Aerial personnel platform with proximity sensing system

Claim 2

In mobile aerial platform apparatus having a movable boom structure, power means for moving the boom structure, and control means for controlling the power means; a worker''s platform supported on an end of the boom structure to be moved by operation of the power means to elevated positions adjacent a body to be worked upon, the worker''s platform having frame portions defining a structure for occupancy by the worker, a protective bumper structure supported on the frame portions of the platform and projecting outwardly therefrom in protective relation to be engaged and resiliently deformed by the body during relatively approaching movement of the body and platform, said bumper structure comprising resilient inflated pneumatic tubing inflated to selected pressure and protruding outwardly beyond the frame portions of the platform, air pressure activated switch means exposed to the air pressure conditions in said pneumatic tubing and coupled to said control means for activating the control means to disable said power means when the air pressure in said tubing exceeds the selected value upon deformation of the tubing by contact with said body, said inflated pneumatic tubing including a first resilient pneumatic inflated tube forming a bladder protruding horizontally outwardly from said frame portions of the platform and a second pneumatic inflated tube extending vertically downwardly from frame portions of the platform about the perimeter thereof, and means pneumatically coupling said first and second tubes with said air pressure activated switch means for activating said switch means whenever the air pressure in either of said tubes exceeds said selected value.

Claim 3

Mobile aerial platform apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said bumper structure includes an inner resiliently deformable bumper tube disposed within said inflated pneumatic tubing and having a selected resistance to deformation to provide resilient shock absorption in the event of failure of the inflated tubing.

Claim 4

Mobile aerial platform apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said worker''s platform has a horizontal bottom and generally vertical front and side portions defining a basket structure for the worker, said inflated pneumatic tubing comprising a generally U-shaped inflated pneumatic tube of resilient material having a pair of end portions of substantially the horizontal dimensions of said platform sides extending along the platform sides and having a center portion of the horizontal dimensions of the front portion of the platform extending in outwardly protruding relation across the front to form a protective bladder about said front and side portions, said tube being inflated to selected pressure to cushion shocks upon contact with the body and being capable of being deformed by contact therewith to increase the air pressure applied to said switch means above said selected value.

Claim 5

Mobile aerial platform apparatus as defined in claim 1, including an equalizer hose communicating with said first and second tubes, said switch means including an air operated device coupled to said equalizer hose and responsive to air pressure communicated from said first and second tubes to operate said switch means to disable the power means when the air pressure exceeds said selected value.

Claim 6

In mobile aerial platform apparatus having a movable boom structure, power means for moving the boom structure, and control means for controlling the power means; a worker''s platform supported on an end of the boom structure to be moved by operation of the power means to elevated positions adjacent a body to be worked upon, the worker''s platform having frame portions defining a structure for occupancy by the worker, a protective bumper structure supported on the frame portions of the platform and projecting outwardly therefrom in protective relation to be engaged and resiliently deformed by thE body during relatively approaching movement of the body and platform, said bumper structure comprising resilient inflated pneumatic tubing inflated to selected pressure and protruding outwardly beyond the frame portions of the platform, air pressure activated switch means exposed to the air pressure conditions in said pneumatic tubing and coupled to said control means for activating the control means to disable said power means when the air pressure in said tubing exceeds the selected value upon deformation of the tubing by contact with said body, said worker''s platform having a horizontal bottom and generally vertical front and side portions defining a basket structure for the worker, said inflated pneumatic tubing comprising a first U-shaped pneumatic tube forming a protective bladder extending across the front and along the sides of said platform in outwardly protruding relation in a horizontal direction, and a second U-shaped pneumatic tube extending downwardly from the bottom of said platform at the juncture of the bottom with said front and side portions to form a downwardly extending protective bladder, each of said first and second tubes being inflated to a selected pressure to cushion shocks from contact with the body and being capable of being deformed by contact with the body to increase the air pressure applied to said switch means above said selected value.

Claim 7

In mobile aerial platform apparatus having a movable boom structure, power means for moving the boom structure, and control means for controlling the power means; a worker''s platform supported on an end of the boom structure to be moved by operation of the power means to elevated positions adjacent a body to be worked upon, the worker''s platform having frame portions defining a structure for occupancy by the worker, a protective bumper structure supported on the frame portions of the platform and projecting outwardly therefrom in protective relation to be engaged and resiliently deformed by thE body during relatively approaching movement of the body and platform, said bumper structure comprising resilient inflated pneumatic tubing inflated to selected pressure and protruding outwardly beyond the frame portions of the platform, air pressure activated switch means exposed to the air pressure conditions in said pneumatic tubing and coupled to said control means for activating the control means to disable said power means when the air pressure in said tubing exceeds the selected value upon deformation of the tubing by contact with said body, said worker''s platform having a horizontal bottom and generally vertical front and side portions defining a basket structure for the worker, said inflated pneumatic tubing comprising a first U-shaped pneumatic tube forming a protective bladder extending across the front and along the sides of said platform in outwardly protruding relation in a horizontal direction, and a second U-shaped pneumatic tube extending downwardly from the bottom of said platform at the juncture of the bottom with said front and side portions to form a downwardly extending protective bladder, each of said first and second tubes being inflated to a selected pressure to cushion shocks from contact with the body and being capable of being deformed by contact with the body to increase the air pressure applied to said switch means above said selected value.

Claim 8

Mobile aerial platform apparatus as defined in claim 5, including an equalizer hose communicating with said first and second tubes, said switch means including an air operated device coupled to said equalizer hose and responsive to air pressure communicated from said first and second tubes to operate said switch means to disable the power means when the air pressure exceeds said selected value.

Claim 9

In mobile aerial platform apparatus having a movable boom structure, power means for moving the boom structure, and control means for controlling the power means; a platform supported on the end of the boom structure for supporting a load and to be moved by operation of the power means to elevated positions adjacent a stationary body to be approached by the platform, the platform having frame portions defining a structure for supporting the load, a protective bumper structure supported on the frame portions of the platform and projecting outwardly therefrom in protective relation to be engaged and resiliently deformed by the body during relative approaching movement of the body and platform, said bumper structure comprising resilient inflated pneumatic tubing inflated to selected pressure and protruding outwardly beyond the frame portions of the platform, air pressure activated switch means exposed to the air pressure conditions in said pneumatic tubing and coupled to said control means for activating the control means to disable said power means when the air pressure in said tubing exceeds the selected value upon deformation of the tubing by contact with said body, said inflated pneumatic tubing including a first resilient pneumatic inflated tube forming a bladder protruding horizontally outwardly from said frame portions of the platform and a second pneumatic inflated tube extending vertically downwardly from frame portions of the platform about the perimeter thereof, and means pneumatically coupling said first and second tubes with said air pressure activated switch means for activating said switch means whenever the air pressure in either of said tubes exceeds said selected value.

Claim 10

In mobile aerial platform apparatus having a movable boom structure, power means for moving the boom structure, and control means for controlling the power means; a platform supported on the end of the boom structure for supporting a load and to be moved by operation of the power means to elevated positions adjacent a stationary body to be approached by the platform, the platform having frame portions defining a structure for supporting the load, a protective bumper structure supported on the frame portions of the platform and projecting outwardly therefrom in protective relation to be engaged and resiliently deformed by the body during relative approaching movement of the body and platform, said bumper structure comprising resilient inflated pneumatic tubing inflated to selected pressure and protruding outwardly beyond the frame portions of the platform, air pressure activated switch means exposed to the air pressure conditions in said pneumatic tubing and coupled to said control means for activating the control means to disable said power means when the air pressure in said tubing exceeds the selected value upon deformation of the tubing by contact with said body, said inflated pneumatic tubing including a first resilient pneumatic inflated tube forming a bladder protruding horizontally outwardly from said frame portions of the platform and a second pneumatic inflated tube extending vertically downwardly from frame portions of the platform about the perimeter thereof, and means pneumatically coupling said first and second tubes with said air pressure activated switch means for activating said switch means whenever the air pressure in either of said tubes exceeds said selected value.

Claim 11

Mobile aerial platform apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said bumper structure includes an inner resiliently deformable bumper tube disposed within said inflated pneumatic tubing and having a selected resistance to deformation to provide resilient shock absorption in the event of failure of the inflated tubing.

Claim 12

Mobile aerial platform apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said platform has a substantially rectangular bottom portion, said inflated pneumatic tubing comprising a generally U-shaped iNflated pneumatic tube of resilient material having a pair of end portions of substantially the horizontal dimensions of the sides of the lower portion of said platform extending along the platform sides and having a center portion of the horizontal dimensions of the front portion of the platform extending in outwardly protruding relation across the front to form a protective bladder about said front and side portions, said tube being inflated to selected pressure to cushion shocks upon contact with the body and being capable of being deformed by contact therewith to increase the air pressure applied to said switch means above said selected value.

Claim 13

Mobile aerial apparatus as defined in claim 7, including an equalizer hose communicating with said first and second tubes, said switch means including an air operated device coupled to said equalizer hose and responsive to air pressure communicated from said first and second tubes to operate said switch means to disable the power means when the air pressure exceeds said selected value.