Elevator of safety for people provided or not with a load.

AS AFRICAN AND MALAGASY

INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY

PATENT International Patent Classification: 66 № 02470 b.

O A>M-I-P.

v->

Requested 10 July 1967 to¹⁰ hr⁰⁰ min

to I ' oo.a.m.p.1. (g.P. no. 53,003) by

Karl jeans sling LEBRE, residing in France

5 May 1970 delivered

Published at № 1 of official ballot¹⁹⁷⁰

Priority: Patent application filed in France under the no. 69663, 71211 81227 and the 16 July 1966, 28 July 1966 and 22 October 1966 at same name.

The present invention relates to industrial product in the novel apparatus for at will a user to rise, and raise a load temporally, vertically or at an inclination, and down while keeping the hands free.

The apparatus according to the present invention comprises

two posts disposed vertically, or tilted at an angle following use of the apparatus, and maintained a constant spacing throughout their length by at least one lower, an upper cross member can be provided in the case of large strut lengths, while a frame or cage is positioned between the uprights to be slidable over the entire length of the struts, this cage

providing support for the user and being provided with a control mechanism of the upward movement of the cage and means for progression and retention of the cage along the rails.

The energy for the lifting movement of the cage may be obtained for example by a thermal or electric motor actuating the progression of the cage on the posts but according to an advantageous embodiment and inexpensive of the apparatus of the invention, the control mechanism of the lifting movement of the cage is preferably adapted for use as an energy source moving the mass of the user's body. More particularly, the apparatus is operated by a single reciprocation of the user such as for example a walking movement (up and down reciprocating each foot) or a movement similar to that by which descends the rungs of a ladder. For this purpose, the control mechanism comprises two pedal assemblies on the pedals which takes place the user of the apparatus so that each pedal serves as a bearing to one of his feet, these pedal assemblies being hinged to the cage at its end opposite the - pedals and coupled, at an intermediate point, to means for progression and retention of the cage which are constituted by clamping blocks engaged with the posts. Each pedal is harnessed to a pair of clamping blocks slides simultaneously and respectively on one of the two posts.

The clamping blocks are constituted such that under the effect of a force downward vertical they jam on the corresponding post by providing a fulcrum about which the pedal crank pivotable corresponding concurrent in-.r is hitched, whereas under a reverse vertical force, they are unlocked and can slide relative to the post. This is the reciprocal pivoting of the pedal assemblies about the bearing points provided by the clamping blocks which causes the progressive rise of the cage along the rails.

Further, the present invention provides a system providing descent of the cage under perfect security to the speed that is desired to be able to perform and down on very short distances and progressively or on the contrary descent without stops over the entire height of the apparatus. To this end, the clamping blocks are tightly maintained permanently on the corresponding post by a hydraulic fluid pressure which performs self-clamping blocks on the posts, the pressure can be reduced progressively for the descent of the apparatus to reduce the tightening of each block on the post and thereby allow the sliding of the clamp block on the corresponding post.

During descent, requires the switching with minimal effort, can decrease the pressure in the? blocks and if necessary restore immediately the maximum pressure to obtain effective braking.

To this end, each pair of clamping blocks Lawn has a common crank is communicated with a closed chamber of a device having two pressure chambers performing pressurization of car-tightening automatic clamp blocks and their decompression is controlled by the user. The two closed chambers are filled with a fluid maintained under pressure by a cam device for varying simultaneously and similarly the chamber volume and thereby the value of the fluid pressure. The device has cam is manually operable by a lever which is held by a spring in a predetermined position corresponding to the lowest possible volume chambers and therefore to a maximum pressure of the fluid. By acting on the lever, against the action of the spring, the cam device recedes in allowing an increase of the volume of the chambers, thereby causing a proportional decrease in the fluid pressure on the pressing jaws of the clamping blocks. The cessation of the force on the lever returns as soon as the fluid pressure has its maximum value.

Other advantages and features will appear better in the course of the following description of a preferred embodiment, but without limitation, of the present invention with reference to the attached drawing wherein;

figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

figure 2 is a view to larger scale of a detail of Figure 1 showing the parking mechanism pedals in a horizontal position;

figure 3 is a sectional schematic view representing a pair of clamping blocks of the lifting device of the apparatus and the hydraulic device for loosening of the clamping blocks and consequently the descent of the apparatus; and

figure 4 is a plan view having its upper half is a cross section, according to the IV line-IV of Figure 3, a clamping block.

At drawing, there is shown an apparatus which can be moved on the ground by a base assembly 1 with wheels 2. However, it will be appreciated that does not exit the the scope of the invention if the appliance was purchased this dolly was attached for example along a wall, displaceable along this wall by a drive rollers running on fixed rails.

Similarly, being made represented a type of apparatus has columns 3 and 4 vertical guide and supported by the dolly 1, it will be appreciated that the posts could be inclined and by their lower ends on the ground while their lower ends would be informed by an wall in the manner of a conventional ladder. The posts 3 and 4 may have any suitable profile section, circular, square, ovoid, elliptical, andc...

Between the uprights is a cage designated generally in 5 which is adapted to move vertically between the posts 3 and 4 and which is occupied by a user who wants to rise. The cage consists of two side panels made for example using bent pipes and joined by upper and lower cross members 6 7; a central crosspiece 9 joins sidewall spacers 8 integral side panels. The cage 5 is guided on the posts 3, 4 by collars 10 integral side panels forming the cage.

The movement upward of cage and the optional filler that is obtained by 1' actuator according to vertical reciprocating motion of two pedals 11 - 12 mounted at the end of the pedal assemblies articulated on a common axis 13 horizontal and integral with the cage. These pedal assemblies each consist of a pair of parallel levers 15 - 17 and 16 - 18 swing connected at their free ends by pins 19 - 20 on which are hinged the pedals 11 - 12 which are kept constantly horizontal by forming deformable parallelograms made levers 15 - 16 and 21 - 22 of rods hinged at one end to the cage and in 23 - 24 has at their other end yokes 25 - 26 integral pedals 11 - 12.

The pedal assembly of the pedal 12, referred to herein as right crankset, is hitched has clamp blocks equal lower actuate 27 - 28 and which are mounted respectively - ' centeredly on the posts 3 and 4; this bracket is articulated at one end to the block right 28 by a link 30 articulated between the block 28 and the right clamping lever 16 in 32 and on the other on the left block 27 by a link 29 articulated between the block 27 and a point 31 of an arm 31 mounted _ahas left on the axis 13 and integral in rotation of the crankset right pedal 12 by has a rod (not shown) surrounding the axis 13. These clamping blocks are intended to move together remaining always at the same level. The clamping blocks, be described further in detail, tend has to lock onto the post along which they move when applied to a stuffing downwardly directed vertical and they will then constitute a fulcrum about which the pedal crank pivotable associated therewith, while on the contrary, under the effect of a thrust directed vertically upward, loosen the blocks and are slidable along the post. Thus it will be appreciated that if for example is pushing the pedal 12, the clamping blocks 27 and 28 will get stuck in the form fixed points of pivoting for the bottom bracket right; the axis 13 and therefore the cage 5 will then be subjected has an upward movement. Naturally not to request for has the user of the apparatus too much load to raise the cage 5 supporting the weight of the user and sometimes a supplementary load, provided-one gear ratio which will advantageously be adjustable. The multiplication is obtained by locating the joints 31 - 32 of the crankset dfceit connecting rods 29 - 30 clamp blocks

closer to the axis 13 that axes of 19 - 20 pedal mount. In in the shown example, the joints 31 - 32 lie about a third of the distance separating the axis 13 axes 19 - 20. The setting of the gear ratio is obtained by towards or away from these joints 31 - 32 the axis 13 by to a row of holes along the length of the lever 16 and arm 3 1a, and into which the ends of fixed bielleta TES 29 - 30,

To synchronize the descent of a pedal with the rise of the other, the levers 15 - 16 of the pedal assemblies are coupled by a rocker arm articulated 37 U whose arms 35 - 36 are approximately vertical and are articulated has their free ends approximately in the middle of the levers 15 - 16, while the upper cross member 38 of rocker is articulated in its medium 39 40 on a support integral with the crossmember 9 of the cage 5. It should be noted that may cause the pedals at the same level and lock them in this position so that they constitute a horizontal platform. For this purpose, the passes through 38 rocker carries a semicircular sector 41 having at its periphery a medium slot 42 into which may be inserted a locking finger 43 has spring carried by the support 40 (see Figure 2). During raising or lowering of 1' apparatus, this finger 43 is biased away from the notch by a control has cam of any type suitable. The operation of the finger 43 is performed by a lever 44 to two positions.

The oscillatory movement of the left foot pedal crank gear 11 is transmitted to the upper clamp blocks 47 - 48, similar to the blocks 27 - 28 and which simultaneously move respectively on the posts 3 - 4, by means of a connecting rod comprising

- α Π℮ connecting rod 45 about vertical articulated at one end to the lever 17 of the pedal crank 11 and at its other end to a central arm 46 secured to the horizontal rod 47a of a U-shaped frame designated generally in 48a and which is hinged at its corners in ears 49 integral with the cage, so as to be pivotable about the axis of the rod 47jï. The side limbs of the U-shaped frame 50 48a are pivotably connected to the lower ends of push rods 51 - 52 having upper ends respectively articulated on the upper clamping blocks 47 - 48. Further a rod 50a connects the hinge ends of the link 51 left and the left leg 50 of the frame 48a, approximately in the middle of the lever 15 of the left pedal.

The clamping blocks 47 - 48 are constantly higher level. They move simultaneously upwards under the action of thrust from the legs 50 of the U-shaped frame 48 _a which pivot under the effect of the lifting of the left pedal 11 when the pedal 12 is lowered.

Will describe now more particularly a clamping block with reference to Figures 3 and 4. Each clamping unit comprises an outer casing formed of two half-shells and hollow symmetrical and 53 to be pooled by rivets 54 connecting to fully encompass the post (for example the post 3). Each half-shell comprises at its upper and lower ends ports to allow passage with clearance of the post. These apertures have a shape corresponding to that of the post, such as for example an s-form -&wl '&lliptic in the case of the shown example were chosen for which a post of elliptical profile.

55 The internal cavities of the half-shells forming the housing are for receiving one clamping shoe 56 wedge-shaped having an inner groove 57 which surrounds the post 3 over slightly less than half of its periphery and is in frictional contact with said strut, while the shoe's outer wall 58 is inclined downwardly and cooperates via a needle bed 59 with an inner surface of the housing 60, correspondingly inclined.

The height of the shoe is smaller than that of

the cavity 55, allowing relative movement of the shoe relative to the housing, or the housing relative to the spider. A return spring 61 is located in a hole in the base of the shoe 62 and rests on the inner bottom face of the housing. This spring 61 tends to rise the shoe within the casing so that the shoe is always kept slightly wedged between the needle bed and standard and that the groove 57 bears against the post 3 with frictional force determined regardless of the state of wear of parts in contact. It will indicate that the cranks 29 - 30 connecting the bottom bracket to the blocks right lower clamp 51 - 52 as well as the links connecting the frame to the blocks 48a ^ upper grip are all hinged on the housing formed of half-shells 53 of the corresponding clamping block. Thus it is on the casings of the clamping blocks over a wide vertical efforts. It will be appreciated while a force tending has lowering the right pedal 12 for example will be transferred to the housing 53 blocks lower clamp 27 - 28 which will tend to descend slightly and to wedge the shoes immediately against the posts 56 corresponding 3 - 4 by the cooperation of the inclined surfaces 58 - 60 that are movable relative to one another by needle beds 59.

On the contrary, a tendency of strain has raise

the housing of the clamping blocks will unwedge the shoes 56 by minimizing their clamping on the posts 3 - 4. The clamping blocks will then move vertically.

Away from the shoe, the cavity 55 of the housing contains

a pressing jaw having a groove 64 63, similar to the groove 57 of the sabot, which surrounds the post 3 over slightly less than half of its periphery. The jaw 63 is held in frictional contact by the action of a fluid under pressure within a chamber 65 a cylindrical vessel fixed to the housing and in which is received a cylindrical shaft of the jaw 63 which forms a piston.

The design of the hydraulic system ensures

at will the instant release of the clamping blocks and

therefore the descent of the cage to the speed as

it is desired to more or less by varying the fluid pressure acting on the jaw 63. To obtain simultaneity of pressure variations in the chambers 65, is connected with the pressure chambers 65 of the two blocks of upper clamp by a pipe 66jâ, whilst the chambers 65 blocks lower clamp are connected by a pipe 66b.

The pipes 66a. and 66b are connected respectively via lines 69a and 69jo to closed chambers 70a and 70b of a cylinder compressor 71 which is supported by the cage 5. It should be noted that the lines and must be configured such that changes in fluid pressure have no effect on the section of the fluid passage that must remain constant.

Thus are preferred in pipes and ducts having an open interior section as small as possible and a wall thickness prevents radial deformation.

The cylinder 71 is closed at its two ends by caps 72a. , 72b screwed on the threaded ends of the cylinder.

The bottoms of the plugs are penetrated by adjusting screws 73a, 73b, which the ends within the cylinder are supported on pistons 74a, 74b, for regulating the pressure of fluid within the closed chambers 70a, 70b circumscribed by the pistons 74,a, 74, b and pistons 75a, 75b

release control hydraulic clamp blocks. The pistons 75a, 75 and, B can slide in the cylinder bore 71 to vary the volume of the chambers 70a,, 70jo thereby varying the pressure exerted on the pressing jaws 63.

During the ascent of the cage 5, the fluid pressure exerted on the jaws is maximum and constant. This is permitted by maintaining the pistons _a 75, 75, b. has a constant spacing, by has the position of an operating lever 76 77 which is articulated in the middle and inside the cylinder 71 and which carries rollers 78 whose axes are aligned with the fixed pin 77 of the lever 76 in a vertical plane as it was represented in continuous line has figure 3. The lever 76 is held in this position corresponding to the maximum pressure of the hydraulic fluid by a spring 79 hooked between a pin 80 of the lever 76 and the end of a bracket 81 secured to the upper portion of the cylinder 71. The lever is prevented from rise above by its abutment with the top edge 82 of the orifice 83 of the cylinder through which passes the lever 76.

If the user is driving down the cage 5, it is sufficient that it reduces plus or minus the pressure exerted by the hydraulic fluid on the pressing jaws 63 of the four clamping>locs, more or less by lowering the operating lever ' 6 vertically against the action of the spring 79. The rollers pivot 78 then D^{the L} an angle about the fixed axis 77 and take e.g. position in dotted line of Figure 3. Under the influence of fluid pressure, movable pistons 75a, 75b approach by causing a resultant increase in the volume of the closed chambers 70a, 70b, which proportionately reduces the value of the fluid pressure in all the circuits. As soon as the user stops pressing the lever 76, it is biased in the position in full by the action of spring 79 and the peak pressure rétahlit in all hydraulic circuits. Thus the pressurizing system to automatic clamp blocks and a decompression manually controlled. A very important advantage of the device for hydraulic controlled descent of the cage 5 lies in the fact that the closed chambers 70a and 70b do not communicate.

If there is leakage of fluid in one of the circuits of the clamping blocks higher or lower clamp blocks, there is always a group of clamping blocks which receives the fluid pressure and the cage cannot free fall.

This type of incident does could happen that if both circuits independent of the clamping blocks fleeing or broke simultaneously what is practically impossible.

Further the device for hydraulic descent is highly maneuverable and responsive. It may allow progressively moves very smooth over very short distances or instead a quick drop a great distance and a progressive braking or rather abrupt. All these possibilities depend on how the operating lever 76.

The apparatus of the invention operates as suits

When the apparatus is at a low level as shown in Figure 1, the user steps on the pedals 11 - 12 that can

- ε-EITs be in a position similar to that of Figure either have been immobilized at the same level. to form a platform, if the user must rise with it a load, it can deliver it on a horizontal support 85 intended for instance to the top of the cage 5. To prevent falling of the user being mounted, there is a safety belt consisting for example of a hoop 86 articulated at one end on the platform 85 87 in the vicinity of post 3, its free end being called to locked e.g. by a hook on a pin having a loop 88 integral with the platform 85 and adjacent to the pillar 4. To make mandatory the use of the seat belt, there is a device which prevents the lifting of the cage 5 as the belt is not locked and can be constituted for example by a projection 89 carried by the hoop 86 near its joint 87, this projection engaging in a hole 90 of the post 3 as the belt is open and thereby preventing movement of the cage 5.

The user who locked around its size the safety belt 86, then it can start pedalling quality by alternately his weight on a pedal and then on the other.

If for example the user presses the pedal 12, the lower clamp blocks 27 - 28 become jammed surîes posts 3 - 4 constituting fulcrums fixed. The crankset right pedal 12 pivots vertically about 32 causing the elevation of the axis 13 and therefore of the cage 5 while the pedal 12 is lowered. The lowering of the crankset right pedal 12 causes elevation of the crankset left pedal 11 by the balance 37.

' Simultaneously, the ascent of the cage 5 ascension■blocks of upper clamp 47 - 48 under the combined thrust on one side of the U-shaped frame 48 A integral in movement of the cage 5 and d * 45 - 46 on the other hand of the linkage connecting the foot pedal of the pedal frame 48a _ 11. During this phase, the frame 48a is animated with translational motion imparted by the cage lifting and turning movement, upward of Figure 1 about the axis of its shaft 47a, which is transmitted by the connecting rod 45 rising with the pedal assembly of the pedal 11.

These two movements of the frame 48 _a add and transmit thrust by the connecting rods to the blocks 51 - 52 of upper clamp 47 - 48 which thus move.

The bottom end of travel of the pedal 12, the clamping blocks 47 - 48 upper jam on their stands 3 - 4 under the effect of the weight of the apparatus and the user and thus are fixed two bearing points. When the user reports his weight on the left leg, it lowers the left pedal crank 11 by pivoting the left around the ends of the connecting rod 45 and the rod 50a. Depression of the pedal 11 raises the cage 5 and operable to raise the pedal 12 by the balance wheel 37 and therefore the clamping blocks 27 - 28 rise along posts 3 - 4.

It should be noted that the height at which will be permitted

the cage can be unlimited because the present apparatus does not depend on frame, cable or cylinders. It is merely necessary to posts section suitable and proper length. It will also providing apparatus in which the uprights have a determined length but on which will fit elements further uprights as that will rise higher.