Personnel lift incorporating an outreach mechanism for an aerial work platform

摘要

An outreach mechanism (34) for an aerial work platform (22) on a personnel lift (20). The outreach mechanism (34) is designed to attach an aerial work platform (22) to the upper section (24A) of a vertical lift assembly (24) of a personnel lift (20). The outreach mechanism (34) includes scissors-like arms (38, 40) that extend between the aerial work platform (22) and the upper section (24A) of the vertical lift assembly (24). The upper ends of the arms (38, 40) are pivotally attached to the aerial work platform (22) and to the vertical lift assembly (24) at pivot points (46, 48). The lower ends (50, 52) of the arms (38, 40) slidingly engage channels (42, 44) attached to the aerial work platform (22) and to the upper portion of the vertical lift assembly (24). One of the lower ends (50, 52) of the arms (38, 40), namely, the lower end (50) of the arm (38) mounted in the channel (42) adjacent the aerial work platform (22), is affixed to a continuous chain (66). Rotation of the chain (66) by a handle (86) causes the chain (66) to move, which causes the lower end (50) of the arm (38) to move upwardly or downwardly. As the lower end (50) of the arm (38) is moved upwardly or downwardly, the scissors elements (38, 40) move inwardly and outwardly, causing the aerial work platform (22) to move toward and away from the vertical lift assembly (24).