Patent EP0154069A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0154069A2
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EP
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A control system for an elevatable and extendible structure
Assignee: MERRYWEATHER AND SONS Ltd
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Filing: 1984-05-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A digital computer based control system for a turntable ladder mounted on a vehicle is arranged to limit extension and minimum elevation angle of the ladder in accordance with the intended loading of the ladder. The system performs initial checks on parts of the system and will permit only manual control at low speed where the operational state of a part involved is unsatisfactory or outside the limits. In addition to monitoring the stabilising jacks on the vehicle and preventing movement of the ladder which would tend to increase an excessive bending force on it, the system automatically plumbs the ladder so that its rounds are horizontal. The system can also be applied to control a cage or platform on a telescopic boom.
Inventors
- 👤 Anthony John Francis Manners
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:34
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66C; B66C23/00; B66C23/88; B66C23/90; B66C23/905; E; E06; E06C; E06C5/00; E06C5/32; E06C5/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A control system for an elevatable and extendible structure in which a limit, dependent on the load on the structure and the actual extended length of the structure, is imposed on the elevation, and a limit, dependent on the load on the structure and the actual elevation angle of the structure, is imposed on the extended length of the structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
60 words
A control system for an elevatable and extendible structure in which a limit, dependent on the load on the structure and the actual extended length of the structure, is imposed on the elevation, and a limit, dependent on the load on the structure and the actual elevation angle of the structure, is imposed on the extended length of the structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A control system according to claim 1 in which the limits are used to restrict the moment of the load on the structure about the mounting of the structure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A control system according to claim 2 in which manual control at full speeds of the elevation and extension of the structure is provided within ranges of values subject to the limits, and manual control at reduced speeds is possible outside the ranges.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system according to claim 1, 2 or 3 including a further manual control input for indicating a mode of use for the structure, thereby defining an expected load which is used as a basis for deriving the limits.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system according to claim 4 wherein the structure is a turntable ladder mounted on a suitable vehicle to form a fire appliance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A control system according to claim 4 wherein the structure is a cage or platform on an elevatable telescopic boom mounted on a vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control system for an elevatable and extendible structure having first means responsive to an elevation angle of the structure to produce an indication of the angle and second means responsive to the extended length of the structure to produce an indication of the length, wherein the system includes means for entering a proposed mode of use of the structure and is responsive to the indications produced by the first and second means and to the proposed mode of use to impose limits on the elevation angle and extended length of the structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control system for an elevatable and extendible structure having first means responsive to an elevation angle of the structure to produce an indication of the angle and second means responsive to the extended length of the structure to produce an indication of the length, wherein the system includes means for entering a proposed mode of use of the structure and is responsive to the indications produced by the first and second means and to the proposed mode of use to impose limits on the elevation angle and extended length of the structure.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
93 words
A control system according to claim 7, wherein the indication of the extended length is used in combination with the proposed mode of use to derive a limit on the elevation angle, the indication of the elevation angle is used in combination with the proposed mode of use to derive a limit on the extended length, and the proposed modes of use indicate probable loadings on the structure, whereby the limits are determined to restrict the likelihood of the moment of the loading about the mounting of the structure exceeding a particular value.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
A control system according to claim 8 including manual input means for setting required values of the extension of the structure and its elevation angle, the system producing control outputs for control elements for the structure until the first and second means indicate that the required values have been attained or one or more limits are reached.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system according to claim 8 or 9 including numerical displays of the elevation angle and the extended length of the structure, a display of the selected mode of operation and means for indicating when the limits are reached.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control system according to clain 8, 9 or 10 including a graphical display representing the disposition of the structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
A control system according to clain 8, 9 or 10 including a graphical display representing the disposition of the structure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A control system according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the structure is a cage or platform on an elevatable telescopic boom mounted on a vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
71 words
A control system according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the structure is a turntable ladder with sensing means producing an indication of the inclination of the rounds of the ladder to the horizontal, the system being automatically responsive to that inclination to produce output signals for correcting the inclination, and to realign the rounds with a cradle as the ladder is returned to a rest position on it.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A control system according to claim 13 in which the extension of the structure is automatically adjusted to a value at which the rounds of adjacent sections of the ladder are aligned.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control system according to claim 12, 13 or 14 in which the rate of change of the extension and/or the elevation angle is restricted as the or each limit value is approached.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
35 words
A control system according to claim 16 having a throttle value which is actuated to restrict the flow of hydraulic oil for adjusting extension or elevation angle as the or each limit value is approached.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
40 words
A control system according to claim 12, 13, 14 or 15 including digital processor means responsive to control signals from different sources in digital form to produce digital control output signals in accordance with the required operation of the system.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A control system according to claim 17 in which the structure is mounted on a vehicle with stabilising jacks, wherein the system includes means for monitoring the position of the jacks and is arranged to inhibit normal operation if the jacks are not extended and locked.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control system according to claim 17 or 18 including load cell means responsive to bending forces on the structure, the system being arranged to inhibit such movement of the structure as would tend to increase the bending forces.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
A control system according to claim 17, 18 or 19 including override switch means permitting movement of the structure at restricted speeds outside the limits imposed by the system.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
A control system according to claim 17, 18, 19 or 20 wherein initially tests are performed on the operational state of parts of the system and indications are produced of those parts whose operational state is not satisfactory, and the system being arranged to permit manual control at reduced speed of any operations involving a part whose operational state is not satisfactory.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system for a truntable ladder mounted on a vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
A control system for a truntable ladder mounted on a vehicle substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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