GB2465985A

GB2465985A - Support frame

Info

Publication number: GB2465985A
Application number: GB0822082A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Taylor; Stuart Bamford
Original assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Current assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-04
Filing date: 2008-12-04
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Anticipated expiration: 2028-12-04
Also published as: GB0822082D0; GB2465985B

Abstract

A support frame 10 comprises a base 11 mountable at the ground level (level zero) of a construction and a guide 14 to engage with a climbing rail 17 , whereby the climbing rail supports a climbing screen. The engagement between the guide and the rail permits the climbing screen 16 to translate along the construction. The guide 14 is connected to the base 11 at a predetermined distance from the base, whereby the climbing screen 16 may simultaneously be engaged by the guide 14 and a respective floor support 7 attachable to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction. Also included is a climbing screen system which comprises a climbing screen with a climbing rail which can be mounted upon and translated along a construction, the length of the climbing rail being less than the height of two floors of the construction, and an extension rail (19, Fig 3c) which may be attached to the lower end of the climbing rail, whereby the combined length of the climbing rail and extension rail is equal or greater than the height of two floors of the construction.

Description

Title: Support Frame DescrirDtion of Invention THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a support frame for guiding a climbing screen. A system comprising the support frame, a climbing screen system and a method of mounting a climbing screen on a construction are also disclosed.

When building a construction having a central core and floors formed by poured concrete, the structure commonly has no external wall and thus the floors are open to the elements. It is only the façade that is added to the building later in the construction process which encloses the perimeter of the building. During this time, construction workers operating on the exposed floors of the construction are at an increased risk of injury through falling from the construction. At the same time, other construction workers and members of the public on the ground around and under the construction are at risk of injury from any falling debris or equipment from the exposed floors of the construction.

To address this problem, it is known to provide a safety screen, which may be positioned around at least a part of the perimeter of the construction. It is known to mount the screen on a construction such that it may be moved vertically, to protect the perimeter of a required floor. Such screens are often referred to as "climbing screens". Movement of the climbing screen up the construction may be effected either by crane or by hydraulic lifting equipment located on a floor of the construction. A known climbing screen 1 is shown in figure 1. The climbing screen 1 comprises a climbing rail 2 and a safety screen 3. Hoard ings or other advertising literature 4 may be attached to, or form part of, the front surface of the safety screen 3. The safety screen 3 and climbing rail 2 may be attached to one another by access platforms 5, upon which construction workers may operate during the construction of the building.

Concrete formwork may be used on the access platforms 5. Re-enforcing struts 6 may also be provided, in various configurations. It will be noted by the reader that the climbing rail 2 and the safety screen 3 in figure 1 are axially offset from one another. The reason for this is that when the climbing screen 1 is in the position shown in figure 1, a worker may operate on the upper access platform 5, to install and secure concrete pouring formwork for level three. It should be appreciated that the concrete formwork protrudes outwards from the perimeter of the building. Thus, when the formwork for level three is in place, the climbing rail 2 may not translate vertically upwards, because it will impact against the formwork. The safety screen 3 is provided axially offset from the climbing rail 2 such that the safety screen 3 provides safety to the worker when working on the upper access floor 5, for example, when tending to the formation of level 3, whilst the rail is guided and held by an adequate number of floor supports 7.

As the construction is built, more floors are added. In figure 1, it will be noted that only levels 0, 1 and 2 have been built. Due to the size and mass of the known climbing screen 1, it may only be mounted on the construction when there is adequate support in place to hold the climbing rail 1. As will be seen from figure 1, floor supports 7 are provided at the edge of the floor of both levels 1 and 2. The floor supports 7 engage with the climbing rail 2 of the climbing screen 1. As more floors are added to the construction, the climbing screen 1 may be moved up the building. The access platforms 5 may then be adjacent the newly created floor and the location of the next floor to be formed, allowing a construction worker to perform the required operations. It will be appreciated that the climbing screen 1 is thus protecting the periphery of at least the most recently constructed floors and the floor currently being constructed. As the climbing screen 1 progresses up the construction, a façade or other safety barriers may be provided on the now-exposed levels below the climbing screen 1.

As will be appreciated from figure 1, the climbing screen 1 needs to be supported by the floor guide 7 on both levels 1 and 2. Owing to the size and mass of the climbing screen 1, it is not possible to hold and guide the climbing screen 1 using only a single floor guide 7. In the known climbing screen 1 shown in figure 1, the length of the climbing rail 2 is such that it is equal to or greater than the height of two floors. It will thus be appreciated that in any position of the climbing rail 2 in relation to the construction, the climbing rail 2 will always be engaged with two floor supports 7. As the climbing screen 1 progresses upwards, it will reach a point where the climbing rail 2 is no longer in engagement with the floor support 7 attached to level 1. Before or at this point, however, the climbing rail 2 will have engaged with the floor support 7 attached to level 3 (not shown in figure 1).

It will be appreciated, therefore, that the known climbing screen 1 can only be applied to a building when at least two (above ground) floors have been constructed. This is disadvantageous because until the second or third floor is constructed, there is a safety risk for construction workers and members of the public because the climbing screen 1 has not yet been put into place.

There is a requirement for improved safety on a construction before the point at which a known climbing screen 1 may be used.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a support frame for guiding a climbing screen, the climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the support frame comprising: a base mountable at the base of the construction; and a guide to engage the climbing rail such that the climbing screen may translate along the construction, the guide connected to the base at a predetermined distance from the base, such that the climbing screen may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and a respective floor guide attachable to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction.

Preferably, the length of the climbing rail is less than the combined height of two floors of the construction.

Conveniently, the guide is connected to the base such that the climbing screen may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and respective floor guides attachable to the edges of both the first and second floors of the construction.

Advantageously, the pre-determined distance is configured such that the distance, in use, between the guide and the floor guide attachable to the second floor of the construction is less than the length of the climbing rail.

Preferably, the guide is mounted to a guide frame connected to the base.

Conveniently, the guide frame comprises a guide rail.

Advantageously, at least one reinforcing strut is provided between the guide frame and the base.

The present invention further provides a system comprising the support frame of the invention and a climbing screen, the climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the length of the climbing rail being less than the combined height of two floors of the construction, the climbing screen configured such that it may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and a respective floor guide attachable to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction.

Preferably, the lower end of the climbing rail is provided with a runner, and the support frame comprises a guide rail, the runner of the climbing rail being engageable with and translatable along the guide rail.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a climbing screen system comprising a climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the length of the climbing rail being less than the combined height of two floors of the construction; and an extension rail, attachable to the lower end of the climbing rail, the combined length of the climbing and extension rails being equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction.

Preferably, the climbing screen system comprises a support frame of the invention.

In another embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a method of mounting a climbing screen on a construction, the climbing screen having a climbing rail and wherein a floor guide is attached to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction to guide the climbing rail of the screen; the method comprising: providing a support frame having a base and a guide connected to the base at a predetermined distance from the base; mounting the climbing rail of the screen to the support frame and to the floor guide of the first floor; Preferably, the method further comprises: translating the climbing screen along the construction to the extent that the climbing rail is simultaneously engaged with the guide of the support frame and the respective floor guides of both the first and second floor; providing an extension rail; and attaching the extension rail to the lower end of the climbing rail such that the combined length of the climbing and extension rails is equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction.

Conveniently, the method further comprises: removing the support frame; translating the climbing screen along the construction, the climbing rail and extension rail together being supported by the respective floor guides of at least two floors of the construction at any one time during translation.

Advantageously, the translation along the construction comprises substantially vertical translation.

The embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the figures, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a prior art climbing screen;

FIGURE 2 shows a support frame embodying the present invention; FIGURE 3 shows a support frame and climbing screen of the present invention, in various configurations of installation; FIGURE 4 shows an enlarged view of the support frame of the present invention engaging with a climbing rail of a climbing screen embodying the present invention; and FIGURE 5 shows another enlarged view of the support frame embodying the present invention engaging with a climbing rail of a climbing screen embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 shows a support frame 10 embodying the present invention, for guiding a climbing screen embodying the present invention. The support frame 10 comprises a base 11, which may be placed on the ground floor (level zero) of a construction. Ground anchors 12 may be used to secure the base 11 to the ground or floor. The support frame further comprises a guide frame in the form of a guide rail 13. A guide 14 is attached to the top of the guide rail 13. At least one reinforcing strut 15 may be attached between the guide rail 13 and the base 11, to provide structural rigidity to the support frame 10.

Figure 3(a) shows the support frame 10 embodying the present invention in use. The support frame 10 has been secured to the ground floor of the construction using ground anchors 12 such that the guide 14 is vertically below the floor support 7 attached to level 1. It will be noted that the invention is being deployed even though only one floor (level 1) has been built.

A climbing screen 16 may then be mounted on to the construction and the support frame 10. The climbing screen 16 embodying the present invention is similar to the climbing screen 1 shown in figure 1 but with important modifications. Nevertheless, like features have been denoted using like numerals. The climbing screen 16 of figure 3(a) comprises a climbing rail 17.

Preferably, the length of the climbing rail 17 is ss than the combined height of two floors of the construction. As a result, as will be seen when figure 3(a) is compared to figure 1, the climbing screen 16 embodying the present invention is smaller in overall length than the climbing screen 1 shown in figure 1. As a result, the climbing screen 16 embodying the present invention may be positioned on the construction when only level 1 of the construction has been built; and provide safety for workers adjacent, under and on the construction.

Positioning the climbing screen 16 on to the construction at the point shown in figure 3(a) would not be possible without the support frame 10 of the present invention. This is because, without the support frame 10, the climbing rail 17 of the climbing screen 16 embodying the present invention would not be able to be supported at two locations. Instead, the climbing rail 17 would be supported pjjjy by the floor support 7 on level 1. As a result, the moment forces of the climbing screen would otherwise cause the screen to sway and topple, creating a dangerous situation. Further, the single floor support may be damaged and fail, causing the screen to fall from the construction.

The guide 14 of the support frame 10 embodying the present invention is connected to the base 11 at a predetermined distance from the base 11, such that the climbing screen 16 may simultaneously be engaged by the guide 14 a respective floor guide 7 attached to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction. Indeed, as a result of the extra support provided by the support frame 10, the climbing rail 17 may be even shorter than that shown in figure 3.

In one embodiment, the predetermined distance between the guide 14 and the base 11 is configured such that the distance, in use, between the guide 14 and the floor support 7 attached to the second floor of the construction is less than the length of the climbing rail 17 of the climbing screen 16 embodying the present invention.

With the climbing screen 16 of the present invention in the position shown in figure 3(a), it will now be possible to install the formwork to create level 2.

Thus, the present invention may be installed when only a single floor (level 1).

This would not have been possible with the climbing screen shown in figure 1.

As with the climbing screen 1 shown in figure 1, the climbing screen 16 of the present invention is mountable on and translatable along a construction. The climbing screen 16 may be translated vertically up the building either by the use of a crane (and the crane hook 18 at the top of the safety screen 3) or by using a "self-climbing" mechanism, as is known in the art.

Figure 3(b) shows the second floor having been built, a floor support 7 attached thereto, and the climbing screen 16 of the present invention having translated up the building. As will be seen from figure 3(b), the climbing screen 16 has translated to the extent that the climbing rail 17 has engaged with the floor support 7 of the newly built second floor. At this point, the climbing screen 16 is thus simultaneously engaged by the guide 14 and the respective floor supports 7 attached to the edges of both the first and second floors of the construction. It will be appreciated that without the support frame 10 embodying the present invention, the climbing screen 16 would only have been able to be mounted on to the construction at the position shown in figure 3(b) -note its similarity to figure 1.

Since the support frame 10 has allowed the climbing screen 16 of the present invention to be translated to a position where it is simultaneously engaged at two locations -i.e. by the respective floor guide 7 attached to the edges of both the first and second floors of the construction, -it may then be removed from the process.

As noted above, the length of the climbing rail 17 of the climbing screen 16 embodying the present invention is preferably less than the combined height of two floors of the construction. It will thus be appreciated that if the climbing screen 16 shown in figure 3(b) is translated up the construction, there will likely be a point where the climbing rail 17 is supported Q!JiY by one floor support 7 attached to a floor of the construction. This is not safe, for the reasons discussed above, and could result in failure.

Accordingly, the present invention further provides an extension rail 19, which is attachable to the lower end of the climbing rail 17 of the climbing screen 16 -see figure 3(c). The extension rail 19 may be bolted to the lower end of the climbing rail 17. Alternatively or additionally, the extension rail 19 may be attached to the safety screen 3 of the climbing screen 16 by way of a reinforcing strut 20. The reinforcing strut 20 may be identical or similar to the reinforcing strut 6 shown in figures 1 and 3(a).

The extension rail 19 is configured such that the combined length of the modular climbing 17 and extension 19 rails is equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction. It will thus be appreciated that, with the extension rail 19 in place, the climbing screen 16 of the present invention may be translated along a construction and, in so doing, the climbing rail 17 and extension rail 19 will together always simultaneously be engaged by the floor supports of at least two adjacent floors of the construction. The dimensions of the climbing screen 16 of the present invention, incorporating the extension rail 19, may substantially be similar to the known arrangement shown in figure 1, and can be used in the same manner. See figure 3(d).

However, by providing a climbing screen 16 and extension rail 19 embodying the present invention, it has been possible to protect the perimeter of the construction before the second and third floors have been constructed.

Figure 4 shows a close-up view of the guide 14 of the support frame 10 engaging with a part of the climbing rail 17 of the climbing screen 16. It will be seen that the guide 14 wraps around the flanges of the climbing rail 17, thereby engaging the climbing rail 17 and restraining its movement in all but one direction.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment, wherein a runner 21 is provided at the lower end of the climbing rail 17. The runner 21 of the climbing rail 17 is engageable with and translatable along the guide rail 13 of the support frame 10. The runner 21 may be similar or identical to the guide 10 of the support frame 10. The runner 21 provides additional support and rigidity to the process of translating the climbing screen 16 up the construction. As will be appreciated from figure 3(b), the support frame 10 may be removed from the construction before the runner 21 is able to abut the guide 14 of the support frame 10. Alternatively, the runner 21 may be removed from the lower end of the climbing rail 17, such that the climbing rail 17 may slide vertically clear of the guide 14 of the support frame 10. Having the support frame 10 in place when the extension rail 19 is added may be advantageous, because the support frame 10 may provide support for the extension rail 19 as it is being attached to the lower end of the climbing rail 17 of the climbing screen 16.

One benefit of the climbing screen 16 of the present invention over the known climbing screen 1 is that the climbing screen 16 may be mounted to a construction at a far earlier stage of construction, before even the second or third floors have been constructed. The invention therefore increases safety to construction workers and the public, by providing a safety screen operable to be placed around the perimeter of substantially all of a construction, not just the upper floors. The present invention further provides a support frame 10, comprising a base and a guide, wherein the guide is connected to the base at a predetermined distance such that the climbing screen may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and a respective floor support attached to the edge of at least the first floor of the construction.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The 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

CLAIMS1. A support frame for guiding a climbing screen, the climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the support frame comprising: a base mountable at the base of the construction; and a guide to engage the climbing rail such that the climbing screen may translate along the construction, the guide connected to the base at a predetermined distance from the base, such that the climbing screen may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and a respective floor guide attachable to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction.
2. A support frame according to Claim 1, wherein the length of the climbing rail is less than the combined height of two floors of the construction.
3. A support frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide is connected to the base such that the climbing screen may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and respective floor guides attachable to the edges of both the first and second floors of the construction.
4. A support frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined distance is configured such that the distance, in use, between the guide and the floor guide attachable to the second floor of the construction is less than the length of the climbing rail.
5. A support frame according to any preceding claim, wherein the guide is mounted to a guide frame connected to the base.
6. A support frame according to claim 5, wherein the guide frame comprises a guide rail.
7. A support frame according to at least one of claims 5 and 6, wherein at least one reinforcing strut is provided between the guide frame and the base.
8. A system comprising the support frame of any preceding claim and a climbing screen, the climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the length of the climbing rail being less than the combined height of two floors of the construction, the climbing screen configured such that it may simultaneously be engaged by the guide and a respective floor guide attachable to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction.
9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the lower end of the climbing rail is provided with a runner, and the support frame comprises a guide rail, the runner of the climbing rail being engageable with and translatable along the guide rail.
10. A climbing screen system, comprising: a climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the length of the climbing rail being less than the combined height of two floors of the construction; and an extension rail, attachable to the lower end of the climbing rail, the combined length of the climbing and extension rails being equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction.
11. A climbing screen system according to claim 10, further comprising the support frame of any of claims 1 to 7.
1 2. A method of mounting a climbing screen on a construction, the climbing screen having a climbing rail and wherein a floor guide is attached to the edge of at least a first floor of the construction to guide the climbing rail of the screen; the method comprising: providing a support frame having a base and a guide connected to the base at a predetermined distance from the base; mounting the climbing rail of the screen to the support frame and to the floor guide of the first floor;
13. A method according to claim 12, further comprising: translating the climbing screen along the construction to the extent that the climbing rail is simultaneously engaged with the guide of the support frame and the respective floor guides of both the first and second floor; providing an extension rail; and attaching the extension rail to the lower end of the climbing rail such that the combined length of the climbing and extension rails is equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction.
14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising: removing the support frame; translating the climbing screen along the construction, the climbing rail and extension rail together being supported by the respective floor guides of at least two floors of the construction at any one time during translation.
15. A support frame, system or method according to any preceding claim, wherein the translation along the construction comprises substantially vertical translation.
16. A support frame, system or method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures.
17. Any novel matter or combination thereof hereinbefore described.Amendments to the claims have been filed as followedCLAIMS1. A climbing screen system, comprising: a climbing screen having a climbing rail and being mountable on and translatable along a construction, the length of the climbing rail being less than the combined height of two floors of the construction; and an extension rail, attachable to the lower end of the climbing rail, the combined length of the climbing and extension rails being equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction.Q 2. A method of mounting a climbing screen to a part-built construction having only a single floor provided with a floor support, the method comprising: Q providing a climbing screen system according to claim 1; positioning the climbing screen on the construction so that the climbing rail is engaged by the floor support; and separately and simultaneously guiding the climbing screen at another point on the climbing rail, below the floor support.3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising: forming a second floor of the construction; translating the climbing screen along the construction to the extent that the climbing rail is simultaneously engaged with the respective floor guides of both the first and second floor; and attaching the extension rail to the lower end of the climbing rail such that the combined length of the climbing and extension rails is equal to or greater than the combined height of two floors of the construction.4. A climbing screen system or method according to any preceding claim, wherein the translation along the construction comprises substantially vertical translation. L()