Patent Application
20230264936
The present invention concerns the field of devices provided to be removably placed in or on a dedicated location of a machine by means of a forklift. As regards the machines, the invention relates more particularly, but not exclusively, to mobile elevating work platforms (MEWP) also known as aerial work platforms (AWP). As regards the devices, the invention relates more particularly to power generators.
Aerial work platforms are machines intended to allow one or more people to work at a height. For this purpose, they include a working platform intended for one or more persons. The working platform is supported by a lifting structure that allows it to be raised from a lowered position on the frame of the aerial work platform to the desired working position at a height. The lifting mechanism is usually operated by a hydraulic circuit.
There are self-propelled aerial work platforms designed for all-terrain outdoor use. They operate on construction sites or other outdoor locations that often have no or limited access to a power supply network. For this reason, they are usually powered by an internal combustion engine and are equipped with a fuel tank to ensure acceptable working autonomy, refueling being possible, if necessary, on the site of the aerial work platform. The internal combustion engine drives one or more hydraulic pumps of the hydraulic circuit that operate the lifting mechanism of the work platform and supply power to a hydraulic motorization that drives the wheels of the aerial work platform for translation on the ground.
A disadvantage of this type of aerial work platform is the environmental and noise pollution caused respectively by the exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine and the noise from the engine itself.
Another disadvantage of this type of aerial work platforms is that they cannot be used inside buildings, precisely because of the exhaust gases and noise from the internal combustion engine.
By contrast, there are electric aerial work platforms developed specifically for use inside buildings. The driving force for the various movements is provided by electric motors powered by one or more rechargeable electric batteries. In particular, each wheel of the aerial work platform is equipped with an electric motor for ground travel and another electric motor is dedicated to the operation of a hydraulic pump of a hydraulic circuit used to operate the lifting mechanism of the working platform. As a result, these aerial work platforms are environmentally friendly and quiet. The aerial work platform is also equipped with a single-phase charger for recharging the battery(ies) by connecting to the single-phase mains supply. The battery-charging operation usually takes place overnight so that the aerial work platform can be used the next day with an autonomy corresponding to at least one working day.
But these electric aerial work platforms are not designed for all-terrain outdoor use. Indeed, they are not suitable for overcoming obstacles, particularly in view of their low ground clearance, the insufficient power of the electric motors driving the wheels and the positioning of these motors exposing them to shocks in an all-terrain environment. They are also not designed to provide sufficient stability outdoors, e.g., where the ground is not flat and level, due to the wheelbase and the lack of stabilizer feet. In addition, their autonomy is insufficient due to the fact that aerial work platforms intended for all-terrain outdoor use consume more energy, in particular because they require a more powerful motorization for obstacle overcoming and also have auxiliary devices such as stabilizing feet that need to be operated. This is all the more the case when there is no access to a power supply network at their place of work, or when access to it is limited and does not allow for sufficient recharging.
More generally, there is a technical prejudice according to which electric aerial work platforms, without an internal combustion engine, are not suitable for all-terrain outdoor use, mainly because of their insufficient working autonomy, taking into account, firstly, the size of the rechargeable electric batteries that can be installed on the aerial work platform and, secondly, their increased need for power, the variable environmental conditions, particularly in terms of temperature, which are unfavorable to electric batteries, as well as insufficient accessibility to a power supply network to recharge the batteries. This technical prejudice is further reinforced in the case of scissor lifts, which are often placed at a given point of use on a construction site over a long period of time exceeding one or more days. Moving the aerial work platform to recharge the batteries would mean repositioning the aerial work platform in the same place, which would mean wasting time and energy for users.
More recently, hybrid motorized aerial work platforms have been proposed, i.e., with an electric motor and an internal combustion engine. This type of aerial work platform can be used indoors with the electric motor and outdoors with the internal combustion engine. The two motors can be coupled in tandem to provide a power boost in certain circumstances. An example of such an aerial work platform is disclosed in EP 1 967 486 A1. But these hybrid-powered aerial work platforms also have the disadvantage of being a source of environmental and noise pollution related to the internal combustion engine.
Thus, the applicant has set out to pursue an objective which is to provide an aerial work platform which substantially limits the above-mentioned disadvantages. In particular, one objective is to propose an aerial work platform that can be used in all-terrain outdoors while significantly limiting environmental and noise pollution. To this end, the applicant has proposed in its patent application FR 3 092 101 A1 an aerial work platform suitable for all-terrain outdoor use, comprising:
This makes the aerial work platform more environmentally friendly and quiet, as it uses only electric motors to provide the driving force necessary for translating the aerial work platform along the ground and to operate the lifting mechanism. Therefore, the aerial work platform can be used not only outdoors, but also inside a building. In addition, electric motors are more energy efficient than internal combustion engines and do not present a risk of hydraulic fluid leakage as in the case of hydraulic motors. The fact that the wheels of the aerial work platform are mounted on a front axle and a rear axle makes it possible to adapt the aerial work platform to all-terrain outdoor use, given their robustness and reliability and the fact that the first electric motor(s) is (are) not placed at the level of the wheels, it being specified that the power supplied by the first electric motor(s) is appropriately chosen. If, in use, the autonomy of the battery(ies) should prove insufficient without the availability of a suitable electrical power network, a power generator can be mounted on the aerial work platform at the designated location to recharge the rechargeable battery(ies), thereby increasing the autonomy of use of the aerial work platform. More generally, its electrical and other components are advantageously chosen so as to reduce energy consumption, which can also be optimized by control electronics on board the aerial work platform. The invention has therefore overcome the technical prejudice that it is not possible to develop electric aerial work platforms without an internal combustion engine for outdoor use.
It is preferable that the mounting of the power generator on the aerial work platform be of a removable nature, the location of the aerial work platform intended to receive it being itself preferably arranged to facilitate the installation and removal thereof. Thus, the power generator can be mounted on or removed from the aerial work platform as required, in particular by the end user, for example on a building site, or by an aerial work platform rental company, for example according to the wishes of its customers. The removable mounting of the power generator on the aerial work platform has several advantages. It is thus possible to market the aerial work platform without the power generator if the user envisages exclusively a use for which the autonomy of its battery(ies) is sufficient, for example for use exclusively indoors or outdoors where an electrical network is permanently or almost permanently available. In addition, a power generator can always be added to the aerial work platform if it is later used in an environment without sufficient access to an external power supply. Moreover, this allows the use of the same power generator to be shared between several aerial work platforms designed to receive it in a removable manner. For example, a rental company can manage a fleet of aerial work platforms with a smaller number of power generators and make them available to its customers on demand as an accessory. Another advantage is that the regular maintenance of the power generator is independent of the aerial work platform, which remains operational during this time. Another advantage is that the power generator can also be removed from the aerial work platform and used for other purposes on a construction site.
In the context of the aerial work platform thus proposed, and more generally concerning electrically motorized aerial work platforms that can be equipped with a removable power generator, it appeared desirable to the applicant to provide a solution allowing the power generator to be quickly and easily installed on the aerial work platform.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,544 discloses a solution for removably mounting a power generator on an aerial work platform. It consists of a support plate for the power generator, which is provided with two hooks allowing the support plate to be cantilevered to the frame by inserting the hooks into two corresponding slots of the frame. The disadvantage of such a solution is that the installation of the power generator on the frame is delicate since the hooks must be precisely aligned with the slots of the frame during the installation operation, and the power generator is generally heavy, more than 100 kg, and is usually moved by a forklift. In addition, there is a risk that the hooks will disengage from the frame slots, for example, when the aerial work platform is moving over uneven ground.
To alleviate at least partly these disadvantages, the applicant has proposed an improved solution for removably placing a power generator on an aerial work platform in its patent application FR 3 102 472 A1.
In the context of industrial trucks, DE 10 2012 106 215 A1 discloses a support structure for a power supply unit to be removably mounted in a receiving space of a forklift by means of another industrial truck. The support structure has insertion channels for the fork tines of the forklift truck. The support structure is provided with a locking device that prevents the support structure from sliding in the receiving space. The locking device comprises two locking levers which pivot each about a respective axis and which are each provided with a pin provided to engage a respective notch arranged in a support beam fixedly arranged in the receiving space of the forklift. Each of the locking levers is actuated by a respective actuating lever which pivots about its own axis, the cooperation between the actuating lever and the locking lever being effected by means of a guiding slot of the former into which a pin of the latter is engaged. The actuating levers are biased by a torsion spring so as to urge the locking members into the locking position. The actuating levers are each provided with a plate extending into a respective one of the insertion channels for the fork tines of the industrial truck. When the fork tines are inserted into the channels, they act on the plates of the actuating levers which pivot and drive the locking levers into the release position.
However, this locking device has some complexity in that the actuating levers and locking levers are separate parts and pins are mounted on the actuating levers. Furthermore, the pivot axes of the locking levers and the actuating levers of the locking device are vertical, while the support structure has guide rails with an L-shaped cross-section that engage under flanges of the support beam fixedly arranged in the receiving space of the forklift. Therefore, when placing the support structure with the power supply unit in the receiving space with a forklift, the height of the support structure must first be precisely adjusted with respect to the receiving space before it is inserted into the receiving space, while the operator of the forklift may have difficulty seeing the relative placement of the two. Then, the support structure with the power supply unit must be moved in a purely horizontal manner to be inserted by sliding it horizontally into the receiving space. In addition, the support structure may slide out of the receiving space when the fork of the industrial truck is withdrawn from the insertion channels because the locking levers are in the release position until the fork is withdrawn and thus the locking device is not yet in the locked position. This locking device is therefore unreliable and the operations of placing the support structure with the power supply unit in the receiving space of the forklift are delicate.
It is an object of the present invention to provide further improvements to enable quick and easy placement of a power generator on an aerial work platform or more generally quick and easy placement of any device provided to be removably placed by means of a forklift in or on a location of a machine provided for this purpose. It is also an object of the invention to provide a solution for reliably holding such a device in or on the location provided for this purpose.
To this end, according to a first aspect, the invention proposes a device provided to be removably placed in or on a dedicated location of a machine by means of a forklift, the device comprising:
In a preferred embodiment, the locking member is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis with reference to the orientation of the device when in place in or on the dedicated location of the machine. Advantageously, this allows for placement of the device in a dedicated location of the machine by first effecting a horizontal movement of the device to above the receiving location at any height above it. At this point, the retaining member in the dedicated location may be out of reach of the locking system of the device. Then, simply lowering the device into or onto the dedicated location of the machine completes the placement operation. The locking system then cooperates with the retaining member to move into the locking position as soon as the fork of the forklift is withdrawn. This facilitates the placement of the device in the dedicated location as there is no need to adjust the height of the device relative to the dedicated location prior to the horizontal movement towards it, in contrast to, for example, the solution disclosed by DE 10 2012 106 215 A1. Removal of the device from the dedicated location is also facilitated by performing the aforementioned operations by reversing their order and direction.
According to other preferred embodiments, the device comprises one or more of the following features:
According to a second aspect, the invention also provides a machine, comprising a dedicated location for receiving a device according to the invention just described, wherein the location comprises at least one retaining member intended to cooperate with the at least one locking member of the locking system of the device.
According to preferred embodiments, the device comprises one or more of the following features:
According to a third aspect, the invention provides a set, comprising a device according to the first aspect of the invention described above and a machine according to the second aspect of the invention just described, wherein the device is provided to be removably placed in or on the dedicated location of the machine by means of a forklift, and the locking system of the device is provided to cooperate with the at least one retaining member of the dedicated location of the machine.
Preferably, the at least one locking member of the device is pivotally mounted about a horizontally extending axis when the device is in place in or on the dedicated location of the machine. Preferably, the actuating member of the device is also pivotally mounted about a horizontally extending axis when the device is in place in or on the dedicated location of the machine.
Preferably, the machine is an aerial work platform, and the device is a power generator.
In a preferred embodiment, the aerial work platform comprises:
According to still other preferred embodiments, the aerial work platform comprises one or more of the following characteristics:
According to a preferred embodiment, the power generator is adapted for use with the previously described aerial work platform, which power generator is adapted to be placed in the dedicated location of the aerial work platform and comprises:
According to other preferred embodiments, the power generator comprises one or more of the following characteristics:
According to a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method for placing a device in the dedicated location of a machine according to the second aspect of the invention described above, the device being according to the first aspect of the invention described above, the method comprising the following successive steps:
According to a preferred embodiment of the method, the locking member(s) of the locking system of the device is/are pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis with reference to the orientation of the device when it is in place in or on the dedicated location of the machine.
According to another preferred embodiment of the method, the device is according to the embodiment comprising a complementary retaining structure and the equipment is according to the embodiment comprising a complimentary retaining structure.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the method, the device is according to the embodiment with two locking members, one being according to the first alternative implementation of the device in which the locking member and the actuating member are made in the form of a single piece, and the other is according to the second alternative implementation of the device in which the locking member and the actuating member are made in the form of separate parts. In addition, the two locking members are each pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis with reference to the orientation of the device when it is in place in or on the dedicated location of the machine.
Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as an example and with reference to the appended drawing.
The illustrated aerial work platform comprises a frame 1, a lifting mechanism 2 mounted on the frame 1 and a working platform 3 supported by the lifting mechanism 2. The working platform 3 typically comprises a floor and a guardrail and is designed to accommodate people on board, and possibly equipment.
The aerial work platform is of the scissor type. In other words, the lifting mechanism 2 is a scissor lifting mechanism: this type of lifting mechanism is known per se. It consists of beams hinged at their center in a scissor-like manner, these scissor mechanisms being mounted on top of each other by their ends which are pivotally connected so that they can fold and unfold in height. One or more hydraulic cylinders 4 are used to extend or retract the lifting mechanism 2 to raise the working platform 3 to the desired working height and lower it onto the frame 1.
The frame 1 is provided with at least two front wheels 10 and at least two rear wheels 11 by means of which the frame 1 rests on the ground and by means of which the aerial work platform can be moved along the ground. As can be seen from the figures, the front side of the aerial work platform is designated AV, the rear side is designated AR, the left side is designated G and the right side is designated D.
As can be seen in
In this case, the front wheels 10 are steered, but alternatively it can be the rear wheels 11. In another embodiment, all four wheels 10, 11 are steered.
The use of four-wheel drive is particularly suitable for all-terrain outdoor use of the aerial work platform, especially for obstacle clearance. In addition, the use of an all-wheel drive is economical since only one electric motor is required to drive the front and rear wheels. In addition, the front and rear axles 12, 13, the electric motor M1 and the drive shaft 14 and other associated components can be advantageously pre-assembled into a sub-assembly ready to be mounted on the frame 1, thus saving time during the assembly of the aerial work platform which is thereby simplified.
Alternatively, provision made be made for two electric motors M1, one dedicated to driving the front wheels 10 and the other dedicated to driving the rear wheels 11. In this case, each of these two motors can be mounted directly on the corresponding drive axle. However, it is more economical to use a single electric motor M1 to drive the wheels.
In another embodiment, the aerial work platform has only two drive wheels, either the front or the rear ones, with an electric motor M1 to drive them.
The electric motor M1 is preferably dedicated exclusively to driving the wheels. This is also the case if there are several electric motors M1 to drive the wheels.
Generally speaking, the fact that the aerial work platform is equipped with a front axle 12 and a rear axle 13 makes it suitable for all-terrain outdoor use, in particular by providing appropriate ground clearance without the location of the electric motor(s) being a nuisance. More generally, the mechanical design of the aerial work platform is suitable for all-terrain outdoor use, similar to existing aerial work platforms designed for such use, particularly in terms of wheelbase and mechanical strength.
The aerial work platform comprises at least a first single-phase charger 31 for recharging the battery 20 via a battery 20 management circuit 21. It is preferably provided to accept an AC voltage as input, corresponding to the single-phase mains voltage of the country in which the aerial work platform is used.
As a reminder, in Europe, the single-phase mains voltage is generally 230 VAC 50 Hz. For many countries in the world, it is in the range of 220 VAC to 240 VAC, usually at 50 Hz, sometimes 60 Hz. In many countries on the American continent and in further other countries, the single-phase mains voltage is 110 to 127 VAC, usually at 60 Hz, sometimes 50 Hz. In Japan, it is 100 VAC, 60 Hz or 50Hz depending on the region.
Therefore, the charger 31 can advantageously be designed for a single-phase mains voltage range so as to be suitable for use in different countries, for example from 110 VAC to 230 VAC or even 100 VAC to 240 VAC.
The aerial work platform may comprise two further single-phase chargers 32, 33 provided, together with the first charger 31, to recharge the battery 20—via the battery 20 management circuit 21—from a three-phase mains supply.
To this end, the aerial work platform shall be equipped with a cable fitted with a standard plug 34 or a standard socket or any other suitable means for connecting one of the single-phase chargers 31 to 33 to a standard single-phase socket on the mains electricity network for the country concerned. It is equipped with a second cable with a standard plug 35 or a standard socket or any other suitable means to enable the aerial work platform to be connected to a standard three-phase socket of a three-phase electrical network.
This is advantageous when the maximum current delivered by a standard single-phase mains outlet is not compatible with a fast charge of the battery 20. This is typically the case for most single-phase 220 VAC or 230 VAC mains networks where a standard plug is designed to deliver a maximum of 16 A. A three-phase supply network allows for a substantially faster charging of the battery 20 than in the case of a single-phase supply network since the maximum power that can be supplied by the three phases simultaneously is greater than that of a single phase and the output power of the chargers 31 to 33 is added together.
From this point of view, each of the chargers 31, 32, 33 is preferably designed to accept at least a single-phase voltage of 220 VAC or 230 VAC as input. Thus, the battery 20 can be recharged either by connecting the first charger 31 to a single-phase mains supply at the corresponding voltage—or at another voltage which it may accept as input—or by connecting the three chargers 31, 32, 33 to a three-phase mains supply of 380 VAC or 400 VAC, each charger then being connected between a respective phase and the neutral so as to receive an input voltage of 220 VAC or 230 VAC.
The chargers 32, 33 can be designed for a single-phase voltage of 220 VAC or 230 VAC while the first charger 31 can be designed for a voltage range as mentioned above. Alternatively, the three chargers 31, 32, 33 are identical and provided for a voltage interval as mentioned in relation to the first charger 31.
It is advantageous for the chargers 31 to 33 to be able to charge together the battery 20 to 80% of its capacity in less than 3 hours, or even less than 2.5 hours, preferably in 2 hours, provided of course that the three-phase electrical supply network to which they are connected is capable of providing the required power. In comparison, charging the battery 20 to 80% of its capacity by a single-phase charger would then take about 6 to 8 hours. It is also possible to allow the battery 20 to be charged by only two phases by using or equipping the aerial work platform with only two of the three chargers 31 to 33. Preferably, the aerial work platform is designed to have three locations for mounting, respectively, one of the chargers 31, 32, 33. Thus, the same aerial work platform can be equipped with one to three chargers 31, 32, 33 as desired.
The on-board electronics 70 is preferably designed to adapt the charging curve of the battery 20 according to the possibilities of the mains electricity network of the country concerned and according to whether it is made from the single-phase or three-phase mains electricity network. For this purpose, provision made be made that the country is indicated to the on-board electronics 70 by the operator via the console 75. The aerial work platform is designed to detachably mount a power generator 40. The power generator 40 is intended to recharge the battery 20 in order to increase the operating range of the aerial work platform, particularly in the event that there is no access to a mains network or other source of electrical energy for the purpose of recharging the battery 20. More precisely, the battery 20 is charged via the three chargers 31 to 33 or one of them depending on whether the power generator 40 supplies a three-phase or single-phase current as output.
The aerial work platform is equipped with a hydraulic circuit supplying the hydraulic cylinders 4 used to operate the lifting mechanism 2. This hydraulic circuit comprises one hydraulic pump 50—alternatively several—which is driven by a second electric motor M2. It also comprises a hydraulic distributor 60 through which the various hydraulic actuators are supplied with hydraulic fluid, in particular the hydraulic cylinders 4. This also supplies other hydraulic actuators—not all shown—such as those used to control the orientation of the steerable wheels 10 and/or 11, to extend or retract four stabilizer legs 19 each arranged at a corner of the frame 2 and to release the brakes of the wheels 10, 11. Advantageously, provision may also be made for one or two hydraulic actuators—not shown—supplied by the hydraulic distributor 60 and used to selectively lock and release the differential of one or both of the front and rear axles 12, 13, in the event of slippage of the wheels 10 and/or 11.
Alternatively, provision may be made for several electric motors M2 driving one or more hydraulic pumps 50 of a common hydraulic circuit or of separate hydraulic circuits. However, it is more economical to use a single hydraulic pump 50 and a single electric motor M2 to drive it.
The electric motor(s) M2 are preferably dedicated exclusively to driving the hydraulic pump 50 or all the hydraulic pumps if there are several, of the hydraulic circuit(s).
The aerial work platform has no internal combustion engine, either to move the aerial work platform along the ground or to operate the lifting mechanism 2 or other hydraulic actuators. In fact, the driving power is always supplied to the hydraulic pump(s) by the electric motor(s) M2. In other words, the driving power to operate the lifting mechanism of the work platform is always provided exclusively by the M2 electric motor(s) (apart from the possible action of gravity, of course). The same is obviously true for the other hydraulic actuators mentioned above.
Similarly, the driving power to drive the wheels 10 and/or 11 as the case may be, and thus to move the aerial work platform along the ground, is always provided exclusively by the electric motor(s) M1 dedicated to this function (apart from the possible action of gravity, of course).
The electric motors M1 and M2 are advantageously AC motors, preferably three-phase, as these have a better efficiency compared to other types of motors. They are powered by the battery 20 via a respective inverter 41, 42 converting the DC voltage of the battery 20 into AC voltage.
The aerial work platform is also equipped with on-board electronics 70 comprising, for example, a computer, for controlling the hydraulic distributor 70, the chargers 31 to 33, as well as the electric motors M1 and M2 via their respective inverters 41, 42. The communication link between the control electronics 70 and these components, or at least the remote ones, may be via a bus such as a CAN data bus conforming to ISO 11898.
The on-board electronics 70 is preferably configured to optimally manage the electrical energy consumption of the various components, especially the electric motors M1, M2, in order to optimize the autonomy of the battery 20. In particular, it may advantageously be provided to limit the power peaks of the electric motors M1 and M2 by progressively supplying power to them, for example during a command to lift the working platform 3 or a command to move along the ground. The on-board electronics may also be configured to apply a power limitation setpoint to the inverters 41 and 42—or even to the inverter 22 mentioned below—as a function of the state of the battery 20, for example as a function of their ageing or their temperature.
The on-board electronics 70 may also be provided to identify the type of power generator 40 if mounted on the aerial work platform, in the case it is intended to be operable with different models of power generators, thereby enabling the on-board electronics 70 to adapt the load curve to the maximum power that the power generator can provide. Furthermore, the on-board electronics 70 may be designed to automatically cause the power generator 40 to be started when the charge level of the battery 20 falls below a predetermined threshold. Of course, provision may be made that the operator himself has the possibility to start the power generator 40.
For reasons of user safety, it is advantageous that all the electrical circuits of the aerial work platform—with the exception of the input of the chargers 31 to 33—operate at a voltage less than or equal to 50 V, and that therefore the nominal voltage of the electric motors is less than 50 VAC, as well as the voltage delivered by the battery 20 is less than or equal to 50 VDC.
For charging from the mains, a selector switch 80 allows the first charger 31 to be connected at choice either to the single-phase cable with plug 34 or the like—already mentioned in connection with
A selector switch 81 is used to select at choice a three-phase power source from the cable with plug 35 or the like—already mentioned in connection with
Provision may be made for a standard single-phase electrical outlet 84 on the working platform 3 to be supplied with the single-phase mains voltage of the relevant country, thereby advantageously enabling users of the working platform 3 to connect an electrical appliance to it.
The socket 84 is supplied via an electrical line running down to the frame 1, for example along the lifting system 2.
Provision may be made that such power line may be supplied in one or more of the following ways:
In the implementation details, provision is made that selector switches can, if necessary, enable the power line to be selectively connected as desired. Where provision is made for all three possibilities, a selector switch 86 may be provided for connection either to the plug 85 or the like or to a power supply from the aerial work platform, a further selector switch 87 allowing selection of connection either to the inverter 22 or to the power generator 40.
Connection to the power generator 40 may, for example, be via a standard single-phase plug 88 connecting to a corresponding single-phase socket 89 connected to a phase and neutral of the power generator 40, preferably via a switch 90. The socket 89 is preferably arranged on the frame 1 and can be used as an auxiliary socket which users can also use to connect any electrical appliance.
Provision may also be made for a standard three-phase electrical outlet 91 on the working platform 3 to be supplied with the three-phase mains voltage of the relevant country, thereby advantageously enabling users of the working platform 3 to connect an electrical appliance to it. The socket 91 is supplied via an electrical line running down to the frame 1, for example along the lifting system 2. It is equipped with a standard three-phase plug 92 provided to be connected at choice either to a mains socket or to an output socket of the power generator 40. The selector switches 80, 81, 86, 87 and 90 and the inverter 22 can be controlled by the on-board electronics 70—mentioned with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As these components are less bulky than the battery 20, a location 39 is provided on this side of the frame for the removable mounting of the power generator 40: see
An example of the dimensioning of the components is as follows in the case of an aerial work platform intended for lifting a maximum load of 750 kg to a maximum height of 18 m:
With particular reference to
Location 39 is located on a lateral side of the frame 1 as shown in
The location 39 comprises a support 100 on which the power generator 40 rests. In this example, the support 100 is a continuously extending surface under the power generator 40, but it may be made in any suitable form such as two individual support bars that are parallel and spaced apart from each other.
In this example, the location 39 is arranged on the frame 1 in a position adjacent to the wheel 11 of the frame 1 such that a portion of the power generator 40 extends out of the frame 1 above the wheel 11 when the power generator 40 is in the location 39. This measure makes it possible to limit the size reserved for the location 39 on the frame 1, especially since the frame 1 does not generally extend above the wheels 10, 11 of the aerial work platform.
The support 100 includes a positioning structure 101 for the power generator 40 in the location 39. In this example, the positioning structure 101 comprises two inclined planes 101a, 101b in opposite directions and offset from each other in the horizontal direction H perpendicular to the direction of bring-in/removal F. The direction H in this case corresponds to the longitudinal AV-AR direction of the frame 1. Each of the inclined planes 101a, 101b is a flat surface parallel to the bring-in/removal direction F.
The inclined planes 101a, 101b are intended to cooperate with a complementary structure arranged on the underside of the power generator 40. This complementary structure is illustrated in
The cooperation in shape between the positioning structure 101 of the location 39 and the complementary structure 201a, 201b of the power generator 40 allows, when the power generator 40 is brought into the location 39, to correct a possible lack of centering of the power generator 40 with respect to the receiving location in the direction H. This is illustrated in the top view of the frame 1 in
Similarly, the cooperation in shape between the positioning structure 101 of the receiving location 39 and the complementary structure 201a, 201b of the power generator 40 allows, when the power generator 40 is brought into the location 39, to correct a possible angular misalignment of the power generator in a horizontal plane with respect to the direction of bring-in/removal F. This situation is also illustrated in the top view of the frame 1 in
It will be understood that the shape cooperation between the positioning structure 101 of the location 39 and the complementary structure 201a, 201b of the power generator 40 allows a combined lack of centering and angular misalignment of the power generator 40 to be corrected in the same manner.
This automatic correction of the centering and angular orientation of the power generator 40 with respect to the location 39 advantageously allows correct positioning of the power generator 40 in the location 39, despite an imprecise approach maneuver of the power generator 40 towards the location 39 when placing it in the latter. This facilitates the placement of the power generator 40 in the location 39, whether a forklift is used or otherwise. For its handling by a forklift, the power generator 40 preferably comprises two tubes 210, 211 for the passage of the fork of the forklift, which are preferably arranged on the underside of the power generator 40: see
It will be understood that the positioning structure 101 of the location 39 and the complementary structure 201a, 201b may be made in any other suitable manner. For example, the inclined planes 101a, 101b may be oriented in opposite directions instead of facing each other. Alternatively, there could be only one inclined plane in the location 39, the other being replaced by a shoulder similar to the case of the side 201a of tube 210 of the power generator 40. Other shapes than inclined planes are also possible. The positioning structure of the receiving location 39 may also be arranged elsewhere than on the support surface 100, for example on lateral sides of the location 39.
The location 39 also includes two notches 102a and 102b provided at the inclined planes 101a and 101b. The power generator 40 has two projections 202a and 202b on the underside which engage the notches 102a and 102b of the location 39 respectively when the power generator 40 is in place in the receiving location 39: see the local side view in
The cooperation of the projections 202a and 202b and the notches 102a and 102b in which they are engaged opposes the withdrawal of the power generator 40 from the location 39 in the bring-in/removal direction. In particular, this allows the fork of a forklift to be moved out from under the power generator 40 without the risk of accidental removal of the power generator 40 from the receiving location 39, after an operation of placing the power generator 40 in the location 39 by means of the forklift.
It will be understood that the retaining structure formed by the notches 102a, 102b and the complementary retaining structure formed by the projections 202a and 202b is only one example of implementation and may be implemented in any other suitable manner. For example, the notches 102a, 102b may be located elsewhere than at the inclined planes 101a and 101b. There could be only one notch and one projection. Structures other than notches and corresponding projections can also be considered.
In general, it is noted that the positioning structure 101 and the complementary structure 201a, 201b, and similarly the retaining structure 102a, 102b and the complementary structure 202a, 202b, can advantageously be fixed structures—i.e., without any moving parts—of the location 39 and the power generator 40 respectively, which provides both robustness and simplicity of implementation.
The location 39 also includes a rear wall 103 that serves as a stop for positioning the power generator 40 in the receiving location in the bring-in/removal direction. In particular, this prevents the power generator 40 from being pushed beyond the location 39 during a placement operation of the power generator 40. This stop function can be achieved by any other appropriate means, such as one or more pins projecting from the support 39.
The location 39 also includes removable fastening means for holding the power generator 40 securely in the location 39 and releasing it so as to allow removal of the power generator 40 from the location 39. In a simple embodiment, these means of fastening may be threaded holes 104 for receiving fastening screws passing through-holes in legs 204 of the power generator 40. Thus, after the power generator 40 has been placed in the location 39, the removable fastening means prevent the power generator 40 from leaving the location 39, whereas the retaining structure formed by the notches 102a, 102b and the complementary retaining structure formed by the projections 202a and 202b leaves this risk remaining, in particular in the event of circulation of the aerial work platform on uneven ground. It will be understood that the removable fastening means may be implemented by any suitable means other than threaded holes for fastening screws.
The location 39 may also include an exhaust gas conduit tube 106 that is positioned adjacent to or contiguous with an exhaust outlet of the power generator 40 when placed in the location 39. The tube 106 is in this example provided at the rear wall 103. The tube 106 is best seen in the local view of
As already mentioned, a locking device may be provided for the power generator 40 in its receiving location 39 for protection against theft. In particular, the location 39 may be provided with a structure or means for an anti-theft locking or padlocking of the power generator 40 in the location 39 possibly in cooperation with an associated structure or means of the power generator 40. A simple implementation consists of a through-hole made on the frame 1 in correspondence with a through-hole 215 at the level of the housing of the power generator 40 so as to allow the fixing of an anti-theft padlock 299: see
The aerial work platform may comprise one or more cable feed guides, for example for feeding a data link cable and/or a power connection cable to the location 39. Such a cable feeder has been shown in
The data link cable, if provided, is used to connect the on-board electronics 70 of the aerial work platform 1 to the power generator 40 when in the location 39. In this case, the electrical panel 220 may have a connector 221 for connecting the corresponding connector of the data link cable of the aerial work platform.
The functionality of the on-board electronics 70 of the aerial work platform 1 with respect to the power generator 40 has already been discussed above with reference to
The electrical panel 220 of the power generator can also be equipped with other outlets. In particular, it may be equipped with a single-phase outlet 289 powered by the power generator 40. The socket 289 can be used in particular to connect to a corresponding plug of a cable—not shown—fed to the location 39 by the cable(s) feeder 105. This can be the cable with the plug 88—see
The electrical panel 220 can also be equipped with a socket 290 for connection to the mains. In this case, the power generator 40 preferably includes a selector switch allowing to selectively supply the power outlet 83, either by the power generator 40 itself, or from the outlet 290 when it is connected to the mains. This selector switch is preferably controlled by the on-board electronics 70.
The on-board electronics 70 may also include a wireless communication module and thereby enable remote control of the power generator 40. In particular, the on-board electronics 70 may be configured to allow remote starting and/or remote inhibition of the power generator 40 via the wireless communication module.
With particular reference to
In this variant, the power generator 40 is equipped with a locking system 300 provided to automatically lock the power generator 40 in the location 39 after its placement and automatically unlock it upon its removal. Because the locking is automatic, this locking system 300 allows to compensate for an accidental omission of the securing by manual screwing of the power generator 40 in its location 39: cf. the system of manual screwing of the legs 204 and the threaded holes 104 mentioned in the context of the embodiment of
As already mentioned, the placement of the power generator 40 in the location 39 is preferably done with the help of a forklift CE as shown in
The locking system 300 is provided to cooperate with at least one retaining member arranged in the location 39 preferably in a fixed manner. In the example shown in
The two notches 102a′, 102b′ provided in the inclined planes 101a, 101b of the location 39 correspond to the notches 102a, 102b of the embodiment of
The locking system 300 is arranged in a corresponding area on the underside of the power generator 40. Preferably, the locking system 300 is embedded in the housing of the power generator 40 so that no part of the power generator 40 protrudes from the underside of the power generator 40. This prevents it from being subjected to shocks during handling or the generator 40 from resting on the locking system 300 when it is placed on any surface outside the location 39 of the aerial platform.
The locking system 300 includes at least one movable locking member that is provided to cooperate with the at least one retaining member so as to retain the power generator 40 in the location 39 of the aerial work platform, which then corresponds to a locking position of the locking member. The locking member can be actuated to an unlocked position to release it from the retaining member, thereby allowing the power generator 40 to be removed from the location 39.
In the illustrated example, the locking system 300 includes two locking members each formed as a hook 301, 302 provided to engage the pin 120. The two hooks 301, 302 prevent the power generator 40 from being lifted from the location 39 and thus removed from it.
The two hooks 301, 302 can be actuated to disengage them from the pin 120, which then allows the power generator 40 to be lifted from the location 39 so as to disengage the projections 202a, 202b of the power generator 40 from the notches 102a′, 102b′—which functionally correspond to the notches 102a, 102b of the embodiment of
Preferably, the hook 301 is also biased by gravity to the position engaged with the pin 120 when the power generator 40 is oriented in accordance with its orientation when in place in the location 39 of the aerial work platform. This effect may be achieved by the weight of the actuation member 311. This gravity bias provides safety in the event that the resilient bias of the hook 301 by spring or other means towards the locking position fails.
The hook 302 operates on the same principle as the hook 301, but with an opposite pivoting direction. Thus, the two hooks 301, 302 engage the pin 120 from opposite sides and clamp the pin 120, which provides a very reliable hold of the power generator 40 in the location 39, even in the event that the operator omits to screw the power generator 40 into the location 39 at the legs 204 and threaded holes 104 mentioned in the embodiment of
Further, the profile of the contact surface of the hooks 301, 302 with the pin 120 is preferably designed to firmly hold the power generator 40 in the location 39 without play, thereby substantially limiting vibration of the power generator 40 in the location 39 in the event that the operator omits to screw the power generator 40 into the location 39 at the legs 204 and threaded holes 104 referred to in the embodiment of
In a simpler embodiment, a locking system 300 comprising only one of the hooks 301, 302 or a single movable locking member of another type may be used.
Because of its operation in the opposite pivotal direction, the mounting and actuation system of the hook 302 is adapted to reverse its direction of rotation relative to its actuation member 321. An example of the implementation of this functionality is illustrated by the figures, in particular
A free end of the actuation member 321 extends into the fork tine passage 211 so as to be actuated by a fork tine of the forklift CE when inserted into the fork tine passages 210, 211 of the power generator 40. When the actuating member 321 is actuated by a fork tine of the forklift CE, it retracts by pivoting about the shaft 323 and pushes with an eccentric extension 321a on an eccentric portion 302a of the hook-forming part 302, thereby causing the hook 302 to pivot in the opposite direction of the actuating member 321 against the force of the spring 322. The hook 302 is thus disengaged from the pin 120.
As can be seen in the figures, only the end of the actuating members 311, 312 extends into a respective fork tine passage 210, 211, with the remainder of the locking system 300 being arranged outside the fork tine passages 210, 211 of the power generator 40. The fact that the actuating members 311, 312 each extend into a respective fork tine passage 210, 211 is advantageous for balancing the thrust of the fork of the forklift CE as it is inserted into the passages 210, 21.
It will be understood that each of the fork tine passages 210, 211 preferably has a rectangular cross-section sized in correspondence to a fork tine of a forklift. A fork tine passage may, for example, be formed by one or more pipe sections with a preferably rectangular cross-section and/or by rings with a preferably rectangular cross-section and/or matching openings in a housing of the power generator 40. However, a fork tine passage may be defined in a manner other than a closed-contour cross-section: the contour may, for example, be open downwardly, or the fork tine passage may be defined simply by a re-entrant wedge in the form of two perpendicular walls so as to define a fork tine passage that is open downwardly and in a lateral direction.
According to another embodiment, a common actuating member may be used to actuate the two locking members 301, 302. In particular, the locking member 301 and its actuating member 311 can be made in one piece which also serves to actuate the locking member 302 made as a separate piece.
It will be understood that the locking system 300 just described, as well as the corresponding arrangement of the location 39, can be applied to any kind of devices provided to be removably placed in or on a dedicated location of any machine, especially a self-propelled machine, by means of a forklift.
It will be further understood that, by convention, references to the horizontal directions of the shafts of the locking system of the power generator 40 or other device are to be understood with reference to the orientation of the power generator 40 or device concerned when in place in or on the dedicated location of the aerial work platform or other machine which rests on horizontal ground.
In this embodiment, the fastening screws are captively associated with the power generator 40.
Furthermore, a spring arranged in the sleeve 402 resiliently biases the screw head in the direction of removal of the screw 410 from the sleeve 402. As a result, it is immediately visible to an operator whether the screw 410 is in the screwed-in state or not—without resorting to a dedicated sensor and signaling—when the power generator 40 is in the location 39 of the aerial work platform. Furthermore, the screwing system is embedded with respect to the walls of the housing of the power generator 40 so that the screw head 410 does not protrude out of the power generator 40 even in the unscrewed state, thereby protecting the screw head from accidental impact. Furthermore, the free end of the screw 410 in the unscrewed state does not protrude from the sleeve 401 due to the return spring 420 biasing the screw 410 in the opposite direction, which also protects the free end of the screw 410 from accidental impact.
When the power generator 40 is properly positioned in the location 39 of the aerial work platform, the sleeve 401 comes to rest against a plate 39a or the like of the location 39 of the aerial work platform. The free end of the screw 410 is positioned in correspondence with a nut 39b fixedly attached to the plate 39a of the location 39. Alternatively, it can be a tapped hole made directly in a part of the location 39. All that remains is for the operator to screw the screw 410 into the nut 39b to secure the power generator 40 in the location 39.
The manual fastening system described with reference to
Naturally, the present invention is not limited to the examples and the embodiment described and represented, but numerous variants accessible to the person skilled in the art are possible. Thus, it can be applied to aerial work platforms with a different type of working platform lifting mechanism. This may be, for example, an articulated telescopic arm supporting the working platform 3 at its upper end. In this case, it may also include a turret mounted on the frame 1 to pivot about a vertical axis which supports the telescopic arm. In the latter case, the electrical and hydraulic components can advantageously be arranged on the turret, with the exception of the motor(s) M1 for driving the front and/or rear wheels 10, 11. In this case, the location 39 for the removable mounting of the power generator 40 is preferably arranged on the turret.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR2008140 | Jul 2020 | FR | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2021/056814 | 7/27/2021 | WO |
