EP0856621B1 - Apparatus for positioning ceiling panels - Google Patents

Abstract

The installer comprises a base support (1) on rollers (7) and a central telescopic mast of two or more parts (10,11,12). The mast is elongated by a manual hoist (13) and a cable. There is an inclined tile support (4) at the top of the mast. A safety brake (31,32) between two consecutive mast parts (10,11 and 11,12) has a jaw pivoted about a horizontal spindle connected to the top of the mast's exterior (10,11) and located on the side of this part. The jaw has an active surface located higher than its pivoting spindle which friction engages a side face of the mast's interior. The jaw carries an activating lever arm (37,38), and a spring (35,36) returns the jaw to its position in which its active surface engages with the side face of the interior. The apparatus includes simple safety brakes which intervene if the mechanical hoist fails and ensure locking in the event of a very heavy load.

Description

The present invention relates to apparatus for the installation of ceiling plates, these devices allowing to raise plates in particular in plaster, intended for the production or coating of ceilings, and position them either horizontally or inclined position, to facilitate their installation.

More particularly, the apparatus for setting place of ceiling plates concerned belongs to the kind of those comprising a support leg, preferably provided with casters at its base, a telescopic central mast, in two or several elements, the elongation of which is obtained at by means of a manual winch and at least one cable operated by the winch, and a ceiling plate support mounted at the top of the upper mast element, the support ceiling plates being able to be inclined relative to the horizontal.

Devices of this kind are already described in French patents 1,237,967 and 2,308,760, as well as in the French patent 2,538,437 and its two additions 2552478 and 2623546. Thanks to their telescopic mast, actuated by a manual winch, these devices are used to raise ceiling plates at the desired height, and maintain these plates in height to facilitate their installation. The pivoting mounting of the plate support, at the top of the mast, facilitates the initial positioning of each plate on the device. This swivel mounting also allows you to place the choice the plate is in horizontal position, in the case of an ordinary ceiling, either in a more or less position inclined, for installation under a ramp.

In the aforementioned French patent 2538437, it is describes an apparatus of the kind under consideration, the mast of which includes safety systems to prevent the fallout of high load, in case of untimely cable break. These two security systems work by a jamming effect, and aim to prevent the relative sliding of the three elements of the mast, in case of accidental cable break. One of the safety features a cleat mounted to pivot about an axis integral with a mast element, the cable being hooked by one of its ends to this cleat, itself subjected to the action of a tension spring. So in case of cable break, the cleat is released and the spring brings it into contact with the wall of another element of the mast, which is supposed to cause the jamming effect research.

Such a security system retains disadvantages. In particular, in the case of a charge heavy, the wedging effect is not guaranteed, and it slipping may occur instead of blocking expected, especially since the cleat offers only one very small, almost point-like contact surface, with the wall of the other mast element. The system is also relatively complex and expensive. Furthermore, being housed inside the mast, this system is invisible and thus remains insecure for the user of the device.

The other security system, provided for in the patent French N ° 2538437, includes a pivotally mounted member around a horizontal axis linked to the top of an element of external mast and located on the side of this mast element, this pivoting member having two horizontal pins parallel which cooperate, respectively, with two faces opposite sides of the inner mast member; the pivoting member also carries a lever arm serving to actuation handle. To the extent that this organ pivoting cooperates with the inner mast element by two cylindrical pins, round section, contact with the two opposite sides of the inner mast element takes place in a linear fashion along generators of these pins, with a risk of slipping, so that the braking is not very effective, so that the safety obtained is insufficient.

We also know, for example by the model German utility 29501130 or French patent 1377926, blocking or locking devices for masts or telescopic props, which do not constitute safety for winch devices, and which include a pivoting locking member provided with an opening crossed by the mast and ensuring purely contacts punctual with an element of this mast. These devices known mainly realize the absorption of efforts horizontal and not intended for fall protection; they are therefore not transferable to devices for installation of ceiling plates, as brakes security that can intervene effectively in the event of winch failure or cable break.

The present invention aims to eliminate these disadvantages, providing for devices like concerned a simple safety brake system, economical, directly accessible, and ensuring blocking certain even in the case of a very heavy load.

To this end, the invention relates to an apparatus for installing ceiling plates, such as specified in the introduction, and comprising at least one brake safety intervening between two mast elements consecutive, the or each safety brake comprising a mounted body pivoting about a horizontal axis linked to the top of the outer mast element and located on the side of this mast element, the pivoting member cooperating with at at least one lateral face of the inner mast element, and this pivoting member carrying a lever arm serving to actuating handle, the apparatus being characterized by the fact that said pivoting member is a jaw having an active surface facing downwards and located higher than its pivot axis, cooperating surface by friction with a single side face of the element of internal mast, with support against this face, and recall this jaw to its position in which its active surface cooperates with the lateral face of the element of internal mast.

So, for a device whose telescopic mast consists of three elements, two safety brakes are provided, which block the descent of the plate support in winch failure or breakage cable ; these safety brakes operate permanently, their activation is not triggered from cable, unlike the known device mentioned above. When the winch is operated in the direction controlling the mounting of the plate support, the cable (assumed to be correct status) performs an automatic unlocking function safety brakes, and the operator is not obliged operate the lever arms of these brakes. On the other hand, before operating the winch in the direction controlling the lowering of the plate support, the operator manually releases one of the brakes, using of the lever arm. As soon as this lever arm is released, the spring means immediately recall the jaw in the locking position, against the lateral face of the inner mast element which is located opposite.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the jaw of or each safety brake is pivotally mounted, around the above-mentioned horizontal axis, on a yoke attached to the top of the mast element corresponding exterior. In this case, the spring means are advantageously constituted, for the or each brake safety, by two tension springs which extend obliquely, on either side of the yoke, between a first attachment point secured to the jaw, and a second attachment point secured to the base of the yoke, on the side of the outer mast member opposite the jaw.

Although the safety brake system according to the invention is functionally independent of the cable, it can be envisaged, constructively, that the or each yoke extends opposite the jaw swivel, and also serves as a support bearing for at least a horizontal axis pulley over which the cable passes operated by the winch.

Thus, on the whole, a system of safety brakes which is particularly simple, economical and reliable, and which is also reassuring in because of its direct accessibility and the good visibility that exists on all its organs. Efficiency of these safety brakes is ensured, in particular, by the friction contact made on an active surface relatively important, and by the particular position of this surface on the jaw, which creates some eccentricity.

Figure 1 est une vue d'ensemble en perspective d'un appareil conforme à la présente invention ;

Figure 2 est une vue de côté partielle du mât de l'appareil de figure 1, montrant le détail des deux freins de sécurité.

The invention will in any case be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of this apparatus for the installation of ceiling plates:

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a partial side view of the mast of the apparatus of Figure 1, showing the detail of the two safety brakes.

The apparatus for placing plates ceiling, shown as a whole in FIG. 1, generally includes, from bottom to top: a support leg 1, a telescopic central mast 2, a head 3 located at the top of the mast 2, and a plate support 4.

The support leg 1 has a central body 5, on which are articulated four arms 6 each provided with their base, swivel casters 7. In use position of the device, the arms 6 are arranged in a cross, and they are kept two by two at the desired spacing, by their lower parts, by means of two bars horizontal spacers 8. The upper parts of the arms 6 can support two horizontal shelves 9, in which case the spacer bars 8 are used advantageously of running boards, facilitating the access of the operator to these shelves 9. In the non-use position of the device, the arms 6 are foldable to facilitate storage and transport of the device.

The central telescopic mast 2 is composed of three elements, a lower element 10, an element intermediate 11 and an upper element 12, which slide vertically into each other. The lower element 10 of the mast 2 is integral with the body center 5 of support foot 1, and it carries a manual winch 13, whose cable forming a hauling allows to lengthen or shorten the telescopic mast 2 as desired, so that to place the head 3 and the plate support 4 at the height desired.

The plate support 4 comprises a bar main 14, and two transverse arms 15 and 16, perpendicular to the main bar 14 and attached to the ends of this bar. The main bar 14 has itself a central tubular element 17, in which two terminal elements 18 and 19 are slidably mounted, for adjusting the length of the plate support 4. Similarly, the two transverse arms 15 and 16 have a telescopic structure. These arms 15 and 16 are provided with support and retaining members 20, 21 ceiling plates.

The head 3 comprises a disc 22, made integral of two coaxial toothed sectors 23 and 24, which extend respectively in two parallel vertical planes, of on either side of the top of the upper element 12 of the mast telescopic 2. A horizontal pivot axis 25 links the top of the upper element 12 of the mast 2 at the centers of the two toothed sectors 23 and 24.

Each sector 23 or 24 presents, on approximately one quarter-turn, a rack-type toothing which includes a relatively small number of teeth 26, the respective teeth of the two sectors 23 and 24 being located in correspondence.

Between the two toothed sectors 23 and 24 is fixed an operating rod 27, of radial direction, is ending with a handle 28.

A locking lever 29 is pivotally mounted on the upper element 12 of the mast 2, around an axis horizontal 30 located just below the two sectors toothed 23 and 24, and parallel to the pivot axis 25 of these toothed sectors. The locking lever 29 has two parallel branches, linked together for a transverse element intended to engage between the teeth 26 of toothed sectors 23 and 24.

By means of the telescopic mast 2 and the winch 13, user can bring and stop at any height desired plate support 4, receiving a plate of ceiling to ask. Figure 1 shows the support of plates 4 in the high position.

In addition, thanks to the particular configuration of the head 3, the plate support 4 can be maintained in horizontal position, as shown in Figure 1, or be brought and locked in an inclined position. The lever locking 29, cooperating with the teeth 26 of the sectors 23 and 24, keeps the plate support 4 in the desired horizontal or inclined position, and to move from one position to another.

According to the invention, the device is equipped with two safety brakes designated by the marks respectively 31 and 32, the first brake 31 intervening between the element lower 10 and the intermediate element 11 of the mast 2, and the second brake 32 intervening between the element intermediate 11 and the upper element 12 of the mast 2.

As shown more particularly in Figure 2, each safety brake 31 or 32 includes a jaw pivoting, respectively 33 or 34, which is subjected to the action of at least one spring 35 or 36, and which is secured to a lever arm 37 or 38.

Regarding the safety brake 31, intervening between the lower element 10 and the element intermediate 11 of mast 2, jaw 33 is mounted pivoting about a horizontal axis 39, on a yoke 40 fixed to the top of the lower mast element 10, the axis of pivot 39 being located on the side of this element of mast 10. The lever arm 37 is welded on the face upper jaw 33. The springs 35, the number two, are coil tension springs which extend obliquely, on either side of the yoke 40. These two coil tension springs 35 connect, one and the other, a first transverse rod 41, welded to the jaw 33, to a second transverse rod 42 fixed at the base of the yoke 40, on the side of the mast element lower 10 opposite the jaw 33.

Similarly, with respect to the safety brake 32 acting between the element intermediate 11 and the upper element 12 of the mast 2, the jaw 34 is pivotally mounted about an axis horizontal 43, on a yoke 44 fixed at the top of the intermediate mast element 11, the pivot axis 43 being located on the side of this mast element 11. The arm lever 38 is welded to the upper side of the jaw 34. The springs 36, two in number, are coil tension springs which extend in oblique, on either side of yoke 44. These two coil springs 36 connect, one and the other, a first transverse rod 45, welded to the jaw 34, to a second transverse rod 46 fixed to the base of the yoke 44, on the side of the mast element intermediate 11 opposite the jaw 34.

Note that the two yokes 40 and 44 are opposite the respective jaws 33 and 34, and also serve as support bearings for pulleys, whose horizontal axes are indicated at 47, 47 'and 49, and over which the cable 50 of the winch 13 passes. However, the two safety brakes 31 and 32 remain completely independent of cable 50, from the point of view functional.

Each pivoting jaw 33 and 34 is presented itself as a metal block, which has a active surface 48 facing the mast 2, so that the operation is as follows:

At rest, the jaw 33 or 34 of each brake 31 or 32 is maintained in frictional contact, by its active surface 48 then oriented vertically, with the element located opposite, this under the action of the springs 35 or 36. This is shown in Figure 2 for brake 31, the jaw 33 of which is pressed against a side face of the intermediate mast element 11. De even, for the other brake 32, the jaw 34 is supported by its active surface 48 against a lateral face of the upper mast element 12. Thus, whatever the relative position of the three mast elements 10, 11 and 12, the accidental lowering of the plate support 4 is found blocked. In particular, any descent is prevented, in case of winch 13 failure, or in case of cable break 50. The braking effect results from the fact that the active surface 48 of each jaw 33 or 34 is located higher than the respective pivot axis 39 or 43.

When it comes to raising the plate support 4, by operating the winch 13 in the upward direction, the the safety brakes 31 and 32 are released itself, under the effect of the initiation of displacement of mast elements 11 and 12, and taking into account the configuration of jaws 33 and 34, unnecessary actuate the lever arms 37 and 38. Once reached the desired height for the plate support 4, the mast 2 being deployed, the two brakes 31 and 32 become new operators, by themselves.

Conversely, when it comes to lowering the support of plates 4, it is necessary to release successively the two brakes 31 and 32, by pivoting their jaws 33 and 34, before operating the winch 13 downhill. So once the plate placed on the ceiling, the operator will first activate the arm lever 37 of the first brake 31, to authorize the retraction of the intermediate mast element 11 in the lower mast member 10 and then it will operate the arm lever 38 of the other brake 32, to authorize the retraction of the upper mast element 12 of the intermediate mast 11. The cleared position is shown for the second brake 32 in Figure 2, where it appears clearly that the actuation of the lever arm 38, following arrow F, allows to rotate the jaw 34 around the axis 39, spreading its surface activates 48 of the upper mast element 12, the springs 36 then being elongated, therefore stretched more strongly.

It follows that, as soon as the lever arm 37 or 38 is released, the springs of 35 or 36 recall the respective jaw 33 or 34 in active position, the blocking being immediately restored.

Of course, the blocking effect is all the more effective than the active surface 48 of each jaw 33 or 34 is important.

We would not stray from the scope of the invention by modifying the detail of the shapes of each jaw of brake, or by making a device with only one brake safety, in the case of a two-element mast, or again by using all equivalent means. It is thus, in particular, that one would not stray from the framework of the invention by replacing springs 35 and 36 with counterweight, as shown in dashed lines at 51 on the Figure 2 for the single brake 32, each counterweight then ensuring the reminder and effort function of braking of the jaw with which it is integral.

Claims (4)

1. An apparatus for positioning ceiling panels, of the type comprising a supporting stand (1) which is preferably provided with castors (7) at its base, a central telescopic pole (2) which comprises two or more elements (10, 11, 12) and which is extended by means of a hand-operated winch (13) and by means of at least one cable (50) which is operated by the winch, and comprising a ceiling panel support (4) mounted at the top of the upper element (12) of the pole (2), said panel support (4) being suitable for being inclined in relation to the horizontal, and comprising at least one safety brake (31, 32) which acts between two consecutive pole elements (10, 11 and 11, 12), said safety brake or safety brakes (31, 32) comprising a member (33, 34) which is swivel-mounted about a horizontal pin (39, 43) attached to the top of the external pole element (10, 11) and is situated on the side of said pole element, said swivelling member (33, 34) cooperating with at least one side face of the internal pole element (11, 12), and said swivelling member (33, 34) bearing a lever arm (37, 38) which serves as an operating lever, characterised in that said swivelling member is a brake block (33, 34) which has an active surface (48) facing the pole (2) and which is situated higher than its swivel pin (39, 43), said surface (48) cooperating by friction with a single side face of the internal pole element (11, 12), and being supported against said side face, spring means (35, 36) or counter-weight means (51) being provided for returning said brake block (33, 34) towards its position in which its active surface (48) cooperates with the side face of the internal pole element (11, 12).
2. An apparatus for positioning ceiling tiles according to claim 1, characterised in that the brake block (33, 34) of the safety brake or of each safety brake (31, 32) is swivel-mounted about the aforementioned horizontal pin (39, 43), on a holder (40, 44) which is fixed to the top of the corresponding external pole element (10, 11).
3. An apparatus for positioning ceiling tiles according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring means for the safety brake or for each safety brake (31, 32) are formed by two tension springs (35, 36) which extend obliquely on both sides of the holder (40, 44) between a first point of attachment (41, 45) which is integral with the brake block (33, 34), and a second point of attachment (42, 46) which is integral with the base of the holder (40, 44) on the opposite side of the external pole element (10, 11) to the brake block (33, 34).
4. An apparatus for positioning ceiling tiles according to claims 2 or 3, characterised in that the holder or each holder (40, 44) extends on the opposite side to the swivelling brake block (33, 34) and also serves as the support bearing for at least one pulley with a horizontal axis (47, 47'; 49) over which the cable (50) passes which is operated by the winch (13).

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