Rotary telehandler

Abstract

A rotary telehandler (10) comprising a supporting frame (20), which can be moved on wheels (21), bearing a turret (30) rotatable about a rotation axis (R) that is vertical relative to the supporting frame (20), wherein the turret (30) supports a telescopic lifting arm (50) hinged to the turret (30), and a driver's cab (60) attached to the turret (30) in a position eccentric to the rotation axis (R) and arranged on one side of the lifting arm (50), wherein the driver's cab (60) comprises an access opening (61) arranged on the opposite side to that adjacent to the lifting arm (50), characterised in that it comprises a connecting walkway (70) associated with the driver's cab (60) and / or the turret (30), wherein the connecting walkway (70) is configured to define a walkway horizontally joining a floor of the driver's cab (60) at the access opening (61) to an upper cover (200) of the supporting frame (20).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary telehandler.PRIOR ART

[0002] As is known, rotary telehandlers, for the purposes of this discussion, are agricultural vehicles, earth moving machines and / or operating machines used in construction or other fields, and subject to specific regulations.

[0003] In detail, rotary telehandlers consist of a vehicle provided with a chassis or 'wagon' which can be moved on wheels, which supports a rotating platform or 'turret', which in turn carries a telescopically extendable lifting arm and the (only) driver's cab (within which the driver's station is arranged, which has the manoeuvring and control members for actuating the movement of the lifting arm and the manoeuvring / propulsion of the vehicle itself). The cab is mounted on the rotating turret (rotatable therewith with respect to the chassis around a vertical rotation axis) in a position which is generally eccentric with respect to the vertical rotation axis (and placed alongside the manoeuvring arm).

[0004] On the outer side of the cab opposite that adjacent to the arm, viz., usually the left side of the cab, there is an access opening, closed by a closing and opening door, through which the operator gets in and out of the cab.

[0005] To facilitate this, a ladder is located on one or both sides of the wagon, vertically aligned with the cab access opening when the cab is in one of the two longitudinal alignment positions, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telehandler (viz., wherein the lifting arm extends longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telehandler), to allow the operator to climb up to the cab and descend.

[0006] Since the telehandler is sometimes required to work and / or stop with the turret (and therefore the cab) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wagon, in such circumstance - wherein the access opening is not aligned with any ladder - it is difficult for the operator to climb up and / or descend from the cab (which may be suspended from the ground overhanging and partly or totally misaligned in plan with respect to the wagon) safely (without having to jump from the high height at which the cab is located and / or climb into the cab).

[0007] Therefore, a need felt in the industry is to make it safer and easier to get climb up and / or descend from the cab of such rotary telehandlers.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An aim of the present invention is to satisfy such needs (and other needs which will become apparent later in the discussion) of the prior art, within a simple, rational and relatively low-cost solution.

[0009] Such aims are achieved by the features of the invention set forth in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and / or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0010] The invention, particularly, provides a rotary telehandler comprising a supporting frame, which can be moved on wheels, bearing (above an upper covering thereof) a turret rotatable about a (single) rotation axis that is vertical relative to the supporting frame, wherein in turn the turret supports a telescopic lifting arm hinged to the turret, and a driver's cab attached to the turret in a position eccentric to the rotation axis and arranged on one side of the lifting arm, wherein the driver's cab comprises an access opening arranged on the opposite side to that adjacent to the lifting arm, characterised in that it comprises a connecting walkway associated / attached (below) with the driver's cab and / or the turret, wherein the connecting walkway is configured to define a walkway horizontally joining a floor of the driver's cab at the access opening to an upper cover of the supporting frame. Thanks to such a solution, it is possible to achieve the preset aims illustrated above.

[0011] In particular, thanks to such a solution the operator's descent from the driver's cab and the operator's ascent onto the driver's cab are facilitated and made safer, whatever the angular position of the driver's cab with respect to the supporting frame. Advantageously, the connecting walkway can be movably associated with the driver's cab between a retracted position, wherein it is contained at least partially within the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab, and an extracted position wherein it protrudes laterally from the driver's cab, on the opposite side relative to the lifting arm, by a greater amount than when it is in the retracted position, so as to define said walkway.

[0012] Thanks to the retractable configuration of the connecting walkway, it is possible not to alter the wheel gauge (or lateral horizontal dimension) of the telehandler by allowing the connecting walkway to be concealed when not in use and when the telehandler is running. Further, the connecting walkway can be associated with the driver's cab in a roto-translating manner, so as to perform an oscillation and a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret.

[0013] Thanks to such a solution, the walkway connection can be robust and suitable for use in particularly dirty and / or dusty environments (such as construction sites for which the telehandler is intended) without thereby compromising functionality. In fact, the combination of a rotary movement (viz., the presence of a rotodynamic torque) and a translational movement (viz., the presence of a prismatic torque) allows the connections / joints used to move the connecting walkway to be kept clean and less encrusted, making its use safer and less subject to maintenance.

[0014] Furthermore, the telehandler can comprise a (single) actuator configured to move the walkway alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0015] Advantageously, the telehandler can include a manual control member positioned in the driver's cab (and / or in a remote position, such as in a remote control or on the side of the telehandler) and configured to control the movement of the connecting walkway alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0016] Further, the connecting walkway can have an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis thereof (orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret) and have an axial end distal from the rotation axis of the turret and an axial end proximal to the rotation axis, wherein the distance of the axial end proximal to the rotation axis, at least when the connecting walkway is in the extracted position, can be less than or equal to a distance between a lateral sidewall of the supporting frame and the rotation axis (so that the projection of the proximal axial end, carried out along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the turret, when in the extracted position is inside the supporting frame, viz., is superimposed thereon in plan view).

[0017] Thanks to this, the access route which joins the access opening of the driver's cab to the upper cover of the supporting frame can be continuous, seamless, and therefore safe for the operator who must walk along it.

[0018] Furthermore, the telehandler can comprise a door for opening and closing the access opening of the driver's cab, which is hinged to the driver's cab around a hinge axis parallel to the rotation axis of the turret, and is rotatable between a closed position, wherein it closes the access opening and at least one opening position wherein it opens the access opening and is overturned with its outer face substantially in contact with the driver's cab, wherein the inner face of the door comprises a handle, preferably elongated in a mainly horizontal direction, which at least partially overlaps at least one axial section of the connecting walkway, when the door is in the open position and the connecting walkway is in the extracted position (so as to act as a handrail accompanying the walkable path defined by the walkway).

[0019] Thanks to such a solution, the safety of crossing the connecting walkway is increased by the possibility given to the operator to hold on to the handle while walking along the walkway defined by the connecting walkway.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent after reading the following description provided by way of a non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures shown in the accompanying tables. Figure 1 is a (schematic) side view of a telehandler according to the invention. Figure 2 is a plan view from above of figure 1, with the turret in an angular reference position and the connecting walkway in an extracted position. Figure 3 is a plan view from above of figure 1, with the turret in an angled angular position with respect to the reference angular position and the connecting walkway in a retracted position. Figure 4 is a simplified plan view from below of figure 3 (wherein the lifting arm and wheels have been omitted). Figure 5 is a plan view from above of figure 1, with the turret in an angled angular position with respect to the angular reference position and the connecting walkway in an extracted position. Figure 6 is a simplified plan view from below of figure 5 (wherein the lifting arm and wheels have been omitted). BEST MODE TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

[0021] With particular reference to such figures, a rotary telehandler, viz., a vehicle for agricultural use, an earth-moving machine and / or an operating machine used in the construction field or other industry fields (and subject to specific reference legislation) has been globally referred to as 10.

[0022] The telehandler 10 comprises a supporting frame 20 (or wagon), which can be moved on wheels 21, of which at least two are front wheels and two are rear wheels.

[0023] The supporting frame 20 could provide ground support stabilisers 22, of which, for example, two front stabilisers and / or two rear stabilisers.

[0024] The stabilisers 22 are configured to stabilise the ground support of the telehandler 10, e.g. by enlarging the ground support area with respect to the ground support area (or track) defined by the wheels 21 during determined working steps / conditions of the telehandler 10.

[0025] The supporting frame 20 is delimited above by a rigid upper cover 200 (or upper cover wall, also referred to as top floor), e.g., substantially (predominantly) planar, and is peripherally delimited by lateral sidewalls 201, of which two main lateral sidewalls (right and left) and two front walls (front and rear).

[0026] The upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20 defines a walkable (horizontal) plane (viz., adapted to support the weight of one or more people).

[0027] To the supporting frame 20, e.g., at the lateral sidewalls, one or more (vertical) ascent and descent ladders 202 are attached (or integrally made), which allow an operator to ascend and descend between the ground level (on which the telehandler 10 is supported through the wheels 21 and / or stabilisers 22) and the level at which the upper cover 200 is placed.

[0028] The supporting frame 20 has a substantially rectangular perimeter.

[0029] In the example, the supporting frame 20 has a plurality of ladders 202, viz., it has at least one ladder 202 on each lateral sidewall.

[0030] Preferably, the supporting frame 20 has two ladders 202 for each lateral sidewall, of which one front ladder 202 (near the relative front wheel 21) and one rear ladder 202 (near the relative rear wheel 21).

[0031] The ladders 202 are preferably made integrally and / or incorporated in the supporting frame 20 (and not carried).

[0032] The telehandler 10 further comprises a turret 30 supported above the supporting frame 20, viz., above the upper cover 200 thereof.

[0033] The turret 30 is rotatably coupled to the supporting frame 20 around a (single) vertical rotation axis R (within the horizontal dimension of the supporting frame 20).

[0034] In the present discussion, vertical refers to either the absolute vertical or any direction orthogonal to the plane on which the front and rear wheels 21 and / or the stabilisers 22 of the telehandler 10 rest. Furthermore, 'horizontal' refers herein to either the absolute horizontal or any plane parallel to the plane on which the front and rear wheels 21 and / or the stabilisers 22 of the telehandler 10 rest.

[0035] The turret 30 is placed at a limited distance from (the upper cover 200 of) the supporting frame 20, e.g., at a distance less than the distance between two consecutive steps of a ladder 202.

[0036] A motorised (e.g., electrically) or actuated (e.g., hydraulically) fifth wheel 40 is located between the turret 30 and (the upper cover 200 of) the supporting frame 20, which is configured to rotate the turret 30 with respect to the supporting frame 20 around the rotation axis R, e.g., by an angle (at least) equal to (or greater than) 360°.

[0037] The telehandler 10 further comprises a lifting arm 50 supported in turn by the turret 30 (above it) and, therefore, movable therewith in rotation around the rotation axis R.

[0038] The lifting arm 50 is preferably articulated or hinged (at its rear end) to the turret 30, e.g., above it, preferably at a rear section thereof.

[0039] The lifting arm 50 is hinged (above) to the turret 30 so that it can swing around a (single) horizontal swinging axis (viz., orthogonal to the rotation axis R of the turret 30).

[0040] An actuator, e.g., hydraulic (preferably double-acting), is present between the turret 30 and the lifting arm 50 that is configured to actuate the swinging of the lifting arm 50 about the swinging axis (for lifting and / or lowering the lifting arm 50).

[0041] The lifting arm 50, for example, has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis and therefore has a rear axial end thereof hinged to the rear section of the turret 30 and an opposite free front axial (distal) end.

[0042] The front axial end of the lifting arm 50 (when it is in its lowered, substantially horizontal position) protrudes with respect to the supporting frame 20, viz., the projection of the front axial end of the lifting arm 50, carried out along a (vertical) direction parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, is (always) outside (the horizontal dimension of) the supporting frame 20.

[0043] The lifting arm 50 can therefore be raised by means of the rotation about the swinging axis.

[0044] Preferably, the rotation axis R is inside the (vertical) projection of the lifting arm 50 along a direction parallel to the rotation axis.

[0045] For example, the rotation axis R of the turret 30 substantially belongs to the vertical median plane of the lifting arm 50 (or is slightly offset therefrom).

[0046] The (extendible) lifting arm 50 is preferably of the telescopic type.

[0047] In particular, the lifting arm 50 has a plurality of sections which can be driven between a contracted position and an extended position by means of at least one (double-acting) hydraulic actuator.

[0048] The lifting arm 50 has, at its front free axial end, a connecting member, such as a tool-holder plate, adapted to connect (in a releasable manner) to one or more working tools, such as buckets, forks (as in the case illustrated), cabs or others.

[0049] The turret 30 is stopped, in the travel condition of the telehandler 10, in an angular reference position (see figure 2) wherein the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50 coincides with the longitudinal (antero-posterior) axis of the supporting frame 20 (and is therefore centred on the supporting frame 20).

[0050] Furthermore, the turret 30 can be stopped, under stationary conditions of the telehandler 10 (e.g. when stabilised), in any angular position, also different from the reference position, wherein the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50 (or its projection along the direction parallel to the rotation axis R) is angled / tilted with respect to the longitudinal (antero-posterior) axis of the supporting frame 20 (see figures 3-6).

[0051] The telehandler 10 further comprises a (single) driver's cab 60, which is supported (on the top) and (rigidly) fixed to the turret 30, so the driver's cab 60 is movable with the turret 30 rotating about the rotation axis R.

[0052] The driver's cab 60 is arranged in a position that is eccentric to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, preferably the rotation axis R is outside the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab 60.

[0053] The driver's cab 60, for example, is side by side (with respect to a flanking direction parallel to the swinging axis of the lifting arm 50) with a portion of the lifting arm 50 and is (all) arranged at one side of the lifting arm 50, preferably the left side thereof. Preferably, the driver's cab 60 is arranged substantially in the middle of the lifting arm 50 when it is in its retracted (and lowered) position.

[0054] The driver's cab 60 has a rear section facing the swinging axis of the lifting arm 50 and an opposite front section.

[0055] For example, in certain applications (in order to ensure greater visibility to the operator), the driver's cab 60, viz., its rear section, is arranged at a distance from the rotation axis R which is greater than the distance between a lateral sidewall of the supporting frame 20 from the same rotation axis R (thereby implying that the driver's cab 60 during the rotation of the turret 30 about the rotation axis R, may find itself - at certain external angles with respect to the supporting frame 20, viz., its projection along the direction parallel to the rotation axis R, outside the horizontal dimension of the supporting frame 20).

[0056] Inside the driver's cab 60, a seat is arranged for housing the driver of the telehandler 10 and, at the front section, first (manual) commands which allow driving the telehandler 10 (viz., manoeuvring and propelling it) and second commands (manual, e.g., separate from the first controls) which allow to manoeuvre the turret 30 and / or the lifting arm 50.

[0057] The driver's cab 60 has a walkable (lower) floor (and preferably, in addition to lateral retaining walls, an upper canopy), on which the seat is fixed, for example.

[0058] Furthermore, the driver's cab 60 comprises an access opening 61, configured to allow the operator to enter the driver's cab 60 (to sit on the seat and drive the telehandler 10) and exit the same driver's cab.

[0059] The access opening 61 is preferably flush or communicating with the floor of the driver's cab 60 so as to allow the facilitated entry / exit for the operator.

[0060] The access opening 61 is arranged on one side of the driver's cab 60, preferably on the side opposite the side adjacent to the lifting arm 50, viz., the left side of the driver's cab 60.

[0061] The driver's cab 60 further comprises includes a door 62 for opening and closing the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60.

[0062] Preferably, the door 62 is hinged to the driver's cab 60, viz., to a jamb (preferably rear, viz., proximal to the rotation axis R) of the access opening 61, so that it can rotate about a hinge axis, substantially, parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30.

[0063] In particular, the door 62 is rotatable between (two cut-off positions, of which) a closed position, wherein it closes the access opening, and at least one opening position, wherein it opens the access opening and is overturned with its outer face substantially in contact / flush with (a portion of the rear section of) the driver's cab 60.

[0064] Preferably, the inner face of the door 62 comprises a handle 620, preferably elongated in a mainly horizontal direction (e.g., inclined downwards from an end proximal to the hinge axis towards the opposite end distal from the hinge axis).

[0065] The handle 620 extends longitudinally for a main section of the width of the door 62 (from the hinged end of the driver's cab to the opposite free end).

[0066] The handle 620, in practice, when the door 62 is in the (cut-off) opening position, defines a handrail which, from the (rear) jamb of the access opening 61, projects rearwards towards the rear section of the driver's cab 60 and skirts the driver's cab 60 externally (in the rear direction, viz., towards the rotation axis R).

[0067] The driver's cab 60, viz., its distal side from the lifting arm 50 provided with the access opening 61, when the turret 30 is in its reference angular position, is substantially flush with (and / or vertically aligned with) a lateral (left) sidewall of the supporting frame 20. Preferably, in such an angular reference position, the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60 is vertically aligned with a ladder 202 (front left) of the supporting frame 20.

[0068] For the purposes of the present invention, the telehandler 10 comprises a connecting walkway 70 associated with the driver's cab 60 (viz., mounted thereon and / or supported by the driver's cab) and / or the turret 30 (viz., mounted thereon and / or supported by the turret itself).

[0069] In practice, the connecting walkway 70 is connected to the driver's cab 60 and / or turret 30 and rotates with the driver's cab 60 (and turret 30) around the rotation axis R.

[0070] The connecting walkway 70 is configured to define a walkable (temporary) pathway that horizontally connects the floor of the driver's cab 60 at the access opening 61 to the upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20.

[0071] The connecting walkway 70 comprises (or consists of) a plate-like body (of thin thickness) elongated along a longitudinal axis, wherein the upper face (and the lower face) is substantially horizontal (orthogonal to the rotation axis R), viz., parallel to the floor of the driver's cab 60 and / or to the upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20.

[0072] In practice, the connecting walkway 70 has a length greater than a width thereof, which in turn is greater than its thickness.

[0073] The connecting walkway 70 is arranged at a (slightly) lower height with respect to the driver's cab 60 and (slightly) higher with respect to the upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20.

[0074] Preferably, the connecting walkway 70 (at least in one configuration thereof) can be arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50, viz., it is substantially aligned with the driver's cab 60.

[0075] In practice, a rear axial end of the connecting walkway 70 is proximal to the rotation axis R (and the rear section of the driver's cab 60) and a front axial end of the connecting walkway 70 is distal to the rotation axis R (and is proximal to the front section of the driver's cab 60).

[0076] A (minimum) distance of the rear axial end (proximal to the rotation axis R) of the connecting walkway 70 is less than or equal to a distance between one lateral sidewall of the supporting frame 20 from the same rotation axis R.

[0077] In practice, the projection of the rear axial end (proximal to the rotation axis R) of the connecting walkway 70, carried out along a direction parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, is inside (the horizontal dimension of) the supporting frame 20, viz., such a rear axial end overlaps in plan at least one portion of (the upper cover 200 of) the supporting frame 20.

[0078] Furthermore, an axial portion (proximal to or at the front axial end) of the connecting walkway 70 is aligned (vertically) below, along the direction parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, with at least a portion (or the entirety) of the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60, in practice defining with the floor of the driver's cab 60 facing the access opening 61 a (small) threshold step (easily traversable by the operator). Advantageously (but not limitedly), the connecting walkway 70 is associated with the driver's cab 60 (therebelow) and / or the turret 30 (thereabove) in a movable manner between a retracted position, wherein it is contained at least partially - preferably totally - within the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab 60 (viz., within its vertical projection) and an extracted position, wherein it protrudes laterally from the driver's cab 60, on the opposite side with respect to the lifting arm (viz., to the left), by a greater amount which respect to when it is in the retracted position, viz., it protrudes wholly or for a main portion thereof, so as to define said walkway.

[0079] In practice, when the connecting walkway 70 is in the extracted position a main portion of (or the entire) main upper face defines a free support surface (viz., out of the outline / outside of the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab 60) which can be stepped on and crossed by the operator of the telehandler 10 to get in and out of the driver's cab 60. Furthermore, when the connecting walkway 70 is in its extracted position it is arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50, viz., it is substantially aligned with the driver's cab 60.

[0080] When the connecting walkway 70 is in its retracted position and the turret 30 is in its angular reference position, the connecting walkway 70 is contained at least partially - preferably totally - within the horizontal (lateral) dimension of the supporting frame 30 (even if it protrudes slightly from the driver's cab 60).

[0081] Further, when the connecting walkway 70 is in its retracted position, it can be arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50 or otherwise be arranged in any position (as long as it does not exceed the outline limits of the driver's cab 60).

[0082] Preferably, the handle 620 is at least partially overlapped by at least one axial section of the connecting walkway 70, when the door 62 is in the opening position and the connecting walkway 70 is in the extracted position, so as to act as a handrail accompanying the walkable path defined by the connecting walkway 70.

[0083] Preferably (but not limitedly), the connecting walkway 70 is associated with the driver's cab 60 and / or the turret 30 in a roto-translating manner, so as to perform an oscillation and a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret 30.

[0084] It is not excluded that the connecting walkway 70 can be associated with the driver's cab 60 and / or the turret 30 in a simply rotating or simply translating manner, so as to perform, respectively, an oscillation or a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret 30.

[0085] In the example illustrated (wherein the connection is roto-translating), the connecting walkway 70 is joined to the driver's cab 60 (below the floor thereof) and / or to the turret 30 (thereabove) by means of a pair of levers, of which a front lever 71 and a rear lever 72. The front lever 71, for example substantially 'L'-shaped, is coupled - by means of a first end thereof - to (the front axial end of) the connecting walkway 70 by means of a first rotoidal pair (viz., a hinge) having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30 and - by means of a second end thereof - to (the front section of) the driver's cab 60 and / or to the turret 30, by means of a second rotoidal pair (viz., a hinge) with a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30.

[0086] The rear lever 72, for example straight, is coupled - by means of a first end thereof - to the (rear axial end of the) connecting walkway 70 by means of a third rotoidal pair (viz., a hinge) having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30 and is connected to the driver's cab 60 and / or to the turret 30 by means of a prismatic / or cylindrical) sliding pair (in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis R of the turret 30).

[0087] The telehandler 10 further comprises at least one actuator 73 configured to move the connecting walkway 70 alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0088] The actuator 73 is, for example, defined by a hydraulic jack, preferably double-acting. However, it is not excluded that the actuator can be of a different type, such as an electric actuator or other.

[0089] The actuator 73 comprises a cylinder and a stem, wherein at least one between the cylinder and the stem is constrained, by means of a rotoidal torque having an axis parallel to the rotation axis R, (for example) to the front lever 71 (in an eccentric position with respect to the first and second rotoidal torque) and the other between the stem and the cylinder is constrained by means of a further rotoidal pair having an axis parallel to the rotation axis R, (for example) to the driver's cab 60 and / or the turret 30 (in an eccentric position with respect to the second rotoidal pair.

[0090] The actuator 73, when of the hydraulic / oleodynamic type, is hydraulically controlled by a (hydraulic) control circuit 74, which comprises, for example, a pump enslaved to a valve for distribution / regulation of the fluid flow between the cylinder chambers, the pump and a tank outlet.

[0091] The hydraulic circuit, or the telehandler 10, generally comprises a manual control member, such as a push-button or lever or the like, which is positioned inside the driver's cab 60 (and / or in a remote position) and is configured to control the actuation (in one direction or the other) of the actuator 73 (whether hydraulic or otherwise) to move, upon operator command, the connecting walkway 70 alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0092] If the actuator 73 is a hydraulic actuator, the manual control unit member can act on the distribution / regulation valve to control the operation of the actuator 73.

[0093] In practice, whenever the turret 30 is stopped in an angular position which is different from the reference angular position (wherein, for example, the driver's cab 60 protrudes outside the vertical outline / projection of the supporting frame 20) it is possible (for the operator) to bring the connecting walkway 70 (by operating the control member) to its extracted position, thereby making a walkable (horizontal) pathway available connecting the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60 to a portion of the upper cover 200 (skirting the lifting arm 50) of the supporting frame 20 (and from this to the ground by means of any ladder 202 or the nearest ladder 202).

[0094] Therefore, thanks to the presence of the connecting walkway 70, a (safe) route up to and down from the driver's cab 60 is always defined, whereby such a (bi-directional) route is defined by a (any) ladder 202, a (free) route on the upper cover 202 of the supporting frame 20, the walkway defined by the connecting walkway 70 (when it is in the extracted position) and the floor of the driver's cab 60.

[0095] When crossing the connecting walkway 70, the operator can also grasp the handle 620 of the door 62 (fully open and, for example, kept locked by suitable temporary locking means and / or pushing means in such a position) which defines a further safety element for the operator.

[0096] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0097] Moreover, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0098] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0021]With particular reference to such figures, a rotary telehandler, viz., a vehicle for agricultural use, an earth-moving machine and / or an operating machine used in the construction field or other industry fields (and subject to specific reference legislation) has been globally referred to as 10.

[0022]The telehandler 10 comprises a supporting frame 20 (or wagon), which can be moved on wheels 21, of which at least two are front wheels and two are rear wheels.

[0023]The supporting frame 20 could provide ground support stabilisers 22, of which, for example, two front stabilisers and / or two rear stabilisers.

[0024]The stabilisers 22 are configured to stabilise the ground support of the telehandler 10, e.g. by enlarging the ground support area with respect to the ground support area (or track) defined by the wheels 21 during determined working steps / conditions of the telehandler 10.

[0025]The supporting frame 20 is delimited above by a rigid upper cover 200 (or upper cover wall, also re...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary telehandler.PRIOR ART

[0002] As is known, rotary telehandlers, for the purposes of this discussion, are agricultural vehicles, earth moving machines and / or operating machines used in construction or other fields, and subject to specific regulations.

[0003] In detail, rotary telehandlers consist of a vehicle provided with a chassis or 'wagon' which can be moved on wheels, which supports a rotating platform or 'turret', which in turn carries a telescopically extendable lifting arm and the (only) driver's cab (within which the driver's station is arranged, which has the manoeuvring and control members for actuating the movement of the lifting arm and the manoeuvring / propulsion of the vehicle itself). The cab is mounted on the rotating turret (rotatable therewith with respect to the chassis around a vertical rotation axis) in a position which is generally eccentric with respect to the vertical rotation axis (and placed alongside the manoeuvring arm).

[0004] On the outer side of the cab opposite that adjacent to the arm, viz., usually the left side of the cab, there is an access opening, closed by a closing and opening door, through which the operator gets in and out of the cab.

[0005] To facilitate this, a ladder is located on one or both sides of the wagon, vertically aligned with the cab access opening when the cab is in one of the two longitudinal alignment positions, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telehandler (viz., wherein the lifting arm extends longitudinally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the telehandler), to allow the operator to climb up to the cab and descend.

[0006] Since the telehandler is sometimes required to work and / or stop with the turret (and therefore the cab) inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the wagon, in such circumstance - wherein the access opening is not aligned with any ladder - it is difficult for the operator to climb up and / or descend from the cab (which may be suspended from the ground overhanging and partly or totally misaligned in plan with respect to the wagon) safely (without having to jump from the high height at which the cab is located and / or climb into the cab).

[0007] Therefore, a need felt in the industry is to make it safer and easier to get climb up and / or descend from the cab of such rotary telehandlers.DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] An aim of the present invention is to satisfy such needs (and other needs which will become apparent later in the discussion) of the prior art, within a simple, rational and relatively low-cost solution.

[0009] Such aims are achieved by the features of the invention set forth in the independent claim. The dependent claims outline preferred and / or particularly advantageous aspects of the invention.

[0010] The invention, particularly, provides a rotary telehandler comprising a supporting frame, which can be moved on wheels, bearing (above an upper covering thereof) a turret rotatable about a (single) rotation axis that is vertical relative to the supporting frame, wherein in turn the turret supports a telescopic lifting arm hinged to the turret, and a driver's cab attached to the turret in a position eccentric to the rotation axis and arranged on one side of the lifting arm, wherein the driver's cab comprises an access opening arranged on the opposite side to that adjacent to the lifting arm, characterised in that it comprises a connecting walkway associated / attached (below) with the driver's cab and / or the turret, wherein the connecting walkway is configured to define a walkway horizontally joining a floor of the driver's cab at the access opening to an upper cover of the supporting frame. Thanks to such a solution, it is possible to achieve the preset aims illustrated above.

[0011] In particular, thanks to such a solution the operator's descent from the driver's cab and the operator's ascent onto the driver's cab are facilitated and made safer, whatever the angular position of the driver's cab with respect to the supporting frame. Advantageously, the connecting walkway can be movably associated with the driver's cab between a retracted position, wherein it is contained at least partially within the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab, and an extracted position wherein it protrudes laterally from the driver's cab, on the opposite side relative to the lifting arm, by a greater amount than when it is in the retracted position, so as to define said walkway.

[0012] Thanks to the retractable configuration of the connecting walkway, it is possible not to alter the wheel gauge (or lateral horizontal dimension) of the telehandler by allowing the connecting walkway to be concealed when not in use and when the telehandler is running. Further, the connecting walkway can be associated with the driver's cab in a roto-translating manner, so as to perform an oscillation and a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret.

[0013] Thanks to such a solution, the walkway connection can be robust and suitable for use in particularly dirty and / or dusty environments (such as construction sites for which the telehandler is intended) without thereby compromising functionality. In fact, the combination of a rotary movement (viz., the presence of a rotodynamic torque) and a translational movement (viz., the presence of a prismatic torque) allows the connections / joints used to move the connecting walkway to be kept clean and less encrusted, making its use safer and less subject to maintenance.

[0014] Furthermore, the telehandler can comprise a (single) actuator configured to move the walkway alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0015] Advantageously, the telehandler can include a manual control member positioned in the driver's cab (and / or in a remote position, such as in a remote control or on the side of the telehandler) and configured to control the movement of the connecting walkway alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0016] Further, the connecting walkway can have an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis thereof (orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret) and have an axial end distal from the rotation axis of the turret and an axial end proximal to the rotation axis, wherein the distance of the axial end proximal to the rotation axis, at least when the connecting walkway is in the extracted position, can be less than or equal to a distance between a lateral sidewall of the supporting frame and the rotation axis (so that the projection of the proximal axial end, carried out along a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the turret, when in the extracted position is inside the supporting frame, viz., is superimposed thereon in plan view).

[0017] Thanks to this, the access route which joins the access opening of the driver's cab to the upper cover of the supporting frame can be continuous, seamless, and therefore safe for the operator who must walk along it.

[0018] Furthermore, the telehandler can comprise a door for opening and closing the access opening of the driver's cab, which is hinged to the driver's cab around a hinge axis parallel to the rotation axis of the turret, and is rotatable between a closed position, wherein it closes the access opening and at least one opening position wherein it opens the access opening and is overturned with its outer face substantially in contact with the driver's cab, wherein the inner face of the door comprises a handle, preferably elongated in a mainly horizontal direction, which at least partially overlaps at least one axial section of the connecting walkway, when the door is in the open position and the connecting walkway is in the extracted position (so as to act as a handrail accompanying the walkable path defined by the walkway).

[0019] Thanks to such a solution, the safety of crossing the connecting walkway is increased by the possibility given to the operator to hold on to the handle while walking along the walkway defined by the connecting walkway.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent after reading the following description provided by way of a non-limiting example, with the aid of the figures shown in the accompanying tables. Figure 1 is a (schematic) side view of a telehandler according to the invention. Figure 2 is a plan view from above of figure 1, with the turret in an angular reference position and the connecting walkway in an extracted position. Figure 3 is a plan view from above of figure 1, with the turret in an angled angular position with respect to the reference angular position and the connecting walkway in a retracted position. Figure 4 is a simplified plan view from below of figure 3 (wherein the lifting arm and wheels have been omitted). Figure 5 is a plan view from above of figure 1, with the turret in an angled angular position with respect to the angular reference position and the connecting walkway in an extracted position. Figure 6 is a simplified plan view from below of figure 5 (wherein the lifting arm and wheels have been omitted). BEST MODE TO IMPLEMENT THE INVENTION

[0021] With particular reference to such figures, a rotary telehandler, viz., a vehicle for agricultural use, an earth-moving machine and / or an operating machine used in the construction field or other industry fields (and subject to specific reference legislation) has been globally referred to as 10.

[0022] The telehandler 10 comprises a supporting frame 20 (or wagon), which can be moved on wheels 21, of which at least two are front wheels and two are rear wheels.

[0023] The supporting frame 20 could provide ground support stabilisers 22, of which, for example, two front stabilisers and / or two rear stabilisers.

[0024] The stabilisers 22 are configured to stabilise the ground support of the telehandler 10, e.g. by enlarging the ground support area with respect to the ground support area (or track) defined by the wheels 21 during determined working steps / conditions of the telehandler 10.

[0025] The supporting frame 20 is delimited above by a rigid upper cover 200 (or upper cover wall, also referred to as top floor), e.g., substantially (predominantly) planar, and is peripherally delimited by lateral sidewalls 201, of which two main lateral sidewalls (right and left) and two front walls (front and rear).

[0026] The upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20 defines a walkable (horizontal) plane (viz., adapted to support the weight of one or more people).

[0027] To the supporting frame 20, e.g., at the lateral sidewalls, one or more (vertical) ascent and descent ladders 202 are attached (or integrally made), which allow an operator to ascend and descend between the ground level (on which the telehandler 10 is supported through the wheels 21 and / or stabilisers 22) and the level at which the upper cover 200 is placed.

[0028] The supporting frame 20 has a substantially rectangular perimeter.

[0029] In the example, the supporting frame 20 has a plurality of ladders 202, viz., it has at least one ladder 202 on each lateral sidewall.

[0030] Preferably, the supporting frame 20 has two ladders 202 for each lateral sidewall, of which one front ladder 202 (near the relative front wheel 21) and one rear ladder 202 (near the relative rear wheel 21).

[0031] The ladders 202 are preferably made integrally and / or incorporated in the supporting frame 20 (and not carried).

[0032] The telehandler 10 further comprises a turret 30 supported above the supporting frame 20, viz., above the upper cover 200 thereof.

[0033] The turret 30 is rotatably coupled to the supporting frame 20 around a (single) vertical rotation axis R (within the horizontal dimension of the supporting frame 20).

[0034] In the present discussion, vertical refers to either the absolute vertical or any direction orthogonal to the plane on which the front and rear wheels 21 and / or the stabilisers 22 of the telehandler 10 rest. Furthermore, 'horizontal' refers herein to either the absolute horizontal or any plane parallel to the plane on which the front and rear wheels 21 and / or the stabilisers 22 of the telehandler 10 rest.

[0035] The turret 30 is placed at a limited distance from (the upper cover 200 of) the supporting frame 20, e.g., at a distance less than the distance between two consecutive steps of a ladder 202.

[0036] A motorised (e.g., electrically) or actuated (e.g., hydraulically) fifth wheel 40 is located between the turret 30 and (the upper cover 200 of) the supporting frame 20, which is configured to rotate the turret 30 with respect to the supporting frame 20 around the rotation axis R, e.g., by an angle (at least) equal to (or greater than) 360°.

[0037] The telehandler 10 further comprises a lifting arm 50 supported in turn by the turret 30 (above it) and, therefore, movable therewith in rotation around the rotation axis R.

[0038] The lifting arm 50 is preferably articulated or hinged (at its rear end) to the turret 30, e.g., above it, preferably at a rear section thereof.

[0039] The lifting arm 50 is hinged (above) to the turret 30 so that it can swing around a (single) horizontal swinging axis (viz., orthogonal to the rotation axis R of the turret 30).

[0040] An actuator, e.g., hydraulic (preferably double-acting), is present between the turret 30 and the lifting arm 50 that is configured to actuate the swinging of the lifting arm 50 about the swinging axis (for lifting and / or lowering the lifting arm 50).

[0041] The lifting arm 50, for example, has an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis and therefore has a rear axial end thereof hinged to the rear section of the turret 30 and an opposite free front axial (distal) end.

[0042] The front axial end of the lifting arm 50 (when it is in its lowered, substantially horizontal position) protrudes with respect to the supporting frame 20, viz., the projection of the front axial end of the lifting arm 50, carried out along a (vertical) direction parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, is (always) outside (the horizontal dimension of) the supporting frame 20.

[0043] The lifting arm 50 can therefore be raised by means of the rotation about the swinging axis.

[0044] Preferably, the rotation axis R is inside the (vertical) projection of the lifting arm 50 along a direction parallel to the rotation axis.

[0045] For example, the rotation axis R of the turret 30 substantially belongs to the vertical median plane of the lifting arm 50 (or is slightly offset therefrom).

[0046] The (extendible) lifting arm 50 is preferably of the telescopic type.

[0047] In particular, the lifting arm 50 has a plurality of sections which can be driven between a contracted position and an extended position by means of at least one (double-acting) hydraulic actuator.

[0048] The lifting arm 50 has, at its front free axial end, a connecting member, such as a tool-holder plate, adapted to connect (in a releasable manner) to one or more working tools, such as buckets, forks (as in the case illustrated), cabs or others.

[0049] The turret 30 is stopped, in the travel condition of the telehandler 10, in an angular reference position (see figure 2) wherein the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50 coincides with the longitudinal (antero-posterior) axis of the supporting frame 20 (and is therefore centred on the supporting frame 20).

[0050] Furthermore, the turret 30 can be stopped, under stationary conditions of the telehandler 10 (e.g. when stabilised), in any angular position, also different from the reference position, wherein the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50 (or its projection along the direction parallel to the rotation axis R) is angled / tilted with respect to the longitudinal (antero-posterior) axis of the supporting frame 20 (see figures 3-6).

[0051] The telehandler 10 further comprises a (single) driver's cab 60, which is supported (on the top) and (rigidly) fixed to the turret 30, so the driver's cab 60 is movable with the turret 30 rotating about the rotation axis R.

[0052] The driver's cab 60 is arranged in a position that is eccentric to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, preferably the rotation axis R is outside the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab 60.

[0053] The driver's cab 60, for example, is side by side (with respect to a flanking direction parallel to the swinging axis of the lifting arm 50) with a portion of the lifting arm 50 and is (all) arranged at one side of the lifting arm 50, preferably the left side thereof. Preferably, the driver's cab 60 is arranged substantially in the middle of the lifting arm 50 when it is in its retracted (and lowered) position.

[0054] The driver's cab 60 has a rear section facing the swinging axis of the lifting arm 50 and an opposite front section.

[0055] For example, in certain applications (in order to ensure greater visibility to the operator), the driver's cab 60, viz., its rear section, is arranged at a distance from the rotation axis R which is greater than the distance between a lateral sidewall of the supporting frame 20 from the same rotation axis R (thereby implying that the driver's cab 60 during the rotation of the turret 30 about the rotation axis R, may find itself - at certain external angles with respect to the supporting frame 20, viz., its projection along the direction parallel to the rotation axis R, outside the horizontal dimension of the supporting frame 20).

[0056] Inside the driver's cab 60, a seat is arranged for housing the driver of the telehandler 10 and, at the front section, first (manual) commands which allow driving the telehandler 10 (viz., manoeuvring and propelling it) and second commands (manual, e.g., separate from the first controls) which allow to manoeuvre the turret 30 and / or the lifting arm 50.

[0057] The driver's cab 60 has a walkable (lower) floor (and preferably, in addition to lateral retaining walls, an upper canopy), on which the seat is fixed, for example.

[0058] Furthermore, the driver's cab 60 comprises an access opening 61, configured to allow the operator to enter the driver's cab 60 (to sit on the seat and drive the telehandler 10) and exit the same driver's cab.

[0059] The access opening 61 is preferably flush or communicating with the floor of the driver's cab 60 so as to allow the facilitated entry / exit for the operator.

[0060] The access opening 61 is arranged on one side of the driver's cab 60, preferably on the side opposite the side adjacent to the lifting arm 50, viz., the left side of the driver's cab 60.

[0061] The driver's cab 60 further comprises includes a door 62 for opening and closing the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60.

[0062] Preferably, the door 62 is hinged to the driver's cab 60, viz., to a jamb (preferably rear, viz., proximal to the rotation axis R) of the access opening 61, so that it can rotate about a hinge axis, substantially, parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30.

[0063] In particular, the door 62 is rotatable between (two cut-off positions, of which) a closed position, wherein it closes the access opening, and at least one opening position, wherein it opens the access opening and is overturned with its outer face substantially in contact / flush with (a portion of the rear section of) the driver's cab 60.

[0064] Preferably, the inner face of the door 62 comprises a handle 620, preferably elongated in a mainly horizontal direction (e.g., inclined downwards from an end proximal to the hinge axis towards the opposite end distal from the hinge axis).

[0065] The handle 620 extends longitudinally for a main section of the width of the door 62 (from the hinged end of the driver's cab to the opposite free end).

[0066] The handle 620, in practice, when the door 62 is in the (cut-off) opening position, defines a handrail which, from the (rear) jamb of the access opening 61, projects rearwards towards the rear section of the driver's cab 60 and skirts the driver's cab 60 externally (in the rear direction, viz., towards the rotation axis R).

[0067] The driver's cab 60, viz., its distal side from the lifting arm 50 provided with the access opening 61, when the turret 30 is in its reference angular position, is substantially flush with (and / or vertically aligned with) a lateral (left) sidewall of the supporting frame 20. Preferably, in such an angular reference position, the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60 is vertically aligned with a ladder 202 (front left) of the supporting frame 20.

[0068] For the purposes of the present invention, the telehandler 10 comprises a connecting walkway 70 associated with the driver's cab 60 (viz., mounted thereon and / or supported by the driver's cab) and / or the turret 30 (viz., mounted thereon and / or supported by the turret itself).

[0069] In practice, the connecting walkway 70 is connected to the driver's cab 60 and / or turret 30 and rotates with the driver's cab 60 (and turret 30) around the rotation axis R.

[0070] The connecting walkway 70 is configured to define a walkable (temporary) pathway that horizontally connects the floor of the driver's cab 60 at the access opening 61 to the upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20.

[0071] The connecting walkway 70 comprises (or consists of) a plate-like body (of thin thickness) elongated along a longitudinal axis, wherein the upper face (and the lower face) is substantially horizontal (orthogonal to the rotation axis R), viz., parallel to the floor of the driver's cab 60 and / or to the upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20.

[0072] In practice, the connecting walkway 70 has a length greater than a width thereof, which in turn is greater than its thickness.

[0073] The connecting walkway 70 is arranged at a (slightly) lower height with respect to the driver's cab 60 and (slightly) higher with respect to the upper cover 200 of the supporting frame 20.

[0074] Preferably, the connecting walkway 70 (at least in one configuration thereof) can be arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50, viz., it is substantially aligned with the driver's cab 60.

[0075] In practice, a rear axial end of the connecting walkway 70 is proximal to the rotation axis R (and the rear section of the driver's cab 60) and a front axial end of the connecting walkway 70 is distal to the rotation axis R (and is proximal to the front section of the driver's cab 60).

[0076] A (minimum) distance of the rear axial end (proximal to the rotation axis R) of the connecting walkway 70 is less than or equal to a distance between one lateral sidewall of the supporting frame 20 from the same rotation axis R.

[0077] In practice, the projection of the rear axial end (proximal to the rotation axis R) of the connecting walkway 70, carried out along a direction parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, is inside (the horizontal dimension of) the supporting frame 20, viz., such a rear axial end overlaps in plan at least one portion of (the upper cover 200 of) the supporting frame 20.

[0078] Furthermore, an axial portion (proximal to or at the front axial end) of the connecting walkway 70 is aligned (vertically) below, along the direction parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30, with at least a portion (or the entirety) of the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60, in practice defining with the floor of the driver's cab 60 facing the access opening 61 a (small) threshold step (easily traversable by the operator). Advantageously (but not limitedly), the connecting walkway 70 is associated with the driver's cab 60 (therebelow) and / or the turret 30 (thereabove) in a movable manner between a retracted position, wherein it is contained at least partially - preferably totally - within the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab 60 (viz., within its vertical projection) and an extracted position, wherein it protrudes laterally from the driver's cab 60, on the opposite side with respect to the lifting arm (viz., to the left), by a greater amount which respect to when it is in the retracted position, viz., it protrudes wholly or for a main portion thereof, so as to define said walkway.

[0079] In practice, when the connecting walkway 70 is in the extracted position a main portion of (or the entire) main upper face defines a free support surface (viz., out of the outline / outside of the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab 60) which can be stepped on and crossed by the operator of the telehandler 10 to get in and out of the driver's cab 60. Furthermore, when the connecting walkway 70 is in its extracted position it is arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50, viz., it is substantially aligned with the driver's cab 60.

[0080] When the connecting walkway 70 is in its retracted position and the turret 30 is in its angular reference position, the connecting walkway 70 is contained at least partially - preferably totally - within the horizontal (lateral) dimension of the supporting frame 30 (even if it protrudes slightly from the driver's cab 60).

[0081] Further, when the connecting walkway 70 is in its retracted position, it can be arranged with the longitudinal axis thereof substantially inclined to the longitudinal axis of the lifting arm 50 or otherwise be arranged in any position (as long as it does not exceed the outline limits of the driver's cab 60).

[0082] Preferably, the handle 620 is at least partially overlapped by at least one axial section of the connecting walkway 70, when the door 62 is in the opening position and the connecting walkway 70 is in the extracted position, so as to act as a handrail accompanying the walkable path defined by the connecting walkway 70.

[0083] Preferably (but not limitedly), the connecting walkway 70 is associated with the driver's cab 60 and / or the turret 30 in a roto-translating manner, so as to perform an oscillation and a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret 30.

[0084] It is not excluded that the connecting walkway 70 can be associated with the driver's cab 60 and / or the turret 30 in a simply rotating or simply translating manner, so as to perform, respectively, an oscillation or a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret 30.

[0085] In the example illustrated (wherein the connection is roto-translating), the connecting walkway 70 is joined to the driver's cab 60 (below the floor thereof) and / or to the turret 30 (thereabove) by means of a pair of levers, of which a front lever 71 and a rear lever 72. The front lever 71, for example substantially 'L'-shaped, is coupled - by means of a first end thereof - to (the front axial end of) the connecting walkway 70 by means of a first rotoidal pair (viz., a hinge) having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30 and - by means of a second end thereof - to (the front section of) the driver's cab 60 and / or to the turret 30, by means of a second rotoidal pair (viz., a hinge) with a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30.

[0086] The rear lever 72, for example straight, is coupled - by means of a first end thereof - to the (rear axial end of the) connecting walkway 70 by means of a third rotoidal pair (viz., a hinge) having a rotation axis parallel to the rotation axis R of the turret 30 and is connected to the driver's cab 60 and / or to the turret 30 by means of a prismatic / or cylindrical) sliding pair (in a plane orthogonal to the rotation axis R of the turret 30).

[0087] The telehandler 10 further comprises at least one actuator 73 configured to move the connecting walkway 70 alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0088] The actuator 73 is, for example, defined by a hydraulic jack, preferably double-acting. However, it is not excluded that the actuator can be of a different type, such as an electric actuator or other.

[0089] The actuator 73 comprises a cylinder and a stem, wherein at least one between the cylinder and the stem is constrained, by means of a rotoidal torque having an axis parallel to the rotation axis R, (for example) to the front lever 71 (in an eccentric position with respect to the first and second rotoidal torque) and the other between the stem and the cylinder is constrained by means of a further rotoidal pair having an axis parallel to the rotation axis R, (for example) to the driver's cab 60 and / or the turret 30 (in an eccentric position with respect to the second rotoidal pair.

[0090] The actuator 73, when of the hydraulic / oleodynamic type, is hydraulically controlled by a (hydraulic) control circuit 74, which comprises, for example, a pump enslaved to a valve for distribution / regulation of the fluid flow between the cylinder chambers, the pump and a tank outlet.

[0091] The hydraulic circuit, or the telehandler 10, generally comprises a manual control member, such as a push-button or lever or the like, which is positioned inside the driver's cab 60 (and / or in a remote position) and is configured to control the actuation (in one direction or the other) of the actuator 73 (whether hydraulic or otherwise) to move, upon operator command, the connecting walkway 70 alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

[0092] If the actuator 73 is a hydraulic actuator, the manual control unit member can act on the distribution / regulation valve to control the operation of the actuator 73.

[0093] In practice, whenever the turret 30 is stopped in an angular position which is different from the reference angular position (wherein, for example, the driver's cab 60 protrudes outside the vertical outline / projection of the supporting frame 20) it is possible (for the operator) to bring the connecting walkway 70 (by operating the control member) to its extracted position, thereby making a walkable (horizontal) pathway available connecting the access opening 61 of the driver's cab 60 to a portion of the upper cover 200 (skirting the lifting arm 50) of the supporting frame 20 (and from this to the ground by means of any ladder 202 or the nearest ladder 202).

[0094] Therefore, thanks to the presence of the connecting walkway 70, a (safe) route up to and down from the driver's cab 60 is always defined, whereby such a (bi-directional) route is defined by a (any) ladder 202, a (free) route on the upper cover 202 of the supporting frame 20, the walkway defined by the connecting walkway 70 (when it is in the extracted position) and the floor of the driver's cab 60.

[0095] When crossing the connecting walkway 70, the operator can also grasp the handle 620 of the door 62 (fully open and, for example, kept locked by suitable temporary locking means and / or pushing means in such a position) which defines a further safety element for the operator.

[0096] The invention thus conceived is susceptible to several modifications and variations, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept.

[0097] Moreover, all details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

[0098] In practice, the materials used, as well as the contingent shapes and sizes, can be whatever according to the requirements without for this reason departing from the scope of protection of the following claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0021]With particular reference to such figures, a rotary telehandler, viz., a vehicle for agricultural use, an earth-moving machine and / or an operating machine used in the construction field or other industry fields (and subject to specific reference legislation) has been globally referred to as 10.

[0022]The telehandler 10 comprises a supporting frame 20 (or wagon), which can be moved on wheels 21, of which at least two are front wheels and two are rear wheels.

[0023]The supporting frame 20 could provide ground support stabilisers 22, of which, for example, two front stabilisers and / or two rear stabilisers.

[0024]The stabilisers 22 are configured to stabilise the ground support of the telehandler 10, e.g. by enlarging the ground support area with respect to the ground support area (or track) defined by the wheels 21 during determined working steps / conditions of the telehandler 10.

[0025]The supporting frame 20 is delimited above by a rigid upper cover 200 (or upper cover wall, also re...

Claims

1. A rotary telehandler comprising a supporting frame, which can be moved on wheels, bearing a turret rotatable about a rotation axis that is vertical relative to the supporting frame, wherein the turret supports a telescopic lifting arm hinged to the turret, and a driver's cab attached to the turret in a position eccentric to the rotation axis and arranged on one side of the lifting arm, wherein the driver's cab comprises an access opening arranged on the opposite side to that adjacent to the lifting arm, characterised in that it comprises a connecting walkway associated with the driver's cab and / or the turret, wherein the connecting walkway is configured to define a walkway horizontally joining a floor of the driver's cab at the access opening to an upper cover of the supporting frame.

2. The telehandler according to claim 1, wherein the connecting walkway is movably associated with the driver's cab between a retracted position, wherein it is contained at least partially within the horizontal dimension of the driver's cab, and an extracted position wherein it protrudes laterally from the driver's cab, on the opposite side relative to the lifting arm, by a greater amount than when it is in the retracted position, so as to define said walkway.

3. The telehandler according to claim 2, wherein the connecting walkway is associated with the driver's cab in a roto-translating manner, so as to perform an oscillation and a translation on a movement plane orthogonal to the rotation axis of the turret.

4. The telehandler according to claim 2, comprising an actuator configured to move the walkway alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

5. The telehandler according to claim 2 or 4, comprising a manual control member positioned in the driver's cab and configured to control the movement of the connecting walkway alternately between the retracted position and the extracted position.

6. The telehandler according to claim 2, wherein the connecting walkway has an elongated shape along its own longitudinal axis and has an axial end distal from the rotation axis of the turret and an axial end proximal to the rotation axis, wherein the distance of the axial end proximal to the rotation axis, at least when the connecting walkway is in the extracted position, is lower than or equal to a distance between a lateral sidewall of the supporting frame and the rotation axis.

7. The telehandler according to claim 1, comprising a door for opening and closing the access opening of the driver's cab, which is hinged to the driver's cab around a hinge axis parallel to the rotation axis of the turret, and is rotatable between a closed position, wherein it closes the access opening and at least one opening position wherein it opens the access opening and is overturned with its outer face substantially in contact with the driver's cab, wherein the inner face of the door comprises a handle, preferably elongated in a mainly horizontal direction, which at least partially overlaps at least one axial section of the connecting walkway, when the door is in the open position and the connecting walkway is in the extracted position.

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