WO2012159783A1

WO2012159783A1 - Aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO2012159783A1
Application number: PCT/EP2012/054266
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo Balugani
Original assignee: Sky Aces S.R.L.
Priority date: 2011-05-24
Filing date: 2012-03-12
Publication date: 2012-11-29
Also published as: ITMO20110129A1; EP2714574A1; RU2013157186A

Abstract

An aerial work platform (1), particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, comprising a base frame (2) which supports a basket (3). The basket (3), comprising a deck (4), accommodates at least one operator in safety. The particularity of the invention consists in that the deck (4) is divided into a plurality of mutually independent areas (5) which are connected to the base frame (2) and are adapted to arrange themselves substantially on planes which are parallel to each other and to the ground.

Description

AERIAL WORK PLATFORM, PARTICULARLY FOR WORK ON INCLINED OR CURVED SURFACES

The present invention relates to an aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces.

Aerial work platforms are known which are designed to afford access to work regions located at a determined height that cannot normally be reached by operators with their equipment.

Such platforms mainly comprise an extendable element such as for example a pantograph, an articulated arm or a telescopic arm with hydraulic movement that lifts a basket accommodating one or more operators to a certain height. Such platforms can be provided, moreover, with movement means so as to be able to move quickly from a first work area to a subsequent one.

During movement and use of such platforms, the deck of the basket, where the operator is present, is substantially parallel to the ground so as to improve the balance of the operator, given that an excessive inclination of the deck could make the operator slip, making the platform unsafe.

Such conventional aerial work platforms are not devoid of drawbacks among which is the fact that, during work operations carried out near the inner ceiling of a tunnel, only one portion of the basket can be arranged at an optimal distance from the ceiling for carrying out the work required. In fact, owing to the curvature of the ceiling, the other portions of the platform are either too close to or too far from the point of work, as a consequence reducing the number of operators who can work at the same time, thus increasing the time and cost of the operation.

Such drawback can also be observed with operations carried out on linear inner ceiling surfaces with pronounced inclination.

The aim of the present invention consists in providing an aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, that compensates for the drawbacks and overcomes the limitations of the known art by allowing a plurality of operators to work at the same time on inclined or curved surfaces at an optimal distance.

Within this aim, an object of the invention consists in providing an aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, that is capable of offering the widest guarantees of reliability and safety during its use.

Another object of the invention consists in providing an aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, that is easy to produce and economically competitive in comparison to the known art.

This aim and these and other objects which will become more evident hereinafter are achieved by an aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, comprising a base frame which supports a basket adapted to accommodate at least one operator, said basket comprising a deck, characterized in that said deck is divided into a plurality of mutually independent areas connected to said base frame, said plurality of areas being adapted to be arranged substantially on planes which are parallel to each other and to the ground.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of an aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the help of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation view of an embodiment of an aerial work platform installed on a means of movement by way of lifting means, according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlargement of the platform in Figure 1 with the basket in a completely extended deployment;

Figure 3 is a plan view from above of Figure 1 with the basket in a completely retracted deployment;

Figure 4 is a side elevation view of Figure 1 ; Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are views of the platform in Figure 1 during its use.

With reference to the figures, the aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, generally designated by the reference numeral 1 , comprises a base frame 2 which supports a basket 3 that is adapted to accommodate at least one operator. The basket 3 has a deck 4 at its base.

According to the invention, the deck 4, at the base of the basket 3, is divided into a plurality of mutually independent areas 5 which are connected to the base frame 2 so as to be movable on planes which are substantially parallel to each other and to the ground.

Advantageously, the base frame 2 can rotate, through a limited angle, about at least one main axis 6 which is parallel to the deck 4, consequently deploying the plurality of areas 5 on planes which are parallel to each other and to the ground.

Each one of the plurality of areas 5 is provided at the bottom with at least one plate 8 which, particularly, is hinged within the base frame 2. Specifically, the plate 8 has a seat 9 in which at least one pivot 10 is rotatably accommodated.

Conveniently, the base frame 2, placed in a lower region with respect to the plurality of areas 5, comprises at least two rocker-like beams 7, which are arranged transversely with respect to the main axis 6. From the rockerlike beams 7 at least one pivot 10 extends outward which, as described previously, is engaged rotatably in the corresponding seat 9, which, in this embodiment, is simply a hole.

Particularly, the two rocker-like beams 7, which are parallel to each other, are provided with at least three pivots 10 which extend in a central position 15 and in two external positions 16 of the rocker-like beams 7.

Conveniently, extensible elements 18 are interposed between the two rocker-like beams 7. In this embodiment the extensible elements 18 comprise hydraulic jacks in a V arrangement and connecting the pivot 10 placed in a central position 15 on a rocker-like beam 7 to the pivots 10 placed in a lateral position 16 on the other rocker-like beam 7.

The three pivots 10, arranged on each rocker-like beam 7, are engaged in three respective plates 8 extending from three areas 5. In fact, in this particular embodiment, the plurality of areas 5 is made up of three sections, specifically a central section 11 and two lateral sections 12 which are substantially rectangular. Each one of the described sections 11 and 12 has a longitudinal axis which is parallel to the longer sides 19 of the rectangle and substantially parallel to the main axis 6. Both the central section 11 and the two lateral sections 12 are provided at the bottom with at least one plate 8 at opposite ends 14, closer to the shorter sides 20 of the rectangle.

Conveniently, the two lateral sections 12 perimetrically comprise a railing 17 of adequate height for ensuring the safety of the operators on the aerial work platform 1 and composed of a plurality of bars so as to form two independent baskets. The central section 11, unlike the two lateral sections 12, has a railing 17 only on the shorter sides 20 of the rectangle, i.e. on the sides that are not contiguous to the two lateral sections 12.

Advantageously, the two lateral sections 12 can be extended outward, passing from a first retracted deployment to a second extended deployment in which the area accommodating the operators is almost double that of the area available in the first retracted deployment. Particularly, the side portions of the railing 17, present on the shorter sides 20 of the lateral sections 12, are provided with a structure of the telescopic type so as to ensure the presence of the railing 17 both when the lateral section 12 is retracted in which the bars are inside each other, and when it is extended outward. In addition to the side portions of the railing 17, the deck 4 of the two lateral sections 12 can also be extended, thanks to the presence of a secondary deck 21.

In this particular embodiment, the secondary deck 21 has one end hinged to the outer rim of the deck 4 which makes it possible for it to rotate from a first position in the first retracted deployment to a second position in the second extended deployment. Specifically, in the first position the secondary deck 21 rests against the lateral portion of the railing 17, arranged substantially on a plane perpendicular to the deck 4, whereas in the second position the secondary deck 21 is coplanar with the deck 4, thus forming a genuine extension of the deck 4.

Moreover, in the second position, the secondary deck 21 is locked by snap-acting fastening means 23 which can engage in respective seats placed in the base of the secondary deck 21.

To facilitate the rotation of the secondary deck 21 in the passage from the second position to the first position, cylindrical helical springs 24 are provided the respective ends of which are connected to the secondary deck 21 and to the railing 17.

Advantageously, the base frame 2 in a downward region is provided with conventional fastening means for the connection of the aerial work platform 1 to lifting means 100 adapted to raise the platform, such as for example pantographs, articulated arms or telescopic means which are installed, in turn, on movement means 101.

In this particular embodiment the aerial work platform 1 is installed on a vehicle by way of a hydraulic articulated arm.

The operation of the aerial work platform 1 , particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, is described below.

The movement means 101 on which the work platform 1 is installed is positioned in the area where work is to be performed, as illustrated in Figure 5, and is subsequently consolidated on the ground by way of stabilizers 25, known to the person skilled in the art, as illustrated in Figure 6.

Conveniently, the operators access the aerial work platform 1 by way of a centrally opening gate 26 present on the railing 17, which makes it possible to gain access to the central section 11 of the plurality of sections 5 of the deck 4. From the central section 11 the operators can gain access to each one of the two lateral sections 12 by way of respective side opening gates 27 present on the railing 17, specifically between the central section 11 and the two lateral sections 12.

The aerial work platform 1, by way of the lifting means 101, is brought to a suitable height for working on the area in which the intervention is required, as illustrated in Figure 6. Such raising operation can occur by means of command elements which can be actuated by operators on the ground or by means of command elements provided on the aerial work platform 1 itself.

Once the right height is reached, the base frame 2 is rotated mainly about the main axis 6, so as to best follow the curvature of the surface on which to work. Conveniently, the extensible elements 18 fastened between the two rocker-like beams 7 are moved synchronously to incline the base frame 2. In the embodiment shown, the two hydraulic jacks in a V arrangement follow mutually opposite behaviors, i.e. in order to incline the aerial work platform 1 to the right, the right hand jack 18a is retracted, whereas the left hand jack 18b is extended, and vice versa in order to incline the aerial work platform 1 to the left.

During the rotation of the base frame 2 the central section 11 is immobile, since the two rocker-like beams 7 are hinged along two respective pivoting axes which pass through the pivots 10 in a central position, while the two lateral sections 12 are moving.

Specifically, the pivoting axes which pass through the pivots 10 in a central position of the two rocker-like beams 7 are arranged on a plane comprising the main axis 6 and are equidistant from the main axis 6.

During such rotation the plurality of areas 5 of the deck 4 are always parallel to the ground. Specifically, the pivots 10, which are accommodated rotatably in the respective seats 9, are also positioned on planes that are parallel to the plane 29 substantially perpendicular to the ground, thus allowing the plate 8 to be moved exclusively along parallel planes. Consequently, the two lateral sections 12 will always have movable decks on planes that are substantially parallel to the ground.

Advantageously, in any configuration, the two lateral sections 12 perimetrically offer the presence of the railing 17 thereof to keep the operators safe. The central portion 11 is provided with its railing 17 on the shorter sides 20 only, whereas along the longer sides 19 it depends on the presence of the fencing 17 of the lateral sections 12.

If the area in which the intervention is required is very big, requiring several operators to work at the same time, the area available to accommodate such operators can be extended, by extending the deck 4 with the secondary deck 21, thus passing from a first retracted deployment to a second extended deployment. Specifically, the side portions of the railing 17, with telescopic structure, are extended outward. At the same time, the secondary deck 21 also rotates outward, passing from the first position in which it is resting against the lateral portion of the railing 17, on a plane substantially perpendicular to the deck 4, to a second position in which the secondary deck 21 is an extension of the deck 4. In this second position the secondary deck 21 is secured by the snap-acting fastening means 23, which are actuated automatically when the secondary deck 21 is placed in the second position, thus preventing an accidental rotation that would return it to the first position. The rotation of the secondary deck 21 occurs slowly, thanks to the presence of the cylindrical helical springs 24, which enable a cushioned rotation of the surface toward the second position.

The extension of the lateral sections 12 is independent for each side of the aerial work platform 1 and can be performed on one side only or on both, as shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Once the maintenance or other operation on the inclined surface is complete, the aerial work platform 1 is collapsed again, returning to the first retracted deployment, by retracting the extensible parts of the two lateral sections 12. First the snap-acting fastening means 23 that hold the secondary deck 21 in the second position are released, and subsequently the side portions of the railing 17 are retracted, which automatically make the secondary deck 21 rotate to the first position.

Subsequently, the plurality of areas 5 is repositioned on a single plane by operation on the right hand jack 18a and on the left hand jack 18b, thus levelling the two lateral sections 12 with the central section 11 by means of the rotation of the two rocker-like beams 7.

Finally, the lifting means 100 are retracted onto itself, bringing the aerial work platform 1 to the movement means 101.

In another embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the stabilizers 25 can comprise movement elements, such as for example wheels connected to electric motors or hydraulic motors, for movement along short paths of the high aerial work platform 1, thus enabling advantageously the continuous movement of the operators high up along a work line.

In a further embodiment, not shown in the accompanying figures, the secondary deck 21 can be positioned under the deck 4. In particular during the passage from the first retracted deployment to the second extended deployment and vice versa, the secondary deck 21 slides on a plane that is parallel to the deck 4 toward the outer part of the platform 1 until its maximum extension is reached, thus increasing the available area to accommodate the operators.

In other embodiments, not shown in the accompanying figures, the plurality of areas 5 can be connected to the base frame 2 by means of mechanical distancing elements, such as for example telescopic elements, lever mechanisms or other elements that enable the distancing of at least one area 5 from the others, thus making it possible to work on at least two different levels. For example each single area 5 can comprise a plurality of hydraulic jacks, a scissors frame or the like which, by extending and/or retracting, spaceit from the base frame 2 by locating it on a higher or lower plane with respect to the initial position.

In practice it has been found that the aerial work platform, particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, according to the present invention, achieves the intended aim and objects by making it possible for a plurality of operators to work at the same time on inclined or curved surfaces. Specifically such advantage is made evident by a comparison of Figures 6 and 7, which enable a comparison of the work area 28 of the operators on a standard configuration platform and on a corresponding platform according to the invention.

Another advantage of the aerial work platform 1, according to the invention, consists in that it offers excellent reliability and safety thanks to the presence of fencing of suitable height and decks, accommodating the operators, which are substantially parallel to the ground in any configuration.

A further advantage of the aerial work platform, according to the invention, consists in offering a device that is economically competitive when compared to the known art.

The aerial work platform, thus conceived, is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims.

Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements.

In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. MO2011A000129 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1. An aerial work platform (1), particularly for work on inclined or curved surfaces, comprising a base frame (2) which supports a basket (3) adapted to accommodate at least one operator, said basket (3) comprising a deck (4), characterized in that said deck (4) is divided into a plurality of mutually independent areas (5) connected to said base frame (2), said plurality of areas (5) being adapted to arrange themselves substantially on planes which are parallel to each other and to the ground.

2. The aerial work platform (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said base frame (2) is rotatable about at least one main axis (6) which is parallel to said deck (4) and said plurality of areas (5) being adapted to arrange themselves on planes which are parallel to each other and to the ground as a consequence of the rotation of said base frame (2)·

3. The aerial work platform (1) according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that said base frame (2) is arranged in a downward region with respect to said plurality of areas (5) and comprises at least two rockerlike beams (7) which are arranged transversely with respect to said main axis (6).

4. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that each one of said plurality of areas (5) is provided in a downward region with at least one plate (8) and said at least one plate (8) is hinged within said base frame (2).

5. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least one plate (8) has at least one seat (9) in which at least one pivot (10) is accommodated rotatably and extends from said at least two rocker-like beams (7).

6. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said plurality of areas (5) is composed of a central section (11) and two lateral sections (12) that are substantially rectangular, with their respective longitudinal axes (13) substantially parallel to said main axis (6) and provided with said at least one plate (8) at two opposite ends (14).

7. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said at least two rocker-like beams

(7), which are substantially mutually parallel, provide said at least one pivot (10) in a central position (15) and in external positions (16).

8. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a railing (17) which is arranged perimetrically to said two lateral sections (12) and on the sides of said central section (11) that are not contiguous to said lateral sections (12).

9. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said two lateral sections (12) can be extended outward.

10. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises extensible elements (18) which are interposed between said at least two rocker-like beams (7).

11. The aerial work platform (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises engagement means which are provided in said base frame (2) and are adapted to engage lifting means (100).