INTEGRALLY FORMED AERIAL PLATFORM
An integrally formed aerial support platform is described herein. The aerial support platform is formed from a thermoplastic composite including continuous reinforcement fibers, allowing the aerial support platform to be formed in one piece via compression molding, thereby decreasing the time and effort needed to produce each aerial support platform. An aerial support platform having increased longevity and increased stiffness-to-weight ratio is therefore produced. Furthermore, described is a process for producing an aerial support platform that substantially reduces the amount of volatile organic compound emissions and demonstrates improved recyclability when compared to traditional thermoset composite platforms.
1 . An aerial support platform, comprising:
a front panel, a back panel, a left panel, a right panel, and a base;
wherein the front panel is connected to the left panel, the right panel, and the base by rounded corner sections;
wherein the back panel is connected to the left panel, the right panel, and the base by rounded corner sections;
wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, the base, and the rounded corner sections include a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material; and
wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, the base, and each of the rounded corner sections are integrally formed.
2 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, and/or the base include a unidirectional fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tape.
3 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , wherein each of the rounded corner sections includes a woven fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material.
4 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material includes carbon fibers and/or fiberglass fibers.
5 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material includes a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) matrix.
6 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , wherein the aerial support platform is compression molded as a single part.
7 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , further comprising one or more ribs, one or more mounting brackets, and/or one or more steps connected to and integrally formed with the aerial support platform.
8 . The aerial support platform of claim 1 , wherein the aerial support platform is attached to a boom lift.
9 . An aerial support platform, comprising:
a front panel, a back panel, a left panel, a right panel, and a base;
wherein the front panel is connected to the left panel, the right panel, and the base;
wherein the back panel is connected to the left panel, the right panel, and the base;
wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, the base, and the rounded corner sections include a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material; and
wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, and the base are integrally formed; and
wherein the aerial support platform is compression molded as a single part.
10 . The aerial support platform of claim 9 , wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, and/or the base include a unidirectional fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tape.
11 . The aerial support platform of claim 9 , wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material includes carbon fibers and/or fiberglass fibers.
12 . The aerial support platform of claim 9 , wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material includes a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) matrix.
13 . The aerial support platform of claim 9 , further comprising one or more ribs, one or more mounting brackets, and/or one or more steps connected to and integrally formed with the aerial support platform.
14 . The aerial support platform of claim 9 , wherein the aerial support platform is attached to a boom lift.
15 . An aerial support platform, comprising:
a front panel, a back panel, a left panel, a right panel, and a base;
wherein the front panel is connected to the left panel, the right panel, and the base;
wherein the back panel is connected to the left panel, the right panel, and the base;
wherein the aerial support platform includes a single, integrally formed inner layer forming the inner surface of the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, right panel, and the base;
wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, and/or the base of the aerial support platform includes one or more outer reinforcement layers attached to an outside surface of the single, integrally formed inner layer; and
wherein the front panel, the back panel, the left panel, the right panel, the base, and the rounded corner sections include a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material.
16 . The aerial support platform of claim 15 , wherein the single, integrally formed inner layer includes a woven fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material.
17 . The aerial support platform of claim 15 , wherein the one or more outer reinforcement layers includes a unidirectional fiber-reinforced thermoplastic tape.
18 . The aerial support platform of claim 15 , wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material includes carbon fibers and/or fiberglass fibers.
19 . The aerial support platform of claim 15 , wherein the fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material includes a polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) matrix.
20 . The aerial support platform of claim 15 , wherein the aerial support platform is compression molded as a single part.