Folding stairway for high speed escape platform

Abstract

The present application relates to the field of highway bridge safety equipment, in particular to a folding staircase for high-speed escape platform, comprising at least two ladder sections which are hingedly connected in sequence, and the upper end of the uppermost ladder section is hingedly connected to the top of the high-speed guardrail, when all the ladder sections are unfolded, the ladder sections are abutted to the inner side of the guardrail, and when all the ladder sections are folded upwards, the folded ladder sections are placed on the top of the guardrail, and the inner side of the top of the guardrail is flush with or exceeds the edge of all the ladder sections close to the inner side of the guardrail. By directly arranging the foldable folding staircase on the guardrail, it is convenient for personnel to enter, and it is stable and safe when in use, the folding staircase can be unfolded and abutted to the inner side of the guardrail when unfolded, helping personnel to quickly enter the escape platform, and when not needed, the whole folding staircase is folded towards the outside of the guardrail and does not exceed the inner side of the guardrail after folding, so as to ensure that there is no protruding obstacle on the inner side of the roadside guardrail.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of highway bridge safety equipment, specifically a folding ladder for a high-speed emergency escape platform. Background Technology

[0002] For most surface roads, once a vehicle breaks down or a traffic accident occurs, the occupants can usually evacuate to the side of the road to avoid secondary accidents. However, for bridges and elevated roads, since there is no off-road safety zone, passengers lack escape space after an accident. Especially for longer bridge sections, the probability of a traffic accident leading to a secondary accident is higher, causing greater harm to passengers.

[0003] To address the aforementioned issues, our company has designed a patented emergency escape platform for elevated road sections, such as the one disclosed in patent CN 219032910 U. This platform, for bridges, includes an escape platform fixedly installed on the outer side of the bridge. The platform comprises an aluminum alloy base plate and a bottom frame. A U-shaped connecting frame is connected to one side of the platform and installed on the outer perimeter of the bridge side. Fasteners are installed between the U-shaped connecting frame and the bridge. Guardrails are installed around the outer perimeter of the platform. In the event of an emergency, passengers in vehicles can enter the emergency escape platform for refuge, effectively ensuring the safety of those seeking refuge, significantly reducing the probability of secondary accidents on highway bridges, and improving the operational safety of highway bridges. However, this device also has the following shortcomings: Because road guardrails are typically quite high, especially on elevated highways, it is difficult for personnel to enter the emergency escape platform, especially for those with minor injuries. If ladders are simply placed haphazardly inside the platform, it is difficult for personnel to move them out and back in, and such ladders are also unstable and unsafe. Therefore, designing a convenient and safe ladder for the emergency escape platform is essential. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of this invention is to provide a folding escalator for a high-speed emergency escape platform in order to solve the above-mentioned technical problems.

[0005] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0006] A folding escalator for a high-speed emergency escape platform includes at least two ladder segments that are hinged sequentially, with the uppermost ladder segment hinged to the top of a high-speed guardrail. When all the ladder segments are unfolded, they abut against the inner side of the guardrail. When all the ladder segments are folded upwards and placed on top of the guardrail, the inner edge of the top of the guardrail is flush with or extends beyond the inner edge of all the ladder segments near the guardrail.

[0007] Preferably, the folding escalator for the high-speed emergency escape platform includes two sections: a first section located at the top and a second section located at the bottom when unfolded. The inner sides of the first and second sections are provided with support feet that can abut against the inner side of the guardrail.

[0008] Preferably, the top of the guardrail is provided with a base, and the uppermost ladder section is directly hinged to the base or hinged to the base through a transition strip hinged to the base.

[0009] Preferably, handrails are provided on both sides of the top of the guardrail corresponding to the folding escalator. The handrails are directly fixed to the top of the guardrail or fixed to the base. When the folding escalator is folded up, the support feet on the second step can be inserted into the frame of the first step, and the width of the second step is smaller than the distance between the two support feet on the first step.

[0010] Preferably, the outer side of the guardrail is provided with an outer ladder section corresponding to the folding escalator to help people enter the safety platform, and the outer ladder section is provided on the guardrail or the safety platform.

[0011] Preferably, the folding escalator further includes a folding component for assisting in retracting the escalator. The folding component includes a lifting bar and / or a lifting rope located beside the lower end of the first stair section. When the lifting bar is present, it extends upward and outward relative to the stair surface of the first stair section to form a lifting handle. When the first stair section is folded upward and stacked against the top of the guardrail, the lifting handle is located outside the guardrail or folded to the side of the first stair section. When the lifting rope is present, the upper end of the lifting rope is connected to a side guardrail erected on the top of the guardrail, and the main body of the lifting rope is located outside the stair surface of the first stair section, forming an angle with the stair surface.

[0012] Preferably, the side guard includes a handrail and a hinged rod hinged to the bottom of the handrail. The upper end of the lifting rope is connected to the hinged rod and the handrail in sequence, and the angle between the hinged rod and the handrail is less than 90 degrees when the folding escalator is unfolded.

[0013] Preferably, the folding escalator further includes a stair-retrieval component for assisting in retracting the escalator. The first and second stair sections are hinged along their inner sides facing away from the stair surface. The stair-retrieval component includes a starting section disposed between the hinged end faces of the first and second stair sections, such that the maximum limiting angle between the inner surfaces of the unfolded first and second stair sections is an obtuse angle. The stair surface of the second stair section extends outward to form an extended widening section, and the outer stair surface of the widening section is flush and smooth with the outer stair surface of the first stair section.

[0014] Preferably, the folding escalator further includes a stair-retrieval component for assisting in retracting the escalator. The stair-retrieval component includes a pull rope located on the back of the folding escalator. The lower end of the pull rope is connected to the lower end of the second stair section, and the upper end is located on the top of the guardrail or on the outside of the guardrail. The upper end of the pull rope is fixed to the guardrail or is a free end with an enlarged handle.

[0015] Preferably, the middle section of the ladder rope is provided with a spherical top ladder member; when the folding ladder is unfolded, the ladder rope is in a slack state, and the top ladder member is located below the hinge of the first and second ladder sections; when the ladder rope is pulled up from the top, the top ladder member can push the hinge of the first and second ladder sections outward so that the first and second ladder sections form an obtuse angle, and at least the support foot located at the lower end of the second ladder section is provided with a roller that can slide on the inner side of the guardrail.

[0016] The advantages of the water-washed cotton cutting machine proposed in this invention are as follows:

[0017] 1. Installing foldable escalators directly on the guardrail facilitates personnel access while ensuring stability and safety during use. When unfolded, the escalator rests against the inside of the guardrail, allowing personnel to quickly access the emergency platform. When not in use, the entire escalator folds outwards from the guardrail, ensuring it does not protrude beyond the inner side of the guardrail. This guarantees the absence of protruding obstacles on the inner side of the roadside guardrail, ensuring safe passage for vehicles and meeting highway requirements. The number of folding sections is unlimited; multiple folding sections or even two-section folding is possible.

[0018] 2. This application features a simple structure, convenient operation, safe use, and low cost. It can efficiently help personnel enter the evacuation platform, and when personnel are not using the evacuation platform, it can be easily retracted to ensure unobstructed road conditions. This application is applicable not only to highway sections but also to ordinary elevated road sections. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the escalator in its unfolded and usable state.

[0020] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the escalator in its retracted state;

[0021] Figure 3 A schematic diagram of the escalator in its partially retracted state;

[0022] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the escalator and handrail.

[0023] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the external ladder structure;

[0024] Figure 6A schematic diagram of the structure of this application with lifting strips;

[0025] Figure 7 A schematic diagram of the structure of this application with a lifting rope;

[0026] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application with a ladder section;

[0027] Figure 9 This application provides a structural diagram of a ladder rope. Figure 1 ;

[0028] Figure 10 This application provides a structural diagram of a ladder rope. Figure 1 ;

[0029] Figure 11 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of this application with a top ladder component. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0031] Example 1:

[0032] A folding escalator for a high-speed emergency escape platform includes at least two sequentially hinged stair sections 1, with the uppermost section hinged to the top of a highway guardrail 2. When all stair sections are unfolded, they rest against the inner side of the guardrail. When all stair sections are folded upwards and closed, they are positioned on top of the guardrail, with the inner edge of the top of the guardrail flush with or extending beyond the inner edge of all stair sections near the guardrail. By directly installing a foldable escalator on the guardrail, access for personnel is facilitated, and the escalator is stable and safe during use. When unfolded, the escalator rests against the inner side of the guardrail, allowing personnel to quickly access the emergency escape platform. When not needed, the entire escalator folds outwards from the guardrail, ensuring it does not extend beyond the inner side of the guardrail, thus preventing protruding obstacles on the inner side of the roadside guardrail, guaranteeing safe vehicle passage, and meeting highway road requirements. The number of folding sections is not limited; multiple folding sections or two-section folding are possible.

[0033] Example 2:

[0034] The difference from the above embodiments is that the folding escalator used for the high-speed emergency escape platform includes two sections: a first section 11 located at the top and a second section 12 located at the bottom when unfolded. The inner sides of the first and second sections are provided with support feet 8 that can abut against the inner side of the guardrail. While meeting the above requirements, and based on the approximate actual height of existing high-speed guardrails, and prioritizing minimizing the size of the escalator when folded, as well as facilitating folding and simplifying the structure, it is preferable that the escalator adopt a two-section folding design, with at least one support foot at the bottom of each section facing the guardrail. This increases the escalator's support points against the guardrail, making it more stable and safer to use.

[0035] Example 3:

[0036] The difference from the above embodiment is that the top of the guardrail is provided with a base 3, and the uppermost stair section is directly hinged to the base or hinged to the base via a transition strip 13. The upper end of the escalator can be directly hinged to the guardrail, or it can be connected to the guardrail via the base. Preferably, a flat plate can be used as the base, and the escalator is directly hinged to the base, which is then fixed to the guardrail. This ensures that there is a flat stepping surface at the top of the guardrail, making it safer and more convenient to use, and also facilitating the installation of the escalator.

[0037] Handrails 5 are erected on both sides of the top of the guardrail corresponding to the folding escalator. These handrails are directly fixed to the top of the guardrail or to the base. When the folding escalator is folded up, the support legs on the second stair section can be inserted into the frame of the first stair section, and the width of the second stair section is smaller than the distance between the support legs on both sides of the first stair section. Because the top of the guardrail is relatively high, handrails are installed at the top to improve safety. The handrails can be directly installed on the guardrail or the base; preferably, they can be directly installed on the base. This improves the overall integrity and convenience of the escalator equipment. The escalator and handrails can be pre-installed with the base before leaving the factory, and the base can be directly installed onto the guardrail on site. This reduces on-site installation and measurement steps, making the installation of each component convenient and the position reasonable, eliminating the need for multi-point measurement and installation. The size matching of the first and second stair sections ensures high neatness and small size among the folded stair sections, making it convenient and safe to use.

[0038] Example 4:

[0039] The difference from the above embodiment is that the outer side of the guardrail is provided with an outer ladder section 6 corresponding to the folding escalator, which helps people enter the emergency platform. The outer ladder section is located on the guardrail or the emergency platform. The folding escalator solves the problem of climbing up to enter from the inside of the road surface, but there is still a certain height from the outer side of the guardrail to the platform surface. Since the protrusion on the outer side of the guardrail will not affect the road surface, the outer ladder section can be simply and securely fixed directly to the outside of the guardrail without folding. Depending on the structure of the emergency platform, the outer ladder section can be adapted to be directly fixed to the outside of the guardrail or fixed to the corresponding side of the emergency platform.

[0040] Example 5:

[0041] The difference from the above embodiments is that the folding escalator also includes a folding component for assisting in folding the escalator. The folding component includes a lifting bar 71 and / or a lifting rope 72 located beside the lower end of the first escalator section. When the lifting bar is present, the lifting bar extends upward and outward relative to the escalator surface of the first escalator section to form a lifting handle 711. When the first escalator section is folded upward and stacked against the top of the guardrail, the lifting handle is located outside the guardrail or folded to the side of the first escalator section. When the lifting rope is present, the upper end of the lifting rope is connected to a side guardrail erected on the top of the guardrail, and the main body of the lifting rope is located outside the escalator surface of the first escalator section, forming an angle with the escalator surface.

[0042] When in use, personnel inside the guardrail can easily pull the folding ladder inwards to unfold it and place it against the inner side of the guardrail, facilitating entry into the refuge platform. However, if the folding ladder remains on the road surface for an extended period after entering the refuge platform, it can pose a safety hazard to passing vehicles. Therefore, it is preferable to also make it easy for personnel inside the platform to retract the folding ladder. Due to the thickness and height of the guardrail, coupled with the weight of the ladder, it is difficult for personnel inside the refuge platform to directly pull the ladder back from the top after it has unfolded inwards. Therefore, this application designs a ladder-retracting component that facilitates retraction from the outside of the guardrail. This component allows for relatively effortless and convenient retraction of the folding ladder from the outside of the guardrail.

[0043] When using the aforementioned lifting strip, it can be designed as a strip that arches downwards towards the road surface. The upper end of the lifting strip is free and can be designed with a handle for easy gripping and pulling outwards on the first escalator section. Since the lower end of the lifting strip is connected to the lower end of the first escalator section, it is easier to rotate the first and second escalator sections relative to each other around the hinge point, allowing the first escalator section to rotate upwards around its upper hinge point for retraction. Furthermore, the lifting strip, located on the side of the escalator, can also serve as a handrail, enhancing safety. The lifting strip can be fixed to the first escalator section or hinged with a return spring, allowing it to automatically unfold when the escalator is extended and, when the escalator is retracted, to fold the lifting strip against the side frame of the first escalator section using its own weight. An opening can also be made on the outside of the handrail for inserting the retracted lifting strip, ensuring sufficient space for a long lifting strip while facilitating easy lifting. The lifting bar can be designed with an arc-shaped bend, which increases the angle between the bottom of the lifting bar and the outer surface of the first step, making it easier to lift.

[0044] Similarly, when using the aforementioned lifting rope, pulling the rope effectively applies force to the hinged joint at the lower end of the first stair section, thus making it relatively easy to retract the escalator. This is achieved simply by ensuring the main body of the lifting rope is outside the surface of the first stair section and at a certain angle to it. Since the hinge joint between the first and second stair sections faces away from the outer stair surface, pulling the first stair section to rotate the hinge axis and ensure that the angle between the backs of the first and second stair sections is less than 180 degrees allows for relatively effortless retraction.

[0045] Example 6:

[0046] The difference from the above embodiment is that the side guard includes a handrail 5 and a hinge rod 51 with its lower end hinged to the bottom of the handrail. The upper end of the lifting rope is connected to the hinge rod and the handrail in sequence, and the angle between the hinge rod and the handrail is less than 90 degrees when the folding escalator is unfolded.

[0047] Side railings can be designed as handrails at the top of the guardrail, and the lifting rope can also serve as the front handrail of the first section during use, increasing the handrail area and making it safer to use. Under normal circumstances, the first and second sections of the ladder are relatively stable when used, as they are supported by the end rods and hinge shafts. The hinge rods can support the lifting rope towards the road surface, thereby increasing the angle between the lifting rope and the surface of the first section of the ladder. This makes it easier to change the stable state of the first and second sections and facilitates folding.

[0048] Example 7:

[0049] The difference from the above embodiment is that the folding escalator also includes a folding component for assisting in retracting the escalator. The first and second escalator segments are hinged along their inner sides facing away from the escalator surface. The folding component includes a lifting section 122 located between the hinged end faces of the first and second escalator segments, such that the maximum limiting angle between the inner surfaces of the unfolded first and second escalator segments is an obtuse angle. The lifting section can be directly fixed to either the first or second escalator segment. The escalator surface of the second escalator segment extends outward to form an extended widening section 121, and the outer escalator surface of the widening section is flush and smooth with the outer escalator surface of the first escalator segment. To cooperate with the lifting section, a widening section can also be provided to ensure that the outer ends of the steps of the first and second escalator segments facing the road surface are on the same plane, thereby facilitating stepping and ensuring stability during use.

[0050] The ladder retraction component can also employ a method where the lifting part pushes open the abutting surfaces of the first and second ladder sections, thereby preventing the inner surfaces of the first and second ladder sections from being straight and parallel at 180 degrees. Furthermore, the angle between the first ladder section and the inner surface of the guardrail is increased during use, which facilitates the retraction of the ladder from the emergency platform. Of course, the lifting part can also be combined with the lifting rope or lifting strip structure of embodiments five and six above, making it even easier to retract the ladder.

[0051] Example 8:

[0052] The difference from the above embodiment lies in that the folding escalator also includes a retractable component for assisting in retracting the escalator. This retractable component includes a pull rope 9 located on the back of the folding escalator. The lower end of the pull rope is connected to the lower end of the second ladder section, and the upper end is located at the top of the guardrail or on the outside of the guardrail. The upper end of the pull rope is fixed to the guardrail or is a free end with an enlarged handle 92. Alternatively, the upper end of the pull rope can be rotatably connected to the outside of the guardrail. The handle facilitates gripping and prevents the rope from leaking through the gap between the base and the transition strip onto the road surface inside the guardrail. A corresponding slot with an open top can also be cut into the base to accommodate the pull rope.

[0053] The ladder retraction component can also be a ladder rope located on the back of the escalator and connected to the bottom of the second ladder section. Since the inner side of the guardrail generally has an inclined surface, the ladder is pulled up from the bottom by the ladder rope, which is inclined against the guardrail surface. The hinge of the first and second ladder sections is folded up towards the road surface to retract the ladder. After the second ladder section is lifted, the person seeking refuge can also easily grab the steps on the second ladder section that are further away from their body to facilitate the ladder retraction.

[0054] Example 9:

[0055] The difference from the above embodiment is that the middle section of the ladder rope is provided with a spherical top ladder member 91; when the folding ladder is unfolded, the ladder rope is in a slack state, and the top ladder member is located below the hinge of the first and second ladder sections; when the ladder rope is pulled up from the top, the top ladder member can push the hinge of the first and second ladder sections outward so that the first and second ladder sections form an obtuse angle, and at least the support foot located at the lower end of the second ladder section is provided with a roller 93 that can slide on the inner side of the guardrail.

[0056] To prevent the two ladder sections from jamming at the hinge, a spherical top ladder component can be installed on the ladder rope. When the ladder rope is not pulled, the top ladder component hangs below the hinge of the first and second ladder sections. When the ladder rope is pulled, one side of the top ladder component presses against the inner surface of the guardrail, and the other side presses against the hinge of the two ladder sections. As the ladder rope continues to be pulled upwards, the spherical structure rises, causing the top ladder component to push the hinge open outwards, thus preventing the first and second ladder sections from jamming. Continuing to pull the rope then allows the lower end of the second ladder section to be pulled up along the inner surface of the guardrail more easily, causing the entire escalator to fold towards the road surface and rise. The support feet can be made of rollers, and the rollers can be covered with rubber, which makes the ladder retraction smooth and reduces the impact between the support feet and the guardrail surface when the escalator is extended, making it relatively quiet and safe.

Claims

1. A folding stairway for a high speed escape platform, characterized by: The folding stairway for high-speed refuge platform comprises at least two ladder sections (1) connected in sequence, and the upper end of the uppermost ladder section is connected to the top of the high-speed guardrail (2). When all the ladder sections are unfolded, the ladder sections are in contact with the inner side of the guardrail. When all the ladder sections are folded upwards, the ladder sections are placed on the top of the guardrail, and the inner side of the top of the guardrail is flush with or exceeds the edge of the inner side of the guardrail close to the ladder sections. The folding stairway for high-speed refuge platform comprises two ladder sections, i.e. a first ladder section (11) located at the upper part when unfolded and a second ladder section (12) located at the lower part. The inner side of each of the first and second ladder sections is provided with a supporting leg (8) capable of being in contact with the inner side of the guardrail. The top of the guardrail is provided with a base (3), and the uppermost ladder section is directly connected to the base or connected to the base through an intermediate bar (13) connected to the base. The top of the guardrail is provided with a handrail (5) erected on both sides of the top of the guardrail. The handrail is directly fixed to the top of the guardrail or fixed to the base. When the folding stairway is folded, the supporting leg on the second ladder section can be inserted into the ladder frame of the first ladder section, and the width of the second ladder section is smaller than the distance between the two supporting legs on the first ladder section. The folding stairway further comprises a folding component for assisting in folding the stairway. The folding component comprises a ladder pulling rope (9) provided on the back of the folding stairway. The lower end of the ladder pulling rope is connected to the lower end of the second ladder section, and the upper end of the ladder pulling rope is fixed to the top of the guardrail or the outer side of the guardrail. The upper end of the ladder pulling rope is fixed to the guardrail or is a free end with an enlarged pulling handle. The middle section of the ladder pulling rope is provided with a spherical top ladder piece (91). When the folding stairway is unfolded, the ladder pulling rope is in a relaxed state, and the top ladder piece is located below the connection between the first and second ladder sections. When the ladder pulling rope is pulled upwards from the upper end, the top ladder piece can push the connection between the first and second ladder sections outwards so that the first and second ladder sections form an obtuse angle. At least one of the supporting legs on the lower end of the second ladder section is provided with a roller capable of sliding on the inner side of the guardrail.

2. The folding stairway for use in a high-speed escape platform according to claim 1, characterized in that: The outer side of the guardrail is provided with an outer ladder part (6) corresponding to the folding stairway, which can help people enter the refuge platform. The outer ladder part is provided on the guardrail or the refuge platform.

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