Abstract: A trailer personnel lift (20) with a level-sensing system (69). The level-sensing system (69) provides information to a level-indicator display (72) that indicates which outriggers (34) of the trailer personnel lift (20) need to be lowered. Upon lowering of the designated outriggers (34), the signal for the outrigger (34) changes so as to indicate that the outrigger (34) no longer needs lowering. The outriggers (34) are capable of locking into at least three positions, a first position (40A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially horizontal to the surface upon which the personnel lift (20) is to be located, a second position (48A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially vertically from the base, and a third position (46A) that is intermediate of the first and second positions, the third position being selected so that the outriggers (34) may be stabilized in the third position (46A) on an upward slope.

Abstract: A personnel lift (20) having adjustable side-to-side shim assemblies (38a-d) used in conjunction with a series of slide blocks (39, 40) in the mast of the personnel lift. The mast of the personnel lift includes a number of nested columns (24a-e) that extend to lift a person and an aerial work platform (22) to a desired height. The shim assemblies (38a-d) and slide blocks (39, 40) are used to maintain the nested columns (24a-e) in proper alignment, and the shim assemblies (38a-d) are adjustable to account for wear. The adjustable features of the shim assemblies (38a-d) are accessible when the columns are fully assembled, which allows the shim assemblies (38a-d) to be adjusted without requiring that the mast be disassembled.

Abstract: A trailer personnel lift (20) with a level-sensing system (69). The level-sensing system (69) provides information to a level-indicator display (72) that indicates which outriggers (34) of the trailer personnel lift (20) need to be lowered. Upon lowering of the designated outriggers (34), the signal for the outrigger (34) changes so as to indicate that the outrigger (34) no longer needs lowering. The outriggers (34) are capable of locking into at least three positions, a first position (40A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially horizontal to the surface upon which the personnel lift (20) is to be located, a second position (48A) in which the outrigger (34) extends substantially vertically from the base, and a third position (46A) that is intermediate of the first and second positions, the third position being selected so that the outriggers (34) may be stabilized in the third position (46A) on an upward slope.

Abstract: A personnel lift (20) having adjustable side-to-side shim assemblies (38a-d) used in conjunction with a series of slide blocks (39, 40) in the mast of the personnel lift. The mast of the personnel lift includes a number of nested columns (24a-e) that extend to lift a person and an aerial work platform (22) to a desired height. The shim assemblies (38a-d) and slide blocks (39, 40) are used to maintain the nested columns (24a-e) in proper alignment, and the shim assemblies (38a-d) are adjustable to account for wear. The adjustable features of the shim assemblies (38a-d) are accessible when the columns are fully assembled, which allows the shim assemblies (38a-d) to be adjusted without requiring that the mast be disassembled.

Abstract: 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).

Abstract: A locking system for extension members on portable lifts or the like has a wedge block with a jaw face on one side and a sloped wedge face on the opposite side engaging a complementing fixed sloped face so that when the wedge block is moved upwardly the complementing faces cause the wedge block to also move horizontally into clamping position by way of the jaw face. The wedge block is moved upwardly responsive to turning of a screw threaded into the block.

Abstract: Apparatus for braking relative vertical movement between two vertical members includes a ramp mounted on one of the members to oppose a vertical face on the other. If the ramp member accelerates downwardly a wedging roller is wedged between the ramp and the vertical face. This roller is on a slide rod which normally compresses a spring carried at the bottom of the ramp, but downward acceleration on the ramp results in expansion of the spring and movement of the wedging roller into wedging position to stop the acceleration.

Abstract: A swing-up stabilizer for a portable lift has a bracing strut with a pivoted locking mechanism at its upper end including a locking plate on the strut which is spring biased into a tilted locking position biting the strut when the stabilizer is in an active ground engaging position or swung into a raised storage position located past an "at center" position whereat the strut is aligned with a pivotal connection between the strut and stabilizer.

Abstract: A multi-stage mast assembly has its mast stages stacked front to back when retracted and has front-to-back guide rollers and side-to-side guide rollers between the mast stages and a front carriage frame. An extrusion is used for the mast stages and the carriage frame. The extrusion has a central hollow rectangular column, inwardly facing channels at the front corners, outwardly directed flanges at the back corners, and pairs of central stub flanges at the front and back.