GB2489667A

GB2489667A - An extendable platform

Info

Publication number: GB2489667A
Application number: GB201104939A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Taylor
Original assignee: Harsco Infrastructure Services Ltd
Current assignee: Harsco Infrastructure Services Ltd
Priority date: 2011-03-24
Filing date: 2011-03-24
Publication date: 2012-10-10
Anticipated expiration: 2031-03-24
Also published as: EP2503074A2; EP2503074A3; GB2489667B; GB201104939D0; EP2503074B1

Abstract

A work platform (2a, 2b Fig 1) comprises an extendable support structure 3, with a deck 4 mounted thereupon. A wing 5 is rotatably secured to an extendable section 9 of the support structure. 3 In a first configuration (Fig 2a), the extendable section 9 is retracted and the wing is inactive such that it does not define part of the work surface. In a second configuration (Fig 2c), the support structure 9 is extended and the wing 5 is positioned to be supported by the support structure 9, with the deck 4 and wing 9 together defining the work surface (2b, Figure 1). The work platform may be used in conjunction with a climbing screen apparatus. Preferably, the extending section is rotatably secured to one end 19 of the wing, said one end being the end of the wing which is arranged to be adjacent the deck when in the first configuration, however said one end 19 is arranged to define a distal end of the working platform surface when in a second configuration.

Description

Title: An Extending Platform

Description of Invention

THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a platform and more particularly to an extending platform.

When building a construction which has a central structure formed by poured concrete, it is known to use a climbing screen system, which encloses the perimeter of at least a part of the construction. The climbing screen system provides a platform around the perimeter of the construction, to support formwork for use in forming the next level of the construction and to provide a useful work space for construction workers. The system includes a safety screen, to safeguard workers from adverse weather conditions and to ensure a safe working environment. As each floor of the construction is formed, the climbing screen moves up the construction, exposing the previously formed floors beneath.

Before installing the climbing screen system, it is necessary first to transport the climbing screen system, comprising climbing screen platforms and a climbing screen support structure, to the site from a remote location. There are two methods for doing this. The first method is to transport a pre-assembled climbing screen system to the site. The second method is to transport the components of the climbing screen system in a disassembled state, and then assembling the system on-site.

Transporting the climbing screen system pre-assembled means that the system can be installed more quickly. However, a police escort is required if a load to be transported by road is wider than 2.9 m. Given the size of conventional climbing screens, transportation of a pre-assembled climbing screen therefore requires a police escort. Additionally, if the site entrance has a height or width restriction, this may present further difficulties in transporting the pre-assembled climbing screen system to the site.

Assembling the climbing screen system on-site means that it is easier to comply with the transportation width restriction and thus avoid the need for an escort. However, assembling on-site requires an assembly area and is also more time-consuming than transporting a pre-assembled system, potentially delaying the construction process.

Accordingly, a reduction in the time taken to install and subsequently disassemble a climbing screen system is required.

Brief Summary of the Invention

The present invention provides a platform providing a work surface, the platform comprising: an extendable support structure; a deck mounted on the support structure; a wing rotatably secured to an extending section of the support structure, wherein in a first configuration, the extending section is retracted and the wing is inactive such that it does not define part of the work surface; and in a second configuration, the support structure is extended and the wing is positioned to be supported by the support structure such that the deck and wing together define the work surface.

The present invention further provides a platform and a climbing screen as claimed.

In order that the present invention may be readily understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of a climbing screen incorporating two platforms embodying the present invention.

FIGURES 2a) to c) shows three perspective partial views of one platform of figure 1 in use.

Detailed Description of the Invention

Figures 1 and 2a)to c) show a climbing screen system I with a platform 2a, 2b embodying the present invention. The platform 2a, 2b, comprises an extendable support structure 3, a deck 4 (shown only in figure 1; removed in figures 2a) and b) for clarity purposes; and ghosted in figure 2c)) mounted on the extendable support structure 3 and a wing 5 rotatably secured to an extending section 9 of the extendable support structure 3. In figure 1, the upper platform 2a in figure 1 is shown in a first, retracted, configuration and the lower platform 2b is shown in a second, extended, configuration.

The climbing screen system 1 comprises a climbing screen support structure 6 having four vertical support members 7 provided at each corner of the deck 4.

In this embodiment, these vertical support members 7 each comprise two channel sections, connected so as to form an I-section. Other embodiments may use different forms of support member. The climbing screen support structure 6 further comprises a plurality of inclined bracing members connecting the deck 4 to the climbing screen support structure 6.

The extendable support structure 3 comprises two substantially horizontal elongate main support members 8, on which the deck 4 is mounted. In this preferred embodiment, the main support members 8 extend along the full length of the deck 4.

The extendable support structure 3 further comprises two elongate extending sections 9, one extending from each end of the extendable support structure 3 (only one extending section 9 is illustrated in each of figures 2a) to c)). In this embodiment, an extending section 9 comprises two extending members 10 retained against and running parallel to the main support members 8. The extending members 10 are translatable with respect to the main support members 8. In the embodiment shown, the extending members 10 are received by a plurality of extending member support brackets 15. Other embodiments may not comprise the extending member support brackets 15.

For example, the extending members 10 may be telescopically received in the main support members 8.

The main support members 8 are supported by a first reinforcing member 11 at the distal end of the main support members 8, arranged perpendicular to the main support members 8. The extending members 10 are connected by a second reinforcing member 12 at the distal end of the extending section 9, and the second reinforcing member 12 is perpendicular to the extending members 10. In the embodiment shown, the main support members 8, the extending members 10, and the first and second reinforcing members 11, 12 comprise channel sections. Other embodiments may use different forms of member.

The wing 5 is rotatably secured to each respective extending section 9. As shown in figures 2a) to c), the wing 5 comprises a wing panel 13. A wing bracket 14 is secured to the underside of the wing panel 13 and the wing bracket 14 is rotatably secured to the extending members 10.

As shown in figure 1, the platform has two configurations. In the first configuration, as shown in figure 2a), the extending section 9 is retracted and the wing 5 is rotated generally upwards such that it is inactive and an upper surface 16 of the wing panel 13 does not define part of the work surface. In the second configuration shown in figure 2c), the extending section 9 is extended and the wing 5 is positioned to be supported by the extendable support structure 3 such that the deck 4 and the upper surface 16 together define a work surface. Figure 2b) shows a transitional state between the first and second configurations, where the extending section 9 is extended but the wing 9 is inactive.

The wing 5 has two wing support members 17 attached to the underside of the wing panel 13, such that when the wing 5 is in the second configuration, the wing support members 17 are operable to support the wing 5 on the first and second reinforcing members 11, 12. At the same time, the wing 5 is supported by the extending section 9 and at least one part of the wing 5 is supported by the distal end of the main support members 8. In other embodiments, the wing may be supported differently, for example by only some of the members described above.

As shown in figure 1 when the platform is in the second configuration (2b), the upper surface 16 is substantially flush with the upper surface of the deck 4, to define a substantially planar work surface. In this second configuration, the platform 2b is configured such that the wing 5 is rotatably secured to the extending section 9 at a point which is located at the distal end of the work surface.

As shown in figures 2a) to 2c), the wing 5 has a first end 18 and a second end 19. In the first configuration, the first end 18 of the wing 5 is positioned substantially above the second end 19 of the wing 5 and the second end 19 of the wing 5 is positioned adjacent to the deck 4. When the platform is in the second configuration 2b, the first end 18 is adjacent to the deck 4 and the second end 19 is arranged at the distal end of the deck 4.

In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1, the platform 2a, 2b further comprises a guard rail 20. In this embodiment the guard rail 20 is extendable and is connected to the extendable support structure 3 such that when the platform is in the first configuration 2a, the guard rail is retracted and when in the second configuration 2b, the guard rail 20 is extended. In this embodiment, the guard rail is provided by a guard panel 21 which extends with the guard rail 20 and acts as a safety screen to provide a safe working environment and to safeguard workers from adverse weather conditions.

In order to move the platform between the first 2a and second 2b configurations, the user can be located on the deck 4 and operate the wing 5 to extend or retract the extending section 9 and rotate the wing 5 between the inactive (first) and active (second) states. An advantage of the present invention is that the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1 provides an easy transition between the first 2a and second 2b configurations. The user may simply grasp and manoeuvre the wing 5 to simultaneously extend the extending section 9 and rotate the wing 5 to reach the second configuration 2b, such that the wing 5 then becomes active and the upper surface 16 forms a part of the work surface. In other embodiments, the extension and rotation steps may be performed separately.

Although two wings 5 are shown in figure 1, the platform 2a, 2b may comprise only one wing 5 and one corresponding extending section 9. In other embodiments, the main support members 8 may extend along only a portion of the deck 4, or extend beyond the length of the deck 4. In other embodiments, the platform 2a, 2b further comprises a securing element to releasably secure the wing 5 to any one or any combination of: the climbing screen support structure 6; the extendable support structure 3; the extending section 9; and/or the deck 4 when in either configuration. The securing element may be tethered or otherwise connected to the platform 2.

In the embodiment shown in figure 1, the extending members 10, the extending section of the guard rail and the wing panel 13, are no longer than half the length of the deck 4. In other embodiments, they may be longer. In such an embodiment, the extending members 10 of each respective extending section 9 may be retained against different sides of the main support members 8.

In the preferred embodiment shown in figure 1 the total length of the entire platform in the first configuration 2a, i.e. the length of the deck 4 plus the thickness of two wings 5, is not greater than 2.9 m. One benefit of this first configuration 2a is that a police escort is not required to transport the load by road. Once at the construction site, the platform can be moved in to the second configuration 2b, wherein the combined length of the deck 4 and the two wings 5 is greater than 2.9 m. In a preferred embodiment, the combined length is greater than 3.5 m. In another preferred embodiment, the combined length is no greater than 4.6 m. This means that the space required on site for reconfiguration is minimised -the climbing screen system 1 can be craned directly onto the construction and reconfigured in situ -as is the amount of time required to assemble the system. Further, this provides a safe transition between the two configurations (2a, 2b) with the user standing on the deck 4.

Another advantage of the present invention is that since the extending section 9 is rotatably secured to the wing 5, the wing 5 cannot accidentally be removed from the extending section 9 when in operation. This means that the wing 5 cannot fall off the extending section 9 when the platform 2 is in either configuration. With known climbing screen systems, particularly when the assembly (lay-down) area is small or unusable, the system may have to be assembled at height by craning the main platform section onto the building, and subsequently attaching the separate wings. Not only is it more difficult to connect the main platform section to the wings at height, there is also the risk that the extensions pieces -being separate, loose items -could fall off and cause injury. The present invention allows for the wings to be deployed safely at any height.

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

Claims: 1. A platform providing a work surface, the platform comprising: an extendable support structure; a deck mounted on the support structure; a wing rotatably secured to an extending section of the support structure, wherein: in a first configuration, the extending section is retracted and the wing is inactive such that it does not define part of the work surface; and in a second configuration, the support structure is extended and the wing is positioned to be supported by the support structure such that the deck and wing together define the work surface.
2. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the wing can be moved between the first configuration and the second configuration by a user located on the work surface.
3. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein in the first configuration, the length of the platform is not greater than 2.9 m.
4. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein in the second configuration, the length of the platform is greater than approximately 3.5 m.
5. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein in the second configuration, the length of the platform is less than approximately 4.6 m.
6. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the platform further comprises a guard rail.
7. The platform of claim 6, wherein the guard rail is extendable.
8. The platform of claim 7, wherein the extendable guard rail is connected to the extending section of the support structure such that when the platform is in the second configuration, the guard rail is extended.
9. The platform of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the guard rail is provided by a panel.
10. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein an extending section telescopes with respect to a main support member of the support structure.
11. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the support structure comprises two elongate main support members each provided with at least one extending section.
12. The platform of any preceding claim, configured such that when the plafform is in the second configuration, the wing is rotatably secured to the extending section at a point which is located at the distal end of the work surface.
13. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the wing has a first end and a second end and wherein the extending section is rotatably secured to the second end of the wing, such that: in the first configuration, the second end of the wing is adjacent to the deck; and in the second configuration, the first end of the wing is adjacent to the deck and the second end defines a distal end of the work surface.
14. The platform of claim 13, configured such that when in the first configuration, the first end of the wing is substantially above the second end of the wing.
15. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein when the platform is in the second configuration, a surface of the wing is substantially flush with a surface of the deck, to define a substantially planar work surface.
16. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein there are two extendable sections, one extending from each end of the support structure, and a wing rotatably secured to each respective extending section.
17. The platform of any preceding claim, further comprising a securing element to releasably secure the wing to the support structure and/or the deck.
18. A climbing screen comprising at least one platform according to any preceding claim.
19. The climbing screen of claim 18, wherein two platforms are connected to a climbing screen support structure.
20. A platform substantially as herein before described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings
21. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims: 1. A platform providing a work surface, the platform comprising: an extendable support structure; a deck mounted on the support structure; a wing rotatably secured to an extending section of the support structure, wherein: in a first configuration, the extending section is retracted and the wing is inactive such that it does not define part of the work surface; and in a second configuration, the support structure is extended and the wing is positioned to be supported by the support structure such that the deck and wing together define the work surface.2. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the wing can be moved between the first configuration and the second configuration by a user located on the work surface.3. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein in the first configuration, the length of the platform is not greater than 2.9 m.4. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein in the second configuration, the length of the platform is greater than approximately 3.5 m.5. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein in the second configuration, the length of the platform is less than approximately 4.6 m.6. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the platform further comprises a guard rail.7. The platform of claim 6, wherein the guard rail is extendable.8. The platform of claim 7, wherein the extendable guard rail is connected to the extending section of the support structure such that when the platform is in the second configuration, the guard rail is extended.9. The platform of any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the guard rail is provided by a panel.10. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein an extending section telescopes with respect to a main support member of the support structure.11. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the support structure comprises two elongate main support members each provided with at least one extending section.12. The platform of any preceding claim, configured such that when the plafform is in the second configuration, the wing is rotatably secured to the extending section at a point which is located at the distal end of the work surface.13. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein the wing has a first end and a second end and wherein the extending section is rotatably secured to the second end of the wing, such that: in the first configuration, the second end of the wing is adjacent to the deck; and in the second configuration, the first end of the wing is adjacent to the deck and the second end defines a distal end of the work surface.14. The platform of claim 13, configured such that when in the first configuration, the first end of the wing is substantially above the second end of the wing.15. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein when the platform is in the second configuration, a surface of the wing is substantially flush with a surface of the deck, to define a substantially planar work surface.16. The platform of any preceding claim, wherein there are two extendable sections, one extending from each end of the support structure, and a wing rotatably secured to each respective extending section.1 7. The platform of any preceding claim, further comprising a securing 1 0 element to releasably secure the wing to the support structure and/or the deck.18. A climbing screen comprising at least one platform according to any preceding claim.C\I 19. The climbing screen of claim 18 wherein two platforms are connected r to a climbing screen support structure.o 20. A platform substantially as herein before described with reference to and CY) 20 as shown in the accompanying drawings.