WO1999013184A1 - Agencements plate-forme extensible pour ascenseurs destines au transport de personnes - Google Patents
Agencements plate-forme extensible pour ascenseurs destines au transport de personnes Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO1999013184A1 WO1999013184A1 PCT/US1998/012037 US9812037W WO9913184A1 WO 1999013184 A1 WO1999013184 A1 WO 1999013184A1 US 9812037 W US9812037 W US 9812037W WO 9913184 A1 WO9913184 A1 WO 9913184A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- platform portion
- lift
- platform
- increasing
- working area
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B66—HOISTING; LIFTING; HAULING
- B66F—HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD
- B66F11/00—Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for
- B66F11/04—Lifting devices specially adapted for particular uses not otherwise provided for for movable platforms or cabins, e.g. on vehicles, permitting workmen to place themselves in any desired position for carrying out required operations
Definitions
- the present invention generally relates to platform structures used in personnel lifts, as well as personnel lifts containing such platform structures and methods for operating such platform structures .
- vertical pole lifts generally involve the use of a telescoping mast or sequentially extending mast (in which mast segments are usually “stacked” along a horizontal direction and then propagate upwardly one-by-one) , on which is mounted a basket, cage or other platform structure intended to carry one or more individuals.
- Most "vertical pole” lifts are intended to carry only one individual, however, and are generally designed to elevate solely in a vertical direction.
- U.S. Patent Nos. 3,752,261 (Bushnell, Jr.), 4,657,112 (Ream et al . ) and 4,015,686 (Bushnell, Jr.) disclose general examples of such lifts.
- the "available base reach distance” may be thought of as a linear distance, in a given direction, provided by the presence of the lift platform itself, that will allow personnel on the platform to reach away from the platform. For example, in a lift whose platform measures 6 feet by 8 feet, the available base reach distance, at least with respect to the longer dimension, is 8 feet.
- Genie Industries of Redmond, Washington has developed a "reaching" vertical pole lift in which a platform is connected to a mast structure via a scissors mechanism that propagates the platform horizontally. In this manner, the platform may optionally be extended outwardly with respect to the mast structure.
- some disadvantages have been noted in terms of the lateral stability of the platform (especially in a maximally displaced position away from the mast structure) and in view of the fact that the available working space on the platform remains the same (i.e. the platform is only displaced and is not in any way expanded in terms of its available working area) .
- At least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention broadly contemplates - a personnel lift for providing vertical transportation, the lift comprising: a base portion; a platform portion; an arrangement for displacing the platform portion with respect to the base portion; the platform portion having a working area accessible to personnel disposed on the platform portion; and an arrangement for selectively increasing the working area of the platform portion by more than about 75%.
- At least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention broadly contemplates a personnel lift for providing vertical transportation, the lift comprising: a base portion; a platform portion; an arrangement for displacing the platform portion with respect to the base portion; the platform portion defining a base reach distance available to personnel disposed on the platform portion; and an arrangement for selectively increasing the available base reach distance by more than about 75%.
- At least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention broadly contemplates a method of expanding the available working area on a platform portion of a personnel lift, the method comprising the step of selectively increasing the working area of the platform portion by more than about 75%.
- At least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention broadly contemplates a method of increasing the base reach distance available on a platform portion of a personnel lift, the method comprising the step of selectively increasing the available base reach distance by more than about 75%.
- At least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention broadly contemplates a lift for providing vertical transportation, the lift comprising: a platform portion; and an arrangement for selectively increasing the area of the platform portion by more than about 75%.
- Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a lift structure
- Figure 2 is essentially the same illustration as Figure 1 but showing a broad concept of extendibility
- Figure 3 discloses a specific vertical pole lift platform structure in accordance with a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention in a non- extended position
- Figure 4 illustrates essentially the same structure as in Figure 3, but in an extended position
- Figure 5 is a frontal view of the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 ;
- Figures 6a-6c illustrate various views of a specific drawer-glide mechanism;
- Figure 7 is a schematic illustration -of a work - platform incorporating longitudinal extendibility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 8 is a schematic illustration of a work platform incorporating transverse extendibility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 9 is a schematic illustration of a work platform incorporating both transverse and longitudinal extendibility according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- Figure 10 is a schematic illustration of a work platform being extendible in two stages.
- FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a lift- structure or device 10 in which at least one embodiment of the present invention may be employed. Illustrated specifically are a platform structure 12, a lift mechanism 14 and a base structure 16.
- a base structure 16 may be embodied by a wheeled vehicle-type structure or chassis that permits the entire lift structure 10 to be transported easily.
- the base structure 16 could be embodied by a more stationary structure that is not wheeled, or even one that can optionally include retractable wheels to permit the lift structure to remain stationary.
- lift mechanism 14 which normally is supported on the base structure 16, may be of essentially any suitable type that permits a platform structure 12 to be raised.
- lift mechanisms include, but are not limited to, boom-type mechanisms, vertical pole mechanisms and scissors-type mechanisms.
- U.S. patents that disclose general types of such mechanisms are cited in the "Background" section of the instant disclosure.
- Platform structure 12 may also conceivably encompass any of a wide variety of suitable media for supporting personnel or material that are intended to be transported to an elevated position.
- suitable media for supporting personnel or material that are intended to be transported to an elevated position.
- a platform structure 12 may be embodied by what might be conventionally termed as a "basket” .
- the platform structure 12 would not be enclosed at the top; however, in lieu of railings at the sides of the platform, there might be a metallic mesh structure that has the effect of essentially completely enclosing the platform on all four sides while having holes therethrough to permit throughgoing visibility.
- a metallic mesh structure that has the effect of essentially completely enclosing the platform on all four sides while having holes therethrough to permit throughgoing visibility.
- a molded, fiberglass or plastic bucket it is possible to use a molded, fiberglass or plastic bucket.
- Figure 2 schematically illustrates essentially the same components as Figure 1, but also illustrates a concept employed in at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention.
- at least one presently preferred embodiment of the present invention broadly contemplates the use of a platform structure 12 that is selectively extendible, as implied by the dotted lines shown in Figure 2.
- the present invention contemplates a wide variety of manners and mechanisms via which a platform structure 12 can be selectively extended.
- Figures 3 and 4 provide detailed illustrafcions- of an extendible work platform 312 for a vertical pole lift, according to a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the following discussion, either figure may be consulted as needed.
- inner platform 312a is defined by a general rail structure 330, itself including an upper rail 332, a mid-rail 334 and a floorpan 345, along with front and rear vertical supports 336, 338, respectively.
- diagonal brace 342 may extend from rear support 338 to front support 336.
- floorpan 345 will preferably be sufficient for supporting at least one individual .
- connection between platform 312 and mast 318 is indeterminate for the purposes of the present discussion, and may be embodied by essentially any type of connection medium or media deemed appropriate for the context at hand.
- the terms “upper rail” and “mid-rail” may be taken to be indicative of one or more rail segments that surround the work platform at a given level.
- an "upper rail” could be construed as a set of up to four rail segments, serving to ensconce the platform structure, at an upper level of the platform structure, while a “mid-rail” could be construed as a similar set of rail segments at a vertically intermediate level of the platform structure.
- vertical support can be taken to be indicative of one or more vertical rail segments that extend between two levels or runs of horizontal rails.
- front vertical support 336 may be taken to be indicative of two vertical rail segments that extend between upper rail 332 and mid-rail 334 at the two corners of the inner platform 312a disposed nearer the mast 318
- rear vertical support 338 may be taken to be indicative of two vertical rail segments that extend between upper rail 332 and mid-rail 334 at the two corners of the work platform disposed away from the mast 318.
- Figure 3 shows platform 312 in an original, non-extended position
- Figure 4 shows platform 312 in an extended position.
- the floorpan 345 will be enclosed only along those same three sides as well, thus being basically open and unimpeded along that transverse side that is disposed further away from mast 318. This fact will be better appreciated with reference to outer platform 312b.
- outer platform 312b is " defined " by ⁇ its own general rail structure 380, itself including an upper rail 382, a mid-rail 384 and a floorpan 395, along with front and rear vertical supports 386, 388, respectively.
- a first diagonal brace 390 might extend from a rear vertical support 388 to upper rail 382, while a second diagonal brace 392 may extend from rear support 388 to front support 386.
- floorpan 395 will preferably be sufficient for supporting at least one individual.
- inner work platform 312a is configured to be nested within outer work platform 312b.
- an individual standing on floorpan 345 would only need to push a portion of the structure constituting outer platform 312b in a longitudinal direction indicated by the arrow in Figure .
- This will then cause the platform structure 312 to effectively extend and to assume a floor area significantly greater than that which was previously constituted solely by inner floorpan 345.
- the end result will be a configuration such as that shown in Figure 4, in which inner floorpan 345 and outer floorpan 395 will both be available for the aforementioned individual to utilize for support.
- any appropriate arrangement may be utilized in order to ensure that outer platform 312b will adequately stop when propagated maximally with respect to inner platform 312a.
- Conventional stops for example, may be used for this purpose, such as rubber stops mounted on one or the other of inner floorpan 345 and outer floorpan 395.
- a suitable locking mechanism such as that indicated at 397, may be utilized to fix the platform structure 312 in either of the non-extended ( Figure 3) or extended ( Figure 4) positions.
- a spring-loaded locking pin mechanism is illustrated, examples of which would appear to be well- known to those of ordinary skill in the art.
- Figure 5 which is a frontal view of the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 ( i . e . , a view taken from the direction of mast 318) , affords a better appreciation of this nesting phenomenon.
- Corresponding components of the inner and outer work platforms 312a, 312b are illustrated in Figure 5 as being visually adjacent to one another
- 395 as indicated at h in Figure 5, could be on the order of about 0.5 inch or less .
- any suitable mechanism may be provided in order to guide the propagation of outer work platform 312b with respect to inner work platform 312a.
- a "drawer-glide” mechanism is suitable.
- the effective back-to-front dimension of the work platform 312 at large can be extended by approximately 75 percent or more, and more particularly, approximately 100 percent or more.
- the circled locations Xi and X 2 shown in Figure 5 illustrate preferred simultaneous locations for such drawer-glide mechanisms.
- the drawer-glide mechanisms will be so configured as to adequately fulfill any load requirements for the work platform 312 in question.
- FIGS 6a-6c A possible example of such a drawer-glide mechanism 400 is illustrated in Figures 6a-6c, these representing, respectively, a plan view, a front elevational view and a side elevational view of the mechanism. Reference will first be made to Figures 6a and 6b simultaneously.
- drawer-glide mechanism- 400 may. preferably include three distinct sections, these being labelled 403, 406 and 409, respectively.
- Sections 403 and 409 may each preferably be respectively mounted directly on the two components that are intended to slide with respect to one another.
- section 403 could be mounted on floorpan 395 of outer work platform 312b while section 409 could be mounted on floorpan 345 of inner work platform 312a.
- middle section 406 of drawer-glide mechanism 400 may preferably serve as the intermediary between the two outer sections 403 and 409 and, as such, will preferably not be directly mounted to any other components other than those belonging to drawer-glide mechanism 400.
- sections 403, 406 and 409 will preferably include components, and suitable arrangements of components with respect to one another, that will result in facilitated sliding of sections 403 and 409 with respect to one another and, by extension, of the two greater components being interconnected via the intermediary of the drawer-glide mechanism ( e . g. , the floorpans 345 and 395 shown in Figure 5) with respect to one another.
- Figure 6c shows some specific components that might be included in a drawer- glide mechanism 400.
- section 403 might include a plate portion 412 with “inner brackets” 415 mounted thereto.
- section 406 might include its own similar plate portion 412 (not referenced) with “outer brackets” 421 mounted thereto, these being configured to slidingly cooperate with “inner brackets” 415 via the intermediary of suitably -configured- and arranged ball bearing arrangements 418.
- central plate 412 On the other side of the central plate 412 (belonging to middle section 406) , this same arrangement can essentially be repeated.
- the opposite side of central plate 412 might have "inner brackets" 415 mounted thereto that, via ball bearing arrangements 418, slidingly cooperate with “outer brackets” 421 disposed on a side of a plate 412 corresponding to section 409.
- drawer-glide mechanism shown in Figures 6a-6c is provided solely for illustrative purposes and is in no way intended to limit the spirit and scope of the present invention. Indeed, other types of drawer-glide mechanisms, having somewhat different components or arrangements of components but similar in effect, may be substituted for that shown in Figures 6a-6c. Furthermore, it is conceivable not to use a drawer-glide mechanism at all but essentially any other type of mechanism, for being disposed between two components that are intended to be slidingly displaced with respect to one another, that has an equivalent effect.
- a drawer-glide mechanism can be thought of as an arrangement of moveable support beams . Since these proverbial moveable support beams serve, as the name suggests, to provide support, it will be appreciated that, even with significant outward extension, the capability is created of allowing significant loads on the structure or structures being supported.
- the effective floor area of a platform 312 can be expanded by an order of magnitude of about 75% or more and even up to about 100% or more, thus increasing the effective reach distance available to a worker on the platform.
- FIG. 7 Illustrated in Figure 7 is a schematic plan view of a work platform 511 of a lift device, itself not shown or described in any greater detail. Whereas conventional lift devices might have an extendible platform that increases the longitudinal dimension of the platform by about 50 percent, the present invention contemplates an arrangement in which the longitudinal extent of the platform is increased by about 75% or more or even about 100% or more, as in the case of the work platform 312 illustrated in Figures 3-5.
- the dotted lines in Figure 7 schematically illustrate this possibility. It will be appreciated that mechanisms similar to the drawer-glide mechanism could be used to so extend the platform 511.
- platform 511 it is conceivable to permit the platform 511 to be translated side-to-side, that is, in a transverse direction, whether it has been extended or. not. In this manner, not only will the extension of platform 511 result in a greater work area for the worker, as well as a greater reach distance in the longitudinal direction, but greater reach will be provided in the transverse directions, as well.
- This optional displaceability of platform 511 in the transverse directions is schematically indicated in Figure 7 with the dotted two-way arrow.
- Figure 8 illustrates another possibility within the scope of the present invention. As shown in Figure 8, it is contemplated that a work platform, having a longer longitudinal dimension than a transverse dimension, could be expanded in a transverse direction, as implied by the dotted lines. Similarly, suitable mechanisms such as drawer-glide mechanisms could be used to afford such extendibility.
- Figure 10 illustrates yet another possibility within the scope of the present invention.
- Reference numeral 615 may be taken to indicate a work platform on any lift structure, such as a vertical pole lift, a boom lift or a scissors-lift. While the discussion hereinabove has been directed primarily to the use of two nested platform "shells" that perform a single act of extension in order to increase the effective size of a work platform in one single action,
- Figure 11 illustrates a possibility in which there may be three nested platform "shells", indicated at 615a, 615b and 615c.
- Suitable mechanisms such as drawer-glide mechanisms may permit the expandability of a work platform up to three times its original length if the three platform sections are appropriately nested within one another. Appropriate stops may be utilized to initiate the extension of a particular drawer-glide mechanism once another one has already been fully extended.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Ladders (AREA)
Abstract
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU78339/98A AU7833998A (en) | 1997-09-10 | 1998-06-09 | Extendible platform arrangements for personnel lifts |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US92682997A | 1997-09-10 | 1997-09-10 | |
US08/926,829 | 1997-09-10 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO1999013184A1 true WO1999013184A1 (fr) | 1999-03-18 |
Family
ID=25453771
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US1998/012037 WO1999013184A1 (fr) | 1997-09-10 | 1998-06-09 | Agencements plate-forme extensible pour ascenseurs destines au transport de personnes |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU7833998A (fr) |
WO (1) | WO1999013184A1 (fr) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002012655A1 (fr) * | 2000-08-08 | 2002-02-14 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Plate-forme de travail pour un entrepot a rayonnage |
WO2010108521A1 (fr) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-09-30 | Alfio Leonardo Casanova | Système modulaire d'échafaudage mobile pour travaux de construction et procédé de formation associé |
EP2347989A1 (fr) * | 2010-01-26 | 2011-07-27 | Haulotte Group | Preparateur de commande |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1708113A (en) * | 1927-06-29 | 1929-04-09 | Alvah K Allen | Collapsible tower |
US1960355A (en) * | 1931-01-15 | 1934-05-29 | Tamini Mario | Transportable bridge |
US3927732A (en) * | 1973-04-05 | 1975-12-23 | Mitsui Shipbuilding Eng | Scaffold |
US5685392A (en) * | 1994-11-03 | 1997-11-11 | Vertex Systems Group, Inc. | Multiple lift platform with lateral movement |
-
1998
- 1998-06-09 WO PCT/US1998/012037 patent/WO1999013184A1/fr active Application Filing
- 1998-06-09 AU AU78339/98A patent/AU7833998A/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1708113A (en) * | 1927-06-29 | 1929-04-09 | Alvah K Allen | Collapsible tower |
US1960355A (en) * | 1931-01-15 | 1934-05-29 | Tamini Mario | Transportable bridge |
US3927732A (en) * | 1973-04-05 | 1975-12-23 | Mitsui Shipbuilding Eng | Scaffold |
US5685392A (en) * | 1994-11-03 | 1997-11-11 | Vertex Systems Group, Inc. | Multiple lift platform with lateral movement |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2002012655A1 (fr) * | 2000-08-08 | 2002-02-14 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Plate-forme de travail pour un entrepot a rayonnage |
WO2010108521A1 (fr) * | 2009-03-27 | 2010-09-30 | Alfio Leonardo Casanova | Système modulaire d'échafaudage mobile pour travaux de construction et procédé de formation associé |
EP2347989A1 (fr) * | 2010-01-26 | 2011-07-27 | Haulotte Group | Preparateur de commande |
FR2955571A1 (fr) * | 2010-01-26 | 2011-07-29 | Haulotte Group | Preparateur de commande |
US9108831B2 (en) | 2010-01-26 | 2015-08-18 | Haulotte Group | Order picker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU7833998A (en) | 1999-03-29 |
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