AU635318B2 - Screen module - Google Patents

Description

6353 COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (Original) FOR OFFICE USE Class Int. Class 18 Application Number: Lodged: Complete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Priority: Related Art: 9* *1 a a a a. a a. a a a a aqaa a a Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: 6EN-ATTJI A LIITED -Soufh7Waes Gommanwealth-usiai C4J- rv&R

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DAVIES COLLISON, Patent Attorneys, 1 Little Collins Street, Melbourne, 3000.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "SCREEN MODULE" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Wi09 I 1 RS1-r)AT.0 14,GKNCAP.LET.1 "SCREEN MODULE" The present invention relates to a screen module for use in the construction or refurbishment of multistorey buildings.

During the construction or refurbishment of multistorey buildings, it is often necessary to erect a screen at the open front of the building to confine debris which might otherwise fall from the building whilst work is taking place.

Such a screen may extend the full height of the building or may only protect 10 those levels of the building where work is actually in progress at the time.

4* o• An object of the invention is to provide a screen module combined with at least one working platform in order to provide for improved utility of the S" module.

According to the present invention there is provided a screen module for use at the front of the building, comprising laterally spaced rear upright members, a front screen assembly, cross members connecting the upright 9O9* S .members to the front screen assembly to support the screen assembly from the upright members, the module being foldable from an erected configuration in which the screen assembly is spaced forwardly from the upright members to a collapsed, reduced-volume configuration in which the screen assembly lies iadjacent to the upright members, at least one work platform mounted for movement between an operative position in the erected configuration of the module in which the or each platform extends between the upright members and the front screen assembly and a folded position in the collapsed configuration of the module in which the or each platform faces towards the screen assembly, and means for providing a releasable rigid cantilever support for the cross members and the or each work platform from the upright members in the erected configuration of the module.

Preferably, the cross members are pivoted to the upright members, and NT 091,X002,GKNSMODU.SPE,2 -3- @9 9 9.

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99 4 4 94 9 4994r *99 9 9e99 9.9 the or each work platform is supported by the cross members such that the cross members and work platforms pivot between the operative and folded conditions.

Preferably, the or each work platform includes an extension flap to enable the length of the platform to be extended, and the module includes an extension screen panel releasably securable to the corresponding side of the front screen assembly.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a screen module in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the module being shown in an erected configuration and lying on the ground prior to hoisting into its operative position; Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but showing the module in a collapsed configuration for transportation and storage; Figure 3 shows an intermediate stage in the erection of the module from its collapsed configuration; and 499*99 9 4 999494 d Figure 4 shows the manner in which the module can be optionally extended, to provide increased width.

A screen module in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is intended to span several storeys of the building and comprises parallel rear beams 2 extending along the entire height of the module. The beams 2 constitute the main upright load-bearing members of the module and, in the embodiment shown, are constructed of steel of channel section. When the module is in its operative position, the beams 2 extend vertically and lie 900910 XO2,GKNSMODU.SPE,3 -4against the front of the building, and carry props and anchoring struts (not shown) which enable the module to be anchored to the adjacent floors of the building. Rectangular screen panels 4 at the front of the module carry suitable screen mesh 6. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are four screen panels 4 arranged one above another to extend along the entire height of the module, although only the lower two panels are shown in the drawings.

It will be appreciated that greater or fewer than four panels may be used. The adjacent screen panels are bolted together at their adjacent sides. The screen panel assembly is connected to the rear beams 2 by struts or cross members 8 which are pivotally attached at their rear ends to the beams 2 for pivotal movement about horizontal axes and are pivotally attached at their forward .i ends to horizontal tubes 10 spanning the width of the screen panels 4. The O pivotal connection to the tube 10 at the forward end of each strut 8 occurs by g way of an upper forward extension 14 of the strut 8 so that the forward 15 horizontal pivotal axis is displaced upwardly with respect to the axis of the pivotal connection at the rear of the strut 8.

A work platform 15 comprising a platform board 16 supported on horizontal beams 18 spans each pair of struts 8 and is rigidly attached to the S 20 struts 8. The arrangement is such that the )latforms 15 will each lie at the level of an adjacent floor when the screen module is in its operative position on the building. Each platform board 6 includes rear cut-outs 20 through which the rear beams 2 extend whereby the rear edge of each platform board can abut against the side of the building without the formation of a gap through which debris might fall.

The construction described enables the screen module to be folded from an erected operative condition (Figure 1) in which the struts 8 span the distance between the rear beams 2 and the screen panels 4, with the work platforms 15 extending at right angles to the screen panels 4, and a collapsed condition (Figure 2) for transport and storage, in which the struts 8 have pivoted downwardly to lie alongside the rear beams 2 with the screen panels 4 900910,X002,GKNSMODU.SPE,4 being supported closely adjacent to, and above, the rear beams 2. It will be noted that in the collapsed condition, the forward extensions 14 of the struts 8 which provide the vertically offset pivotal connections for the forward ends of the struts 8, accommodate the depth of the work platforms 15 and provide a compact folded arrangement of substantially reduced depth.

In order to erect the module from its collapsed state with the module lying flat on the ground, the screen panel assembly is pivoted into its erected condition in which the struts 8 extend at right angles to the screen panel 10 assembly and the rear beams. It is preferred that this action is performed by .3 means of a crane cable attached to lifting points 22 on the tubular cross members 10 of the screen panels 4. The module is then secured in its erected configuration by attaching diagonal braces 24 between each strut 8 and the S"adjacent rear beams as shown in Figure 1. These diagonal braces provide rigid support for the struts 8 and work platforms 15 which are, in effect, cantilever mounted from the rear beams 2. The erected screen assembly can then be hoisted into position on the building and anchored rigidly to the structure of the building by means of anchors and props extending from the rear beams.

To permit versatility of use, the module incorporates provision for providing an optional increase in width as may be necessary in some buildings.

For this purpose, the platform board 16 has at one end an extension flap 26 hinged between a stored position in which it lies flat on the top of the platform board 16 (see Figure 2) and an extended position in which extends from the end of the platform board 16 and effectively increases the length of the platform (see Figure Support for the flap 26 in its extended position is provided by bearers 28 telescopically mounted within the cross beams 18 and which are extended from the cross beams 18 when the flap is extended. In order to extend the width of the screen commensurate with the increased width provided by the extension flaps 26, extension screen panels 30 are bolted to the adjacent side of the main screen panels 4. A similar extension flap may be provided at the other end of each platform board.

900910,X002,GKNSMODU.5PE,5 -6- The screen module particularly described provides the necessary screen in conjunction with work platforms of sufficient strength and rigidity to support the weight of workmen and building materials so that work can be carried out on the front face of the building. The screen module can easily be collapsed to a reduced-volume folded state for transportation and storage simply by removing the diagonal braces and displacing the screen panel assembly so that it lies alongside the rear beams. In its collapsed configuration the depth of the module is similar to the depth of existing screens without work platforms.

The embodiment has been described by way of example only and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention.

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Claims (12)

1. A screen module for use at the front of the building, comprising laterally spaced rear upright members, a front screen assembly, cross members connecting the upright members to the front screen assembly to support the screen assembly from the upright members, the module being foldable from an erected configuration in which the screen assembly is spaced forwardly from the upright members to a collapsed, reduced-volume, configuration in which the screen assembly lies adjacent to the upright members, at least one work platform mounted for movement between an operative position in the erected configuration of the module in which the or each platform extends between the upright members and the front screen assembly and a folded position in the collapsed configuration of the module in which the or each platform faces towards the screen assembly, and means for providing a releasable rigid cantilever support for the cross members and the or each work platform from the upright members in the erected configuration of the module.

A screen module as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross members are pivotally connected to the upright members at one end and to the screen assembly at the other end, the pivotal connections being about axes directed substantially horizontally with reference to the module when in its operative condition,

3. A screen module according to claim 2, wherein the or each work platform is supported by at least two of said cross members attached to the respective eeeoe upright members at corresponding positions along the length of the upright members.

4. A screen module according to claim 3, wherein the work platform is rigidly attached to its supporting cross members.

A screen module according to claim 4, wherein the axes of pivotal attachment of the forward ends of the supporting cross members to the front pAoperPrshGKNSM0DU,SPa -8- screen assembly are vertically offset from the axes of pivotal attachment of the rear ends of the supporting cross members to the upright members whereby to permit the or each work platform to lie parallel to the plane of the screen assembly in the collapsed configuration.

6. A screen module according to claim 5, wherein each cross member is of substantially right angular form to provide a first limb which extends substantially horizontally in the operative condition of the module and on which the or each respective work platform is supported, and at the forward S end of the first limb a second limb which extends upwardly in the operative condition and is pivotally attached at its upper end to the screen assembly.

7. A screen assemfly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising releasable braces for providing a rigid cantilever support for the cross a. members from the upright members.

8. A screen ia&d mbly according to claim 7, wherein each brace comprises an oblique strut arranged to extend between, and to be releasably attached to, the cross member and the associated upright member.

9 9 S9. A screen module according to claim 6 and claim 8, wherein the brace is releasably attached to the first limb of the cross member. 9

10. A screen module according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the or each work platform includes an extension flap movable into a position to extend the length of the work platform and the module includes one or more retractable supports movable into an extended position for supporting the or each flap in its extended position.

11. A screen module according to any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising screen extension panels releasably attachable to the screen Sassembly to optionally extend the width of the assembly. A I..XO02,GKNSMODUSP,8

12. A screen module substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this 11th day of September, 1990 DAVIES COLLISON Patent Attorneys for -6K-A~ST-RALHIA ETB SEC. 0 p. 90091 1X002CANSMOOU.SPEP 9