Anti-entrapment Device for Scissor Lifts

Abstract

The present invention provides an anti-entrapment device for an aerial lift having a basket or cage. The anti-entrapment device comprises an elongate housing; two or more sensors housed within said elongate housing and a switch activation device coupled to the elongate housing. At least one of said two or more sensors is positioned proximate an end of said elongate housing. Said switch activation device is arranged at an angle to the orientation of said sensor(s) positioned proximate the end of said elongate housing. The sensors are arranged to provide a detection zone and to detect obstacles within the detection zone. The sensors are configured to facilitate the alerting of an operator standing in a basket or cage to the presence of an obstacle that may potentially strike the operator before the strike occurs, and the switch activation device is configured to prevent further movement of the basket or cage once the switch activation device is activated.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to United Kingdom Patent Application No. GB1614519.5, filed Aug. 25, 2016, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an anti-entrapment device for scissor lifts. The present invention also relates a basket or cage having such an anti-entrapment device, and a scissor lift comprising the same.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Aerial lifts are frequently employed for lifting operatives to elevated working sites, for example to install overhead pipe work during building construction. A typical aerial lift may comprise a mobile elevated work platform (MEWP) having an extendable boom which has an elevator basket or cage for housing operatives securely to the end of the boom. Alternative aerial lifts may comprise a MEWP having an extendable scissor linkage which has an elevator basket or cage for housing op...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The anti-entrapment device helps to alert an operator when there is a possibility of entrapment, and also prevents the operator from getting crushed if they are caught in a trap. This is done by connecting sensors and a switch activation device to a control module that stops the basket or cage from moving or alerts the operator to the presence of an obstacle.

Problems solved by technology

In scissor lifts, it is known for operators to accidentally engage the wrong control function, for example engage the lift function of the basket or cage rather than the drive function of the scissor lift.

Such an error can lead to an accident, such as an obstacle striking the operator.

This could especially be serious when the operator is looking or leaning over the side of the basket / cage while trying to drive the scissor lift.

Secondly, should the lift function be accidently engaged rather than the drive function causing an obstacle to strike the operator, entrapment of the operator would result in activation of the switch activation device which results in the cessation of the basket or cage thereby preventing crushing of the operator.

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