TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The invention relates to a ladder system for hoisting rescue vehicles, according
to the preamble of claim 1.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Ladder systems of the above kind are used for rescuing persons in emergency situations.
An example of such ladder systems is demonstrated in
EP2182164 B1, demonstrating a ladder set to be mounted on top of a rescue vehicle like a firefighting
vehicle. As disclosed in the state of the art, such ladders may be turntable ladders
mounted on a rotating frame and adjusted to occupy different inclinations. A ladder
system comprises a plurality of ladder segments which are telescopically extendable
with regard to each other, so that they can be shifted with respect to each other
along their linear extension direction by at least one drive. The top ladder segment
may carry a rescue cage, for example.
[0003] For extending the ladder set, a telescopic drive is provided. In many common ladder
systems, a winch as one example of a telescopic drive is mounted at a base part of
the vehicle to extract the ladder segments via a pulling rope which is guided over
guide rollers and deflecting rollers through the ladder segments. The arrangement
of such a pulling rope (and a corresponding additional pulling rope to carry out a
retraction movement of the ladder segments toward their original non-use position)
can be selected according to the loads and the forces necessary to carry out the extension/retraction
movement.
[0004] The provision of only one telescopic drive poses constructional problems related
to the limited space within the ladder system and the forces acting to the different
components. With increasing number of ladder segments, difficulties arise in arranging
the desired number of force transmission components and/or guiding components (for
example, guiding rollers or deflecting rollers) within the ladder segments, which
have to share their arrangement space with other components needed in the operation
of the ladder system. With a large number of ladder segments, large forces are necessary
to carry out the telescopic extension movement, increasing the demands of strength
and stability of all components of the telescopic drive. Because of these forces and
the decreased size of components, increased wear of these components becomes an additional
problem.
[0005] Moreover, in some cases it is desired to choose the order of extraction of adjacent
ladder segments according to the load acting on the ladder system, for example, according
to the measured or estimated deflection to the top portion of the ladder set which
is fully extracted. However, in the known ladder systems the extraction order of the
ladder segments is predetermined according to the mechanical arrangement of the components
of the telescopic drive.
[0006] There is the additional problem that in conventional extraction systems, the uppermost
ladder segment is always extracted at least partially in any extracted position of
the ladder system. However, as this ladder segment carries the load at the ladder
tip, it is prone to be deformed by torsion forces with increasing extraction length.
Moreover, it must be ensured that the rungs of different segments of the ladder set
are aligned with a permissible offset, to ensure continuity of passage of a person
along the ladder. This rung alignment restricts the freedom to extract the ladder
segments to full extend, because a mutual position correction of the ladder segments
may involve retraction movements. These correction movements may be small between
adjacent ladder segments but may sum up to a larger distance in total. The overall
extension length of the ladder system may be seriously affected by this safety requirement.
[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved ladder
system of the above kind with a telescopic drive for extending the ladder segments
which consumes less construction space in the ladder system and different ways of
carrying out the telescopic extraction movement, in particular with regard to the
order of extraction of the different ladder segments. Another object is to increase
the stability of the uppermost ladder segment against torsion forces also in extracted
positions of the ladder system, and to fulfil the requirement of the rung alignment
with less restrictions concerning the full extension length of the ladder system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] This object is achieved by the provision of a ladder system comprising the features
of the appended set of claims.
[0010] The ladder system according to the present invention comprises a bottom ladder set
and a top ladder set mounted on top of the bottom ladder set. The bottom ladder set
is mounted on top of the base part of the vehicle and comprises its own telescopic
drive, comprising a bottom drive for extending the bottom ladder segments comprised
within the bottom ladder set. An additional telescopic drive is provided for driving
the extension of the ladder segments of the top ladder set. This additional telescopic
drive comprises a top drive which is mounted to the top ladder set. Hence the ladder
system according to the present invention comprises at least two independent telescopic
drives for driving the extension of the respective ladder segments of the bottom ladder
set and the top ladder set supported thereon.
[0011] As a result, the ladder segments of the bottom ladder set and the top ladder set
can be extended independently by operating the respective telescopic drive, i. e.
the bottom drive or the top drive. A force transmission means of the bottom drive,
like an extraction rope of a bottom winch, does not need to be guided through all
ladder segments comprised within the ladder system, but only as far as to reach the
top segment comprised within the bottom ladder set or further to be fixed to the first
following segment belonging to the top ladder set, such that the top ladder set as
a whole can be extracted from the bottom ladder set by means of the bottom drive.
However, there is no need for an additional force transmission means connecting the
bottom drive with the top end segment of the top ladder set, because the extraction
of the ladder segments of the top ladder set is driven by the top drive.
[0012] Consequently, the overall construction, in particular with regard to the guiding
components and/or force transmission components of the telescopic drive for extracting
the bottom ladder set, can be lighter and with less restrictions with respect to their
strength and stability. On the other hand, the telescopic drive components for extracting
the top ladder set can be relatively light and simple. Just as one example, a top
winch may have a lighter weight than a bottom winch, because of the decreased pulling
force requirements for extracting the limited number of ladder segments of the top
ladder set.
[0013] According to the present invention, the ladder system comprises a control device
to operate both telescopic drives independent of each other and configured to start
the operation of the bottom drive and the top drive in a predetermined order depending
on one of the plurality of operation modes of the control device. Accordingly, the
order of extracting the top ladder set and the bottom ladder set is different according
to the operation mode to which the control device is set.
[0014] The option of extending the bottom ladder set first, while keeping the top ladder
set in a compact retracted position, offers the advantage to keep the upper ladder
segments, which are prone to the highest torsion forces, in a retracted (or at least
partially retracted) mutual position as far as possible, being fully extended only
in the full extension position of the ladder system as a whole. Additional guiding
means to guide the uppermost ladder segment on the underlying ladder segment in an
at least partially retracted mutual position may be provided, to improve the stability
of the ladder system in its end segments. A guidance between the uppermost ladder
segment on the underlying ladder segment is released only when these two ladder segments
are further extended, which may be the case only when all other ladder segments have
been extracted.
[0015] Another advantage lies in the fact that a rung alignment, as described above, can
be carried out by position correction movements of the ladder segments independently
in the bottom ladder set and in the top ladder set. Namely, such correction movements
may involve retraction movements in the bottom ladder set and extension movements
in the top ladder set, and vice versa. In total, the rung alignment can be carried
out with less restrictions concerning the full extension length of the ladder system.
[0016] The operation modes correspond to different loads acting on the ladder system in
an at least partially extended state.
[0017] More preferably, these loads are derived from load data measured during the operation
of the ladder system. These load data may represent, for example, a load acting of
a rescue cage mounted to the top end ladder segment comprised within the top ladder
set, and/or to a deflection of one or a plurality of ladder segments measured during
operation. Suitable sensor devices may be provided within the ladder system to measure
such load data.
[0018] More preferably, the loads are derived from load data acquired by estimation or calculation
and/or being stored in a memory. Pre-stored load data or estimated load data can be
used in combination with measured mode data, as described above.
[0019] More preferably, the control device comprises decision means configured to select
the operation mode automatically based on load data. Such decision means may comprise
a central processing unit (CPU) for processing the load data and, if necessary, additional
data to take a decision on which operation mode is to be selected according to the
present load situation.
[0020] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control device
comprises selection means configured to select the operation mode by a human operator.
[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the plurality of operation
mode comprises at least a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein
in each of these two operation modes, one of the bottom drive and the top drive is
operated first to extend the respective bottom ladder segments or top ladder segments
completely, before the respective other of the bottom drive and the top drive starts
operating. That is, in a first of these two operation modes, the bottom drive may
be operated first to extend the bottom ladder segments, and if this extension operation
is finished, the top drive is operated to extend the top ladder segments. In the respective
second operation mode, the order of operating the top drive and the bottom drive is
interchanged, i. e. the top drive is operated first, followed by the bottom drive.
[0022] Preferably, the top ladder set comprises at least a lower ladder segment and an upper
ladder segment supported on the lower ladder segment, and the top drive is mounted
at a front end of the bottom ladder segment for shifting the upper ladder segment
with respect to the lower ladder segment.
[0023] More preferably, at least one of the bottom drive and the top drive is a winch.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in more detail
below with reference to the following drawings:
- Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a ladder system according to an embodiment of
the present invention in a first operative condition; and
- Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the ladder of figure 1 in a second operative
condition.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The ladder system 10 shown in Fig. 1 comprises a plurality of ladder segments being
telescopically extendable with regard to each other. These ladder segments are distributed
into two different ladder sets, namely a bottom ladder set 12 which is mounted on
top of a base part (not shown) of a vehicle and a top ladder set 14 which is supported
on top of the bottom ladder set 12.
[0026] The bottom ladder set 12 comprises three ladder segments in total, which shall be
designated as bottom ladder segments 16 in general. Correspondingly, the ladder segments
disclosed within the top ladder set 14 shall be designated as top ladder segments
18. In the present embodiment, three bottom ladder segments 16 are provided to be
telescopically extendable with regard to each other, while two top ladder segments
18 are provided.
[0027] The ladder set 10 comprises two telescopic drives for driving the extension of the
respective ladder segments of the bottom ladder set 12 and the top ladder set 14,
respectively. These two telescopic drives work independently, such that the bottom
ladder segments 14 can be driven for themselves, without driving the top ladder segments
18 at the same time, which can be driven by their own telescopic drive, which will
be further explained in the following. However, control means are provided for controlling
the operation of these independent drives with regard to each other and to coordinate
the different extension movements of the bottom ladder set 12 in the top ladder set
14.
[0028] The telescopic drive comprises, as one example of a bottom drive, a bottom winch
20 for extending the bottom ladder segments 16 of the bottom ladder set 12. In the
present embodiment, the bottom winch 20 is one example of a bottom drive and can be
replaced by any other kind of bottom drive. To this purpose, a bottom extraction rope
22 is wound up on a reel of this bottom winch 20 and guided via deflection rollers
(generally designated by reference 24) through the bottom ladder segments 26 and being
fixed to a lower ladder segment 26 of the top ladder set 14. The guiding path of the
extraction rope 22 can be chosen suitably, for example, as disclosed by
EP 2 182 164 B1 in one of the embodiments shown therein, such that a pulling force exerted on the
extraction rope 22 by rotation of the reel of the bottom winch 20 is converted into
a sliding movement of the bottom segments 16 with regard to each other, as demonstrated
in Fig. 2. Since the upper end of the extraction rope 22 is fixed to the lower ladder
segment 26 of the top ladder set 14, the top ladder set 14 as a whole, with all its
top ladder segments 18 included, is shifted in a front end direction (horizontal direction
to the right in Fig. 1 and 2) i. e. away from the bottom winch 20 so as to join the
extension movement of the bottom ladder set 12. It is noted that this extension movement,
caused by the operation of the bottom winch 20, does not include any extension movement
of an upper ladder segment 28 of the top ladder segments 18 with respect to a lower
ladder segment 26, on which it is supported.
[0029] The telescopic drives of the present ladder system 10 further comprise a top winch
30 mounted on the front end of the lower ladder segment 26 of the top ladder segments
14. In the present embodiment, the top winch 30 is one example of a top drive and
can be replaced by any other kind of top drive. This top winch 30 is configured to
pull a top extraction rope 32 wound on a reel of the top winch 30, with its end being
fixed at a rear end of the upper ladder segment 28. A pulling force is generated by
a rotation of a reel of the top winch 30 is transmitted via the top extraction rope
32 to the upper ladder segment 28, such that the upper ladder segment 28 is shifted
with respect to the lower ladder segment 26, resulting in a telescopic extension of
the top ladder set 14, independent from any extension movement of the bottom ladder
set 12.
[0030] It is noted that the upper ladder segment 28 carries a rescue cage 34 at its free
end. The upper ladder segment 28 is divided into a front portion 36 and a rear portion
38, wherein the front portion 36, carrying the rescue cage 34, can be articulated
downward (as indicated in Fig. 1) by means of an articulation drive 40. The following
description shall refer to the case in which the front portion 36 and the rear portion
38 are disposed in a straight line, such that the upper ladder segment 28 can be shifted
in top of the lower ladder segment 26.
[0031] It is further noted that the bottom ladder set 12 and the top ladder set 14 each
comprise a retraction rope 42, 44, respectively, which is also connected to the respective
winch, namely the bottom winch 20 or the top winch 30, such as to reverse the extension
movement and to retract the respective ladder set 12 or 14 by turning the reel of
the respective winch 20 or 30 in the opposite direction.
[0032] The ladder system 10 further comprises a control device (not shown in the figures)
to operate both telescopic drives independent of each other but in a predetermined
order, depending on the selection of one of a plurality of operation modes. This selection
depends on a load or different loads acting on the ladder system 10 in a state in
which it is at least partially extended, or fully extended. The loads are either estimated
or calculated from the present position of the ladder segments comprises within the
ladder system 10. They can be stored in a memory to be derived from it according to
the position of the ladder system 10.
[0033] These load data reflect a present load situation, according to which the operation
mode is selected. This selection can be formed automatically by the control device.
To this purpose, the control device may comprise a decision means, like a central
processing unit (CPU) or the like, which is configured to select the operation mode
automatically based on the load data. It is also possible that the control device
comprises selection means configured to select the operation mode by a human operator.
Such selection means can be provided, for example, as a switch to choose between two
operation modes, or any other input means, according to the present load situation
which may be indicated by a display of the control device.
[0034] These operation modes correspond to different orders of operating the bottom winch
20 and the top winch 30. In a first operation mode, which is demonstrated in Fig.
1, the top winch 30 is operated first to extend the top ladder segments 18 with respect
to each other, while the bottom winch 20 is not operated, with the result that the
bottom ladder set 12 keeps its retracted position during the telescopic extraction
of the top ladder set 14. After the top ladder set 14 is extracted at least partially,
the operation of the bottom winch 20 may start to extract the bottom ladder segments
16.
[0035] In a second operation mode, the order of operation of the bottom winch 20 and the
top winch 30 is reversed. This is demonstrated in Fig. 2. In this case the bottom
winch 20 is operated first, to extract the bottom ladder segments 16, while the top
ladder segments 18 are not extended with respect to each other. In a situation in
which the bottom ladder segments 18 have been extended at least partially or completely,
the top ladder segments 18 may also start to extract with regard to each other by
operation of the top winch 30.
[0036] Since the upper ladder segment 28 carries the rescue cage 34, it is prone to torsion
forces. To keep the stiffness and stability of the top ladder set 14, it is advantageous
to keep its top ladder segments 18 in their retracted state as far as possible during
extension of the ladder system 10. This is possible by an operation in the second
operation mode. The stability of the upper ladder segment 28 can be increased by mechanical
guiding means providing a sliding engagement of the upper ladder segment 28 with the
lower ladder segment 26 in or near the retracted position of the upper ladder segment
28 with respect to the lower ladder segment 26. In the second operation mode, this
engagement can be maintained as long as possible during the extension of the bottom
ladder set 12. One of these two operation modes (including the first operation mode
and the second operation mode, as described above) can be selected corresponding to
the different loads acting on the ladder system, according to load data acquired as
described above. Different loads may be caused, for example, by changing the number
of persons carried in the rescue cage 34, or by changing the articulation position
of ladder system 10, which is shown in a horizontal position in Fig. 1 and 2 but can
be lifted around a horizontal axis such that the rescue cage 34 is elevated, and all
ladder segments are inclined. Torsion acting on the ladder segments as well as heavy
asymmetrical loads may influence the load situation. For standard loads and a maximum
outreach of the top ladder set 14, the top ladder segments 18 may be extended first,
while for heavy loads, only the bottom ladder set 12 may be extended. In some embodiments,
the top ladder segments 18 may have a lighter weight than the bottom ladder segments
16, such that an extension of the top ladder segments 18 by operating the top winch
30 may not cause excessive load to the ladder system 10.
1. Ladder system (10) for hoisting rescue vehicles, comprising a plurality of ladder
segments being telescopically extendable with regard to each other, with a bottom
ladder set (12) being mountable on top of a base part of the vehicle and an top ladder
set (14) supported on top of the bottom ladder set (12), each of the bottom ladder
set (12) and the top ladder set (14) comprising a plurality of ladder segments, wherein
the ladder system comprises two independent telescopic drives for driving the extension
of the respective ladder segments of the bottom ladder set (12) and the top ladder
set (14), wherein the telescopic drives comprise a bottom drive (20) for extending
the bottom ladder segments (16) of the bottom ladder set (12) and a top drive (30)
for extending the top ladder segments (18) of the top ladder set (14) and being mounted
to the top ladder set (14),
said ladder system further comprising a control device to operate both telescopic
drives independent of each other,
characterized in that the control device is configured to start the operation of the bottom drive (20)
and the top drive (30) in a predetermined order depending on one of a plurality of
operation modes of the control device, such operation modes corresponding to different
loads acting on the ladder system in an at least partially extended state.
2. Ladder system according to claim 1, wherein the loads are derived from load data measured
during operation of the ladder system.
3. Ladder system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the loads are derived from load data
acquired by estimation or calculation and/or being stored in a memory.
4. Ladder system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control device comprises
decision means configured to select the operation mode automatically based on load
data.
5. Ladder system according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control device comprises
selection means configured to select the operation mode by a human operator.
6. Ladder system according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the plurality of operation
modes comprises at least a first operation mode and a second operation mode, wherein
in each of these two operation modes, one of the bottom drive (20) and the top drive
(30) is operated first to extend the respective bottom ladder segments (16) or top
ladder segments (18) completely, before the respective other of the bottom drive (20)
and the top drive (30) starts operating.
7. Ladder system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the top ladder set
(14) comprises a lower ladder segment (26) and an upper ladder segment (28) supported
on the lower ladder segment (26), and the top drive (30) is mounted at a front end
of the bottom ladder segment (26) for shifting the upper ladder segment (28) with
respect to the lower ladder segment (26).
8. Ladder system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the
bottom drive (20) and the top drive (30) is a winch.
1. Leitersystem (10) für Hubrettungsfahrzeuge, umfassend eine Mehrzahl von Leitersegmenten,
die teleskopisch gegeneinander ausfahrbar sind, mit einem unteren Leitersatz (12),
der auf einem Basisteil des Fahrzeugs montierbar ist, und einem oberen Leitersatz
(14), der auf dem unteren Leitersatz (12) gelagert ist, wobei jeder aus dem unteren
Leitersatz (12) und dem oberen Leitersatz (14) eine Mehrzahl von Leitersegmenten umfasst
und wobei das Leitersystem zwei unabhängige Teleskopantriebe zum Antrieb des Ausfahrens
der jeweiligen Leitersegmente des unteren Leitersatzes (12) und des oberen Leitersatzes
(14) umfasst, wobei die Teleskopantriebe einen unteren Antrieb (20) zum Ausfahren
der unteren Leitersegmente (16) des unteren Leitersatzes (12) und einen oberen Antrieb
(30) zum Ausfahren der oberen Leitersegmente (18) des oberen Leitersatzes (14) umfasst,
welcher obere Antrieb (30) auf dem oberen Leitersatz (14) montiert ist,
wobei das Leitersystem ferner eine Steuereinrichtung zum Betrieb beider Teleskopantriebe
unabhängig voneinander umfasst,
dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Steuereinrichtung dazu eingerichtet ist, den Betrieb des unteren Antriebs (20)
und des oberen Antriebs (30) in einer vorbestimmten Reihenfolge in Abhängigkeit von
einem aus einer Mehrzahl von Betriebsmodi der Steuereinrichtung zu starten, welche
Betriebsmodi unterschiedlichen Lasten entsprechen, die auf das Leitersystem in einem
zumindest teilweise ausgefahrenen Zustand wirken.
2. Leitersystem gemäß Anspruch 1, bei welchem die Lasten aus Lastdaten abgeleitet werden,
die während des Betriebs des Leitersystems gemessen werden.
3. Leitersystem gemäß Anspruch 1 oder 2, bei welchem die Lasten aus Lastdaten abgeleitet
werden, die durch Schätzung oder Berechnung gewonnen werden und/oder in einem Speicher
gespeichert sind.
4. Leitersystem gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 3, bei welchem die Steuereinrichtung
Entscheidungsmittel umfasst, ausgebildet zur automatischen Auswahl des Betriebsmodus
auf Grundlage der Lastdaten.
5. Leitersystem gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 4, bei welchem die Steuereinrichtung
Auswahlmittel umfasst, ausgebildet zur Auswahl des Betriebsmodus durch einen menschlichen
Bediener.
6. Leitersystem gemäß einem der Ansprüche 1 bis 5, bei welchem die Mehrzahl von Betriebsmodi
zumindest einen ersten Betriebsmodus und einen zweiten Betriebsmodus umfasst, wobei
in jedem dieser zwei Betriebsmodi einer aus dem unteren Antrieb (20) und dem oberen
Antrieb (30) zuerst betätigt wird, um die jeweiligen unteren Leitersegmente (16) oder
die oberen Leitersegmente (18) vollständig auszufahren, bevor der jeweils andere aus
dem unteren Antrieb (20) und dem oberen Antrieb (30) mit dem Betrieb startet.
7. Leitersystem gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei welchem der obere Leitersatz
(14) ein unteres Leitersegment (26) und ein oberes Leitersegment (28), welches auf
dem unteren Leitersegment (26) gelagert ist, umfasst, und der obere Antrieb (30) an
einem vorderen Ende des unteren Leitersegments (26) zum Verschieben des oberen Leitersegments
(28) bezüglich des unteren Leitersegments (26) montiert ist.
8. Leitersystem gemäß einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, bei welchem zumindest einer
aus dem unteren Antrieb (20) und dem oberen Antrieb (30) eine Winde ist.
1. Système d'échelle (10) pour véhicules de secours à plateforme élévatrice, comprenant
une pluralité de segments d'échelle qui sont extensibles de manière télescopique les
uns par rapport aux autres, avec un ensemble échelle bas (12) pouvant être monté sur
une partie de base du véhicule et un ensemble échelle haut (14) supporté sur l'ensemble
échelle bas (12), chacun parmi l'ensemble échelle bas (12) et l'ensemble échelle haut
(14) comprenant une pluralité de segments d'échelle, dans lequel le système d'échelle
comprend deux entraînements télescopiques indépendants pour entraîner l'extension
des segments d'échelle respectifs de l'ensemble échelle bas (12) et de l'ensemble
échelle haut (14), dans lequel les entraînements télescopiques comprennent un entraînement
bas (20) pour étendre les segments d'échelle bas (16) de l'ensemble échelle bas (12)
et un entraînement haut (30) pour étendre les segments d'échelle hauts (18) de l'ensemble
échelle haut (14) et monté sur l'ensemble échelle haut (14),
ledit système d'échelle comprenant en outre un dispositif de commande pour actionner
les deux entraînements télescopiques indépendamment l'un de l'autre,
caractérisé en ce que le dispositif de commande est configuré pour démarrer l'actionnement de l'entraînement
bas (20) et de l'entraînement haut (30) dans un ordre prédéterminé en fonction d'un
mode d'une pluralité de modes d'actionnement du dispositif de commande, de tels modes
d'actionnement correspondant à différentes charges agissant sur le système d'échelle
dans un état au moins partiellement étendu.
2. Système d'échelle selon la revendication 1, dans lequel les charges sont dérivées
de données de charge mesurées pendant l'actionnement du système d'échelle.
3. Système d'échelle selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel les charges sont dérivées
de données de charge acquises par estimation ou calcul et/ou stockées dans une mémoire.
4. Système d'échelle selon l'une des revendications 1 à 3, dans lequel le dispositif
de commande comprend un moyen de décision configuré pour sélectionner le mode d'actionnement
automatiquement basé sur des données de charge.
5. Système d'échelle selon l'une des revendications 1 à 4, dans lequel le dispositif
de commande comprend un moyen de sélection configuré pour sélectionner le mode d'actionnement
par un opérateur humain.
6. Système d'échelle selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, dans lequel la pluralité de
modes d'actionnement comprend au moins un premier mode d'actionnement et un deuxième
mode d'actionnement, dans lequel dans chacun de ces deux modes d'actionnement, l'un
parmi l'entraînement bas (20) et l'entraînement haut (30) est actionné d'abord pour
étendre complètement les segments d'échelle bas (16) ou segments d'échelle hauts (18)
respectifs, avant que l'actionnement de l'autre respectif parmi l'entraînement bas
(20) et l'entraînement haut (30) ne commande.
7. Système d'échelle selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel l'ensemble
échelle haut (14) comprend un segment d'échelle inférieur (26) et un segment d'échelle
supérieur (28) supporté sur le segment d'échelle inférieur (26), et l'entraînement
haut (30) est monté au niveau d'une extrémité avant du segment d'échelle bas (26)
pour déplacer le segment d'échelle supérieur (28) par rapport au segment d'échelle
inférieur (26).
8. Système d'échelle selon l'une des revendications précédentes, dans lequel au moins
l'un parmi l'entraînement bas (20) et l'entraînement haut (30) est un treuil.