Lifting platform

Abstract

Lifting platform This lifting platform (1) comprises a self-propelled chassis (10), a platform (30) and a lifting structure (20) which comprises a turret (21), resting on the chassis while being rotatable, and a deployable arm (22) connecting the turret to the platform, extending cantilevered with respect to a rear side (21B) of the turret. An obstacle detector (50), carried by the turret on its front side (21A) and capable of detecting an obstacle located in a region (R) on the ground, located adjacent to the front side of the turret, while being hidden from the operator on board the platform by the lifting structure, provides as output an electronic signal (s50) providing direct information on the presence / absence of an obstacle.An electronic unit (60) processes this electronic signal and accordingly controls a light warning device (70), carried by the lifting structure and capable of emitting a light signal (s70) directed towards the operator looking around this region. Figure for the abstract: 1.

Description

Title of the invention: Lifting cradle

[0001] The present invention relates to a lifting platform.

[0002] The invention relates more specifically to lifting platforms which have a self-propelled chassis and whose platform, on which an operator can stand, is raised in height by a deployable arm, such as an articulated and / or telescopic arm. As this arm extends in cantilever with respect to a lateral side of a rotating turret of the lifting structure of the platform, this turret often includes, on its lateral side opposite the arm, a counterweight which stabilizes the platform by balancing the cantilever of the arm. An example of such a lifting platform is disclosed in FR 2 836 468.

[0003] The turret and, more generally, the lifting structure have a significant bulk, which means that large regions on the ground, located adjacent to the side of the turret opposite the deployable arm, are hidden by the lifting structure from the operator on board the platform. In other words, the lifting structure induces, with respect to the operator on board the platform, what are commonly called "dead zones" or "blind spots", which are extended around the turret and the chassis. To improve safety and prevent the lifting platform from colliding with an obstacle on the ground, in particular a person standing near the lifting platform, it is common to equip the lifting platform with obstacle detection sensors, as proposed in FR 2 836 468.These sensors are coupled with audible alarms, such as buzzers, and / or light alarms, such as flashing lights, which are triggered as soon as an obstacle is detected by one of the sensors. The corresponding alarm signal is intended to warn both the operator on board the platform and the people on the ground around the aerial work platform. In practice, this alarm signal is often "drowned" in the ambient sound and / or light emissions, which are linked to the normal operation of the aerial work platform and / or which may be numerous and have multiple origins on a construction site where the aerial work platform is used. In other words, the aforementioned alarm signal, which is important since it relates to a potentially fatal risk of collision, risks being ignored because it is insufficiently highlighted, particularly for the operator on board the platform.To get around this difficulty, one could imagine increasing the sound and / or light intensity of the alarm signals considered important, but this inevitably leads to saturating the sound and / or light environment in which the lifting platform operates, considerably increasing the sound and / or light pollution while the lifting platform may have to be used in an environment and / or at a time of day for which such sound and / or light pollution is prohibited.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to propose an improved lifting platform, the detection of obstacles and the restitution of the latter of which are more efficient and effective.

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a lifting platform, comprising: - a chassis which is self-propelled and provided with members for translation on the ground, - a platform which is adapted so that an operator can stand on it, - a lifting structure, which supports the platform and which is arranged on the chassis so as to move the platform relative to the chassis, which lifting structure comprises: • a turret which rests on the chassis and is rotatable relative to the chassis around an axis of rotation, and • an arm, which is deployable and which connects the turret to the platform, extending cantilevered from a rear side of the turret, - an obstacle detector, which: • is carried by the turret, being arranged on a front side of the turret, opposite the rear side of the turret, • is adapted to detect an obstacle located in a region on the ground, which is located adjacent to the front side of the turret, being at least partially hidden from the operator on board the platform by the lifting structure, and • provides an electronic signal at the output which provides direct information on the presence / absence of an obstacle in the said region, - a light warning device, which is carried by the lifting structure and which is adapted to emit a light signal directed towards the operator on board the platform looking towards the said region, and - an electronic unit, which is adapted to process the electronic signal and control the warning light accordingly.

[0006] One of the ideas underlying the invention is to prioritize obstacle detection in the ground region, which, regardless of the angular positioning of the turret relative to the chassis, is adjacent to the side of the turret opposite the deployable arm and which is hidden from the operator on board the platform by the lifting structure. In addition, the invention provides that obstacle detection in this ground region is carried out by a detector whose output is an electronic signal which provides direct information on the presence / absence of an obstacle, in other words a “simple” electronic signal whose information is selectively that an obstacle is detected in the aforementioned ground region or that an obstacle in this ground region is not detected. The invention further provides that this electronic signal is processed by an ad hoc electronic unit which controls a dedicated warning light, this warning light thus being ty activated when the obstacle detector detects an obstacle and not activated when the obstacle detector does not detect an obstacle: in order for the restitution of the obstacle detection to be effective with respect to the operator on board the platform, the invention provides that the light signal emitted by the activated warning light is directed towards the operator looking at the surroundings of the aforementioned ground region, and this regardless of the angular position of the turret relative to the chassis due to the arrangement of the warning light on the lifting structure, in particular the turret. Thus, the light information, emitted by the warning light when it is activated, is directly in the natural field of vision of the operator who, on board the platform, is "head up", for example to control the lifting platform moving on the ground.In addition, this light information encourages the operator to look directly towards where the danger of collision with an obstacle is detected, which promotes his faster and / or more relevant understanding of the detected dangerous situation. The operator's driving of the lifting platform according to the invention is thus assisted in a particularly effective and efficient manner, greatly limiting the risk of collision of the lifting platform with an obstacle in the aforementioned ground region.

[0007] Furthermore, it will be noted that the invention thus goes against increasingly widespread approaches in the field, aimed at concentrating all the information for driving the lifting platform on a control console on board the platform. In particular, the invention avoids resorting to a detection signal which would be exclusively a “complex” signal, such as a video signal, made available to the operator on board the platform via a display screen integrated into the aforementioned console.

[0008] According to additional advantageous characteristics of the lifting platform according to the invention, taken in isolation or in all technically possible combinations:

[0009] - The obstacle detector is adapted to differentiate several zones of said region, which are distinguished from each other by their respective distance from the front side of the turret, and the electronic signal that the obstacle detector provides provides direct information on the presence / absence of an obstacle in each of said zones.

[0010] - The obstacle detector is adapted for, when the obstacle detector detects a obstacle in said region, determining a distance between the obstacle and the front side of the turret, and the electronic signal that the obstacle detector provides includes information relating to said distance.

[0011] - The electronic unit is adapted to control the warning light of modulated manner according to said zones or according to said distance.

[0012] - The electronic unit is adapted to control the warning light of modulated manner also depending on the operating status of the lifting platform.

[0013] - The obstacle detector is adapted to differentiate, as a detected obstacle, a person and an obstacle other than a person, and in which the electronic signal that the obstacle detector provides provides direct information on the presence / absence of a person in said region and the presence / absence of an obstacle other than a person in said region.

[0014] - The electronic unit is adapted to control the warning light of differently depending on whether the obstacle detector detects a person or not.

[0015] - The lifting platform further comprises a warning device, which is carried by the turret, being arranged on the front side of the turret, and which is adapted to emit a warning signal, luminous and / or audible, directed towards said region, and in which the electronic unit is adapted to control the warning device.

[0016] - The obstacle detector comprises a camera, which observes said region, and a image processing unit, which computer processes views of said region, taken by the camera, to deduce the presence / absence of obstacles in said region.

[0017] - The light warning device comprises at least one LED, preferably placed at the top of the turret.

[0018] The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which: - [Fig.l] [Fig.l] is an elevation view of a lifting platform in accordance with the invention; - [Fig.2] [Fig.2] is a view similar to [Fig.l], illustrating the nacelle of the [Fig.l] in an operating condition different from that illustrated in [Fig.l]; - [Fig.3] [Fig.3] is an elevation view along arrow III of [Fig.l]; and - [Fig.4] [Fig.4] is a view similar to [Fig.3], illustrating the nacelle of the Figures 1 and 3 in a different operating state than that shown in Figures 1 and 3.

[0019] Figures 1 to 4 show a lifting platform 1 allowing an operator to reach an area located at a height in order to carry out work there.

[0020] The lifting platform 1 comprises a chassis 10 resting on the ground. The chassis 10 is provided with wheels for translation on the ground. In the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, the wheels of the chassis 10 consist of two pairs of wheels, namely a pair of front wheels 11 and a pair of rear wheels 12. In a variant not shown, all or part of the front wheels 11 and the rear wheels 12 can be replaced by tracks for the purpose of translating the chassis 10 on the ground. More generally, the front wheels 11 and the rear wheels 12 are only examples of members of ground translation which equips chassis 10.

[0021] Whatever the specificities of the ground translation members, such as the front 11 and rear 12 wheels, as well as the other elements of the chassis 10, the latter is designed to be self-propelled so as to be able to move by itself on the ground, using motor members integrated into the lifting platform 1, following a trajectory controlled by the operator using the platform. These motor members, which are not shown in the figures, are known in the field of self-propelled platforms, being for example of a mechanical and / or hydraulic nature and with thermal and / or electric motorization.

[0022] The lifting platform 1 also comprises a lifting structure 20 supporting a platform 30 provided so that the operator using the lifting platform can stand on it.

[0023] The lifting structure 20 is arranged on the chassis 10 so as to move the platform 30 relative to the chassis 10. For this purpose, the lifting structure 20 comprises a turret 21, which rests on the chassis 10, and an arm 22, which connects the turret 21 to the platform 30 and which is deployable so as to move the platform 30 more or less away from the turret 21.

[0024] The turret 21 is rotatable relative to the chassis 10 around an axis of rotation Z21 which extends perpendicular to a ground support plane of the lifting platform 1, in other words which extends vertically when the aforementioned support plane, on which the chassis 10 rests, is horizontal.

[0025] Whatever its specificities, the turret 21 defines a geometric axis X21, which, as clearly visible in Figures 1 and 2, extends parallel to the ground and which connects two opposite lateral sides of the turret 21, namely a first lateral side 21A, which can be described as the front side of the turret 21, and a second lateral side 21B, which can be described as the rear side of the turret 21. It is understood that the turret 21 is able to pass, by means of its rotary movement around the axis of rotation Z21, between an aligned configuration, in which the geometric axis X21 is parallel to an anteroposterior axis of the chassis, as in Figures 1 to 3, and a non-aligned configuration, in which the geometric axis X21 is inclined relative to the aforementioned anteroposterior axis of the chassis 10, as in [Fig.4].

[0026] The embodiment of the arm 22 for the purposes of its deployment capacity is not limiting of the invention. It is therefore understood that the term "arm" used here is understood in a broad sense and thus corresponds to an elongated mechanical structure, including several arm elements movable relative to each other for the purposes of deployment of this mechanical structure. In the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, the arm 22 is an articulated arm which, as clearly visible in [Fig. 2] where the arm 22 is deployed, includes a lower arm element 22.1, forming a pantograph whose lower end is articulated on the turret 21, an inter arm element intermediate 22.2, forming an arrow which is articulated on the upper end of the aforementioned pantograph, and an upper arm element 22.3, forming a pendulum one end of which is articulated on the aforementioned arrow while the opposite end supports the platform 30. The relative movements permitted by the arm elements 22.1, 22.2, and 22.3 are known per se and will not be described here further, the reader being able for example to refer to FR 3 067 341.

[0027] In a variant not shown, the arm 22 is at least partially telescopic, including arm elements which fit into each other.

[0028] More generally, it is understood that the arm 22 is able to pass, by means of its reversible deployment, between a folded configuration, as in figures 1, 3 and 4, and a deployed configuration, as in [Fig.2], the height of the platform 30 relative to the ground being greater in the deployed configuration than in the folded configuration of the arm 22. Of course, the reversible deployment of the arm 22 can be combined with the rotary movement of the turret 21 around the axis of rotation Z21.

[0029] Whatever the specificities of the arm 22, this arm extends in cantilever relative to the rear side 21B of the turret 21, as clearly visible in FIGS. 1 to 4. In order to stabilize the lifting structure 20, the turret 21 advantageously includes a counterweight 23 which is arranged on the front side 21A of the turret. This counterweight 23 here balances the cantilever of the arm 22, by counterbalancing the forces applied to the turret 21 by the arm 22. In practice, the embodiment of the counterweight 23 is not limiting, various examples of counterweights being known in the field of lifting platforms.

[0030] Whatever the embodiment of the lifting structure 20, the drive of the latter relative to the chassis 10 is ensured by motor members integrated into the lifting platform 1. These motor members, which are not shown in the figures, are known per se in the field of lifting platforms, being for example of a mechanical and / or hydraulic nature and with thermal and / or electrical motorization. In practice, these motor members, as well as the motor members mentioned above for ensuring the movement of the chassis 10 on the ground are actuable by a control unit 40 of the lifting platform 1. The embodiment and the arrangement of this control unit 40 are not limiting of the invention.

[0031] The platform 30 is designed to accommodate the operator on board, as well as, where appropriate, one or more other persons and / or equipment for carrying out work at height. For this purpose, the platform 30 comprises a floor 31, on which the operator normally stands, and a guardrail 32 which rises from the floor 31 surrounding the platform 30. In addition, the platform 30 is provided with a control panel 33 allowing the operator on board the platform to control the placing the chassis 10 on the ground and controlling the operation of the lifting structure 20. In practice, the control unit 40 is connected and controlled by the control console 33 by arrangements of the lifting platform 1, which are known per se and which will not be detailed here further.

[0032] As clearly visible in Figures 1 to 4, the lifting platform 1 is equipped with an obstacle detector 50 which is carried by the turret 21, being arranged on the front side 21A of the latter. This obstacle detector 50 makes it possible to detect an obstacle located in a region R on the ground, which, regardless of the angular positioning of the turret 21 around the axis of rotation Z21 relative to the chassis 10, is located adjacent to the front side 21A of the turret 21, being at least partially hidden from the operator on board the platform 30 by the lifting structure 20. In other words, the region R corresponds to a volume of space, which rises from the ground and which is located in the immediate vicinity of the front side 21A of the turret 21, the lifting structure 20 being interposed between this volume of space and the operator on board the platform 30.To the extent that the obstacle detector 50 is carried by the turret 21, it is understood that the region R changes depending on the positioning of the turret 21 relative to the ground, this positioning resulting from the ability of the chassis 10 to move on the ground and the ability of the turret 21 to rotate relative to the chassis 10. In all cases, at least a portion of this region R is not directly visible to the operator on board the platform 30, i.e. it is not in the field of vision of this operator, due to the presence of the lifting structure 20. Thus, the region R is at least partially located in what is commonly called a “dead zone” or “a blind spot” for the operator standing in the platform 30.

[0033] In practice, the region R borders the front side 21A of the turret 21, extending, at ground level, over an area typically between approximately 0.5 and 10 meters from the projection of the turret 21 onto the ground.

[0034] In all cases, the obstacle detector 50 is designed to provide an electronic signal s50, which constitutes the output signal of the obstacle detector 50 and which provides direct information on the presence / absence of an obstacle in the region R. Thus, the electronic signal S50 is a signal that can be described as “simple”, in the sense that it directly carries the information relating to, selectively, the presence or absence of an obstacle in the region R, and this in a simple, or even binary, form, namely that, when an obstacle is present in the region R, the obstacle detector 50 alone determines the presence of this obstacle and provides at its output the electronic signal S50 in a first state, representative of the fact that the obstacle has been detected by the obstacle detector 50, whereas, when no obstacle detectable by the obstacle detector 50 is present in the region R, the obstacle detector 50 alone determines the absence of an obstacle and provides at its output the electronic signal s50 in a second state, representative of the fact that the obstacle detector 50 has not detected any obstacle. Of course, to determine the presence / absence of an obstacle in the region R, the obstacle detector 50 carries out an ad hoc processing of physical quantities relating to the region R, these physical quantities being acquired by the obstacle detector 50 at its input. In practice, the specificities of the processing carried out by the obstacle detector 50 are linked to the embodiment of the latter. In addition, this processing carried out by the obstacle detector 50 is obviously repeated at a sufficiently high frequency to guarantee obstacle detection in real time, the electronic signal s50 being for example refreshed every 100 milliseconds.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment of the obstacle detector 50, which is implemented in the figures, the obstacle detector 50 comprises a camera 51, which observes the region R, and an image processing unit 52, which computer-processes views of the region R, taken by the camera 51, to deduce therefrom the presence / absence of an obstacle in the region R. The image processing unit 52 thus ensures, within the obstacle detector 50, computer processing of the video signal provided by the camera 51. The computer processing, implemented by the image processing unit 52, is advantageously carried out, at least in part, by artificial intelligence.

[0036] In practice, the image processing unit 52, which is schematically represented adjacent to the camera 51 in the figures, is arranged, in part or in whole, in an integrated manner to a device including the camera 51 and / or in a manner remote from the camera 51.

[0037] Whatever the embodiment of the obstacle detector 50, the lifting platform 1 also comprises an electronic unit 60 which, as illustrated schematically in FIGS. 1 and 2, is connected to the obstacle detector 50 so as to receive the electronic signal s50. The electronic unit 60 is designed to process the electronic signal s50 and accordingly control a warning light 70 with which the lifting platform 1 is equipped, as detailed a little further down.

[0038] As clearly visible in Figures 1 to 4, the warning light 70 is carried by the lifting structure 20, in particular here by the turret 21, and makes it possible to emit, in the activated state, a light signal s70 which is directed exclusively opposite the front side 21A of the turret 21. Thus, the light signal s70 is directed towards the platform 30, and this regardless of the angular orientation of the turret 21 around the axis of rotation Z21 since the warning light 70 is carried by the lifting structure 20, in particular the turret 21. In addition, the light signal 70 is provided, by an ad hoc adaptation of the warning light 70, to be directed towards the operator on board the platform 30, looking towards the edges of the region R, and this also when the arm 22 is in the folded configuration as in the deployed configuration. In other words, as soon as the operator on board the platform 30 looks directly forward, that is to say looks in the “head-up” position towards the chassis 10 and the lifting structure 20, the light signal s70 is arranged in the natural field of vision of the operator while being directed towards the operator, and this whatever the angular positioning of the turret 21 relative to the chassis 10 and whatever the state of deployment of the arm 22 relative to the turret 21.

[0039] As a preferred example, the light warning device 70 comprises one or more light-emitting diodes, commonly called LEDs, which are advantageously placed at the top of the turret 21, in particular on the rear side 21B of the latter.

[0040] According to a first operating mode, the light warning device 70 is normally inactive, that is to say that, normally, it does not emit the light signal s70. The activation of the warning light 70 to emit the light signal s70 is specifically controlled by the electronic unit 60: the electronic unit 60 thus controls the activation of the warning light 70 when the obstacle detector 50 detects the presence of an obstacle in the region R, in other words when the information carried by the electronic signal s50 corresponds to the presence of an obstacle detected by the obstacle detector 50, while the electronic unit 60 controls the deactivation or non-activation of the warning light 70 when the obstacle detector 50 detects the absence of an obstacle in the region R, in other words when the information carried by the electronic signal s50 corresponds to the absence of an obstacle detected by the obstacle detector 50.

[0041] Of course, alternative operating modes are conceivable. For example, the light warning device 70 can be controlled by the electronic unit 60 to emit its light signal s70 with a first frequency and / or a first color, for example continuously and in green, when the obstacle detector 50 does not detect the presence of an obstacle in the region R, and to emit its light signal s70 with a second frequency and / or a second color, respectively different from the first frequency and the first color, for example flashing and in red, when the obstacle detector 50 detects the presence of an obstacle in the region R.It is understood that multiple operating modes are possible since, by controlling the light warning device 70 by the electronic unit 60, the light signal s70 changes according to the information relating to the presence / absence of an obstacle, carried by the electronic signal s50 supplied by the obstacle detector 50.

[0042] In practice, the embodiment of the electronic unit 60 is not limiting and may be linked in particular to the operating mode implemented by this electronic unit 60. By way of example, the electronic unit 60 comprises a microprocessor which processes the electronic signal s50 and generates, depending on the result of this processing, a control signal, sent to the warning light 70. Similarly, the connection between the electronic unit 60 and, on the one hand, the obstacle detector 50 and, on the other hand, the warning light 70, can be wired or wireless.

[0043] In all cases, it is understood that the operator on board the platform 30 is visually alerted by the light signal s70 as soon as an obstacle is detected in the region R by the obstacle detector 50, and this in a particularly effective manner since the light signal s70 reaches him directly in his natural field of vision when, while he is standing head up, he looks at the edges of the region R.

[0044] While thus being very effective, the alert system, grouping together the obstacle detector 50, the electronic unit 60 and the light warning device 70, is simple to understand by the operator on board the platform 30, in particular avoiding that the entire restitution of information intended for the operator is complex, for example in the form of a video display, and / or integrated into the control console 33. That being said, optionally, it is possible to provide for the video signal provided by the camera 51 to be transmitted to a video display equipping the platform 30, for example integrated into the control console 33: in this case, the retransmission in real time, on the aforementioned video display, of the video signal provided by the camera 51 is only carried out in addition to the light signal s70 when an obstacle is detected by the obstacle detector 50.Thus, the alert of risk of collision between the lifting platform 1 and an obstacle in the region R is given to the operator on board the platform 30 primarily by the light signal s70, due to the effectiveness and relevance of this alert, as explained above, while a video return on board the platform by the aforementioned video display is only provided to allow the operator to observe, through the camera 51, the region R only after the operator has been alerted by the light signal s70, in particular after the operator has ordered the slowing down, or even the stopping of the movements of the lifting platform 1.

[0045] According to a first advantageous optional aspect, which is implemented in the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the obstacle detector 50 is adapted to differentiate several zones of the region R, here three zones Z1, Z2 and Z3, which are distinguished from each other by their respective distance from the front side 21A of the turret 21. Thus, as clearly visible in FIGS. 1 to 4, the zone Z1 is closer to the lateral side 21A of the turret 21 than the zone Z2 which is itself closer to the front side 21A of the turret 21 than the zone Z3. Whatever the number of these zones Z1, Z2 and Z3, the obstacle detector 50 allows the electronic signal s50 that it provides to provide direct information on a presence / absence of an obstacle in each of these zones. For example, in the case where an obstacle is located in zone Z2 while no obstacle detectable by the obstacle detector 50 is located in the zones Z1 and Z3, the electronic signal s50 provides information on the absence of an obstacle in the zone Z1, the presence of an obstacle in the zone Z2 and the absence of an obstacle in the zone Z3. The information carried by this electronic signal s50 is then advantageously used by the electronic unit 60 which is then adapted to control the light warning device 70 in a modulated manner as a function of the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3: the idea here is to modulate the light signal s70 by taking into account the distance of an obstacle detected in the region R from the front side 21A of the turret 21 when such an obstacle is detected by the obstacle detector 50. As a non-limiting example, the light signal s70 is controlled by the electronic unit 60 to flash at a higher frequency when an obstacle is detected in the zone Z1 than when an obstacle is detected in the zone Z2. Of course, multiple variations of corresponding operating modes are possible.

[0046] According to a variant of the first optional aspect detailed above, the obstacle detector 50 is adapted to, when the obstacle detector detects an obstacle in said region R, determine a distance between the obstacle and the front side 21A of the turret 21. In practice, the determination of this distance is carried out by calculation from the physical quantities relating to the region R, which the obstacle detector 50 acquires at its entry. Whatever the way in which the aforementioned distance is determined by the obstacle detector 50, the latter allows the electronic signal s50 which it provides to include information relating to this distance.This information carried by the electronic signal s50 is then advantageously used by the electronic unit 60 which is then adapted to control the light warning device 70 in a modulated manner according to the value of the aforementioned distance: the idea here is to modulate the light signal s70 by taking into account the distance thus measured between the obstacle detected by the obstacle detector 50 in the region R and the front side 21A of the turret 21.

[0047] In the context of the first optional aspect envisaged in the two paragraphs above, the electronic unit 60 is advantageously adapted to control the warning light 70 in a modulated manner also as a function of the operating state of the lifting platform 1, in particular the ground translation speed of the chassis 10 and / or the rotation of the turret 21 around the rotation axis Z21 and / or the deployment of the arm 22. Here again, the idea is to modulate the control of the warning light 70 in connection with the risk of collision of an obstacle located in the region R by the lifting platform during operation.For example, as soon as the lifting platform 1 is moving on the ground at high speed, the warning light 70 is activated to signal a risk of collision with an obstacle located in the region R regardless of the zone, among the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3, in which this obstacle is detected, or regardless of the value of the aforementioned measured distance. According to another example, when the lifting platform 1 is static or almost static on the ground but its . turret 21 is rotated around the rotation axis Z21, the warning light 70 is activated to signal a risk of collision with an obstacle located in the region R only when the latter is detected in the zone ZI or only when the value of the aforementioned measured distance is less than a predetermined threshold value. More generally, it is understood that multiple corresponding operating modes are possible.

[0048] According to a second advantageous optional aspect, which can be combined with all of the above, the obstacle detector 50 is adapted to differentiate, as a detected obstacle, a person and an obstacle other than a person. In other words, the obstacle detector 50 is capable of detecting two types of obstacle, namely people, in other words pedestrians, and obstacles other than people. In practice, such differentiated detection between a person and an obstacle other than a person is obtained by ad hoc embodiments of the obstacle detector 50, in particular the camera 51 and the image processing unit 52 with artificial intelligence, described above.

[0049] In all cases, the electronic signal s50 supplied by the obstacle detector 50 then provides direct information both on a presence / absence of a person in the region R, advantageously in each of the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 or by quantifying the distance between a person thus detected and the front side 21A of the turret 21, and a presence / absence of an obstacle other than a person in the region R, advantageously in each of the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 or by quantifying the distance between a “non-human” obstacle thus detected and the front side 21A of the turret 21.

[0050] Given the potential seriousness of any collision between the lifting platform 1 and a pedestrian in the vicinity of the latter, it is understandable that the electronic signal s50 carries information directly qualifying the presence / absence of a person in the region R.

[0051] Advantageously, the electronic unit 60 is then adapted to control the light warning device 70 differently depending on whether the obstacle detector 50 detects a person or not. By way of non-limiting example, the light signal s70 flashes at a very high frequency and / or is red in color when the obstacle detector 50 detects a person, whereas this light signal s70 flashes at a lower frequency and / or is orange in color when the obstacle detector 50 detects an obstacle other than a person.

[0052] In any case, according to an additional advantageous arrangement of the lifting platform 1, the latter further comprises a warning device 80 which, as clearly visible schematically in Figures 1 and 2, is carried by the turret 21, being arranged on the front side 21A of the latter. The warning device 80 is adapted to emit a warning signal, luminous and / or sound, directed towards the region R. The electronic unit 60 is adapted to control this warning device 80 from the processing of the electronic signal s50. It is understood that the warning device 80 is intended to warn in the region R of the risk of collision between the lifting platform 1 and an obstacle located in the region R. This arrangement is of real interest in warning a person located in the region R of such a risk of collision. For example, the warning device 80 comprises one or more headlights, aimed towards the region R, and / or an audible warning device, emitting towards the region R.

[0053] In all cases, the control of the warning device 80 by the electronic unit 60 is advantageously: - modulated as a function of the aforementioned zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 when the obstacle detector 50 is able to differentiate these zones, or as a function of the aforementioned measured distance when the obstacle detector 50 is able to determine this distance, as explained above, and / or - differentiated according to whether the obstacle detector 50 detects a person or not when the obstacle detector is able to differentiate, as a detected obstacle, a person and an obstacle other than a person, as explained above.

[0054] Furthermore, it will be noted that, in the embodiment envisaged in the figures, the alert system, grouping the obstacle detector 50, the electronic unit 60 and the warning light 70, is advantageously designed not to interact with the control unit 40 and, more generally, with the control-command of the lifting platform 1. Being thus materially separated from the control unit 40, this alert system is particularly simple to integrate into the lifting platform 1. This being the case, in an alternative variant, the electronic unit 60 is connected to the control unit 40 so as to transmit to the latter an automatic instruction, typically an instruction to slow down, or even to stop the movements of the lifting platform 1, depending on the result of the processing of the electronic signal s50 by the electronic unit 60.For example, the processing unit 60 controls, in addition to the activation of the warning light 70, an automatic stopping of the movements of the lifting platform 1, via the control unit 40, as soon as the obstacle detector 50 detects an obstacle, in particular a person, in the region R, in particular in the zone(s) closest to the turret among the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3, or with the aforementioned measured distance being less than a predetermined threshold.

[0055] Finally, various arrangements and variants of the lifting platform 1 described so far are conceivable. For example: - as an alternative or in addition to the embodiment described above, combining the camera 51 and the image processing unit 52, the detector obstacle 50 comprises a lidar or a radar, in particular a millimeter wave radar, which is directed towards the region R, and a signal processing unit, which computer processes an electrical signal, emitted by the aforementioned lidar or radar, to deduce therefrom the presence / absence of an obstacle in the region R, in particular in the zones Z1, Z2 and Z3 or with determination of the aforementioned measured distance; rather than being arranged on the turret 21, the warning light 70 can be arranged on the arm 22, in particular in a lower part of the latter, ensuring its junction with the turret 21; in addition to the warning light 70, the lifting platform 1 comprises an audible warning device, which is arranged in the vicinity of the warning light 70 and which is controlled by the electronic unit 60, from the electronic signal s50, to emit an audible warning directed towards the operator on board the platform 30; and / or as an optional additional arrangement, the control console 33 incorporates warning means, luminous and / or audible, which are controlled by the electronic unit 60 from the electronic signal s50 in a similar manner to the warning light 70; these warning means provide additional feedback intended to make the operator on board the platform 30 react in the event that this operator focuses all his attention on the control terminal 33 to the detriment of direct observation of the environment of the lifting platform 1, in particular the surroundings of the region R.

Claims

1. Claims Lifting platform (1), comprising: - a chassis (10) which is self-propelled and provided with members (11, 12) for translation on the ground, - a platform (30) which is adapted for an operator to stand on, and - a lifting structure (20), which supports the platform (30) and which is arranged on the chassis (10) so as to move the platform relative to the chassis, which lifting structure comprises: • a turret (21) which rests on the chassis while rotating relative to the chassis around an axis of rotation (Z21), and • an arm (22), which is deployable and which connects the turret to the platform, extending cantilevered with respect to a rear side (21B) of the turret, characterized in that the lifting platform (1) further comprises: - an obstacle detector (50), which: • is carried by the turret (21), being arranged on a front side (21A) of the turret, opposite the rear side of the turret, • is adapted to detect an obstacle located in a region (R) on the ground, which is located adjacent to the front side of the turret, being at least partially hidden from the operator on board the platform (30) by the lifting structure (20), and • provides an electronic signal (s50) as output which provides direct information on the presence / absence of an obstacle in the said region, - a light warning device (70), which is carried by the lifting structure (20) and which is adapted to emit a light signal (s70) directed towards the operator on board the platform (30) looking towards the surroundings of said region (R), and - an electronic unit (60), which is adapted to process the electronic signal (s50) and control accordingly the warning light (70).

2. Lifting platform according to claim 1, in which the obstacle detector (50) is adapted to differentiate several zones (Z1, Z2, Z3) of said region (R), which are distinguished from each other by their respective distance from the front side (21A) of the turret (21), and in which the electronic signal (s50) that the obstacle detector provides provides direct information on a presence / absence of obstacle in each of said zones.

3. A lifting platform according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the obstacle detector (50) is adapted to, when the obstacle detector detects an obstacle in said region (R), determine a distance between the obstacle and the front side (21A) of the turret (21), and wherein the electronic signal (s50) that the obstacle detector provides includes information relating to said distance.

4. Lifting platform according to claim 2 or 3, in which the electronic unit (60) is adapted to control the warning light (70) in a modulated manner as a function of said zones (Z1, Z2, Z3) or as a function of said distance.

5. Lifting platform according to claim 4, in which the electronic unit (60) is adapted to control the warning light (70) in a modulated manner also depending on the operating state of the lifting platform (1).

6. Lifting platform according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the obstacle detector (50) is adapted to differentiate, as a detected obstacle, a person and an obstacle other than a person, and in which the electronic signal (s50) that the obstacle detector provides provides direct information on a presence / absence of a person in said region (R) and a presence / absence of an obstacle other than a person in said region (R).

7. Lifting platform according to claim 6, in which the electronic unit (60) is adapted to control the warning light (70) differently depending on whether the obstacle detector (50) detects a person or not.

8. A lifting platform according to any preceding claim, wherein the lifting platform (1) further comprises a warning device (80), which is carried by the turret (21), being arranged on the front side (21A) of the turret, and which is adapted to emit a warning signal, luminous and / or audible, directed towards said region (R), and in which the electronic unit (60) is adapted to control the warning device (80).

9. Lifting platform according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the obstacle detector (50) comprises a camera (51), which observes said region (R), and an image processing unit (52), which computer processes views of said region (R), taken by the camera, to deduce therefrom the presence / absence of an obstacle in said region.

10. Lifting platform according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the warning light (70) comprises at least one LED, preferably placed at the top of the turret (21).

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