Abstract: An elevating cage system includes floor panels for a walk surface that can pivot upward to expose a portion of a container disposed below the platform. Each floor panel has a latch that pivots to engage a cage railing surrounding the platform and hold the floor panel in an open position. The latch is weighted about a pivot so that when the panel is pivoted to a completely open position, the latch pivots under its own weight to engage a stop so that the latch is disposed in an orientation to engage the handrail and hold the panel in the open position until an operator releases the latch. When the panel pivots to its closed position, the latch's weight balance about its pivot causes the latch to rotate until the latch engages the stop and is held in a stowed orientation in which the latch is entirely below a plane of an upper surface of the panel.

Abstract: An elevating cage system includes floor panels for a walk surface that can pivot upward to expose a portion of a container disposed below the platform. Each floor panel has a latch that pivots to engage a cage railing surrounding the platform and hold the floor panel in an open position. The latch is weighted about a pivot so that when the panel is pivoted to a completely open position, the latch pivots under its own weight to engage a stop so that the latch is disposed in an orientation to engage the handrail and hold the panel in the open position until an operator releases the latch. When the panel pivots to its closed position, the latch's weight balance about its pivot causes the latch to rotate until the latch engages the stop and is held in a stowed orientation in which the latch is entirely below a plane of an upper surface of the panel.