Height access device with deformation compensation

Abstract

A height access device comprising a ladder (1) having two uprights (3, 4) between which rungs (2) extend, and an access locking device comprising a cover (14) hinged on the ladder (1) to pivot about a horizontal axis between a prohibition position in which the cover (14) protrudes from a front face of the ladder (1) between the uprights (3, 4) and two adjacent rungs (2) of the ladder (1) and prevents a user from accessing the upper rungs (2) of the ladder (1) above the cover (14) and an authorization position in which the cover (14) is retracted from the front face of the ladder (1) and allows the use of the upper rungs (2) of the ladder (1),characterized in that the operculum (14) is received between two contact elements (200) integral with the ladder and positioned to bear against sides (201) of the operculum (14) regardless of the position of the operculum (14), which is arranged to absorb forces transmitted by the contact elements, the contact elements (200) and the sides (201) of the operculum (14) being arranged to cooperate with each other so as to limit friction during a displacement of the operculum (14) between its two positions when the contact elements (200) are bearing against the sides (201) of the operculum (14).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of high access to installations such as gantries or parts of buildings such as roofs, floors or walkways. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A height access device generally comprises a ladder having two uprights between which rungs extend, and an access locking device comprising a panel having a lower edge hinged to the ladder to pivot about a horizontal axis between a prohibiting position in which the panel is pressed against the ladder and prevents a user from using the rungs of the ladder and an enabling position in which the panel is moved away from the ladder and allows use of the rungs of the ladder.

[0003] In certain configurations, the panel has an upper edge provided with a cover formed of a substantially horizontal plate intended to be engaged between two rungs and the uprights of the ladder when the panel is in the prohibition position.

[0004] A disadvantage of current height access devices is that the ladder tends to deform when a user climbs onto the lower rungs or has a deformation resulting from a fault in the assembly of the ladder or the fixing of the ladder to its support, which causes stresses on the entire locking device but also on the fixings of the ladder to the building or the installation it equips. To avoid these stresses, it is customary to leave relatively large gaps between the locking device and the ladder. However, these gaps impair the operation of the locking device and therefore the safe use of the height access device.

[0005] Document WO 2022 / 069173 A1 discloses an access device according to the preamble of independent claim 1. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0006] The invention aims in particular to remedy at least in part the aforementioned drawbacks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] To this end, the invention provides a height access device comprising a ladder having two uprights between which rungs extend, and an access locking device comprising a cover hinged on the ladder to pivot about a horizontal axis between a prohibiting position in which the cover projects from a front face of the ladder between the uprights and two adjacent rungs of the ladder and prevents a user from accessing the upper rungs of the ladder above the cover, and an enabling position in which the cover is retracted from the front face of the ladder and allows the use of the upper rungs of the ladder.The cover is received between two contact elements secured to the ladder and positioned to bear on the sides of the cover regardless of the position of the cover which is arranged to take up forces transmitted by the contact elements, the contact elements and the sides of the cover being arranged to cooperate with each other so as to limit friction during a movement of the cover between its two positions when the contact elements are bearing against the sides of the cover.

[0008] The cover always includes a part extending between the contact elements regardless of its position between the prohibiting position and the enabling position. Thus, the presence of the contact elements makes it possible to limit the operating clearances traditionally necessary to compensate for deformations of the scale.

[0009] In addition, the cover can provide a function of stiffening the ladder by preventing it from deforming when the ladder is installed with the locking device in position.

[0010] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from reading the following description of a particular and non-limiting embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Reference will be made to the attached drawings, including: [ Fig. 1 ] there figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a height access device according to the invention, the cover being in the authorization position; [ Fig. 2 ] there figure 2 is a partial schematic perspective view, from above, of the height access device according to the invention, the cover being in the authorization position; [ Fig. 3 ] there figure 3 is a partial schematic perspective view of the front part of the height access device according to the invention, the cover being in the authorization position; [ Fig. 4 ] there figure 4 is a partial schematic perspective view of the front part of the height access device according to the invention, the cover being in the prohibiting position; [ Fig. 5 ] there figure 5 is a partial schematic top view of the height access device according to the invention, the cover being in the prohibiting position; [ Fig. 6 ] there figure 6 is a partial schematic perspective view of the rear part of the height access device according to the invention, the cover being in the prohibiting position; [ Fig. 7 ] there figure 7 is a partial schematic perspective view of the front part of the height access device according to a variant of the invention, the cover not being shown; [ Fig. 8 ] there figure 8 is a partial schematic perspective view of the front part of the height access device according to a variant of the invention, the cover being in the prohibiting position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] In reference to the figures 1 à 6 , the height access device according to the invention comprises a ladder 1, here inclined, comprising horizontal bars 2 between two lateral uprights 3 and 4. Between each pair of bars 2 adjacent to each other, there extends an inter-bar space. The height access device according to the invention further comprises a locking device comprising a panel 5 whose length is sufficient to cover several bars 2 of the ladder 1 and whose width is at least substantially that of the ladder 1 taken between the uprights 3 and 4. The panel 5 is articulated on the ladder 1 to extend behind it and to be movable between a first state, or prohibition position, in which the panel 5 is applied against a rear face of the ladder 1 opposite its access face or front face and a second state, or authorization position, in which the panel 5 is moved away from this rear face of the ladder 1.This panel 5 is shaped in such a way that its current cross-section has a central portion which, when the panel 5 is in its first state, crosses the mean plane of the ladder 1 (the mean plane is the plane parallel to the rungs 2 and the uprights 3, 4 and which passes through the middle of the rungs 2 and the uprights 3, 4), in other words, said central portion of the panel 5 passes between the rungs 2 until it extends beyond the mean plane of the ladder 1. The function of this configuration is to make the rungs 2 of the ladder 1 inaccessible by making it impossible to put the foot on them or to hold the hand. Indeed, the central portion of the panel 5 then occupies the inter-rung space 2 sufficiently to prevent the user's foot or hand from being able to penetrate this space to properly put their foot on the lower rung or to grip it.The bars 2 are then housed in housings here in the form of cutouts 6 made in this central part, when the panel 5 is folded down onto the ladder, which allows the central part to partially occupy the space between the bars.

[0013] The panel 5 is articulated to the ladder around an axis 7 parallel to the rungs 2, by its lower part and more precisely by means of arms 8 and 9 extending the panel 5 downwards beyond its lower transverse edge 5a. It is understood that the arms 8, 9 make it possible to have a panel in which the axis 7 is distant from the lower transverse edge 5a in a longitudinal direction of the panel 5 (and of the ladder 1 when the panel 5 is folded against the ladder 1). Thus, when the panel 5 is moved away from the ladder 1, as shown, the lower part of the panel 5 is moved away from the ladder 1 so that the user's foot can rest on the first uncovered rung 2.

[0014] Note that panel 5 is located at the rear of ladder 1 so that the effect of gravity tends to move it away from it.

[0015] The panel 5 has an upper part connected to each of the uprights 8, 9 by a compass 40 comprising a first connecting rod 40.1 having one end articulated to the upright 8, 9 and an opposite end articulated to one end of a second connecting rod 40.2 having an opposite end articulated to one side of the upper part of the panel 5. The first connecting rod 40.1 is extended beyond its articulation to the second connecting rod 40.2 by a lever at the free end of which is attached one end of a return member 41 having an opposite end attached to a lug secured to the end of the second connecting rod articulated to the panel 5. The return member 41 tends to fold the panel 5 against the ladder 1.

[0016] More precisely, the panel 5 has the shape of a box whose front face 13 has the cutouts 6 delimiting between them front walls 13', 100 intended to occupy the inter-bar space when the panel 5 is in its first state.

[0017] The front walls 13', 100 have dimensions substantially equal to the inter-bar space and comprise fixed front walls 13' and a movable front wall, here the lower front wall 100 located between the lower transverse edge 5a and the adjacent cutout 6.The lower front wall 100 is articulated on a supporting structure 101 of the panel 5 (such as longitudinal stiffening edges extending on each side of the panel 5) to have a lower part movable between an advanced position close to the ladder 1 and a retracted position away from the ladder 1, the lower front wall 100 having an upper part provided with a lever arranged to bear against the ladder 1, and more particularly a rung 2 thereof, when the panel 5 is in its first state, so as to maintain said lower part of the lower front wall 100 in its advanced position and which is detached from the ladder 1 when the panel 5 is in its second state to release the pivoting of said lower part of the lower front wall 100 towards its retracted position.It is understood that, when the panel 5 is in its first state, it is pressed against the ladder 1 and prevents an unauthorized user from placing their feet on the rungs 2 to climb up the ladder 1. When the panel 5 is in the second state, the moving away of the panel 5 in combination with the movement of the lower front wall 100 in the retracted position makes it possible to obtain a spacing of the lower front wall 100 relative to the neighboring rung 2 such that the user can place their foot correctly, safely and comfortably on said rung 2.

[0018] It is understood that here two characteristics combine to provide sufficient space for the user to comfortably place his foot on the bar 2 previously covered by the lower front wall 100: the distance of the articulation axis 7 from the lower transverse edge 5a provided by the arms 5, 6 which increases the distance between the lower transverse edge 5a compared to a solution in which the articulation axis 7 is closer to the lower transverse edge 5a; the retracted position of the lower part 100a of the lower front wall 100 in which the lower part 100a of the lower front wall 100 is separated from this bar 2 by a greater distance than when the lower part 100a of the lower front wall 100 is in the advanced position.

[0019] The box defines an interior space between the cut-out front face 13 and a solid rear face which makes it possible to house control mechanisms for a bolt having an extended position for holding the panel 5 in its first state and a retracted position for releasing the panel 5. The panel 5 is provided with a mechanism for locking the bolt in the extended position. This mechanism, for example a key lock cylinder or a padlock system, is known in itself and is not detailed here.

[0020] According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the locking device comprises a cover 14, integral with an upper edge of the panel 5 to extend substantially perpendicularly to the face 13 of the panel 5, and whose width is less than the spacing of the uprights 3, 4 of the ladder 1. By its connection to the panel 5, the cover 14 is articulated on the ladder 1 to pivot around a horizontal axis between a prohibiting position in which the cover 14 extends projecting from a front face of the ladder between the uprights 3, 4 and two adjacent rungs 2 of the ladder 1 and prevents a user from accessing the upper rungs 2 of the ladder above the cover 14 and an authorizing position in which the cover 14 is retracted from the front face of the ladder 1 and allows the use of the upper rungs 2 of the ladder 1.The cover 14 in the prohibitory position forms both an obstacle for access to the ladder and a resting place for a user of the ladder 1 located above the panel 5.

[0021] More specifically, the cover 14 is received between two contact elements 200 secured to the ladder 1 and positioned to bear on sides 201 of the cover 14 regardless of the position of the cover 14. The cover 14 is arranged to absorb forces transmitted by the contact elements 200 and can stiffen the ladder 1 when fixing the height access device to the building. The contact elements 200 are here each formed of a roller pivotally mounted about an axis substantially parallel to the uprights 3, 4 in a yoke 202 fixed to one of the uprights 3, 4 of the ladder 1. The sides 201 of the cover 14 are flat surfaces parallel to the pivot axis of the rollers to each form a rolling track for one of the rollers.

[0022] The contact elements 200 and the sides 201 of the cover 14 are thus arranged to cooperate with each other so as to limit friction during a movement of the cover 14 between its two positions when the contact elements 200 are in abutment against the sides 201 of the cover 14. It is understood that, when the contact elements are in abutment against the sides 201, the cover 14 opposes a bringing together of the uprights 3, 4 of each other and therefore any deformation of the ladder 1 which would tend to produce such a bringing together.

[0023] The cover 14 is provided with at least one stop 203 defining its authorization position in such a way that the contact elements 200 are opposite the sides 201 of the cover 14 in the authorization position. The stop 203 comes to bear against a part 204 of one of the yokes 202 and prevents the cover 14 from being disengaged from the contact elements 200.

[0024] The cover 14 comprises at its free end, a pedal 15 for retracting a stop 16. On a common support housed in the cover 14, the pedal 15 and the stop 16 are pivotally mounted, the first so that it can be pressed against a return member and the second so that it is held projecting above the end of the cover 14 by its own return member. The return member of the pedal 15 is for example dimensioned so that the pedal 15 can only be pressed by exerting a relatively significant force (for example about twenty daN) in order in particular to avoid accidental pressing of the pedal 15 (and therefore untimely opening of the cover 14) by the user when descending the ladder or to avoid any attempt to open it by hand from the bottom of the ladder.The pedal 15 is connected to the bolt by a first control mechanism which comprises a set of levers and rods in such a way that the bolt, which normally projects out of the lock, can be retracted by action on the barrel, by means of a key specific to the authorized user or by the pedal 15. The operation of the bolt by the barrel is independent of the operation of the bolt by the pedal 15 and vice versa. The pedal 16 is connected to a pusher fixed on the panel 5 in the vicinity of the barrel by a second control system so that pressing the pusher causes the stop 16 to retract.

[0025] The authorized user, in front of the locked lock, acts with his key or any other operating member on the barrel to retract the bolt. The panel 5 can then be moved away manually from the ladder until the stop 16, sliding and retracting under a rung 2 of the latter (this rung is called a stop rung hereinafter to distinguish it from the others) thanks to the slope that it presents in the upper part, comes to protrude behind this rung and holds the panel moved away against its return member. The user comfortably crosses the rungs thus uncovered until reaching a rung 2 above the stop rung which cooperates with the stop 16. He can then easily press (directly or by means of an intermediate mechanism) with his foot on the stop 16 which can then pass back under the stop rung and allow the panel to be folded down by the return member.The lock is then relocked, preventing access to anyone who does not have the appropriate means of operating the barrel. On the way down, the user therefore finds the lock active and the cover 14 engaged between the bars 2. By pressing the pedal 15, which pivots relative to the cover 14, he releases the bolt from its strike plate as described above and therefore unlocks the panel 5 which he can move aside with his foot by pushing the cover 14 through the ladder 1 until the stop 16 at the rear of the stop bar engages. He can then continue his descent to the ground. At this moment, by acting on the pusher, it actuates the second control mechanism in the direction of erasing the stop 16. The panel 5, thus released from its restraint, recalled by the return member, returns to rest against the ladder and the bolt engages in its strike plate behind a bar 2.Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described but encompasses any variant falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0026] In particular, the locking mechanism may be different from that described.

[0027] Whatever the embodiment, the ladder can be inclined or vertical, with or without a crinoline. In the case of a vertical ladder, a substantially horizontal cover will preferably be used.

[0028] The bolt may be connected to a locking latch or lock or other locking means.

[0029] The return member can be arranged to hold the panel 5 in the open position, in particular when the hinge axis is above the panel 5.

[0030] The operculum may occupy all or part of the cross-section of the crinoline. The operculum may be arranged to extend at the lower end of the crinoline or inside it.

[0031] In certain variant embodiments intended in particular to satisfy regulatory or standard safety requirements such as, for example, that which requires the lock to be kept in the open position, the device, in which the panel is hinged to the ladder in the lower part, is equipped with a member for returning said panel to a position away from the rear face of the ladder.

[0032] It is possible to provide a means of locking the panel in the open position, for example a padlock engageable in the compass hinged on one side to the ladder and on the other to the panel to maintain the compass in its unfolded state.

[0033] The stop may be arranged to be retractable into a housing in the cover so as not to injure an operator who falls onto the cover.

[0034] The means of connecting panel 5 to the scale may be without arms: the articulation axis is then close to the lower transverse edge of the panel.

[0035] The panel may include one or more movable front walls, or none.

[0036] The panel may comprise several sections assembled to form the complete panel. For example, one section may comprise only movable front walls and one section comprising only fixed front walls. The front walls may be flat, vertical or inclined, or have a dihedral or curved shape.

[0037] The panel may be provided with or without means of recalling it to its first state and / or its second state.

[0038] The panel may comprise a fixed front wall in the form of a flat sheet applied against the rear face of the ladder without extending into the inter-rung space of the ladder.

[0039] The panel can be produced in a different way from that described, for example: by deformation of sheets, and / or by machining of sheets and / or plates, by removable or non-removable assembly, etc.

[0040] The housings of the panel 5 formed by the cutouts 6 can be produced by plastic deformation in the form of recesses of the panel 5.

[0041] The angular movement of the movable front walls between their two positions can be between a few degrees and 90 degrees or more (for example, for a 90° inclined ladder, plus the inclination of the ladder). The locking device can be without a panel, the cover being directly articulated on the ladder.

[0042] As in the figure 7 , the rollers can be replaced by sliding pads 200 having a low coefficient of friction with the sides of the cover 14. The sliding pads are for example made of bronze, PTFE, polyamide, etc.

[0043] Contact elements can be fixed at any point on the ladder, such as rungs or uprights. "Fixed to the upright" means either integrated into the upright, fixed directly to the upright, or fixed to an element integral with the upright, such as a stiffening edge fixed to the upright.

[0044] The sides 201 of the cover 14 may be provided with a sliding coating (for example made of PTFE or polyamide) and each of the uprights of the ladder then incorporates a part forming a contact element by bearing on said sliding coating. On the figure 8 , each side 201 is provided with a sliding tab 201' to rest on the uprights 3, 4 of the ladder 1.

[0045] The contact elements may or may not be permanently supported against the sides 201.

Claims

1. Height access device comprising a ladder (1) having two side rails (3, 4) between which rungs (2) extend, and an access restriction device comprising an operculum (14) that is hinged to the ladder (1) in order to pivot about a horizontal axis between a prohibition position, in which the operculum (14) projects from a front face of the ladder (1) between the side rails (3, 4) and two adjacent rungs (2) of the ladder (1) and prevents a user from accessing the upper rungs (2) of the ladder (1) above the operculum (14), and an autorisation position, in which the operculum (14) is retracted from the front face of the ladder (1) and allows for the use of the upper rungs (2) of the ladder (1), characterised in that the operculum (14) is received between two contact elements (200) that are rigidly connected to the ladder and positioned so as to rest on sides (201) of the operculum (14) regardless of the position of the operculum (14), which is arranged so as to take up the forces transmitted by the contact elements, the contact elements (200) and the sides (201) of the operculum (14) being arranged so as to cooperate with one another so as to reduce friction during a movement of the operculum (14) between the two positions thereof when the contact elements (200) are resting against the sides (201) of the operculum (14).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the contact elements (200) are each formed of a roller mounted on the ladder (1) for pivoting about an axis that is substantially parallel to the side rails (3, 4), the sides (201) of the operculum (14) each forming a rolling track for one of the rollers.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the operculum (14) is provided with at least one stop (203) that defines the autorisation position thereof in such a way that the contact elements (200) are opposite the sides (201) of the operculum (14) in the autorisation position.

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the contact elements (200) are rigidly connected to the side rails (3, 4) of the ladder (1).

5. Device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the operculum (14) is rigidly connected to an upper edge of a panel (5) that is hinged to the ladder (1) by the horizontal axis located on the side of a lower edge of the panel (5) between the prohibition position, in which the panel (5) is pressed against the ladder (1) and prevents the user from using the lower rungs (2) located below the operculum (14), and an autorisation position, in which the panel (5) is at a distance from the ladder (1) and allows for the use of the lower rungs (2) of the ladder (1).

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