Control console for a personnel lift and personnel lift with such a control console

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control panel for a personnel lifting machine. It also relates to a personnel lifting machine comprising such a control panel.

[0002] Personnel lifting machines, such as aerial work platforms, are machines designed to allow one or more people to work at height. To this end, these machines include a work platform, designed for one or more people to stand on. The platform includes a floor surrounded by a guardrail. It is supported by a lifting structure that allows the platform to be raised / lowered between a lowered position on the machine's chassis and a desired working position at height. Personnel lifting machines can be self-propelled, i.e. motorized to allow their autonomous movement on the ground. In all cases, the platform is associated with a control panel, equipped with manually operated control devices allowing an operator to activate the deployment of the lifting structure and, if necessary, the movement of the machine on the ground.Examples of such a control console are disclosed in WO2020 / 205162A1, which discloses the preamble of claim 1, and WO2020 / 144601A1.

[0003] The control panel is either permanently mounted on the platform, i.e. it is permanently mounted at the same given location on the platform, generally on the guardrail, and is designed so that the operator stands in front of it when the operator wishes to operate the control elements, or removable, for example so that it can be moved by the operator so that it can be hung at different locations on the guardrail, for example on the front or rear side of the platform. When the control panel is removable, it is generally more compact and lighter than in the case of fixed control panels. The control panel can also be designed so that the operator can hold it with one hand and operate its control elements with the other, which makes it possible, in particular, to operate the machine from the ground instead of from the platform. In this case, the control panel is even more compact and of even more limited weight.

[0004] In any case, the operator's handling of the control panel is not always easy depending on the "logic" with which the control elements are arranged on the panel. This problem is even more pronounced when the same operator successively uses different personnel lifting machines, in particular of different sizes and / or types, whose respective control panels follow different "logics". In addition, the location of the control panel on the platform is often unsatisfactory in terms of ergonomics when the panel is positioned too high in relation to the platform floor: the operator must then keep his elbows bent at 90° and the panel limits the operator's field of vision. Furthermore, in service, the control panel is often subjected to a difficult working environment, particularly when the machine is used outdoors.Rainwater and / or construction site dirt may therefore tend to accumulate on the control elements arranged on the console, which can lead to degraded use of the console, or even to malfunctions.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is to propose a new control panel, which makes it possible to reconcile constraints of ergonomics, reliability and durability.

[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a control panel for a person lifting machine, as defined in claim 1.

[0007] With the control panel according to the invention, the joystick of the latter, which in particular allows the height movement and, where appropriate, the ground movement of the personnel lifting machine to be controlled, is surrounded by the uprights and crosspieces of the main body of the panel, which protects the joystick and limits the risk of the latter being moved improperly. In the rest position, the joystick extends from the lower crosspiece towards the rear, which is particularly ergonomic and makes it possible to increase safety by advantageously providing that tilting the joystick forward from its rest position raises the platform while tilting the joystick backward from its rest position lowers the platform.To operate functions other than those controlled by the joystick, the control panel according to the invention is equipped with push buttons located in the left part of the front face of the main body: in use, these push buttons are thus easily and efficiently actuated by the operator's left hand, in particular when the latter holds the joystick in his right hand, and this without the operator's right arm hindering the actuation of the push buttons or hiding the left part of the front face of the main body. In the upper part of the front face of the main body, the control panel is equipped with a display which, in use, is clearly visible to the operator and makes it possible to transmit to the latter information facilitating the handling and use of the panel by the operator.Furthermore, the push buttons and the display, as well as, where appropriate, other control members present on the control panel are provided on a flat surface of the front face, on which opens the through passage where the joystick is arranged, and which extends to a lower edge of the lower crosspiece of the main body, this lower edge being provided set back from the flat surface: in use, this flat surface is inclined towards the rear when it is traveled from bottom to top, which is ergonomic, while avoiding the retention of water or the accumulation of dirt on this flat surface and, therefore, on the push buttons, the display and any other control members. Thus, the control panel according to the invention proves to be particularly ergonomic, reliable and durable, being advantageously available in different sizes while retaining the same “logic” of structure and use.These advantages are also potentially reinforced by other aspects of the control panel, which will be detailed later.

[0008] Additional advantageous features of the control panel according to the invention are specified in claims 2 to 12.

[0009] The invention also relates to a machine for lifting people, as defined in claim 13.

[0010] Additional advantageous features of the personnel lifting machine according to the invention are specified in claims 14 and 15.

[0011] The invention will be better understood by reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the drawings in which: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is an elevation view of a machine for lifting people, in accordance with the invention; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a view similar to the figure 1 , illustrating, on a larger scale, a control desk belonging to the machine of the figure 1 ; [ Fig. 3 ], [ Fig. 4 ] THE figures 3 And 4 are perspective views of the control desk shown alone, according to respective observation directions which are different; [ Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 is an elevation view according to arrow V of the figure 3 ; [ Fig. 6 ] there figure 6 is a schematic section along line VI-VI of the figure 5 ; And [ Fig. 7 ] there figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of some parts of the control panel in the previous figures.

[0012] On the figures 1 And 2 a lifting platform 1 is shown allowing an operator to reach an area located at height in order to carry out work there.

[0013] As shown in the figure 1 , the lifting platform comprises a chassis 10 resting on the ground. The chassis 10 is provided with wheels for its translation on the ground, namely, here, a pair of rear wheels 11 and a pair of front wheels 12. To allow the chassis 10 to rotate relative to the ground, the wheels of at least one of the two pairs of wheels 11 and 12 are advantageously steered, being tiltable to the left and to the right relative to an anteroposterior geometric axis of the chassis 10, extending parallel to the ground.

[0014] In a variant not shown, all or part of the rear wheels 11 and the front wheels 12 can be replaced by tracks for the purpose of translating the chassis 10 on the ground. More generally, the rear wheels 11 and the front wheels 12 are only examples of ground translation members, which equip the chassis 10.

[0015] Regardless of the specific features of the ground translation members, such as the rear 11 and front 12 wheels, the chassis 10 is advantageously designed to be self-propelled so as to be able to move on the ground by itself. For this purpose, the lifting platform 1 has a motor, which is generally mounted directly on the chassis 10 and which is thermal, electric or hybrid.

[0016] The lifting platform 1 also comprises a platform 20 which is designed so that the operator using the platform can stand on it. The platform 20 is thus designed to accommodate this 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 20 comprises a floor 21, on which the operator stands and which extends horizontally when the lifting platform is placed on horizontal ground. The platform 20 also comprises a guardrail 22, which rises from the floor 21 surrounding the platform and which is designed to prevent persons from falling off the platform.

[0017] The lifting platform 1 further comprises a lifting structure 30 supporting the platform 20. This lifting structure 30 is arranged on the chassis 10 so as to more or less raise the platform 20 relative to the chassis 10. In the exemplary embodiment considered on the figure 1 , the lifting structure 30 comprises a turret 31, which rests on the chassis 10 and which is rotatable relative to the latter around an axis of rotation extending perpendicular to the ground, and an arm 32, which connects the turret 31 to the platform 20 and which is deployable so as to more or less separate the platform 20 from the turret 31. The embodiment of the turret 31 is not limiting. Similarly, the embodiment of the arm 32 is not limiting, it being noted 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, in particular in an articulated and / or telescopic manner, for the purposes of deploying this mechanical structure.

[0018] More generally, the embodiment of the lifting structure 30 is not limiting since, by moving parts of this lifting structure relative to each other and / or relative to the chassis 10, the positioning of the platform 20 relative to the chassis 10 is modified in a corresponding manner, the platform 20 thus being controlled in movement, by means of the lifting structure 30, by the operator using the lifting platform 1. Thus, as variants not shown, the lifting structure 30 may be devoid of the turret 31 and / or comprise, or even consist of, a scissor lifting mechanism.

[0019] Whatever the specific features of the lifting structure 30, the drive of the latter relative to the chassis 10 is provided by motor members, integrated into the lifting platform 1. These motor members, which are known per se in the field, are for example of a mechanical and / or hydraulic nature and with thermal and / or electrical motorization.

[0020] The lifting platform 1 also includes a control console 40, which is illustrated in detail in the figures 2 à 7 . As detailed below, this console 40 is provided with various manually operated control members allowing the operator to control the drive of the lifting structure 30 and, thereby, to cause in particular the movement in height of the platform 20 relative to the chassis 10, as well as, where appropriate, to control the movement of the chassis 10 on the ground.

[0021] As clearly visible on the figures 2 à 6 , the console 40 comprises a main body 41 which has two faces opposite each other, namely a front face 41A and a rear face 41B. The front 41A and rear 41B faces are thus opposite each other in an anteroposterior direction of the main body 41. The front face 41A of the main body 41 is designed to be turned towards the operator when the console 40 is in use, that is to say when the operator uses the console for the purpose of controlling the lifting platform 1, as in the figure 2 . The front face 41A is facing the reader on the figures 3 And 5 , while the rear face 41B is facing the reader on the figure 4 .

[0022] The main body 41 comprises two crosspieces and two uprights, namely a lower crosspiece 42 and an upper crosspiece 43, and a left upright 44 and a right upright 45. The lower 42 and upper 43 crosspieces each extend over the entire width of the main body 41, the lower crosspiece 42 being located under the upper crosspiece 43 when the music stand 40 is in use. The left 44 and right 45 uprights each extend over the entire height of the main body 41 and, when the music stand 40 is in use, are respectively located to the left and right of the music stand when the latter is observed from the front face 41A of its main body 41, as in the figure 5 The lower cross member 42 connects to each other respective lower end portions of the left 44 and right 45 uprights. The left upright 44 connects to each other respective left end portions of the lower 42 and upper 43 uprights. The upper cross member 43 connects to each other respective upper end portions of the left 44 and right 45 uprights. The right upright 45 connects to each other respective right end portions of the lower 42 and upper 43 uprights.

[0023] The lower crosspiece 42 and the left upright 44 thus share the same lower left part of the main body 41, this lower left part corresponding to both the left end part of the lower crosspiece 42 and the lower end part of the left upright 44.Similarly, the left upright 44 and the upper crosspiece 43 share the same upper left portion of the main body 41, this upper left portion corresponding to both the upper end portion of the left upright 44 and the left end portion of the upper crosspiece 43; the upper crosspiece 43 and the right upright 45 share the same upper right portion of the main body 41, this upper right portion corresponding to both the right end portion of the upper crosspiece 43 and the upper end portion of the right upright 45; and the right upright 45 and the lower crosspiece 42 share the same lower right portion of the main body 41, this lower right portion corresponding to both the lower end portion of the right upright 45 and the right end portion of the lower crosspiece 42.

[0024] The crosspieces 42 and 43 and the uprights 44 and 45 delimit between them a through passage 41C which connects the front 41A and rear 41B faces of the main body 41 to each other. The through passage 41C is open at its two opposite ends in the anteroposterior direction of the main body 41, opening onto the front 41A and rear 41B faces. In a direction peripheral to the anteroposterior direction of the main body 41, the through passage 41C is closed by the crosspieces 42 and 43 and the uprights 44 and 45. The corresponding closed contour of the through passage 41C extends over 360°, as clearly visible in the figure 5 In the example considered here, this closed contour is generally rectangular, with rounded corners.

[0025] The desk 40 is designed to be fixed to the platform 20, in particular to the guardrail 22 of the latter. In the embodiment considered in the figures, the desk 40 is designed to be thus fixed to the platform 20 in a removable manner. For this purpose, the desk 40 comprises a hook 46 making it possible to removably fix the desk 40 to the guardrail 22 of the platform 20. As clearly visible in the figures 2 , 4 And 6 , this hook 46 is arranged on the rear face 41B of the main body 41, preferably at the level of the upper crosspiece 43 of the main body 41. The hook 46 is shaped to cooperate by complementarity of shape with an upper bar 22.1 of the guardrail 22, extending parallel to the floor 21 of the platform 20. In practice, the hook 46 is advantageously available in different sizes in order to adapt to various possible dimensions for the constituents of the guardrail 22.

[0026] When the console 40 is detached from the platform 20, it can be deactivated for storage purposes. The console 40 can also be kept activated and used to control the lifting platform 1: in this case, the operator holds the console 40 in his hand and, for this purpose, the left upright 44 is advantageously shaped into a handle for the operator's left hand.

[0027] The console 40 is furthermore designed to be connected to a control unit 13 of the lifting platform 1, which, as shown schematically in the figure 1 , is preferably integrated into the chassis 10. This control unit 13 comprises for example a microprocessor and is designed to, depending on the orders issued by the control members belonging to the console 40, actuate the motor members which ensure the driving of the lifting structure 30 relative to the chassis 10 and, if necessary, actuate the motorization which ensures the movement of the chassis 10 on the ground. In the embodiment considered in the figures, the corresponding connection between the control console 40 and the control unit 13 is made by a cable 50 of which only the end connected to the console 40 is visible in the figures. The cable 50 makes it possible to transmit to the control unit 13 the orders issued by the control members belonging to the console 40.The cable 50 can also provide electrical power to the desk 40, the electrical energy supplied by the cable 50 being able to be consumed directly or stored in a battery integrated into the desk 40.

[0028] The cable 50 is advantageously designed to emerge from the rear face 41B of the main body 41, in particular for ergonomic reasons. This being the case, in a variant not shown, the cable 50 emerges downwards from the lower end of the lower crosspiece 42.

[0029] According to a practical embodiment, the cable 50 is removably connectable to the desk 40: the desk 40 then integrates, in particular in its lower crosspiece 42, a connection socket 51, which is accessible from the rear face 41B of the main body 41 for the purpose of connecting the cable 50. In the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, this connection socket 51 is advantageously protected by a plate 52 which is attached to the rear face 41B of the main body 41 so as to lock the connection socket 51 and thus avoid disassembly or tampering with the latter, in particular for safety purposes.

[0030] According to an advantageous optional arrangement, which is implemented in the embodiment considered in the figures, a lower edge 42A of the lower crosspiece 42 of the main body 41 is provided with a connection port 60, such as a USB port, which is accessible from the front face 41A of the main body 41. The purpose of the connection port 60 is not limiting but aims, in all cases, to improve the practicality of the console 40. For example, the connection port 60 makes it possible to connect a mobile electronic device, such as a telephone, for the purpose of recharging it. The connection port 60 can also make it possible to connect a mobile terminal in order to exchange data between the latter and the console 40, for example for the purposes of control, updating, troubleshooting, etc.

[0031] The console 40 also includes a joystick 70 which forms one of the manually operated control elements belonging to the console. As clearly visible on the figures 2 à 6 , the joystick 70 is arranged inside the through passage 41C of the main body 41, extending upwards from the lower crosspiece 42. The joystick 70 is mounted on the lower crosspiece 42 in a movable manner, in particular tiltable, from a rest position that the joystick 70 occupies when it is at rest, that is to say in the absence of stress, in particular from the operator.

[0032] When the console 40 is in use, the joystick 70 is intended to be grasped by the operator's right hand, as shown schematically in the figure 2 : the carpal region of the right hand is then located between the joystick 70 and the right upright 45 of the main body 41, while the fingers of the right hand are closed around the joystick 70 and the operator's right arm emerges from the through passage 41C through the front face 41A of the main body 41. According to an advantageous optional arrangement, which is implemented in the embodiment considered in the figures, the desk 40 also includes a wrist rest 71 for the operator's right hand holding the joystick 70, this wrist rest 71 being arranged in the lower right quadrant of the through passage 41C, as clearly visible in the figures 3 à 5 In practice, the embodiment of the wrist rest 71 is not limiting: in the example envisaged in the figures, the wrist rest 71 is an added part, as illustrated in the figure 7 , which is fixedly secured to the main body 41 by any suitable means.

[0033] When the desk 40 is in use, in particular when the desk is fixed to the platform 20, the joystick in the rest position is inclined backwards when the joystick is moved from bottom to top, as clearly visible in the figures 2 And 6. This backward inclination contributes to the ergonomics of the desk 40. This inclination is preferably such that, when the desk 40 is in use, in particular fixed to the platform 20 while the floor 21 of the latter is horizontal, the joystick 70 in the rest position is inclined at 45°, plus or minus 5°, relative to the vertical. This inclination range enhances the ease of use of the desk 40 by the operator. Also for the purpose of improving the ergonomics of the desk 40, the center 70A of the joystick 70, that is to say the region of the latter which is gripped in the hollow of the operator's right hand, is located at a distance D from the floor 21 of the platform 20, which is advantageously between 91 and 95 cm, as illustrated schematically in the figure 2 : in this way, in operation, the operator, who stands on the floor 21 and holds the joystick 70 in his right hand, has his right arm forming an obtuse angle at his elbow, which corresponds to a satisfactory position in terms of ergonomics for the operator, compared to a situation where the latter would have to bend his arm at a right angle.

[0034] In practice, the embodiment of the joystick 70 is not limiting as long as the latter can be grasped by the right hand of the operator, as described above, and the movement, by the operator, of the joystick 70 from its rest position generates a corresponding order for the purposes of controlling the lifting platform 1, in particular for the purposes of actuating the lifting structure 30. Thus, multiple embodiments are conceivable for the joystick 70, the latter being able to integrate one or more buttons whose manual actuation modifies the order generated by the movement of the joystick 70. In particular, for safety reasons, one of these buttons preferably constitutes a validation member 72, called a “dead man’s button”, so that a movement ordered by movement of the joystick 70 is only executed if the validation member 72 is actuated simultaneously.

[0035] The backward tilting of the joystick 70 in the rest position is advantageously used to enhance the safety of use of the lifting platform 1, by providing that the joystick 70 is designed to, on the one hand, raise the platform 20 when the joystick is tilted forward from its rest position and, on the other hand, lower the platform 20 when the joystick is tilted backward from its rest position. Thus, in the event of the operator being crushed against the console 40 by an external obstacle, such as a part of a building or a tree branch, striking the operator from behind or above, the operator finds himself pushed towards the joystick 70, which tends to tilt the latter backward and therefore lower the platform 20.

[0036] As clearly visible on the figures 3 , 5 And 7, the front face 41A of the main body 41 includes a flat face 47, onto which the through passage 41C opens and which extends continuously over both the lower crosspiece 42, the left upright 44 and the upper crosspiece 43. Thus, the lower crosspiece 42 and upper crosspiece 43 and the left upright 44 have, on the front face 41A of the main body 41, respective surfaces, which, together, form the flat surface 47 and which are all inscribed in the same plane, connecting directly to each other without discontinuity, as clearly visible on the figure 6 . When the desk 40 is in use, in particular when it is fixed to the platform 20, the flat surface 47 is inclined backwards when it is moved from bottom to top. In the embodiment considered in the figures, the flat surface 47 is thus inclined parallel to the joystick 70 in the rest position. In all cases, the backward inclination of the flat surface 47 makes it possible to orient the latter towards the operator holding the joystick 70, while making it possible to position the desk 40 in a lower portion of the operator's field of vision, which is particularly ergonomic and practical.Indeed, the desk 40, thus positioned relatively low relative to the operator, only marginally limits the latter's field of vision, while maintaining the flat surface 47 oriented directly towards the operator, in particular, as explained below, for the purposes of observing this flat surface 47 and actuating control members carried by this flat surface 47.

[0037] On the upper crosspiece 43 of the main body 41, the flat surface 47 is provided with a display 80. The display 80 is intended in particular to transmit visual information to the operator. The display 80 thus improves the operator's handling of the console 40, by facilitating the latter's understanding during operation of the console, and also allows for in-service monitoring. In practice, the embodiment of the display 80 is not limiting. For example, the display 80 comprises an electronic screen, protected by a transparent covering plate.

[0038] Also on the upper cross member 43, the flat surface 47 is advantageously provided with an emergency stop button 90, which is known per se and the actuation of which causes the lifting platform 1 to be de-energized. The emergency stop button 90 is advantageously located to the right of the display 80, for ergonomic reasons with a view to its actuation by the operator's right hand.

[0039] On the left upright 44 of the main body 41, the flat surface 47 is provided with push buttons 100, which correspond to some of the manually operated control members belonging to the console 40. The actuation of each of the push buttons 100 makes it possible to activate / deactivate a predetermined function in connection with the control of the lifting platform 1, this technical aspect being known per se in the field and therefore not being detailed here further. The arrangement of the push buttons 100 on the flat surface 47 at the left upright 44 is particularly practical and ergonomic, in particular allowing the actuation of these push buttons 100 by the left hand of the operator when the latter holds the joystick 70 with his right hand, including when the left hand of the operator holds the left upright 44 since the user can then use his left thumb to actuate at least some of the push buttons 100.In this context, all or part of the push buttons 100 are advantageously distributed along the left upright 44, as in the example illustrated in the figures.

[0040] In practice, the embodiment of the push buttons 100 is not limiting. As an example, which is also implemented in the illustrated embodiment, the push buttons 100 are flat push buttons. Optionally, the push buttons 100 incorporate a light return function, which illuminates the push button when the latter is activated.

[0041] On the lower cross member 42 of the main body 41, the flat surface 47 runs from the through passage 41C to the lower edge 42A of the lower cross member 42, which is provided set back from the flat surface 47, as clearly visible in the figures 3 And 6. The lower edge 42A is therefore non-protruding relative to the flat surface 47. Thus, water or dirt avoid accumulating on the flat surface 47 because, due to the inclination of the latter, water, such as rainwater, falling on the flat surface 47 tends to flow there by gravity to the lower edge 42A where the water is freely evacuated from the desk 40, in particular without being retained by the lower edge 42A due to the arrangement of the latter set back from the flat surface 47. In the embodiment considered in the figures, the lower edge 42A is not set back from the flat surface 47 over the entire extent of this lower edge between the left 44 and right 45 uprights of the main body 41, but is thus set back to the left and right of a localized bulge of the lower edge 42A, where is arranged connection port 60.The water flowing over the flat surface 47 is evacuated at the level of the lower edge 42A, passing on either side of this bulge.

[0042] On the lower crosspiece 42, the flat surface 47 is divided into three zones which are identified on the figure 5 , namely a first zone 47.1, which is located in vertical alignment with the joystick 70, a second zone 47.2, which connects the first zone 47.1 to the right upright 45 of the main body 41, and a third zone 47.3, which connects the first zone 47.1 to the left upright 44. The first and second zones 47.1 and 47.2 are advantageously devoid of any control member: in this way, the right arm of the operator, whose right hand holds the joystick 70, does not hinder or hide control members which would have been provided in one and / or the other of the zones 47.1 and 47.2 of the flat surface 47. Conversely, the third zone 47.3 of the flat surface 47 is not directly above the right arm of the operator and can therefore carry control members, in this case, in the embodiment considered here, certain 100 push buttons.

[0043] According to an advantageous optional arrangement, which is implemented in the example considered in the figures, the front face 41A of the main body 41 comprises a rim 48, which projects relative to the flat surface 47 and which runs over a part of the periphery of this flat surface, so that the edge of the rim 48, facing forward, defines a front support plane PA, set back from which the joystick 70 in the rest position and the push buttons 100 are arranged, as clearly visible in the figure 6 . In the embodiment considered here, the rim 48 runs over the entire periphery of the flat surface 47, except on the lower edge 42A of the lower crosspiece 42. In all cases, the rim 48 protects the flat surface 47 and the elements that it carries, in the sense that the front support plane PA that geometrically defines the front edge of the rim 48 prevents an external obstacle extending across the face 41A from interfering with the flat surface 47, by being held in abutment against the front support plane PA. This situation occurs for example in the case where the desk 40 falls to the ground, against its front face 41A.Where appropriate, only the top of the emergency stop button 90 can be arranged protruding from the front support plane PA, as in the example envisaged in the figures: in this case, only the activation of the emergency stop button 90 is possible in the event of the desk 40 falling against its front face 41A or, more generally, in the event of interference between the front face 41A and an obstacle extending across the latter.

[0044] Following considerations similar to those developed above in connection with the front support plane PA, the rear face 41B of the main body 41 advantageously defines a rear support plane PB, set back from which the joystick 70 is arranged in the rest position, as clearly visible in the figure 6 In the embodiment considered here, the rear support plane PB is defined by the rear of the lower 42 and upper 43 crosspieces.

[0045] According to another advantageous optional arrangement, which is only illustrated schematically on the figure 6 , the desk 40 comprises a flexible protective cover 110, for example made of an extensible plastic material. This protective cover 110 is adapted to removably cover at least the flat surface 47, or even the entire front face 41A of the main body 41, as indicated in dotted lines on the figure 6 . The protective cover 110 thus protects the flat surface 47, or even the entire front face 41A, from rain and, more generally, from bad weather and external conditions. The protective cover 110 is provided to be transparent at least in its part which covers the display 80 when the protective cover 110 covers the flat surface 47.

[0046] According to a practical embodiment, the protective hood 110 is permanently fixed on one of the lower 42 and upper 43 crosspieces and is deployable to the other of these lower 42 and upper 43 crosspieces, with which the protective hood cooperates to be held reversibly, and this by any appropriate means. As an option not shown, a reel is provided on the crosspiece to which the protective hood 110 is permanently fixed, so that the latter wraps around the reel when it does not cover the flat surface 47. In an alternative variant, the protective hood 110 forms a cover that is completely removable from the main body 41.

[0047] In a variant not shown in the protective cover 110, the console 40 comprises a protective cover, at least partially rigid, which removably covers at least the flat surface 47, or even the entire front face 41A of the main body 41. This cover can in particular be either formed from a single piece, separable or mounted in a movably manner relative to the main body 41, or formed from several pieces which can be retracted relative to each other.

[0048] Finally, various arrangements and variants of the desk 40 and the lifting platform 1, which have been described so far, are conceivable. As examples, various corresponding aspects are listed below, which can be considered in isolation from the above or in combination with each other: In addition to the push buttons 110, the flat surface 47 may be provided with one or more rocker buttons, in particular on the left upright 44. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment considered in the figures, the console 40 is thus provided with a rocker button 120, which is located in the zone 47.3 of the flat surface 47 and the maintenance of which in actuation, in particular by the left hand of the operator, makes it possible to control the drive of the lifting structure 30 by the joystick 70 at a greater speed than when the push button 120 is released. The console 40 is compatible with the protection device which is disclosed in WO 2020 / 144601. For this purpose, in the embodiment considered in the figures, the console 40 is provided, on its right side, with a member 130 for coupling to this protection device, this coupling member 130 being visible on the figure 5 . Of course, the specificities, in particular shape and dimensions, of this coupling member 130 are not limited to those visible on the figure 3 The main body 41 of the desk 40 can be produced by assembling two single-piece shells 41.1 and 41.2, in particular made of plastic material, which are superimposed on each other in the anteroposterior direction of the main body 41, as illustrated schematically in the figure 7. The main body 41 is then easy to assemble / disassemble, while allowing the interior of the main body to be sealed in a simple and reliable manner. The wired connection between the console 40 and the control unit 13, which is provided by the cable 50 in the embodiment considered so far, can be replaced by a wireless connection. Rather than being removably attached to the platform 20, the console 40 can be permanently attached thereto. Rather than being self-propelled, the lifting platform 1 can be devoid of motorization for the purposes of its movement on the ground. In this case, the lifting platform is towed or pushed to move it on the ground. The lifting platform 1 considered so far is only one example of a machine for lifting people, to which the invention is applicable.Thus, in variants of the lifting platform 1, the personnel lifting machine may be a machine arranged fixedly relative to the ground, or a machine mounted on a motor vehicle, such as a truck, without the possibility of controlling the movement of this vehicle on the ground from the platform 20 of this machine. The console 40 may be available in several sizes, in particular depending on the type and size of the personnel lifting machine, controlled by the console. In particular, the console may then integrate, in addition to the joystick 70 and the push buttons 100, other control members, such as one or more additional joysticks, additional push buttons, one or more rocker buttons, etc.

Claims

1. A control console (40) for a personnel-lifting machine (1), said control console including a main body (41) having front and rear faces (41A, 41B) connected to each other by a through-passage (41C) which is closed by both lower and upper crosspieces (42, 43) of the main body, each extending the throughout the width of the main body, and left-hand and right-hand uprights (44, 45), each extending throughout the height of the main body, wherein the control console includes a joystick (70) which is arranged inside the through-passage, extending upwards from the lower crosspiece, and which, at rest, occupies a rest position in which, when the control console is in use, the joystick is tilted backwards when considering the joystick from bottom to top, and characterized in that the front face of the main body includes a flat surface (47): - onto which the through-passage emerges, - which, when the control console is in use, is tilted rearwards when considering the flat surface from bottom to top, and - which extends continuously both on the upper crosspiece, where the flat surface is provided with a display (80), on the left-hand upright, where the flat surface is provided with push-buttons (100), and on the lower crosspiece, where the flat surface runs from the through-passage to a lower edge (42A) of the lower crosspiece, the lower edge being, at least over a portion of the extent thereof between the left-hand and right-hand uprights, set back from the flat surface.

2. The control console according to claim 1, wherein the flat surface (47) includes, on the lower crosspiece (42), a first region (47.1), which is located in vertical alignment with the joystick (70), and a second region (47.2), which connects the first region to the right-hand upright (45), and wherein the first and second regions of the flat surface are devoid of any control element.

3. The control console according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the flat surface (47) is provided, on the upper crosspiece (43), with an emergency stop button (90), in particular located to the right of the display (80).

4. The control console according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the front face (41A) of the main body (41) has a rim (48) protruding from the flat surface (47) and running over a part of the periphery of the flat surface, in such a way that the edge of the rim, facing forwards, defines a front support plane (PA), set back from which the joystick (70) in the rest position and the push-buttons (100) are arranged.

5. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the rear face (41B) of the main body (41) defines a rear support plane (PB), set back from which the joystick (70) is arranged in the rest position.

6. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the left-hand upright (44) is shaped into a handle for the left hand of an operator using the control console (40).

7. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein when the control console (40) is in use, the joystick (70) in the rest position is tilted at 45°, plus or minus 5°, with respect to the vertical.

8. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the lower crosspiece (42) is provided with a connection port (60), such as a USB port, which is accessible from the front face (41A) of the main body (41) and which is arranged on the lower edge (42A) of the lower crosspiece, outside said portion of the lower edge.

9. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control console (40) includes a wrist rest (71) for the right hand of an operator holding the joystick (70), said wrist rest being arranged in the lower right-hand corner of the through-passage (41C).

10. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control console (40) further includes a hook (46) for a removable attachment to a guardrail (22) of a platform (20) of the personnel-lifting machine (1), the hook being arranged on the rear face (41B) of the main body (41), by being rigidly attached to the upper crosspiece (43).

11. The control console according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the control console (40) includes a protective cover (110), which is flexible and suitable for covering in a removable manner the flat surface (47), and which is transparent at least in the part thereof that covers the display (80) when the protective cover covers the flat surface (47).

12. The control console according to claim 11, wherein the protective cover (110) is permanently attached to one of the upper (43) and lower (42) crosspieces and is deployable to the other of the lower and upper crosspieces, with which the protective cover cooperates so as to be reversibly retained.

13. A personnel-lifting machine (1), including: - a ground support chassis (10), - a platform (20) suitable for at least one operator standing thereon, - a lifting structure (30), which supports the platform and which is movably arranged on the ground support chassis so as to raise the platform, to a greater or lesser extent, with respect to the ground support chassis, and - a control console (40), which is according to any of the preceding claims and which is attached to the platform (20) either permanently or in a removable manner.

14. The machine according to claim 13, wherein the center (70A) of the joystick (70) is located between 91 and 95 cm from a floor (21) of the platform (20) when the control console (40) is attached to the platform.

15. The machine according to one of claims 13 or 14, wherein the joystick (70) is designed for: - raising the platform (20) when the joystick is tilted forwards from the rest position thereof, and - lowering the platform when the joystick is tilted backwards from the rest position thereof.