DESC:TECHNICAL FIELD
[002] The present disclosure in general relates to the field of earth moving machinery, and more particularly, the present subject matter relates to a design of new platform for easy access for servicing of the equipment.
BACKGROUND
[003] The new foldingplatform cum step is an access system being planned to provide on the hydraulic excavator to effectively do inspection and maintenance.
[004] The clearance under the excavator of the size of 180 to 200 ton class excavator is in the order of 2100 mm. The removal of the under covers for proper inspection and to do preventive maintenance of the equipment it is very difficult to do without any additional support of ladder or a prefabricated step. Having these in work shop will not help, since the equipment will be working in the field roughly 4~5 km (minimum) from the workshop. Equipment cannot be taken to the workshop due to the enormous cost and time involved. This invention of foldable platform cum step helps the service engineer in completing the assigned job at the shortest possible time, which in turn improves the availability of the machine and giving the required production.
SUMMARY
[005] Folding platform cum step is an ideal feature handy for service and maintenance staff to do the periodic maintenance of the equipment or do the trouble shooting of the equipment in shorter time where the access or reach to the critical parts is an issue. Before the working of the folding platform cum step is explained, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular methodologies described, as there can
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be multiple possible embodiments, which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular implementations, versions, or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present application. This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to folding platform cum step attachment. This summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[006] In one embodiment, folding platform cum step is disclosed. In the embodiment, the folding platform cum step is used to improve the access to the maintenance / service personnel in the mining machines. Due to this novel folding platform cum step mounted on mining machinery like hydraulic excavators or electric rope shovels brings reduction in operator inconvenience and improves productivity of the machine by reducing the downtime of the machine.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[007] The foregoing detailed description of embodiments is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating of the present subject matter, an example of construction of the present subject matter is provided as figures; however, the present subject matter is not limited to the specific method disclosed in the document and the figures.
[008] The present subject matter is described in detail with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer various features of the present subject matter.
[009] Figure 1 illustrates the folding platform cum step in folded condition in orthographic views and Figure 2 illustrates the folding platform cum step folded
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condition in isometric view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0010] Figure 3 illustrates the folding platform cum step in fully opened condition in orthographic views and Figure 4 illustrates the folding platform cum step fully opened condition in isometric view, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] Some embodiments of this disclosure, illustrating all its features, will now be discussed in detail. The words "comprising," "having," "containing," and "including," and other forms thereof, are intended to be open ended in that an item or items following any one of these words is not meant to be an exhaustive listing of such item or items, or meant to be limited to only the listed item or items. It must also be noted that as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Although other methods of folding steps are in use in similar or equivalent working condition to those described herein can be used in the practice for testing of embodiments of the present disclosure, the exemplary folding platform cum step is now described.
[0012] Various modifications to the embodiment will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments for folding platform cum step. However, one of ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that the present disclosure of folding platform cum step system and method using the folding feature is not intended to be limited to the embodiments described, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features described herein.
[0013] In one embodiment, folding platform cum step necessity and usage is explained. On the hydraulic mining shovel equipment or while addressing the similar problem on other mining equipment in the field, the service engineer uses ladder brought from work
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shop it is time consuming and leads to non availability (refer paragraph 004) of the productive time of the machine.
[0014] Present invention relates to a folding platform cum step wherein said platform is having a base support (1) to mount the platform, second step (2) which remains parallel with ground while in use, attaching arms (7) for attaching second step (2) and first step (3).
[0015] Base support (1) is firmly mounted at a surface with the help of fasteners through openings (12). In one of the preferred embodiment (10) is provided adjacent to hinge (13) at both sides of base support (1) to stop the further downward movement of second step (2) while in use; to keep the second step (2) parallel with ground at open position, part (11) of second step (2) comes in contact with support (10) of base support (1) and restricts the further movement; Attaching arms (7) are attached with second step (2) at hinge (14) and are kept in perpendicular position with respect to second step by movement restriction block (9) and rod (8) is connected with both the attaching arms (7) and works as a movement restricting mechanism for first step (3); portion (6) of first step (3) engages with rod (8) and keeps the first step (3) parallel with ground while in use. The attaching arms (7) is having straight portion (7’) and angled portion (7”) and first step (3) is attached with attaching arms (7) at hinge (15). While not in use steps (3 & 2) and attaching arms (7) are folded at hinges (15, 14 & 13) and catcher (4) is engaged with male catcher (5) to keep the platforms folded; catchers can be disengaged by spanner to open the platforms for use.
[0016] In one of the embodiments steps (2 & 3) are having rods (16) for support and comfort to user.
[0017] The present invention is very simple in construction and design, it is always mounted on the equipment surface based on the location finalized by the service engineers. This ladder does not require any power supply to operate. To open the ladder (platforms) only one spanner which is always provided on the equipment is required. The
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ladder while opening does not stress the operator or does it make unsafe to operate, since it opens based on the little operator effort. After operation the ladder cum step can be folded back with minimal effort. This arrangement ensures easy of service without wasting valuable productive time of the equipment and in addition it improves the timely maintenance of the equipment which enhances the service life of the equipment aggregates.
[0018] The novelty of this folding platform cum step is combination of platform and step in the foldable format and the operation of the ladder is safe and without any additional power to open and close
[0019] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
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We Claim:
1. A folding platform cum step wherein said platform is having a base support (1) to mount the platform, second step (2) which remains parallel with ground while in use, attaching arms (7) for attaching second step (2) and first step (3).
2. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 1, wherein base support (1) is firmly mounted at a surface with the help of fasteners through openings (12).
3. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 2, wherein support (10) is provided adjacent to hinge (13) at both sides of base support (1) to stop the further downward movement of second step (2) while in use; to keep the second step (2) parallel with ground at open position, part (11) of second step (2) comes in contact with support (10) of base support (1) and restricts the further movement.
4. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 3, wherein attaching arms (7) are attached with second step (2) at hinge (14) and are kept in perpendicular position with respect to second step by movement restriction block (9).
5. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 4, wherein rod (8) is connected with both the attaching arms (7) and works as a movement restricting mechanism for first step (3); portion (6) of first step (3) engages with rod (8) and keeps the first step (3) parallel with ground while in use.
6. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 5, wherein attaching arms (7) is having straight portion (7’) and angled portion (7”).
7. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 6, wherein first step (3) is attached with attaching arms (7) at hinge (15).
8. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 7, wherein while not in use steps (3 & 2) and attaching arms (7) are folded at hinges (15, 14 & 13) and catcher (4) is engaged with male catcher (5) to keep the platforms folded; catchers can be
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disengaged by spanner to open the platforms for use.
9. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 8, wherein both the steps (2 & 3) are having rods (16) for support and comfort to user.
Dated: 28th Feb 2019
Jaya Bhatnagar
Attorney for the applicants
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ABSTRACT
FOLDING PLATFORM CUM STEP
Folding platform cum step is an ideal feature handy for service and maintenance staff to do the periodic maintenance of the equipment or do the trouble shooting of the equipment in shorter time where the access or reach to the critical parts is an issue. Before the working of the folding platform cum step is explained, it is to be understood that this application is not limited to the particular methodologies described, as there can be multiple possible embodiments, which are not expressly illustrated in the present disclosures. ,CLAIMS:We Claim:
1. A folding platform cum step wherein said platform is having a base support (1) to mount the platform, second step (2) which remains parallel with ground while in use, attaching arms (7) for attaching second step (2) and first step (3).
2. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 1, wherein base support (1) is firmly mounted at a surface with the help of fasteners through openings (12).
3. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 2, wherein support (10) is provided adjacent to hinge (13) at both sides of base support (1) to stop the further downward movement of second step (2) while in use; to keep the second step (2) parallel with ground at open position, part (11) of second step (2) comes in contact with support (10) of base support (1) and restricts the further movement.
4. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 3, wherein attaching arms (7) are attached with second step (2) at hinge (14) and are kept in perpendicular position with respect to second step by movement restriction block (9).
5. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 4, wherein rod (8) is connected with both the attaching arms (7) and works as a movement restricting mechanism for first step (3); portion (6) of first step (3) engages with rod (8) and keeps the first step (3) parallel with ground while in use.
6. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 5, wherein attaching arms (7) is having straight portion (7’) and angled portion (7”).
7. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 6, wherein first step (3) is attached with attaching arms (7) at hinge (15).
8. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 7, wherein while not in use steps (3 & 2) and attaching arms (7) are folded at hinges (15, 14 & 13) and catcher (4) is engaged with male catcher (5) to keep the platforms folded; catchers can be
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disengaged by spanner to open the platforms for use.
9. A folding platform cum step as claimed in claim 8, wherein both the steps (2 & 3) are having rods (16) for support and comfort to user.