AERIAL LADDER FOR A FIRE APPARATUS

• US 20160145940A1
• 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: Aiken, Jeffrey D., Betz, Eric D., Bloemer, Jennifer L.
• Granted Patent: US 9,677,334 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 27/00 Fire-fighting land vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 3/02 Retractable steps or ladders, e.g. movable under shock B60R3/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/02 with rigid longitudinal members
• CPC Class Codes: E06C 5/04 capable of being elevated or extended ; Fastening means during transport, e.g. mechanical, hydraulic

Abstract

An aerial ladder assembly for a fire apparatus includes a base rail extending along a longitudinal direction, a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction, a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, the first lacing member and the second lacing member each including an end that engages the base rail at an interface, and a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface. The first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, and the gusset extends through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.

Claims

1. An aerial ladder assembly for a fire apparatus, comprising:

a base rail extending along a longitudinal direction;

a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction;

a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each include an end that engages the base rail at an interface; and

a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface,

wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, the gusset extending through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.

2. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 1, wherein the ends of the first lacing member and the second lacing member abut the base rail.

3. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 2, wherein the gusset includes a flat plate having an upper edge and a lower edge.

4. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 3, wherein the upper edge extends from the first lacing member to the second lacing member, and wherein the lower edge is positioned along the base rail.

5. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 4, wherein the gusset has a first side extending from the first lacing member to the base rail and a second side extending from the second lacing member to the base rail.

6. An aerial ladder assembly for a fire apparatus, comprising:

a first truss member including a first base rail, a first hand rail elevated from the first base rail, and a plurality of lacing members coupling the first base rail to the first hand rail, wherein the first truss member extends along a longitudinal direction;

a second truss member including a second base rail, a second hand rail elevated from the second base rail, and a plurality of lacing members coupling the second base rail to the second hand rail, wherein the second truss member extends along the longitudinal direction; and

a plurality of rungs coupling the first truss member to the second truss member, the plurality of rungs extending across the longitudinal direction,

wherein the first truss member and the second truss member define a first zone and a second zone separated by a transition, the first base rail and the second base rail having a first shape within the first zone and a second shape within the second zone.

7. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 6, wherein the first base rail and the second base rail each include a first tubular member and a second tubular member within the first zone.

8. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 7, wherein the second tubular members of the first base rail and the second base rail terminate at the transition, the first tubular members continuing through the second zone of the first truss member and the second truss member.

9. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 8, further comprising a brace coupling the first tubular members and the second tubular members of the first base rail and the second base rail.

10. The aerial ladder assembly of claim 9, wherein the brace includes a top plate and a side leg, wherein the side leg is angularly offset relative to the top plate.

11. A fire apparatus, comprising:

a chassis;

a single front axle assembly coupled to the chassis;

a single rear axle assembly coupled to the chassis; and

an aerial ladder assembly coupled to the chassis and defining a longitudinal direction, the aerial ladder assembly comprising;

a base rail extending along the longitudinal direction;

a hand rail elevated from the base rail and extending along the longitudinal direction;

a first lacing member and a second lacing member coupling the hand rail to the base rail, wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each include an end that engages the base rail at an interface; and

a gusset positioned to reinforce the interface,

wherein the first lacing member and the second lacing member each define a slot that receives the gusset, the gusset extending through the first lacing member and the second lacing member to the base rail.

12. The fire apparatus of claim 11, wherein the ends of the first lacing member and the second lacing member abut the base rail.

13. The fire apparatus of claim 12, wherein the gusset includes a flat plate having an upper edge and a lower edge.

14. The fire apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first lacing member is angularly offset from the second lacing member such that the end of the first lacing member and the end of the second lacing member engage the base rail at a common interface.

15. The fire apparatus of claim 14, wherein the upper edge of the gusset extends from the first lacing member to the second lacing member, and wherein the lower edge of the gusset is positioned along the base rail.

16. The fire apparatus of claim 15, wherein the gusset has a first side extending from the first lacing member to the base rail and a second side extending from the second lacing member to the base rail.

17. The fire apparatus of claim 11, wherein the aerial ladder assembly is coupled to the chassis proximate the single rear axle assembly.

18. The fire apparatus of claim 17, wherein the aerial ladder assembly is operable within a work envelope defined by a vertical extension height and a horizontal reach, wherein the vertical extension height is at least 105 feet, and wherein the horizontal reach is at least 100 feet.

19. The fire apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a second base rail and a second hand rail separated from the first base rail and the first hand rail, wherein the second base rail extends along the longitudinal direction.

20. The fire apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of rungs coupling the first base rail to the second base rail, wherein the plurality of rungs are disposed across the longitudinal direction and have shapes that vary along the length of the aerial ladder assembly.