Aerial work platform apparatus and method

A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,
• receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, and
• automatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;
• wherein the movable platform has an extended position at a full extension vertical height and a retracted position at a vertical height adjacent to the mobile base, and further comprising:
• limiting a liftable height of the platform to a reduced intermediate lift height above the mobile base based upon a condition of the stabilizing assembly, the reduced intermediate lift height being vertically higher than the retracted position of the platform and being vertically lower than the extended position of the platform.

A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base and being extendable in a substantially vertical direction, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,
• receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, and
• automatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;
• extending the at least one outrigger leg a predetermined amount after the mobile base has been brought into a level orientation by the step of automatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly.

A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,
• receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, and
• automatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;
• limiting a liftable height of the platform above the mobile base based upon a condition of the stabilizing assembly;
• and
• wherein the step of limiting the liftable height further comprises the steps of:
• detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator;
• and
• if the variable height command is received, limiting the lift mechanism from lifting the platform higher than an intermediate lift height, the intermediate lift height being less than a full lift height of the platform.

A method for automatically leveling a mobile aerial work platform apparatus comprising the steps of:

• providing a mobile aerial work platform apparatus including a mobile base, a movable platform, a lift mechanism configured to move the platform in a substantially vertical direction with respect to the mobile base, a stabilizing assembly including at least one outrigger leg mounted on the mobile base, the at least one outrigger leg is extendable and retractable in a substantially horizontal direction, a plurality of sensors configured to sense an orientation of the mobile base and a condition of the at least one outrigger leg, and a control assembly in communication with the plurality of sensors,
• receiving by the control assembly a command from an operator to automatically level an orientation of the mobile base of the apparatus, and
• automatically adjusting the stabilizing assembly so that an orientation of the mobile base is substantially level, wherein the control assembly is configured to receive input from the sensors and sends output to the stabilizing assembly to perform the automatic adjustment;
• terminating the adjustment of the stabilizing assembly based upon a condition of the stabilizing assembly;
• and
• wherein the step of terminating the adjustment of the stabilizing assembly further comprises:
• detecting whether a variable height command is received from the operator;
• sensing whether the at least one outrigger is in a horizontally retracted position;
• and
• if the variable height command is received and the at least one outrigger leg is in a horizontally retracted position, enabling the control assembly to perform the automatic leveling of the orientation of the mobile base.