CN111101699B

CN111101699B - Stabilization device

Info

Publication number: CN111101699B
Application number: CN201911035377.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: 黄永忠; 杨培正
Original assignee: Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hong Kong and China Gas Co Ltd
Priority date: 2018-10-29
Filing date: 2019-10-28
Publication date: 2023-10-20
Anticipated expiration: 2039-10-28
Also published as: CN111101699A; CN211691402U

Abstract

A stabilizing device (100) for use on a suspended work platform (20) having a suction device (200), the suction device (200) comprising a body (220) having a suction cup (210), wherein the body (220) is connectable to a portion (21) of the work platform (20) and the suction cup (210) is attachable to an outer surface (11) of a building structure (10) on which the work platform (20) is suspended. The stabilizing device (100) further comprises mounting means (300) for connecting the body (220) of the suction device (200) to a portion (21) of the working platform (20), and a suction pump device (400) in communication with the suction disc (210) for generating a suction force in the suction disc (210).

Description

Stabilization device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a stabilizing device for use on a suspended work platform for stabilizing the suspended work platform with respect to an outer wall of a building structure.

Background

For suspended work platforms (commonly referred to as vessels) used outdoors, these suspended work platforms are inherently prone to unintended movement due to movement and manipulation of personnel on the platform during operation and unavoidable environmental wind conditions. Such unintended movements typically include lateral movements (e.g., side-to-side), as well as vertical movements (e.g., bouncing up and down), but of lesser magnitude.

In any case, it is well known that such movements are highly undesirable, since they not only affect the work, but may cause accidents or even casualties, such as tools or workers falling off the platform. The measures for stabilizing the suspended work platform are relatively few and/or poorly effective, since the work is not so much done in the air without particularly affecting the mobility of the suspended work platform, which in order to make the working range broader requires frequent movements of the position. Time is another factor.

The present invention seeks to obviate or at least mitigate the disadvantages of these problems by providing new or otherwise improved stabilizing devices for suspended work platforms.

Disclosure of Invention

According to the present invention there is provided a stabilising arrangement for use on a suspended work platform, the stabilising arrangement having a suction arrangement comprising a body having a suction cup, the body being connectable to a portion of the work platform and the suction cup being attachable to an outer surface of a building structure on which the work platform is suspended. The stabilizing device further comprises mounting means for connecting the body of the suction device to a part of the working platform, and a suction pump device in communication with the suction disc for generating suction forces in the suction disc.

Preferably, the mounting means are adapted to allow a limited degree of freedom of movement between said working platform and the suction device.

More preferably, the freedom of movement is in a substantially vertical direction.

More preferably, the mounting means comprises a resilient member acting between said working platform and the suction device.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting means comprises one of a slot and a connector engageable laterally through the slot to connect the body of the suction device with a portion of said working platform, but allowing limited freedom of movement between the connector and the slot along the length of the slot.

More preferably, the body of the suction device comprises a slot.

More preferably, the body of the suction device comprises a stem extending rearwardly of the suction disc, the stem comprising a plurality of said slots along the length of the stem for selective engagement with the connector.

Preferably, the connector comprises an elongate member which engages or engageable with the mounting means.

In a preferred embodiment, the mounting means comprises a mounting separate from the suction device, the mounting having a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion adapted to be connected to a portion of the work platform and the body of the suction device, respectively.

More preferably, the first mounting portion comprises clamping means for connection with a portion of the work platform.

More preferably, the clamping means comprises a clamp for clamping with a portion of the work platform and locking means for locking with a portion of the work platform.

Still further preferably, the locking means comprises at least two locking members arranged on opposite sides of a portion of said work platform.

Still further preferably, at least one of the locking members is in the form of a locking bolt.

Preferably, the first mounting portion comprises a body having a gap in which a portion of the work platform is to be connected.

It is further preferred that the body of the first mounting portion has a pair of elongate members extending parallel to each other and forming a gap therebetween.

Preferably, the first mounting portion comprises an elongate body provided with a series of at least two connection locations for selective connection with a portion of the work platform.

Preferably, the second mounting portion comprises fastening means for connection with the body of the suction device.

More preferably, the fastening means comprises an annular body for encircling a portion of the body of the suction device and a lock for locking the annular body closed.

More preferably, the fastening means comprise elastic means provided in the annular body for acting on said portion of the body of the suction device.

Still more preferably, the annular body has an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion is closable on the lower portion and provided with elastic means.

Still further preferably, the lock comprises a clasp disposed between the upper and lower portions of the ring body.

In a preferred embodiment, the suction disc comprises a cover and an elastically deformable annular sealing member arranged on an inner surface of the cover, the cover and the annular sealing member together forming a suction cavity in communication with the suction pump device.

More preferably, the body of the suction apparatus comprises a hollow channel having an inner end in communication with the suction cavity and an outer end connectable to the suction pump means for communication therewith.

Preferably, the suction pump device comprises a suction pump with a hose for connection with the suction disc via the body of the suction device.

Further preferably, the suction pump is driven by one of battery power and liquid fuel power.

In a preferred embodiment, the stabilizing device comprises an air pressure monitor for monitoring the air pressure associated with the suction disc and providing an alarm signal when the air pressure drops to a predetermined threshold.

More preferably, the air pressure monitor is attached to the suction disc.

Drawings

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a stabilization device according to the present invention for use on a work platform suspended from a building structure, the stabilization device having a suction device attachable to an exterior surface of the building structure and a mounting means for connecting the suction device to the work platform;

figures 2 and 3 are perspective and side views of the suction device of figure 1;

fig. 4 and 4A are perspective views of the mounting device and its upper portion;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are two side views of the mounting device of FIG. 4;

fig. 7 and 8 are front and rear perspective views showing a suction apparatus connected to a mounting device;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view of a work platform corresponding to FIG. 1 with the stabilization platform operating thereon;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional side view of a portion of the stabilization platform and work platform of FIG. 9;

fig. 11 and 11A are perspective views of a stabilization platform or the like corresponding to fig. 10, wherein fig. 11A shows a portion of the stabilization platform in fig. 11 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional side view corresponding to FIG. 10, illustrating adjustment of the position of the attachment of the mounting device to the work platform;

FIGS. 13 and 14 are front and rear perspective views showing how the mounting device is adjustably connected to the work platform;

figures 15 to 17 are two cross-sectional side views and perspective views showing how the suction apparatus is adjustably connected to the mounting means;

fig. 18A to 18C are cross-sectional views showing engagement between the suction device and the mounting means allowing a limited degree of movement; and

FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional side view similar to FIG. 9 showing limited vertical movement of the work platform.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1-19 of the drawings, there is shown a stabilization apparatus 100 embodying the present invention for use on a suspended work platform 20 adjacent an outer surface 11 of a building structure 10 for stabilizing the work platform 20. The work platform 20 is suspended at its opposite ends by a pair of cables 19. The stabilization device 100 comprises a suction device 200 having a body 220, the body 220 having a suction cup 210, wherein the body 220 is connectable to a portion of the work platform 20 (e.g., the rail 21), and the suction cup 210 is attachable to the outer surface 11 of the building structure 10 on which the work platform 20 is suspended. The stabilizing device 100 further comprises mounting means 300 for connecting the suction device 200 to the rail 21 through its body 220, and a suction pump device 400 in communication with the suction disc 210 for generating and preferably maintaining the suction force of the suction disc 210 during operation.

The suction cup 210 includes a circular cap 211 and an elastically deformable annular sealing member 212 provided on an inner surface of the cap 211, the cap 211 and the annular sealing member 212 together forming a suction cavity C communicating with the suction pump apparatus 400. In use, suction disc 210 with its sealing member 212 is pressed against the outer surface 11 of the building structure 10, thereby closing the suction cavity C to create suction internally by suction pump device 400.

As part of stabilization device 100, an air pressure monitor 230 is used that is conveniently attached to the back of aspiration disc 210 for monitoring the air pressure associated with aspiration disc 210 and providing an alarm signal when the air pressure drops to a predetermined threshold (e.g., 35 kPa) (fig. 11A).

The suction pump device 400 comprises a suction pump 410 having a hose 420, the hose 420 being for connection with the suction cup 210 via the main body 220 of the suction device 200. Suction pump 410 is a portable pump; it is of compact size and is driven by one of battery power and liquid fuel power, and conveniently by a rechargeable battery power module, making it suitable for use on a suspended platform 20.

The body 220 of the suction device 200 comprises a stem 221, the stem 221 extending from an inner end 223 rearward of the suction plate 210 to an outer end 224. The stem 221 is provided by a tubular tube 221A, the tube 221A having fins 221B extending along the length of the tubular tube 221A and extending transversely therefrom. Since the stem 221 is formed within the tube 221A, the stem 221 includes a hollow passage having an inner end communicating with the suction cavity C, and an outer end provided with a hose coupler to which the hose 420 of the suction pump apparatus 400 can be connected for use. On its fin 221B and along its length, the stem 221 includes a plurality of slots 222 formed at regular intervals and extending transversely thereto.

The mounting means 300 comprises a separate mounting means from the suction device 200 having a first mounting portion 310 and a second mounting portion 320 adapted to be connected to the rail 21 of the work platform 20 and the main body 220 of the suction device 200, respectively, thereby securing the suction device 200 to the rail 21.

The first mounting portion 310 has a body formed of a pair of elongated members or legs 311, the pair of elongated members or legs 311 extending parallel to each other with a gap G1 formed therebetween. The legs 311 are provided with the rail 21 and are connected with the rail 21, wherein the rail 21 is connected within the gap G1. The first mounting portion 310 comprises a clamping device 312 connected to the rail 21, the clamping device 312 being divided into two parts and comprising a clamp 313 for clamping with the rail 21 and a locking device 314 for locking with the rail 21.

The clamp 313 is formed by a movable jaw 313A, the movable jaw 313A being driven by a screw 313C and a fixed jaw 313B, the screw 313C extending inwardly through one leg 311 through a hole H2 in that leg 311, the fixed jaw 313B being provided by an inner surface of the other leg 311 directly opposite the movable jaw 313A. When the screw 313C is screwed down, the movable jaw 313A will press against the fixed jaw 313B on the aligned horizontal bar 21A of the rail 21, whereby the clamp 313 is clamped with the rail 21.

The locking means 314 are provided by at least two, an upper locking bolt 314A and a lower locking bolt 314B, the upper locking bolt 314A and the lower locking bolt 314B extending horizontally through the leg 311 via respective holes in the leg 311 on opposite upper and lower sides of the rail bar 21A. An upper locking bolt 314A is located on the rail bar 21A to position the first mounting portion 310 on the rail 21 or relative to the rail 21. The locking bolts 314A and 314B (particularly the lower locking bolt 314B) are used for locking to prevent the first mounting portion 310 from being separated from the rail 21. The locking bolts 314A and 314B are held in place by respective cross pins 314AA and 314BB inserted through their distal ends.

The hole H2 represents a connection location along the leg 311 where the first mounting portion 310 can be connected to the rail 21. There are a series of four such holes H1 to H4 along the length of the leg 311 and thus there are four attachment locations, with the mounting device 300 being attachable to the rail 21 at the appropriate height by selecting one of them for use (fig. 12 to 14). Typically, the first mounting portion 310 has an elongated body 311, the elongated body 311 being provided with a series of at least two connection locations for selective connection with the rail 21A.

Turning now to the second mounting portion 320, it comprises fastening means 321 for connection with the body 220 and in particular the shaft 221 of the suction device 200, so as to mount the suction device 200 with its shaft 221 extending horizontally. The fastening means 321 has an annular fastening body 322 for encircling a portion or section of the shaft 221 and comprises a lock 323 for locking the fastening body 322 closed.

The fastening body 322 is a generally cylindrical device formed from an upper or upper housing 322A and a lower or lower housing 322B, both of which are partially cylindrical. The lower housing 322B is fixed to an upper end of the first mounting portion 310, wherein the upper housing 322A is hinged to the lower housing 322B.

The hinged connection allows the upper housing portion to pivot upward to open the fastening body 322 for receiving (or later releasing) the lever 221, and then pivot downward to close the fastening body 322 for fastening the lever 221 and thus the suction cup 210. The lock 323 is in the form of a clasp 323 that is disposed between the two housings 322A and 322B, carried by the upper housing 322A, and that functions when the upper housing 322A is closed on the lower housing 322B.

The lower housing 322B has a central bottom 332C, the central bottom 332C being narrow and deep to form a planar gap G2, the planar gap G2 extending vertically downward for receiving the fin 221B when the rod 221 is received in the lower housing 322B or fastened by the body 322 of the fastening device 321. The bottom 332C is formed with through holes 322D wherein a selected one of the slots 222 on the fin 221B is aligned with the through holes 322D and then the connecting bolt 324 is inserted through the through holes 322D to secure the rod 221 against axial displacement relative to the fastening device 321.

The slot 222 is for selective engagement with (i.e., is selected for engagement with) the attachment bolt 324 to be suitable for positioning the work platform 20 from the exterior surface 11 of the building structure 10. More specifically, slots 222 selected to align with holes 322D (slots 222 and holes 322D together pass through connecting bolts 324 for engagement) are selected such that suction disc 210 is mounted in place on work platform 20 and ready to be attached to building surface 11. Depending on the distance of the work platform 20 from the building surface 11.

When the suction cup 210 is mounted with the associated rod 221 extending horizontally, the slot 222 in use extends in a vertical direction as the other slots 222. The suction cup 210 and thus the stem 221 (i.e. the entire suction device 200) are substantially fixed or stationary in their position when attached to the building surface 11 by suction.

When extended horizontally, the connecting bolt 324 is free to move laterally relative to the slot 222 and along the length of the slot 222, with the slot 222 extending vertically and generally fixed in place with the rod 221 (or fin 221B). Accordingly, the connecting bolt 324 is loosely engaged with the slot 222 in the vertical direction, which has limited movability limited by the length of the slot 222.

The connecting bolts 324 are secured to the fastening means 321, which fastening means 321 in turn are secured to the mounting member 300, which mounting member 300 in turn is secured to the suspended platform 20 to together form a rigid structure. As described above, the suspended platform 20 is subject to undesired bouncing movements up and down (fig. 19) due to the movements and manipulations of personnel working on the platform 20.

This upward and downward bouncing movement is partially permitted or absorbed by the limited movability of the connecting bolt 324 relative to the slot 222 with which it is loosely engaged in a generally vertical direction. This design is employed to reduce the chance of potential stresses on the pumping device 200 from the platform 20 acting vertically as the platform 20 bounces downward.

The fastening means 321 is provided with elastic means, for example in the form of a pair of compression coil springs 325, the compression coil springs 325 being attached to the upper housing 322A and being located on the inside thereof, substantially within the fastening means 321. In order to restrain downward movement of the suspended platform 20 relative to the suction apparatus 200 when the platform 20 bounces upward and downward, a spring 325 is used to press against the rod 221 in the fastening means 321 (fig. 18B and 18C).

In general, the mounting means 300 are adapted to allow a limited degree of freedom of movement in a generally vertical direction between the working platform 20 and the suction device 200, such that the platform 20 can move up and/or down with respect to the suction device 200 to a limited extent or tolerance T. This is achieved by the mounting means 300 comprising a resilient member (i.e. a spring 325) acting between the platform 20 and the suction device 200 for inhibiting relative movement therebetween.

In general terms, the mounting device 300 includes one of a slot (e.g., slot 222) and a connector (e.g., connecting bolt 324), the connecting bolt 324 being laterally engageable through the slot 222 to connect the main body 220 of the suction apparatus 200 with a portion of the work platform 20 (e.g., rail 21A). This connection allows for a limited degree of movement, such as tolerance T, between the attachment bolt 324 and the slot 222 along the length of the slot 222. The length of slot 222 provides a tolerance T.

In the depicted embodiment, the mounting means 300 comprises the connector (i.e., the connection bolt 324) and the slot (i.e., the slot 222) provided by the body 220 (i.e., the fin 221B) of the suction apparatus 200. The connector may be in the form of an elongated member (e.g., a connecting bolt 324) that engages the mounting device 300 or may engage the mounting device 300.

The suspended work platform 20 is generally oval-shaped having opposite left and right ends. Therefore, it is often necessary to use a pair of the above-described stabilizing apparatuses 100, one at each of the left and right ends of the work platform 20. To set each stabilization device 100, the mount 300 is first connected to the rail 21 at the opposite end of the work platform 20, and then the suction device 200 is connected to the upper end of the mount 300. The connection position of the suction device 200 with respect to the mount 300 is determined (i.e. one of the slots 222 is selected for connection (fig. 15-17)) such that the suction cup 210 reaches the building surface 11 for connection to the building surface 11 upon switching on the suction pump device 400.

The invention has been given by way of example only, and various other modifications and/or alterations to the described embodiments may be made by persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as specified in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A stabilizing apparatus for use on a suspended work platform, the stabilizing apparatus comprising:

a suction apparatus comprising a body having a suction cup, wherein the body is connectable to a portion of the work platform and the suction cup is attachable to an outer surface of a building structure from which the work platform is suspended, the body of the suction apparatus comprising a stem extending rearwardly of the suction cup;

mounting means for connecting the body of the suction device to a portion of the work platform, the mounting means comprising a mount separate from the suction device, the mount having first and second mounts adapted to be connected to a portion of the work platform and the body of the suction device, respectively, the second mount comprising fastening means for connection to the body of the suction device, the fastening means comprising an annular body for encircling the stem of the body of the suction device and resilient means for pressing against the stem of the body of the suction device, the resilient means being disposed within the annular body, the mounting means further comprising a slot and a connector, the connector being laterally engageable through the slot, thereby connecting the body of the suction device to a portion of the work platform and allowing the limited freedom of movement between the connector and the slot in the direction of the slot; and

suction pump means in communication with the suction disc for generating a suction force in the suction disc;

wherein the body of the suction device comprises the slot.

2. A stabilizing device according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means are adapted to allow a limited freedom of movement between said working platform and said suction device.

3. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the degrees of freedom of movement are in a generally vertical direction.

4. The stabilizing device of claim 1, wherein said rod includes a plurality of said slots along a length of said rod for selective engagement with said connector.

5. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein said connector comprises an elongated member engaged or engageable with said mounting means.

6. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first mounting portion includes a clamping device for connection with a portion of said work platform.

7. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 6 wherein said clamping means comprises a clamp for clamping with a portion of said work platform and a locking means for locking with a portion of said work platform.

8. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the locking arrangement comprises at least two locking members disposed on opposite sides of a portion of the work platform.

9. The stabilizing device of claim 8, wherein at least one of the locking members is in the form of a locking bolt.

10. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mounting portion comprises a body having a gap, wherein a portion of the work platform is to be connected in the gap.

11. The stabilizing device of claim 10, wherein said body of said first mounting portion has a pair of elongated members extending parallel to one another and forming said gap therebetween.

12. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first mounting portion comprises an elongated body provided with a series of at least two connection locations for selective connection with a portion of the work platform.

13. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said securing means further comprises a lock for locking said annular body closed.

14. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 1 wherein said annular body has an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein said upper portion is closable on said lower portion and is provided with said resilient means.

15. The stabilizing device of claim 14, wherein the lock comprises a clasp disposed between the upper portion and the lower portion of the annular body.

16. The stabilizing device of any one of claims 1-15, wherein said suction disc comprises a cap and an elastically deformable annular sealing member disposed on an inner surface of said cap, said cap and said annular sealing member together forming a suction cavity in communication with said suction pump device.

17. The stabilizing device of claim 16, wherein said body of said suction device includes a hollow channel having an inner end in communication with said suction cavity and an outer end connectable to said suction pump device for communication therewith.

18. The stabilizing device according to any one of claims 1-15, wherein the suction pump device comprises a suction pump with a hose for connection with the suction disc via the body of the suction device.

19. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 18, wherein said suction pump is driven by one of battery power and liquid fuel power.

20. A stabilising arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 15, including an air pressure monitor for monitoring air pressure associated with the suction disc and providing an alarm signal when the air pressure drops to a predetermined threshold.

21. The stabilizing apparatus of claim 20, wherein said air pressure monitor is attached to said suction cup.