Group 11 – ELEVATE

Team 11 was tasked by HAECO with creating a lift or elevator with extendable slats to allow for easier and safer maintenance of aircraft engines. The primary objectives of this project were to allow easy access to elevated and distant surfaces, to protect the user from slipping and falling from large heights, and to be extremely easy to use. The developed product was a scissor lift supported by a truss system with six extendable slats that protruded from the top walking platform. The scissor lift was a modified version of the Titan TTN-084-0055, with 70" of travel and an upper platform of 54" by 80". The bottom of this lift is attached to a steel I-beam system which elevates the lift five feet and provides load bearing support, preventing failure and giving a maximum extension of twelve feet from the ground. The I-beams supporting the scissor lift and walking platform are moveable with the six wheels attached to its base and can be locked into place via six jacks. Attached to this upper platform is a walking surface accessible by a telescoping ladder. This walking surface contains the six extendable walking slats controlled by individual cranks. These cranks, which are moveable by power drill for large movements and by a small hand crank for small movements, are connected to two bevel gears on a two to one ratio, rotating a lead screw. This lead screw pushes the walking slats out the side of the platform. Telescoping rails are present on the sides of the walking platform to ensure the user cannot fall when walking on the extendable slats. The design allows for easy access to aircraft engines with the extendable slats while also guaranteeing user safety with the presence of telescoping rails and jacks to prevent falls from sudden movements.