AU664307B2 - Accessway - Google Patents

Description

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AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION For a Standard Patent

ORIGINAL

TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT Name of Applicants: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: GORDON BRYAN ROBINSON and BEVERLEY JUNE ROBINSON GORDON BRYAN ROBINSON WRAY ASSOCIATES, Primary Industry House, Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000.

239 Adelaide Attorney code: WR I Invention Title: "ACCESSWAY" Details of Associated Provisional Application: No: PL4936 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- 1 rl r- -7 -2 THIS INVENTION relates to an accessway.

It is the subject of this invention to provide an accessway which has a closure which is to be located at an opening for said accessway whereby the closure can be displaced outwardly from the surface accommodating the opening.

In one form the invention resides in an accessway comprising a support frame which is adapted to be fixed into an opening in a wall to provide the perimeter of the opening, a hollow cowl having a side wall complementary to the inner perimeter of the frame, said cowl being slidable within the frame between two end positions at which it extends to one side of the frame or the other side of the frame, one end of the cowl adjacent the one side of the frame supporting a closure which is movable between an open and a closed position, a first locking means provided in association with the closure to retain the closure in the closed position, a second locking means provided between the frame and the cowl. to retain the cowl at its two end positions with respect to the frame.

The invention will be more fully understood in the light of the following description of one specific embodiment. The .description is made with reference to the accompanying 6 drawings of which:- Figure 1 is a part sectional view of the embodiment in the raised position; Figure 2 is an isometric view of the cowl in the raised position; Figure 3 is a part sectional view of the embodiment at an intermediate position between the raised and lowered position; .a'T R ;4 C) j0 I I i 3 Figure 4 is an isometric view of the embodiment in the intermediate position; Figure 5 is a part sectional view of the embodiment in the lowered position; Figure 6 is an isometric view of the embodiment in the lowered position; Figure 7 is a part sectional view of the embodiment showing the latching mechanism for the hatch; and o Figure 8 is a part side elevation of the embodiment 10 showing the latching mechanism for the hatch.

got# The embodiment relates to an accessway which has particular application for use on boat decks. It is a requirement of accessways which are provided in a boat deck that the o opening to the hatches is raised above the surface of the 0oo 15 deck. The purpose of such is to ensure that, in the event that the hatch is opened, any water which enters the deck S G area or is lying on the deck does not flow across the deck and into the hatch. In many cases however such hatches are 0,0 provided in the working area of a deck and the presence of 20 a raised hatch presents significant difficulties in 0 0° effective utilisation of that working space and creates a significant hazard to the personnel on the deck.

It is an object of the embodiment to provide a hatch whereby when the hatch is not in use it can lie flush with the deck but when the hatch is required for purposes of access the hatch can be raised from the deck before it can be opened.

The embodiment comprises a frame 11 which is fitted to an opening in the deck for the accessway and supports a cowl 12 which is slidable in the frame 11 between a raised c 4 position as shown at Figure 2 and a lowered position as shown at Figure 6. The frame 11 is substantially square or rectangular and is provided around its inner edge with a channel to provide a recess 13 which extends around the inner perimeter of the frame 11. The cowl is hollow, and is formed with a side wall which is complementary to the innermost configuration of the frame 11. The inner and outer ends of the cowl 14 are open and are provided with outward extending upper and lower flanges 15 and 16 St S i10 respectively which overly or underlie respectively the SIt recess 13 provided around the innermost edge of the frame 11. The upper flange 15 is formed with a downwardly extending extension 17 which lies above the channel 13 provided around the inner edge of the frame 11.

As a result of the above arrangement the cowl 12 is capable of slidable movement within the frame 11 whereby the upper flange 15 may be selectively brought into engagement with the channel 13 on the perimeter of the frame or the lower 4504 I flange 16 may be selectively brought into engagement with S 20 the underneath of the channel 13. The undersurface of the upper flange 15 is provided with a suitable seal 19 which when the cowl is in its lowermost position with respect to the frame 11 (see Figure 5 and 6) sealingly engages the roa inner edge of the channel 13. The under surface of the o 25 channel 13 is also provided with a seal 18 which when the cowl is in its uppermost position in relation to the frame 11 (see Figures 1 and 2) will engage the upper surface of the lower flange 16.

A locking means 20 is provided on opposite sides of the frame 11 to provide for locking engagement between the frame 11 and the cowl 12 to retain the cowl in both its raised and its lowered position. The locking means comprises a shaft 21 which is rotatably supported within the frame 11 and is provided at one end with a head portion 22 which can be engaged by a socket spanner or the like and 5 which is received within a socket 23 provided in the upper face of the frame 11. The other end of the shaft 21 supports a laterally extending radial arm 24 which will rotate with the rotation of the shaft 21.

The lowermost edge of the side walls of the cowl 12 is provided, at a position adjacent the locking means 20, with a support block 25 which is engaged by the radial arm 24 when the cowl 12 is in its raised position, and when the shaft 21 has been caused to rotate to bring the outer end of the radial arm 24 into engagement with the support block A suitable notch 26 is provided in the undersurface of the support block 25 to provide a detent surface to assist in the retention of the radial arm in position on the support biock To move the cowl 12 from the raised position, the shaft 21 is caused to rotate through application of a socket spanner or like removable tool or handle to the head portion 22 to cause the radial arm to move to a position clear of the path of the cowl 12 in the frame 11. When the cowl is moved to its raised position the shaft 21 is caused to rotate to bring the radial arm 24 into engagement with the undersurface of the support block 25 such that it becomes aengaged with the notch 26 provided in its undersurface to lock the cowl in the raised position.

In addition the side wall 14 of the cowl is provided with a pair of opposed slot shaped apertures 27 which are located to lie opposite the radial arm 24 when the cowl is in its lowermost position on the frame 11. The slot shaped aperture 27 is provided with a second support block 28 which also is formed with a slot shaped aperture 29 which is shaped and configured to receive and provide a detent surface for the radial arm 24 when the cowl is in its lowermost position on the frame 11. In use when it is desired to lower the cowl 12 in relation to the frame 11 p_ -7 I- -rrr i 6 the shaft 21 is caused to rotate to move the radial arm 24 out of alignment with the cowl such that the cowl can be lowered to its lowermost position. When at the lowered position the shaft 21 is caused to rotate to cause the radial arm 24 to move into the slot 29 and retain the cowl against any axial movement with respect to the frame 11.

The upper end of the cowl 12 is provided with a hatch 9 which is supported from one side of the cowl 12 by a set of 00 9 0. hinges 31. To lock the hatch 30 into position, a pair of 0 99 o o 10 latches 32 (see Figure 7 only one is shown) is provided oon the inner face of the side wall of the cowl at the sides adjacent the hinges 31. The latch comprises a ooo substantially U-shaped member 33 where one arm 34 is rotatably supported in a recess 35 on the side wall of the cowl 12. The outermost end of the one arm 34 is provided with a head portion 36 and is adapted to be engagable by a B-o0osocket spanner or the like removable tool or handle to 9 effect rotation of the U-shaped member 33 about the one arm S 34. The other arm 37 of the U-shaped member 33 is adapted 20 Co be engagable with a support bracket 38 provided on the 04 o inner face of the hatch 30. On rotation of the U-shaped member 33 by manipulation of the head portion 36 the other o s arm 37 can be selectively brought into and out of engagement with the bracket 38 provided on the hatch 30 to o 25 selectively lock or unlock the hatch respectively. The presence of the recess 35 which accommodates the locking means 32 for the hatch 30 on the side wall of the cowl ensures that access to the locking means 32 can only be obtained when the cowl 12 is in the raised position with respect to the frame 11.

As a result of the embodiment a hatchway is provided which can be located such that it lies substantially flush with the surface of the deck. When at that position the hatch cannot be opened. In order to open the hatch 30 it is necessary to initially raise the cowl 12 to the raised .i i. .r i.

7 position and lock it in the raised position in relation to the frame 11. Once in that position the hatch can then be opened. When the hatchway is in both its raised and lowered position suitable seals prevent the entry of water past the cowl.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the present invention need not be limited to the particular scope of the embodiment described abovu. For example the frame need not be square or rectangular in configuration and the 8 t 61 10 locking means do not need to take the particular form as described and shown in the drawings. In addition, the I ;invention need not be limited to the application of the o,,n embodiment but may be used in any circumstance where it is desired to provide a flush surface when the closure is closed and for the closure to be displaced from the surface when it is to be opened.

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Claims (2)

1. 8- 8 THE CLAIMS defining the invention are as follows:- 1. An accessway comprising a support frame which is adapted to be fixed into an opening in a wall to provide the perii.,eter of the opening, a hollow cowl having a side wall complementary to the inner perimeter of the frame, said cowl being slidable within the frame between two end positions at which it extends to one side of the frame or the other side of the frame, one end of the cowl adjacent the one side of the frame supporting a closure which is movable between an open and a closed position, a first locking means provided in association with the closure to retain the closure in the closed position, a second locking means provided between the frame and the cowl to be capable of retaining the cowl in position at either of its two end positions with respect to the frame. 2. An accessway as claimed at claim 1 wherein the first locking means is accessible from the one side of the frame when the cowl is at one end position extending from said one side. 3. An accessway as claimed at claim 2 wherein the first locking means has a first drive means, to enable movement of 4. An accessway as claiingd at claim 3 wherein the first drive means in supported from the inner face of the side oOIcOwall opposite an aperture provided in the side wall and comprises a head element which is engagable by a removable handle. 4. An accessway as claimed at anyone of the preceding claims wherein a pair of first locking means are provided. 9 6. An accessway as claimed at anyone of the preceding claims wherein the second locking means has a second drive means to enable movement of the second locking means between the locked and unlocked condition, said second drive means being supported from the frame to be accessible from the one side of the frame. 7. An accessway as claimed at claim 6 wherein the second drive means is accommodated within a socket provided in the face of the frame at said one side and comprises a head element engagable by a removable handle. 8. An accessway as claimed at claim 4 or 5 wherein the removable handle comprises a spanner.
2. 9. An accessway as claimed at anyone of the preceding claims wherein a pair of second locking means are provided. An accessway as claimed at anyone of the preceding claims wherein a flange is provided at or adjacent each end of the cowl, said flanges engaging the frame when the cowl is at its respective end position, sealing means provided on the frame and/or flanges to be engaged between the frame and the respective flange when the cowl is at the end positions. od o a a 11. An accessway substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. t DATED this NINETEENTH day of MAY 1995. GORDON BRYAN ROBINSON and BEVERLEY JUNE ROBINSON Applicants. WRAY ASSOCIATES, Perth, Western Australia, atent Attorneys for the Applicant. i. pr I I ABSTRACT An accessway comprising a support frame which is adapted to be fixed into an opening in a wall, a hollow cowl having a side wall complementary to the inner perimeter of the frame, said cowl being slidable within the frame between two end positions at which it extends to one or the other side of the frame, one end of the cowl adjacent the one side of the frame supporting a closure which is movable between an open and a closed position, a first locking means provided in association with the closure to retain the closure in the closed position, a second locking means provided between the frame and the cowl to engage the cowl «when at its two end positions with respect to the frame. *I V i c i