figures 2 and 4, the retaining means 7 comprise two levers, a first lever 71 and a second lever 72, cooperating with each other by means of a retaining joint. The first lever 71 is related to the cross beam 45 of the stop structure 31 (see figure 5) and a second lever 72 is related to the positioning frame 21 (see figures 2 and 4), in order to determine a compass. Each joint, between the first lever 71 and the stop structure 31 and between the second lever 72 and the positioning frame 21, is a joint that makes at least one hinge joint following an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the ladder 2 When the ladder is in the working position, the levers 71, 72 form an angle of a few degrees, see figure 2. When the ladder is in the rest position, the levers 71, 72 are substantially parallel, see figure 4.

The access device comprises rolling means 8 capable of moving the frame 3 along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge joint of the joint 14, so that the access device can move along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the tank truck type vehicle 100, see Figures 1 and 3. When the ladder 2 is in the vertical position, the device becomes more stable and thus its movement is facilitated, particularly within a tight space. Additionally, by arranging the rolling means so that the movement direction is parallel to the pivot axis of the joint 14, the positioning of the device is also facilitated, see Figures 1 and 3. Indeed, the operator can push the device along the tank truck and stop in correspondence with the hatch or with the tank truck lid, and then manipulates the control means 5 so that, by gravity, the ladder tilts towards the inclined working position.

With reference to Figures 1 and 5, the rolling means 8 comprise:

- two rolling wheels 82a, 82b attached to the frame, the axis of rotation of said wheels being fixed with respect to the frame 3, said axis of rotation being perpendicular to the pivot axis 14a of the ladder 2 with respect to the frame 3, Y

- a cradle 81 articulated with respect to the frame 3 and supporting two steering wheels 83a, 83b, said cradle being able to adopt two different positions depending on its angular position with respect to the frame 3. The cradle 81 is related to the frame 3 by means of a hinge joint along an axis perpendicular to the pivot axis 14a of the ladder 2 with respect to the frame 3, see figure 5.

The rolling wheels 82a, 82b and said cradle 81 are arranged on both sides of the ladder 2.

The frame 3 additionally comprises frame feet 84a, 84b. When the ladder is in the working position or when it is stored, the access device rests on the frame feet 84a, 84b and the running wheels 82a, 82b, the cradle 81 being arranged with respect to the frame so that the supporting wheels steering 83a, 83b do not touch the ground S, see figure 3. When the access device is maneuvered by an operator, the cradle is tilted back, so that the steering wheels 83a, 83b, in the first instance, touch the ground and, then, by continuing to tilt the cradle, in order to lift the device slightly, so that the frame feet 84a, 84b no longer touch the ground S (position shown). When the steering wheels are in contact with the ground, they can pivot respectively about a substantially vertical axis and independently of one another. These allow to facilitate the maneuverability of the device. The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned embodiments described and represented, but rather encompasses all variants that are within the scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims (10)

1. Access device (1) to the upper part of a tank truck type vehicle (100), including the device: - a frame (3), - an access platform (6), - A ladder (2) comprising two uprights (10, 11) and a set of bars, said ladder, at its upper end, carrying said access platform (6) and being related, at its lower end, to the frame (3), - a support structure (4) of said ladder (2) with respect to the frame (3), characterized in that the joint between the ladder (2) and the frame (3) is at least one joint (14) that makes a hinge joint following an axis parallel to the bars of the ladder, and because said ladder (2) can tilt in relation to the frame (3) between a first inclined position, called "working position", and a second position corresponding to the vertical position, called "rest position", or vice versa. . Access device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes rolling means (8) capable of moving the frame (3) along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the hinge joint of the joint (14) , so that the access device can move along an axis substantially parallel to the axis of the tank truck type vehicle (100). Access device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rolling means (8) comprise: - at least one running wheel (82a, 82b) attached to the frame and - a cradle (81) articulated with respect to the frame (3) and supporting at least one steering wheel (83a, 83b), said cradle being able to adopt two different positions depending on its angular position with respect to the frame (3), said at least one running wheel (82a, 82b) and said cradle (81) being arranged on both sides of the ladder (2). Access device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support structure (4) comprises a stop structure (31) arbitrated on the frame (3), and a positioning frame (21) integral with the ladder (2), so that the inclined position, called the "working position" of the ladder, is reached by placing the positioning frame (21) supported on the stop structure (31). Access device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises control means (5) for tilting the ladder (2) between the first and second positions, or vice versa. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the tilting control means (5) include a winch (51), at least one pulley (52) integral with the frame (3) and a cable (53) that connects the winch (51), the at least one pulley (52) and the ladder (2). Access device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a winch structure (35) arbitrated on the frame (3), said winch structure comprising a mast (36) at the free end of which the al least one pulley (52), in order to position the cable portion between the ladder (2) and the at least one pulley (52) in a direction substantially orthogonal to the ladder (2). Access device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises retaining means (7) established and configured to limit the angular displacement of the ladder in the vertical position, called "rest position", in tilting from the first position to the second position. Access device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the retaining means (7) comprise at least two levers (71, 72) cooperating with each other, a first lever (71) being attached to the stop structure ( 31) and a second lever (72) being attached to the positioning frame (21), in order to determine a compass. Access device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the uprights (10, 11) of the ladder are each made up of a first arm (10a, 10b) and a second telescopic arm (11a, 11 b), in order to adapt the height of the ladder (2).