Control system for aerial work platform machine and method of controlling an aerial work platform machine
AssigneeInterstate Electronics Corporation
InventorsDavid R. Finley, Laurence A. Beck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic control system allows control over the safe operation of an aerial work platform machine. The control system uses a firmware programmed digital processor to execute a sequence of steps to monitor and control the safe operation of the work platform machine so that tipping and damage are prevented. The control system has sensors to measure the condition of the work platform machine and has outputs allowing control over the work platform machine.
Claims23
An aerial work platform machine having a base, a load carrying work platform and a boom extending there between and connected to said base and said work platform;
- sensors mounted on said aerial work platform machine, the output of said sensors changing as the weight and position of loads on said work platform change;
- an electronic controller connected to said sensors, said electronic controller including means responsive to changes in the output of said sensors due to said changes in weight and position for determining when a preselected safe working moment for the aerial work platform machine has been met or exceeded by the actual moment.
An aerial work platform machine comprising:
- a work platform;
- a boom having two adjacent telescoping sections, said platform being supported by said boom;
- a load cell sensor mounted within said boom, between said adjacent telescoping sections of said boom, said sensor measuring transverse forces between said sections;
- a second sensor mounted between said boom and said work platform measuring the force needed to keep said work platform in position;
- an electronic controller electrically coupled to said sensors, said controller including means for determining the weight supported by said work platform, using the forces measured by both said load cell sensor and said second sensor.
An aerial work platform machine having a boom extending between a base and a work platform;
- means for determining the operating condition of said machine;
- and
- means, responsive to the position of weight on the work platform, for analyzing said operating condition to evaluate the safety of said machine.
An aerial work platform machine having a platform for carrying weight, comprising;
- means for measuring the actual weight carried by the platform;
- means for measuring the location of the actual weight on the platform;
- monitoring the position of any load on the work platform to determine the forces tending to tip the aerial work platform machine;
- and
- determining whether said safe working limit has been met or exceeded by said forces.
An aerial work platform machine having a base, a boom pivotally connected at one end to said base and a work platform pivotally connected to the other end of said boom;
- means for determining the actual load weight and position of a load located on said work platform;
- means for sensing the angular position and length of said boom with respect to said base and for determining a maximum allowable load weight for said sensed position and length of said boom and said determined position of said load based on a predetermined safe working moment about the pivot axis between said boom and said base,
- means for comparing the actual load weight with the allowable load weight.
A control method for assuring the safe operation of an aerial work platform machine having a platform for carrying weight, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining the position of said platform in relation to the remainder of said work platform machine;
- determining the actual amount of weight carried by said platform;
- determining the position with respect to said platform of any weight carried by said platform;
- determining the allowable amount of weight which may be safely carried by said machine when said platform is in the above determined position with respect to the remainder of said machine and the weight is located in the above determined position on said platform;
- comparing said actual amount of weight to said allowable amount of weight;
- and
- providing a safety appraisal based on the results from said comparison.
A method for safely controlling the use of an aerial work platform machine having a base, an extendable boom mounted on said base, and a work platform mounted on said boom, said aerial work platform machine having forces acting thereon, tending to tip said aerial work platform machine, method comprising:
- selecting a safe working limit for the forces tending to tip the particular aerial work platform machine being used;
- a load cell transducer mounted inside said boom;
- and
- a pressure transducer for hydraulic connection to a slave leveling cylinder mounted between said work platform and said boom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.