Folding Steps Access Platform with Vertical Displacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial and mobile equipment accidents frequently occur due to slips and falls from steps, ladders, and stairways, highlighting the need for safer access solutions to elevated areas.
Innovation Solution
An access platform system with a vertical displacement mechanism and a folding steps assembly that integrates with the equipment, allowing for safe and efficient ingress and egress by providing a rising and lowering platform with a mechanical advantage and a compact, secure folding steps configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fixed steps and ladders are used for equipment access, then structural simplicity is maintained, but safety is compromised due to slips and falls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by replacing fixed static steps with a movable platform system that can rise and lower vertically. The platform moves along guide rails between ground level and equipment level, dynamically adapting its position to provide safe access while eliminating the need for fixed ladders or steps that cause slips and falls.
Solution Approach 2:
The access system is segmented into distinct functional components: a movable platform, guide rails, folding steps for final access to the platform, and a base structure. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the platform provides stable working surface, the rails ensure controlled movement, and the folding steps provide safe final approach.
2Ease of operation
If folding steps are integrated with the movable platform, then safe access to the platform is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The folding steps are merged with the movable platform structure, integrating the final access mechanism directly into the platform assembly. This combination allows the steps to fold compactly against the platform when not in use, providing safe final access while minimizing the overall footprint and reducing apparent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The steps employ a folding mechanism that dynamically changes their configuration - extended when needed for safe final access to the platform, and folded compactly when the platform is at operating level. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to serve multiple functions without requiring separate fixed components.
3Ease of operation
If the platform provides mechanical advantage for lifting, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The platform lifting mechanism utilizes hydraulic or pneumatic actuators to provide mechanical advantage for raising and lowering the platform. These fluid power systems deliver high lifting force with compact actuator size, enabling easy platform movement while keeping the mechanical complexity manageable through the use of well-established hydraulic/pneumatic technology.
Data Source
AI summary
An access platform system for enabling access to and from ground-based structures, vehicles, and mobile equipment. The system has a main frame with walls that is attached to or juxtaposed with the ground-based structures, vehicles, and mobile equipment; a vertical platform displacement assembly attached to the main frame; and a folding steps assembly. The vertical displacement mechanism has left and right intermediate carriage assemblies, and left and right lift cylinders with a multi-stage apparatus for influencing the stroke of the lift cylinders. In one embodiment, the folding steps assembly has an electromechanical means for folding and unfolding the steps.