Fire fighting vehicle with ladders fitted on the roof

Abstract

 A fire fighting vehicle presenting, on its roof, a frame for elongated objects, in particular, ladders.
A frame of the known type, extending along the length of the vehicle's roof, for the transport of elongated objects, in particular, ladders, enables retrieval of said object only from the roof of the vehicle with all connected dangers and high effort on the side of the operators.
A frame (2) is provided for on the vehicle's roof, presenting a two-element slide which may be caused to slide along longitudinal guide rails (3), rigidly connected with the vehicle's roof. Ladder (4) weighs on rear slide element (9), whereby said ladder (4), along with said slide, may be manually displaced, brought to a stop and locked in an upward toggle position, wherein said ladder is ready to be used either directly or after positioning in the operational area.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a fire fighting vehicle presenting a frame located above the vehicle's roof or body for transporting elongated objects, in particular, ladders.

[0002] The fire fighting vehicles of the known type present a fixed frame or a cradle open at the top, wherein elongated objects, in particular ladders, are housed for their transport. Retrieval thereof is possible only with the help of a person standing on the vehicle's roof. Which procedure is noticeably dangerous. In particular, at least in the presence of bad weather conditions, the person in question runs the non-irrelevant risk of falling off the roof whereon he is standing. Furthermore, in the presence of overhead cables (e.g., for cable cars) on the premises, the person on the vehicle's roof can be in danger of his life. Uncontrolled gliding of the ladder may occur from great heights, in particular when it comes to extending a multiple extension ladder, weighing approximately 100 kilos, of a fire fighting vehicle from the hight of approximately three metres. Retrieval of the ladder from the ground further entails great effort on the side of the operators. Improper retrieval may lead to the vehicle's body rear end being damaged. Erection of a ladder, or the like, in the operational area involves a delayed procedure, conditional upon the complex retrieval operation and ascent of the operator. The roof of the fire fighting vehicle must be designed in such a way as to enable the operators to move freely thereon and lateral ascent must be provided for. Safety devices are essential on the vehicles roof to protect the operators against the risk of falling off and to provide for safe operation.

[0003] To this purpose, there is provided on the roof of a known fire fighting vehicle, according to patent Gbm 88 12 520, a frame for elongated objects turnable around a vertical axis. Nevertheless, said frame does not substantially solve the problem. During retrieval of a ladder, or the like, the latter may be rotated only around a horizontal axis, to avoid, for instance, an obstacle at the rear of the vehicle, e.g., street lighting.

[0004] Aim of the present invention is the embodiment of a fire fighting vehicle of the known type, which may be both simple and safe and such that retrieval, from the roof of the vehicle, of a ladder, or the like, may be carried out in a safe and comfortable manner from the ground in difficult circumstances, as well.

[0005] The fundamental aim of the present invention is achieved through the characterizing element of Claim 1.

[0006] Further advantages of the present invention are contained in Claims 2 to 14 hereof.

[0007] The present invention relates to the embodiment of an articulated slide, consisting of two elements connected with each other by means of a coupling pin, which may be displaced on the roof of the vehicle along longitudinal guide rails as far as the vehicle's rear to a stop position. The ladder, or the like, resting, directly or inside a cradle, on the rear element, facing the rear of the vehicle, and being secured in a longitudinal direction in respect of said slide element. At the rear of the vehicle, the slide may be locked into an oblique toggle by lowering the rear ends of the ladder, the ladder being in the resting position. In this manner, the ladder is quickly and safely ready to be used in the operational area.

[0008] In particular, the rear end of the ladder or, respectively, of the relevant cradle, presents an extension bracket, facing downward, provided with a bottom crank, so that a person standing on the ground behind the vehicle may be able to quickly get the ladder ready for use by pulling and turning said handle at the rear of the vehicle. The ladder's point of rotation is to be found around the middle, so that no great effort is required in the process.

[0009] There may also be provided for electric, pneumatic and hydraulic motors for slide control.

[0010] Further advantages lying in the possibility of a quick and safe retrieval of the ladder from the ground, as well as in the absence of hazards during the ascent. The lay-out of the vehicle's roof may vary (e.g., a water gun may be installed and operated at the front after the ladder is withdrawn). In addition, in the event of a defect, namely of either frame or slide getting jammed, the ladder may be extracted by means of conventional methods. The vehicle's roof may be easily laid out, there being no need any longer for the operator to climb thereon and to have room enough to freely move thereon and for protection devices to be provided for for safe operation on the roof and against possible falls thereoff. Injuries due to the unexpected swerving of a ladder may be prevented, in that the ladder itself is set in motion by the operators. The support area may be widened so as to house other or additional elongated elements, such as containers to be fitted on the roof. A further advantage being represented by either retrieval or loading of the ladder requiring no unergonomic handling. Only a minimal motion area being necessary behind the rear or at the side of the vehicle. An operator at the back is not hampered during retrieval of the ladder. A recessed ladder support works as a protection for the operators against the possible fall of parts thereof. Finally, all devices (also the ones at the rear) may be retrieved simultaneously. In the operational area, the ladder, or the like, may be used indipendently of or in connection with the fire fighting vehicle.

[0011] The present invention shall be better described now by way of non-limiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a fire fighting vehicle fitted with a frame in the two different final positions, and

Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the fire fighting vehicle of Fig. 1, the dot-and-dash line indicating a further embodiment thereof.

[0012] The fire fighting vehicle (1) as shown in Fig. 1 presents a frame (2) fitted on its roof for housing elongated objects, in particular, a ladder (4). According to the embodiment thereof, there is provided a single ladder, consisting of separate elements, as shown in Fig. 1, or a plurality of ladders, as shown in Fig. 2, to the right or to the left.

[0013] Said frame (2) comprising an articulated slide, which may be displaced on the roof of the vehicle along longitudinal guide rails (3), consisting of two parts, a front element (8) and a rear element (9), connected with each other in an articulated manner by means of coupling pin (6).

[0014] Said front element (8) presents loose side guide rollers (10) and said rear element (9) presents loose rear guide rollers (11). All guide rollers (10, 11) are displaced in longitudinal guide rails (3) longitudinally along the roof of fire fighting vehicle (1). Loose guide rollers may be fitted to said side coupling pin (6), as well.

[0015] Both said front and rear member (8, 9) support at least one ladder (4), directly or with the insertion of a cradle, open at the top. This applies to the horizontal positioning of ladder (4), shown in Fig.s 1 and 2 by the dot-and-dash line (position of ladder during actual transport).

[0016] In order for ladder (4) to be used in the operational area, the fire fighting vehicle having come to a stillstand, the two-element slide is caused to slide into a stop position at the rear of the vehicle, parallel to the vehicle's roof, and this is chiefly done manually, by an operator standing on the ground behind the rear end of the vehicle. To this end, said operator lays hold of a handle (13) at the bottom end of a vertical extension bracket (14), which is securely fastened either directly to ladder (4) or to the cradle housing the ladder. In this manner, said operator loosens a locking device (14) (prestressed spring Bowden cable with lockpin), which is provided for in the upper corner of extension bracket (12) with respect either to said cradle or to ladder (4). Said operator then sets handle (13) in a backward motion (A) and, consequently, said articulated slide, until rear stop (5) is reached in the region of rear guide rollers (11). In this position, said rear member (9) engages rear guide rollers (11), so that the former may not be displaced in a forward direction any longer. At this point, said operator causes handle (13) to move downwards (B), causing ladder (4) or, alternatively, said cradle, and, consequently, said articulated slide, to toggle upwards into an oblique position, as shown in a schematic view in Fig. 1 by the dot-and-dash line.

[0017] Toggling of said articulated slide being made possible by providing for upper openings (7) in longitudinal guide rails (3), enabling coupling pin (6) to move upwards drawing a segment of an arc. As shown in Fig. 1, said front element (8) forms, in its final position, an angle of approximately 90° with respect to said rear element (9). Between said front and rear elements (8, 9) there is inserted a damper cylinder, working, once it reaches its final position, too, as toggle stop. At maximum angle of inclination, front guide rollers (10) find themselves in the region of upper openings (7), lying behind said front guide rollers, so that the latter are unable to get through them. Upward toggle of said slide is adjustable, according to each embodiment. In order to prevent said front guide rollers (10) of said front elements (8) to move forwards, under the weight of ladder (4), they are locked by means of a mechanism (not shown in the drawing), which may be controlled by handle (13) of extension bracket (12).

[0018] Rear guide rollers (11) of rear element (9) are located, with reference to ladder (4) longitudinal extension, approximately half-way down it. An advantage thereof being represented by the overall weight of said ladder being essentially taken over by rear guide rollers (11), so that an operator standing behind the rear end of the vehicle has essentially to overcome friction by a swivel motion towards direction B.

[0019] A two-element frame or slide is therefore provided for in longitudinal guide rails (3), slidable by means of guide rollers. Said longitudinal guide rollers are screwed in a flat manner on the body roof of fire fighting vehicle (1) (half-way down it or, optionally, at the side thereof).

[0020] At least the rear portion of said two-element slide carries ladder (4), either directly or through a cradle, whereby also a plurality of ladders or of other elongated devices, such as suction hoses or pick-axes, may be housed thereon.

[0021] Operation may be carried out - according to wish - from the vehicle's top or, preferably, from the ground with the help of an extension bracket (12). To carry out operation, locking device (14) is loosened through handle (13), whereupon said handle is set in motion towards direction A and, subsequently, towards direction B. In this way, the operator himself may decide on the inclination to be adopted, according to each specific circumstances, e.g., under bridges, etc..

[0022] Ladder inclination or down-swinging is ensured, upon its reaching its final position at the back of the vehicle, by means of upper openings (7) obtained in longitudinal guide rails (3). Limit stop is a simple and easy to survey operation. The operator is aware of each single motion he sets off, thus considerably reducing misuse and, consequently, hazard. Upon operation being chiefly carried out from the ground, with relatively little effort if carried out manually from behind the rear end of the vehicle, there may be provided also the use of an electric or pneumatic or hydraulic motor to be operated by pushing a button. However, in the event of faulty operation, manual retrieval is still possible.

[0023] In particular, longitudinal guide rails (3) may be provided for with a slight inclination in the direction of the vehicle's rear end, thus allowing for an easier erection to the rear of ladder (4) into direction A.

[0024] All and any characteristics described herein and/or showed in the accompanying drawings, whether taken independently or in combiantion thereof, are material part of the present invention, much as they may not be described in detail in the Claims.

Claims

1. A fire fighting vehicle (1) presenting a frame (2) located above the vehicle's roof or body and extending longitudinally along the vehicle, for transporting elongated objects, in particular ladders (4), characterized in that said frame (2) presents a slide (8,9) consisting of two elements, connected with each other by means of a coupling pin (6) and caused to slide in longitudinal guide rails (3) on top of the vehicle's roof/body, supporting ladder (4) or the like, which may be caused to slide to a rear stop (5) and to be locked into an oblique toggle, under the weight of ladder (4) or the like.

2. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said slide presents front and rear guide rollers (10 or 11), running inside longitudinal side guide rails (3) and wherein coupling pin (6) is provided for half-way down two-element slide (8,9) and/or loose guide rollers are provided for, as well, which may be caused to slide through upper openings (7), obtained in longitudinal guide rails (3), upon slide (8,9) reaching rear stop (5).

3. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in either Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that ladder (4), or the like, weighs on rear element (9) of said slide and is fastened in a longitudinally slidable manner.

4. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that rear guide rollers (11) of rear element (9) are provided for approximately half-way down ladder (4), or such like.

5. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that both front and rear elements (8,9) of said slide are connected with each other in an articulated manner by means of a damper cylinder (15).

6. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in Claim 5, characterized in that damper cylinder (15) is inserted between said front and rear elements (8,9) of said slide, thus constituting a stop for the inclination thereof, and that front guide rollers (10) of front elements (8) are located in the neighbourhood of upper openings (7) of longitudinal guide rails (3).

7. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that rear slide element (9) is longer than front element (8).

8. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that both slide elements (8,9) may form a maximum inclination angle of 90°.

9. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the region of the rear ends of ladder (4), or the like, an extension bracket (12) is provided for, projecting downwards, presenting bottom handle(13) for the manual operation of slide (8,9).

10. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, characterized in that the upper end of extension bracket (12) is connected, over connecting strut, with rear slide member (9), a 90° angle, approximately, being formed by extension bracket (13) and connecting strut.

11. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 9 to 10, characterized in that an adjustable Bowden cable is integrated with said handle/extension bracket, whereby slide (8,9) may be securely locked in each oblique toggle position and whereby the free end of said cable is connected with front guide rollers (10) of front slide member (8).

12. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that electric or pneumatic or hydraulic motors are provided for both sliding motion and upward toggle of slide (8,9).

13. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that a rear locking device (14) for the rear end of said slide is provided for, rigidly connected with the vehicle, at the rear of the vehicle.

14. A fire fighting vehicle as claimed in Claim 13, characterized in that said locking device (14) may be loosened by means of an operating handle in the region of handle (13).

Drawing