GB2390110A

GB2390110A - Width variable access apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2390110A
Application number: GB0214997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas G Goldberg
Original assignee: ATLAS WARD HOLDINGS Ltd
Current assignee: ATLAS WARD HOLDINGS Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-28
Filing date: 2002-06-28
Publication date: 2003-12-31
Anticipated expiration: 2022-06-28
Also published as: GB2390110B; GB0214997D0

Abstract

An access apparatus 15 for providing access to framework of a framed building where the apparatus comprises a base 16 consisting of a main part 17 and a support means 18. The support means is moveable relative to the main part between retracted (See Fig 2) and extended conditions to vary the width of the base. Preferably the main part has a support means on each of two sides thereof, and may be moved by fluid operated ram means. Preferably the main part comprises an upper surface which provides a surface upon which a user may walk. The base may be provided with a ladder (31, Fig 4) which may be lowered to rest on a floor below. The support means may be adapted to fit beneath the main part. Preferably the main part carries a powered platform 20 comprising a boom 22 which carries the platform, the boom being raised and lowered relative to the main part 17. Also defined is a method for providing access apparatus within a framed building structure to position the apparatus to be supported by horizontal beams.

Description

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Title: Access Apparatus Description of Invention

This invention relates to an access apparatus for and a method of providing access to framework of a framed building. The frame of a framed building comprises vertical columns on which are supported horizontal beams which, in turn, support floors of the building.

To erect the columns and beams various types of crane have been used to lift the components of the framework into position and then the components have been fitted together in situ by erectors using screw threaded fastenings.

However, access for the erectors to effect these connections may be dangerous and many means have been provided in an attempt to reduce the danger. One principle device has been a ground supported aerial powered platform in which the erector can be secure and can manoeuvre the platform to a desired position to effect the connection.

Aerial powered platforms, since they operate from the ground, must be stabilised. Currently, therefore, they are used only for single-storey buildings, such as warehouses.

An object of the present invention is to provide an access apparatus for and a method of providing access to framework of a framed building whereby the above mentioned problem is overcome or is reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention we provide an access apparatus for providing access to framework of a framed building wherein the access apparatus comprises a base comprising a main part and a support means which is moveable relative to the main part between retracted and extended conditions to vary the width of the base.

:..... c: Be 4e:e Preferably the main part has a support means on each of two opposite sides thereof, each support means being moveable relative to the main part to vary the width ofthe base.

The support means may be moveable relative to the main part by fluid operated ram means.

The main part may comprise an upper surface which provides a surface upon which a user may walk. The upper surface may be planar or generally planar. The main part may comprise a lower surface disposed below the upper surface and connected thereto and spaced therefrom by substantially less than the minimum dimension of the upper or lower surface.

The base may be provided with a ladder which can be lowered to rest on a floor below to give an erector access to and from the base.

The or each support means may be adapted to fit beneath the main part.

The or each support means may provide or be provided with a walkway.

The or each walkway may be provided with a handrail.

The handrail may lie alongside the main part when the support means associated therewith is retracted The main part may carry a powered platform comprising a boom which is mounted on the main part and which carries a platform at the upper end, said boom being raisable and lowerable relative to the main part.

Said raising and lowering movement may be by means of a fluid operated ram means.

The boom may be slewable relative to the main part.

The platform may be provided with side walls or rails.

The boom may comprise a multi-section boom, the sections being pivotally interconnected about a horizontal axis.

The upper most section of the boom may be telescopic.

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À a When in an extended position the or each inner edge of the walkway may be disposed adjacent to a side edge of the aerial platform.

According to another aspect of the invention we provide a method for providing access to framework of a framed building comprising the steps of moving an access apparatus according to the previous aspect of the invention in a retracted condition between horizontal beams, which are disposed at a spacing greater than the width of the access apparatus when in the retracted condition, until the apparatus is disposed at a desired position above a pair of beams disposed on opposite sides of the apparatus, extending the or each support means to a position in which the resultant base overlies the beams and lowering the apparatus so that it is supported by the beams.

The access apparatus may be moved by a mechanical handling means, such as a crane.

An example of the invention will now be described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Figure 1 is a perspective diagrammatic view of an apparatus embodying the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of part of Figure 1 showing the apparatus in a retracted condition; Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 2 but showing an apparatus in an extended condition, and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view illustrating an apparatus embodying the invention in use.

Referring now to Figure 1. A frame for a framed building is indicated diagrammatically at 10 and comprises vertical uprights 11 and horizontal beams 12 extending in a longitudinal direction and horizontal beams 13 extending in a transverse direction= The beams 12 and 13 may be of any suitable length and may span between uprights 11 disposed at suitable intervals.

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À e. ÀÀ À To provide access for construction of such a frame an access apparatus embodying the present invention is provided and this is shown generally at 15.

The access apparatus 15 comprises a base 16 comprising a main part 17 and a pair of support means 18 disposed on opposite sides of the main part 17 and which are moveable between a retracted position shown in Figure 2 and an extended position shown in Figure 3.

The support means 18 are mounted beneath the main part 17 in any desired manner for manual or fluid operated ram movement between the retracted and extended positions.

In the present example the support means 18 comprises a rectangular member having a length substantially equal to that of the main part and having a upwardly facing surface to support a person and thus provide a walkway. The precise details of construction of the support means 18 and the walkway are not of the essence of this invention and construction may be varied as desired as will be clear to one skilled in the art. If desired, however, the support means may comprise, for example, two beams disposed adjacent opposite ends of the main part, on opposite sides thereof, and arrange to move between extended and retracted positions to support the base on beams of the frame when in an extended position. Thereafter a walkway can be provided as desired. For example the walkway may comprise a plurality of planks resting on the beams or an rectangular member resting on the beams or indeed a rectangular member provided with downturn legs or flanges or the like resting on one of the beams of the frame and on the main part. With such an arrangement of walkway a single beam, on one side only of the main part may be moveable between extended and retracted positions and may be provided, for example at a mid-

point of one side of the main part so that the main part, is supported by the beam on the one side as a result of the beam engaging a beam of the frame whilst the main part itself engages a further beam of the frame and tilting of the base is prevented thereby.

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Whilst it is preferred for a support means to be provided on opposite sides of the main part, if desired and with suitable stabilising of the walkway, one side of the main part may be unprovided with a moveable support means so that a portion of the main part engages a beam of the frame.

If desired any other form of moveable support means may be provided on one side only of the main part for engagement of the moveable support means with a beam of the frame when it is in its extended position whilst the main part itself is manoeuvred so that an opposite side thereof is supported by another beam of the frame.

If desired where a support means is provided on each of two opposite sides of the main part different forms of support means may be provided on opposite sides.

A powered platform 20 is carried on the main part 17 and comprises a base 21 carried on the part 17 to which a boom 22 is pivotally mounted for up and down swinging movement. The boom 22 may be a two part boom having lower and upper parts 23, 24 respectively as shown in Figure 4 or may be a three part boom as shown in dotted line and chain dotted line in Figure 4 in which the three parts of the boom are indicated at 25, 26 and 27. In each case the upper most boom member 27, 24 may be telescopic and carries a platform 28 which may be provided with railings or walls 29 to carry one or persons in a secure manner. Such a platform 28 is normally provided with controls whereby hydraulic rams may be operated to cause movement of various boom sections to raise and lower the platform to a desired position also the boom may be mounted on the base 22 for stewing movement again under the control of an operator disposed on the platform 28.

If desired as in the present example, the support means 18 may be provided with railings 30 disposed at the positions illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 at 30a, 30e and 30c and, if desired, at position 30d. When the support means is retracted to allow the apparatus to be repositioned the support means fits

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beneath the main part 17 with the hand rail 30a alongside the longer sides ofthe main part 17.

If desired the platform 28 can be provided with a number of further safety devices such as warning lights when operating and means whereby the apparatus it cannot be operated if an erector is not secured in the basket provided by the platform 28 and the walls 29.

Whilst this invention is described herein in connection with the erection of steel work it can also be used for other constructional trades such as by welders, painters or M & E fitter who require a safe access throughout a building during construction.

In use the platform such as shown in Figure 2 and is moved by a crane or other mechanical handling apparatus between beams 12, 13 of a frame, when in a retracted condition so that it is disposed above horizontal beams 12 and 13 at a desired height in the building. The support means 18 are then moved to an extended position and the apparatus is lowered so that the support means are supported on beams 12 whereby the apparatus is supported at a desired level in the building.

Of course, when it is desired to move the apparatus it is raised by appropriate mechanical handling apparatus, the support means 18 are moved to a retracted position and then the apparatus is moved in the retracted condition shown in Figure 2 to reposition it at a desired position in the framework.

Typically in a retracted position the apparatus is 2.0m - 2.4m wide so that it can be moved through the steel frame in which case the beams 12 are typically 2.7m - 3.0m apart. This distance is typical because of the spanning properties of steel deck sheets used as shattering for the concrete floor of the building. In the extended position the width of the apparatus is typically 3.0m - 3.5m wide.

If desired, and as best shown in Figure 4, the apparatus may be provided with a ladder as indicated generally at 31 which can be lowered to rest on a floor 32 already provided on the beams at that level.

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A user may then walk on the main part 17 and the walkway provided, in the present example, by the support means 18 in order to access the frame or the user may enter the basket provided by the platform 28 and walls 29 and manoeuvre this by means of the boom 22 to a desired position in the frame In the present specification "comprises" means "includes or consists oil'

and "comprising" means "including or consisting of''.

I he features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following

claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

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1. An access apparatus for providing access to framework of a framed building wherein the access apparatus comprises a base comprising a main part and a support means which is moveable relative to the main part between retracted and extended conditions to vary the width of the base.

2. An access apparatus according to claim I wherein the main part has a support means on each of two opposite sides thereof, each support means being moveable relative to the main part to vary the width of the base.

3. An access apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the support means may be moveable relative to the main part by fluid operated ram means.

4. An access apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main part comprises an upper surface which provides a surface upon which a user may walk.

5. An access apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the upper surface may be planar or generally planar.

6. An access apparatus according to claim 4 or 5 wherein main part comprises a lower surface disposed below the upper surface and connected thereto and spaced therefrom by substantially less than the minimum dimension of the upper or lower surface.

7. An access apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base is provided with a ladder which can be lowered to rest on a floor below to give an erector access to and from the base.

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8. An access apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each support means is adapted to fit beneath the main part.

9. An access apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each support means provides or is provided with a walkway.

10. An access apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the or each walkway is provided win a handrail.

11. An access apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the handrail lies alongside the main part when the support means associated therewith is retracted.

12. An access apparatus according to any one ofthe preceding claims wherein the main part carries a powered platform comprising a boom which is mounted on the main part and which carries a platform at the upper end, said boom being raisable and lowerable relative to the main part.

13. An access apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said raising and lowering movement is by means of a fluid operated ram means.

14. An access apparatus according to any one of claims 12 and 13 whereon the boom is slewable relative to the main part.

15. An access apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein the platform is be provided with side walls or rails.

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16. An access apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 15 wherein the boom comprises a multi-section boom, the sections being pivotally interconnected about a horizontal axis.

17. An access apparatus according to claim 16 wherein the upper most section of the boom is telescopic.

18. An access apparatus according to any one of claims 12 to 17 when dependent on any one of claims 9 to 11 wherein an extended position the or each inner edge of the walkway is disposed adjacent to a side edge of the aerial platform.

19. An access means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

20. A method for providing access to framework of a framed building comprising the steps of moving an access apparatus according to the previous aspect of the invention in a redacted condition between horizontal beams, which are disposed at a spacing greater than the width of the access apparatus when in the retracted condition, until the apparatus is disposed at a desired position above a pair of beams disposed on opposite sides of the apparatus, extending the or each support means to a position in which the resultant base overlies the beams and lowering the apparatus so that it is supported by the beams.

21. A method according to claim 20 wherein the access apparatus is moved by a mechanical handling means, such as a crane.

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22. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

23. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawings.