Aerial ladder for a fire apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9677334-B2
Application number	US-201414552240-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2014
Priority date	Nov 24, 2014
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An aerial ladder assembly for a fire apparatus includes a base rail extending along a longitudinal direction, a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction, a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, the first lacing member and the second lacing member each including an end that engages the base rail at an interface, and a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface. The first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, and the gusset extends through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fire apparatus, comprising:
a chassis;
a single front axle assembly coupled to the chassis;
a single rear axle assembly coupled to the chassis; and
an aerial ladder assembly coupled to the chassis and defining a longitudinal direction, the aerial ladder assembly comprising:
a base rail extending along the longitudinal direction;
a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction;
a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each include an end that extends downward and directly contacts the base rail at an interface; and
a gusset including a flat plate having an upper edge and a lower edge and positioned to reinforce the interface, wherein the upper edge of the gusset extends from the first lacing member to the second lacing member, and wherein the lower edge of the gusset is positioned along the base rail and forms at least a portion of the interface,
wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, the gusset extending through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail, and wherein the base rail, the first lacing member, the second lacing member, and the gusset are welded together at the interface.

2. The fire apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first lacing member is angularly offset from the second lacing member such that the end of the first lacing member and the end of the second lacing member engage the base rail at a common interface.

3. The fire apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the gusset has a first side extending from the first lacing member to the base rail and a second side extending from the second lacing member to the base rail.

4. The fire apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the aerial ladder assembly is coupled to the chassis proximate the single rear axle assembly.

5. The fire apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the aerial ladder assembly is operable within a work envelope defined by a vertical extension height and a horizontal reach, wherein the vertical extension height is at least 105 feet, and wherein the horizontal reach is at least 100 feet.

6. The fire apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a second base rail and a second hand rail separated from the first base rail and the first hand rail, wherein the second base rail extends along the longitudinal direction.

7. The fire apparatus of claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of rungs coupling the first base rail to the second base rail, wherein the plurality of rungs are disposed across the longitudinal direction and have shapes that vary along the length of the aerial ladder assembly.

8. A fire apparatus, comprising:
a chassis;
a single front axle assembly coupled to the chassis;
a single rear axle assembly coupled to the chassis; and
an aerial ladder assembly coupled to the chassis and defining a longitudinal direction, the aerial ladder assembly comprising:
a base rail extending along the longitudinal direction;
a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction;
a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each include an end that engages the base rail at an interface; and
a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface,
wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot extending along only a portion of an entire length of each of the lacing members, the slots receiving the gusset, the gusset extending through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Corp

Inventors

• Aiken Jeffrey D
• Betz Eric D
• Bloemer Jennifer L

Classifications

• E06C5/02 Primary

  with rigid longitudinal members · CPC title

• A62C27/00

  Fire-fighting land vehicles · CPC title

• E06C5/04 Primary

  capable of being elevated or extended {; Fastening means during transport, e.g. mechanical, hydraulic} · CPC title

• B60R3/02

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