Hydraulic assist for the servicing of on-board fire suppression systems

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for a lift system for translating equipment mounted on a vehicle between an operational position and a servicing position is provided. The lift system includes a support frame fixedly mounted to the vehicle, a transport member slidably coupled to the support frame, and a lift platform coupled to the transport member wherein the lift platform is configured to support the equipment in the operational position and in the servicing position.

1 . A lift system for a mobile fire suppression vehicle comprising:
 fire suppression related equipment;   a support frame fixedly mounted to the vehicle;   a transport member movably mounted to said support frame; and   a lift platform held by said transport member, said lift platform carrying the fire suppression related equipment and being movable between an operational position and a servicing position; and   a drive unit moving the transport member with respect to the support frame between the operational position and the servicing position.   
   
   
       2 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said drive unit comprises a user control configured to control a position of said transport member with respect to said support frame. 
   
   
       3 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said drive unit comprises a cylinder and a piston. 
   
   
       4 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 3  wherein said piston is at least one of hydraulically and pneumatically actuated. 
   
   
       5 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said drive unit comprises a lead screw. 
   
   
       6 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said drive unit is lockable when said lift platform is in the operational position. 
   
   
       7 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein personnel access to the equipment in the operational position is more restricted than in the servicing position. 
   
   
       8 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein a user that is servicing the equipment is exposed to less of a hazard from a fall from heights when the equipment is in the servicing position than when the equipment is in the operational position. 
   
   
       9 . A lift system in accordance with  claim 1  wherein in the servicing position the equipment is substantially outside an outer perimeter of the vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . A method for gaining access to equipment that is located in an access restricted position during operation, the method comprising:
 operating the equipment in an operational position on a vehicle;   moving the equipment to a servicing position on the vehicle to perform maintenance on the equipment wherein the servicing position provides greater access to the equipment than the operational position.   
   
   
       11 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein moving the equipment to a servicing position comprises moving the equipment such that a user is exposed to less of a hazard from a fall from heights when the equipment is in the servicing position than when the equipment is in the operational position. 
   
   
       12 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising locking the equipment in the operational position. 
   
   
       13 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the equipment is positioned on a vehicle, said method further comprising interlocking the movement of the equipment such that the equipment will not move from the operational position unless movement of the vehicle is substantially blocked. 
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 10  wherein the equipment is positioned on a vehicle, said method further comprising interlocking the movement of the vehicle such that movement of the vehicle is substantially blocked when the equipment is moved from the operational position. 
   
   
       15 . A vehicle for transporting equipment comprising:
 an enclosure housing the equipment;   a support frame fixedly mounted to the vehicle;   a transport member slidably coupled to said support frame; and   a lift platform coupled to said transport member, said lift platform configured to support the equipment in an operational position and a servicing position.   
   
   
       16 . A vehicle in accordance with  claim 15  further comprising a drive unit comprising at least one of a cylinder and a piston, and a lead screw, the drive unit coupled between said support frame and said transport member, said drive unit configured to control a position of said transport member with respect to said support frame. 
   
   
       17 . A vehicle in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said piston is at least one of hydraulically and pneumatically actuated. 
   
   
       18 . A vehicle in accordance with  claim 15  wherein personnel access to the equipment in the operational position is more restricted than in the servicing position. 
   
   
       19 . A vehicle in accordance with  claim 15  wherein a user that is servicing the equipment is exposed to less of a hazard from a fall from heights when the equipment is in the servicing position than when the equipment is in the operational position. 
   
   
       20 . A vehicle in accordance with  claim 15  wherein in the servicing position the equipment is substantially outside an outer perimeter of the enclosure.