GB1585851A - Scaffold for the performance of operations in a closed space - Google Patents

Description

(54) SCAFFOLD FOR THE PERFORMANCE OR OPERATIONS IN A CLOSED SPACE (71) I, CHARLES RACINE BERGESEN, a Norwegion subject, (trading as SIGVAL BER GESEN MEK. VERKSTED) of Lura, 4300 Sandnes, Norway, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement The present invention relates to a scaffold for the performance of operations of any kind inside a closed space, such as a tank or a hold aboard a vessel, but may also be adapted for use under other conditions, for instance when large wall surfaces are to be treated, for cleansing, surface treatment or the like, as well as for inspection of the inner surfaces of such tanks, holds etc.

The present invention is an improvement of the invention claimed in the main claim of Patent No. 1,533,165 (application No.

17804/76), which claims a scaffold which enables operations to be performed in an enclosed space having an upper boundary wall provided with an access opening, com prising a working platform supported by a cantilever from a column which is supported in a device mounted, in use, on the access opening with the column depending through the access opening, the supporting device being provided with means adapted to impart axial and rotational movements to the column and the platform supported by the same.

It has now been found that the scaffold disclosed in the parent patent, when in use, may suffer from some disadvantages one of which is swaying of the column with its platform, which may impair an efficient operation of the tasks to be performed.

The present invention has for an object to alleviate such a disadvantage whilst at the same time maintaining the advantages of the manhole mounting of the parent patent.

Accordingly the present invention con sists in an improvement of the scaffold claimed in claim 1 of Patent No. 1,533,165 wherein the column, at its lower end, is engageable, in use, with a device which is secured to the bottom wall of the space, the cantilever supporting the working platform or basket being so connected to the column as to be movable axially along the column.

In this manner, it is ensured that the column, while being rotatable, is perfectly stable against swaying when engaged with the locating device, at the same time the working platform by means of the cantilever being slidable along the column, can be moved axially with respect to the column with the effect that the surface to be treated may be reached at any level.

The connection between the platform carrying cantilever and the column, as well as the means for effecting the movements of the cantilever along the column obviously may be effected in many ways obvious to a man skilled in the art. Reference may here be made to a line and winch arrangement associated with the device at the manhole, and particular shapes of the cross section of the column for the purpose of controlling the cantilever direction relatively to the angular setting of the column, so that the working platform at all times may be set on just that portion of the wall surface which is to be treated is to be performed.

In order that the present invention may be more readily understood an embodiment of a scaffold according to the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing which shows the scaffold from a direction at right angles to the cantilever supporting the working platform of the scaffold.

The scaffold shown in the drawing comprises a column 5 which is passed downwardly through a hole 3 in a tank top 1.

The column 5 may be composed of sections 51, 52, 53 etc. and is extending downwardly towards the bottom 14 of the tank, where it engages a device 10 comprising a sleeve 11 mounted on a plate 12 which is secured to bulkheads 13 by means of detachable clamps (not shown). Preferably, the position of the sleeve 11 is adjustable in a horizontal plane on the plate 12, in case the manhole 3 in the tank top is not exactly in line with the middle of the space between two bulkheads.

A cantilever 7 supports a working platform or basket 8 at its free end. In the embodiment shown, the cantilever 7 is composed of telescopic sections 71, 72, 73 etc., so that the length of the cantilever may be varied. The cantilever 7 is secured to the column 5 through a clamp 15 which is slideably mounted on the column, such as by means of at least one wire or the like 16 extending from a winch 17 mounted above the tank top 11. Preferably, the cantilever may also be horizontally adjustable relatively to the clamp 15, for the purpose of further adjustment of the distance between the column 5 and the basket 8. The clamp 15 may be guided on the column 5, such as by means of rollers (not shown) running on longitudinally extending edges or grooves in the circumference of the column.For the purpose of obtaining a symmetrical load on the column 5 and increased stability of the basket 8, the cantilever 7 may be bifurcated with legs extending beyond the column 5 to either side of the same. In such a case the clamp 15 may be doubled or it may encircle the column more or less completely. Also the winch 17 with wire 16 is doubled, with one wire 16 extending to either side of the column 5.

The column 5 is rotatable, so that the cantilever 7 with the basket 8 may be extending in just a desired direction. The winch arrangement is rotated together with the column, by being mounted on a casing 4 which may rotate relative to a collar 2 encircling the hole 3. The rotation is effected by means of a motor and gear 6, and this device, together with devices for the lowering and raising of the column, may be combined into a unit mounted on the tank top.

The scaffold just described provides a stable support to a working platform or basket, and through a correct dimensioning the position of the platform or basket in the tank is well defined and adjustable within wide limits, and nevertheless simple to mount and dismount within the tank.

In addition to the adjustment possibilities of the platform or basket shown and described the platform or basket may also be turned and tipped about its connection to the cantilever, all the movements of the platform or basket being controlled from the basket through electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic connections, indicated at 9, extending between the basket 8 and the drive means on the tank top.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. An improvement of the scaffold claimed in claim 1 of Patent No. 1,533,165 wherein the column, at its lower end, is engageable, in use, with a device which is secured to the bottom wall of the space, the cantilever supporting the working platform or basket being so connected to the column so as to be movable axially along the column.

2. A scaffold as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a device for supporting the column, said device being adapted to be detachably connected to the bottom wall of a space.

3. A scaffold as claimed in claim 2 wherein said device comprises a member on which is mounted a sleeve adapted to engage with the lower end of the column.

4. A scaffold as claimed in claim 3, wherein the position of the sleeve relative to the member is adjustable.

5. A scaffold as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cantilever arm has a bifurcated portion extending on either side of the column.

6. A scaffold for operating in a closed space substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. tank top is not exactly in line with the middle of the space between two bulkheads. A cantilever 7 supports a working platform or basket 8 at its free end. In the embodiment shown, the cantilever 7 is composed of telescopic sections 71, 72, 73 etc., so that the length of the cantilever may be varied. The cantilever 7 is secured to the column 5 through a clamp 15 which is slideably mounted on the column, such as by means of at least one wire or the like 16 extending from a winch 17 mounted above the tank top 11. Preferably, the cantilever may also be horizontally adjustable relatively to the clamp 15, for the purpose of further adjustment of the distance between the column 5 and the basket 8. The clamp 15 may be guided on the column 5, such as by means of rollers (not shown) running on longitudinally extending edges or grooves in the circumference of the column.For the purpose of obtaining a symmetrical load on the column 5 and increased stability of the basket 8, the cantilever 7 may be bifurcated with legs extending beyond the column 5 to either side of the same. In such a case the clamp 15 may be doubled or it may encircle the column more or less completely. Also the winch 17 with wire 16 is doubled, with one wire 16 extending to either side of the column 5. The column 5 is rotatable, so that the cantilever 7 with the basket 8 may be extending in just a desired direction. The winch arrangement is rotated together with the column, by being mounted on a casing 4 which may rotate relative to a collar 2 encircling the hole 3. The rotation is effected by means of a motor and gear 6, and this device, together with devices for the lowering and raising of the column, may be combined into a unit mounted on the tank top. The scaffold just described provides a stable support to a working platform or basket, and through a correct dimensioning the position of the platform or basket in the tank is well defined and adjustable within wide limits, and nevertheless simple to mount and dismount within the tank. In addition to the adjustment possibilities of the platform or basket shown and described the platform or basket may also be turned and tipped about its connection to the cantilever, all the movements of the platform or basket being controlled from the basket through electrical, mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic connections, indicated at 9, extending between the basket 8 and the drive means on the tank top. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An improvement of the scaffold claimed in claim 1 of Patent No. 1,533,165 wherein the column, at its lower end, is engageable, in use, with a device which is secured to the bottom wall of the space, the cantilever supporting the working platform or basket being so connected to the column so as to be movable axially along the column.

2. A scaffold as claimed in claim 1 in combination with a device for supporting the column, said device being adapted to be detachably connected to the bottom wall of a space.

3. A scaffold as claimed in claim 2 wherein said device comprises a member on which is mounted a sleeve adapted to engage with the lower end of the column.

4. A scaffold as claimed in claim 3, wherein the position of the sleeve relative to the member is adjustable.

5. A scaffold as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the cantilever arm has a bifurcated portion extending on either side of the column.

6. A scaffold for operating in a closed space substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.