Mixer ladder assist

A ladder assembly for a concrete mixer vehicle comprising:

• a first rail extending along the entire length of the ladder assembly;
• a second rail extending along the entire length of the ladder assembly, parallel to the first rail;
• a plurality of steps positioned between the first rail and the second rail, the plurality of steps configured to support an operator;
• an upper ladder portion, positioned proximate a platform of the concrete mixer vehicle;
• a lower ladder portion coupled to the upper ladder portion;
• a ladder coupler, coupled to both the upper ladder portion and the lower ladder portion;
• and
• a ladder assist positioned between the upper ladder portion and the lower ladder portion, wherein the ladder assist is coupled to the lower ladder portion and a fixed structure of the concrete mixer vehicle, wherein
• the ladder assist comprises ladder stops, and is configured to pivot the lower ladder portion between a lowered position and a stowed position,
• the ladder assist slows the lower ladder portion when pivoting into the lowered position,
• the lower ladder portion abuts the ladder stops when the lower ladder portion is in the lowered position, and
• the ladder assist is configured as a soft opening mechanism that resists rotation of the lower ladder portion as it transitions from the stowed position to the lowered position, and prevents the lower ladder portion from slamming into the ladder stops.

A concrete mixer vehicle comprising:

• a chassis having a front end and a rear end;
• a cab coupled to the front end of the chassis;
• a mixer drum assembly coupled to the chassis;
• and
• a ladder assembly having an upper ladder portion and a lower ladder portion, the ladder assembly including:
• a first rail extending along the entire length of the ladder assembly;
• a second rail extending along the entire length of the ladder assembly, parallel to the first rail;
• and
• a ladder assist positioned between the upper ladder portion and the lower ladder portion, the ladder assist comprising a soft opening mechanism fixedly coupled to the lower ladder portion, wherein
• the ladder assist comprises ladder stops,
• the lower ladder portion abuts the ladder stops when the lower ladder portion is in a lowered position,
• the soft opening mechanism resists rotation of the lower ladder portion as it transitions from a stowed position to the lowered position, and prevents the lower ladder portion from slamming into the ladder stops, and
• the soft opening mechanism further comprises an outer portion and an inner portion, wherein the inner portion is slidably provided within the outer portion when the lower ladder portion is selectively repositioned between the stowed position and the lowered position.