GB2323623A - Access system that folds concertina - wise - Google Patents

Abstract

The Concertina Access System is a combination of individual integral units sequentially fixed together capable of opening and closing in a continuous vertical up and down concertina movement, designed to provide effective horizontal access to any height in a fast, efficient and safe manner to construction and industry requirements.

Description

CONCERTINA ACCESS SYSTEM DESCRIpTJON FOR PATENT The design of this product was influenced by the need to provide a fast horizontal access 5, 'stem to construction and industry in areas where conventional scaffolding is slow. labour intensive and, due to loose components, dangerous to erectors and users.

CONCERTINA ACCESS SYSTEM - CAS - is an integral unit (See Drawing No. 1 of 13). comprising a combination of rigid and morning parts. together providing a secure, safe and easily handled element for horizontal access walkways and loading platforms.

Each CAS unit will conceilina open or closed in a vertical up & down directional movement (See Drawing No s. 4 & 11 of 13). Each unit can be rigidly located on top of each other to provide a tower construction (See Drawing No. 6 of 13), varying from a single horizontal platform to any number of horizontal platforms, in multiples of one, required to senre a project height requirement.

Any number of the tower constructions can be located and fixed together (See Drauing No. 7 of 13) to provide a continuous equi-spaced horizontal platform at each level of each CAS unit. The CAS components are all integral to the individual units which makes for eas, handling, fast erection and provides safety to ils users.

Making use of three basic elements, Tubular Poles, Main & Knuckle Joints and a Horizontal Platform. a CAS unit is a very simple concept. The Tubular Poles concertina flat and horizontal to each other and open out away from each other to form a vertical column (See Drawing No's. 2 & 3 of 13). The Main (See Drawing No. 12 of 13) and Intermediate (See Drawing No. 13 of 13) Knuckle Joints provide the method for the Tubular Poles to achieve this. The eight Tubular Poles. joined intermediately with the Intermediate Knuckle Joints, open vertically to form four Tubular Poles.

located parallel to each other (See Drauing No. 3 of 13). In between the four Main Knuckle Joints.

located at the lover end of the Tubular Poles and positioned in a regular shape, the Horizontal Platform (See Drawing No. 10 of 13) is suspended perpendicular to the Tubular Poles and remains horizontal in either the closed or open position of the CAS unit (See Drawing No's. 4 & 5 of 13).

An individual CAS unit can be opened. locked into place, and sequentially placed on top of another CAS unit to form a 'tower' construction (See Drawing, No. 6 of 13). Multiple numbers of CAS units can also be rigidly fixed together in the closed position and opened vertically, either in-situ or awav from the required access face. to creale the 'tower' construction. There is no limit to the number of CAS units which can be fixed together to form a 'tower' construction and the concertina ability of each CAS unit is transferred to the 'tower' allowing the complete tower to be closed or opcned vertically in one continual concertina movement.

Each CAS unit has integral half or full height Mesh fixed to the front elevation, Handrails and Toe Boards. and the ability to provide a fully serviced situation of Lighting and Power Supply sith the use of retraclable airing harnesses, sealed socket connectors, and vertical conneclions.

The weathering capability of the system is maintained at the top of each tower' construclion with a rigid Roofed CAS unit. Opening Gates for personnel and materials access can be fitted into any CAS unit and used throughout a tower construction.

Independent Staircase (Sce Drawing No's. 8 & 9 of 13) or hoist/lift units are used in conjunction with the standard CAS units to provide vertical access. These vertical access units are standard QAS concertina units with modifications to accept rigid stair or hoist applications and Handrails.

The CAS components can be mamlfactured in a variety of light and heavy dur, matcrials from Aluminium, Glass Reinforced Plastic, Steei to Composite Aramid/Polymer or Carbon Fibre.

ATTACHED DRAWINGS 1 of 13 - Typical CAS Unit - Opened 2 of 13 - Typical Concertina # 3 of 13 - Tubular Pole Concertina Operation # 4 of 13 - Typical CAS Concertina Operation # 5 of 13 - Closed CAS Units 6 of 13 - Tower Construction # 7 of 13 - Elevational Construction 8 of 13 - Typical CAS Stair Unit # 9 of 13 - Stair Tower Construction # 10 of 13 - Typical Plan of CAS Unit # 11 of 13 - Topical Operational Section # 12 of 13 - Detailed Knuckle Section (Main Knuckle Joint) 13 of 13 - Detailed Knuckle Section (Intermediate Knuckle Joint)

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS 1. The Concertina Access System offers fast and safe access.
2. 2. The Concertina Access System can be used in any vertical access requirement siluation.
3. 3. The Concertina Access System can be used in conjunction ith traditional scaffolding.
4. 4. The Concertina Access System has no loose components.
5. 5. The Concertina Access System units can be sequentially stacked on top of each other.
6. 6. The Concertina Access System can be opened or closed in a continuous vertical up & down concertina movement.
7. 7. The Concertina Access System can be placed and clamped alongside each other to form a series of equi-spaced continuous horizontal access platforms.
8. 8. The Concertina Access System utilises Knuckle Joints to achieve a concertina ability.
9. 9. The Concertina Access System utilises traditional sized scaffolding tubes.
10. 10. The Concertina Access System has the ability to provide power and lighting at the work face.
11. 11. The Concertina Access System has vertical Mesh fixed to the front elevation.
12. 12. The Concertina Access System has integral rigidly fixed Handrails and Toe-Boards.
13. 13. The Concertina Access System can provide any number of horizontal access levels - in multiples of one.