| 主权项 |
1. An aerial firefighting apparatus comprising:
a frame including a plurality of wheels configured to enable transportation of the apparatus to an emergency location, the frame including a forward portion having a cab for housing at least one occupant of the apparatus, a rearward portion located rearward of the cab, a first side and a second side opposite the first side, the frame including at least one rear axle mounted to the frame in the rearward portion; an aerial ladder that is both extendible and retractable, the aerial ladder comprising a base section and at least one upper ladder section movably joined with the base so that the upper ladder section can be extended and retracted relative to the base to provide extension and retraction of the aerial ladder, the aerial ladder being movably mounted relative to the frame so that the aerial ladder can be raised from a generally horizontal stored position to a raised position wherein the aerial ladder extends upwardly at an angle from the frame, the base section and the upper ladder section each including a plurality of rungs mounted one adjacent the other and joined at opposing rung ends with first and second ladder rails; an aerial ladder raising and lowering mechanism, connected to the aerial ladder, being configured to move the aerial ladder between the generally horizontal stored position and the raised position; a turntable to which the aerial ladder is mounted, the turntable being selectively rotatable so that the base can be swung to a position where the aerial ladder extends beyond at least one of the first side, the second side and the rearward portion of the apparatus; a waterway comprising a water outlet, the waterway joined with the aerial ladder, the water outlet adapted to shoot pressurized firefighting fluid provided from a fire fighting fluid source; and a status indicator, being at least one of a rung alignment status indicator and a load status indicator, the status indicator including an elongated strip extending along at least one of the first and second ladder rails of at least one of the base section and at least one upper ladder section, the elongated strip having a plurality of lighting elements joined therewith, wherein the plurality of lighting elements are visible when illuminated to a user located on or about to enter the ladder, wherein the rung alignment status indicator is operable in a first warning mode when rungs of the base section and the upper ladder section are misaligned, and a first safe mode when the rungs of the base section and the upper ladder section are aligned to present a safe foothold for a user climbing the ladder, wherein the load status indicator is operable in a second warning mode when the aerial ladder is physically overloaded, and a second safe mode when the load of the ladder is within a predetermined range of loads, whereby the user on the aerial ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder can visually perceive the status indicator while on the ladder or about to enter the aerial ladder to discern whether the aerial ladder is in a configuration having at least one of appropriate rung alignment and a safe loading which is unlikely to tip or overturn the apparatus. |
