AU773090B2 - Access device - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref:7464641 P/00/011 Regulation 3:2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 0@ S S

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Applicant(s): Justoy Pty Ltd 4 Russell Road Mt Thorley Via Singleton New South Wales 2330 Australia DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street SYDNEY NSW 2000 Address for Service: Invention Title: Access device The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\746464 L)US 21/2/00 -1- ACCESS DEVICE Field of Invention The present invention relates to an access device, such as a ladder, which provides access between a substrate surface and an elevated surface. The present invention, in particular, relates to an access device which is particularly suitable for attachment to a locomotive, or other vehicle, where access may be required between a platform and a vehicle, and also between a lower substrate surface and the vehicle, and, whereby the access device is wholly retained such as not to protrude from the vehicle whilst the vehicle is in use.

Background and Related Art SA variety of different access devices are presently known, to provide access between upper ooooo and lower surfaces. Various such devices are disclosed in granted and pending patent S applications made by the Applicant, such as in the Applicants' earlier Australian patent application Nos 67555/94 and 14992/97, and, corresponding overseas applications.

For example, in the Applicants earlier patent application No. 67555/94, the access device provides access between a substrate surface and an elevated surface of a vehicle, whereby the device is provided with a pair of rigid arms on each side of the access device, such that, the .i device is pivotally movable from a stable lower position to a stable upper position. In the lower position, the access device is inclined at between 60 and 750 relative to a substantially horizontally substrate surface, with the upper end of the device in a position substantially adjacent to and forwardly of the elevated surface. In the upper position, that access device is provided substantially vertically or at a rearwardly inclined angle in a position which is totally upward and rearward of the elevated surface.

Also, in the Applicants earlier patent application No. 14992/97, there is provided an access device which, instead of being stored upwardly and rearward of the elevated surface, the device is stored in a substantially horizontal position on the side or across the front of the eZ-so-VOOZ oleo OLVgL awiLellejisny dl Aq POAaOGH L9L_9L9OO-ISVYlS :oj 0 fO -2vehicle. This is achieved by moving the device from the boarding to the storage position wherein, firstly, the device is rotated about a first axis, and secondly, the device is refracted such that the second end of the device is retracted towards the elevated surface.

Whilst the Applicants' earlier access device inventions provide significant advantages over the prior art devices, it will be appreciated that each of these devices are particularly designed to complement quite unique vehicles, wherein the functional uses of the particular vehicle limits the options for storage of the access device and, the different physical embodiments of the vehicles, necessitate different designs of access devices for access between different surfaces.

Summary of the Invention The present invention seeks to provide an access device which may be used as an alternative to the aforementioned devices, and which overcome certain disadvantages of prior art access devices in certain situations.

The present invention seeks to provide an access device which is conveniently located to be retained behind the side extremities of a locomotive, or other like vehicle when in the folded position, but which extends substantially downwardly and outwardly when in the access position.

X The present invention also seeks to provide a device which enables access from a lower surface which may be provided substantially lower in elevation to the underside of the vehicle, locomotive, or the 1like.

The present invention also seeks to provide an access device which, when in the folded position, access may be provided directly from a -platform to the cabin, without impediment of the access device.

In one broad fornm, the present invention provides a retractable access device for providing access between a substrate surface and an elevated surface of a vehicle such as a train, said access device comprising: C1 /V 080L Z9Z6 Z 19+: CL 001 ~LS+ ABD UOS!IIOD seIAeo:LANd8O;V :VO-s -CZ cU-CO-OOZ Oleo OL:9 eu! :e!IeJIsnv dl Aq peA!eoaeJ L9_9L900-1INS :ON OI SIOO MWPOCPAnoV=V46MI.A*41 hiM& 2M -3support means attached to or integral with a side surface of said vehicle; a first ladder member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to said support means adjacent to said elevated surface of said vehicle; a second ladder member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to a second end of said first ladder member; a cylinder or like mechanism, a first end thereof being pivotally attached to said support means, and, a second end thereof being pivotally attached to said first ladder member spaced apart from said first end thereof;

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a guide arm, a first end thereof being pivotally attached to said support means, and, a second end thereof being pivotally attached to said second ladder means at any position therealong; whereby, said device is movable between a storage position and an access position in a single movement step, wherein as said cylinder is extended, said first ladder member is pivoted outwardly from said vehicle, and, under the influence of said guide arm, said second ladder member is simultaneously rotated outwardly relative to said first ladder member; and wherein, in the storage position, said ladder members are folded in a substantially upright disposition in a compact and overlapping manner adjacent said side surface of said vehicle, and, in an access position, said ladder members are aligned and outwardly inclined at an angle of between 600 and 75' relative to said substrate surface.

Preferably, each of said ladder members includes at least one handrail.

Also preferably, in said access position, said ladder members are inclined at approximately 620 relative to said substrate surface.

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P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\7464641.JUS 21/2/00 -4- Brief Description of the Drawings The present invention will become more fully understood from the following detailed description of preferred but novel embodiments thereof described in connection with the accompanied drawings wherein: Fig. 1 illustrates, in Fig. 1A, Fig. 1B, and Fig. 1C, the access de'vice in accordance with the present invention, showing the lowered, half raised, and raised positions, respectively of the device in accordance with the present invention adapted to the side of the locomotive; and Fig. 2 illustrates, in Fig. 2A, 2B and 2C, the access device in accordance with the present invention adapted to the front of an earth moving or like vehicle, showing the lowered, half raised, and raised positions, respectively.

""Detailed Description with Preferred Embodiments i Throughout the drawings, like vehicles will be used to identify similar features, except where expressly otherwise indicated.

As will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art, a prior art access devices adapted to the side of a locomotive cannot protrude from the side extremities of the locomotive whilst the locomotive is in use. When the locomotive is adjacent a platform, access must be provided directly from the platform onto the cabin area of the locomotive. When the locomotive is not adjacent to the platform, access must be provided by steps to a substrate surface. Due to the manner in which railways are constructed with tracks (and therefore the bottom of the locomotive) being raised relative to the substrate surface, the lower surface from which access is ultimately required to be obtained, is often disposed substantially below the lower surface of the train or track level, and also substantially outwardly of the locomotive.

Figs 1 and 2 illustrate the access device in accordance with the present invention overcoming the problems of the prior art. Fig. 1 illustrates the device adapted to the side of a locomotive, whilst Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the device adapted to the front of an earth moving equipment.

P:\WPDOCSAMD\SPEC\7464641 JUS 21/210 As illustrated in Fig. 1, the access device, generally designated by the numeral 4 is designed to provide access between lower and upper surfaces, 3 and 2 respectively. The access device 4 includes upper and lower members 5 and 6, which are pivotally connected by pivot point 7 in a manner such that the upper and lower members 5 and 6 respectively, articulate. The lower member is designed to be rotatable by 1800 relative to the upper member 5 such is completely folded with respect to the upper member 5 when in the storage position. In the access position, the members are adapted to extend outwardly and downwardly, in end abutting relationship as shown in Fig. 1A. Movement of the device is effected by the upper end of the upper member 5 being pivotally connected at pivot point 8 onto or adjacent to the upper surface 2, and by at least one cylinder or like device 9 effecting movement in conjunction with a guide arm 10. The operational movement of the device is illustrated in Figs 1A, 1B and IC.

9*9* It will be seen that, in use, on the side of a locomotive, or other vehicle, in the raised position, the device is fully retained behind the side of the vehicle or locomotive when in the folded position, whilst in the access position, the device extends substantially downwardly and outwardly, preferably at between 60' and 750, relative to the lower surface, shown in Fig. 2A. In alternative applications the access device is preferably angled at between 200 and 45 As noted in various standards, such as Australian Standard AS 1657-1992 (access) access devices, the "insafe zone" is between 450 and 600.

o*o* Whilst the device shown in Figs 1 and 2 illustrate the use of one cylinder or like mechanism connected between the locomotive, vehicle and the upper member, other actuating members may be provided to effect similar operation. In the embodiment shown in Figs 1 and 2, one cylinder is provided, and a guide arm is additionally provided connected to the lower member to guide the rotation of the lower member through its 180' movement. It will be appreciated that as the ladder is being folded, particularly as it is near in its closing position, such an arrangement may result in rapid rotation of the lower member. As such, a cam, gear, or the like may be used to control or limit the rotational movement of the lower member, as desired.

P:\WPDOCS\AMD\SPECI\7464641 .US -21/2/00 -6- It will therefore be appreciated that with the provision of hand rails 11 and 12, access from a surface 3 which is substantially lower than the underside surface of the vehicle 13 may be provided, as easy hand access to the lower hand rail may be enabled. As such, the difficulties encountered by the prior art with the operative or reaching hand rail would be overcome.

It will be appreciated that numerous variations and modifications to the device will be envisaged to persons skilled in the art. Any such variations and modifications to the device in achieving the functional aspirations of the invention as hereinbefore described, should be considered all within the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

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Claims (3)

1. A retractable access device for providing access between a substrate surface and an elevated surface of a vehicle such as a train, said access device comprising: support means attached to or integral with a side surface of said vehicle; a first ladder member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to said support means adjacent to said elevated surface of said vehicle; a second ladder member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to a second end :l of said first ladder member; a cylinder or like mechanism, a first end thereof being pivotally attached to said support means, and, a second end thereof being pivotally attached to said first ladder member spaced apart from said first end thereof; a guide arm, a first end thereof being pivotally attached to said support means, and, a second end thereof being pivotally attached to said second ladder means at any position therealong; 15 whereby, said device is movable between a storage position and an access position in a single movement step, wherein as said cylinder is extended, said first ladder member is pivoted outwardly from said vehicle, and, under the influence of said guide arm, said second ladder member is simultaneously rotated outwardly relative to said first ladder 0 member;, and 20 wherein, in the storage position, said ladder members are folded in a substantially upright disposition in a compact and overlapping manner adjacent said side surface of said vehicle, and, in an access position, said ladder members are aligned and outwardly inclined at an angle of between 600 and 75' relative to said substrate surface.

2. A retractable access device as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said ladder members includes at least one handrail. CI /A 080 Z9 6 z L9+: SI /9 080L 9~6 9+ An3 UCCI I 10 Se !AeO:Jd8O;V :VO-s -H~ Z-Eo-tOOZ alea OL.:L Gu!l. :e!leJlsnv dl Aq p2a!aG8l L9L9L900-1GIVS :oN QI SflOO hPSlOCRAMhp&%i74UUSiLdoc-f3 Marh fb -8-

3. A retractable access device as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in said access position, said ladder members are inclined at approximately 62* relative to said substrate surface. DATED this 23rd day of March, 2004 JUSTOY PTY LIMITED By Their Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE S S S S S. S.. S.r *SSS S 55 S. L /L 080L Zgg 6 Z L9+: a/ #3 uos Io0 seIea0:d8O;p :PVO- -CZ