Stair system for a working machine, working machine

Abstract

A stair system for a working machine having an upper carriage and a lower carriage pivotable against each other includes a foldable ladder movable between an upper end position and a lower end position, wherein in the upper end position the ladder is arrangeable at the working machine in a way that moving and pivoting of the working machine is not disturbed and wherein in the lower end position the ladder is able to provide access to the upper carriage, such as to a cabin, of the working machine; a control system comprising at least one alignment sensor indicating alignment of the upper and lower carriage and a controller which is able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder based on an output of the alignment sensor.

Claims

1. A stair system for a working machine having an upper carriage and a lower carriage pivotable against each other comprising: a foldable ladder movable between an upper end position and a lower end position, wherein in the upper end position the ladder is arrangeable at the working machine in a way that moving and pivoting of the working machine is not disturbed and wherein in the lower end position the ladder is able to provide access to the upper carriage of the working machine; and a control system comprising at least one alignment sensor indicating alignment of the upper and lower carriage; a controller which is able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder based on an output of the alignment sensor.

2. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein the upper end position is between the upper and lower carriage.

3. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein the foldable ladder is arranged in horizontal position in the upper end position.

4. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein in the lower end position the ladder has an angle in the range of 10 to 30 to a vertical direction of the working machine and/or wherein a turning radius of the ladder is not larger than a turning radius of a door of the working machine.

5. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein one ladder stringer is pivotably connectable to the working machine via a hinge.

6. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein the foldable ladder comprises a folding construction having two centres of rotation.

7. A stair system according to claim 6, wherein the foldable ladder comprises a bearing fork which is pivotably connectable to the working machine and at which two ladder stringers are pivotably arranged, wherein the bearing fork is pivotably connectable to a main bracket of the working machine.

8. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein the foldable ladder is arranged and constructed to be moved manually.

9. A stair system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one movement sensor detecting a moving state of the working machine and/or at least one position sensor detecting a position of the foldable ladder and/or at least one surveillance sensor for space surveillance of a range of motion of the foldable ladder, wherein the controller is further able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder and/or the working machine based on an output of the movement sensor and/or the at least one position sensor and/or the at least one surveillance sensor.

10. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein the stair system is an automatic stair system with a ladder drive system comprising at least one electrical or hydraulic, linearly extending, actuator and a coupling rod driving the foldable ladder.

11. A stair system according to claim 10, wherein the control system comprises at least two control elements to activate the ladder drive system, of which a first control element is arranged at a cabin of the working machine and a second control element is arranged to be reachable from the ground.

12. A stair system according to claim 1, wherein the control system comprises a warning unit, which is able to output a warning signal to an operator if a movement of the foldable ladder and/or the working machine is blocked or enabled by the control system, wherein the warning signal differs depending on the sensor output leading to the block of the respective movement.

13. A stair system according to claim 10, further comprising an actuator sensor for a status of the electrical or hydraulic actuator and wherein the control system is further able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder based on an output of the actuator sensor.

14. A working machine having an upper and a lower carriage pivotable against each other with a stair system according claim 1.

15. A working machine according to claim 14, wherein the working machine is an excavator, a truck crane or a harvester.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] With reference to the appended drawings, below follows a more detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure cited as examples.

[0030] In the drawings:

[0031] FIG. 1A is a schematic view of an excavator with a stair system according to an embodiment,

[0032] FIG. 1B is a detailed view of the stair system according of FIG. 1A,

[0033] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a stair system according to the disclosure from a bottom side,

[0034] FIG. 2B is a further perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A,

[0035] FIG. 2C is a further perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A from above with the foldable ladder in a lower end position,

[0036] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a working machine with a further embodiment of a stair system according to the disclosure,

[0037] FIG. 3B is a further perspective view of the working machine of FIG. 3A,

[0038] FIG. 3C is a further perspective view of the working machine of FIG. 3A,

[0039] FIG. 3D shows two detailed views of the stair system of FIG. 3A,

[0040] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a stair system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0041] It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

[0042] Like reference character refer to like elements throughout the description.

[0043] FIG. 1A is a schematic view of an excavator 1000 with a stair system according to an embodiment. The excavator 1000 has an upper carriage 1100 and a lower carriage 1110 pivotable against each other. At the excavator 1000 a stair system 100 is arranged. The stair system 100 comprises a foldable ladder 120 movable between an upper end position 1300 and a lower end position 1200. In the upper end position 1300 the ladder is arranged at the working machine in a way that moving and pivoting of the working machine is not disturbed and in the lower end position the ladder provides access to a cabin of the working machine. The stair system further comprises a control system comprising at least one alignment sensor 110 indicating alignment of the upper and lower carriage and a controller which is able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder based on an output of the alignment sensor. The controller may be a separate controller or integrated within the machine controller. The upper end position 1300 in the shown embodiment is between the upper and lower carriage and the foldable ladder 120 is arranged in horizontal position in this upper end position.

[0044] One object of the stair system is to ensure that the operator can enter the cabin of the excavator more safely. The stair system is herein attached to an upper, movable platform and is brought into its lower end position 1200 in two rotation levels by means of an electric, linearly extending actuator 150 and a coupling rod (not shown). The foldable ladder may be operated via two separate control elements (not shown), such as switches, that enable operation from outside the working machine and from the cabin.

[0045] The shown stair system can be retrofitted also in addition to the existing ladder system of today's working machines and does not affect the existing ladder system, which can always be used manually as it is electricity independent as a back-up solution. If the upper platform is rotated several degrees to the lower, the ascent system may also be able to be operated and to guarantee safe ascent and descent from the cabin, depending on the settings of the controller and the space available at the respective working machine.

[0046] FIG. 1B is a detailed view of the stair system according of FIG. 1A showing the foldable ladder 120 in the lower end position (left) and in the upper end position (right). In the lower end position the ladder has an angle in the range of 10 to 30 to a vertical direction of the working machine. In some examples, a turning radius of the ladder may be not larger than a turning radius of a door of the working machine. Thus even in the lower position the ladder does not affect passing by the working machine and the ascent or descent to the cabin is rendered more comfortable.

[0047] In the shown embodiment the foldable ladder comprises a bearing fork 130, which is pivotably connected to the working machine and at which two ladder stringers are pivotably arranged, wherein the bearing fork may be pivotably connectable to a main bracket 140 of the working machine. Thus the foldable ladder comprises a folding construction having two centres of rotation, one around which the bearing fork rotates to swivelling out the bearing fork and the ladder stringers and the second one, around which the ladder stringers rotate to fold down.

[0048] The stair system here is an automatic stair system with a ladder drive system comprising one electrical linearly extending actuator (not shown here) and a coupling rod 150 driving the foldable ladder.

[0049] The stair system further comprises a movement sensor detecting a moving state of the working machine and a position sensor detecting a position of the foldable ladder and a surveillance sensor for space surveillance of a range of motion of the foldable ladder, wherein the controller is further able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder and/or the working machine based on an output of the movement sensor and/or the position sensor and/or the surveillance sensor. Thus the controller is able to block a movement of the foldable ladder if the working machine is moving or the surveillance detector detects an obstacle in the monitored space. The controller is further able to enable the movement of the foldable ladder if the working machine is not in motion and the monitored space is free of obstacles. Furthermore the controller is able to block a pivoting and/or a movement of the working machine if the foldable ladder is not in the upper end position or if an obstacle in the monitored space is detected. Thus the safety of the stair system is further enhanced. The controller is further able to receive a signal from a control unit of the working machine indicating a position of a control lockout lever of the working machine. In this embodiment the controller is thus able to block a movement of the foldable ladder if the control lockout lever is in an unlocked position, where working and travelling operations are possible and to enable movement if the control lockout lever is in a locked position wherein further control levers and pedals are locked to prevent inadvertent operation of the working machine. The stair system further may comprise an actuator sensor for a status of the electrical or hydraulic actuator and wherein the control system is further able to block or enable a movement of the foldable ladder based on an output of the actuator sensor.

[0050] In summary preconditions to fold in/out the foldable ladder are working machine not moving/pivoting, control lockout lever in locked position, alignment of upper and lower carriage and status of the actuator is ok.

[0051] The control system may further include a warning unit, which is able to output a warning signal to an operator if a movement of the foldable ladder and/or the working machine is blocked or enabled by the control system, wherein the warning signal may differ depending on the sensor output leading to the block of the respective movement.

[0052] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a stair system 100 according to the disclosure from a bottom side. The stair system 100 resembles the stair system 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B, thus merely the further details not shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B are described in the following. The foldable ladder 120 comprises two ladder stringers 121, 122 with four steps 125. The ladder stringers 121, 122 are pivotably connected to the bearing fork 130. The bearing fork is pivotably connected to a main bracket 140 of a respective working machine. The foldable ladder is driven for fold in and fold out via an electrical linear actuator 150 together with a coupling rod 160. The actuator 150 is for folding out pulling out and the bearing fork 130 is then turned clockwise (view from the bottom side). Due to the non-coaxiality of the pivot points of the bearing fork and the coupling rod 160, the distance of the coupling rod is shortened, rotating around its pivot point. Therefore the ladder stringers fixed at the bearing fork, and connected to the coupling rod are subject to a tilting movement and able to reach its end point in the lower end position in a helical movement.

[0053] FIG. 2B is a further perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A. Herein a first centre of rotation 170 around which the bearing fork 130 and with the bearing fork also the ladder stringers rotate to swivelling out. FIG. 2C is a further perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2A from above with the foldable ladder in a lower end position. Herein a second centre of rotation 180 is shown around which the ladder stringers move to tilt down or up.

[0054] FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a working machine 2000 with a further embodiment of a stair system 200 according to the disclosure. The foldable ladder 220 is in the shown state in its upper end position. The foldable ladder 220 is in a horizontal position and does not protrude from the working machine.

[0055] FIG. 3B is a further perspective view of the working machine of FIG. 3A with foldable ladder 220 in an in-between position between the upper end position (FIG. 3A) and the lower end position (FIG. 3C). The ladder stringer 221 is pivotably connected to the working machine 2000 via a hinge 223. In the shown embodiment the ladder has foldable steps 225. The foldable steps 225 are in the shown embodiment automatically fold out and in during the movement of the ladder stringer.

[0056] FIG. 3C is a further perspective view of the working machine of FIG. 3A and shows the working machine 2000 with the stair system 200 in the lower end position, where the ladder provides easy and safe access to the cabin of the working machine.

[0057] FIG. 3D shows two detailed views of the stair system of FIG. 3A showing the foldable ladder 220 in the upper end position (left) and in the lower end position (right). In the upper end position the ladder is completely arranged within a platform 2001 of the upper carriage. In the lower end position the ladder has an angle in the range of 10 to 30 to a vertical direction of the working machine.

[0058] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a stair system 300 showing the foldable ladder 320 in the upper end position (left) and in the lower end position (right). The stair system itself is constructed and functions as the one shown in FIG. 3A to 3D. The main difference is that the stair system 300 is pivotably connected to a footstep 3001 of the working machine via a hinge 323. In the upper end position the foldable ladder 320 is arranged below of the footstep. In further embodiments the foldable ladder may also be arranged at a side of the footstep.

REFERENCE SIGNS

[0059] 100 stair system [0060] 120 foldable ladder [0061] 121 ladder stringer [0062] 122 ladder stringer [0063] 125 step [0064] 130 bearing fork [0065] 140 main bracket [0066] 150 actuator [0067] 160 coupling rod [0068] 170 centre of rotation [0069] 180 centre of rotation [0070] 200 stair system [0071] 220 foldable ladder [0072] 221 ladder stringer [0073] 223 hinge [0074] 225 foldable steps [0075] 300 stair system [0076] 320 foldable ladder [0077] 323 hinge [0078] 1000 excavator [0079] 1100 upper carriage [0080] 1110 lower carriage [0081] 1200 lower end position [0082] 1300 upper end position [0083] 2000 working machine [0084] 2001 platform [0085] 3001 footstep