GB2438722A

GB2438722A - Access platform with floor door

Info

Publication number: GB2438722A
Application number: GB0710055A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Mark Leslie Coward
Original assignee: Easi Dec Access Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Easi Dec Access Systems Ltd
Priority date: 2006-05-31
Filing date: 2007-05-25
Publication date: 2007-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2027-05-25
Also published as: GB0610737D0; GB2438722B; GB0710055D0

Abstract

An access platform assembly including a support frame for supporting a working platform 2 at an elevated height with respect to the ground, with means 20, 21, 28, for enabling an article 34 required to be raised to an elevated level that is at and/or above the working level of the platform 2, and an article access door or the like 15 in the floor of the platform openable to reveal an aperture 16 in the platform to enable the article 34 to be lifted through the platform aperture when it is raised from a level lower than the level of the platform 2. Preferably the door includes at least one pivotally mounted panel. The platform assembly may include a support gantry structure 20, 21 with a support rail 21, the support rail supporting a load support bar 30 which is associated with a pulley/ rope guide system. The assembly is suitable to raise window frames, sheet glass/ plastics, doors or solar panels to the working height of the assembly.

Description

ACCESS PLATFORM Will-I FLOOR DOOR This invention relates to access

platforms and more particularly to access platforms that are intended to provide temporary support for use by work persons requiring to perform a task at a position above ground level.

In the use of known access platforms considerable difficulty and inconveniences have been found when handling large area objects such as window frames, whether or not glassed and other objects such as panels that for various reasons it may be necessary to introduce such panels into a room well above ground level through an open window.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an access platform assembly which can not only be readily manually handled i.e., erected from a stowed position and an erected working position providing an elevated working platform which incorporates means whereby a relatively large area window, or other extended rea article such as a solar panel can be more readily transferred from a 1 5 lower level to a higher level in such manner as to facilitate is subsequent handling during its lifting stage and following such lifting stage.

Broadly, according to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an access platform assembly including a support frame for supporting a working platform at an elevated height with respect to the ground, means for enabling an article required to be raised to an elevated level that is at andIor above the working level of the platform, and an article access door or the like in the floor of the platform openable to reveal an opening in the platform to enable the article to be lifted there through the opening during the raising thereof from a level lower than the level of the platform Conveniently, the door includes at least one panel of such dimensions as to be able to cover-in said opening..

In a preferred construction the door includes at least one panel at least one panel of such dimensions as to be able to cover-in said opening, and wherein the panel is pivotally mounted so as to be foldable between a position where it effectively forms a continuation of the working platform and a position in which it reveals said opening in the platform.

Conveniently, the opening is so positioned as to be located immediately adjacent a side of the working platform that is intended to face towards a working region with which the assembly is associated.

Preferably the access platform assembly provided with a support frame for a floor and an article access door or the like in the floor of the platform openable to enable an article to be lifter there through during its lifting from a level lower than the assembly floor to a level above the floor.

Preferably, the opening is immediately adjacent the longer side of the floor that is intended to face towards a working region with which the assembly is associated.

In a preferred construction the assembly is provided with a support gantry structure mounted from the assembly and providing a support rail or the like at a such height above the floor as to enable article lifting means co-operating with the gantry to raise an extended area article such as a window frame, door or the like so that the lowed part of the article is above floor level., Preferably the gantry mounts a pulley/rope guide systems whereby a load support bar or other support means can be vertically displaced with respect to the gantry and this said floor by exerting pull on the rope or releasing the rope.

Preferably, a clutch system is provided so as to be able to prevent the rope from undergoing unwanted movements.

Preferably, a load is arranged to be supported from the support bar or other means by way of length ways adjustable slings.

In a preferred construction the access platform assembly includes, an access platform unit mountable to two lengthways adjustable support leg assemblies including bracing and support slays for maintaining the leg assemblies in side by side braced relationship when in use, and means for facilitating the displacement of the assembly for the purposes of setting the platform assembly to an elevated position against a wall or other upright structure.

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how to carry the same into effect reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:-Figure 1, schematically illustrates a support platform assembly when incorporating the concepts of the invention; and 1 5 Figure 2 illustrates the assembly of Figure 1 when supporting a load.

Referring now to Figure 1 this illustrates an erectable access platform assembly 1 As may be noted from the Figure that the an access platform assembly 1 shown therein can be regarded as comprising eight main components as follows; a support platform unit 2, two support leg assemblies 3A and 3B, two stabilising stay units 4A and 4B for the leg support assemblies, two fixed side frames 5 and 6 for the support platform and a moveable front safety frame 7 for affording protection to a user after having mounted onto the support platform.

For the purposes of the description that part of the support platform unit that is located adjacent to a wall or the like surface W when the support platform is in the erected setting shown in Figure 1 will be regarded as the front of the support platform unit and the part thereof remote from such surface W as being the rear of the unit. In the Figure the surface W is shown as part of a building.

The platform unit includes main frame 8 mounting a floor 9 which is intended to act as a walkway which is positionable relative to a selected region of a wall and, in particular, as is indicated in the Figure 1 a window 10. Since as is shown in the Figures the platform unit overhangs the support legs 3A and 3B support braces 11 are provided..

To enable the necessary access to the platform unit the central part of the horizontal rail 14 is moveable to allow such access. The rail part is replaced for safety reasons after access to complete the barrier.

For the purposes of access to the platform a ladder 12 is conventionally used. This 1 5 ladder 12 is shown in dashed lines.

To prevent tools or the like from falling from the platform a barrier board 13 extends length ways around the platform floor. At the point of platform access a section 14 of the barrier board may be lowered as indicated in Figure. Suitable ties are provided for retaining the section and/or ladder in its raised position.

As will be noted from the Figures a transverse strip part of the floor 9 immediately adjacent to the front of the assembly is replaced by a hinged panel 15 acting as a door in the floor. As will be clear from the Figure this panel is pivotal between a floor forming lowered position position at which an operator can stand

V

when working from the platform., and a raised position in which ii provides a slot like opening I 6in the floor over the full width of the floor.

It can be arranged that this pivoted panel IS folds back to lay on the assembly floor. Alternatively arrangements may be made to enable the panel to be maintained in an upright position to act as a safety barrier for an operator working on the platform when the panel is raised to provide an opening 16 in the floor The side frames are adapted to mount two upright members 20 that are bridged by a tixed horizontal rail/bar 21. The upright members 20 are so positioned that the horizontal rail 21 is symmetrical positioned above the opening 16 in the assembly floor when the panel 1 5 is raised or folded back to overlie the adjacent floor 9. In the Figure the opened door 15 has been indicated by dashed lines.

The mounting of the upright members 20 is such that the rail 21 is firmly supported vertically above the floor and within the limits of the floor opening 16 and is capable of load bearing within the limits it is designed to operate. That is in accordance with the permitted weights of loads permitted to be lifted using a support assembly of the kind discussed.

The horizontal rail 21 is provided with two downwards directed support members 22 symmetrically spaced to either side of the mid point 23 of the horizontal rail 21.

A rope guide pulley 24 is suspended from one of the support members 22. At one end 25 of the horizontal rail 21 there is is provided a second rope guide pulley 26.

At a convenient location beneath this second rope pulley 26 a rope clamp/clutch 27 is mounted from the adjacent upright member 20.

A load control rope or the like 28 is connected at one end to the other one of the first mentioned support member 22 and passes downwards through a pulley wheel unit 29 connected with and supporting a load support bar 30, upwards to engage with the pulley 24, through the second pulley 26 and through the rope clamp /clutch 27 with the reminder of the rope dangling beneath the clutch/clamp.

The load support bar 30 is of such length that it bridges the opening 16 in the floor with adequate clearance and is provided with an article support sling 32 to either side of its mid length point at which said pulley wheel unit 3 I is located.

These slings 32 are positionally adjustable length ways of the support bar 30 so that they can be positionally set relative to the length of an article to be lifted and also the support pulley so that the weight of an article supported by the slings can be balanced.

1 5 Each sling 32 has a lower second loop 33 which is intended to engage over the article 34 (in the Figure 2 this is schematically illustrated as a window frame) to be lifted, the slings 32 being set to an appropriate distance apart in relation to the form, the length the weight distribution and any other factors playing a part in the satisfactory balancing of the article 34 with respect to the load carrying bar 30 and thus the horizontal rail 21.

The slings 32 are provided with a ratchet like mechanism (not shown) which enable the sling carrying loops 33 to be tightened about the article 34.

Once the article 34 has been satisfactorily connected by the loops 33 an operator whether standing upon the assembly floor 9 or at ground level is able to raise the article 34 by pulling downwards of the rope hanging beneath the clutch arrangement 27 that has been set to allow the rope to pass there through in the load lifting direction but not in the reverse direction.

Once the article 34 has been lifted to a required height it will be understood that it will have passed upwardly through the open slot 16 in the floor (it is presumed that the panel has been moved from its lowered setting) such the the bottom of the article is above floor level sufficiently to allow the floor panel to be returned to its closed position, the article 34 can be released form the slings 32 by appropriate operation of the ratchet clutches.

It will be understood that it situations where the bulk of the article does not allow the article to pass thought the slot 16 in the floor 9 and there is sufficient space between the assembly and a wall or the like against which the access assembly rests the article SUpport bar 30 can be repositioned so that it is set forwards of the front edge of the support assembly thereby allowing the hoisting rope to run over the front edge of the assembly floor.

The articles/loads with which the assembly of the present invention is intended to be able to lift relatively large area articles as are commonly used in connection with the building, maintenance and repair of buildings commercial andIor residential.

Such relatively large articles can include for example doors, ceiling panels, window frames glazed or unglazed, glass/plastics, sheet, solar panels and framing for such panels

Claims

CLAIMS

1. An access platform assembly including a support frame for supporting a working platform at an elevated height with respect to the ground, means for enabling an article required to be raised to an elevated level that is at and/or above the working level of the platform, and an article access door or the like in the floor of the platform openable to reveal an opening in the platform to enable the article to be lifted there through the opening during the raising thereof from a level lower than the level of the platform
2. An access platform assembly as claimed in claim I, wherein the door includes at least one panel of such dimensions as to be able to cover-in said opening..

3. An access platform assembly as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the door includes at least one panel at least one panel of such dimensions as to be able to cover-in said opening, and wherein the panel is pivotally mounted so as to be foldable between a position where it effectively forms a continuation of the working platform and a position in which it reveals said opening in the platform.

4. An access platform assembly as claimed in claim I, or 3, wherein the opening is so positioned as to be located immediately adjacent a side of the working platform that is intended to face towards a working region with which the assembly is associated.

5. An access platform assembly as claimed in claimed 1,2,3 or 4,, and including a support gantry structure mounted from the assembly and providing a support rail or the like located at a such height above the working platform as to enable an article lifting arrangement co-operating with the gantry to raise an extended area article to such height that the lower part of the article is positioned above said floor level.

6. An access platform assembly, as claimed in claim 5, wherein support rail supports a load support bar or other support means associated with a pulley/rope guide system whereby the article required to be raised can be vertically displaced with respect to the gantry and thus the working platform 7. An access platform assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the pulley system incorporates a clutch system, the system being such so as to be able to prevent the rope from undergoing unwanted movements 8 An access platform assembly as claimed in claim 6 or 7, wherein an article/load is arranged to be supported from the support bar or other means by way of length ways adjustable slings.

9. access plafform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the extended area article comprises a window frame, sheet glass/plastics, 1 5 a door, a cladding panel solar panel or the like 10. An access platform assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and including two lengthways adjustable support leg assemblies for mounting the working platform, the leg assemblies including bracing and support stays for maintaining the leg assemblies in side by side braced relationship when in use, and means for facilitating the displacement of the assembly for the purposes of setting the platform assembly to an elevated position ii. An access platform assembly substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.