Access ladder assembly for a movable machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10246940-B1
Application number	US-201816023898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Jun 29, 2018
Priority date	Nov 15, 2017
Publication date	Apr 2, 2019
Grant date	Apr 2, 2019

Abstract

An access ladder assembly for a machine includes a fixed section, a movable section, a biasing member, a locking member, and a release assembly. The fixed section includes a pair of guide members and a fixed step. The movable section is mounted on and is movable along the fixed section between extended and retracted positions. The movable section includes a pair of sidewalls, and at least one horizontal step and is biased towards the retracted position by the biasing member. The locking member locks the movable member at the extended position. The release assembly operates to release the locking member. A manually engagable actuator of the release assembly may be disposed adjacent the fixed step. The movable section may include rails that slide within a hollow portions of the guide members as the movable section moves between the extended and retracted positions.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An access ladder assembly for a machine, comprising:
a fixed section including a horizontal fixed step;
a movable section mounted on the fixed section, the movable section being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the movable section including at least one horizontal step;
a biasing member configured to bias the movable section towards the retracted position;
a locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein at the locked position, the locking member prevents movement of the movable section from the extended position to the retracted position, and at the unlocked position allows movement of the movable section to the retracted position;
a release assembly operatively connected to the locking member and including a manually engagable actuator disposed adjacent the horizontal fixed step of the fixed section, the manually engagable actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the second position, the locking member is moved to the unlocked position.

2. The access ladder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the manually engagable actuator is mounted on the fixed section.

3. The access ladder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the release assembly includes a release lever, the release lever being pivotably mounted and having a first end operatively connected to the manually engagable actuator and a second end operatively connected to the locking member.

4. The access ladder assembly of claim 3 , wherein the manually engagable actuator is disposed above the horizontal fixed step.

5. The access ladder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart guide members and a pair of follower members, each follower member being configured to slidably engage one of the guide members as the movable section moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

6. The access ladder assembly of claim 5 , wherein each guide member has a hollow portion and each follower member is configured to slidably move within the hollow portion of one of the guide members as the movable section moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

7. The access ladder assembly of claim 6 , wherein the biasing member is a first biasing member and further comprising a second biasing member, and each of the first and second biasing members being disposed within one of the hollow portions.

8. The access ladder assembly of claim 5 , wherein the horizontal fixed step is mounted to and extends between the guide members.

9. The access ladder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is a first biasing member and further comprising a second biasing member, the first and second biasing members being parallel.

10. The access ladder assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart guide members and a pair of follower members, each follower member being configured to slidably engage one of the guide members as the movable section moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

11. The access ladder assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fixed section includes a mounting member, the mounting member being configured to mount the fixed section to the machine.

12. The access ladder assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a lock biasing member configured to bias the locking member in the locked position.

13. An access ladder assembly for a machine, comprising:
a fixed section including a horizontal fixed step;
a movable section mounted on the fixed section, the movable section being movable relative to the fixed section along a path between an extended position and a retracted position, the movable section including an engagement surface and at least one horizontal step;
a biasing member configured to bias the movable section towards the retracted position;
a locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein at the locked position, the locking member extends into the path of the movable section and engages the engagement surface of the movable section and prevents movement of the movable section from the extended position to the retracted position, and at the unlocked position, the locking member is spaced from the path of the movable section and permits movement of the movable section from the extended position to the retracted position;
a release assembly operatively connected to the locking member and including a manually engagable actuator disposed adjacent the horizontal fixed step of the fixed section, the manually engagable actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the second position, the locking member is moved to the unlocked position.

14. The access ladder assembly of claim 13 , wherein the release assembly includes a release lever, the release lever being pivotably mounted and having a first end operatively connected to the manually engagable actuator and a second end operatively connected to the locking member.

15. The access ladder assembly of claim 14 , wherein the manually engagable actuator is disposed above the horizontal fixed step.

16. The access ladder assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a pair of spaced apart guide members and a pair of follower members, each follower member being configured to slidably engage one of the guide members as the movable section moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

17. The access ladder assembly of claim 16 , wherein each guide member has a hollow portion and each follower member is configured to slidably move within the hollow portion of one of the guide members as the movable section moves between the extended, position and the retracted position.

18. The access ladder assembly of claim 16 , wherein the horizontal fixed step is mounted to and extends between the guide members.

19. The access ladder assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a lock biasing member configured to bias the locking member in the locked position.

20. A machine comprising:
a frame;
a prime mover mounted on the frame;
a ground-engaging drive mechanism operatively connected to the prime mover;
an operator station; and
an access ladder assembly for providing access to the operator station, the access ladder assembly comprising:
a fixed section including a horizontal fixed step;
a movable section mounted on the fixed section, the movable section being movable between an extended position and a retracted position, the movable section including at least one horizontal step;
a biasing member configured to bias the movable section towards the retracted position;
a locking member, the locking member being movable between a locked position and an unlocked position, wherein at the locked position, the locking member prevents movement of the movable section from the extended position to the retracted position, and at the unlocked position allows movement of the movable section to the retracted position;
a release assembly operatively connected to the locking member and including a manually engagable actuator disposed adjacent the horizontal fixed step of the fixed section, the manually engagable actuator being movable between a first position and a second position, wherein at the second position, the locking member is moved to the unlocked position.

Assignees

• Caterpillar Paving Products Inc

Inventors

• Haro Jason A
• Mashek Nathan L
• Engelmann Eric S

Classifications

• E02F9/0833

  Improving access, e.g. for maintenance, steps for improving driver's access, handrails · CPC title

• B60R3/02

  Retractable steps {or ladders, e.g. movable under shock (B60R3/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• E06C7/081

  Rungs or other treads comprising anti-slip features · CPC title

• E06C5/22 Primary

  by, or with the assistance of, springs (E06C5/06, E06C5/16 take precedence) · CPC title

• E06C7/183

  situated along the ladder · CPC title