GB2206364A

GB2206364A - Mobile grandstand with piston operated retracting roof

Info

Publication number: GB2206364A
Application number: GB08807224A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Harold Mollison
Original assignee: Babcock Energy Ltd
Current assignee: Doosan Babcock Ltd
Priority date: 1987-03-25
Filing date: 1988-03-25
Publication date: 1989-01-05
Anticipated expiration: 2008-03-25
Also published as: GB2204338A; GB2206364B; GB8807223D0; GB8707044D0; GB8807224D0

Abstract

The invention provides a mobile grandstand having a roof 30 that can be raised for use and lowered for transport. The roof 30 is supported at each end by a single upright 35. The upright 35 is connected to the base framework 4 of the grandstand by two parallel links 38 and a piston-and-cylinder device 39 is provided so that the upright 35 can be moved generally axially of itself. <IMAGE>

Description

4 "Improvements in or relating to Mobile Grandstands"

DESCRIPTION

2206364 A known mobile grandstand comprises a trailer that can be hauled to site, when the means by which the trailer is moved can be detached and removed. There are four rows of seats fixedly mounted on the trailer; each row extends fore-and-aft and they are mounted on a floor that slopes from one side of the trailer to the other.

When the trailer is on site, a unit, pivotally mounted on the trailer, can be swing into position. This includes ground beams, rear uprights, and a platform, supported by the ground beam and rear uprights, the platform then serving as a downward extension of the floor. Three further rows of seats are mounted on the platform.

To complete the full seating provison of the grandstand, a further unit can be swung into position behind the floor and then positively supported.

To provide cover for the spectators a roof is provided. This is mounted on the trailer on a scissors-type linkage which can be extended or collapsed by the operation of a hydraulic cylinder.

With a grandstand such as has been described it is important to be able to provide the maximum accommodation of appropriate comfort, whilst any interference with the views that the grandstand affords should be a minimum.

The present invention aim to provide an improved mobile grandstand.

According to the present invention, there is provided a mobile grandstand in the form of a transportable base having an inclined bank of rows of seats fixed relatively to the base, a roof connected to the base by mans which enable the roof to be raised and lowered, the connections being spaced in the loncitudinal direction of the rows, and similar to each other,and each =prising a single upright, a Dair of parallel links each privotally connected at one end to the upright and at 5 -the other end to means fixed relatively to the base, and a piston-arfd-cylinder device connected between the upright and a location fixed relatively to the base by which, under the restraint of the links, the upright can be moved generally axiallv of itself between upper and lower positions..

By way of example, an embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a general perspective view of a grandstand ready for use; Ficure 2 is a side view, seen frcm the right, of the grandstand as it appears in Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a side view of the grandstand folded ready for transport.

The grandstand is in the form of a trailer comprising a base 1, supported on wheels 2. Mounted on the base 1 is a framework 4 and the framework 4 supports a fixed floor 5 that slopes downwardly from one side of the trailer to the other. Four rows of seats 6, ser)arated each frcr.i the next by a foot space, extend from front to back of the trailer, with the highest and the lowest of these rows extending along the upper and lower sides of the floor 5. The floor 5 and the rows of seats that it carries may be seen as a first unit.

A second unit, indicated generally at 10, is pivotally connected to the lower side of the floor 5. The second unit 10 provides a platform that is in two parts, 11 and 12, that in use, form a downward continuation of the floor 5. The upper part 11 carries a bank of three rows of seats, 6a, whilst the lower part 12 carries one row 6b. Foot space for the front row 6b is provided by the ground in front of the grandstand; the foot space for the lowermost row of the sets 6a on the part 11 is provided by a space on part 12 behind the row 6b whilst foot space for the lowermost row of seats 6 on the floor 5 is provided by a space on part 11 behind the uppermost of the rows of seats 6a.

i R To effect the pivotal connection between the floor 5 and the second unit 10, the lower side of the former and the upper side of the latter are provided at each end with upwardly extending pillars 14 and 15, respectively. The latter is provided with a lateral arm 16, and a pivot shaft passes through that and the pillar 14.

Fixed to, and diverging upwardly (in Figure 2) from, the arm 16 is the approximately triangular plate 17. A piston-andcylinder device 18 extends from one corner of the plate 17 to the part 11 whilst a further piston-and-cylinder device 19 extends from the other corner of the plate 17 to the framework 4. The heights of the pillars 14 and 15 are so chosen that the height of the pivot shaft above the floor 5 is little over half the height of the seats in a row. By operating the devices 18 and 19 the second unit can be raised and then turned so that the upper part 11 lies parallel to the first unit with the rows of seats 6a of the second unit lying upside-down between the rows of seats 6.

The part 12 is pivotally connected along its upper side to the lower side of the part 11. The axis of the pivotal connection lies beneath the parts so that when they are in the positions in which they are shown in Figures 1 and 2, their side edges abut and the floor provided by one forms an extension of the floor provided by the other. When the part 11 is first raised, however, the part 12 will hang down whilst with further rotation of the part 11, the part 12 will come to lie on top of the inverted part 11 until the position is reached in which the parts 11 and 12 are as appears in Figure 3.

A further bank of three rows of seats 6a mciunted on a floor 20 is provided in a third unit 21. This is connected to the framework 1.1% by two pairs of parallel links 22 and 23, one at each end of the unit. Each end of the unit is also provided with a piston-and- cylinder device 24 pivotally fixed at one end to the frame work 4 near the lower side of the floor 5 and pivotally fixed at the other end to a bracket 25 that is rigidly connected to the centre of the link 23. Ehen the grandstand is in use, it is supported by removable struts, such as 26, extending to the grcund. When the grandstand is not in use, the struts 26 can be removed and the device 24 operated to move the third unit, under the restraints improved by the links 22 and 23, to the position in which it is shown in Figure 3.

When the third unit 21 is in position for use, there is a gap between it and the floor 5. This gap provides foot space for people setting on the lowermost of the rows 6a and is bridged by a plate 27 can be folded down for use (as shown in Figure 2) or folded up, to lie against the lowermost row of seats 6c, when the grandstand is to be folded.

To provide protection against weather, the trailer is provided with a roof, indicated generally at 30, that can be raised when the grandstand is in use, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, and lowered when the grandstand is to be moved, as is shown in Figure 3. The roof comprises a central portion 31, a front wing portion 32-pivotally connected to one side of the central portion 31 and a rear wing portion 33 pivotally connected to the other side of the central portion 31. To enable the roof 30 to be raised and lowered, the central portion 31 is fixed at each end to a single upright 35. This provides a lower stem portion 36 from the upper end of which two arris 37 diverge to connections with the central portion.

Two parallel links 38 are pivotally connected to the stem portions 36 at locations spaced along its length. The links 38 are pivotally connected at their other ends to the framework 4. Extending from the lower end of the stem portion 36, to the same side of the stem portion 36 as the links 38, to a connection in the framework 4 is a piston-and-cylinder device 39. When the device 39 is retracted, the roof 30 and uprights 35 will occupy the position indicated in Figure 3. By actuating the device 39, the upright 35 can be moved generally axially of itself until it reaches the position in which it is shown in Figures 1 and 2, the roof then being fully raised. By retracting the device 39 again, the roof can be lowered.

S 1 Piston-and-cylinder devices 40 and 41 extend between the upright unit 35 and the wings 32 and 33 respectively. By operation of these devices 40 and 41, the wings can be moved between the positions, relatively to the central portion 31, in which they are shown in Figure 2 and those in which they hanq vertically downwards as shown in Fic jure 3. In the latter orientation, when the roof is lowered, the wings provide some protection against the weather for the base 1 and the rows of seats that are mounted on it. When the roof is fully erect, upright struts such as are indicated at 44 and 45 are put into position at the cuter corners of the wings.

It will be seen that when the roof is raised, the interference with vision that is provided by the uprights 35 is limited.

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Claims

Claims:

1. A mobile grandstand in the form of a transportable base having an inclined bank of rows of seats fixed relatively to the base, a roof connected to the base by mans which enable the roof to be raised and lowered, the connections being spaced in the longitudinal direction of the rows, and similar to each other, and each comprising a single upright, a pair of parallel links each pivotally connected at one end to the upright and at the other end to mans fixed relatively to the base, and a piston-and-cylinder device connected between the upright and a location fixed relatively to the base by which, under the restraints of the links, the upright can be moved generally axially of itself between upper and lower positions.

2. A mobile grandstand as claimed in claim 1 in which the piston-and-cylinder device is connected to the upright below the locations at which the links are connected to the upright.

3. A mobile grandstand as claimed in claim 2 in which the piston-and-cylinder device extends to the side of the upright to which the links extend.

4. A mobile grandstand as claimed in claim 3 in which the links and the piston-and-cylinder device extends from the upright to the side of the base above which are the highest of the rows of seats of the bank.

5. A mobile grandstand as claimed in any of the preceding claim in which the roof comprises a central portion that extends across the width of the base and two wing portions, pivotally connected one along each side of the central portion, and piston-and-cylinder means are provided whereby each wing can be moved between its operative position and a collapsed position in which it depends from the central portion to a side of the base.

6. A mobile grandstand as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each upright comprises a single lower stem. and two arms extending outwardly and upwardly fran the stem to the roof.

7. A mobile grandstand as claimed in claim 6 when appendant to claim 5 in which the arms are connected to the roof at the sides of the central position.

Published 1985 at 11ie Patept Office. Szate House. 6671 Iligh Holborn. Londr.-. WC1R 4TF F-,lrz',"er Copies Tnay be obtaine.' from!he iterit Office, Sales Branch. St Mary Cray. Orpington. Ken, BR5 3RD F,--ed by 11,,2tipiex ltd. St MaZ,' Crky. Kent. Con. 187 1