U.S. patent application number 10/315331 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-19 for access device.
Invention is credited to Hedley, Robert Ian, Whybin, Christopher Nash.
Application Number | 20040159492 10/315331 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34810995 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040159492 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hedley, Robert Ian ; et
al. |
August 19, 2004 |
Access device
Abstract
An access device for providing access between a lower substrate
surface and an upper substrate surface. The access device includes
upper and lower articulated ladder members. A first end of the
upper member is pivotally connected to or near the upper surface. A
second end of the lower member is pivotally connected to the second
end of the upper member, such that the lower ladder member is
rotatable 180.degree. relative to the upper member. In the storage
position, the ladder members are folded in a substantially compact
upright disposition, while, in the access position, the members are
aligned and extend downwardly and outwardly.
Inventors: |
Hedley, Robert Ian;
(Milbrodale via Singleton, AU) ; Whybin, Christopher
Nash; (Banxton, AU) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CESARI AND MCKENNA, LLP
88 BLACK FALCON AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210
US
|
Family ID: |
34810995 |
Appl. No.: |
10/315331 |
Filed: |
December 10, 2002 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10315331 |
Dec 10, 2002 |
|
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09513730 |
Feb 24, 2000 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
182/86 ;
182/127 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60R 3/02 20130101; E06C
5/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/086 ;
182/127 |
International
Class: |
E06C 009/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A retractable access device for providing access between a
substrate surface and an elevated surface of a vehicle such as a
train, said access device comprising: support means attached to or
integral with a side surface of said vehicle; a first ladder member
pivotally connected at a first end thereof to said support means
adjacent to said elevated surface of said vehicle; a second ladder
member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to a second end
of said first ladder member; a cylinder or like mechanism, a first
end thereof being pivotally attached to said support means, and, a
second end thereof being pivotally attached to said first ladder
member spaced apart from said first end thereof, a guide arm, a
first end thereof being pivotally attached to said support means
and a second end thereof being pivotally attached to said second
ladder means at any position therealong; whereby, said device is
movable between a storage position and an access position in a
single movement step, wherein as said cylinder is extended, said
fist ladder member is pivoted outwardly from said vehicle, and,
under the influence of said guide arm, said second ladder member is
simultaneously rotated outwardly relative to said first ladder
member, and wherein, in a storage position, said ladder members are
folded in a substantially upright disposition in a compact and
overlapping manner adjacent said side surface of said vehicle, and,
in an access position, said ladder members are aligned and
outwardly inclined at an angle of between 60.degree. and 75.degree.
relative to said substrate surface.
2. A retractable access device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each
of said ladder members includes at least one handrail.
3. A retractable access device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in
said access position, said ladder members are inclined at
approximately 62.degree. relative to said substrate surface.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. Ser. No. 09/513730 filed 24 Feb. 2001, now ______.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an access device, such as a
ladder, which provides access between a substrate surface and an
elevated surface. The present invention, in particular, relates to
an access device which is particularly suitable for attachment to a
locomotive, or other vehicle, where access may be required between
a platform and a vehicle, and also between a lower substrate
surface and the vehicle, and, whereby the access device is wholly
retained such as not to protrude from the vehicle whilst the
vehicle is in use.
[0004] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0005] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not,
and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of
suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general
knowledge.
[0006] A variety of different access devices are presently known,
to provide access between upper and lower surfaces. Various such
devices are disclosed in granted and pending patent applications
made by the Applicants, such as in the Applicants' earlier
Australian patent application Nos. 67555/94 and 14992/97, and
corresponding overseas applications.
[0007] For example, in the Applicants' earlier patent application
No. 67555/94, the access device provides access between a substrate
surface and an elevated surface of a vehicle, whereby the device is
provided with a pair of rigid arms on each side of the access
device, such that the device is pivotally movable from a stable
lower position to a stable upper position. In the lower position,
the access device is inclined at between 60.degree. and 75.degree.
relative to a substantially horizontal substrate surface, with the
upper end of the device in a position substantially adjacent to and
forwardly of the elevated surface. In the upper position, that
access device is provided substantially vertically or at a
rearwardly inclined angle in a position which is totally upward and
rearward of the elevated surface.
[0008] Also, in the Applicants' earlier patent application No.
14992/97, there is provided an access device which, instead of
being stored upwardly and rearward of the elevated surface, the
device is stored in a substantially horizontal position on the side
or across the front of the vehicle. This is achieved by moving the
device from the boarding to the storage position wherein, firstly,
the device is rotated about a first axis, and secondly, the device
is retracted such that the second end of the device is retracted
towards the elevated surface.
[0009] While the Applicants' earlier access device embodiments
provide significant advantages over the prior art devices, it will
be appreciated that each of these devices is particularly designed
to complement quite unique vehicles, wherein the functional uses of
the particular vehicle limits the options for storage of the access
device and, the different physical embodiments of the vehicles
necessitate different designs of access devices for access between
different surfaces.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention seeks to provide an access device
which may be used as an alternative to the aforementioned devices,
and which overcomes certain disadvantages of prior art access
devices in certain situations.
[0011] The present invention seeks to provide an access device
which is conveniently located to be retained in an extremely
compact manner behind the side extremities of a locomotive, or
other like vehicle when in the folded position, but which extends
substantially downwardly and outwardly when in the access position,
at an angle which is easy for one to mount and dismount.
[0012] The present invention also seeks to provide a device which
enables access from a lower surface which may be provided
substantially lower in elevation to the underside of the vehicle,
locomotive, or the like, that is, wherein there are design
constraints in the attachment of the access device to the
vehicle.
[0013] The present invention also seeks to provide an access device
which, when in the folded position, allows access directly from a
platform to the cabin, without impediment of the access device, but
when in the storage position, is compact and does not impede the
working movement of the vehicle in any manner.
[0014] In one broad form, the present invention provides a
retractable access device for providing access between a substrate
surface and an elevated surface of a vehicle such as a train, said
access device comprising:
[0015] support means attached to or integral with a side surface of
said vehicle;
[0016] a first ladder member pivotally connected at a first end
thereof to said support means adjacent to said elevated surface of
said vehicle;
[0017] a second ladder member pivotally connected at a first end
thereof to a second end of said first ladder member;
[0018] a cylinder or like mechanism, a first end thereof being
pivotally attached to said support means, and, a second end thereof
being pivotally attached to said first ladder member spaced apart
from said first end thereof;
[0019] a guide arm, a first end thereof being pivotally attached to
said support means and a second end thereof being pivotally
attached to said second ladder means at any position
therealong;
[0020] whereby, said device is movable between a storage position
and an access position in a single movement step, wherein as said
cylinder is extended, said fist ladder member is pivoted outwardly
from said vehicle, and, under the influence of said guide arm, said
second ladder member is simultaneously rotated outwardly relative
to said first ladder member,
[0021] wherein, in a storage position, said ladder members are
folded in a substantially upright disposition in a compact and
overlapping manner adjacent said side surface of said vehicle, and,
in an access position, said ladder members are aligned and
outwardly inclined at an angle of between 60.degree. and 75.degree.
relative to said substrate surface.
[0022] Preferably, each of said members includes at least one
handrail.
[0023] Most preferably, in said access position, said ladder
members are inclined at approximately 62.degree. relative to said
substrate surface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the following detailed description of preferred and novel
embodiments thereof described in connection with the accompanied
drawings, wherein:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates, in FIG. 1a, FIG. 1b, and FIG. 1c, the
access device in accordance with the present invention, showing the
lowered, half raised, and raised positions, respectively of the
device in accordance with the present invention adapted to the side
of the locomotive, and
[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates, in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c, the access
device in accordance with the present invention adapted to the
front of an earth moving or like vehicle, showing the lowered, half
raised, and raised positions, respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Throughout the drawings, like numerals will be used to
identify similar features, except where expressly indicated
otherwise.
[0028] As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, an
access device attached to the side of a vehicle, such as a train
locomotive, cannot protrude from the side extremities of the
locomotive while the locomotive is in use. When the locomotive is
adjacent to a platform, access must be provided directly from the
platform onto the cabin area of the locomotive. When the locomotive
is not adjacent to the platform, access must be provided by steps
to a substrate surface. Due to the manner in which railways are
constructed with tracks (and therefore the bottom of the
locomotive) being raised relative to the substrate surface, the
lower substrate surface from which access is ultimately required to
be obtained, is often disposed substantially below the lower
surface of the train or track level, and also substantially
outwardly of the locomotive.
[0029] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate embodiments of an access device in
accordance with the present invention, which overcome the problems
of the prior art. FIG. 1 illustrates the device adapted to the side
of a train locomotive, while FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment
of the device adapted to the front side of an earth moving
vehicle.
[0030] Throughout this specification and claims, when the term
`side` is used, it should be considered to encompass the usual
`sides` of a vehicle, but also, the front side and back side of the
vehicle. The access device of the present invention is capable of
being attached to any of these sides of the train or other
vehicle.
[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the access device, generally
designated by the numeral 4 is designed to provide access between
lower (substrate) and upper (elevated) surfaces, 3 and 2
respectively. The access device 4 includes upper and lower ladder
members 5 and 6, which are pivotally connected by pivot point 7 in
a manner such that the upper and lower ladder members 5 and 6,
respectively, articulate. The lower ladder member 6 is designed to
be rotatable by 180.degree. relative to the upper ladder member 5
such that it is completely folded in a compact and overlapping
relationship with respect to the upper ladder member 5 when in the
storage position as shown in FIG. 1(c). In the access position, the
ladder members extend outwardly and downwardly, in end-abutting
aligned relationship as shown in FIG. 1a. The access device 4 is
attached to the vehicle by the upper end of the upper ladder member
5 being pivotally connected at pivot point 8 onto or adjacent to
the upper surface 2, being affixed via a support means which may be
attached to or formed integrally with the upper elevated surface 2.
One or more actuators, such as a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder or
like device 9 effects movement of the device 4 in conjunction with
a guide arm 10. An intermediate position of the device is
illustrated in FIG. 1b.
[0032] The actuator, such as the cylinder or like mechanism 9, is
seen to be attached to the support means at a position spaced apart
from the pivot point 8, the other end of the actuator being
attached to the first ladder member at a position spaced apart from
the first end of the ladder member. The precise positioning of the
actuator is variable, depending upon particular space requirements,
etc. Obviously, the cylinder could be designed to be positioned
such that the force required to operate the actuator is minimized
for the particular installation. FIG. 1(a) shows the connection of
the second end of the cylinder to a position substantially midway
between the ends of the upper ladder member 5.
[0033] The guide arm 10 is likewise attached to the support means
at a position lower than the cylinder, the other end of the guide
arm being attached to the lower ladder member 6 at a position
intermediate the two ends thereof. Likewise, the precise
positioning of the guide arm to the second ladder member is
variable, depending upon space requirements, angle of the ladder in
the access position, etc. The guide arm is preferably a rigid
member which merely guides the second ladder member in a
180.degree. arc relative to the first ladder member automatically
as the cylinder is operated to move the first ladder member
outwardly.
[0034] It will be seen that, in use, on the side of a locomotive or
other vehicle, in the raised position, the device 4 is fully
retained in a compact and overlapping manner behind the side of the
vehicle or locomotive when in the folded position, while in the
access position, the device extends substantially downwardly and
outwardly, preferably at between 60.degree. and 75.degree.,
relative to the lower surface, as shown in FIG. 2a. In alternative
applications, the access device is preferably angled at between
20.degree. and 45.degree.. As noted in various standards, such as
Australian Standard AS 1657-1992 (access) access devices, the
"insafe zone" is between 45.degree. and 75.degree.. Perhaps most
preferably, in the access position, the ladder members are inclined
at about 62.degree. relative to the substrate surface.
[0035] The access device as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 both illustrate
the provision of a hand rail. The provision of a hand rail provides
significant safety advantages when using the access device. It
should be noted that the access device of the present invention has
been designed such that it can incorporate a hand rail which also
overcomes the drawback of the prior art in that the hand rail
itself is also folded, together with the ladder members in a
compact and overlapping manner, such that it does not protrude
outwardly from the vehicle and, in a manner such that, in the
access position, it is conveniently provided at a safe position in
the access device 4, such that the access device can be mounted and
demounted easily.
[0036] While the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the use
of one cylinder or like mechanism connected between the locomotive,
vehicle and the upper member 5, other actuating members may be
provided to effect similar operation. In the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, one cylinder is provided, and a guide arm is
additionally provided connected to the lower member 6 to guide the
rotation of the lower member through its 180.degree. movement. It
will be appreciated that as the ladder is being folded,
particularly as it is near in its closing position, such an
arrangement may result in rapid rotation of the lower member. As
such, a cam, gear, or the like may be used to control or limit the
rotational movement of the lower member, as desired.
[0037] It will therefore be appreciated that with the provision of
hand rails 11 and 12, access from a surface 3 which is
substantially lower than the underside surface of the vehicle 13
may be provided, as easy hand access to the lower hand rail may be
enabled. As such, the difficulties encountered by the prior art
with the operator reaching the hand rail would be overcome.
[0038] It will be appreciated that numerous variations and
modifications to the device will be envisaged to persons skilled in
the art. Any such variations and modifications to the device in
achieving the functional aspirations of the invention as
hereinbefore described, should be considered all within the scope
of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *