Horizontally articulating platform arm assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10589972-B2
Application number	US-201715401404-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 9, 2017
Priority date	Jan 9, 2017
Publication date	Mar 17, 2020
Grant date	Mar 17, 2020

Abstract

A horizontally articulating platform arm is described. The horizontally articulating platform arm includes a horizontally articulating arm and a rotation limiter. A proximal end of the horizontally articulating arm is configured to be pivotably secured to a boom assembly, and a distal end of the horizontally articulating arm is configured to be pivotably secured to a utility platform assembly. The horizontally articulating arm is configured to be emplaced in an aligned configuration. A first angle is deviated from the aligned configuration between the proximal end and the boom assembly, and a second angle is deviated from the aligned configured between the distal end and the utility platform assembly. The rotation limiter assembly is configured to mechanically prevent a summation of the first angle and the second angle from exceeding a maximum total angle, which may be associated with the utility platform assembly striking the boom assembly or other components.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A horizontally articulating platform arm comprising:
a horizontally articulating arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end,
wherein the proximal end of the horizontally articulating arm is pivotably secured to a boom assembly by a proximal pivot,
wherein the distal end of the horizontally articulating arm is pivotably secured to a utility platform assembly by a distal pivot,
wherein the horizontally articulating arm is coaxially aligned with the boom assembly and the utility platform assembly,
wherein a first angle is presented between the horizontally articulating arm and the boom assembly when the horizontally articulating arm is pivoted relative to the boom assembly at the proximal end;
wherein a second angle is presented between the horizontally articulating arm and the utility platform when the utility platform assembly is pivoted relative to the horizontally articulating arm at the distal end; and
a rotation limiter assembly connected to the proximal pivot and the distal pivot and comprising a band for translating rotation from the proximal pivot to the distal pivot,
wherein the band comprises at least one rigid segment and at least one flexible segment translating rotation from the first proximal pivot to the distal pivot;
wherein the rotation limiter assembly mechanically stops the horizontally articulating arm and the utility platform assembly from pivoting when a summation of the first angle and the second angle exceed a maximum total angle.

2. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 1 ,
wherein the rotation limiter assembly prevents the utility platform assembly from exceeding the maximum total angle, and
wherein the rigid segment of the band is insulated to prevent electric discharge through the band, and
wherein the flexible segment is a chain.

3. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 1 ,
wherein the horizontally articulating arm rotates about the proximal pivot relative to the boom assembly from an aligned configuration up to a maximum first angle;
wherein the horizontally articulating arm allows the utility platform assembly to rotate about the distal pivot relative to the horizontally articulating arm from the aligned configuration up to a maximum second angle.

4. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 3 , wherein the maximum first angle is substantially equal to the maximum second angle.

5. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 3 , wherein the maximum total angle is less than a summation of the maximum first angle and the maximum second distal angle.

6. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 1 , wherein the rotation limiter assembly comprises:
a proximal angle detector;
wherein the proximal angle detector detects the first angle;
a distal angle detector,
wherein the distal angle detector detects the second angle; and
a cutoff valve assembly in contact with the proximal angle detector;
wherein the cutoff valve assembly prevents movement of the utility platform assembly upon being actuated,
wherein the cutoff valve assembly is actuated by the proximal angle detector if a summation of the first angle and the second angle exceeds the maximum total angle.

7. A horizontally articulating platform arm comprising:
a horizontally articulating arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end,
wherein the proximal end of the horizontally articulating arm is pivotably secured to a boom assembly,
wherein the distal end of the horizontally articulating arm is pivotably secured to a utility platform assembly,
wherein the horizontally articulating arm is coaxially aligned with the boom assembly and the utility platform assembly,
wherein a first angle is presented between the horizontally articulating arm and the boom assembly when the horizontally articulating arm is pivoted relative to the boom assembly at the proximal end;
wherein a second angle is presented between the horizontally articulating arm and the utility platform when the utility platform assembly is pivoted relative to the horizontally articulating arm at the distal end; and
a rotation limiter assembly comprising:
a proximal angle detector,
wherein the proximal angle detector detects the first angle by rotating based on the rotation of the horizontally articulating arm;
a distal angle detector,
wherein the distal angle detector detects the second angle by rotating based on the rotation of the utility platform assembly;
a band secured to the distal angle detector and the proximal angle detector;
wherein the band translates the rotation of the distal angle detector to the proximal angle detector;
said band comprising at least one rigid segment and at least one flexible segment; and
a cutoff valve connected to the proximal angle detector,
wherein the cutoff valve actuates to prevent the horizontally rotating arm and the utility platform assembly from pivoting when a summation of the first angle and the second angle exceed a maximum total angle.

8. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 7 , wherein the at least one rigid segment is insulated to prevent the discharge of electricity through the band.

9. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 7 ,
wherein the horizontally articulating arm rotates about the proximal pivot relative to the boom assembly from the aligned configuration up to a maximum first angle,
wherein the utility platform assembly rotates about the distal pivot up to a maximum second angle.

10. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 9 , wherein the maximum first angle is substantially equal to the maximum second angle.

11. A horizontally articulating platform arm comprising:
a horizontally articulating arm comprising a proximal end and a distal end,
wherein the proximal end of the horizontally articulating arm is pivotably secured to a boom assembly,
wherein the distal end of the horizontally articulating arm is pivotably secured to a utility platform assembly,
wherein the horizontally articulating arm is coaxially aligned with the boom assembly and the utility platform assembly,
wherein a first angle is presented between the horizontally articulating arm and the boom assembly when the horizontally articulating arm is pivoted relative to the boom assembly at the proximal end;
wherein a second angle is presented between the horizontally articulating arm and the utility platform when the utility platform assembly is pivoted relative to the horizontally articulating arm at the distal end; and
a rotation limiter assembly comprising:
a proximal angle detector,
wherein the proximal angle detector detects the first angle by rotating based on the rotation of the horizontally articulating arm;
a distal angle detector,
wherein the distal angle detector detects the second angle by rotating based on the rotation of the utility platform assembly;
a band secured to the distal angle detector and the proximal angle detector;
a proximal sprocket configured to receive at least a portion of the band therearound;
a proximal post axially aligned with and secured to the proximal sprocket,
wherein the band translates the rotation of the distal angle detector to the proximal angle detector; and
a cutoff valve connected to the proximal angle detector,
wherein the cutoff valve actuates to prevent the horizontally rotating arm and the utility platform assembly from pivoting when a summation of the first angle and the second angle exceed a maximum total angle.

12. The horizontally articulating platform arm of claim 11 , wherein a cam wheel is in contact with the cutoff valve and actuates the cutoff valve when the

Assignees

• Altec Ind Inc

Inventors

• Mark Jared J

Classifications

• B66F17/006 Primary

  for working platforms · CPC title

• B66F11/044

  Working platforms suspended from booms · CPC title

• B66F11/046 Primary

  of the telescoping type · CPC title

• B66F13/00

  Common constructional features or accessories · CPC title