GB2165209A - Mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structures - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structure, particularly low-rise structures of up to about 15 metres in height, includes a pair of carriage members (2) movable along guide means located around the upper perimeter of the structure, a framework (24) being suspended from said carriage members (2). The framework (24) includes a pair of opposed, ladder-like side members (26) between which extend a plurality of vertically-spaced walkways (34) the vertical positions of which are adjustable relative to the side members (26). The construction of the carriage members (2) and the attachment of the framework (24) thereto are also adjustable whereby the configuration of the rig can be altered to enable mounting on a variety of structures of different configurations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structures This invention relates to mobile rigs for providing access to the exterior of upright structures, and has particular though not exclusive application to such rigs for providing access to the exterior of low-rise buildings of up to about 14 or 15 metres in height.

It is established practice in the repair or treatment of the walls of tall, substantial structures to provide hoists on the roof or top of the structure from which are suspended cradles, platforms or the like whereby workmen can be manoeuvred to a desired position for attending to the necessary work.

In the case of low-rise structures, which may typically be up to about 15 metres in height, the roofs are often insufficiently strong, of the incorrect shape, or both, to support such hoists. Consequently access to the exterior of such structures is usually by means of ground-supported, mobile scaffold towers.

However such towers suffer from a number of disadvantages not the least of which is that, when used on building sites, which are usually abundant with pot holes and piles of rubble, the towers are difficult to push over such rough terrain whereby they inevitably take up other than the desired upright positions and endanger the workmen thereon.

It would be desirable to be able to provide a mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structures which overcame the aforementioned disadvantages of the known arrangements.

According to the present invention there is provided a mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structures, the rig comprising at least one carriage member having bearing means adapted for engagement with, and movement along, guide means at or adjacent the upper perimeter of the structure, and, suspended from said carriage member or members, a framework the position of which is adjustable relative to said carriage member or members, the framework including a pair of opposed, laterally-spaced side members and, extending between said side members, a plurality of vertically-spaced walkways the vertical positions of which are adjustable relative to said side members.

It will be appreciated that, regardless of the shape or strength of the top or roof of the structure, the carriage members of such rigs can be located on the guide means, which may be, for example, parapet rails or gutters of the structure itself, or channels secured around the upper perimeter of the structure, with the framework suitably suspended from the carriage members down the outside of the structure, the position of the framework relative to the structure being adjustable to suit particular requirements, and the height of the framework being such that the lower end thereof is clear of the ground.

A preferred rig comprises a pair of carriage members from each of which is suspended an associated one of the side members.

Preferably each carriage member includes at least two wheels each rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and adapted for guided movement along the guide means.

Each carriage member may further include at least two further wheels each rotatable about a substantially vertical axis and adapted for engagement with, and movement along, a substantially vertical inner surface adjacent the upper regions of the structure.

Conveniently the construction of the carriage members and the mounting of the framework thereto is such that, with the rig in position on a structure, the position of the framework relative to the structure can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally in a direction towards and away from the structure.

Preferably each side member of the framework is of ladder-like construction and includes a plurality of parallel, vertically spaced rungs between some of the corresponding pairs of which the walkways extend.

The lower regions of the framework may be provided with bearing means, for example rollers, adapted to engage the outer surface of the structure to locate said lower regions of the framework relative to the structure.

By way of example only, an embodiment of the invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows a rig according to the invention, and Figure 2 shows a carriage member of a rig according to the invention in more detail.

Rigs according to the invention can be used, for example, to facilitate the application of side cladding to low-rise structures such as factories, workshops or dwellings by providing access over the whole area of the side walls, as well as in the repair or treatment of the side walls of such structures and of, for example, piers, harbours and the like.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a rig including a pair of movable carriages or trolleys indicated generally at 2 and adapted for location on guide means extending along the upper perimeter of the structure in question. The guide means may comprise a parapet rail or a gutter of the structure, or may comprise a channel-section rail secured on the upper regions of the structure.

Each carriage 2 includes a pair of wheels or castors 4 each rotatable about a horizontal axis and adapted for location in or on the guide means whereby said carriages can be moved jointly in a controlled manner along the guide means.

The illustrated carriages 2 each further include a pair of wheels or castors 6 each rotatable about a vertical axis and adapted for engagement with, and bearing movement along, an inner vertical surface adjacent the upper regions of the structure.

More particularly, the illustrated carriages each comprise a series of telescopically-mounted, boxsection members so arranged as to enable adaptation of the carriages to suit a variety of applications.

Each carriage includes a pair of opposed, upright, hollow-section members 8 in which are slidably mounted correspondingly-shaped lower members 10. The castors 6 are mounted on the lower ends of the members 10 whereby the vertical position of said castors can be adjusted relative to the members 8.

A pair of horizontal box-section arms 12 extend perpendicularly one from each of the upright members 8 and a body portion of the carriage, indicated generally at 14, is slidably mounted on said arms 12.

The body portion 14 of each carriage comprises a pair of box-section sleeves 16 slidable on the arms 12 a transverse member 18 being secured to, to extend between, the sleeves 16. The wheels 4 are mounted on the lower surface of the member 18, while centrally disposed on the upper surface of the member 18 is a bracket 20 comprising a pair of opposed, vertical plates 22 for reasons which will become apparent.

The rig further comprises the framework indicated generally at 24 in Figure 1, said framework including a pair of opposed side members 26. Each side member 26 consists of a series of interconnected ladder portions 28, the number of such portions depending upon the desired height of the framework. Each portion 28 is provided with a plurality of parallel rungs 30, while the upper ladder portion 28 to each side of the framework 24 has a connecting arm 32 secured thereto to extend parallel with the rungs 30.

A series of vertically-spaced platforms or walkways 34 extend parallel with one another and between corresponding rungs 30 of the side members 26, the vertical locations of said walkways being chosen to provide access at the desired level of the structure being served by the rig.

The walkways 34 are provided with handrails 36, trapdoors such as 38 being provided at the ends of the walkways to enable access between walkways.

Conveniently the trapdoors 38 in adjacent walkways 34 are at opposite ends of said walkways.

The framework 24 is attached to the carriages 2 by locating the connecting arms 32 of the side members 26 in the brackets 20 of the carriages 2, bolts extending through holes in the plates 22 and through the arms 32 securing the framework 24 to the carriages.

In use of the rig, the carriages 2 are located on appropriate guide means at the upper perimeter of the structure, be it a parapet rail, a gutter or a separate channel section rail secured to the upper regions of the structure, with the framework 24 suspended therefrom down the outside face of the structure. The particular configuration of the carriage, and in particular the locations of the members 10 relative to the members 8, the sleeves 16 relative to the arms 12 and the arms 32 relative to the brackets 20, are chosen dependent upon the configuration of the structure in question and such that the framework provides access to the desired regions of the exterior of the structure. The height of the framework 24 and the vertical locations of walkways 34 are also chosen to provide the desired access.

The carriages 2 can be moved along the associated guide means either manually or by powered drive means, while the vertical locations of the walkways 34 can be altered as and when desired.

Such a rig facilitates the construction and maintenance operations associated with low-rise buildings and can be used regardless of the condition of the surrounding terrain, in that the rig is totally supported by the building itself. The rig provides excellent mobility at little cost, giving quick access to any part of the building by appropriate movement of the carriages.

Conveniently the ladder-like side members 26 comprise lightweight but rigid aluminium units, typically of 2 metre, 1 metre and 0.6 metre lengths, interconnected as required and supported from fully adjustable steel carriages 2. The walkways 34 may be 5 metres long by 0.6 metres wide, with the rungs 30 spaced apart by typically 0.5 metres whereby the walkways 34 can be located at any vertical position in increments of 0.5 metres.

A typical system will comprise two side members of 8 metres in length, three walkways of 5 metres in length and two carriages with a total weight of about 300 kgms and capable of safely supporting a working load of 275 kgms.

It will be appreciated that the particular construction of the carriages 2, and in particular the means whereby the adjustability in the positions of the wheels 4 and 6 and the connecting arms 32 can be achieved, can be varied from that illustrated providing the necessary versatility and flexibility is retained to enable the rig to be appropriate for various applications.

In this respect, it will be further appreciated that the described rig has numerous applications on structures of different contours and heights, be they buildings, harbour walls, piers or the like.

Claims (8)

1. A mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structures, the rig comprising at least one carriage member having bearing means adapted for engagement with, and movement along, guide means at or adjacent the upper perimeter of the structure, and, suspended from said carriage member or members, a framework the position of which is adjustable relative to said carriage member or members, the framework including a pair of opposed, laterally-spaced side members, and, extending between said side members, a plurality of vertically-spaced walkways the vertical positions of which are adjustable relative to said side members.

2. A rig as claimed in claim 1 and comprising a pair of carriage members from each of which is suspended an associated one of the side members.

3. A rig as claimed in claim 2 in which each carriage member includes at least two wheels each rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis and adapted for guided movement along the guide means.

4. A rig as claimed in claim 3 in which each carriage member includes at least two further wheels each rotatable about a substantially vertical axis for engagement with, and movement along, a substantially vertical surface adjacent the upper regions of the structure.

5. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 in which the construction of the carriage member or members and the mounting of the framework thereto is such that, with the rig in position on a structure, the position of the framework relative to the structure can be adjusted both vertically and horizontally in a direction towards and away from the structure.

6. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which each side member of the framework is of ladder-like construction and includes a plurality of parallel, vertically-spaced rungs between some of the corresponding pairs of which the walkways extend.

7. A rig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the lower regions of the framework are provided with bearing means adapted to engage the outer surface of the structure to locate said lower regions of the framework relative to the structure.

8. A mobile rig for providing access to the exterior of upright structures substantially as described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.