FR2581610A1 - Stabilising device, which can be fitted onto caterpillar tracks for transporting loads in stairways - Google Patents

Abstract

The subject of the invention relates to the technical field of transport means. The device is produced from means 5, 6, 7, 8 mounted on a suitable part of the chassis 1 being shaped to avoid the abrupt tilting of the caterpillar track C under the effect of the change in inclination resulting from the connection of the stair with the landing or landings whilst allowing the said caterpillar track to resume, progressively, a horizontal or inclined position corresponding respectively to a landing or a stair inclination: the said means are jacks suitably connected to one another in order to be controlled synchronously manually or automatically according to a manually or entirely automatically controlled cycle.

Description

 The invention relates to a stabilizing device, adaptable to the tracks for transporting loads on stairs. As a corollary, within the scope of the invention, the tracks equipped with the device.

 The object of the invention relates to the technical sector of means of transport.

 I1 is known to use for transporting various loads on stairs, motorized vehicles equipped with tracks. Such vehicles, called tracks, generally have a chassis with a support platform intended to receive the load, said chassis being fitted laterally with drive means with tracks controlled by one or more motors controlled remotely or not.

 If such tracks give satisfaction in their general principle, an important problem appears at the level of the change of plans resulting from the landing or stages that the staircase presents, as well in the direction of the rise as of the descent.

 Indeed, when the caterpillar arrives at a certain level in the inclined or horizontal plane, at a given moment the center of gravity is in a vacuum so that an abrupt tilting occurs which is further amplified under the effect of the load weight. I1 therefore appears significant risks of deterioration in the track and the load which are subject to significant reaction forces; the load being otherwise likely to be unbalanced.

 To remedy this state of affairs, the operator is forced to manually retain the whole of the caterpillar to try to absorb the shock during the tilting. Besides the fact that the result is not satisfactory, it is easy to see that this way of operating is not rational and can prove dangerous for the operator.

The problem thus posed, the invention set itself the aim of remedying these drawbacks, in a simple and effective manner, by equipping this type of track, whatever its embodiment, with a stabilizing device.
equalized from means mounted on an appropriate part of the chassis and being shaped to avoid sudden tilting of the track under the effect of the change in inclination resulting from the connection of the staircase with the pali or pali while allowing said caterpillar to take up a progressive material, a horizontal or inclined position corresponding respectively to a landing or to the inclination of the staircase; lesd: means being suitably connected together to be controlled in synchronism in a manual or automatic manner according to a manually or fully automatic controlled cycle.

 The invention is set out below in more detail with the aid of drawings which represent only one embodiment.

 Figure 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a caterpillar equipped with the device.

 Figure 2 is a schematic view, a longitudinal sectional view of the track.

Figure 3 is a rear view corresponding to Figure
Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are purely schematic views showing the operating principle of the positive device.

 Figure 10 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative embodiment.

 In order to make the object of the invention more concrete, it is now described in a nonlimiting manner with reference to the figures of the drawings.

 Illustrated in FIG. 1 is an embodiment which is in no way limitative of a caterpillar designated as a whole by (C) which essentially comprises a chassis (1) with a support platform (2) intended to receive any load or loads. The chassis (1) is laterally equipped with tracks positively driven in rotation by any known means such as an engine with an appropriate transmission system. Handles (4) or other allow directing: the caterpillar. Such vehicles are particularly well suited for transporting loads (CH) on a staircase (E).

 According to the invention, the chassis (1) in particular, is equipped with shaped means to avoid sudden tilting of the caterpillar at the junction of the staircase (E) and the landing (P) both in the direction of the ascent as that of the descent.

 For this purpose, each transverse edge receives free articulation a pair of jacks (5-6) and (7-8). For example, the barrel of each of these jacks is articulated in yokes (9a) and (10a) which have support elements (9) and (10) mounted on either side of the lateral sides of the chassis so as not to generate the proper functioning of the caterpillar especially when attacking a staircase. each pair of jacks is arranged very slightly back, leading edges of the tracks.

In a preferred manner, but not strictly limiting, the jacks (5-6) and (7-8) of the same torque are controlled in synchronism and are suitably connected by any known member and suitable for a hydraulic circuit subject to different command and control devices such as flow limiter, solenoid valve, position sensor and others in order to carry out the following operating cycle:
- Initially, simultaneous deployment of the rods of the jacks (5a). (6a) (or (7a-8a) depending on the direction of movement of the caterpillar)
- Secondly, simultaneous deployment of the rods of the jacks (7a) - (8a) (or 5a-6a) then progressive erasure of the rods (5a) and (6a) (or (7a and 8a)), which act as 'damper.

 - Thirdly, re-entry of the cylinder rods (7a) - (8a) or (5a) - (6a).

Importantly, the different rods of the jacks (5a) - (6a) - (7a) - (8a) are fitted at the end, directly or in an attached manner, with support means on the ground (5b) - (6b) - (7b) and (8b) shaped to, on the one hand, ensure good stability and distribution of the force at ground level and, on the other hand, not to cause the displacement of the track in position deployed said rods. To this end, in the examples of embodiments illustrated, the ends of the jack rods are coupled by the fork intersection or the like to rolling members of the caster type (11). Optionally, the ends of the rods of the cylinders can be connected to profiled floor support pads
it is necessary to analyze the operation of the caterpillar fitted with the device by referring to Figures 4 to 9 of the drawings which illustrate the ascent and descent of a staircase with landing.!
In the normal position of use, that is to say when moving the caterpillar (C) on the bearing (P) or else in the bearing (E), the green bars (5-6) and (7-8) are in the rest position, their respective rod being retracted. Note that in this position, the ground support and / or rolling means (11) of the jacks are preferably set back from the ground so as not to accidentally stress the jacks.

The attack on a staircase (E) for the climb is normally carried out by the tracks, the pair of cylinders concerned (5-6) for example, being set back from said tracks. When the caterpillar arrives at a landing (P), very substantially before its tilting position, the pair of jacks (5-6) is actuated which rests on the ground, thus avoiding sudden tilting of the caterpillar (FIG. 4
Simultaneously, the other pair of jacks (7) and (8) is actuated which is supported on a step which has the effect of lifting the rear of the caterpillar by causing it to tilt but in a progressive manner, taking into account the concomitantly the cylinders (5-6) are biased in the opposite direction to gradually expel the oil thereby acting as a shock absorber (Figure 5). The track stabilized in a horizontal position can then continue to progress normally on the bearing (P). Note that even if the pair of jacks (7) and (8) is not retracted as soon as the tilting point has passed, there are no harmful consequences, given that the barrel of the jacks is mounted free articulation in their support (Figure 6).

 For the descent, the operation remains essentially the same, it being specified that the device is reversible so that the pairs of jacks (5-6) and (7-8) can be located either in front or behind depending on the direction of travel. of the tracked vehicle.

 The caterpillar being on the landing (P), when it arrives on the staircase (E), very substantially before its tipping point, the pair of jacks (7-8) is actuated which is supported on a step thus avoiding the sudden tilting of the caterpillar (Figure 7). Simultaneously, the other pair of jacks (5) and (6) is actuated, and bears on the bearing (P), lifts the track (C) causing it to tilt progressively resulting from the erasure of the torque cylinders (7-8) which acts as a shock absorber (Figure 8).

 The track is then stabilized in the inclination direction of the staircase, and can normally descend said staircase (Figure 9), the pair of jacks (5-6) being retracted as soon as the crossing of the landing or shortly after, to nevertheless, avoid leaving the cylinders (5) and (6) in contact.

 it is obvious that all of the jacks (5-6) and (7-8) can be slaved to an appropriate command to be triggered, at the desired time, by the operator who directs the caterpillar.

Alternatively, the different cylinders can be controlled, as previously indicated, in a fully automatic manner. In this case, one or more position sensors detect the tipping point of the caterpillar to give the order to control the jacks, whether or not subject to timing systems.

 FIG. 10 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the device. Each track (3) is executed in two articulated parts (3a) and (3b) of equal length preferably, the chassis (1) with the support platform being itself mounted with free articulation at the connection of the two track elements.

*of
Two cylinder pairs (12-13) and (14z15) are respectively mounted at the front and at the rear of the chassis, the costs of cJ verirs being ar tipules on the lateral edges of an appropriate part of the chassis, while their rods are coupled on an appropriate part of the corresponding track elements (3a) and (3b). Operation remains similar to that described above with the only difference that the tracks almost always remain in contact with the staircase and the landing, only the chassis is
is a support which * solicits at the level of the staircase connection with the landing to occupy a horizontal or inclined position depending on whether one is going up or down (plotted line in figure 10).

 it is obvious that the device according to the invention applies to all types of load transfer tracks and is particularly important for transporting heavy loads requiring certain precautions. This is the case, for example, with automatic washing machines.

 It is emphasized that due to the design of the device, it is not necessary to stop the caterpillar during the operation of the jacks.

 The invention is in no way limited to that of its modes of application any more than to those of the embodiments of its various parts which have been more particularly indicated; on the contrary, it embraces all its variants.

Claims (3)

- 1 - Stabilizing device adaptable to the tracks for transporting loads on stairs essentially comprising a chassis (1) with support platform (2), said chassis being laterally equipped with drive tracks (3), characterized in that that the device comprises means (5-6) and (7-8) mounted on an appropriate part of the chassis (1), said means being shaped and arranged to avoid sudden tilting of the track under the effect of the change of inclination resulting from the connection of the staircase with the landing (s), while allowing the said track to gradually resume a horizontal or inclined position corresponding respectively to a landing or to the inclination of the staircase the said means (5-6) and (7-8) being suitably connected together to be controlled in synchronism in a manual or automatic manner according to a manually controlled OR fully automatic cycle. - 2 - Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the means are pairs of cylinders (5-6) and (7-8). - 3 - Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the barrels of each of the cylinders (5-6) and "(7-8) are mounted with free articulation at the end of support elements (9) and (10) that present the lateral edges of the chassis (1), said jacks being arranged set back from the leading edge of the tracks: - 4 - Device according to claim 3 characterized in that the rods of the jacks (5a), (6a), (7a) , (8a) are equipped at the end with support means on the ground (5b), (6b), (7b), (8b) shaped to on the one hand ensure good stability and distribution of the force at ground level and, on the other hand, not to hinder the movement of the track in the deployed position of said rods. - 5 - Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the ends of the cylinder rods, are coupled to rolling members (11). -6 Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized in that the ends of the actuator rods are coupled to profiled pads-s support on the ground. -7- Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the jacks (5-6) are controlled in synchronism and suitably connected to a hydraulic circuit by being slaved to different command and control organs to describe the chronological operating cycle. -su: ivant - simultaneous deployment of the cylinder rods (5a) - (6a) or (7a) - 8a) - simultaneous displacement of the cylinder rods (5a) t (6a) or (7a) (8a) and progressive erasure of the cylinder rods (5a) ct. (6a) or (7a) - (8a) which act as a shock absorber. - erasing the cylinder rods (7a) - (8a) or (5a) - (6a). -8- Device according to claim 1 characterized in that alternatively each track (3) is executed in two articulated parts (3e) and (3b), the frame (1) being mounted at free articulation at the connection of said two parts (3a) and (3b), while two pairs of jacks (12-13) and (14-15) are respectively mounted at the front and at the rear of the chassis, being coupled by their rods, to an appropriate part of the corresponding track part.