RESCUE CAGE, AND HOISTING RESCUE VEHICLE EQUIPPED THEREWITH
20170252583 · 2017-09-07
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B66F11/044
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
E06C5/04
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
E06C7/16
FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
International classification
Abstract
The invention relates to a rescue cage (4) for a hoisting rescue vehicle (1) having a turntable ladder (3), comprising a cage base (5), a cage barrier (6) and at least one column-type support element (7) that projects from the cage base (5) and is located in the outer peripheral region of the cage base (5). A first receiving device (15) is arranged or formed on the cage base (5) in the area of the support element (7). On the side facing the cage base (5), the support element (7) includes a first connecting element (16) that is connected to the first receiving device (15) in such a way as to be detachable as required. The invention further relates to a hoisting rescue vehicle (1) equipped with a rescue cage (4) of said type as well as a person holding unit.
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22: Rescue cage (4) for a hoisting rescue vehicle (1), in particular a fire truck having a turntable ladder (3), comprising a cage base (5), a cage barrier (6) disposed at least in the region of a cage front end (9), in the region of a left-hand and/or right-hand cage side (10, 11) and optionally in the region of a cage rear end (12), and the cage barrier (6) comprises at least one column-type support element (7) projecting out from the case base (5), which at least one support element (7) is disposed in an outer peripheral region of the cage base (5), wherein at least one first receiving device (15) is provided or disposed on the cage base (5) in the region of the at least one support element (7) disposed in the outer peripheral region of the cage base (5), the at least one first receiving device (15) is provided in the form of a sleeve (28), the at least one support element (7) has a first connecting element (16) on its end facing the cage base (5), which first connecting element (16) is connected to the first receiving device (15) in such a way as to be detachable as required, the first connecting element (16) is provided in the form of a plug-in pin (24), which plug-in pin (24) is connected to an end of the support element (7) facing the cage base (5), when the support element (7) is removed from the first receiving device (15), at least one second connecting element (18) disposed or provided on an accessory (17) can be connected to the first receiving device (15) in such a way as to be detachable as required.
23: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein a first locking element (21) is disposed or provided on the at least one support element (7), in particular on its first connecting element (16), or a second locking element (22) is disposed or provided on the at least one second connecting element (18) of the accessory (17) and on the at least one first receiving device (15), which locking elements (21, 22) engage with one another when the first connecting element (16) and the first receiving device (15) or the second connecting element (18) and the first receiving device (15) are in the mutually connected position and respectively form a locking mechanism (23).
24: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein the at least one second connecting element (18) of the accessory (17) can be connected to the first receiving device (15) so as to be detachable when necessary with at least one spacer element connected in between.
25: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein several, in particular two, mutually spaced apart first receiving devices (15) are provided, in particular in a middle section (13) of the cage front end (9) and on the cage base (5) as viewed in its longitudinal extension.
26: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 25, wherein one of the support elements (7) can be attached respectively to each of the first receiving devices (15) and the support elements (7) can be connected to one another, in particular in the region of their ends remote from the cage base (5), by means of at least one connecting element (14) extending between them.
27: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein the at least one support element (7) has a second receiving device (19) in its end region remote from the cage base (5), and the second connecting element (18) of the accessory (17) can be connected to the second receiving device (19) in such a way that it can be detached as required.
28: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein the cage barrier (6) has at least one closable access opening (8), which access opening (8) is disposed in particular in the region of the cage front end (9).
29: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 28, wherein the at least one closable access opening (8) extends from the at least one support element (7) into the region of the left-hand and/or right-hand cage side (10, 11).
30: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein it and/or an accessory (17) is provided with at least one actuating means (20), in particular a cable winch, a chain block, a pulley block, a linear drive, a spindle drive, a rack and pinion drive, a pressure-operated drive or a deflection roller, in order to convey the person to be accommodated together with a transport means onto a person holding unit.
31: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 30, wherein the actuating means (20) is connected to the accessory (17) by means of a coupling device (31) in such a way as to be detachable as required.
32: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 22, wherein the accessory (17) is selected from the group comprising floodlights, high-pressure blowers, water cannon or holders for the latter, ramps (32), person holding units such as a stretcher holding device, stretcher chair holding device or wheelchair holding device.
33: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 32, wherein the ramp (32) is disposed on the accessory (17) provided in the form of the person holding unit and can be retained thereon in a detachable manner in particular.
34: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 32, wherein the ramp (32) is of a pivotable design.
35: Rescue cage (4) according to claim 34, wherein the ramp (32) can be locked in at least one of its pivoted positions by means of a locking mechanism (33).
36: Hoisting rescue vehicle (1), in particular a fire truck, having a chassis (2) and a turntable ladder (3) or a telescopic or articulated mast, as well as a rescue cage (4) retained on the end of the ladder set of the turntable ladder (3) or telescopic or articulated mast remote from the chassis (2), wherein the rescue cage (4) is of the type according to claim 22.
Description
[0028] These are highly simplified, schematic diagrams illustrating the following:
[0029]
[0030]
[0031]
[0032]
[0033]
[0034]
[0035]
[0036]
[0037]
[0038] Firstly, it should be pointed out that the same parts described in the different embodiments are denoted by the same reference numbers and the same component names and the disclosures made throughout the description can be transposed in terms of meaning to same parts bearing the same reference numbers or same component names. Furthermore, the positions chosen for the purposes of the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., relate to the drawing specifically being described and can be transposed in terms of meaning to a new position when another position is being described. The expression “in particular” as used below should be understood as meaning one possible, more special embodiment or more specifically defined object, although not necessarily a preferred embodiment of that object.
[0039]
[0040] However, the hoisting rescue vehicle 1 could also have a telescopic ladder or articulated mast instead of the turntable ladder. The rescue cage 4 is usually disposed at an end of the ladder set of the turntable ladder 3 remote from the chassis 2 and rotating or pivoting system 3 and can be pivoted and moved accordingly for moving to and from the deployment site and when being deployed for its intended purpose.
[0041] Hereafter, the rescue cage 4 alone is illustrated and described although no further details will be given as to how it is retained and mounted on the turntable ladder 3. In describing the design of the rescue cage 4, reference will also be made to the relevant standards and the corresponding terminology will be used as far as possible.
[0042]
[0043] The cage barrier 6 may comprise, for example, a handrail, baseboards in the region of the cage base 5, a top guardrail and/or several additional uprights 30 or columns. The additional uprights 30 in this example of an embodiment are disposed in the side region of the rescue cage 4. The upright or uprights 30 are usually permanently connected to the rescue cage 4, in particular its cage base 5. In this respect, it should be noted that the disposition of the support element or elements 7 as well as the upright or uprights 30 illustrated here is just an example and any other layout is also possible. It would also be possible for the cage barrier 6 to be made up of only support elements 7 that can be removed or of individual parapet units formed by the support elements 7. This being the case, the entire cage barrier 6 can be removed from the cage base 5.
[0044] To provide access inside the cage barrier 6 making it possible to get onto the cage base 5, one or more closable access openings 8 may be provided or arranged in the region of the cage barrier 6. The access opening 8 may be designed so that it can be closed off by means of a trapdoor, a folding ladder, a sliding door, a folding door or such like, for example. The handrail may additionally be disposed above the access opening 8. The at least one closable access opening 8 in this example of an embodiment is disposed in the region of the cage front end 9, although it may also be disposed in the corner region and/or on another cage side of the cage barrier 6.
[0045] The cage barrier 6 in this example of an embodiment is disposed in the region of a cage front end 9, in the region of a left-hand and/or right-hand cage side 10, 11 and optionally also in the region of a cage rear end 12.
[0046] The rescue cage 4, in particular its cage barrier 6, also comprises at least one but preferably several of the column-type support elements 7. The column-type support element or elements 7 extend up from the cage base 5 and are disposed on it in the outer peripheral region of the cage base 5. In this particular example of an embodiment, two support elements 7 are disposed in the region of the cage front end 9 in its middle section 13, and in order to impart additional strength and form a frame element, especially in the region of their ends remote from the cage base 5, they may be connected to one another by means of at least one connecting element 14 extending between them—in this particular example of an embodiment by a bar. However, the connecting element 14 may be provided in the form of some other component, for example a sheet metal part, a flat bar or similar. This being the case, it is possible to provide an integral parapet unit comprising at least two support elements 7 and one or more connecting elements 14 which can be removed from the cage base 5 as a whole.
[0047] The support element or elements 7 has/have a height or length such that they extend from the cage base 5 to approximately the region of the handrail. The latter is disposed at least 1.1 m above the standing surface defined by the cage base 5. This height is the standard currently in force and any modification must conform to this stipulation.
[0048] As described above, a folding ladder may be provided between the two in particular column-type support elements 7 which closes off the gap constituting the access opening 8 when in the folded-in position. Furthermore, at least one other closable access opening 8 may be provided, extending from the at least one support element 7 into the region of the left-hand cage side 10 and/or the right-hand cage side 11. The at least one closable access opening 8 is preferably provided on both sides of the at least one support element 7 respectively. However, there may be multiple access openings 8, namely in the corner region and/or at least one of the other cage sides 10 to 12.
[0049] In this particular example of an embodiment, the other access openings 8 disposed on either side of the two column-type support elements 7 can each be closed by means of an inwardly opening folding door or pivoting door.
[0050] In order to provide virtually free access to the rescue cage 4 from its cage front end 9 and make the cage barrier 6 open at the front starting from the cage base 5, at least one first receiving device 15 is provided on the cage base 5 in the region of the at least one support element 7, preferably two support elements 7.
[0051] The at least one column-type support element 7 has a first connecting element 16 on its end facing the cage base 5. The first connecting element 16 can be connected to the first receiving device 15 such that it can be released as and when necessary. Accordingly, the, or in this particular example of an embodiment the two support elements 7 in the region of the cage front end 9 can be removed from the rescue cage 4 as and when required. This removal may be by taking them away or by a sliding or pivoting movement. If two or more such support elements 7 are provided, a separate first receiving device 15 is also provided or disposed in the region of the cage base 5 for each one of the support elements 7.
[0052] Furthermore, the at least one other access opening 8 on either side of the column-type support elements 7 closed by the folding door or pivoting door can also be opened by a pivoting movement. By opening the access openings 8 on either side, almost the entire width of the cage base 5 can be opened up in the region of its cage front end 9. This is best illustrated in
[0053] Now that it is possible to open up the cage barrier 6 around a certain part of its extension by removing at least individual ones of the support elements 7, an accessory 17 having a complementary part can be retained in the at least one first receiving device 15 that has now been freed up. The accessory 17 may be selected from the group comprising floodlights, high-pressure blowers, water cannon or holders therefor, ramps, person holding units such as a stretcher holding device, stretcher chair holding device or wheelchair holding device.
[0054] As may be seen from
[0055] At least one second connecting element 18 is provided or disposed on the person holding unit. In order to retain or secure the person holding unit on the rescue cage 4, the second connecting element 18 can be connected to the first receiving device 15 so as to be detachable as and when necessary. The person holding unit may also have a pivot bearing so that the relative angular position of the person holding unit can be adjusted within certain limits relative to the longitudinal orientation of the ladder set of the turntable ladder 3. This is done by the operator or rescue worker during the process of fitting the stretcher with the patient to be transported. A certain amount of adjustment can be made depending on the position of the rescue cage 4 relative to the direction in which the stretcher will be transferred.
[0056] In addition, the column-type support element 7 may have a second receiving device 19 in the end region remote from the cage base 5—see
[0057] In order to make it easier to push the stretcher together with the patient onto the person holding unit, an actuating means 20 may be provided on the rescue cage 4, in the region of the cage rear end 12 and/or directly on the person holding unit. The actuating means 20 may be provided in the form of a winch, a chain block, a pulley block, a linear drive, a spindle drive, a rack and pinion drive, a pressure-operated drive or a deflection roller or such like. The pressure-operated drive may be a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder, for example. However, the actuating means 20 may also be connected to a drive unit in a driving relationship to apply the necessary force. The combination of the person holding unit with the actuating means 20 may optionally be construed as an independent invention in its own right. If the actuating means exerts a traction force, it may also be described as a traction drive.
[0058] In order to retain or secure the actuating means 20 on the rescue cage 4, a column-type support element 7 or an upright 30 could also be provided in the region of the cage rear end 12, for example, and the actuating means 20 can then be connected to a second receiving device 19 disposed or arranged at the top end region of the support element 7 or upright 30 so that it can be detached as necessary. To this end, however, the actuating means 20 would also have to be equipped with at least one second connecting element 18 which can then be connected to the second receiving device 19 so as to be detachable as necessary.
[0059] However, the actuating means 20 could also be connected to a first receiving device 15 provided especially for it in the floor area of the rescue cage 4. In addition, however, the actuating means 20 could be connected to the accessory 17 by means of a coupling device 31 that can be released as necessary and/or to the rescue cage 4. The actuating means 20 is used to move the stretcher or carrier, wheelchair or stretcher chair together with a person on it more easily and with less force onto the person holding unit, in particular stretcher holding device, wheelchair holding device or stretcher chair holding device, in particular by pulling. The stretcher or carrier, wheelchair or stretcher chair may generally also be referred to as transport means which, by design, can be moved onto and accommodated on a person holding unit of a corresponding design. This is usually done by pulling.
[0060] It would also be possible to provide a ramp 32 on the accessory 17 if provided in the form of a person holding unit, in particular the stretcher holding device, which in particular can be releasably retained. The ramp 32 may also be of a pivotable design so that it can be set in different positions relative to the person holding unit, in particular the stretcher holding device. In addition, the ramp 32 is equipped so that it can be locked in at least one of its pivoted positions by means of a locking mechanism 33.
[0061] The person holding unit may be of various different types and its design adapted to the respective requirements. In order to accommodate a stretcher, based on different designs depending on size to cater for different sizes and/or body mass or weight of patients, it can generally be referred to as a stretcher holding device or stretcher support. Due to the possibility of being able to make the cage barrier 6 virtually open and to do so preferably in the region of the cage front end 9 as well as the fact that the person holding unit is disposed close to the floor, the medical or rescue worker is in a much better position to take care of the person being carried, in particular the patient. This is particularly the case if it is necessary to initiate lifesaving emergency procedures immediately in the rescue cage 4 as it is being moved down. To this end, the patient is preferably accommodated in the rescue cage 4 with his head and shoulder region pointing towards the cage rear end 12. The legs can therefore extend out beyond the cage front end 9 at the end remote from the cage rear end 12 but are supported by the stretcher and the person holding unit. For resuscitation purposes, the medical or rescue worker is then able to assume a much more ergonomic position requiring less force when administering cardiac massage than is the case if the person holding unit were disposed above the handrail.
[0062] As may best be seen from
[0063] When at least one of the support elements 7 together with its first connecting element 16 has been removed from the first receiving device 15, the first receiving device 15 is now free to receive another connecting element. As described above, therefore, an accessory 17 which is needed can be connected by means of its at least one second connecting element 18 to the first receiving device 15 specially provided for it. To prevent any unintentional release and/or to provide additional fixing, the first locking element 21 may also be provided or disposed on the at least one second connecting element 18. This can then likewise engage with the second locking element 22 disposed or provided on the first receiving device 15 to form the locking mechanism 23. The accessory 17 can therefore be locked or fixedly retained.
[0064] To enable the accessory 17, in particular the person holding unit in the form of a stretcher holding device, to be supported at a predefined distance above the standing surface formed by the cage base 5, it would also be possible for the at least one second connecting element 18 of the accessory 17 to be connected to the first receiving device 15 so as to be releasable when necessary with a spacer element connected in between, although this is not illustrated. The design of the at least one spacer element may be similar to the design of the support element 7 but of a shorter or lesser length or height or may also be of a longer design.
[0065] The support element 7 is usually tubular. The first connecting element 16 may be provided in the form of a plug-in pin 24, for example, which is connected to the end of the support element 7 facing the cage base 5. The plug-in pin 24 may extend into the tubular support element 7 by means of a centering shoulder 25. The end region of the plug-in pin 24 may be of a conically or wedge-shaped tapering design, at least in certain sections. Furthermore, an end face 26 of the support element 7 may be supported in the axial direction on what is usually a flange-type shoulder 27 of the plug-in pin 24. The shoulder 27 may serve as a supporting part for the entire support element 7 affording axial support on the first receiving device 15.
[0066] The first receiving device 15 is provided in the form of a sleeve 28 having a three-dimensional shape in its interior which approximately complements that of the plug-in pin 24. This enables the plug-in pin 24 and the support element 7 connected to it to be received in the first receiving device 15 and hence centered to a certain degree. In the axial direction, the sleeve 28 may be supported on a flange 29 provided on it or integral therewith.
[0067] Another possible embodiment of the accessory 17 in the form of a person holding unit would be a wheelchair holding device or stretcher chair holding device. This is illustrated on a simplified basis in
[0068] In this example of a rescue cage 4 in conjunction with a turntable ladder 3 in particular, it is possible, by opening up the cage barrier 6 as necessary, to accommodate a person seated on a wheelchair or stretcher chair in the rescue cage 4 more easily without the person together with the wheelchair or stretcher chair having to be lifted into the rescue cage 4 over the handrail. If then being transported in the rescue cage 4, additional retaining or safety devices will have to be provided to prevent either the stretcher together with patient or the wheelchair with the person seated on it from falling off.
[0069] In this connection, however, it should be noted that to ensure the safety of the emergency or rescue worker or several of them, at least one but preferably several retaining elements are provided, distributed around the rescue cage 4, in particular in the region of the cage barrier 6, to which the rescue worker or rescue workers can secure themselves, e.g. by means of a safety element such as a safety rope or similar, so that they do not fall off the rescue cage 4 when it is open at the front.
[0070]
[0071] In the case of the rescue cage 4 illustrated in
[0072] If a control device for effecting the movement of the rescue cage 4 is disposed in the rescue cage 4 itself in the region of the cage barrier 6, for example, it is possible to fit the ramp 32 eccentrically relative to the width of the rescue cage 4. However, it is also possible for the ramp 32 itself to be mounted on the cage base 5 so as to be pivotable in a plane parallel therewith. Furthermore, the viewing direction of the person accommodated in the rescue cage and seated on the wheelchair or stretcher chair can be freely selected as required. In this particular example of an embodiment, the viewing direction is from the cage rear end 12 in the direction towards the cage front end 9.
[0073] The diagram in
[0074] Accordingly, a person seated in a wheelchair or stretcher chair can be easily and effortlessly accommodated in the rescue cage as required. Additional aids such as the actuating means 20 described above may be used for assistance.
[0075] The embodiments illustrated as examples represent possible variants of the rescue cage 4, and it should be pointed out at this stage that the invention is not specifically limited to the variants specifically illustrated, and instead the individual variants may be used in different combinations with one another and these possible variations lie within the reach of the person skilled in this technical field given the disclosed technical teaching.
[0076] Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different embodiments illustrated and described may be construed as independent inventive solutions or solutions proposed by the invention in their own right.
[0077] The objective underlying the independent inventive solutions may be found in the description.
[0078] Above all, the individual embodiments of the subject matter illustrated in
[0079] For the sake of good order, finally, it should be pointed out that, in order to provide a clearer understanding of the structure of the rescue cage 4, it and its constituent parts are illustrated to a certain extent out of scale and/or on an enlarged scale and/or on a reduced scale.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
[0080] 1 Hoisting rescue vehicle 31 Coupling device
[0081] 2 Chassis 32 Ramp
[0082] 3 Turntable ladder 33 Locking mechanism
[0083] 4 Rescue cage 34 Auxiliary element
[0084] 5 Cage base
[0085] 6 Cage barrier
[0086] 7 Support element
[0087] 8 Access opening
[0088] 9 Cage front end
[0089] 10 Left-hand cage side
[0090] 11 Right-hand cage side
[0091] 12 Cage rear end
[0092] 13 Middle section
[0093] 14 Connecting element
[0094] 15 First receiving device
[0095] 16 First connecting element
[0096] 17 Accessory
[0097] 18 Second connecting element
[0098] 19 Second receiving device
[0099] 20 Actuating means
[0100] 21 First locking element
[0101] 22 Second locking element
[0102] 23 Locking mechanism
[0103] 24 Plug-in pin
[0104] 25 Centering shoulder
[0105] 26 End face
[0106] 27 Shoulder
[0107] 28 Sleeve
[0108] 29 Flange
[0109] 30 Upright