EP1245755A1

EP1245755A1 - Tower assembly

Info

Publication number: EP1245755A1
Application number: EP02251596A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Clive Patterson
Original assignee: Creative Engineering Products Ltd
Current assignee: Creative Engineering Products Ltd
Priority date: 2001-03-10
Filing date: 2002-03-07
Publication date: 2002-10-02
Also published as: GB2373017B; GB2373017A; GB0105976D0

Abstract

A tower assembly comprises a first pair of spaced uprights (1) defining a front end of the tower, a second pair of spaced uprights (2) defining the rear end of the tower and a plurality of braces (3, 4, 5) extending between the uprights. At least one ladder section (6₁) is movably mounted between the first pair of spaced uprights (1) between an upright closed operational position and an open position in which it affords personnel access through the uprights (1) to the interior of the tower.

Description

The invention relates to tower assemblies such as scaffolding-type towers which are used by personnel in various industries such as the building and decorating industries.
In certain circumstances, tower assemblies are used in quite restricted spaces such as passageways or stairways. In these circumstances, personnel access to the interior of the tower assembly may be limited.
The present invention provides a tower assembly in which a ladder section is movably mounted to provide personnel access to the inside of the tower assembly.
The present invention provides a tower assembly comprising: a first pair of spaced uprights defining a front end of the tower assembly and a second pair of spaced uprights defining the rear end of the tower assembly; a plurality of braces extending between the uprights; and a ladder section movably mounted between the first pair of spaced uprights between an upright closed operational position and an open position in which it affords personnel access to the interior of the tower assembly.
An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tower assembly mounted on a stairway;
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of part of the tower assembly showing a ladder section in the open position;
Figure 3 is an enlarged view of an upper part of a ladder section;
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a lower part of a ladder section;
Figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the end part of a brace;
Figure 6 is a schematic view of a polygonal sleeve;
Figure 7 is a schematic view of a clamping mechanism; and
Figure 8 is a schematic view of a cam lever.
The drawings show a scaffolding-type tower assembly mounted on a stairway. The assembly comprises a first pair of spaced uprights 1 defining a front end of the tower assembly and a second pair of spaced uprights 2 defining the rear end of the tower assembly. The uprights 1, 2 may each be formed of one or more lengths of steel or aluminium tubing and are connected together by a plurality of short horizontal braces 3, long horizontal braces 4 and inclined braces 5.
A first ladder section 6₁ is movably mounted between the uprights 1. The ladder section is formed of a pair of upright stiles 7 connected by a plurality of horizontal bars 8 forming the steps of the ladder section.
The ladder section 6₁ is pivotally connected at its upper end to an upper short brace 3 through a hinge formed by a pair of inverted U-shaped straps 9 welded to the upper ends of the stiles 7 as shown in Figure 3. The ladder section 6₁ is connected to a lower short brace 3 through a pair of downwardly open yokes 10 welded to the lower ends of the stiles 7 as shown in Figure 4. The straps 9 are sufficiently long to allow vertical movement of the ladder so that the yokes 10 can be lifted clear of the lower brace 3 to enable the ladder section to swing about the hinge from the upright closed operational position shown in Figure 1 to the open position shown in Figure 2 in which it affords personnel access through the uprights 1 to the interior of the tower assembly.
The tower assembly shown in the drawings is adapted for use on a stairway and to this end the front uprights 1 may be longer than the rear uprights 2. Alternatively, the front and rear uprights can be the same length but when installed on a staircase the top of the rear uprights will be higher than the top of the front uprights. The assembly has first and second horizontal platforms 12, 13 mounted thereon and the movable ladder section 6₁ affords personnel access to the interior of the tower assembly beneath the first platform 12. Further movable ladder sections 6₂ and 6₃ are provided to give personnel access to the interior of the tower above the lower platform 12. Each platform 12, 13 is formed with a trapdoor 14 affording personnel access to the interior of the tower assembly above the platform from below.
The horizontal bars 8 of the ladder sections extend outwardly of the stiles 7 and can provide supports for braces 4 and 5. One bar 8 in each ladder section carries a latching clamp 15 at each end for latching the ladder section to an adjacent upright.
Each of the uprights 1, 2 is provided with an adjustable foot 16 for levelling the tower assembly.
When the stairdeck tower is not assembled on a stairway, there may be situations where additional components would make the tower suitable for other applications.
To enable components such as additional frames other and stabilising outriggers to be clamped to the Stairdeck tower, a series of hexagonal (or other shaped polygon) sections can be attached to the 'spaced uprights' that make up the tower frames. The additional items may be clamped to the tower frames at intervals along the uprights.
A polygon section, such as shown in Figure 6, may be fixed either by welding or by some sort of mechanical fixing to the 'spaced uprights' 1 ,2 at a number of locations along the length of the upright. The design of these sections could be as in Figure 6 - which are 2 half fabrications 20, 21 that form a hexagonal whole when fixed to the 'spaced upright' tube 1, or by a continuous extruded section incorporated during construction of the tower. The number of these required on each frame could vary depending upon the requirements of the components to be clamped.
A clamping assembly that can lock onto the hexagonal section is shown in Figure 7. This could be incorporated on the same tower (on the opposite 'spaced upright') or on some other attachment, such as an outrigger for example.
The clamping assembly can be manufactured from aluminium or similar and would be welded or mechanically fixed to the 'spaced uprights' of the tower assembly or the additional components as already mentioned.
As shown in Figure 7, in one embodiment a clamping assembly may comprise two spaced similar layers 22, 23 both provided at one end with an arcuate cut-out 24, and at the respective other end with a cut-out 25 defined by a plurality of linear surfaces. Two lever parts 26, 27 are mounted between the plates and held, eg by pins, at respective pivots 28, 29, so as to be able to rotate about the pivots. Each lever has a cam end 30 (Figure 8).
The clamping assembly may be attached to a tubular structure around the rim of the cut out piece 24 as shown in the diagram.
The clamping action would be achieved by moving the two lever sections 26, 27 around the pivoting pins 28, 29. The two cam shaped end profiles of the levers in effect narrow or enlarge the gap between the two protruding tongues when opened or closed. The hexagonal (or otherwise) section then engages in the matching half profile 30 at rear of the clamping assembly. The hexagonal section becomes clamped firmly between the two cams, when the two levers turn the cam profiles to bear onto the outer faces of the hexagon.
The clamped hexagonal section is released when the cam levers are pulled outward as shown by the arrow A in the diagram to the opening position.
Many other clamping mechanisms may be used.

Claims

A tower assembly comprising:

a first pair of spaced uprights defining a front end of the tower assembly and a second pair of spaced uprights defining the rear end of the tower assembly;

a plurality of braces extending between the uprights; and

a ladder section movably mounted between the first pair of spaced uprights between an upright closed operational position and an open position in which it affords personnel access to the interior of the tower assembly.
A tower assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the ladder section is mounted on the tower assembly through a hinge at its upper end pivotally connecting it to an upper horizontal brace extending between the first pair of uprights and through a pair of downwardly open yokes at its lower end connecting it to a lower horizontal brace extending between the first pair of uprights; the hinge allowing limited vertical movement of the ladder section so that the yokes can be lifted clear of the lower brace to enable the ladder section to swing about the hinge into the open position.
A tower assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein a plurality of movably mounted ladder sections are provided.
A tower assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a first horizontal platform mounted within the tower assembly; wherein a movable ladder section affords access to the interior of the tower beneath the platform.
A tower assembly as claimed in Claim 4, wherein a second horizontal platform is mounted within the tower assembly above the first platform and wherein at least one movable ladder section affords access to the interior of the assembly above the first platform.
A tower assembly as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the or each platform is formed with a trapdoor affording personnel access to the interior of the tower assembly above the platform from below.
A tower assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the or each ladder section is formed of a pair or upright stiles connected by a plurality of horizontal bars forming the steps of the ladder section and wherein at least one of the horizontal bars extends outwardly of the stiles and carries a latching clamp for latching the ladder section to an adjacent upright.
A tower assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, adapted for use in a stairway, wherein the first pair of uprights are longer than the second pair of uprights.
A tower assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each of the uprights is provided with an adjustable foot for levelling the tower assembly.
A tower assembly as claimed in any proceeding claim, including at least one polygonal sleeve mounted to an upright, and a clamping mechanism for clamping additional components to the assembly.
A tower assembly as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the clamping mechanism comprises a lever-operated cam device for clamping onto the polygonal sleeve.