Access System and Device for Earthmoving Vehicles, and Modes of Employment Thereof

Abstract

An access system for a vehicle (42) has an access device (40) (such as a stair or ladder), an actuation mechanism for extending and retracting the access device, the access device being extendible from a contracted configuration for deployment to permit access to the equipment and retractable to a contracted configuration for normal operation of the equipment by the actuation mechanism. The access device has a multiplicity of treads to support a user thereof during use, the treads being connected such that the access device retracts by contracting with treads closing together, and wherein the actuation mechanism includes an actuation ram (50) (hydraulic, pneumatic) and linkages (52, 64, 66), and at least one pivot (68) with at least one respective pivot axis about which the access device rotates during retraction or deployment effected by operation of the ram. Thus the access device not only retracts and extends but rotates backwards for stowage under a cab or chassis of the vehicle when retracting. A deployment assistor (90), such as a gas strut, can be used to assist gravity actuated deploy of the access device.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.