WO2018020309A1

WO2018020309A1 - An aerial platform with a protection against accidental collisions

Info

Publication number: WO2018020309A1
Application number: PCT/IB2017/000850
Authority: WO
Inventors: Riccardo Magni
Original assignee: Magni Telescopic Handlers S.R.L.
Priority date: 2016-07-25
Filing date: 2017-07-20
Publication date: 2018-02-01
Also published as: IT201600077927A1

Abstract

An aerial platform with a protection against accidental collisions is supported at the ends of an operating arm (3) associated to a self- propelled operating machine (2). The aerial platform includes a floor (10) with a working area for at least one operator (20) firmly arranged and defined above the floor, provided with a control and command panel (11), having defined therein a space, in which the operator is protected against the risk of possible accidental collisions; the operator being constrained to take a predetermined upright operating position, within said working area, to access said control and command panel in front upright position. A first sensor member (30) and a second sensor member (40) acting in proximity of the control and command panel (11) in different positions are provided to signal that the operator has moved from his defined operating position.

Description

AERIAL PLATFORM WITH PROTECTION AGAINST ACCIDENTAL COLLISIONS

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention discloses an aerial platform, which is provided with a protection for the operator present thereon against possible impacts or accidental collisions with external obstacles during the platform movements.

Aerial platforms are known which are supported at their ends by an extendable and/or articulated operating arm provided on a self- propelled operating machine, usually on wheels, thus capable of moving independently on the ground.

Such types of aerial platforms usually comprise a floor, above which a determined working area for at least one worker is provided integral therewith. The working area includes a control panel or console which is provided with a plurality of control and command elements which can be operated by the operator to control various functions of the machine, like the extendable arm, its position and rotation about a vertical axis, and consequently the positioning of the platform, as well as the control of the guide of the machine movement, when a self-propelled machine is concerned. In this way, a working area is defined in the aerial platform, where the operator is constrained to assume a determined working position, so as to reach various controls, by which he/she can control the movement and positioning of the platform. Such a working position is generally standing and allows the operator to have a good view of the operational field from above.

However, there is a risk to safety in those operating machines, especially self-propelled, which work with an operator situated on the platform in his/her defined working position, in front of the control console, between the platform and external fixed structures, which can be placed above or behind the operator. The danger derives from the fact that the platform can be handled or moved in such a way that the operator can be accidentally hit by the external structure or crushed between the structure and the platform during their relative movement.

There are solutions, like those described in US2013/0233645 and FR3007401 , which show systems that protect the operator from accidental and inadvertent collisions with external structures. For example, FR3007401 shows a tilting safety barrier, which is activated by the operator's forward movement toward the control panel as a result of a collision with an external object P, making the operator bend forward and thus interact physically with the tilting safety barrier which is activated and operates the controls in such a way as to substantially stop the action of the external object P.

This device, like others that employ safety barriers as a kind of "sensors" being activated when physically hit by the operator's body due to his/her movement caused by an unexpected contact with an obstacle, present some serious drawbacks, among which a certain constructive complexity, too long reaction time between the moment of the operator's collision with the obstacle and stopping the platform, as well as the fact that the operator is hit by the obstacle without the slightest warning.

The main object of the present invention is to overcome the inefficiencies and limits of the prior art, in particular to generate a simple protection equipment that allows to simplify and improve the safety conditions of the operators.

The above mentioned objects are wholly obtained by an aerial platform of the type adapted to be supported at the end by a hoisting arm for operating machines, as described and claimed farther on in the present description and claims.

The characteristic features of the invention will become more evident in the following description of a preferred, but not the only embodiment illustrated by way of not limiting example with the help of the enclosed figures, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment;

- Figures 2, 3 and 4 are schematic side views in vertical elevation of a self-propelled operating machine provided with an operating arm, having at its end an aerial platform equipped according to the invention, shown in three subsequent operation steps.

With reference to the cited Figures, the numeral 1 indicates an aerial platform supported at the end of an operating arm 3 associated to a self-propelled operating machine 2.

The aerial platform includes a floor 10 with a working area for at least one operator 20 firmly arranged and defined above the floor. Such working area comprises a control and command panel 1 1 and is defined by a protective space for protecting the operator 20 from any risk of possible accidental collisions. In the cited working area, the operator 20 is constrained to take a predetermined vertical operating position, to access said control and command panel 11 in front upright position.

The protective space that protects the operator 20 from the risk of possible accidental collisions is defined by a system that substantially comprises sensor means aimed at signalling that the operator has moved from his/her defined upright operating position. The sensor means act when they are excited by a change of the upright position of the operator placed in front of the control console. Compared with the prior art, according to which the change of the operator's position is detected by the direct physical action of the operator's body on a sensor consisting for example of an oscillating barrier, the interaction, according to the present invention, is carried out by ray sensors which define a virtual barrier. In particular, such sensor means comprise at least a first sensor member 30 and a second sensor member 40, which act in proximity of the control and command panel 1 1 and are situated in different positions with respect to the control and command panel 1 1 , respectively.

The first sensor member 30 is situated and operates in proximity of the control and command panel 11 , in a lower position with respect to a second sensor member 40, which is situated in an upper position that is more advanced towards the front of the control and command panel 11 with respect to said sensor member 30.

Once activated by the interference with a part of the body of the operator 20, the first sensor member 30 acts by activating a warning signal for the operator and by acting on the controls of the operating machine 2 significantly reducing its speed.

The sensor is activated as a result of the operator's movement caused by an external object 4. The movement becomes a slight forward movement of the lower part of the operator's chest, that is intercepted by the first sensor member 30 constituted, in this case, by a kind of virtual barrier.

The activation of the first sensor is calibrated for a small movement and has a specific task of generating a warning alarm, while intervening immediately and automatically on the controls of the operating machine 2, reducing considerably its speed.

The second sensor member 40 is activated only as a result of the activation by the interference with a part of the body, but after the activation of the first sensor member by the operator 20, always acting on the controls of the operating machine 2 stopping completely the machine motion.

In particular, the first sensor 30 and the second sensor 40 generate virtual barriers oriented nearly parallel to the control and command panel 11 and at predefined and adjustable distances.

The positions of the first sensor member 30 and the second sensor member 40 can be adjusted at least in height.

The first sensor member 30 and said second sensor member 40 are consist of laser ray or laser beam sensors.

The invention allows a protection from an unintentional collision which is much less traumatic for the operator in comparison with the prior art devices, substantially due to the advantage provided by the presence of a kind of an initial warning which not only allows the operator to "prepare himself/herself, but also reduces rapidly the speed of the machine or platform and consequently the dangerousness of the stopping stroke which is finally controlled by the activation of the second sensor member. All this considering also the inertia due to clearances.

Claims

1 ). An aerial platform with a protection against accidental collisions supported at the ends of an operating arm () associated to a self- propelled operating machine (), said aerial platform including a floor () with a working area for at least one operator () firmly prepared and defined above the floor; said working area comprising a control and command panel () and being defined by a protective space for the operator that provides protection from a risk of possible accidental collisions; the operator being obliged to take a predetermined vertical operating position, within said working area, to access said control and command panel while assuming a front upright position, characterized in that said platform includes sensor means adapted to signal that the operator has moved from said predetermined vertical upright operative position; said sensor means comprising at least a first sensor member (30) and a second sensor member (40) that operate in the vicinity of the control and command panel (11 ) and that are respectively arranged in different positions with respect to said control and command panel (11 ); said first sensor member (30) being located and operative in proximity of said control and command panel (11 ) in a lower position; said second sensor member (40) being located in an upper position that is more advanced towards the control and command panel with respect to said first sensor member (30); characterized in that the second sensor member (40) is activated only as a result of the activation of a part of the body, but after the activation of the first sensor member by the operator (20) always acting on the controls of the operating machine (2) stopping completely the machine motion.

2). A platform according to claim 1 , characterised in that once activated by the interference with a part of the body of the operator (20), said first sensor member (30) acts by activating a warning signal for the operator and by acting on the controls of the operating machine (2) significantly reducing its speed. 3). A platform according to claim 2, characterised in that once activated by the interference with a part of the body of the operator (20), said second sensor member (40) acts by operating the controls of the operating machine (2) and stopping completely the motion of the same machine. 4). A platform according to claim 3, characterised in that said first sensor and second sensor are of the type designed to generate virtual barriers that are oriented roughly parallel to said control and command panel (11 ) and at predetermined distances therefrom. 5). A platform according to claim 4, characterised in that the positions of said first sensor member (30) and second sensor member (40) are adjustable at least in height.

6). A platform according to claim 4, characterised in that said first sensor member (30) and said second sensor member (40) consist of laser ray or laser beam sensors.