GB2077836A

GB2077836A - Ladder

Info

Publication number: GB2077836A
Application number: GB8116877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LYTE IND Ltd
Current assignee: LYTE IND Ltd
Priority date: 1980-06-03
Filing date: 1981-06-02
Publication date: 1981-12-23

Abstract

Support and location or stabilisation of a ladder or ladder like mast (1) is provided in the form of fittings or attachments secured or adapted to be secured to the ladder (1) for supporting it in a vertical position especially where the ladder carries a working platform 100. In one arrangement the ladder (1) is suspended at (2), e.g. from a rail (R) of a ship's side (S) and is further supported at its lower end from the side (S) by roller contact (30). In a further arrangement the ladder is provided with upper locating or stabilising means or a spreader (Fig. 6) adapted to engage a vertical surface such as the wall or bulkhead of a ship's hold, the spreader having adjustable arms for engagement with a troughed or flanged bulkhead to prevent sideways movement of the ladder. Base support of the ladder can be provided by ballast weight means such as one or more water tanks (Figs. 7-9). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ladder or Like Support and Location Means The object of this invention is to provide means for the support and location or stabilisation of a ladder or the like especially, but not exclusively, of scaffold structure wherein the latter is of the kind consisting of a ladder or ladder like mast arranged to assume a substantially upright position when in use adjacent a wall or similar surface, the ladder carrying a working platform which can be moved up or down the ladder and locked in a required position of use to provide convenient and safe support for a person together with tools etc.

operating from the ladder. Such a scaffold structure or "climber" is set forth in the specification of British patent No: 1,314,696 whilst practical advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following disclosure especially as regards marine use.

Generally in accordance with the invention support means is provided secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an end part of a ladder or the like for suspension or base support of the latter in relation to a substantially vertical surface such as a ship's side or ship's hold wall or bulkhead, locating or stabilising means being further provided secured or adapted to be secured or engaged with another part of the ladder or the like such as the other end part for contact or engagement with a said vertical surface for firmly supporting and locating the ladder or the like in relation thereto.

According to one aspect of the invention support means is provided secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an upper part of a ladder or the like for the suspension of the latter from an upper part of a substantially vertical surface such as a ship's side, locating or stabilising means being further provided and secured or adapted to be secured or engaged with a lower part of the ladder or the like so as to bear against said surface or ship's side for the firm support and location of the ladder in relation thereto.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention the locating and stabilising means is secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an upper part of the ladder or the like for bearing against a substantially vertical surface such as the wall or bulkhead of a ship's hold in relation to which the ladder or the like is to be supported and used. Preferably the said means engages the substantially vertical surface or ship's hold wall or bulkhead to prevent sideways movement of the ladder or the like whilst the lower part of the latter may be supported by ballast weight means which may consist of one or more tanks or other containers adapted to be filled with a liquid such as water or other material to provide a heavy base.

In practice the construction and arrangement of the support and locating means is as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of one arrangement of the invention shown in position of use, Figure 2 is a detail front view of the upper part of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, Figure 3 is a detail plan view of the lower part of the arrangement shown in Figure 1, Figure 4 is a perspective view of upper locating or stabilising means engaging a ship's hold wall of troughed form, Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of another form of hold wall, Figure 6 is a detail plan view of an alternative form of upper locating means or spreader, Figure 7 is a detail perspective view showing one form of base support, and Figures 8 and 9 are a side elevation and plan view respectively of another form of base support.

Whereas the support and locating means is generally applicable for use with a ladder, it has particular practical application to a ladder or ladder mast of scaffold structure or a "climber" having a movable working platform.

The scaffold structure is preferably generally constructed and arranged to operate in the manner described in British patent specification No. 1,314,696 in which a working platform 100 can be raised or lowered on an upright ladder 1 by a person climbing or descending the ladder, the platform being releasably locked to the ladder such as by hook or catch means arranged to engage a rung of the ladder at a required position of use of the platform.

For the purpose of supporting and locating the ladder 1 over the side S of a ship a transverse support bar 2 (Figures 1 and 2) is provided which is firmly secured or adapted to be so secured to or engaged with the top or an upper part of the ladder 1 such as by limbs 20 bolted to the ladder stiles 10, e.g. by bolts or pins 21 passing through hollow rungs 11.

The cross bar 2 is provided with lugs 22 shown receiving attachment devices or lashings 23 of loop form for readily and securely attaching the bar 2 to a rail R or to cleats, stanchions or the like at or adjacent the top of the ship's side S so that the ladder 1 is suspended alongside the latter.

The lower part of the ladder 1 receives similarly secured thereto at 33 locating or stabilising means (Figures 1 and 3) shown consisting of a cross bar 3 having brackets 31 projecting therefrom and carrying bearing members such as rollers 30 as shown or blocks or pads.

Thus the ladder 1 can be firmly and safely supported and located against swinging movement in a substantially upright position for operation of the working platform 100 thereon. In such an arrangement the platform 100 is mounted on that side of the ladder 1 remote from the ship's side and provides convenient support for a person working with both hands free on the surface of the ship's side such as cleaning or painting the latter After use the complete scaffold structure can be readily removed or moved to a further position of use.

Where the scaffold structure is required for use in a ship's hold or tank, the upper part of the ladder 1 carries locating or stabilising means shown in the form of a spreader 4 and consisting firstly of arms or brackets 44 carrying a bearing or cross bar 40 for locating the ladder 1 in a stand off position from a wall 5, bulkhead or similar structure of the hold.

In one example shown in Figure 4 further arms 7 are provided and are shown mounted from the arms 44, which arms 7 are arranged to contact either a troughed or corrugated wall 5 (Figure 4) or a flanged wall 6 (Figure 5). The arms 7 are shown provided with location members such as crosspieces 70 for location between flanks 50 of the trough form or between stiffening flanges 60 of a wall 6 in order to prevent side movement of the ladder 1. The arms 7 are shown adjustablymounted on or from the ladder 1 and the crosspieces 70 are adjustable relative to the arms 7.

In an alternative arrangement of the spreader 4 shown in Figure 6 the crossbar 400 is shown carrying three arms 700 the two end ones of which are axially adjusted from the crossbar 400 by pin and hole adjustment 74 for firm end contact with the bulkhead 5 so as to bring the ladder 1 into a substantially vertical position. The centre arm 700' is then adjusted along the crossbar 400 and with such endwise adjustment as is necessary to locate against a flank 50 of a troughed bulkhead (or against a flange or vertical stiffener 60 of a flanged bulkhead 6 (see Figure 5) in order to prevent sideways movement of the spreader and hence of the ladder 1. Adjustment of the spreader 4 in the above manner can be conveniently carried out at base level in the hold prior to hoisting and fitting the spreader to the upper end of the ladder 1.

For firm base support of the ladder 1 the lower end of the ladder or legs thereof may be secured to ballast weight support means preferably consisting of a tank 8 (Figures 8 and 9) or a pair of tanks 88 (Figure 7) which can be filled with water so as to have considerable weight when in position of use. Such a tank or tanks can be of light weight construction, e.g. of glass fibre so that they can be easily carried or moved when empty.

In the detail view shown in Figure 7 legs 1 8 secured to the lower end of the ladder 1 are each secured in a corresponding tank 88.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 8 and 9 the lower end of the ladder 1 is supported from a ballast weight tank 8 by outrigger structure 80 so as to accommodate an inclined or hopper side 9 of the lower part of a ship's hold wall. The outrigger 80 is shovvn provided with steps 83 for access to the ladder 1.

The lower end of the ladder 1 is shown pivotally mounted at 81 on the outrigger structure 80, adjustable strut means 82 being provided to obtain a suitable upright position of the ladder, i.e.

for locating contact with the hold wall at the upper end of the ladder and also to prevent the ladder from tipping away from the wall, after positioning. The tank 8 may be wheel mounted such as on castors with provision for their retraction and/or braking when in position of use.

Thus castors 85 are shown carried by screw jacks 86 secured to the side of the tank 8.

The stand off position of the ladder 1 relative to the wall 5 or 6 may be such that the platform as indicated at 100 in Figure 8 can be operated on that side of the ladder 1 facing the wall 6 so as to afford convenient and doss access from the platform 100 to the wall 6.

Such upper location and lower support of the ladder may be used in various situations, e.g.

against a ship's superstructure such as against a funnel.

Although having particular practical application for marine use, a ladder or scaffold structure provided with the support and locating means according to this invention has wide application for use where convenient access is required.

For ease of handling, the ladder or ladder mast 1 can be made mainly of aluminium or aluminium alloy and likewise the support and location fittings although in some cases the fittings may be of steel or other suitable material for adequate strength.

The invention includes within its scope not only the support and locating means for use with a ladder especially of or for scaffold structure of the kind herein referred to, but also such ladders when fitted therewith.

Claims

1. Means for the support and location or stabilisation of a ladder or the like is characterised by the provision of support means secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an end part of a ladder or the like for suspension or base support of the latter in relation to a substantially vertical surface such as a ship's side or ship's hold wall or bulkhead, locating or stabilising means being further provided secured or adapted to be secured or engaged with another part of the ladder or the like such as the other end part for contact or engagement with a said vertical surface fur firmly supporting and locating the ladder or the like in relation thereto.

2. Ladder or like support according to claim 1 wherein the said support means is secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an upper part of a ladder or the like for the suspension of the latter from an upper part of a substantially vertical surface such as a ship's side, locating or stabilising means being further provided and secured or adapted to be secured or engaged with a lower part of the ladder or the like so as to bear against said surface or ship's side for the firm support and location of the ladder in relation thereto.

3. Ladder or like support according to claim 2 wherein the said support means consists of a crossmember secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an upper part of the ladder or the like and further adapted to be secured to an upper part of a substantially vertical surface such as to a rail, cleats or stanchions or the like at or adjacent the upper part of a ship's side.

4. Ladder or like support according to claim 2 or 3 wherein the said locating or stabilising means secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with a lower part of the ladder or the like is provided with members such as rollers for bearing contact with a said substantially vertical surface or ship's side.

5. Ladder or like support according to claim 1 wherein there is provided locating or stabilising means secured or adapted to be secured to or engaged with an upper part of the ladder or the like for bearing against a substantially vertical surface such as the wall or bulkhead of a ship's hold in relation to which the ladder or the like is to be supported and used.

6. Ladder or like support according to claim 5 wherein the locating or stabilising means is adapted to engage a said vertical surface such as a troughed or flanged wall or bulkhead of a ship's hold to prevent sideways movement of the ladder or the like relative thereto.

7. Ladder or like support according to claim 6 wherein the locating or stabilising means comprises a cross-member secured or adapted to be secured to the upper part of the ladder or the like and adjustably carrying members such as arms for engagement with the vertical surface such as a ship's troughed or flanged bulkhead or the like.

8. Ladder or like support according to any of claims 5 to 7 wherein supporting ballast weight means is provided on which the lower part of the ladder or the like can be mounted for firm substantially upright support thereof.

9. Ladder or like support according to claim 8 wherein the supporting ballast weight means consists of one or more tanks or other containers adapted to be filled with liquid such as water or other material to provide a heavy base on or from which the ladder or the like is mounted in use.

10. Ladder or like support according to claim 8 or 9 wherein the ballast weight means or the or each tank or other container is wheel mounted such as on castors with provision for their retraction and/or braking when in position of use.

11. Means for the support and location or stabilisation of a ladder or the like when substantially as herein described with reference to any of the embodiments thereof shown in the accompanying drawings.