AU2008200519A1 - Egress tower - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: "EGRESS TOWER" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 1 EGRESS TOWER FIELD The present invention relates to a modular tower for providing a walkway for 5 pedestrians. The tower is particularly suited for providing emergency exit pathways from deep pits or canyons but is not so limited. BACKGROUND Open cut mines are formed as large deep excavations with access 10 usually provided by spiral or serpentine roadways located on an edge of the pit. Mine sites are universally renowned to be potentially hazardous environments. Some of the obvious risks arise from the potential for explosion, fires and rock face collapses. In such circumstances it is essential to get personnel out of the local area as quickly as possible to ensure their 15 safety and to allow emergency response teams to act unimpeded. It is impossible for workers to climb side walls of the pit and it is also unreasonable to expect them to exit by climbing up twisty access roads. While it is possible to construct walkways or ladders along the slope of the side walls, it is an expensive exercise. It also places those ladders or 20 walkways in a position of considerable risk should a wall collapse adjacent to them. Further, the side walls are often in a state of flux as mining progresses and the batter, stability and profile of the wall change, necessitating relocation of any pathway. Similar conditions of risk arise in pit excavations such as those that 25 are needed to build car parks in high-rise buildings. Potentially a problem may also arise in ravines or canyons where people may be gathered for purposes such as tourist activities. Building such walkways on site is an expensive, slow and potentially dangerous process as they need to be accessible, robust and effective. 30 SUMMARY OF INVENTION In one broad form, although it may not be the only or indeed the broadest 2 form, the invention resides in an egress tower for providing a pedestrian pathway between a lower level and an upper level, the egress tower including: one or more vertical tower modules, each vertical tower module 5 comprising a box frame including four corner columns and cross beams between the columns; and a stairway extending into the box frame; wherein: the corner columns are adapted to couple with an adjacent tower 10 module. The box frame may further comprise one or more brace members and one or more cross ties. The expression "egress tower" extends to a structure providing a pedestrian pathway to or from each of the levels. 15 The stairway preferably extends upwards through the box frame. The stairway may comprise a lower landing, an upper landing and a stairway section there-between. In an alternative embodiment the stairway may comprise a lower landing an intermediate landing, a first stairway section there-between and 20 an upper landing with a second stairway section between the intermediate landing and the upper landing, the first stairway section and second stairway section orientated in opposite directions. The upper landing and lower landing may be formed as half landings adapted to abut a complementary half landing to form a landing between 25 adjacent modules. The stairway sections are preferably largely self-supporting. That is, the stair modules may span between and attach to the main outer frame with minimal intermediate supports. The stair modules may be adapted to extend between a lower cross beam and upper cross beam. 30 The columns may include locating pins to facilitate alignment with an adjacent tower module in assembly. The locating pins may be designed to self-locate in a complementary aperture in an adjacent module.

3 Adjacent modules may be locked together. A preferred method of locking adjacent modules is a floating pintle pin connection. The vertical tower module preferably further incorporates hand rails or safety rails located along the stairway and landings. 5 The egress tower may further comprise a base tower module adapted for fixation to a foundation and adapted to engage a vertical tower module. The base tower module may comprise a box frame including four corner columns and cross beams between the columns and an entry side. The base tower module may also include base plates or the columns for engagement 10 with a foundation. The egress tower may further comprise a top tower module, the top tower module comprising: a box frame including four columns; lateral beams and optionally brace members and tie members; and 15 a stairway comprising a lower platform, an intermediate platform, a stair section there-between; and a walkway exit, preferably perpendicular to the direction of the stairs. The top tower module may further include top cross beams to reinforce and stabilise the module. 20 The egress tower may further comprise at least one bridge module, the bridge module adapted to provide a horizontal pedestrian pathway, the bridge module comprising: a box frame, preferably trapezoidal, including two spaced side frames, cross beams intermediate the side frames, optionally one or more brace 25 members and/or tie members and a horizontal walkway extending through the box frame. The bridge module is preferably coupled to the top tower module at a first end and adapted to engage a ground surface or other support at a second end. The bridge module preferably terminates in a dismount module. 30 The bridge section may further include one or more intermediate bridge modules adapted for location between the dismount module and top tower module, each intermediate bridge module comprising a rectangular or 4 square box frame including four corner columns, cross beams between the four columns, the cross beams preferably extending between respective ends of adjacent columns. The intermediate bridge module may also comprise one or more brace members and/or tie members. 5 The intermediate bridge module is preferably adapted for coupling to adjacent modules with a locking arrangement which may be a floating pintle pin connection. The module may include locating pins for facilitating alignment of adjacent modules. All components of the stair system including flights, landings and hand 10 rails are preferably modular with stair sections adapted for easy inter connection as each structural module is connected. This includes flights, landings and hand rails. Modules are preferably designed for easy transport on a train carriage or semi-trailer and may be transported in multi-module stacks. 15 Non-limiting representative dimensions of one embodiment of modules are Height (m) Width Length Base Module 6 3.1 5.4 Vertical Tower Module 6 3.1 5.4 Top Tower Module 6 3.1 5.4 Bridge Module 4.3 3.1 15.6*** Dismount Module 4.4* 4.2** 5.4 *, * can vary The dimensions may vary as appropriate to fulfil the purpose . The 20 variation may be in the range of 2 - 3 metres. Walkways and landings may be formed from metal grates. The vertical tower and bridge are preferably designed for lateral wind loading to forty-one metres per second. The mid-span of the bridge is preferably adapted to resist twenty tons downward pressure in applications 25 to simulate rock impact. These specifications may vary as required and in 5 some embodiments may vary by ± 20%. In a further aspect, the invention may reside in an egress tower comprising: a base tower module; 5 a plurality of vertical tower modules engaged with each other, one of the vertical tower modules engaged with the base tower module; and a top tower module engaged with an uppermost vertical tower module and a bridge module engaged with and extending laterally from the top tower module. 10 In a further aspect, the invention may reside in a method of forming an egress tower, the method comprising the steps of assembling one or more vertical tower modules on a base tower module; positioning a top tower module on the uppermost vertical tower module; 15 assembling one or more bridge modules; positioning the bridge module on top of the vertical tower extending laterally from the top tower module, to a target destination such as a ground surface; and fixing the modules in place relative to each other as appropriate, 20 preferably with floating pintle pin connections. However other connection methods may be suitable. The modules are preferably formed with at least four lifting lugs suitably positioned for orientating the modules when lifted into position. 25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a vertical tower module. FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a base tower module. FIGS 3A and 3B are isometric views of a top tower module. FIGS 4A and 4B are isometric views of a bridge module. 30 FIG. 5 is an isometric view of an extended bridge section. FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of an egress tower in position in an open-cut mine pit.

6 FIG. 7 shows a yoke and lug connection. FIG. 8 shows a yoke and lug connection in place. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 5 Referring to FIG.1, there is seen an embodiment of a vertical tower module 10 for use in an egress tower of the present invention. A box frame 11 is formed by corner columns 12, 13, 14, 15. Lateral beams 16 are provided along the longest side and lateral beams 17 across the shorter side thereby defining an open rectangular box frame. In this case braces 18 are 10 also applied to stabilise the frame and cross-ties 19 add to the general strength of the frame. The box frame may be assembled on site or prefabricated at a workshop. The second option is preferred as the size of the modules render them easy to transport. However it is also to be understood that all 15 components may be packed in a shipping container as a kit and provided on site or to a remote assembly station. A lower landing 20 is formed from a metal grate. In this case the landing actually forms half a landing as it is dimensioned to co-operate with an upper landing from a module immediately below the present module when assembled. The two adjacent half landings 20 combine to form a single landing. An intermediate landing 21 is provided and extends between two columns. A first stairway section 22 extends between the lower landing 20 and intermediate landing 21. An upper landing 23 is formed as a half landing which will co-operate with the lower landing of an immediately adjacent higher module. A second 25 stair section 24 extends between the intermediate landing and upper landing. Safety rails 25 are provided along the pedestrian pathway described by the stairs. The second stairway section extends in a direction opposite to that of the first stairway section to provide a less acute angle of climb through the module. The sections are therefore orientated in opposite directions. The 30 stairway extends through the box frame and provides continuity with adjacent modules. The top of the columns 26 are adapted to receive and support columns from adjacent modules. They are coupled together by a suitable 7 system of fixtures. The bottom of the columns 27 are likewise each adapted to couple with an adjacent column on a module immediately below the vertical tower module 10. Lifting lugs 28, 29 are apparent on the anterior columns and similar 5 lugs are present but not visible on the posterior columns. These allow a crane to lift with an even distribution of lifting points and distribution of weight to provide a relatively horizontal positioning of the module when handled. FIG. 2 shows a base module 30 which is of similar construction to that of the vertical tower module 10 but with some differences. Lower platform 31 10 does not have a safety rail across an entry side of the base module 30 thereby providing access to the tower. The bottoms of the columns 33 have base plates welded thereto and adapted for positive engagement with a foundation preferably concrete footings, preferably via footing bolts. In this embodiment there is no upper platform but rather there is a 15 horizontal frame 34 adapted to locate under and support a grated landing when assembled with a first vertical tower module above the base module. FIGS 3A and 3B show a top tower module 40 both as a frame (FIG. 3A) and assembled with stairs and platforms FIG. 3B. Long cross beams 42, short cross beams 43 and brace members 44 are also visible and horizontal 20 walkway support frame 45 is provided and supports the platform 46 apparent in FIG. 3B. A lower platform 47 is also mounted to the box frame with a stair section 48 linking the two platforms. In this case lateral access is provided through access opening 49 between safety rails 50 and 51. This provides an exit from the tower and entry into the bridge component of the egress tower. 25 In general the modules have sufficient dimensions to provide head clearance for pedestrians. It is envisaged that the overall height of the modules would be any suitable dimension range to provide sufficient clearance and maintain strength. One non-limiting example of representative dimensions is as follows: 8 Height (m) Width Length Base Module 6 3.1 5.4 Vertical Tower Module 6 3.1 5.4 Top Tower Module 6 3.1 5.4 Bridge Module 4.3 3.1 15.6*** Dismount Module 4.4* 4.2** 5.4 can vary A bridge section is shown in FIGS 4A and 4B. FIG. 4B shows a trapezoid box frame form and FIG. 4A includes walkway components. 5 The bridge section 60 comprises two trapezoidal side frames 61, 62 with cross members or cross beams 63. Braces 64 are formed in the box frame to support and stabilise the structure and cross ties 65 are also apparent as seen in FIG. 4A. The walkway 66 extends through the box frame for providing an entrance and exit in either direction. The actual walking 10 surface is a grate which is not shown in this view. Other surfaces may be suitable for the job at hand. Safety rails 67 are apparent and the support rails 68 for the walkway are also apparent. Link plates 69 are formed on each end and adapted to engage the top module of FIG. 3 at one end and an exit point or ground surface at the other end. Link plates 52 are also apparent on the 15 top module of FIG. 3. This is a dismount module. FIG. 5 is a view of an extended bridge section wherein the previous bridge module described in relation to FIGS 4A and 4B is extended by removal of a triangular extension section at one end designated 70 in FIG. 4A so that intermediate bridge modules 72 may be inserted in the bridge 20 section 71. The intermediate section 73 is formed as a horizontal box frame wherein the corner posts 74 support elongate beams 75 to provide the outer frame. Intermediate posts 76 are also used to stabilise the arrangement as are braces 77. A walkway 78 is provided through the bridge section. A modified dismount section 160 is shown combined with the intermediate 25 bridge modules.

9 In operation, the bridge section may be assembled on site by combination of appropriate modules. This preferably occurs on the ground wherein adjacent sections are coupled together preferably using floating pintle pin connections between adjacent modules. 5 FIG. 6 is a schematic representation 80 of the present invention when used in an open cut mine pit (with underground mine shafts). The view shows a pit floor 81, first pit wall 82, first bench (or berm) 83, second upper pit wall 84 and ground level 85. Mine shaft entry points 86 are apparent. A first vertical tower 87 is erected to take workers from the pit floor 81 up the 10 vertical tower 87 across the bridge 88 to the first bench (or berm) 83. A second vertical tower 89 then allows workers to climb to the ground level and exit via bridge 90. Separate egress towers are formed by the respective vertical tower and bridge combinations. This exit may be required in the event of an explosion in one or more of the mine shafts 86, a fire, a rock 15 slide or wall collapse or other similar incidents. In its simplest form, the egress town may provide a walkway for people in the area. The egress tower is formed by the vertical tower 87 and bridge section 88 or vertical tower 89 and bridge section 90. Top bridge section 90 is anchored to the ground surface 85 by foundation 92. 20 FIG. 7 shows one version of a floating pintle pin connection comprising a yoke and lug connection arrangement having a yoke 100 comprising a back plate 101 and two forward extending spaced lugs 102, 103 each with an aperture 104 dimensioned to receive a link pin. The link pin 105 comprises a shaft 106, head 107 with flange 108 and is locked in 25 position by a keeper plate 109. In operation two yokes positioned on adjacent modules are aligned. The yoke spacing facilitates receiving the lugs, which are positioned to inter-digitate with each other so that the lock link can be placed through the apertures to lock the respective yokes and modules in position. 30 FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an operation of such a locking arrangement. A first module 110 is positioned with the yoke 100 aligned to engage the lug 110. Once in position the pin 111 is urged into the aperture 10 104 and locked with the keeper plate. In contrast to the prior art, the inventors have found that the present invention is self-supporting and does not need any stays such as cables tying the tower back to the wall or ground surface. The modularity provides 5 great utility as different heights and bridge spans/lengths can be accommodated in different environments using the whole system. The method of forming a tower involves assembling the appropriate modules individually and then selecting and assembling them in their correct position for use. The inventors have found that the bridge section may be up to forty 10 seven metres long with their present embodiment. The height of the tower may be up to 48 metres in the present embodiment. The present invention provides a safe haven and escape route for people caught in a dangerous situation. As such, it answers a long felt need particularly in the mining industry to provide a cost effective, robust, 15 serviceable and easily assembled egress tower. The invention extends to a kit of parts for forming an egress tower according to the present invention. Reference to any prior art documentation in this specification is not an acknowledgement that such documentation forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other country.

Claims (19)

1. An egress tower for providing a pedestrian pathway between a lower level and an upper level, the egress tower including; 5 one or more vertical tower modules, each vertical tower module comprising a box frame including four corner columns and cross beams between the columns; and a stairway extending into the box frame; wherein: 10 the corner columns are adapted to couple with an adjacent tower module.

2. The egress tower of Claim 1 wherein the stairway extends upwards through the box frame.

3. The egress tower of claim 2 wherein the stairway comprises a lower 15 landing, an upper landing and a stairway section there-between.

4. The egress tower of claim 2 wherein the stairway comprises a lower landing, an intermediate landing, a first stairway section there-between, and an upper landing with a second stairway section between the intermediate landing and the upper landing, the first stairway section and second stairway 20 section orientated in opposite directions.

5. The egress tower of claim 2 wherein the upper landing and lower landing are each formed as a half landing adapted to abut a complementary half landing on an adjacent module to form a landing.

6. The egress tower of claim 1 wherein the columns include locating pins 25 to facilitate alignment with an adjacent vertical tower module by location in a complementary aperture.

7. The egress tower of claim 1 including two or more vertical tower modules locked together by floating pintle pin connections.

8. The egress tower of claim 1 further including safety rails. 30

9. The egress tower of claim 1 further including a top tower module, the top tower module engageable with an uppermost vertical tower module and comprising: 12 a box frame including four columns and lateral beams; a stairway comprising a lower platform; an intermediate platform and a stair section there-between; and a walkway exit from the intermediate platform. 5

10. The egress tower of claim 9 wherever the top tower module further comprises top cross beams.

11. The egress tower of claim 1 further comprising a base tower module adapted for fixation to a foundation, engagement with a vertical tower module and providing an entry side. 10

12. The egress tower of claim 1 further comprising a bridge module adapted to provide a horizontal pedestrian pathway.

13. The egress tower of claim 12 wherein the bridge module comprises: a box frame including two spaced side frames; cross beams intermediate the side frames; and 15 a horizontal walkway extending through the box frame.

14. The egress tower of claim 13 wherein the box frame includes one or more brace members and one or more tie members.

15. The egress tower of claim 13 wherein the bridge module includes a dismount module and one ore more intermediate bridge modules, each 20 intermediate bridge module comprising a rectangular or square box frame including four corner columns and cross beams between the four columns.

16. The egress tower of claim 15 wherein the dismount module and one or more intermediate bridge modules are adapted to couple to adjacent modules by floating pintle pin connections. 25

17. An egress tower comprising: a base tower module; a plurality of vertical tower modules engaged with each other; one of the vertical tower modules engaged with the base tower module; 30 a top tower module engaged with an uppermost vertical tower module; and 13 a bridge module engaged with and extending laterally from the top tower module.

18. A method of forming an egress tower, the method comprising the steps of: 5 assembling one or more vertical tower modules on a base tower module; positioning a top tower module on the uppermost vertical tower module; assembling a dismount module and one or more intermediate bridge 10 modules to form a bridge module; positioning the bridge module on top of the vertical tower extending laterally from the top tower module to a target destination such as a ground surface; and fixing the modules in place relative to each other. 15

19. An egress tower as described herein with reference to the figures.