US20140158464A1

US20140158464A1 - Egress system for a machine

Info

Publication number: US20140158464A1
Application number: US14/179,865
Authority: US
Inventors: Christopher G. Nowak; Purushoth J. Raju
Original assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Current assignee: Caterpillar Inc
Priority date: 2014-02-13
Filing date: 2014-02-13
Publication date: 2014-06-12

Abstract

An egress system for a machine comprising a cab body is provided. The egress system includes a first platform attached to a first lateral side of the cab body and a second platform attached to a second lateral side of the cab body. The first platform attached with a primary staircase is configured to board and exit from the cab body. A secondary staircase attached to the first platform is configured for exit during emergencies. The second platform is provided on a second lateral side of the cab body for storage. The second platform includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall such that the first sidewall is positioned laterally opposite to the second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are provided with a plurality of mounting holes and a plurality of brackets connected to the first side wall and the second sidewall by at least one bolt.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to an egress system. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to an egress system for a machine, such as, a construction machine.

BACKGROUND

Conventional construction machines are extensively used in mining and mill applications. Construction machines may include a cab body, a staircase, and a storage platform. Typically, construction machines may have the staircase and the storage platform attached to a lateral side of the construction machine. The staircase may be configured to provide access to the cab body from the ground. Further, the storage platform may be configured to store containers of natural gas, gas, fire suppression foam, coolant, and/or the like.
Currently, existing construction machines have both the staircase and the storage platform positioned on the same side of the cab body. However, when an operator is unable to access the staircase and the storage platform during an emergency situation, the operator may face difficulties exiting the machine. Existing construction machines may not provide an alternate to the operator to exit from the cab body during the emergency situations.
The present disclosure is aimed at solving one or more of the problems stated above.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is related to an egress system for a machine comprising a cab body.
According to one aspect of the present disclosure, the egress system may include a first platform attached to a first lateral side of the cab body and a second platform attached to a second lateral side of the cab body. The first platform may be attached with a primary staircase configured to allow an operator to board and exit the cab body. Also, a secondary staircase may be attached to the first platform and configured to facilitate exit during emergencies. The second platform may be provided on a second lateral side of the cab body for storing at least one container. The second platform includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall such that the first sidewall is positioned laterally opposite to the second sidewall. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are provided with a plurality of mounting holes and a plurality of brackets connected to the first side wall and the second sidewall by at least one bolt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a construction machine, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial side view of a construction machine with an egress system including a first platform, a primary staircase, and a secondary staircase, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a partial side view of a construction machine with an egress system including a second platform, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a construction machine 100 in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. In reference to FIG. 1, the construction machine 100 may include a cab body 102 and an egress system 104. The cab body 102 may include a first lateral side 106 and a second lateral side 108. The first lateral side 106 is a side proximal to an operator seat. The second lateral side 108 is a side distal to the operator seat and opposite to the first lateral side 106.
The egress system 104 may include a first platform 110 attached on the first lateral side 106 of the cab body 102. The first platform 110 may be attached with a primary staircase 112 and a secondary staircase 114. The primary staircase 112 may be configured to allow an operator to board and exit the cab body 102. The secondary staircase 114 may be positioned at a distance from the primary staircase 112, and may be aligned along a length of the construction machine 100. The secondary staircase 114 may be configured to enable the operator to exit the cab body 102 during emergency situations.
FIG. 2 illustrates a partial side view of the construction machine 100 with the egress system 104 including the first platform 110, the primary staircase 112, and the secondary staircase 114, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. The first platform 110 is attached to the cab body 102 and positioned on the first lateral side 106 of the cab body 102. The secondary staircase 114 may include a frame 116 and a plurality of steps 118. The plurality of steps 118 may be positioned along a length of the frame 116 of the secondary staircase 114. The secondary staircase 114 further may include a plurality of handrails 120 positioned on lateral ends of the frame 116. The plurality of handrails 120 are configured to facilitate the stepping up or stepping down of the operator from the cab body 102. In other words, the plurality of handrails 120 may provide an easy support to the operator to access the secondary staircase 114.
FIG. 3 illustrates a partial side view of the construction machine 100 with the egress system 104 including a second platform 122, in accordance with the concepts of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 shows the egress system 104 with a second platform 122 on the second lateral side 108 of the cab body 102. The second platform 122 is coupled to the cab body 102 and positioned on the second lateral side 108 of the cab body 102. The second platform 122 may be configured to hold containers which may contain, but not limited to, natural gas, gas, fire suppression foam, modular cooling units and/or other items that can be stored on the construction machine 100.
Further, the second platform 122 may include a frame 124, a first sidewall 126, and a second sidewall 128. The first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128 may be positioned on the frame 124 in a way that the first sidewall 126 may be disposed laterally opposite to the second sidewall 128. The first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128 may be positioned with a plurality of mounting holes (not shown) along the length of the first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128. The plurality of mounting holes (not shown) is positioned along the first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128, to support a plurality of brackets 130. The plurality of brackets 130 are jointed to the first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128 by means of a plurality of bolts. The plurality of brackets 130 may be moved to any position on the second platform 122, in order to support the containers. Examples of the plurality of brackets 130 may include, but are not limited to, a strip, a plate, a belt, a band, and/or an angled structure that may be flexibly jointed to the first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128, to support the containers.

Industrial Applicability

The egress system 104 in the construction machine 100 is disclosed. The egress system 104 on the construction machine 100 includes the primary staircase 112 and the secondary staircase 114 attached to the first platform 110 on the first lateral side 106. The primary staircase 112 may be used by the operator to board and exit the cab body 102 during normal machine operations, while the secondary staircase 114 facilitates the exit from the cab body 102 during extraordinary situations. The existing egress systems are provided with a primary staircase only on the driver side of the construction machine. As compared to the existing egress systems, the proposed egress system 104 is equipped with an additional staircase, that is, the secondary staircase 114, for extraordinary situations. Hence, the egress system 104 adds a convenience factor for the operator if extraordinary situations are encountered.
Also, the egress system 104 is provided with the second platform 122 for storing containers, which may contain natural gas, gas, fire suppression foam, coolant, and/or the like. The second platform 122 may be provided with the plurality of brackets 130, which are adjustably jointed to the first sidewall 126 and the second sidewall 128 of the second platform 122. The adjustability of the plurality of brackets 130 enables the second platform 122 to store containers of various shapes and sizes.
The present description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Other aspects, features, and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claim.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An egress system for a machine comprising a cab body with a first lateral side and a second lateral side, wherein the first lateral side is opposite to the second lateral side, the egress system comprising:

a first platform attached to the first lateral side of the cab body;

a primary staircase attached to the first platform and configured to allow an operator to board and exit the cab body;

a secondary staircase attached to the first platform and configured to provide an emergency exit from the cab body; and

a second platform attached to the second lateral side of the cab body and configured to store at least one container, wherein the second platform comprises:

a first sidewall and a second sidewall positioned on a frame of the second platform, wherein the first sidewall is positioned laterally opposite to the second sidewall; and

a plurality of brackets detachably connected to the first sidewall and the second sidewall, and configured to support the at least one container.