Material handler for aerial platforms
A material handler for supporting loads by an aerial platform of an aerial device is disclosed. Embodiments of the current disclosure relate to a material handler comprising L-brackets, T-braces, and cross members. The L-brackets and T-braces may be configured to intersect and attach to a sidewall of the aerial platform. Furthermore, the L-brackets and T-braces may be configured with an opening providing a space for receiving the crossmember therewithin. Furthermore, the components of the material handler may comprise composite and dielectric material for supporting the load and providing electrical insulation for the aerial platform in an electrified working environment.
1 . A material handler for supporting a load on an aerial platform, the material handler comprising:
a T-brace comprising:
a strut configured to be inserted through a sidewall of the aerial platform spanning between an interior of the aerial platform and an exterior of the aerial platform,
wherein the strut comprises a strut opening presenting a hook shape, the hook shape comprising a hook opening configured to receive and support a crossmember therein; and
a plate configured to be in contact with an interior side of the sidewall of the aerial platform;
an L-bracket configured to be placed in contact with the strut and an exterior side of the sidewall of the aerial platform; and
an L-bracket opening formed in the L-bracket and presenting the hook shape configured to receive and support the crossmember;
wherein the L-bracket and the T-brace are configured to support the load via the crossmember providing at least a portion of the load to a portion of the sidewall of the aerial platform in contact with the plate.
2 . The material handler of claim 1 ,
wherein the L-bracket is coupled to the strut and the exterior side of the sidewall by an adhesive, and
wherein the plate is coupled to the interior side of the sidewall by the adhesive.
3 . The material handler of claim 1 , wherein the crossmember comprises a composite dielectric material supporting the load and insulating the aerial platform from electric energy.
4 . The material handler of claim 3 , wherein the composite dielectric material comprises reinforced or unreinforced thermoplastics or thermosets.
5 . The material handler of claim 1 ,
wherein the T-brace is a first T-brace and the strut opening is a first strut opening,
wherein the L-bracket is a first L-bracket and the L-bracket opening is a first L-bracket opening,
and
wherein the material handler further comprises:
a second T-brace disposed on the sidewall of the aerial platform and comprising a second strut opening presenting the hook shape;
a second L-bracket disposed on the sidewall of the aerial platform and comprising a second L-bracket opening presenting the hook shape;
wherein the crossmember is disposed in the first strut opening, the first L-bracket opening, the second strut opening, and the second L-bracket opening and the crossmember is configured to support the load between the first T-brace, the first L-bracket, and the second T-brace, and the second L-bracket.
6 . The material handler of claim 5 ,
wherein the material handler further comprises crossmember fasteners securing the crossmember in at least the first strut opening and the second strut opening.
7 . A material handler for supporting a load on an aerial platform, the material handler comprising:
a crossmember configured to support the load;
a T-brace comprising:
a strut configured to be inserted through a sidewall of the aerial platform spanning between an interior of the aerial platform and an exterior of the aerial platform,
wherein the strut comprises a strut opening presenting a hook shape, the hook shape comprising a hook opening configured to receive and support the crossmember therein; and
a plate configured to be in contact with an interior side of the sidewall of the aerial platform;
an L-bracket configured to be placed in contact with the strut and an exterior side of the sidewall of the aerial platform,
wherein the L-bracket comprises an L-bracket opening presenting the hook shape configured to receive and support the crossmember; and
crossmember fasteners configured to secure the crossmember in the strut opening and the L-bracket opening.
8 . The material handler of claim 7 , wherein the T-brace and the L-bracket comprise dielectric material configured to support the load and insulate the aerial platform from electric energy.
9 . The material handler of claim 8 , wherein the T-brace and the L-bracket are connected by an adhesive.
10 . The material handler of claim 9 , wherein the T-brace is coupled to the interior side of the sidewall by the adhesive and the L-bracket is coupled to the exterior side of the sidewall by the adhesive.
11 . The material handler of claim 7 ,
wherein the crossmember fasteners comprise a first end cap disposed on a first end of the crossmember and a second end cap disposed on a second end of the crossmember.
12 . The material handler of claim 11 , further comprising:
a plurality of L-brackets and a plurality of T-braces providing a plurality of openings presenting the hook shape,
wherein the plurality of L-brackets and the plurality of T-braces are coupled to the sidewall and are configured to receive and support the crossmember in the plurality of openings.
13 . The material handler of claim 12 , wherein the crossmember fasteners are end caps disposed on each end of the crossmember.
14 . A material handler for supporting a load on an aerial platform, the material handler comprising:
a crossmember configured to support the load;
a plurality of T-braces, each T-brace comprising:
a strut configured to be inserted through a sidewall of the aerial platform from an interior of the aerial platform to an exterior of the aerial platform;
a strut opening presenting a hook shape, the hook shape comprising a hook opening configured to receive and support the crossmember therein; and
a plate configured to be in contact with an interior side of the sidewall of the aerial platform; and
a plurality of L-brackets, each L-bracket of the plurality of L-brackets configured to be placed in contact with a corresponding strut and an exterior side of the sidewall of the aerial platform, each L-bracket including an L-bracket opening presenting the hook shape configured to receive and support the crossmember.
15 . The material handler of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of T-braces, the plurality of L-brackets, and the crossmember comprise dielectric materials configured to insulate the aerial platform from electric energy.
16 . The material handler of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of T-braces, the plurality of L-brackets, and the crossmember comprise composite material configured to support the load.
17 . The material handler of claim 16 , further comprising:
a first end cap disposed on a first end of the crossmember, and a second end cap disposed on a second end of the crossmember,
wherein the first end cap and the second end cap are configured to secure the crossmember in each strut opening and each L-bracket opening.
18 . The material handler of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of L-brackets is coupled to the exterior side of the sidewall, and the plurality of T-braces is coupled to the interior side of the sidewall.
19 . The material handler of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of L-brackets and the plurality of T-braces are coupled to the sidewall by an adhesive.