GB2499834A

GB2499834A - Transporter platform with base plate and cage for attachment to a hydraulic arm

Info

Publication number: GB2499834A
Application number: GB201203678A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin Pownall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-03-01
Filing date: 2012-03-01
Publication date: 2013-09-04
Also published as: GB201203678D0

Abstract

A transporter platform for carrying people, having a base plate 101 and an adapter plate 102 attached to the base plate 101 and arranged to form a releasable mounting for connection to a hydraulic arm lifting device 103. A cage 104, 108 is supported by the base plate 101 at a position displaced from the adapter plate 102. The adapter plate 102 may be bolted to the base plate 101, and may be similar to alternative adapter plates used for attachment of operational tools. The hydraulic arm 103 may extend from a mobile base which has a drivers cabin. A first cage 104 may be counter balanced on the platform by a second cage 108. The platform may support one or more operatives, and may be a rescue cage. The transporter may have a secondary, flexible attachment 109, 110, which could be a chain or strop, and the cage may have an openable roof 111 and climbing apparatus 112 for emergency escape. The transporter may have a transparent protective wall 113 next to the hydraulic arm, and may be for use in a port for transporting material from a quayside to a ship.

Description

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Transporter for Operatives

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a transporter for operatives or tools.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to transport operatives using cages attached to cranes or similar transporting devices. When using such systems, a flexible connecting apparatus is provided between the top of the crane and the top of the cage. In this way, if the cage is lowered more than is actually necessary, the chain or rope will flex such that no force is applied to the top of the cage.

Recently, there has been a trend towards replacing conventional cranes with devices deploying a hydraulic arm. Such systems, for example, are used at ports in order to transport material from a quayside to a ship and similarly off the ship back to a quayside. Conventional cranes have been used to transport operatives on and off ships but a problem arises when using devices with hydraulic arms.

Typically, hydraulic arms of this type are capable of lifting loads in excess of 30 tonnes. Similarly, when lowering a cage, it is possible for the whole of this force to be directed towards the floor. Thus, should an accident occur, it is possible for 30 tonnes of force to be directed onto the top of the cage thereby easily destroying the cage and crushing the operatives inside.

Consequently, it is not possible to use conventional cage systems when using hydraulic arm based lifting equipment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a transporter of the aforesaid type, comprising a base plate; an adapter-plate attached to said base plate configured to be releasably connected to a hydraulic arm lifting device; and a cage supported by said base plate at a position displaced from said adapter-plate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying Figure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

A transporter for operatives is illustrated in Figure 1. The transporter is provided with a base plate 101. An adapter-plate 102 is attached to base plate 101 and is configured to be releasably connected to a hydraulic arm 103 of a lifting device.

A first cage 104 is supported by the base plate 101 at a position displaced from the adapter-plate 102, as illustrated by arrow 105.

The adapter-plate 102 may be a proprietary item designed to facilitate the attachment of tools to the hydraulic arm 103. These may be referred to as "operational tools" and include such devices as hooks, grabbers and buckets etc for the transportation of material. In an embodiment, this includes the transportation of material onto ships and from ships.

In an embodiment, the adapter-plate 102 is bolted to the base plate

In an embodiment, the hydraulic arm 103 extends from a mobile base that includes a driver's cabin. The mobile base may be transported by conventional wheels, steel wheels or caterpillar tracks etc.

As shown in Figure 1, the cage 104 is supported on a first side 106 of the hydraulic arm 103. Thus, cage 104 is on a first side 106 of the base plate 101. In this way, the cage 104 is effectively supported from the hydraulic arm 103 by a cantilever. In order to balance cage 104, a counterbalance is provided that is supported on a second side 107 of the base plate 101. Thus, the counterbalance is supported on the second side 107 opposite to the first side 106 of the base plate 101.

In some embodiments, the counter balance could be merely a deadweight in order to stabilise the overall configuration. However, in an embodiment, the counterbalance is a second cage 108 that may be substantially similar to the first cage 104.

In an embodiment, cage 104 (and possibly cage 108) is configured to support two standing operatives. In an alternative embodiment, the cage may be configured to support three or more standing operatives. In a further alternative embodiment, the cage 104 may be a rescue cage configured to support at least one operative in a reclined position or lying down position.

In an embodiment, the transporter includes a secondary attachment to support the cage if base plate 101 is released. It will be appreciated that the purpose of the adapter-plate 102 is to facilitate the quick release of attachments such that the hydraulic arm may be made available for a plurality of activities. However, under such conditions, there is always a risk that the adapter-plate could be released accidently which, in this particular application, could result in cage 104, along with its operative, suffering a substantial fall.

Thus, the provision of secondary attachments ensures that should the adapter-plate be released accidently, cage 104 is still retained by hydraulic arm 103.

In an embodiment, the secondary attachment is a flexible attachment 109 connecting cage 104 to hydraulic arm 103. In an embodiment, the flexible attachment 109 is a chain. When two balancing cages are provided, as shown in Figure 1, a similar chain 110 is attached to hydraulic arm 103 and the second cage 108. In an alternative embodiment, the flexible attachment 109 is a strop.

In an embodiment, the transporter has a roof 111 and this roof can be opened in order to facilitate an emergency escape. An emergency escape may become necessary should the equipment fail during the transportation of operative. Thus, it is possible that operatives could effectively be suspended over a quayside when an equipment failure occurs. Such a problem could be made worse if there is a rising tide such that there is a fine time window during which the operatives must be allowed to escape from the cage. Thus, in an embodiment, cage 104 is provided with a roof 111 but this roof is openable to facilitate emergency escape.

In an embodiment, climbing apparatus 112 are attached to the hydraulic arm 103 to further facilitate an emergency escape.

In an embodiment, the cage 104 has a protecting wall 113 on a side adjacent to the hydraulic arm 103. The protecting wall 113 may be provided to ensure that should there be a release of hydraulic fluid, it is not possible for this fluid to reach operatives held within the cage. In an embodiment, the protecting wall is substantially transparent and may be fabricated from Perspex.

Claims

Claims What we claim is:

1. A transporter for operatives, comprising:

a base plate;

an adapter-plate attached to said base plate configured to be releasably connected to a hydraulic arm lifting device; and a cage supported by said base plate at a position displaced from said adapter-plate.

2. The transporter of claim 1, wherein said adapter-plate is bolted to said base plate.

3. The transporter of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said adapter-plate is substantially similar to alternative adapter-plates used for the attachment of operational tools.

4. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 3, wherein said hydraulic arm extends from a mobile base and includes a driver's cabin.

5. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said cage is supported on a first side of said base plate and a counter-balance is supported on a second side of said base plate, opposite said first side of said base plate.

6. The transporter of claim 5, wherein said counter balance is a second cage.

7. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cage is

configured to support a single standing operative.

8. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cage is configured to support two standing operatives.

9. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cage is configured to support three or more standing operatives.

10. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein said cage is a rescue cage configured to support at least one operative in a reclined position.

11. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 10, including a secondary attachment to support the cage if the base plate is released.

12. The transporter of claim 11, wherein said secondary attachment is a flexible attachment connecting the cage to said hydraulic arm.

13. The transporter of claim 12, wherein said flexible attachment is a chain.

14. The transporter of claim 12, wherein said flexible attachment is a strop.

15. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein said cage has a roof and said roof is openable to facilitate emergency escape.

16. The transporter of claim 15, further comprising a climbing

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apparatus attached to said hydraulic arm to further facilitate said emergency escape.

17. The transporter of any of claims 1 to 16, wherein said cage has a 5 protecting wall on a side adjacent to said hydraulic arm.

18. The transporter of claim 17, wherein said protecting wall is substantially transparent.

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