LADDER ASSEMBLY FOR A FIRE APPARATUS

• US 20160144210A1
• Filed: 11/24/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Corporation
• Inventors: Betz, Eric, Bloemer, Jennifer L., Aiken, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 9,579,530 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 5/32 Accessories , e.g. brakes on ladders

Abstract

A quint configuration fire apparatus includes a chassis, a pump and a water tank coupled to the chassis, a body assembly coupled to the chassis, a single rear axle coupled to a rear end of the chassis, and a ladder assembly having an end that is coupled to the chassis. The ladder assembly includes a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, a pad slidably coupling the first section to the second section, the pad defining a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface, and a resilient member coupling the pad to a bracket. The first engagement surface is spaced an offset distance from the second engagement surface. The bracket is positioned to support the pad such that the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface contact the second section and transfer loading along the ladder assembly.

Claims

1. A quint configuration fire apparatus, comprising:

a chassis;

a pump and a water tank coupled to the chassis;

a body assembly coupled to the chassis and having a storage area configured to receive a ground ladder and a fire hose;

a single rear axle coupled to a rear end of the chassis; and

a ladder assembly including;

a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, wherein the ladder assembly has an end that is coupled to the chassis;

a pad slidably coupling the first section to the second section, the pad defining a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface, wherein the first engagement surface is spaced an offset distance from the second engagement surface; and

a resilient member coupling the pad to a bracket, wherein the bracket is positioned to support the pad such that the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface contact the second section and transfer loading along the ladder assembly.

2. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pad includes a first strip and a second strip extending from a body portion thereby forming a double-humped profile, the first strip and the second strip defining the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, respectively.

3. The fire apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bracket at least partially defines a pocket sized to receive the pad and the resilient member.

4. The fire apparatus of claim 2, wherein the ladder assembly includes a second pad having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds with a cross-sectional shape of the first pad.

5. The fire apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pad includes a first flange extending from the first strip and a second flange extending from the second strip.

6. The fire apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first flange and the second flange are disposed on opposing lateral sides of the pad.

7. The fire apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first flange and the second flange are perpendicular to the first strip and the second strip, respectively, and spaced to receive a base rail of the second section.

8. The fire apparatus of claim 7, wherein the ladder assembly includes a second pad having a cross-sectional shape that is different than a cross-sectional shape of the first pad.

9. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pad includes a first flange and a second flange extending from a body portion, the first flange and the second flange defining at least a portion of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, respectively.

10. The fire apparatus of claim 9, wherein the ladder assembly includes a second pad having a cross-sectional shape that corresponds with a cross-sectional shape of the first pad.

11. The fire apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ladder assembly is extensible to provide a horizontal reach of at least 100 feet and a vertical height of at least 105 feet.

12. The fire apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a turntable rotatably coupling the end of the ladder assembly to the chassis such that the ladder assembly is selectively repositionable into a plurality of operating orientations, wherein the horizontal reach is defined between an axis about which the ladder assembly is configured to rotate and a distal end of the ladder assembly, and wherein the vertical height is defined between a distal rung of the ladder assembly and a ground surface.

13. The fire apparatus of claim 12, wherein the ladder assembly is configured to support a tip capacity of at least 750 pounds, wherein the water tank is configured to contain at least 500 gallons of water, and wherein at least one of the chassis, the body assembly, the pump, and the water tank are positioned to counterbalance a moment associated with the tip capacity with the ladder assembly extended to the horizontal reach of at least 100 feet.

14. A fire apparatus, comprising:

a chassis;

a body assembly coupled to the chassis and configured to receive a ground ladder, a fire hose, a pump, and a water tank;

a single rear axle coupled to a rear end of the chassis; and

a ladder assembly including;

a first section and a second section;

a pad slidably coupling the first section to the second section, the pad defining a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface, wherein the first engagement surface is spaced an offset distance from the second engagement surface; and

a bracket coupled to the first section and positioned to support the pad such that the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface contact the second section and transfer loading along the ladder assembly.

15. The fire apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pad includes a first strip and a second strip extending from a body portion thereby forming a double-humped profile, the first strip and the second strip defining the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, respectively.

16. The fire apparatus of claim 15, wherein the pad includes a first flange extending from the first strip and a second flange extending from the second strip, wherein the first flange and the second flange are disposed on opposing lateral sides of the pad.

17. The fire apparatus of claim 16, wherein the first flange and the second flange are perpendicular to the first strip and the second strip, respectively, and spaced to receive a base rail of the second section.

18. The fire apparatus of claim 17, wherein the bracket at least partially defines a pocket sized to receive the pad.

19. The fire apparatus of claim 14, wherein the pad includes a first flange and a second flange extending from a body portion, the first flange and the second flange defining at least a portion of the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface, respectively.

20. A ladder assembly for a fire apparatus, comprising:

a first section;

a second section including a base rail, a hand rail, and a lacing member;

a pad slidably coupling a distal end of the first section to the second section, the pad defining a first engagement surface and a second engagement surface, wherein the first engagement surface is spaced an offset distance from the second engagement surface;

a bracket coupled to the first section and positioned to support the pad such that the first engagement surface and the second engagement surface contact the base rail of the second section; and

a resilient member disposed between the bracket and the pad thereby facilitating isolated movement between the first section and the second section.