Equipment for a person working at height

Abstract

The invention relates to equipment (1) for working at height comprising a bottom portion (2), a lifting structure (3), a basket (4) carried by the lifting structure (3) and a unit (5) for controlling the movement of the lifting structure (3) between at least a lower position and an upper position of the basket (4), the basket (4) comprising at least one platform (6) and a guardrail structure in the form of a frame (7) surrounding the platform (6). The basket (4) comprises a carriage (8), and a path (9) for guiding the carriage (8) along which the carriage (8) is movably mounted. The carriage (8) comprises at least one anchoring member and the unit (5) for controlling the movement of the lifting structure (3) is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure (3) as a function of the position of the carriage (8) along the guide path (9).

Description

Description Title of the invention: Machine for working by lifting people

[0001] The present invention relates to a machine for working by lifting people.

[0002] It relates in particular to a machine for working in elevation of at least one person, said machine comprising a lower part, a lifting structure supported by the lower part, a basket-type nacelle carried by the lifting structure and a unit for controlling the movement of the lifting structure at least for movement of the nacelle between a low position and a high position, said nacelle comprising at least one platform and a guardrail structure in the form of a frame surrounding the platform.

[0003] Such a machine is known as illustrated for example by patent FR 3 069 532. Operators working on such a lifting machine are generally equipped with personal protective equipment by which they are attached to the basket of the lifting machine. In practice, the personal protective equipment is generally a harness equipped with two lanyards, namely a short lanyard to reduce the risk of ejection from the basket, particularly when the machine is moving at high speed, and a longer lanyard with a shock absorber to limit injuries in the event of a fall from a height. Such lifting machines, also called mobile elevating work platforms (MEWPs), are specifically designed to raise people to a position where they can work at height safely inside the basket. MEWPs were not designed for the purpose of transporting people from one level to another.Exiting the work platform at height is not intended use. Anyone wishing to access or exit the work platform should only do so at the locations provided for this purpose, i.e. at ground level or on the MEWP chassis. There are exceptional cases where MEWPs may be used to access a workplace at height. Exiting the work platform at height may be permitted in the following cases: - when a sound risk assessment has clearly demonstrated that this. constitutes the safest and most efficient way to access a specific location; - when this exit is part of an official emergency relief plan.

[0004] To date, there is no satisfactory solution for this type of situation. Known safety devices all have the disadvantage of requiring knowledge of personal protective equipment to ensure safe intervention by the operator.

[0005] An aim of the invention is to propose a lifting device whose design ensures the safety of an operator when the operator leaves the platform placed at height, regardless of the design of the personal protective equipment equipping the operator.

[0006] Another aim of the invention is to propose a lifting device whose design allows an operator to exit and enter the basket placed at height without having to unhook from the basket.

[0007] Another object of the invention is to provide a lifting device whose design allows an operator unfamiliar with said lifting device to exit and enter the basket in complete safety.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a machine for lifting at least one person, said machine comprising a lower part, a lifting structure, a basket-type nacelle carried by the lifting structure and a unit for controlling the movement of the lifting structure at least for moving the nacelle between a low position and a high position, said nacelle comprising at least one platform and a guardrail structure in the form of a frame surrounding the platform, characterized in that the nacelle comprises a carriage, and a guide path for the carriage along which the carriage is movably mounted, in that the carriage comprises at least one anchoring member and in that the unit for controlling the movement of the lifting structure is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure as a function of the position of the carriage along the guide path.

[0009] The trolley comprises at least one anchoring member to allow attachment of personal protective equipment to said anchoring member. Due to the presence of this anchoring member, any type of personal protective equipment can be attached to said member and the operator does not need to unhook to enter or exit the platform. The presence of a trolley allows for great freedom of movement while guaranteeing, due to a movement of the lifting structure, and consequently of the platform, controlled by the position of the trolley, authorization for a movement of the lifting structure and consequently of the platform only when safety conditions are met. Controlling the anchoring of personal protective equipment to the trolley indirectly through the position of the trolley makes it possible to guarantee the conditions in which the operator can move both inside the platform and outside it.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine for working in elevation comprises a system for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage along the guide path and the movement control unit of the lifting structure is configured to acquire data provided by said system and to control the movement of the lifting structure according to the data provided by said system.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the guide path comprises at least one so-called carriage work zone and one so-called carriage parking zone and the movement control unit of the lifting structure is configured to, in at least one operating mode of the machine, authorize movement of the lifting structure in the positioned state of the carriage in the or one of the parking zones of the guide path and prohibit movement of the lifting structure in the positioned state of the carriage in the or one of the working zones of the guide path.Thus, it is easy to control the operator's movement possibilities, either, for example, by prohibiting the anchoring of the personal protective equipment to the trolley when the trolley is in the parking area so that the operator knows that in this parking area of ​​the trolley, he cannot move outside the platform, or, for example, by arranging the parking area in a location of the platform such that the operator, in the state anchored to the trolley by his personal protective equipment, is unable to reach outside the platform.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises, for the or each parking zone of the guide path, at least one member for closing said parking zone, this closing member being a mobile member configured to move from a closed position in which any entry or exit of the trolley from said garage area is prevented to an open position and vice versa. Thus, any risk of the trolley returning unexpectedly to the garage area is prevented so that the authorization, or respectively the prohibition, of a movement of the lifting structure and consequently, of the basket, is perfectly controlled.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the device comprises a member for returning the closing member to the closed position.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the or at least one of the closing members of the garage area is, in the closed position, arranged on the path followed by the carriage for movement between the garage area and the work area(s) and, in the open position, arranged at a distance from the path followed by the carriage for movement between the garage area and the work area(s), this closing member being independent in movement of the carriage for work in elevation.

[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the closing member, independent of the carriage in terms of movement, is a finger and the return member is a spring, said closing finger being arranged at a transition zone between the garage zone capable of being closed by the closing finger and the or one work zone of the guide path, this closing finger being, in the closed position, arranged on the path followed by the carriage for movement between the garage zone and the or one work zone and, in the open position, arranged at a distance from the path followed by the carriage for movement between the garage zone and the or one work zone, the spring being configured to return the closing finger to the closed position. The operator thus only needs to manipulate the finger against the action of the spring to move the finger from a position for closing the garage zone to a position for opening the garage zone.Releasing the finger automatically allows the finger to return to the closed position of the garage area.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the machine comprises at least one device for detecting and / or viewing at least the environment of the nacelle, at least one actuator for driving the closure member to move the garage area between the closed position and the open position and a control unit for said actuator, said control unit being configured to control the operation of the actuator based on the data provided by the detector and / or display device.

[0017] According to one embodiment of the invention, the anchoring member, integral with the carriage during movement, has an active anchoring zone accessible depending on the position of the carriage along the guide path.

[0018] According to one embodiment of the invention, the active anchoring zone of the anchoring member is accessible when the carriage is positioned in the or one of the working zones of the guide path and inaccessible when the carriage is positioned in the or one of the garage zones of the guide path. Thus, the operator knows, without having to think, that when the carriage is in the garage zone, intervention outside the cradle is impossible because the operator cannot attach his personal protective equipment. The lifting device is thus suitable for any type of operator, including inexperienced ones.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the invention, the anchoring member is a ring and the device comprises a member for closing the ring.

[0020] According to one embodiment of the invention, the ring closure member is fixedly mounted on the nacelle and is formed of a cover extending opposite the ring to form an access barrier to the ring when the carriage is positioned in the or one of the garage zones of the guide path. This results in simplicity of design and therefore lower cost.

[0021] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the guide path extends parallel to the support plane formed by the platform, this portion of the guide path extending vertically and above one side of the frame or along one side of the frame outside the frame. Thus, the trolley can follow the operator whose personal protective equipment is attached to the cradle over practically the entire length of the platform. Preferably, the frame is a rectangular frame and at least a portion of the guide path extends along a so-called longitudinal side of the frame. This longitudinal side corresponds to one of the longer sides of the frame.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, at least part of the guide path is formed by a rail forming a hollow body split longitudinally, the carriage is arranged inside the rail and the anchoring member projects from the slot of said hollow body forming the rail.

[0023] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine, which comprises an operating mode in which the movement control unit of the lifting structure is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure as a function of the position of said carriage along the guide path, comprises a second operating mode in which the movement control unit of the lifting structure is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure independently of the position of said carriage along the guide path, said operating modes being selectively activatable and the machine comprises a member for activating one or other of the modes. It is thus possible to forcefully control a movement of the lifting structure when the situation requires it.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method for controlling a lifting machine, characterized in that the lifting machine being of the aforementioned type, said method comprises a step of determining the position of the carriage on the nacelle and a step of controlling the movement of the lifting structure as a function of the position of the carriage on said nacelle, a movement of the lifting structure being authorized or prohibited as a function of the determined position.

[0025] Brief description of the drawings

[0026] The invention will be clearly understood upon reading the following description of exemplary embodiments, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0027] [Fig. 1] represents a perspective view of a lifting device according to the invention;

[0028] [Fig. 2] represents a perspective view of the nacelle;

[0029] [Fig. 3] represents a perspective view of the guideway / carriage assembly with a detail view of the carriage in the positioned state of the carriage in a work area;

[0030] [Fig. 4] shows a perspective view of the guideway / carriage assembly with a detail view of the carriage in the positioned state of the carriage in a garage area;

[0031] [Fig. 5] represents a detailed perspective view of the closing member and the system for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage along the guide path.

[0032] [Fig. 6] represents a view of a lifting device according to another embodiment of the invention;

[0033] [Fig. 7] represents a flowchart comprising steps of a method for exiting an operator's basket according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0034] [Fig. 8] represents a flowchart comprising steps of a method for re-entering an operator into the basket according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0035] Figure 1 represents a machine 1 for working by lifting people comprising a lower part 2, a lifting structure 3, a nacelle 4 carried by the lifting structure 3 and a control unit 5.

[0036] The lower part 2 supports the lifting structure 3. The part 2 includes a chassis equipped with ground connection members, such as wheels or tracks. The lower part 2 may also include a turret that can rotate relative to the chassis along a so-called vertical axis perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the wheels. The lifting structure 3 comprises at least one lifting arm, i.e. a pivoting arm mounted to pivot about a so-called horizontal axis parallel to the ground in the positioned state of the lower part 2 of the machine on a horizontal plane surface. This arm may be a telescopic arm. Equivalently, the lifting structure 3 may include several arms, namely, for example, a pivoting lower arm, an upper arm and a pendulum arm. The movements permitted by the arms are known per se and will not be described further below.Equivalently, the lifting structure 3 can be formed by a scissors-type structure or any other structure 3 allowing movement at least up and down of the nacelle 4 which will be described below.

[0037] The 4-person basket is traditionally presented in the form of a basket. This basket 4 is supported by the lifting structure 3. This nacelle 4 comprises a platform 6 generally in the form of a grid floor, this platform 6 being surrounded by a guardrail structure forming a frame 7. This guardrail structure is formed essentially of uprights and crosspieces connecting said uprights with the upper crosspiece forming a rail. This rail forms the upper edge of the frame 7. This frame 7 here has a generally rectangular shape in a similar manner to the platform 6. The lifting machine also comprises a control unit 5. This control unit 5 is configured to receive control signals supplied by control members as input and to control actuators such as jacks or motors as output. A part of these control members formed for example by pivoting levers and buttons is integrated into a control console carried by the nacelle.The actuation of these control members allows a person present on the platform 6 to control the machine, and in particular to control the movement of the lifting structure 3, that is to say the movements of the nacelle 4 relative to the chassis of the lower part 2. Some of these control members can also allow the movement of the chassis relative to the ground, starts / stops, etc. to be controlled.

[0038] From the received control signals, the control unit 5 controls actuators which can be formed by jacks for the lifting structure 3 or by motors when the objective is to control a ground movement of the machine. Such control is well known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in more detail. It should be noted that the movement of the lifting structure 3 can generally also be controlled from the ground and the lower part 2 of the machine can for this purpose be equipped with control members.

[0039] The control unit 5 is in the form of an electronic and computer system which comprises, for example, a microprocessor and a working memory. According to a particular aspect, the control unit may be in the form of a programmable controller. In other words, the functions and steps described may be implemented in the form of a computer program or via hardware components (e.g., programmable gate arrays). In particular, the functions and steps operated by the control unit or its modules may be implemented by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller or be made by dedicated electronic components or components of the programmable logic circuit type (or FPGA which is the acronym for field-programmable gate array, which literally corresponds to in-situ programmable gate array) or of the application-specific integrated circuit type (or ASIC which is the acronym for application-specific integrated circuit, which literally corresponds to application-specific integrated circuit). It is also possible to combine computer parts and electronic parts. When it is specified that the unit or means or modules of said unit are configured to carry out a given operation, this means that the unit includes computer instructions and the corresponding execution means which allow said operation to be carried out and / or that the unit includes corresponding electronic components.

[0040] The nacelle 4 further comprises a carriage 8 and a guide path 9 for the carriage 8 along which the carriage 8 is mounted to move. Generally, at least a portion of the guide path 9 extends parallel to the support plane formed by the platform 6. This portion of the guide path 9 extends vertically and above one side of the frame 7 vertically to said side of the frame or along one side of the frame 7 outside the frame 7. It is this second solution which is shown in FIG. 2.

[0041] At least part of the guide path 9 may be formed by a longitudinally split rail. In the example shown in Figure 2, the guide path is a longitudinally split rail that extends outside the frame along a long side of the frame, here corresponding to the side of the frame opposite that equipped with the control panel. The rail extends slightly below the frame rail 7. The carriage 8 is positioned inside the rail.

[0042] This carriage 8 comprises a base and wheels. Regardless of its design, and that of the guide path, this carriage 8 is generally movable by sliding along the guide path 9.

[0043] The trolley 8 is equipped with at least one anchoring member 10 to allow the attachment of personal protective equipment, in particular the attachment of the lanyard of a harness to said anchoring member 10. This anchoring member 10 here projects from the rail through the slot in the rail.

[0044] This anchoring member 10 is here in the form of a ring with the interior of the ring forming the active anchoring zone 14 of the anchoring member 10.

[0045] A carabiner may be attached to the anchoring member 10 at the active anchoring zone 14 of said anchoring member 10. This carabiner may constitute the end of a lanyard, the other end of which is attached to the operator's harness.

[0046] In a manner characteristic of the invention, the control unit 5, when moving the lifting structure 3, is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure 3 as a function of the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9.

[0047] Thus, the machine 1 comprises a system 11 for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9, and the unit 5 for controlling the movement of the lifting structure 3 is configured to acquire data provided by said system 11 and to control the movement of the lifting structure 3 as a function of the data provided by said system 11.

[0048] This system 11 for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9 is here formed by a position sensor carried by the rail constituting the guide path 9.

[0049] The guide path 9 comprises at least one work zone 91 of the carriage 8 and a parking zone 92 of the carriage 8.

[0050] The movement control unit 5 of the lifting structure 3 is configured to, in at least one operating mode of the machine 1, authorize movement of the lifting structure 3 in the positioned state of the carriage 8 in the or one of the parking zones 92 of the guide path 9 and prohibit movement of the lifting structure 3 in the positioned state of the carriage 8 in the or one of the work zones 91 of the guide path 9.

[0051] The garage area 92 is here formed by a section of the rail which begins at one of the ends of the rail and extends over a length of the rail at least equal to the length of the trolley to allow the trolley 8 to be housed in this garage area 92. The remainder of the rail forms the working area 91 of the guide path 9.

[0052] Guide path 9 therefore only includes a work area here. 91 and a garage area 92. Obviously, the guide path 9 could, in an equivalent manner, have several garage areas 92 and several work areas 91 without departing from the scope of the invention. The position sensor forming the system 11 for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage 8 is arranged in the garage area 92.

[0053] In practice, in this mode of operation of the machine, when the carriage 9 is detected by the system 11 for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9 as being positioned in the parking zone of said guide path, the movement of the lifting structure 3 is authorized so that the actuation by the operator of the control members equipping the control console generates a movement of the lifting structure 3.

[0054] Conversely, when the carriage 9 is detected by the system 11 for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9 as being in the or a work zone 91, the actuation of the control members of the control console by the operator does not generate any movement of the lifting structure 3.

[0055] The movement of the lifting structure 3 is therefore prohibited. This prohibition of movement may allow the operator to consider exiting the nacelle 4.

[0056] To prevent unwanted passage of trolley 8 from the garage area 92 to the work zone 91 or vice versa, the machine 1 comprises, for the or each garage zone 92 of the guide path 9, at least one member 12 for closing said garage zone 92. This closing member 12 is a mobile member configured to move from a closed position in which any entry or exit of the carriage 8 from said garage zone 92 is prevented to an open position in which any entry or exit of the carriage from said garage zone is authorized and vice versa.

[0057] The device 1 also comprises a return member 13 for the closing member 12 in the closed position.

[0058] In the example shown, the independent closing member 12 in movement of the carriage 8 is a finger 121 and the return member 13 is a spring 131. The closing finger 121 is arranged at a transition zone between the garage zone 92 capable of being closed by the closing finger 121 and a work zone 91 of the guide path 9. This closing finger 121 is, in the closed position, arranged on the path followed by the carriage 8 for the passage from a work zone to a garage zone or vice versa and, in the open position, arranged at a distance from the path followed by the carriage 8 for the passage from a work zone to a garage zone or vice versa, the spring 131 being configured to return the closing finger 121 to the closed position. Alternatively, the spring can be replaced by a jack.

[0059] This finger 121 and the associated spring 131 extend here near the end of the rail orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the rail. In the closed position, the finger projects inside the rail through an opening provided in the rail to extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the rail and prevent the carriage 8 from circulating.

[0060] To allow this closing member 12 to move into the open position, the operator simply has to pull on the finger 121 in the direction of extracting the finger 121 from the rail, this action taking place against the action of the spring 131 which tends to return the finger inside the rail.

[0061] Consequently, as soon as the operator releases the closing member 12, the latter returns to the closed position. Thus, the operator does not have to worry about the trolley 8 accidentally entering the garage area when this entry is not desired by the operator.

[0062] To complete the assembly, the active anchoring zone 14 of the anchoring member 10, as described above, is accessible depending on the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9.

[0063] In fact, the active anchoring zone 14 of the anchoring member 10 is accessible in the positioned state of the carriage 8 in the or one of the working zones 91 of the path 9 of guidance and inaccessible in the positioned state of the trolley in the or one of the garage zones 92 of the path 9 of guidance.

[0064] For this purpose, the machine 1 comprises a member 15 for closing off the active anchoring part of the anchoring member 10. In the example shown in FIG. 4, the ring closing member 15 is mounted fixed to the nacelle and is formed of a cover extending opposite the ring to form an access barrier to the ring, in the positioned state of the carriage 8 in the garage zone 92 of the guide path 9.

[0065] This cover comes in the form of a plate carried by the rail constituting the guide path.

[0066] For safety reasons and in particular to always allow intervention by an operator from the ground, the machine 1 comprises a second operating mode in which the unit 5 for controlling the movement of the lifting structure 3 is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure 3 independently of the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9.

[0067] The operating modes are selectively activatable and the machine 1 comprises an activation member 16 for one or other of the operating modes. This activation member 16 is arranged at the lower part 2 of the machine 1.

[0068] By default, the machine 1 is in the operating mode in which the movement control unit of the lifting structure is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure depending on the position of the carriage 8 along the guide path 9.

[0069] The operation of the machine, as described above, may be as follows.

[0070] It is assumed that the trolley 8 is in the garage area 92, that the operator taking a seat in the basket is equipped with a harness with two lanyards, one of which is equipped with an energy absorber and the other is intended to be fixed to a fixed anchor point of the basket.

[0071] It is assumed that the operator decided to go outside the basket to carry out some work.

[0072] It is assumed that this operator is inside the basket with his harness attached to one of the basket's anchor points by the lanyard free from the energy absorber.

[0073] The operator actuates the garage area closing member 12 in a direction for opening the garage area. He slides the carriage out of the garage area and slides the carriage to an opening point in the frame, this opening point being able to be formed by a gate or by a lifting rail, if the basket has no gate.

[0074] As soon as the trolley leaves the garage area, the position sensor detects the absence of a trolley in the garage area.

[0075] A signal is then sent to the control unit and the platform can no longer move. The operator can therefore intervene safely.

[0076] The closing member 12 has, for its part, been released by the operator and again closes access to the garage area 92, so that the trolley 9 can no longer return to the garage area 92.

[0077] The operator hooks the carabiner of the lanyard, equipped with an energy absorber, to the trolley at the anchoring member 10 of said trolley 8. He unhooks the carabiner of the fixed lanyard attached to one of the fixed anchoring points of the basket.

[0078] The operator can then safely exit the basket. It can be seen that during this operation, at no time was the operator in a configuration in which he would not have been attached to the basket.

[0079] It is noted that as long as the trolley has not left the parking zone 92, the operator cannot proceed to attach the lanyard with energy absorber to the trolley, due to the presence of the member 15 for closing the active anchoring zone 14 of the anchoring member 10 of the trolley 8.

[0080] The operator is therefore aware that, in this position of the trolley 8, in the garage area, he cannot get out of the basket.

[0081] Machine 1, as described above, is safe to operate while remaining simple and inexpensive in design.

[0082] According to one embodiment, the or at least one of the members 12 for closing the garage area 92 is, in the closed position, arranged on the path followed by the carriage 8 for movement between the garage area 92 and the or one work area 91 and, in the open position, arranged at a distance from the path followed by the carriage 8 for movement between the garage area 92 and the or one work area 91. This closing member 12 is independent in movement of the carriage 8 for work in elevation.

[0083] According to one embodiment and as illustrated in Figure 6, the machine comprises at least one device 20 for detecting and / or viewing at least the environment of the nacelle 4, also called radar, at least one actuator, such as a jack, for driving the movement of the member 12 for closing the garage area 92 between the closed position and the open position and a control unit for said actuator, said control unit being configured to control the operation of said actuator as a function of the data provided by the detector and / or display device 20.

[0084] Preferably, the use of the lifeline involves three operators (one person on the ground “operator 3”) and two people in the basket (“operator 1” and “operator 2”). The lifeline is only used in the working position (active radar(s) under the basket) and at a minimum height above the ground. The lifeline sensor detects the presence of the truck in the garage.

[0085] It may be provided that the platform (nacelle) and / or the ground control station (base station) includes a display screen configured to display different messages depending on the state of the lifeline, preferably with an associated pictogram: the messages that can be displayed are for example of the type "Machine with lifeline", "Lifeline in use", "Lifeline not in use", "All movements of the nacelle are prohibited"

[0086] An example of the process is presented below in the form of a flowchart in relation to Figure 7. We note OP1: the operator monitoring in the basket, OP2: the operator leaving the basket, and OP3: the operator monitoring on the ground. In this process, the exit of operator OP2 from the basket is carried out without a gate condition.

[0087] At step 710, the machine is in the "work" configuration. At step 720, operator OP1 and operator OP2 are hooked into the basket. Operator OP3 is in front of the machine's base station. Operator OP1 and operator OP2 perform movement commands. All movements are authorized.

[0088] In step 730, it is checked whether the basket is approaching with a vertical distance on the zone which is less than 1 meter. If the answer is no, we return to step 720. If the answer is yes, we go to step 740, for which a reduction of the movement speeds is triggered. Preferably, a display of a message (pop-up), such as "proximity on zone", is also triggered (step 750).

[0089] In step 760, it is checked whether the basket is above the target zone at a distance of less than 0.3 meters. If the answer is no, we return to step 740. If the answer is yes, we go to step 770, for which all downward and translational movements are prohibited and preferably a display of a message (pop-up), such as "zone detected", is triggered.

[0090] At step 780, operator OP2 presses a push button to release the trolley. The garage can be opened under the following two conditions: radar detection and pressing the push button.

[0091] In step 790, it is checked whether the trolley exit state is detected. If the answer is no, we return to step 780. If the answer is yes, we go to step 791 for which at least one of the following actions is triggered: Display of a message (pop-up) on the screens, such as "lifeline used", switching on flashing lights on the basket, switching on a flashing light on the chassis. In step 792, all movements are prohibited. Operator OP2 holds onto the lifeline with his second lanyard. He can exit the basket through the gate. In step 793, operator OP1 is in the basket and operator OP2 has possibly exited the basket.

[0092] An example of the process is presented below in the form of a flowchart linked to Figure 8. We note OP1: the operator monitoring in the basket; OP2: the operator leaving the basket and OP3: the operator monitoring on the ground. In this process, the entry of operator OP2 into the basket is carried out without a gate condition.

[0093] At step 810, operator OP2 is outside the basket, attached to the lifeline: all movements are prohibited.

[0094] At step 820, OP2 enters the basket. At step 830, operator OP2 attaches to the basket with a first lanyard. At step 840, operator OP2 attaches to the basket with a second lanyard from the lifeline. At step 850, operator OP2 presses the push button to open the garage. At step 860, operator OP2 puts the trolley back in the garage.

[0095] In step 870, we test whether the trolley is detected as stored. If the answer is no, we return to step 860, if the answer is yes, we go to step 880 according to which, we command the stopping of at least one of the following actions: basket flashes, flashing light on the chassis and display of messages (pop-ups). In step 890, the operators OP1 or OP2 can take over the controls (at reduced speeds).

[0096] In step 891, we check whether the vertical distance over the area is greater than 1 meter. If the answer is no, we return to step 890. If the answer is yes, we authorize all movements (step 892) at normal speed.

Claims

Claims

1. Machine (1) for working in elevation of at least one person, said machine (1) comprising a lower part (2), a lifting structure (3), a basket-type nacelle (4) carried by the lifting structure (3) and a unit (5) for controlling the movement of the lifting structure (3) at least for moving the nacelle (4) between a low position and a high position, said nacelle (4) comprising at least one platform (6) and a guardrail structure in the form of a frame (7) surrounding the platform (6), characterized in that the nacelle (4) comprises a carriage (8), and a path (9) for guiding the carriage (8) along which the carriage (8) is movably mounted, in that the carriage (8) comprises at least one anchoring member (10) and in that the unit (5) for controlling the movement of the lifting structure (3) is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure (3) depending on the position of the carriage (8) along the guide path (9).

2. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a system (11) for determining a parameter representative of the position of the carriage (8) along the guide path (9) and in that the unit (5) for controlling the movement of the lifting structure (3) is configured to acquire data supplied by said system (11) and to control the movement of the lifting structure (3) as a function of the data supplied by said system (11).

3. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the guide path (9) comprises at least one so-called working zone (91) of the carriage (8) and a so-called garage zone (92) of the carriage (8) and in that the unit (5) for controlling the movement of the lifting structure (3) is configured to, in at least one operating mode of the machine (1), authorize a movement of the lifting structure (3) in the positioned state of the carriage (8) in the or one of the garage zones (92) of the guide path (9) and prohibit a movement of the lifting structure (3) in the positioned state of the carriage (8) in the or one of the working zones (91) of the guide path (9).

4. Machine (1) for working at elevation according to claim 3, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises, for the or each garage zone (92) of the guide path (9), at least one member (12) for closing said garage zone (92), this closing member (12) being a movable member configured to move from a closed position in which any entry or exit of the carriage (8) from said garage zone (92) is prevented to an open position and vice versa.

5. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to claim 4, characterized in that the machine (1) comprises a return member (13) of the closing member (12) in the closed position.

6. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that the or at least one of the members (12) for closing the garage area (92) is, in the closed position, arranged on the path followed by the carriage (8) for movement between the garage area (92) and the or one work area (91) and, in the open position, arranged at a distance from the path followed by the carriage (8) for movement between the garage area (92) and the or one work area (91), this closing member (12) being independent in movement of the carriage (8) for working in elevation.

7. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the closing member (12), independent in movement of the carriage (8), is a finger (121) and the return member (13), a spring (131), said closing finger (121) being arranged at a transition zone between the garage zone (92) capable of being closed by the closing finger (121) and the or one working zone (91) of the guide path (9), this closing finger (121) being, in the closed position, arranged on the path followed by the carriage (8) for movement between the garage zone (92) and the or one working zone (91) and, in the open position, arranged at a distance from the path followed by the carriage (8) for movement between the garage zone (92) and the or one working zone (91), the spring (131) being configured to return the closing finger (121) to the closed position.

8. Machine (1) according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that it comprises at least one detection device (20) and / or for viewing at least the environment of the nacelle (4), at least one actuator for driving the member (12) for closing the garage area (92) between the closed position and the open position and a control unit for said actuator, said control unit being configured to control the operation of the actuator according to the data provided by the detector and / or display device (20).

9. Machine (1) for working at elevation according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the anchoring member (10), integral in movement with the carriage (8), has an active anchoring zone (14) accessible depending on the position of the carriage (8) along the guide path (9).

10. Machine (1) for working at elevation according to claim 9 taken in combination with one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the active anchoring zone (14) of the anchoring member (10) is accessible in the positioned state of the carriage (8) in the or one of the working zones (91) of the guide path (9) and inaccessible in the positioned state of the carriage in the or one of the parking zones (92) of the guide path (9).

11. Machine (1) for working at elevation according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the anchoring member (10) is a ring and in that the machine (1) comprises a member (15) for closing the ring.

12. Machine (1) for working at elevation according to claim 11 taken in combination with one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the ring closure member (15) is fixedly mounted on the nacelle (4) and is formed of a cover extending opposite the ring to form an access barrier to the ring in the positioned state of the carriage (8) in the or one of the garage zones (92) of the guide path (9).

13. Machine (1) for working at elevation according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least a part of the guide path (9) extends parallel to the support plane formed by the platform (6), this part of the guide path (9) extending vertically and above one side of the frame (7) or along one side of the frame (7) outside the frame (7)-

14. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least part of the guide path (9) is formed by a rail forming a hollow body split longitudinally, in that the carriage (8) is arranged inside the rail and in that the anchoring member (10) projects from the slot of said hollow body forming the rail.

15. Machine (1) for working in elevation according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the machine (1), which comprises an operating mode in which the movement control unit of the lifting structure (3) is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure (3) as a function of the position of said carriage (8) along the guide path (9), comprises a second operating mode in which the movement control unit of the lifting structure (3) is configured to control the movement of the lifting structure (3) independently of the position of said carriage (8) along the guide path (9), said operating modes being selectively activatable and the machine comprises a member (16) for activating one or other of the modes.

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