FIREFIGHTING OR RESCUE APPARATUS INCLUDING LADDER WITH STATUS INDICATORS

• US 20150273255A1
• Filed: 03/26/2015
• Published: 10/01/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HME, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: HME, Incorporated
• Inventors: Lenz, Kenneth C. Jr., Lagerquist, Richard R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,677,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/04 capable of being elevated or extended ; Fastening means during transport, e.g. mechanical, hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/34 Indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/36 Safety devices against slipping or falling of ladders; Safety devices against overloading ladders

Abstract

A firefighting or rescue apparatus includes an aerial ladder and at least one of a rung alignment status indicator and a load status indicator. The rung alignment status indicator can include a lighting strip having multiple lighting elements on the ladder that are selectively illuminated depending on whether first rungs of one section of the ladder and second rungs of another section of the ladder are aligned or misaligned. A user on the aerial ladder can view the rung alignment status indicator and discern whether the ladder has appropriate rung alignment so the user can attain a safe foothold when climbing it. The load status indicator can include a lighting strip including multiple lighting elements on the ladder and/or at a control console that are selectively illuminated depending on whether the ladder is overloaded beyond an aerial ladder capacity rating or other value. A user on the aerial ladder and/or at a control console can view the load status indicator to discern whether the ladder is improperly overloaded to a point where the apparatus might tip or overturn.

Claims

1. An aerial firefighting apparatus comprising:

a frame including a plurality of wheels configured to enable transportation of the apparatus to an emergency location, the frame including a forward portion having a cab for housing at least one occupant of the apparatus, a rearward portion located rearward of the cab, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the frame including at least one rear axle mounted to the frame in the rearward portion;

an aerial ladder that is both extendible and retractable, the aerial ladder comprising a base section and at least one upper ladder section movably joined with the base so that the upper ladder section can be extended and retracted relative to the base to provide extension and retraction of the aerial ladder, the aerial ladder being movably mounted relative to the frame so that the aerial ladder can be raised from a generally horizontal stored position to a raised position wherein the aerial ladder extends upwardly at an angle from the frame, the base section and the upper ladder section each including a plurality of rungs mounted one adjacent the other and joined at opposing rung ends with first and second ladder rails;

an aerial ladder raising and lowering mechanism, connected to the aerial ladder, being configured to move the aerial ladder between the generally horizontal stored position and the raised position;

a turntable to which the aerial ladder is mounted, the turntable being selectively rotatable so that the base can be swung to a position where the aerial ladder extends beyond at least one of the first side, the second side and the rearward portion of the apparatus;

a waterway comprising a water outlet, the waterway joined with the aerial ladder, the water outlet adapted to shoot pressurized firefighting fluid provided from a fire fighting fluid source; and

a status indicator, being at least one of a rung alignment status indicator and a load status indicator, the status indicator including an elongated strip extending along at least one of the first and second ladder rails of at least one of the base section and at least one upper ladder section, the elongated strip having a plurality of lighting elements joined therewith,

wherein the plurality of lighting elements are visible when illuminated to a user located on or about to enter the ladder,

wherein the rung alignment status indicator is operable in a first warning mode when rungs of the base section and the upper ladder section are misaligned, and a first safe mode when the rungs of the base section and the upper ladder section are aligned to present a safe foothold for a user climbing the ladder,

wherein the load status indicator is operable in a second warning mode when the aerial ladder is physically overloaded, and a second safe mode when the load of the ladder is within a predetermined range of loads,

whereby the user on the aerial ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder can visually perceive the status indicator while on the ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder to discern whether the aerial ladder is in a configuration having at least one of appropriate rung alignment and a safe loading which is unlikely to tip or overturn the apparatus.

2. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the status indicator is a rung alignment status indicator,

wherein the plurality of lighting elements joined with the elongated strip are LEDs,

wherein the LEDs emit illumination of a first color in the first warning mode and emit illumination of a second color in the first safe mode.

3. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the status indicator is a rung alignment status indicator,

wherein the plurality of lighting elements joined with the elongated strip are LEDs,

wherein the LEDs emit illumination in the first warning mode and emit no illumination in the first safe mode.

4. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the status indicator is a load status indicator,

wherein the plurality of lighting elements joined with the elongated strip are LEDs,

wherein the LEDs emit illumination of a first color in the second warning mode and emit illumination of a second color in the second safe mode.

5. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the status indicator is a load status indicator,

wherein the plurality of lighting elements joined with the elongated strip are LEDs,

wherein the LEDs emit illumination in the second warning mode and emit no illumination in the second safe mode.

6. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the status indicator includes both the rung alignment status indicator and the load status indicator,

wherein the rung alignment status indicator emits illumination from the plurality of lighting elements when the rung alignment status indicator is in the first safe mode to alert the user to that the rungs are properly aligned, whereby the user can perceive that the user can obtain a safe foothold on the respective rungs to climb the ladder,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination from the plurality of lighting elements when the load status indicator is in the second warning mode to alert the user to loading status on the ladder.

7. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1 comprising a control console located adjacent the turntable, distal from the aerial ladder, the control console including at least one console lighting element that is physically separate from the elongated strip having a plurality of lighting elements, the at least one console lighting element being visible to an operator of the control console, but not to the user located on the aerial ladder, the at least one console lighting element being illuminated or not illuminated depending on at least one of whether the load status indicator is in the first warning mode or the first safe mode, and whether the rung alignment status indicator is in the second warning mode or the second safe mode.

8. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 7 wherein the at least one console lighting element includes a plurality of lights, the lights being selectively and individually illuminated when the load status indicator is in the first warning mode or the first safe mode.

9. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1 comprising an audible alarm adapted to emit sound when the load status indicator is in the first warning mode.

10. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 1 comprising an audible alarm, the audible alarm adapted to emit sound in an alarm mode when the aerial ladder is overloaded by at least 0% to about 10% of an aerial ladder capacity rating.

11. An aerial firefighting apparatus comprising:

a frame configured to enable transportation of the apparatus to an emergency location, the frame including a forward portion, a rearward portion, a rear, a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

an aerial ladder that is both extendible and retractable, the aerial ladder comprising a lower ladder section and an upper ladder section movably joined with the lower ladder section so that the upper ladder section can be extended and retracted relative to the lower ladder section to provide extension and retraction of the aerial ladder, the aerial ladder being movably mounted relative to the frame so that the aerial ladder can be raised from a generally horizontal stored position to a raised position wherein the aerial ladder extends upwardly at an angle from the frame, the lower ladder section including a plurality of first rungs mounted one adjacent the other and joined at opposing rung ends with first and second lower ladder rails, the upper ladder section including a plurality of second rungs mounted one adjacent the other and joined at opposing rung ends with first and second upper ladder rails;

a turntable to which the aerial ladder is mounted, the turntable being selectively rotatable so that the lower ladder section can be swung to a position where the aerial ladder extends beyond at least one of the first side, the second side and the rear of the frame;

a sensor disposed on the aerial ladder, the sensor configured to sense at least one of a condition where the plurality of first rungs and the plurality of second rungs are aligned, and a condition where the plurality of first rungs and the plurality of second rungs are misaligned; and

a rung alignment status indicator in communication with the sensor, the rung alignment status indicator including a lighting strip including a plurality of lighting elements, the plurality of lighting elements being selectively illuminated depending on whether the plurality of first rungs and the plurality of second rungs are aligned or misaligned, the lighting strip extending from a first end toward a distal, second end of at least one of the first and second ladder rails,

whereby a user on the aerial ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder can visually perceive the rung alignment status indicator while on the aerial ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder to discern whether the ladder is in a configuration having appropriate rung alignment so that the user can attain a safe foothold when climbing at least one of the first and second plurality of rungs.

12. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 11 comprising a control console mounted adjacent the aerial ladder, the control console including a console alignment light in communication with the sensor, the console alignment light being selectively illuminated depending on whether the plurality of first rungs and the plurality of second rungs are aligned or misaligned, the console alignment light being separate and distal from the lighting strip,

13. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the elongated strip includes a plurality of LEDs,

wherein the plurality of LEDs are disposed along a side rail of at least one of the upper ladder section and the lower ladder section, wherein the plurality of LEDs extend from a lower end to an upper end of at least one of the upper ladder section and the lower ladder section,

whereby a user situated on at least one of the plurality of first and second rungs can visually perceive selective illumination of the plurality of LEDs,

whereby an operator at the control console can visually perceive selective illumination of the plurality of LEDs while located at the control console.

14. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the plurality of lighting elements include first lighting elements that are illuminated a first color to illuminate the plurality of rungs when the plurality of first rungs and the plurality of second rungs are aligned, and to assist the user in visually perceiving the plurality of first and second rungs while the user traverses the plurality of first and second rungs.

wherein the plurality of lighting elements include second lighting elements that are illuminated a second color, different from the first color, when the plurality of first rungs and the plurality of second rungs are misaligned to warn the user that the rungs are misaligned.

15. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 11 comprising a load status indicator and a pressure sensor joined with the aerial ladder,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination from the plurality of lighting elements when the load status indicator is in a first warning mode to alert the user to an overloading of the ladder.

16. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 11, comprising a load status indicator and a pressure sensor joined with the aerial ladder,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination of a first color from the plurality of lighting elements when the load status indicator is in a warning mode to alert the user to an overloading of the ladder,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination of a second, different color from the plurality of lighting elements of a second color when the load status indicator is in a safe mode in which the ladder is not overloaded.

17. An aerial firefighting apparatus comprising:

a mobile frame including a forward portion, a rearward portion, a first side and a second side opposite the first side;

an aerial ladder that is both extendible and retractable, the aerial ladder being movably mounted relative to the frame so that the aerial ladder can be raised from a generally horizontal stored position to a raised position wherein the aerial ladder extends upwardly at an angle from the frame, the aerial ladder including a side rail joined with a plurality of rungs;

a turntable to which the aerial ladder is moveably mounted, the turntable being selectively rotatable so that the aerial ladder can be swung to extend beyond at least one of the first side, the second side and the rearward portion of the frame;

a load sensor joined with the aerial ladder; and

a load status indicator joined with the aerial ladder and in communication with the load sensor, the load status indicator including a lighting strip including a plurality of lighting elements disposed on the aerial ladder, the plurality of lighting elements being selectively illuminated depending on whether the ladder is overloaded beyond an aerial ladder capacity rating, the lighting strip extending from a first end toward a distal, second end of the side rail,

whereby a user on the aerial ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder can visually perceive the load status indicator while on the aerial ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder to discern whether the ladder is improperly overloaded to a point where the apparatus might tip or overturn.

18. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination of a first color from the plurality of lighting elements when the load status indicator is in a warning mode to alert the user to an overloading of the ladder,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination of a second, different color from the plurality of lighting elements of a second color when the load status indicator is in a safe mode in which the ladder is not overloaded.

19. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 17,

wherein the load status indicator emits illumination from the plurality of lighting elements when the load status indicator is in a warning mode to alert the user to an overloading of the ladder,

wherein the load status indicator emits no illumination from the plurality of lighting elements when the load status indicator is in a safe mode.

20. The aerial firefighting apparatus of claim 17 comprising a control console mounted adjacent the aerial ladder, the control console including at least one console load light in communication with the sensor, the console load light being selectively illuminated depending on whether the ladder is overloaded beyond the aerial ladder capacity rating, the console load light being separate and distal from the lighting strip, wherein the load sensor is a pressure sensor in fluid communication with a hydraulic ram joined with the aerial ladder.