Support platform for workers dealing with maintenance and construction of means of transport

Abstract

A support platform ( 100 ) for workers dealing with maintenance and construction of a means of transport (NT). The platform ( 100 ) comprises: a motorised carriage ( 1 ); a horizontal walkway (PDN) supported by the motorised carriage ( 1 ); and devices for lifting/lowering the walkway (PDN). The platform ( 100 ) is characterised in that the walkway (PDN) comprises a plurality of short planes ( 9 A- 9 G) parallel to one another that in withdrawn position are piled one on top of the other, whereas in extended position are configured as steps, one after the other. The total surface of the extended short planes ( 9 A- 9 G) substantially constitutes the walkable surface of the walkway (PDN).

1 . A support platform ( 100 ) for workers dealing with maintenance of a means of transport (NT); platform suitable for being arranged adjacent to a side of said means of transport (NT); the platform ( 100 ) comprises:
 a motorised carriage ( 1 ), one side of which, extending along the direction of forward movement, is intended to be arranged adjacent to the side of said means of transport (NT);   a horizontal walkway (PDN) supported by said motorised carriage ( 1 ); and   means for lifting/lowering said walkway (PDN);   said walkway (PDN) comprising a plurality of short planes ( 9 A- 9 G) parallel to one another that in withdrawn position are piled one on top of the other, whereas in extended position are configured as steps, one after the other; the total walkable surface of the extended short planes ( 9 A- 9 G) substantially constituting the walkable surface of said walkway (PDN); and   said walkway (PDN)* further comprising a first short plane ( 9 A*) that extends practically for the entire length of the bracket structure ( 3 ), and a series of short planes ( 9 B*,  9 B**,  9 C) that have a length in any reduction ratio with respect to the first short plane ( 9 A*).   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein any short plane ( 9 A,  9 B,  9 C;  9 A*,  9 B*,  9 C*) is provided with a relative appendix (AP 1 ; AP 2 ; AP 1 *, AP 2 *) pivoted to a respective hinge (CRN 1 , CRN 2 ; CRN 1 *, CRN 2 *). 
     
     
         4 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator, wherein, if the actuator pushes a short plane ( 9 D) horizontally, and thus pushes its relative bearing structure (SP 2 ), a relative beam ( 11 ) and a relative plate ( 12 ) move horizontally rolling with the wheels (WL 3 ) and (WL 4 ) on the guide consisting of a face ( 13   c **) of an intermediate beam ( 13 ) and the side inner parts of its flanges ( 13 A,  13 B); the movement of the beam ( 11 ) and of the relative plate ( 12 ) of the bearing structure (SP 2 ) continuing until a wheel (WL 4 )*, which is located at the plate ( 12 ) of the bearing structure (SP 2 ), goes into abutment against an end stop provided on the runway made on the face ( 13 C**) belonging to a bearing structure (SP 3 ); therefore, by continuing to push on the short plane ( 9 D) the intermediate beam ( 13 *) that is located between the bearing structure (SP 2 ) of the short plane ( 9 D) and the bearing structure (SP 3 ) of the short plane ( 9 E) also starts to be pulled horizontally. 
     
     
         5 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 4 , wherein the horizontal pulling of the intermediate beam ( 13 *) originates a horizontal pulling of the short plane ( 9 E) and also of all of the other short planes ( 9 F,  9 G) due to the concatenation that exists with the other bearing structures, which, however, are located below the surface ( 10 D) and therefore cannot be walked upon; the total walkable surface of the walkway (PDN) being given by the sum of the usable portions of the walkable surfaces ( 10 A- 10 G). 
     
     
         6 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 4 , wherein each short plane ( 9 B- 9 G) is in a raised position compared to the previous one. 
     
     
         7 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein said platform further comprises at least one control station (CC) for controlling the raising/lowering of the bracket structure ( 3 ), and therefore of the walkway (PDN), according to a programmable logic. 
     
     
         8 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 7 , wherein, to avoid possible damage to the means of transport (NT), the management system of the electronic control station (CC) is suitable to prevent the actuation of the bracket structure ( 3 ) when at least one portion of the walkway (PDN) is in extended position. 
     
     
         9 . The platform ( 100 )  claim 7 , wherein said short planes ( 9 A- 9 G;  9 A*- 9 G*) and appendices (AP 1 ; AP 2 ; AP 1 *, AP 2 *) are provided with a pneumatic sensitive edge that prevents violent collision against the surface of the means of transport (NT), such an edge being connected to said control station (CC) in order to shut down the system. 
     
     
         10 . The platform ( 100 ) of  claim 1 , wherein the bracket structure ( 3 ) further includes one or more operating points (OP) supplied with power through the electrical mains and/or hydraulic circuits etc., to allow the workers to work simultaneously on different points of the walkway (PDN) on the same side of the craft (NT).