GB2563231A

GB2563231A - Methods and apparatus for building construction

Info

Publication number: GB2563231A
Application number: GB1708990.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Farmer Nicholas; William Farmer Paul
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2017-06-06
Filing date: 2017-06-06
Publication date: 2018-12-12
Also published as: GB201708990D0

Abstract

A builders' access system 6 comprises a platform for supporting personnel and building materials. Two jacks 7 support each end of the platform so that it can be raised and lowered by the jacks, which are controlled to keep the platform horizontal. An additional platform may be supported by one of the jacks and extend to and be supported by a third jack. The access system may completely surround a building 11 during construction. The jack may be in the form of a scissor jack and the platform may comprise a plurality of reversibly interlocking platform sections. The access system may include a loading gate and self-levelling stairs. Staging may be attached to and supported by one or more platforms, and a retractable guard rail 16 may be provided. A method of affording access to a building under construction comprises the step of raising jacks as access is required at different heights during construction or repair.

Description

METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to apparatus to provide access to buildings during construction or repair. The invention also relates to methods of using such apparatus.

Background and Prior Art

During the constructions of buildings, especially houses, scaffolding is typically used to provide the builders with access to the construction. Such scaffolding is assembled by hand typically using a combination of steel tubes (scaffolding poles), boards, and clamps (also known as “couplers”). Figure 1 illustrates, in elevation view, a typical arrangement of part of a known scaffolding arrangement, generally indicated by 1. The scaffolding is constructed from an arrangement of vertical and horizontal poles 2 secured together with clamps (not illustrated). The poles are typically either steel or aluminium tubes, with an outside diameter of around 50mm. Diagonally-oriented poles 3 are often used to provide structural stability to the arrangement. These can, unfortunately, impede access along the working platform. Elongate boards 4 are placed on the structure to provide a working platform. These are traditionally made of wood, but in recent times are also made of plastics composites. A board 5 is typically arranged in a vertical orientation to form a “toeboard” to prevent workers slipping off the edge of the working platform, and reduce the chance that tools, materials might be accidentally knocked off the platform, creating a hazard for personnel at a lower level.

During building construction, the scaffolding is erected in stages (often referred to as “lifts” in the UK) as the height of the building being constructed increases. The first lift typically has a working platform height of up to about 2.7m, with subsequent lifts being added at around 2m intervals. Once builders have finished working at ground level the first lift is installed, which requires the scaffolding specialists to visit the site to erect the scaffolding. As work progresses, scaffolders again need to visit the site periodically to add subsequent lifts, and to remove them as work is completed. This requirement for repeated visits to the site causes interruptions to the flow of the building work, requires careful project management to minimise delays, and adds costs to the project.

In addition, the scaffolding is typically secured to the structure of the building under construction e.g. by the use of various ties: for example, through ties are used where they can extend through an opening such a window, and may be secured in place with horizontal and/or vertical bars spanning the inside face of the opening; box ties may be used to secure scaffolding to existing pillars on the structure; in masonry building construction, so-called “putlog” ties may be used to anchor the scaffolding to holes left within the masonry.

As the height of the working platform increases, it becomes more difficult to deliver building materials to the platform - sometimes, a hoist is constructed to allow materials to be moved up to the working height; mechanical conveyors may also be used. In extremis, bricks and other materials can be carried up ladders using brick hods or tongs.

It is among the objects of the present invention to attempt a solution to these and other problems.

Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the invention provides a builders’ access system comprising: (a) a platform for supporting personnel and building materials; (b) two ground-engaging jacks, each locatable at an end of said platform such that the platform is supported by and extends between the jacks, said jacks being capable of reversibly displacing the platform in a vertical direction; and (c) a controller to control the operation of said jacks such that the platform remains substantially horizontal, in use.

Preferably, the system further comprises an additional platform supported by one of said jacks, said additional platform extending to, and supported by, a third such jack, and wherein said controller controls the operation of all of said jacks to maintain the platforms substantially horizontal.

More preferably, the access systems is configured to surround the corner of a building during construction or repair. Yet more preferably, the access system is configured to completely surround a building during construction or repair.

In any aspect of the invention it is preferred that said jack is a scissor jack.

Also in any aspect of the invention it is preferred that at least one of said platforms comprises a plurality of reversibly interlocking platform sections.

Also in any aspect of the invention it is preferred that the access system further comprises a loading gate.

Also in any aspect of the invention it is preferred that the access system further comprises self-levelling stairs extending from the ground to a platform.

Also in any aspect of the invention it is preferred that the access system further comprises staging configured to attach to and be supported by one or more platforms.

Also in any aspect of the invention it is preferred that the access system further comprises a retractable guard rail.

The invention also provides a method of affording access to a building under construction or repair comprising the steps of (a) providing an access system described above; (b) locating said jacks in position adjacent said building; (c) spanning the gap between said jacks with a platform; (d) raising said platform using said jacks as access is required at different heights during construction or repair.

Preferably, when said access system comprises more than two jacks, the access system surrounds a corner of the building under construction or repair.

Preferably, when said access system comprises more than two jacks, the access system completely surrounds the building under construction or repair.

In any such method, it is preferred that the method further comprises the steps of: (a) lowering said platform from a working height to a position close to ground level during construction or repair; (b) loading materials onto said platform; and (c) raising said platform to a working height.

Among the advantages of such an access system is it can be raised and lowered at will on the building site, without the need to use hand-assembled scaffolding, requiring a specialist team to install and remove from site, and interfering with the flow of the building work. The access system of the invention is also free-standing, and so leaves no unwanted holes in the building. Damage to the building materials is also avoided as, unlike scaffolding, the system is not in contact with the building.

Also, the ability to raise and lower the platform at will, gives rise to the possibility of mounting an automated brick-laying machine on the platform. Such machines, although in their infancy, currently require repositioning after each course of bricks is laid. By mounting such a machine on a system according to the invention, this process could be automated, as the platform may be raised by a course height after each course is laid.

Brief Description of the Figures

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a cross-section through a prior art scaffolding;

Figures 2-5 are schematic plan views of embodiments of access systems of the invention;

Figures 6-8 illustrate, in elevation view, an access system of the invention being used to build a house;

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate, in elevation and plan view respectively, an access system of the invention being used on the gable end of a house.

Figure 11 illustrates, in perspective view, a personnel guard for use in the invention; Figures 12 and 13 illustrate, in perspective view, a loading gate for use in the invention;

Figure 14 illustrates, in elevation view, a self-levelling staircase for use in the invention;

Figure 15 illustrates in plan view an embodiment of an access system of the invention; and

Figures 16 to 19 illustrate detail views of a platform section forming part of an access system of the invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments

Figure 2 illustrates, in schematic plan view, a builders’ access system of the invention, generally indicated by 6. The access system 6 comprises two jacks 7, located at ground level, either directly on the ground, or on a permanent or temporary foundation (e.g. plates or boards). A platform 8 extends between the jacks 7, and is supported by a jack at each end. A platform would typically be about 1.5m wide. The platform may extend onto the surface of the jack, or e.g. be attached to an edge of the jack’s upper surface. Suitable constructional details will be described below. The movement of the jacks is controlled by a controller 9 that can send control signals 10 to each jack 7. In a simple embodiment, the control might merely be that the jacks are configured to rise and fall at the same rate when provided with power, and the controller controls the jacks by ensuring that they are turned on and off either at the same time, or remain on for the same amount of time. In more complex embodiments, tilt sensors (not illustrated), or elevation sensors might be provided on the platform, and a more sophisticated control algorithm used to control the operation of each jack to ensure that platform remains substantially horizontal. The control signals could be sent through wires connected to each jack, but could also be send wirelessly (e.g. using Bluetooth® communication, on-site WiFi, or another radio-communication protocol). The use of wireless communication would be an advantage on a building site, as cables might cause a trip hazard, and could be damaged by building work.

In this embodiment, the access system 6 is located adjacent the building 11 to be repaired or built. In especially preferred embodiments, the jacks 7 take the form of scissor jacks. These type of jacks are particularly stable at least up to the required height for typical 2-storey house building (ca. 7m).

Figure 3 illustrates, in schematic plan view, a further embodiment of an access system of the invention, generally indicated by 6 and method of using the access system. In this embodiment, four jacks 7 are provided, with one being positioned at each corner of the footprint of a building 11 to be repaired or constructed. Platforms 8 span the gap between adjacent pairs of jacks 7. Each of the platforms is formed from a number of individual platform sections 12 that can be reversibly interlocked with each other to form a platform 18 of the required length. Again, a controller 9 controls the operation of each jack 7 such that the platforms remain substantially horizontal when the working platform is raised and lowered to different heights. The controller may operate as described above. In subsequent figures, the controller element is omitted, merely for clarity.

Figure 4 illustrates, in schematic plan view, a further embodiment of an access system 6 and its use. This figure illustrates the use of an access system 6 of the invention in relation to a generally L-shaped house plan 11. Jacks 7 are located at ground level at each external and internal corner of the house plan 11, and platforms 8, comprising platform sections 12 span the gaps between the jacks. The movement of the jacks 7 is again controlled to maintain the platforms in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Figure 5 illustrates, in schematic plan view a yet further embodiment of an access system 6 and its use. In this case, the house to be built (or repaired) has a generally T-shaped plan 11. In this case, the jacks 7 can be positioned at the corners of a rectangle enclosing the house plan 11. Again, adjacent jacks 7 are spanned by platforms 8 that may be constructed from multiple individual platform sections 12. In order to provide access to the interior corner faces 13 of the building an extension to the platform may be formed by additional staging 14 that is supported by attaching it to one or more adjacent platforms 8 or platform sections 12.

In Figure 5, the staging 14 and platform elements 12 are illustrated in a spaced-apart configuration, for clarity, but the elements would typically abut each other. Where the projecting portion of the building is e.g. single-storey, additional staging 14 may be added as the platform is raised above the first storey height.

Figures 6-8 illustrate, in schematic elevation view, various stages of constructing a house 11 using an access system 6 of the invention. Figure 6 shows initial stages when the access system is first installed, after e.g. having poured foundations, and brought the brickwork up to l-2m height. Jacks 7, in this case scissor jacks 7, are positioned on the ground 15, and a platform 8 is created to span between the jacks 7. The individual elements of the system may be conveniently moved into place from a truck by use of a crane, such as a truck-mounted crane, for example those sold under the registered trademark HIAB®. Personnel guards 16 may be mounted at the external periphery of the platform, comprising e.g. a toeboard 5 and one or more handrail or fence-like elements 17 to prevent workers from falling from the platform.

As the height of the constructed building increases, the scissor jacks 7 are used to raise the height of the working platform 8 as illustrated in Figure 7.

Figure 8 illustrates a further stage in construction when the apparatus has been raised to its full extent. Like elements are numbered correspondingly.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate, in elevation and plan view respectively, a situation in which an access system of the invention is used adjacent a gable end of a building 11 under construction or repair. In the elevation view of Figure 9, only the personnel guards 16 at the inner periphery of the platform are illustrated, for the sake of clarity. As the working height increases, a gap would be left between the platform surface, and the roof structure, where the roof is lower than the platform. In order to continue to provide a safe working environment, a personnel guard may be positioned as shown on the left hand side in Figure 9. It is anticipated that the guards 16 would be mounted on the vertical edges of the platforms 8 or platform sections 12.

An alternative system for providing fall protection is illustrated on the right hand side of Figures 9 and 10. In this case, rather than providing one or more personnel guards 16 on the inner edge of the platform, and extending guard system is provided in the form of retractable cables or bands 18 that extend between one or more reels 19 at one end of the platform, and a post 20. The post may be moved along the platform to a convenient location when a longer section of the platform needs to be protected. Such a system is illustrated, in perspective view, in Figure 11. This shows a number of reels 19, containing retractable bands 18 that can be pulled from the reels 19 as indicated by the arrows in order to form a barrier system. In this case, two such bands are shown. It is anticipated that the bands could be locked in position, once extended, to ensure they provided adequate protection for workers. Alternatively, if a cable is provided instead of a band, workers can attach themselves to the cable via a slip ring such as a carabiner. A third such reel may be provided, to define a toeboard; alternatively separate toeboard elements (not illustrated) may be provided, mountable at the periphery of the platform sections.

In order to load materials and tools on and off the access system, loading gates may be provided. Figures 12 and 13 illustrate such a gate, of a form already known in the art, in perspective view, in closed and open configurations respectively. The gate comprises a fence section 17 mounted on a frame 22 that can be pivotally mounted about an axis of rotation 23 located towards the inner edge of the platform 8. When it is required to load materials or tools onto the platform, the platform may 8 be lowered to ground level by use of the jacks 7, the loading gate opened, and materials moved onto the platform by means e.g. of a forklift truck. The gate may then be closed again, and the platform raised back to its working height.

In order to provide safe access to the platform 8, it is envisaged that self-le veiling stairs 24 would be provided, that automatically adjust to the working height as the platform is raised and lowered. Such stairs 24 are already known in the art, and one example of them is illustrated in elevation view in Figure 14, for reference. In this example, the stairs 24 comprise two flights 25 connected by an intermediate landing 26. The lower landing 27 rests on the ground, and the upper landing 28 may be affixed to a platform 8 of the access system 6. As the platform is raised and lowered, the stairs automatically adjust to keep the stair treads 29 level, by means of pivoting joints 30.

Figure 15 illustrates, in schematic plan view, an access system of the invention, using such self-levelling stairs. Like elements already described are numbered accordingly.

Figures 16 and 17 illustrate, in elevation and plan view respectively, an embodiment of a platform section 12 forming part of an access system of the invention. The section 12 may conveniently be made from steel or aluminium C-shaped beams connected together (e.g. by welding) by transverse members 32. On top of the members, a working surface 33 is secured. This could be in the form of wooden or plastics sheet, or boards, or metal or plastics grating. The working surface 33 would ideally be non-slip, and configured not to hold pooled water when wet.

Figure 18 illustrates in cross-sectional view, a preferred configuration of the edge of the top platform 38 of one of the jacks 7. A hook shaped extension 33 is made to the edge of the jack’s platform 38. A fixing plate 34 is provided, that can be attached to an edge of a platform 8 or platform section 12 by means of e.g. threaded studs 36. The plate 34 can then slotted into the hook-shaped extension 33, and secured in position on the jack platform 38by means e.g. of a bolt 35.

Figure 19 illustrates a cross-sectional view through a platform 8, or platform section 12. As well as the features described above, diagonal bracing 37 is also provided to increase structural stability.

Claims

1. A builders’ access system comprising: (a) a platform for supporting personnel and building materials; (b) two ground-engaging jacks, each locatable at an end of said platform such that the platform is supported by and extends between the jacks, said jacks being capable of reversibly displacing the platform in a vertical direction; and (c) a controller to contr ol the operation of said jacks such that the platform remains substantially horizontal, in use.

2. An access system according to Claim 1 further comprising an additional platform supported by one of said jacks, said additional platform extending to, and supported by, a third such jack, and wherein said controller controls the operation of ad of said jacks to maintain the platforms substantially horizontal.

3. An access system according to Claim 2 configured to surround the corner of a building during construction or repair.

4. An access system according to Claim 2 configured to completely surround a building during construction or repair.

5. An access system according to any preceding claim wherein said jack is a scissor jack.

6. An access system according to any preceding claim wherein at least one of said platforms comprises a plurality of reversibly interlocking platform sections.

7. An access system according to any preceding claim further comprising a loading gate.

8. An access system according to any preceding claim further comprising self-leveiling stairs extending from the ground to a platform.

9. An access system according to any preceding claim further comprising staging configured to attach to and be supported by one or more platforms.

10. An access system according to any preceding claim further comprising a retractable guard rail.

11. A method of affording access to a building under construction or repair comprising the steps of: (a) providing an access system according to any preceding claim; (b) locating said jacks in position adjacent said building; (c) spanning the gap between said jacks with a platform; (d) raising said platform using said jacks as access is required at different heights during construction or repair.

12. A method according to Claim 11 wherein said access system comprises more than two jacks, and surrounds a corner of the building under construction or repair.

13. A method according to Claim 12 wherein said access system completely surrounds the building under construction or repair.

14. A method according to any of Claims 11 to 13 further comprising the steps of: (a) lowering said platform from a working height to a position close to ground level during construction or repair; (b) loading materials onto said platform; and (c) raising said platform to a working height.