Access ladder for vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

Disclosed is an access ladder for a vehicle and a vehicle. The access ladder includes two or more steps (1, 2, 3, 4) vertically stacked on top of each other, and each step includes a main surface (10, 20, 30, 40). The projection of the main surface of each step (1, 2, 3, 4) on a horizontal plane at least partially projects out from the projection of the main surface of the upper step on the horizontal plane.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an access ladder for a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to an access ladder that can be associated with a vehicle equipped with a driving position raised above the ground to facilitate the driver's climbing up and down. Background Art

[0002] Many operating vehicles (such as earthmoving vehicles, vehicles equipped with lifting arms, vehicles equipped with rotating towers, etc.) are equipped with a driving position located at a relatively high height relative to the ground. Such vehicles are usually provided with an access ladder that is located near the driving position or in another part of the vehicle to facilitate the driver's climbing up and down.

[0003] Generally, the access ladder includes a plurality of steps that are stacked on top of each other and separated by a predetermined distance. Each step includes a substantially horizontal surface that projects in a cantilever manner on one side or the other side of the vehicle to facilitate resting the driver's foot.

[0004] To limit the size of the access ladder, the steps are usually stacked vertically on top of each other such that the upper step hides the lower step. This current shape of the access ladder places the driver in a dangerous situation every time he / she has to climb down from the driving position, as he / she cannot see the steps below due to crossing the upper step and is thus forced to try to find them with his / her feet. Therefore, the risk of misplacing the foot and slipping is always relatively high. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The object of the present invention is to provide an access ladder for a vehicle that allows overcoming the drawbacks of currently available access ladders.

[0006] One advantage of the access ladder according to the present invention is that it allows good visibility of all the steps below the upper step.

[0007] Another advantage of the access ladder according to the present invention is that its overall dimensions are substantially similar to those of current access ladders. Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008] From the following detailed description of embodiments of the present invention, further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent, which embodiments are shown by way of non-limiting examples in the drawings, wherein:

[0009] Figure 1 is an isometric view of a vehicle equipped with at least one access ladder according to the present invention;

[0010] Figure 2 shows the driving position of the vehicle and the access ladder according to the present invention;

[0011] Figure 3Yes Figure 2 Plan view of the access ladder of

[0012] Figure 4 Vehicle and driving position of the access ladder according to the invention in an alternative embodiment are shown;

[0013] Figure 5 Yes Figure 4 Plan view of the access ladder of Detailed Description

[0014] Figure 1 The vehicle V illustrated by way of example in is a vehicle designed to support and operate a lifting arm (not shown). The vehicle V includes a platform P designed to support the base of the lifting arm, on which the driving position D is located at a predetermined height above the ground and is represented in the form of a cab. The vehicle V has four sides S. According to the illustrated embodiment, the sides S extend downward from the platform P at a predetermined height above the ground.

[0015] The access ladder according to the invention includes two or more vertically stacked steps 1, 2, 3, 4. Each step includes a main surface 10, 20, 30, 40 which is designed to support the driver's foot. Preferably, but not necessarily, the main surfaces 10, 20, 30, 40 are substantially horizontal and are associated with the side S of the vehicle V in a cantilever manner. According to other embodiments of the access ladder, the main surface of the step may be associated with a crossbar or pin connected to the vehicle V at its opposite ends.

[0016] According to the illustrated embodiment, the steps 1, 2, 3, 4 are located within recesses formed in the side S of the vehicle and are accessible substantially only from the front side (i.e., the unobstructed side facing the outside of the vehicle). According to other embodiments, the steps 1, 2, 3, 4 may project from the side S of the vehicle in an associated manner.

[0017] Advantageously, the rectangular projection of the main surface of each step 1, 2, 3, 4 on the horizontal plane projects at least partially from the rectangular projection of the main surface of the upper step on the horizontal plane. In other words, the orthogonal projection of the main surface 10, 20, 30, 40 of each step on the main surface of the lower step does not completely cover the main surface of the lower step, but leaves at least one unobstructed portion. For example, the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the main surface of each step on the horizontal plane is contained within the boundary of the orthogonal projection of the same horizontal plane of the lower step.

[0018] Due to the above arrangement, if viewed from above, at least all of the portions of the steps that project from the projection of the upper step are visible. This means that a driver looking out and down from the driving position can see all the steps and can thus safely rest the foot on each step.

[0019] According toFigure 2 and Figure 3 A possible embodiment of the channel ladder shown, each of the main surfaces of steps 1, 2, 3 has windows 1a, 2a, 3a, and the orthogonal projection of the window on the horizontal plane overlaps with the orthogonal projection of a part of the lower step on the same horizontal plane. The lower step 4 can be manufactured without a window.

[0020] In other words, the orthogonal projection of windows 1a, 2a, 3a on the main surface of the lower step leaves at least a part of the main surface of the lower step unobstructed. In this way, a driver looking through the window at windows 1a, 2a, 3a from above can see a part of the main surface of the lower step through the window. In particular, each of steps 1, 2, 3 is visible from above through the windows 1a, 2a, 3a of the upper step without having to project the lower step outward from the orthogonal projection of the upper step. In other words, the orthogonal projection of the steps remains within the orthogonal projection of the lowest step. Therefore, it is not necessary for the steps to project forward from each other. According to the shown embodiment, when observed at a right angle on the same horizontal plane, window 1a, 2a, 3a has at least one edge that is offset or projects within the boundary of the upper window. For example, as Figure 3 shown, windows 1a, 2a, 3a are located at one end of steps 1, 2, 3. The rear edges 2b, 3b of the lower windows are offset forward relative to the rear edges of the upper windows. In this way, as Figure 3 shown, at least a part of the main surface of each step can be seen through the window of the upper step.

[0021] According to Figure 2 and Figure 3 the shown embodiment, each window 1a, 2a, 3a is formed on the front edges 11, 21, 31 of the corresponding steps 1, 2, 3, that is, on the front edges 11, 21, 31 of the corresponding main surfaces 10, 20, 30. The front edges 11, 21, 31 are substantially unobstructed and accessible edges of the main surface, that is, the feet approach the main surface from this front edge.

[0022] According to Figure 4 and Figure 5 another possible embodiment shown, the main surfaces 10, 20, 30, 40 of each step have front edges 11, 21, 31, 41, that is, unobstructed and accessible edges of the main surface, and the feet can approach the main surface from this front edge. In other words, the front edges 11, 21, 31, 41 are the outer edges of the main surface, that is, the unobstructed edges of the main surface.

[0023] Each of the front edges 11, 21, 31, 41 projects from the orthogonal projection of the main surface of the upper step on the horizontal plane. In other words, the main surfaces of two consecutive steps project at right angles on the same horizontal plane, and the front edges 11, 21, 31, 41 of the lower step do not coincide with the front edges of the upper step, but project outwards from the upper step, that is, project outside the projection of the main surface of the upper step.

[0024] According to Figure 4 and Figure 5 the embodiment shown, if viewed from above, at least for the part of the front edges 11, 21, 31, 41 that project from the projection of the main surface of the upper step, all the steps are visible. In this case, a driver who projects from the driver's position and looks down can also see all the steps, so that the feet can be safely rested on each step.

[0025] As Figure 1 shown, the access ladder 100 according to the present invention can be positioned on the side S of the vehicle V. For example, the access ladder 100 according to the present invention is located in a position close to and below the driver's position D. One or more additional access ladders 100 according to the present invention can be positioned in other areas of the vehicle, for example, positioned on the front side and / or the rear side of the vehicle, as Figure 1 shown. Advantageously, the side access ladder 100 located below the driver's position D is recessed within the overall dimensional range of the vehicle chassis (or frame) that defines the platform P, that is, it does not project relative to the overall dimensional range of the vehicle chassis. In this way, the upper step of this access ladder is within the overall dimensions of the vehicle, so that the user is not forced to reach it by projecting from the vehicle. Regarding the front access ladder 100f and the rear access ladder 100r, they are integrated into the chassis defined by the platform P and the side S, and are preferably recessed into the corresponding recesses formed on the front side and the rear side of the vehicle.

[0026] In fact, the steps of the front access ladder 100f and the rear access ladder 100r are formed by the chassis itself, and thus do not include, for example, additional access ladders bolted to the chassis or attached as required.

[0027] In this way, when the tower of the vehicle rotates, an operator leaving the cab D descends from the platform P of the chassis much more safely than is allowed by the prior art.

[0028] It should be noted that the front access ladder 100f and the rear access ladder 100r are integral parts of the vehicle chassis.

[0029] The fact that the side access ladder 100 located on the side S of the chassis is recessed with respect to the contour of the chassis makes it possible to prevent it from hitting objects or attaching to external structures during manoeuvring. In addition, as already mentioned, the user can access the access ladder without having to reach out of the vehicle, since the upper steps are within the overall dimensions of the chassis. In particular, the upper steps are located below the platform P and can be reached with the foot when the user is safely located on the platform P.

[0030] The use of an additional access ladder facilitates the driver to climb up onto the vehicle and down from the vehicle, even in the presence of obstacles that may impede access to the side of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A gangway ladder for a vehicle, comprising two or more steps (1, 2, 3, 4) stacked vertically on top of each other, each said step comprising a main surface (10, 20, 30, 40), characterized in that, The projection of the main surface of each of the steps (1, 2, 3, 4) onto the horizontal plane at least partially projects beyond the projection of the main surface of the upper step onto the horizontal plane, wherein, except for the lower step (4), the main surface of each of the steps (1, 2, 3) has a window (1a, 2a, 3a), the projection of the window onto the horizontal plane overlapping a part of the lower step, wherein the orthogonal projection of the steps remains within the orthogonal projection of the lowest step, and each of the windows (1a, 2a, 3a) is formed on the front edge of the corresponding step (1, 2, 3).

2. The channel ladder according to claim 1, wherein, Each of the front edges projects beyond the projection of the main surface of the upper step onto the horizontal plane.

3. A vehicle equipped with a driving position (D) located at a predetermined height above the ground, characterized in that, The vehicle includes an access ladder (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, the access ladder being located on a side (S) of the vehicle (V).

4. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein, The access ladder (100) is positioned close to and below the driving position (D).

5. The vehicle according to claim 3, wherein, The access ladder (100) is located within the dimensions of the chassis or frame of the vehicle (V), i.e., the access ladder is recessed in a recess formed in a side (S) of the vehicle (V).

6. A vehicle according to any one of claims 3 to 5, provided with a chassis equipped with wheels, the chassis carrying the driving position (D), the driving position being bounded at the top by a platform (P) and accessible from one or more access ladders (100f, 100r) integrated in the chassis.

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