GB2197373A - Safety gate apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety gate apparatus for use in association with a main guard rail 14 e.g. for a mezzanine floor 10 comprises a movable gate member 15 of generally L-shape, including guard rail sections 16, 17. The gate member is pivoted about axis 20-21 between a first position in which guard rail section 16 closes a gap in the main guard rail 14, and a second position in which guard rail section 17 is parallel to, but spaced from, main guard rail 14. This position defines, with fixed side rail section 18, an enclosure forming an indent around the gap in the main guard rail, into which goods can be lifted from a lower floor. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safety gate apparatus This invention relates to safety gate apparatus for use in association with guard rails placed, for example, in warehouses or other storage areas.

It is well known that in warehouses and other high roofed storage areas, it is possible to provide more than one floor by erecting a mezzanine or partial floor within the building.

This is accessible by a stairway, but such access is unsuitable for the loading onto the floor of goods, particularly large boxes, pallets, or other bulky items. Accordingly such goods are usually raised to the mezzanine floor level by a lift or other mechanical lifting apparatus, such as a fork lift truck.

Where a mezzanine floor is installed, one or more edges thereof generally do not reach to the wall of the building in which the floor is installed. Regulations require any such edge of a mezzanine floor to be provided with a guard rail of reasonable height. the United Kingdom at the present time, the required minimum height is approximately one metre. Since such an edge of a mezzanine floor is within the building, it also often represents the most convenient place at which loading and unloading of goods to and from the mezzanine floor may take place.

In the absence of any other arrangement, goods would have to be lifted over the guard rail, but since this is obviously inconvenient, there has been provided a safety gate apparatus which incorporates a removable, or movable section of guard rail. The arrangement is such that the guard rail section is moved to allow goods to be placed on the edge of the floor, from which position they can be removed to any required position on the mezzanine floor. However, regulations require that there should be a guard rail around the floor at all times and therefore the safety gate apparatus is provided with a means whereby, when a guard rail section is moved away to allow goods to be loaded onto the floor edge, a section of guard rail is placed to complete the surrounding rail of the floor.

This arrangement is accomplished, in a known system, by means of a guard rail section forming the closed end of a rectangular channel shaped gate member. The sides of this gate member are pivoted to a pair of fixed side rails. The rectangular channel shaped gate member is capable of occupying a first position in which its guard rail section closed end is disposed in vertical alignment with the remainder of the permanent fixed main vertical guard rail along the floor edge. It can be swung about a horizontal pivot axis to a second position in which the guard rail section closed end is again vertical but spaced inwardly of the floor edge, so as to define, with the fixed side rails, an indent of rectangular shape which is open to the floor edge but is partitioned off, by the side rails and said guard rail section closed end, from the main mezzanine floor area.

In loading or unloading operations, the safety gate apparatus is swung alternately between the two positions as goods are passed therethrough in sequence.

This arrangement complies with current regulations but has certain disadvantages, one of which is that, as the gate member swings from one position to the other, an arch is formed when the gate member is in its mid position and, if there are no goods in the area, this represents a possible way through to the floor edge. Since the gate member swings through 1800, between the two positions, the guard rail section end describes an arc which necessarily limits the height of goods which can pass through, since the gate member must pass right over these goods.

It is the object of the invention to provide a safety gate apparatus for use on mezzanine floors or other storage areas, where a guard rail is used, which is safe in use and particularly convenient to operate, as well as minimising the limitations on size of goods which can be passed therethrough, as compared with existing apparatus.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a safety gate apparatus for use in association with a main guard rail comprising a movable gate member of generally Lshape, the ends of the two limbs defining respective guard rail sections, the gate member being arranged to be mounted for pivoting about a horizontal pivot axis located at or near the junction of the two limbs of the L shape, so as in use, to pivot between a first position in which one of the guard rail sections is generally in alignment with an adjacent main guard rail and a second position in which the other of said guard rail sections is parallel to, but spaced from, the said adjacent main guard rail, and defines with fixed side rail sections, an enclosure forming an indent in the main guard rail.

Conveniently the gate member is constructed as an open, generally I-shaped framework. The gate member is arranged to pivot freely between its two positions, and stop means are conveniently provided to locate the gate member in these positions respectively.

Preferably the gate member is made from hollow tubing which is at least partially filled with a liquid to provide a means for balancing the gate member as it swings from one position to the other. In such a case there may be no necessity for any mechanical latching mechanism to be provided.

In an alternative arrangement a mechanical or other drive means may be provided to drive the gate member from one position to the other. Remote control means may be pro vided for this.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a mezzanine floor building and incorporating a safety gate apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in one position, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus shown in another position.

Figure 1 illustrates a mezzanine floor which might be fitted in a building such as a warehouse, to provide additional storage floor area on a level above the main floor area of the building. In this case, the mezzanine floor is shown as a rectangular platform 10 which is mounted along one side wall 11 of the building. The other three edges of this floor are open, but are bounded by guard rails 12, 13, and 44. As shown in the drawings these are made up from rectangular section tubing having horizontal top and bottom rails connected to spaced uprights. It will be apparent that other forms of guard rail can be used.

At a position approximately in the centre of the front guard rail 14 there is a safety gate apparatus which will be further described. The purpose of this is to allow goods to be placed on the floor edge for transfer to another part of the mezzanine floor, or alternatively to the lower level of the building.

The arrangement for loading goods onto the mezzanine floor or for unloading goods therefrom involves the use of lifting apparatus such as a fork lift truck, whereby goods can be placed on, or taken from, the space within the safety gate apparatus.

The safety gate apparatus itself comprises a movable gate member 15 which is of generally L-shaped configuration as seen in side view. The gate member is made up as an open framework of tubes, which in this example are of rectangular section so as to conform to those of the main guard rails around the floor edge. The two limbs of the L are, in this example, approximately of equal length, but in certain instances limbs of unequal length may be used.

The gate member has the ends of the two limbs formed as guard rail sections 16, 17.

Each comprises parallel bars which, in the case of the guard rail section 16, can be aligned with the main guard rail 14 at the front of the floor 10. Figure 3 shows the guard rail section 16 in such a position.

Joined to the main guard rail 14 along the front of the floor 10 there are two fixed side guard rail sections 18, 19. These again comprise two parallel horizontal rails and an upright. These two side guard rail sections 18,19, are positioned parallel with one another and spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the width of the gate member 15. Cn the top of each upper horizontal rail of such guard rail sections 18, 19, are bearings 20, 21, of open-topped, U-shape form. Into these engage respective pins 22, 23, which are fixed in the gate member 15 at the junction of the two limbs of the L shape.

The pins 22, 23, are secured, as by welding, so as to be coaxial with one another and form pivots by means of which the gate member can swing in the bearings 20, 21. Since the pins are secured at the internal corner of the L shape it is possible for the gate member to lie in respective position in which respective tubular elements lie parallel to, and immediately adjacent to, the top rails of the fixed side rail sections 18 and 19. Stops 24, 25 are provided on these elements respectively to locate the gate member in these positions.

The gate member is made up from hollow tube, as previously described, and there is therefore defined, within the assembly of the tubes, a hollow interior space. This contains liquid, such as water, which preferably also contains an anti-freeze mixture, and access to the interior can be obtained through a plug 26 conveniently positions on one of the tubes.

The level of liquid may, for example, be that of the plug 26, when the gate member is in the position shown in Figure 3, so that there is an air-space in that portion of the frame which is above that level and which is formed by the other limb of the L.

As previously described, the gate member can swing between the two positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 respectively. As the gate swings, liquid is transferred from one portion of the gate member to the other, thus providing for a controlled movement of the gate member. The stops 24, 25, limit travel of the member into its two respective positions. The liquid therefore provides a significant change in the balance of the gate member, to hold it in either of its two positions, against the effects of wind, casual impact, or other loads.

In use, goods may be loaded onto the mezzanine floor 10 through the safety gate apparatus by first positioning the gate member 15 as shown in Figure 4. In this position the guard rail around the floor 10 is formed by the main guard rails 12, 13, 14 and by the fixed side rail sections 18, 19, and at their ends remote from the floor edge, by the rail section 17 forming one end of the gate member 15.

This therefore defines a rectangular indent in the guard rail assembly, onto which goods can be lifted from a lower level, as by a fork lift truck or otherwise. The guard rail section 16 at the other end of the gate member 15 is meanwhile situated horizontally above the rectangular indent area on which the goods are to be placed. It is therefore obvious that goods placed on the area must not be greater in height than the arch formed by the gate member 15. When the goods are to be trans ferred to another part of the mezzanine floor 10, the gate member 15 is swung to its alternative position, which is shown in Figure 3 in which the guard rail section 16 is in alignment with the main guard 14 along the front edge of the floor. Such swinging movement can be manually initiated, and the flow of liquid through the tubes provides a smooth contolled travel of the gate member.The arc of travel of the guard rail sections 16, 17, at the ends of the gate member are such that maximum clearance over the goods is allowed.

When the gate member 15 has taken up the position shown in Figure 3, it is possible to remove the goods onto another part of the floor, either by mechanical handling means or otherwise.

It is possible to provide for drive means for moving the gate member from one position to the other. In such a case there may be no necessity for the liquid fill, since control will be by means of such mechanical device used.

An electric motor and gear drive system -con- nected to one of the pins 23 may be used.

Remote control for operation of the electric motor may also be incorporated, whereby the gate member can be moved from a position remote from the gate itself, for example from the main floor of the warehouse or other building in which the mezzanine floor is installed. However the absence of any locking means is achieved by use of the filling of liquid and this facilitates automatic or remote use of the gate.

It will be apparent that the safety gate apparatus described is simple to operate and requires no position latches to hold it in respective positions, but provides maximum safety against the risk of persons or goods falling off the edge of the mezzanine floor. Since the gate member is mounted in open topped bearings 20, 21, it is possible for this to be removed very simply if this is required.

Claims (7)

1. A safety gate apparatus for use in association with a main guard rail, comprising a movable gate member of generally L-shape, the ends of the two limbs defining respective guard rail sections, the gate member being arranged to be mounted for pivoting about a horizontal pivot axis located at or near the junction of the two limbs of the L-shape, so as, in use, to pivot between a first position in which one of the guard rail sections is generally in alignment with an adjacent main guard rail and a second position in which the other of said guard rail sections is parallel to, but spaced from, the said adjacent main guard rail, and defines, with fixed side rail sections, an enclosure forming an indent in the main guard rail.

2. A safety gate apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the gate member is constructed as an open, generally L-shaped framework.

3. A safety gate apparatus according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the gate member is arranged to pivot freely between its two positions, and stop means are provided to locate the gate member in these positions respectively.

4. A safety gate apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 3, wherein the gate member is made from hollow tubing which is at least partially filled with a liquid to provide a means for balancing the gate member as it swings from one position to the other.

5. A safety gate'apparatus according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein a mechanical or other drive means are provided to drive the gate member from one position to the other.

6. A safety gate apparatus according to Claim 5, wherein the drive means are controllable by remote control means.

7. A safety gate apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.