AU604747B2

AU604747B2 - Improved building hoist system

Info

Publication number: AU604747B2
Application number: AU78221/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Richard John Cox
Original assignee: COX E W Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Ew Cox Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1986-09-09
Filing date: 1987-09-09
Publication date: 1991-01-03
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-09
Also published as: AU7822187A

Description

Insert day, month and year form signed.

(If) Signature of applicant or Australian attorney.

Seal, if any.

My/Our address for service is ARTHUR S. CAVE CO., Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 1 Altred Street, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia 2000.

Dated this (i th day of 1986.

E.W. COX PTY. LTD.

By His Patent Attorneys ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

(Signature i

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fY 4012- 1 ?l/JRW/LMP/2905T.46

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1952 I COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE As Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: rea a 'a oa a Co o o 0 P P Priority: Related Art: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: E W COX PTY LTD 101 WOODPARK ROAD SMITHFIELD NSW 2614

AUSTRALIA

RICHARD JOHN COX Actual Inventor: Address for Service: ARTHUR S. CAVE CO.

Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Goldfields House 1 Alfred Street SYDNEY N.S.W. 2000

AUSTRALIA

a S e Complete Specification for the invention entitled IMPPROVED BUILDING HOIST SYSTEM.

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me:- -1 ASC 49 __j 3041W/RAP 3- -e e 4 q t. 1 IMPROVED BUILDING HOIST SYSTEM The present invention relates to improvements in building hoist systems and in particular in roof mounted gantries which are used to actuate and support a swinging stage whici is connected to the gantry both of which form an integral component of the hoist system.

In high rise buildings it is usual for exterior window cleaning and some of the external building maintenance to be carried out from the exterior of a building by operators who stand inside a mobile carriage or swinging stage.

The window cleaning is usually effected by the provision o of a conventional hoist arrangement which comprises a roof mounted gantry a moveable swinging stage and a means of 0 4# e interconnection therebetween. Means also exist to enable 0.

04 operation of the swinging stage which rides adjacent the exterior face of the building in a vertical or horizontal 0o direction.

The actuation of the swinging stage according to conventional design is generally carried out with controls located in the swinging stage. The controls whicn activate the swinging stage drive means are, according to conventional hoist 0o design, located in the swinging stage on a drive console.

The drive means used to actuate the swinging stage are, according to the design of prior art hoists, also located in the swinging stage. This places restrictions on the winching height for the swinging stage. This height, according to industry regulation is restricted to 40 or 50 metres when the 2 0358B

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drive means is located in the swinging stage.

According to one improvement in the present invention, the conventional Power Climber Astro 85 winch or similar for operation of the swinging stage is located in the roof gantry.

This overcomes the height restrictions which regulations impose when the Power Climber winch is located in the swinging stage.

The result is that the hoist can be used in buildings to a height of up to 80 metres allowing it to be used on most medium height buildings. This improvement also results in the cheaper manufacture of the hoist apparatus without compromise to the 0:00 overall safety of the system.

In the past, a difficulty has been encountered in maintaining the swinging stage in a level attitude when the Ol €C winch is located therein.

Cf Correct levelling of the swinging stage is essential for safety and other reasons and is maintained in the prior art S system when the winches operate at the same speed. Maintenance I t of the correct level of the swinging stage and control of the speed of the winches has proven to be difficult to achieve when the winches are in the swinging stage.

O 0 CThe present invention ameliorates this problem by providing the climber winches in the roof car instead of in the swinging stage thereby allowing easy maintenance of the correct climber winch speeds in order to maintain the desired safe horizontal climber attitude of the swinging stage.

As well as the winches in the roof gantry there are provided in the swinging stage, power operated cable winders.

-3- 0358B _1 0390v/AC The levelling of the swinging stage is achieved by employment of a switching device on the swinging stage which regulates the speed of the winch motors.

This combination of features makes maintenance of the correct level of the swinging stage during use more easy.

It is known in the prior art hoisting systems to employ a winding drum for storage of the hoisting wire rope, however, the known drums are bulky and cumbersome. The system of the present invention ensures a more compact winding of the o hoisting wire rope by providing collection pots known as o 0 0 06 lobster pots in the gantry instead or wire receiving hoisting and storage drums.

oo The invention also comprises the use of a known secondary rope grab which is located in the swinging stage instead of in the hoist. This device serves to prevent slackening of the o00e co.t hoisting rope. The grab is automatically operated on 1840 0 a slackening of the rope whereby the grab clamps the rope which S is anchored to a manual winch in the roof gantry. This rope can then be used to raise the staging in the case of a power failure or power climber failure.

i804 One advantage of the winch location aspect of the present e invention is that the winches can be better protected from the weather when located in the roof gantry.

In one broad form the present invention is a building heist system comprising: a gantry adapted to travel along the roof of a bui-ding direction substantially parallel to at least one of the building faces; i p4

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I I-CICllli-~( PYL 0390v/AC a swinging stage suspended from said gantry by means of hoisting ropes and operationally interconnected therebetween by means of control cables, said swinging stage adapted to travel freely near the face of the building; a drive winch or winches located in or on said gantry for driving said swinging stage; said swinging stage adapted to be driven to a selected position on or near said building face, said drive winch or winches control said swinging stage in response to operational input by an operator via a control 0 0 00 O Do panel in said swinging stage; and O 0 at least one safety rope attached to at least one safety oo 0 oo Do0 winch in said gantry, wherein in the event of a hoisting rope 0O 000. failure the safety rope will be secured by means of at least one safety lock device on said swinging stage, thereby allowing said swinging stage to be hoisted upwardly by means of said ,00 safety winch.

0000 .0 0 In the preferred embodiment the building hoist system is essentially a split unit wherein the roof gantry and the swinging stage are interconnected by means of a main hoisting wire rope, a safety hoist wire rope and an electrical cable %,e aa,, with the swinging stage being driven totally from the roof All. 4 C I Ilii._.ill.-i.l ;ii i-;i ii. I-ii gantry.

The roof gantry is mobile to allow the swinging stage to be moved across a building face according to conventional means.

It is equipped with power winches, a safety rope hoist hand winch, a hydraulic power pack and hoist wire rope collector pots.

In the preferred embodiment the swinging stage is equipped with safety wire rope collection bins or lobster pots, a pair of wire rope winder motors and a central control console.

The invention will now be described in detail according to a preferred but non limiting embodiment with reference to the accompanying illustrations wherein: Fig. 1 shows an isometric view of the building hoist S system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a building hoist system 1 comprising a roof gantry 2 and a swinging stage 3. Roof gantry 2 comprises a mainframe structure 4 adapted to support various mechanisms for driving the swinging stage 3.

The mainframe structure 4 comprises a fabricated steel frame having upstanding pillars 30 and 31 which are connected at their base to base frame 32.

The base frame 32 is fitted with preferably at least two undercarriage wheels (not shown) which are locked into channel guide tracks in order to guide the gantry around the periphery of a building. At the front of the base frame 32 at least two castor wheels 14 are fitted to assist carriage of the gantry.

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Although not shown the entire gantry is provided with an aluminium weathershield comprising a housing structure.

The configuration of the gantry mainframe 4 and in particular the configuration formed by the base frame 32 and the pillars 30 and 31 is such that it provides a recess into which the swinging stage 3 can fit when the swinging stage is winched to its uppermost position.

Roof gantry 2 bears similarity to the known roof gantries, however, certain modifications have been implemented in this roof gantry. The gantry has drive winches 5 and 6 which, in the prior art hoist systems, are located in the swinging I stage. These winches are primarily for raising and lowering of the staging. The location of these winches in the roof gantry enables the swinging stage to be effectively maintained in the horizontal position by motor speed variation or termination by switching response when the attitude of the swinging stage departs from the horizontal. The roof gantry also has lobster pots 7 which are receptacles enabling neater collection of Shoist wire ropes 8 when the swinging stage is in its uppermost position.

The roof gantry and swinging stage are interconnected by means of hoist wire rope 8 electrical cable 9 and safety rope In the gantry, safety rope 10 is attached to manually operated safety winches 11. These anchor the safety wire and provide emergency retrieval of the staging in the event of a winch disabling power failure.

The roof gantry 2 is also equipped with a hydraulic 7- 7 0358B I j luffing cylinder 12 which is actuated by a hydraulic power pack 13. The gantry is laterally moveable by means of wheels 14 Saround the periphery of a building.

The roof gantry 2 also comprises luffing jibs 21 and 22 which are preferably fabricated hollow sections and are connected to the hoist frame by a cross beam arrangement 33 ofsuitable length to suite the staging. The jibs and cross beam are designed so they may be fixed by inclusion of a rigid support or made to luff by actuation of the hydraulic cylinder 1 10 12. The cross beam ensures that the jibs are constantly in line during all operational functions. The jibs are supplied Swith fixed heads and house cast iron sheaves into which the control wire and hoist rope is fed. The sheaves are housed in I the arms 34 and 35 of the jibs 21 and 22.

I 15 The swinging stage comprises a rigid skeletal cage-like 1framework 15 which houses various components. The safety rope is wound by the wire rope winder motors 16 and 17 located on or under the floor of the staging. In conjunction with the winder motors are safety rope collecting bins or lobster pots 18 and 19 for storage of wound rope.

,,The swinging stage also has an electric cable collector bin 23 which houses the slack of cable 9 when the swinging stage rides up a building.

The swinging stage is also provided with a safety rope interlock device 35 at either end of the stage.

The operator of the swinging stage controls the hoist by means of the control console 8- 0358B L i As a precaution to avoid the swinging stage deviating from a horizontal attitude, the stage is fitted with a mercury switch which directly links with the power winches 5 and 6.

In the event that the swinging stage deviates from a horizontal attitude the mercuiry switch will cut power to either of the winch motors in the event that one motor drives fasterthan another motor to cause the said deviation from the horizontal.

The power climber winches 5 and 6 in the gantry are located under a weather proof cover (not shown). These covers have viewing windows to enable operations to be observed.

Doors for access and maintenance are also provided. The cover prolongs the life of the climbers due to the resultant reduction in weathering and also protects the climbers from tampering or impact.

In use, the vertical movement control of the staging is by push button control from either the roof mounted gantry or by remote control from the staging. In the lowering mode the S winches will lower the staging by feeding wire rope from Mechanical Wire rope lobster pots. The safety rope which is anchored within the Hoist frame will be pulled out of power operated wire rope winder which is located in or under the staging, this feed out will be without power being applied to the Power Operated Wire Rope Winder and will be under controlled tension at all times. In the raising mode, the sequence will be in reverse order. The power will then be applied to the Power Operated Wire Rope Winder for the purpose 9 0358B of collecting the wire and maintaining tension.

The safety rope interlock device 35 will secure to the safety rope in the event of a hoisting rope failure.The staging can be retrieved by the Hand Winches should there be a Power Failure.

It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that .i numerous variations and modifications could be made to the present invention for instance, using alternative suitably designed power twin rope winches, without departing from the i. 10 overall spirit and scope of the invention as broadly described herein.

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Claims

1. A building hoist system comprising: a gantry adapted to travel along the roof of a building in a direction substantially parallel to at least one of the building faces; a swinging stage suspended from said gantry by means of hoisting ropes and operationally interconnected therebetween by means of control cables, said swinging stage adapted to travel freely near the face of the building; a drive winch or winches located in or on said gantry for driving said swinging stage; said swinging stage adapted to be driven to a selected position on or near said building face, said drive winch or winches control said swinging stage in response to operational input by an operator via a control panel in said swinging stage; and at least one safety rope attached to at least one safety winch in said gantry, wherein in the event of a hoisting rope failure the safety rope will be secured by means of at least one safety lock device on said swinging stage, thereby allowing said swinging stage to be hoisted upwardly by means of said safety winch.

2. A building hoist system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gantry has two safety winches each of which is attached to a separate safety rope, the swinging stage having two corresponding safety lock devices.

3. A building hoist system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said safety winch or winches are manually operated.

4. A hoist system according to any one of the preceding 11 panel in said swinging stage; and at least one safety rope attached to at least one safety /2 0390v/AC claims further comprising a levelling means located in or on said swinging stage to enable said swinging stage to be maintained in a level attitude by operable interconnection with said drive winches.

A hoist system according to claim 4 wherein travel of said gantry in said substantially parallel direction causes travel of said swinging stage along said building face.

6. A hoist system according to claim 5 wherein the said gantry comprises: a main support frame; hydraulic jibs for supporting said swinging stage and attached to said main support frame; i two electrically operable drive winches housed within ii said gantry having drive means for raising and lowering said swinging stage interconnected to said swinging stage by support cables which pass via said jibs; 1 wheels on said support frame to enable movement of said gantry along said roof. ii

7. A hoist system according to claim 6 wherein the said support frame of said gantry is configured to receive and support said swinging stage when said swinging stage is winched to its uppermost position.

8. A hoist system according to claim 7 wherein the swinging stage comprises a cage-like structure having therewithin: Sa means for anchorage and storage of said ropes and cables; winders for collection of said ropes and cables when said swinging stage is being elevated. 12 A W A ISAa 0390v/AC

9. A hoist system according to claim 8 wherein the said levelling means in said swinging stage comprising a switching system adapted to control the speed of operation of or to stop said drive winches if and when said swinging stage departs from a horizontal attitude.

A hoist system according to claim 9 wherein the swing stage has switching or driving controls operationally linked to the drive winches on said gantry for lowering and/or elevation of said swinging stage.

11. A hoist system according to claim 10 wherein the gantry also comprises storage means for rope and cable collection.

12. A hoist system according to claim 11 wherein the said jibs are fitted with an interconnection beam therebetween, thereby enabling alignment of said jibs.

13. A hoist system according to claim 12 wherein the frame of said gantry is rearwardly fitted with an undercarriage comprising: at least two electrically driven wheels moveably set into a channel track, said track thereby providing guidance for said gantry around the periphery of said building.

14. A hoist system according to claim 13 wherein the said frame further comprises forwardly mounted undercarriage wheels adapted to swivel about their anchorage axis.

A hoist system according to claim 14 wherein the said tt jibs are adapted with fixed heads and a sheath for facilitating feeding said wire rope.

16. A hoist system according to claim 15 wherein the gantry is enclosed in a weathershield housing having access means. 13 1. F 0390v/AC

17. A hoist system as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying illustrations. DATED this 13th day of August, 1990. E.W. COX PTY LTD By Its Patent Attorneys ARTHUR S. CAVE CO. 14