GB2233309A

GB2233309A - Collapsible hoist

Info

Publication number: GB2233309A
Application number: GB8912445A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ross Stewart Rigger
Original assignee: DAVIDGE KEITH JOHN
Current assignee: DAVIDGE KEITH JOHN
Priority date: 1989-05-31
Filing date: 1989-05-31
Publication date: 1991-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 2009-05-31
Also published as: GB2233309B; GB8912445D0

Abstract

A hoist (2), (Fig 2) comprising a platform (4), a track (6) on which the platform (4) runs, drive means (8) for driving the platform (4) up the track (6), and attachment means (10) for attaching the track (6) to a side of a structure (12), the track (6) being collapsible into track sections (22, 24, 26), and the platform (4) and the track sections (22, 24, 26) being of such a size that the hoist (2) is movable by one man and is transportable by a car or a van. Platform 4 may be rotatable through 180 DEG about a vertical axis. Attachment means 10 may comprise the track retaining bracket shown in Fig 4 which allows standard track to be clipped directly to structure 12 using normal scafford clamps. <IMAGE>

Description

A HOIST This invention relates to a hoist.

Many different types of hoists are well known.

The known hoists are all large in construction and they are therefore difficult to move from site to site.

Usually two men are required to carry the various parts of the known hoist from place to place on site, and also usually a lorry is required to transport the known hoists from site to site.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a hoist which does not suffer from the above mentioned disadvantages.

Accordingly, this invention provides a hoist comprising a platform, a track on which the platform runs, drive means for driving the platform up the track, and attachment means for attaching the track to a side of a structure, the track being collapsible into track sections, and the platform and the track sections being of such a size that the hoist is movable by one man and is transportable by a car or a van.

The hoist of the present invention satisfies the need for a portable hoist that is easily mobile.

The hoist of the present invention does not need a crane to get it on and off a lorry as occurs with many known hoists. The hoist of the present invention can easily be transported in the boot of cars, on roof racks, or in builders vans or small trucks. Furthermore, the carrying of the hoist can be effected by one man which saves on labour.

The hoist can easily be assembled to operate up the side of a structure such for example as a scaffold tower. The hoist can easily be removed from the structure when work has ceased and the portable size of the hoist facilitates its dismantling. The portable size also facilitates storage and subsequent further erection of the hoist.

The drive means will usually be such as to drive the platform up and down the track.

Preferably, the platform is a pivotable platform which is pivotable through 1800 from a first position in which it extends outwardly of the structure to a second position in which it extends inwardly of the structure, the platform being movable up and down the structure in its first position, and the platform being movable to its second position when it has ascended the structure whereby personnel and/or goods carried on the platform can be unloaded inside the structure.

The use of the pivotable platform avoids the need for scaffolding to be formed jutting out from the structure to form a landing or cage into which the platform can pass for unloading purposes. Furthermore, since the platform is pivotable into the structure, additional safety for workmen is afforded.

Preferably, the platform pivots about a pivot pin.

The hoist may include locking means for locking the platform in its first and/or its second positions. The locking means may be a gravity-operated lever.

The hoist may include first and second ramps for facilitating access to the platform from opposite sides. The first and the second ramps may enable a wheelbarrow to be wheeled in from one side in such a direction that the wheelbarrow would then be facing the correct way when the hoist is at the top of the structure.

This avoids turning and shunting of the wheelbarrow at the top of the structure, and it also avoids wheeling the wheelbarrow out backwards from the platform when the platform is at a floor of the structure.

The first and the second ramps are preferably detachably secured to the platform. The first and the second ramps can then be detached for dismantling, transportation and storage purposes.

The hoist may advantageously include platform guards for the platform.

Preferably, the platform guards are detachable, again for ease of dismantling, assembly, carrying, transportation and storage.

The track sections will usually fit one inside each other. Other arrangements for fitting the track sections together may however be employed.

Preferably, the track sections are C-shaped in cross section. Other cross sectional shapes for the track sections may be employed.

Preferably, the track sections are in 1 or 2 metre lengths, except for a base track section which 1.2 metres in length. Other lengths may be employed.

The attachment means may be clamps. Other types of attachment means may be employed.

The platform may include a bogie part, the bogie part including wheels which run in the track.

Preferably, the bogie part has four of the wheels.

The drive means may comprise a motor and a cable. The motor is preferably an electric motor. The electric motor is preferably a 110 volt a.c. motor but battery operated 12 and 24 volt d.c. operated motors may be employed.

The cable will usually be a steel cable.

The wheelbarrow may be secured, for example by clamps, to the platform during raising and lowering and rotation of the platform if desired.

The platform may be lowered by a remote acting device so that it is not necessary to get off the platform.

The hoist may be such that there is a limit switch at the top and the bottom of the track. An electronic overload circuit operated by means of a re-set switch is preferably employed which stops the platform dead at the top of the run of the track, and therefore acts as a top limit switch, thus avoiding the need for trailing cables. Other means may however be employed.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a hoist; Figure 2 is a side view of the hoist shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a top view of a pair of track retaining brackets; and Figure 4 is a side view of the track retaining brackets as shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a hoist 2 comprising a platform 4, a track 6 on which the platform 4 runs, and drive means 8 for driving the platform 4 up and down the track 6. The hoist 2 also includes attachment means 10, see Figures 3 and 4, for attaching the track 6 to a side of a scaffolding structure 12. The scaffolding structure 12 has four floors 14, 16, 18, 20 as shown. The hoist 2 is such that the platform 4 can travel to any one of these floors.

The track 6 is collapsible into track sections 22, 24, 26. The track section 22 is a base track section which is 1.2 metres long. The other track sections 24, 26 are 2 metres long.

The platform 4 and the track sections 22,24, 26 are of such a size that the hoist 2 is movable by one man and is transportable by a car or a van. The hoist 2 is thus very easy to erect, dismantle, carry around a site, transport and store.

The platform 4 is a pivotable platform which is pivotable from a first position as shown in Figures 1 and 2 in which it extends outwardly of the structure 12 to a second position in which it extends inwardly of the structure 12. The platform 4 is movable up and down the structure 12 in its first position. The platform 4 is movable to its second position when it has ascended the structure 12 and is at an appropriate floor 14, 16, 18, 20. At this ascended position, the platform can be pivoted about a pivot pin to its second position, whereby personnel and/or goods carried on the platform can be unloaded inside the structure 12. This gives good safety during loading and unloading at elevated positions, and it also avoids the need to build out from the structure 12 a cage at each floor into which the platform 4 can travel for loading and unloading purposes.

The hoist 2 preferably includes locking means in the form of a gravity-operated lever for locking the platform in its first and/or its second positions.

The hoist preferably includes first and second ramps (not shown) for use with the platform 4 for facilitating access to the platform 4 from opposite sides. This enables a wheelbarrow to be pushed into the platform 4 from an appropriate side which ensures that the wheelbarrow is then facing the correct way for unloading on to one of the floors after the platform 4 has been raised. This avoids time consuming and often dangerous manoeuvres endeavouring to unload the wheelbarrow from the platform 4. The first and the second ramps are detachably secure to the platform 4.

Thus the first and the second ramps can be detached during dismantling of the hoist 2 and this ensures that they are easily carried, transported and stored.

The hoist also includes platform guards (not shown) for the platform. These platform guards are also detachable for ease of carrying, transportation and storage.

The track sections 22, 24, 26 fit inside one another at the fitting sections 28, 30. Usually, a fitting section will be formed from one of the track sections so that another track section can push into the fitting section. The track sections are C-shaped in cross section.

The platform 4 may include a bogie part, the bogie part having four wheels which run in the track 6.

The drive means 8 is an electric motor 32 which is fed via an electric cable 34. The electric motor 32 drives a hoist cable 36 which is connected to the platform 4 as shown in Figure 1.

In order that the platform 4 and loads (not shown) on the platform 4 do not over balance the structure 12, ballast blocks 38 are used. These will obviously not be necessary with structures 12 which are secured in position in some manner.

The track 6 rests on the ground 40 via a foot 42.

Limit switches (not shown) are employed to limit the travel of the platform 4 up and down the track 6. The electric motor 32 may be automatically operated, thereby avoiding the need for trailing cables.

Figures 3 and 4 show a pair of track retaining brackets 44, 46 which extend outwardly on a tube 48 and which are strengthened by gusset plates 50 as shown.

Nuts 52 are welded to the tube 48 as shown. Studding bolts 54 can then be screwed through the nuts 52 and the tube 48 for the purpose of securing the tube 48 in a desired position.

The hoist 2 may be assembled along a side of the structure 12 at a part where the scaffold structure 12 is free of diagonal braces and where the structure 12 has a clear vertical run of horizontal tubes. The cable 36 can be wrapped around an upper pulley using a remote operating switch to move the platform 4. The cable 34 should be kept taut as otherwise the column of track sections 22,24,26 may collapse or sway during the assembly and this may result in component parts becoming damaged. The track 4 should obviously be set in a straight vertical plane and this may be checked with the aid of a plumb line.

The hoist 2 is adapted primarily for the movement of materials within the construction industry. The hoist 2 may thus be purchased by building companies, tool hire and sales retailers, builders merchants and scaffold erecting companies.

The various components of the hoist 2 may be regarded as modular components and they may all individually weigh less than 55kegs. Thus all of the component parts of the hoist 2 may be transported in medium size cars, smaller vans and obviously larger vehicles if these are available. The length of the track 6 can be increased as may be desired using the track retaining brackets shown in Figures 3 and 4 which allow the standard track by means of normal scaffold clamps to be clipped directly on to the structure 12. If desired, the track 6 can be fixed directly to the side of a building using normal Hiltie Ties. This latter method of fixing directly to the side of a building may be especially useful for repairing shops and roofs where only a narrow pavement exists.

The electric motor 32 is preferably a 110v a.c.

motor but it may alternatively be a 12v. or a 24v. d.c.

motor if desired.

Generally, the hoist 2 may be used to hoist materials up to 11 metres in height which is usually three stories of a building. If more height is required then more track sections will need to be added to the track 6 and obviously the hoist cable 38 will need to be of an appropriate length. The platform 4 can be used to accept a wheelbarrow, plasterboard, bricks, lintels, blocks, tiles, timber and any other desired and appropriate objects.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected.

Claims

.CLAN

1. - A hoist comprising a platform, a track on which the platform runs, drive means for driving the platform up the track, and attachment means for attaching the track to a side of a structure, the track being collapsible into track sections, and the platform and the track sections being of such a size that the hoist is movable by one man and is transportable by a car or a van.

2. A hoist according to claim 1 in which the drive means is such as to drive the platform up and down the track.

3. A hoist according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the platform is a pivotable platform which is pivotable through 1800 from a first position in which it extends outwardly of the structure to a second position in which it extends inwardly of the structure, the platform being movable up and down in its first position, and the platform being movable to its second position when it has ascended the structure whereby personnel and/or goods carried on the platform can be unloaded inside the structure.

4. A hoist according to claim 3 in which the platform pivots about a pivot pin.

5. A hoist according to claim 3 or claim 4 and including locking means for locking the platform in its first and/or its second position.

6. A hoist according to claim 5 in which the locking means is a gravity-operated lever.

7. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims and including first and second ramps for facilitating access to the platform from opposite sides.

8. A hoist according to claim 7 in which the first and the second ramps are detachably secured to the platform.

9. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims and including platform guards for the platform.

10. A hoist according to claim 9 in which the platform guards are detachable.

11. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims in which the track sections fit one inside each other.

12. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims in which the track sections are C-shaped in cross section.

13. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims in which the track sections are in 1 or 2 metre lengths, except for a base track section which is 1.2 metres in length.

14. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims in which the attachment means are clamps.

15. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims in which the platform includes a bogie part, the bogie part including wheels which run in the track.

16. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims in which the drive means comprises a motor and a cable.

17. A hoist according to claim 16 in which the motor is an electric motor.

18. A hoist according to anyone of the preceding claims in which the platform is lowered by a remote acting device so that it is not necessary to get off the platform.

19. A hoist according to any one of the preceding claims and including a limit switch at the top and the bottom of the track.

20. A hoist substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.