GB2440143A

GB2440143A - Retractable cover for skip

Info

Publication number: GB2440143A
Application number: GB0614152A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ralph Timothy Bywater-Lees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-07-17
Filing date: 2006-07-17
Publication date: 2008-01-23
Also published as: GB0614152D0

Abstract

A retractable cantilever frame to act as a roof or platform for services over a skip or other demountable container is provided. The cantilevered frame is supported from fixed pillars (2) by arms (3) that are pivoted at both ends. At the back edge of the cantilevered frame are rollers (8) that move within vertical guides (10). The rollers upper limit is formed by a stop. Moving the rollers up causes the cantilevered frame to extend and moving them down cause the cantilever frame to retract.

Description

Retractable Skip Cover and Services Platform This invention relates to

a retractable cantilevered frame that provides both a cover from inclement weather and/or a platform for mounting services and equipment over a skip or similar container whilst still allowing a typical skip lorry to set down or pick up the skip unhindered.

In a number of industries there is a need to protect the contents of an open skip or other open container from inclement weather, principally rain. For industries such as the sewage/waste water industry where there is a continuous filling of a skip (of screenings in the case of the wastewater industry) from a fixed discharge point, a permanent covering is appropriate. The normal requirements for such a structure is a large clearance above the skip to allow the skip vehicle lifting mechanism to operate, which can result in a tall building. Such a tall building may be inappropriate for a number of reasons including cost or planning permission.

This invention is a retractable structure that can provide compact weather protection at a low level for skips or other demountable container without hindering the containers lifting or loading mechanism. The retractable structure, with or without the cover, can also be used to mount other services or equipment related to the skip filling process, which could also interfere with the skips loading and unloading. These associated services, plant or equipment may include, but are not limited to, lighting, ventilation, odour control and the automated spreading of the contents evenly throughout the skip.

The invention can be freestanding or mounted on another structure. The invention is based on a cantilever and as such does not require support on the free edges, however the free edges can be supported and locked in position when the cover is in the closed position. The support for the free edge can be either a frame or wall as required.

A typical arrangement of the invention is for the covered area to extend beyond the containers footprint and for this cover to be set at a level to allow an operator to walk under and inspect the skip contents. This invention can form a roof over the skip or container and the sides formed by such a roof can be left open to allow free access or filled to provide an enclosed space with walls and doors. Alternative arrangements can see two of these retractable covers mounted back to back to save space, or facing each other to form a single covered space.

This invention may have applications in other industries where the item to be covered is not a skip or similar container but still requires weather protection and/or high clearance for lifting. Such an application could be boats within a boat yard etc. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: FIGURE 1 shows 45 isometric view of the skip cover showing the pillars, rollers with guide rail and back edge of the roof in the closed position.

FIGURE 2 shows 45 Isometric View of the skip cover showing the free edge (or front) in the closed position.

FIGURE 3 shows the End Elevation of the skip cover with it in the closed or extended position.

FIGURE 4 shows the End Elevation of the skip cover with it in the open or retracted position.

FIGURE 5 shows the End Elevation of the skip cover in a partially open/retracted position with the locus of moment of a number of points.

FIGURE 6 shows the Front Elevation of the skip cover with it in the closed or extended position.

FIGURE 7 shows the Front Elevation of the skip cover with it in the open or retracted position.

FIGURE 8 shows the End Elevation of the skip cover in a partially open/retracted position with optional support or wall.

FIGURE 9 shows the End Elevation of the skip cover with two retracting covers arranged to face each other.

FIGURE 10 shows the End Elevation of the skip cover with two retracting covers arranged back to back.

The invention consists of a cantilevered frame, or monocoque construction, (1) that is suspended from 2 No pillars (2). The cantilevered frame is suspended from the pillar(s) by a set of arms (3) Each ann connects two pivot points, the pillar pivot point (4) and the cantilevered frame pivot point (5). The pillar pivot point is fixed but the cantilevered frame pillar point travels with the cantilevered frame. The position of the pivot axis ((6) and (7)) in the closed position are shown in the Fig 8. The cantilevered frame (1) is fitted with a rollers or wheels (8) that are mounted to, or near to, the back edge (9) of the cantilevered frame. The rollers (8) runs in a slides or guides (10) that are parallel to the pillars. A stop (11) is located in the guide or at a similar level to act on either the rollers or cantilever frame to limit their upward motion. When the roller (8) is at the guide stop (11) the cantilevered frame (1) is in the closed or extended position. During the opening or retraction of the cantilevered frame the roller travels down the guide rails and the cantilevered frame is considered open or is fully retracted when the roller is at the lowest point of it travel.

The motive force for lifting the cantilevered frame (I) can be manual, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or a combination of these. The motive force can be transfer to the cantilevered frame via the roller axis (12) or a point adjacent to it, via either a cable and pulleys system, gears or actuators both linear and rotary.

When a rotary actuator is employed as the driving force the roller and guide rail can be replaced with a threaded bar and nut or similar arrangement. With the nut connected to the cantilevered frame at the same location as the roller.

The preferred embodiment, as described above, is based on a single cantilevered roof (1) which, is suspended on two sides from 2 No pillars (2) of which an arm (3) is suspended from each pillar to support the cantilevered frame (I). This arrangement is not essential to the invention. The invention can be made to function with one or more pillars (2), one or more arms (3), one or more guides (11) or any combination of these three and the cantilevered frame (I) can be supported either in the middle or at the sides. The pillars (2) perform a structural function and locate the other components relative to each other and but if there is another structure to mount the invention on, the pillars (2) can be dispensed with.

The preferred location of the roof pivot axis (7) is between the back edge (9) and the cantilevered frame's centre of gravity (13). With the pivot in this location the cantilevered frame's centre of gravity (13) and the geometry of the inventions linkage provide a number of advantages. These include 1) maximising cover relative to the covers height, and ii) the cantilevered frame gravitating to either the extended or retracted position and this forms a self locking feature as described below.

The self-locking feature described above is a function of the inventions linkage geometry.

During retraction and extension the locus of the cantilever pivot point (5) will be a cord (14) regardless of the linkage arrangement, likewise the rollers locus will follow the guide rails normally a straight line. However both the shape and position of the locus of other points, including the cantilever frame's centre of gravity, will be dependant on the relative location of the cantilever pivot point (5). When the cantilevers pivot point (5) is between its centre of gravity (13) and the rollers (8), the centre of gravity follows a locus (19) similar to that shown in Figure 5. For this arrangement the frames centre of gravity (l3)is raised when the cantilevered frame (1) is retracted or extended until it reaches a high point where further extension or retraction causes it to fall. This high point (17) of the cantilever frame's centre of gravity locus creates the self-locking feature.

The distance between the cantilevered structured centre of gravity (13) and the cantilevered structures pivot point axis (5) will determine the force the self-locking feature will apply. By increasing the distance the greater the centre of gravity (13) will be lifted and therefor the greater closing force. However the final location will be a compromise between the effort required to retract the cantilevered frame and the strength of the materials used for the cantilevers frame.

The drawings shows the cantilevered frame (1), in the fully closed position, at 90 degrees relative to the pillars. However the cantilever frame (1) can have an incline to or away the pillars to allow rain to run off and still maintain the self-locking feature described above adjusting the cantilevers frame's pivot point axis (5) relative to its centre of gravity (13).

The invention can still function when the cantilevered frame's pivot point axis (5) is either on the cantilevered frame's centre of gravity (13) or between the cantilevered frame's centre of gravity (13) and the front edge (18). However to achieve the self-locking feature described above the roof will require a counter force to act on the roof. In such an arrangement the force could be applied at the same point as the motive force via a cable and pulley with counter weights acting under gravity, although this force could be applied at any point on the cantilever frame.

The self locking feature is a valuable feature when the cantilevered frame is lifted manually although it may not be so important when there powered drive.

Claims

CLAIMS

The claims 1) A structure with a cantilevered frame, or monocoque construction, that is retractable for mounting services above and or covering a skip or other open container, de-mountable or not, comprising of pillars, roof, rollers, roller guides, and arms, where the rollers, that are fitted on a axis close to one edge of the roof, move within the roller guide which are mounted or not mounted on the pillars, at, or close, to a vertical plane and the arms which are pivoted at both ends support the roof, with end of the arms connected to the roof on a second axis parallel to that of the rollers and the other end of the arms end connected to the pillar on a third axis parallel to and above the axis of the rollers.

2) An arrangement as described in claim I where stops limit the upward movement of the rollers and or cantilever frame (or monocoque construction) when the roof is at the fully extended position.

3) An arrangement as described in claim 1 where the end of the arms that are fixed to the cantilever frame follow the locus of an arc and the rollers moving within the guide cause the roof to retract if traveling downwards and extend if traveling upwards.

4) An arrangement as described in claims 1,2 and 3 where a motive force is applied on or close to the roller axis to cause the rollers to move up or down.

5) A motive force as described in claim 4 that can be applied through either a pulley and cable system, gears, linear actuators, rotary actuators and screw system or a combination of the a fore mentioned.

6) A motive force as described in claim 4 whose source can be manual effort, electric, hydraulic, pneumatic or combination of the a fore mentioned.

7) An arrangement as described in claim 1 where there are none, one, two or more pillars.

8) An arrangement as described in claims I to 7 where there are one, two or more arms.

9) An arrangement as described in claims I to 8 where the axis of the arms connection to the roof is set between the cantilever roofs centre of gravity and the roller axis.

10) An arrangement as described in claims 1 to 8 where the axis of the arms connection to the roof is set between the cantilever roofs centre of gravity and the roof edge furthest from the roller axis.

11) An arrangement as described in claims I to 8 where the axis of the arms connection to the roof is set between the cantilever roofs centre of gravity.

12) An arrangement as described in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10 and 1 lwhere counter weights are applied via cables at a point on or adjacent to the back edge or roller axis.

13) An arrangement as described in claims 1 to 12 where the guide rail is replaced with a threaded bar or screw and the rollers are replaced with a threaded nut so that turning the threaded bar or screw one way or the other cause the roof to extend or retract as described in claim 3.

14) An arrangement as described in claims 1 to 13 where other plant or equipment including lighting is mounted on or suspended from the cantilevered roof.

l5)An arrangement as described in claims ito 14 where roof covering is or is not permanently fixed to the cantilevered roof frame.

16) A arrangement according to any of the claims 1 to 15 where two cantilevered roofs are arranged to face each other so that when each cantilevered roof is in the extended or closed position the edges of the two cantilever roofs are touching or adjacent to each other to form a larger combined covered area.

17) A arrangement according to any of the claims I to 15 where two retractable cantilevered frames are arranged back to back.

18) An arrangement according to any of the claims 1 to 17 where the cantilevered frame are mounted on a separate structure or wall with or without the pillars.

19) An arrangement according to any of the claims I to 18 where the item to be covered is an object that is not a container.

20) A retractable cover substantially as described with reference to the drawings.