Lightweight vertical lift device for windy conditions

A hand-manoeuvrable vehicle-mounted vertical lift apparatus capable of moving a payload-supporting deck between ground and elevated positions, for use in wind loading conditions without overturning, in combination comprising:

• a lightweight frame, within which the deck is movably supported;
• wheels movable between two positions, a ground-engaging position for elevating the frame sufficiently for enabling transport, and a retracted position for lowering the frame to bear fully on the ground;
• outriggers outwardly extendible from the frame for extending the base area whereby moment arm for resisting an overturning moment is increased;
• aerodynamic surfaces attached to the lift which create a downward force in reaction to wind loading, said reactive force being greater than the force resulting from drag, whereby the lift's resistance to overturning is increased.
• a deck access and egress ramp having a pair of parallel bridge members whose first ends are pivotally mounted to the deck and whose second ends are rotatable about the first end between an upright stored position and a substantially horizontal working position, said ramp having a plurality of louvres pivotally mounted and extending transversely between the bridge members;
• means for simultaneously rotating the ramp's louvres as the ramp is rotated between stored and working positions, so that each louvre remains oriented horizontal and parallel to each other,
• wherein, in the working position, the louvres lie horizontally to form a substantially continuous surface so that payload may be moved on and off of the deck and, in the upright stored position, the louvres continue to lie horizontally so that the aerodynamic profile of the ramp is minimized and the overturning moment imposed on the lift by wind loading is not significantly increased, and does not exceed the lift's resisting moment, regardless of the ramp's position.

A hand-manoeuvrabie vehicle-mounted payload-supporting deck for use in wind loading conditions without overturning, in combination comprising:

• a lightweight frame, within which the deck is supported;
• wheels movable between two positions, a ground-engaging position for elevating the frame sufficiently for enabling transport, and a retracted position for lowering the frame to bear fully on the ground;
• outriggers outwardly extendible from the frame for extending the base area whereby moment arm for resisting an overturning moment is increased, the outriggers comprising three or more beams having inboard and outboard ends, the outboard ends of the beams being laterally movable between a stored position and a stabilizing position, said stored position having the outboard ends of the beams contained substantially within the footprint of the frame, said stabilizing position having the outboard end of the beams extended to a position outboard of the frame, said beams being extendable along their longitudinal axis, the ends of the beams having ground engaging pads so that when the ground engaging wheels are retracted, the weight of the frame is transferred to the beams and through the pads to the ground, and a housing having inboard and outboard ports though which the beam extends and biasing means for guiding the beams within the housing so that when the beams are not supporting the frame, the beams are centered in the ports and freely moveable therethrough, and when the beams are supporting the frame, the beams rotate so as to contact the edges of the ports and frictionally engage the beams, thereby preventing further longitudinal movement once the frame weight is transferred thereto.