GB2528991A

GB2528991A - Bendable climbing screen and system

Info

Publication number: GB2528991A
Application number: GB1414894.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Taylor
Original assignee: Ischebeck Titan Ltd
Current assignee: Ischebeck Titan Ltd
Priority date: 2014-08-08
Filing date: 2014-08-21
Publication date: 2016-02-10
Anticipated expiration: 2034-08-21
Also published as: GB2528991B; GB201414894D0; GB201414112D0

Abstract

A climbing screen 2 with a climbing rail 3 for attaching to and vertically translating along a construction, and a safety screen 11 supported by the rail, wherein the safety screen and/or climbing rail have hinges 15,16 that allow the screen to bend, for example around a balcony or overhang. The sections may be joined end to end, lie parallel in the same plane or at an oblique angle. Push pull props 100 may be used to control the angle between adjacent sections. There may be a plurality of climbing screen supports 5 which may secure only one section of the climbing screen to the construction. The supports have support rails securable to the floors of the construction, mounting arms slidably attached to the support rails, and climbing shoes secured to the climbing rail. One or more of the mounting arms may be driven by hydraulics or screws to allow horizontal translation of all or part of the climbing screen, to alter the angle between adjacent sections.

Description

Bendable climbing screen and system The present disclosure relates to a climbing screen, in particular to a bendable climbing screen, which may follow the contours of a new building during construction. It further relates to a climbing screen system comprising the bendable climbing screen and one or more climbing screen supports.

In modern construction, particularly in the construction of high rise buildings it is common to have a central core, which houses lift shafts and stairwells and which provides support to the floors of the construction, wherein the central core and floors are formed by poured concrete. Such structures commonly have no external walls. During large periods of construction therefore, the floors remain open at their edges. It is only when a façade is introduced that the perimeter of the building is enclosed. Such open floors cause numerous health and safety risks. Workers operating on the exposed floors of the construction are at risk of falling from the construction. Workers or members of the public on the ground are at risk from tools, equipment or debris falling from the exposed floors.

It is known to provide safety screens, which extend around at least a portion of the perimeter of constructions, which effectively provide a temporary façade, and advantageously provide safe working platforms spaced outwardly from the floors. These safety screens are advantageously moveable vertically to protect the perimeter of any required floor as the construction progresses. Such screens are commonly referred to as "climbing screens". Movement of the climbing screens up the construction may be effected either by crane or by hydraulic lifting equipment located on floors of the construction.

These climbing screens typically comprise a climbing rail and a safety screen. The climbing rail is engaged, in use, byfloorguides, which project outwardly from the edges of the floors. The floor guides allow translation of the climbing screen along the construction and are further operable to lock the position of the climbing screen adjacent appropriate floors during use.

Whilst high rise buildings were previously predominantly straight sided, extending straight up vertically, there has been an architectural trend to form high rise building that move in and out in the horizontal and/or vertical direction as they rise vertically, notable examples include the "Gherkin" and "Walkie Talkie" buildings in London, UK. Such complex shaped buildings present problems when using conventional climbing screens.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide an improved climbing screen system suitable for following the contours of a new building during construction.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a climbing screen comprising a climbing rail, which is adapted to be mountable on and vertically translatable along a construction, and a safety screen, which is supported by the climbing rail, wherein the climbing rail and/or the safety screen are bendable towards and/or away from the construction.

The safety screen is arranged, in use, to close off the open perimeter of one or more floors of the construction.

According to the present invention in a further aspect there is provided a climbing screen system comprising a climbing screen as detailed above and a plurality of climbing screen supports, one or more of the climbing screen supports comprising: a support rail fixable to the surface of a floor of a construction, adjacent an edge of the floor; a mounting arm slidably securable to the rail so as to confine movement of the mounting arm in a linear direction along the support rail; and a climbing shoe attachable to an end of the mounting arm, wherein driving means are provided for sliding the mounting arm along the support rail.

Further, preferred, features are presented in the dependent claims.

Non-limiting embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of a climbing screen system according to a first embodiment with the climbing screen in a bent configuration; Figure 2 shows the climbing screen system of Figure 1 in a straight configuration; Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the climbing screen system of Figure 1; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a climbing screen according to the first embodiment; Figure 5 to 7 show side views of a climbing screen system attached to a construction during nine stages of operation; and Figure 8 shows a plan view of a climbing screen system attached to a construction during a rotation step.

Figure 1 shows a climbing screen system 1 attached to a construction. The climbing screen system 1 comprises, broadly, a climbing screen 2 and a plurality of climbing screen supports (otherwise referred to as floor guides or needles) 5. The climbing screen itself comprises, broadly, a climbing rail 3 and a safety screen 4.

The climbing screen 2 is shown in a bent configuration in Figures 1, 3 and 4; and is shown in a straight configuration in Figure 2.

The climbing screen comprises a first (upper) section 10 and a second (lower) section 20. The lower section preferably comprises a rigid self-supporting framework. The upper section 10 is hingedly attached to the lower section 20. Driving means are provided, which are arranged to control the bending of the climbing screen (by altering the angle between the upper and lower sections 10, 20) and thereby to move the screen between the straight and bent configurations as necessary during the travel of the climbing screen up a construction.

Whilst a push/pull prop 100 extending at an oblique angle between the climbing rail 3 and the safety screen 4 is shown as the driving means, which push/pull prop may be hydraulic or screw driven or otherwise actuated, numerous alternative arrangements/mechanisms for controlling the bending of the screen will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

In the straight configuration, the upper and lower sections of the safety screen 4, extend parallel to one another and lie in the same plane. In the bent configuration, the upper and lower sections lie at an oblique angle to one another. In the present arrangement, the same applies to the climbing rail, with the upper and lower climbing rail sections either parallel and lying in the same plane or at an oblique angle to one another.

The present arrangement is such that the upper sections of the safety screen and the climbing rail 3 are substantially parallel to one another at all times. This need not be the case, however.

It is preferable that only the lower section 20 is attached to the construction, with the upper section 10 supported by the lower section. In alternative arrangements, however, the upper section 10 may also be attached to the construction using further climbing screen supports 5. Moreover, whilst the upper section 10 is shown to be provided with climbing rails 3 and a safety screen 4, it is possible that in alternative arrangements, the upper section may comprise the safety screen 4 only. In this case the safety screen will be bendable but the climbing rails will not. The climbing rails will comprise the fixed/non-bendable lower sections only. A number of configurations will be conceived by those skilled

in the art based on this disclosure.

An exemplary structure for the lower section of the climbing screen 2 will now be considered.

The lower section 20 comprises at least two climbing rails 3 and a safety screen 4. In the present arrangement, there are three climbing rails provided. The climbing rails are adapted to engage the climbing screen support elements S that project outwardly from the edges of the floors of a construction so that the climbing screen may be mounted on and translated along the construction. The climbing screen 2 may be translated vertically up the building being constructed either by use of a crane or by using a self-climbing mechanism, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Whilst three climbing rails are shown in Figure 4, it should be appreciated that there need not specifically be three such rails. Further climbing rails may be provided or there may only be two climbing rails per climbing screen.

The safety screen 4 comprises longitudinally extending screen support members 6, a plurality of screen panel support brackets 10 and a plurality of screen panels 11. Other configurations will, of course, be possible.

Each of the screen support members 6 is paired with a respective one of the climbing rails. The paired climbing rails and screen support members are parallel to one another and in alignment with one another. The screen support members lie outwardly of the climbing rails in use (in a direction away from the construction) is spaced relation thereto. The paired climbing rails and screen support members are joined to one another by a plurality of support elements 7 that are fixed thereto and extend therebetween. A number of the support elements support platforms 8, which in turn are adapted to support work surfaces (not shown). Also extending between the paired climbing rails and screen support members are a plurality of tie braces 9, which provide increased rigidity to the climbing screen 2. Each tie brace extends at an oblique angle relative to the climbing rails and screen support members. The tie braces are preferably provided in pairs that cross with one another and combine to form an X-shape, as seen most clearly in the side view of Figures 1 and 2.

The number and configuration of support elements 7 and tie braces 9 is not limited.

More or less support elements and tie braces may be provided, and in various configurations.

Attached to the vertically extending screen support members 6 are the plurality of screen panel support brackets 10, which support the plurality of screen panels 11, which panels close off the open perimeter of the floors of the construction and prevent injury to workers on the floors or those on the ground. The screen panels 11 are preferably rigid mesh panels.

An exemplary structure for the upper section of the climbing screen 2 will now be considered.

The structure of the upper section 10 may be largely identical in construction to the lower section 20, as seen in the figures. In place of the tie braces there is provided the push/pull prop 100.

It is preferable that in at least the upper portion 10 the support elements] are pivotally mounted so that as the angle of the climbing rails 3 and a safety screen 4 is altered the support elements (and platforms supported thereby) remain horizontal. The support elements] may however remain perpendicular to the climbing rails 3 and safety screen 4 of the upper portion 10 in both the upper and lower sections, wherein wedge like or articulating platforms may be attached to the supports to provide horizontal work surfaces.

The climbing rails are split with the two sections of climbing rail joined end to end using a hinge mechanism 15 at the junction between the lower section 20 and the upper section 10 of the climbing screen. The screen support members 6 are also split with the two sections of support member joined end to end using a further hinge mechanism 16 at the junction between the lower section 20 and the upper section 10 of the climbing screen. The push/pull prop 100 preferably extends between the hinge mechanism 15 on the climbing rail 3 and a suitable hinge mechanism 17, which is preferably provided on the screen support member 6 of the upper section 10. The screen panels 11 of the upper section 10 and the screen panels 11 of the lower section 20 are spaced vertically from one another by a small distance to allow the bending outwards of the climbing screen 2.

There may be a push/pull prop provided for each of the screen support members 6 of the upper section 10. In alternative arrangements there may be more or less push/pull props 100 provided.

In the climbing screen system it is preferable that the climbing screen supports 5 are arranged to slide in and out to move a portion of the climbing rail that is gripped thereby towards or away from the building in a horizontal direction. With such an arrangement, not only may the upper section 10 be provided at an angle to the second section 20 but also, the lower section 20 may be attached to the construction at an angle to the vertical. Moreover the angle to the vertical of the lower section 20 may be altered whilst the climbing screen 2 is attached to a construction, i.e. during its vertical travel along a construction. This is of particular use in the construction of buildings that move in and out in the horizontal direction as they extend upwards in the vertical direction. The principle is described in greater detail below.

Specifically, one or more of the climbing screen supports 5 may comprise a support rail fixable to the surface of a floor of the construction adjacent an edge of the floor, a mounting arm slidably securable to the rail so as to confine movement of the mounting arm in a linear direction along the support rail, and a climbing shoe attachable to an end of the mounting arm, wherein driving means are provided for sliding the mounting arm along the support rail. The driving means may comprise any conventional driving means known in the art, including but not limited to hydraulic rams, jacks or screw drives.

As a further development one or more of the climbing screen supports 5 may be arranged to rotate in the horizontal plane. Such rotation may be in addition to or as an alternative to the sliding aspect described above. To provide rotation, the support rail may be rotatably mounted using any suitable means.

There may be arrangements where a combination of rotatable and extendable climbing screen supports 5 are used, as described in greater detail below.

An example climbing sequence of a climbing screen system in accordance with the present arrangement will now be described.

Figures 5 to 7 show eight stages during which a climbing screen according to the present arrangement is attached to a construction.

Note that in the present arrangement the lower section 20 has a greater vertical dimension that the height of two floors of the construction, and has a greater vertical dimension than the upper section 10, which itself has a greater vertical dimension than the height of a single floor of the construction. It should be noted that depending on the construction the dimensions of the upper and lower sections may be varied both absolutely and relative to one another. It is preferable that the climbing screen always has a vertical dimension that is greater than the height of two floors of any construction it is attached to.

Considering the stages in turn: Stage 1: The climbing screen is attached to the construction using two climbing screen supports 5, which are provided on adjacent floors of the construction. The climbing screen supports engage the climbing rail 3 of the lower section 20 only. The upper and lower sections 10,20 are aligned with one another. The lower section 20 of the climbing screen is held at an oblique angle to the vertical by the climbing screen supports 5.

(i) A new floor above the existing floors is poured.

Stage 2: The upper and lower sections 10, 20 of the climbing screen remain in alignment with one another. The lower section 20 remains at an oblique angle to the vertical.

(i) A new floor above the existing floors is poured; (ii) A climbing screen support 5 is attached to the floor poured in stage 1 and is engaged with the climbing rail 3 of the lower section; and (iii) The lowermost climbing screen support S is disengaged from the climbing rail 3 of the lower section and is removed.

Stage 3: The upper and lower sections 10, 20 of the climbing screen remain in alignment with one another. The lower section 20 remains at an oblique angle to the vertical. The lower section 20 is tilted away from the construction.

(i) The climbing screen is lifted by crane or other suitable lifting means.

Stage 4: The climbing screen is bent towards the construction. The upper and lower sections 10, 20 of the screen are at an oblique angle to one another (by bending the screen instep (ii) below). The lower section 20 remains at an oblique angle to the vertical.

(I) A climbing screen support 5 is attached to the floor poured in stage 2 and is engaged with the climbing rail 3 of the lower section; (ii) The climbing screen is bent by actuation of the push/pull prop to pull the upper section 10 towards the construction; and (iii) A new floor above the existing floors is poured; Stage 5: The climbing screen remains bent towards the construction. The lower section 20 remains at an oblique angle to the vertical.

(i) The climbing screen is lifted by crane or suitable lifting means; (ii) The lowermost climbing screen support 5 is removed; and (iii) A climbing screen supports is attached to the floor poured in stage 4 and is engaged with the climbing rail 3 of the lower section.

Stage 6: The climbing screen remains bent towards the construction. The lower section 20 remains at an oblique angle to the vertical.

(i) The lowermost climbing screen supports is removed; and (ii) The mounting arm of the uppermost climbing screen supportS is drawn inwardly (to alter the angle to the vertical of the lower section 20).

As shown, the angle of the lower section 20 to the vertical may be altered when the climbing screen is attached to the construction.

Stage 7: The climbing screen remains bent towards the construction. The lower section 20 extends vertically (following step (ii) of stage 6).

(i) A new floor above the existing floors is poured.

Stage 8: The climbing screen remains bent towards the construction. The lower section 20 extends vertically.

(I) The climbing screen is lifted by crane or other suitable lifting means.

Stage 9: The climbing screen remains bent towards the construction. The lower section 20 extends at an oblique angle to the vertical (following step (i) below). The lower section 20 is tilted towards the construction.

(i) The mounting arm of the uppermost climbing screen supportS is drawn inwardly (to alter the angle to the vertical of the lower section 20); and (ii) A new floor above the existing floors is poured.

In further step the construction is progressed with the climbing screen following the contours of the construction and closing off the open perimeters of the floors of the construction as it is translated vertically along the construction.

It should be noted that whilst the disclosed climbing screens only feature first and second sections, additional sections may be introduced, which permit further flexibility, the further sections being configurable as described above in respect of the first and second sections.

As a further means of adapting to the contours of the building, as mentioned above, the climbing screen system may comprise one or more climbing screen supports 5 that are arranged to rotate in the horizontal plane.

Figure 8 shows a plan view of a climbing screen 2 that is mounted to a floor of a construction by three horizontally spaced climbing screen supports 5. The climbing screen supports are slidably movable inwards and outwards, as discussed above. In addition, the middle supportS is rotatably mounted to the floor of the construction, wherein by sliding the outer supports 5, the climbing screen may be pivoted as shown.

Claims

Claims 1. A climbing screen comprising a climbing rail, which is adapted to be mountable on and vertically translatable along a construction, and a safety screen, which is supported by the climbing rail, wherein the climbing rail and/or the safety screen are bendable in a direction towards and/or away from the construction.
2. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the climbing rail and/or the safety screen comprises a first section and a second section, which are hingedly connected to one another.
3. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 2, wherein, in use, the first section is arranged vertically above the second section.
4. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the first and second sections are joined end to end.
5. A climbing screen as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 5, wherein the first and second sections are movable between a first configuration in which they lie parallel to one another and a second configuration in which they lie at an oblique angle to one another.
6. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 5, wherein in the first configuration, the first and second sections lie in the same plane as one another.
7. A climbing screen as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 6, wherein driving means are provided for controlling the angle between the first and second sections of the climbing rail and/or safety screen.
8. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the driving means comprises one or more push/pull props.
9. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the one or more push pull props extend between the climbing rail and the safety screen.
10. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the safety screen, in use, has a vertical dimension that is greater than the height of two floors of a building.
11. A climbing screen as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 10, wherein both the climbing rail and the safety screen are bendable and the first sections of the climbing rail and the safety screen are operatively linked, such that they extend substantially parallel to one another at all times.
12. A climbing screen as claimed in any of Claims 2 to 11, wherein the second sections of the climbing rail and the safety screen are joined to one another by a plurality of support elements, wherein the support elements maintain the second sections of the climbing rail and safety screen parallel to one another at all times.
13. A climbing screen system, which comprises a climbing screen according to any preceding claim and a plurality of climbing screen supports, one or more of the climbing screen supports comprising: a support rail fixable to the surface of a floor of a construction, adjacent an edge of the floor; a mounting arm slidably securable to the rail so as to confine movement of the mounting arm in a linear direction along the support rail; and a climbing shoe attachable to an end of the mounting arm, wherein driving means are provided for sliding the mounting arm along the support rail.
14. A climbing screen system as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the driving means comprises hydraulic or screw drive means.
15. A climbing screen system as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, when dependent on any of Claims 2 to 12, wherein the second section of the climbing rail is engaged by at least two of the climbing screen supports, and the angle of the second section of the climbing rail may be altered by sliding movement of the mounting arms of the climbing screen supports.
16. A method of conforming a climbing screen system according to Claim 15 to a building, the method comprising: altering the angle of the second section of the climbing rail to the vertical by sliding movement of at least one of the mounting arms of the climbing screen supports towards or away from the construction; and/or bending the climbing rail and/or the safety screen towards or away from the construction.
17. A climbing screen as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
18. A climbing screen system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.