NL2007582C2 - SYSTEM, SUCH AS WALK-SCREEN, AND METHOD FOR WORKING ON THE TOP OF A GLASS ROOF. - Google Patents

Description

System, such as walking scaffolding, and method for working on the top of a glass roof.

This invention relates to a system and method for working at the top of a glass roof, for example cleaning / washing the windows. The invention is particularly made for glass roofs located at a high height, for example of a multi-storey office building with an inner courtyard that is covered with a glass roof. Such a building is currently in use at the Ministry of Finance in The Hague, the Netherlands. In particular, the invention provides a good solution for a building which, because of its shape, does not automatically provide a device from which a device can be hung from which work can be carried out on the glass roof, for example a building whose glass roof forms the highest point.

As far as known to the inventor, such glass roofs are currently being worked on from a platform or gondola, or people are simply standing directly on the windows, so that they are heavily loaded, or on the window bars, which resembles cord dancing.

The patent publication FR2763619 discloses a system for working on a glass ceiling, which system comprises a kind of hammock with which the underside 25 thereof can be cleaned hanging under the ceiling. This known system is not only different from what the invention proposes, it is moreover intended to work on the underside of the glass, while the invention is intended to work on the top side, i.e. the side on which precipitation etc. falls.

JP 2006-348580 A discloses a mobile scaffolding made of flexible panels for laying out on a roof. The use of flexible panels on a glass roof is unsuitable because the glass is thus subjected to bending. DE 69916220 T discloses a scaffolding for placement on a roof so that roof tiles can be installed safely. DE 20112358 You disclose a working platform for working on a flat roof. NL1012280 C discloses a permanent walkway from loose panels on a flat roof.

For example, a glass roof can be constructed so that the panes with the edges are encased in the bearing structure 2 or so that the panes with the edges rest on top of the bearing structure, in both cases the bearing structure defining a pattern of, often rectangular, openings which are filled by the windows. The windows can therefore lie below, in or above the upper surface of the bearing construction. Other construction forms of the glass roof are also conceivable.

The object of the invention is versatile and relates in particular to one or more of the following aspects: safety; 10 - ergonomics; - manageable weight and size; - speed and efficiency of work; - cost efficient solution; - easy storage on the roof.

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The proposal is to place a temporary walking scaffolding over or on the glass roof, preferably such that no or minimal pressure / bending is exerted on the windows, at least those parts of the windows that are not directly supported by the roof construction. The worker can sit on the scaffolding and work on the roof from there. The worker can reach the scaffolding from a non-glazed part of the building.

The walking scaffolding preferably has one or more of the following properties: is arranged to rest on a roof at a large number of at least two places along the length between the ends of the walking scaffolding, preferably substantially along the entire length, for example on one or more glass rods or another part of the load-bearing structure of the roof, preferably one or more glass rods / structural parts that extend parallel to the longitudinal / running direction of the walking scaffold; has support means for supports on the roof on either side, viewed in the longitudinal direction, which means are located at a width distance substantially equal to the distance between two glass rods / structural parts extending in the longitudinal direction of the scaffolding; is made up of a large number of at least two or three separate 3 segments, such as panels, which are preferably walkable and which are preferably placed in line with each other above the roof, preferably detachably attached to each other with fixing means, preferably upwards 5 hinged, for assembling the walking scaffold; is assembled on site by successively placing segments so that the length of the scaffolding increases each time; contains a railing, preferably detachable, on one or two sides, which rail is preferably composed of individual pieces in line with each other, which preferably coincide with the segments; contains locking means, preferably spread along the length and / or width of the scaffolding for securing the building, for example suction cups which are preferably adapted to engage the windows; has a width substantially equal to the distance between two glass rods extending in the longitudinal / running direction of the scaffold tower; has a length substantially equal to at least the length of the glass roof; a preferably collapsible feature to aid in pivoting upwardly of a mounted panel / segment, for example a (e.g. flexible) tension member, such as a pull wire; determines a tread that is downward and / or laterally fall-through.

The walkable panels / segments of the scaffolding preferably have one or more of the following properties: of plastic or polymeric material, preferably fiber-reinforced, such as PVC; with one or more, preferably integral or embedded, stiffening means, such as stiffeners, for example of aluminum, with which the panels are made to be rigid; stiffening means that make the panels flex stiff, preferably in the transverse direction of the walking scaffold; securing means for releasably securing the edges to each other, preferably so that they can pivot upwardly when attached to each other; mounting points for releasably fixing the railing or piece thereof; one or more locking means for cooperating with the roof, such as suction cups, preferably at a location suitable for engaging a window pane; a preferably collapsible feature 4 to assist in pivoting up a mounted panel / segment, for example a (e.g. flexible) pull member, such as a pull wire; one or more protrusions on the underside, such as support feet, which rest on the roof so that the rest of the panel remains at a distance above the roof or its windows.

The mobile scaffolding can be designed to run straight on only, or can make a left or right turn, or describe an even more complex shape, for example in plan view a trajectory in the form of a triangle or square.

Preferably, the scaffolding does not rest on a part of a window that is not directly supported by the roof support structure. The edges of a window pane are directly supported by the supporting structure when they are supported directly thereon, i.e. are located directly on top thereof. In case the windows with the edges are placed on top of the supporting structure, the walking scaffolding can rest on the edges of the window, which, after all, support directly on the supporting structure. In that case, the scaffolding rests indirectly on the supporting structure. In other cases, it may be preferable for the scaffolding to be supported directly on the supporting structure, or at least not through the windows.

Thus, with the invention, it is possible to prevent the windows from being bent on bending during work on the roof. Although it is preferable that the windows are not at all subjected to bending by the walking scaffolding and people walking on it, on the other hand an acceptable load from the walking scaffolding could be allowed. For example, when the walkable panels of the scaffolding are particularly bending stiff, for example bending stiffness than the windows above which they are placed, a full-surface resting of the panels on the roof could be permissible. The panels then rest on parts of the panes that are not supported by the supporting structure, or in any case make contact with those parts, so that in such a case there is a chance that the panes will be bent on bending from the scaffolding, it said to a small extent.

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An example of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in perspective and a description thereof is as follows:

FIG. 1 shows the scaffolding assembled (halved);

FIG. 2 shows the placement of a second panel; FIG. 3 shows three panels / segments;

FIG. 4 shows the addition of a piece of railing;

FIG. 5 shows the addition of more railing;

FIG. 6 shows the walkway on the roof.

The walking scaffolding is made up of separate walking panels placed in line with each other and temporarily mounted together. Each panel is, for example, made of fiber-reinforced polyester with an embedded aluminum frame and rests on the window frames / bars and substantially or not at all on the windows. The supports resting on the window frames are provided with a rubber profile or similar easily elastically deformable device.

The inner aluminum frame serves not only to reinforce the polyester parts (to prevent bending and contact with the glass panes) but also to be able to provide the scaffolding with a number of removable safety rails in order to guarantee safety.

Because the first rows of windows around the glass roof of the roof differ in size from all the windows in between, the first and last walking panels are larger and are provided with four vacuum locks and a different color, the latter to prevent incorrect placement. The intermediate panels are hooked to each other and to the first / last panels and are interchangeable to simplify placement.

Once the first panel is manually placed on the window frame and secured by means of the four vacuum locks, the second panel can be coupled to the first panel by means of the hooking fastening system and laid down on the window frame. The second part is then fixed to the window with its two vacuum locks. Each subsequent panel is further confirmed in this same manner.

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From a safety point of view, it is recommended that after each panel is laid down, it is first provided with the corresponding safety rails before placing the next panel.

The walking panels are provided with a non-slip profile on the walking surface and are constructed in such a way that any form of direct loading on the glass panes is prevented.

The vacuum securing system is only intended to prevent slipping or blowing away of the relevant running panels. The safety rails are made of aluminum in order to guarantee their portability.

In the middle of each walking panel there is a recessed eye on which a pull-out cord which simplifies placing and removing the relevant walking panel by hooking it in the upright position to the last walking panel already laid and then simply pivoting the newly placed walking panel downwards walking panel, pivoting around the hook attachment with the previously placed walking panel. Removal is reversed, standing on one running panel and pulling on the cord so that the associated running panel pivots upward, after which it can be grasped and unhooked. This prevents the glass roof from having to be walked on before installing or removing the scaffolding.

The retractable cord is provided with a spring or other resetting device which automatically retracts / retracts the cord after placement or removal of the running panel, this to ensure that the cord and the eye attached thereto remain always sunk in the running panel when walking over it so that there is no possibility of 30 tripping over protruding parts.

An alternative to the pull cord for pivoting up the last hooked walking panel is a loose pole with hook at the end to grip behind the far edge of the walking panel, or an engagement provision provided on the walking panel for this purpose.

The vacuum securing system concerns a simple vacuum cup or suction cup (as used for transporting large windows) 7 which can be exerted by pulling a lever a particularly large vacuum on a flat and non-porous surface, which is sufficient to temporarily hold the walking panels. secure the existing windows without applying pressure on them. In the same way, by pulling the lever, the vacuum is released and so is the locking.

Alternative embodiments also belong to the invention. For example, the vacuum locking system is activated / deactivated by a vacuum pump or other system instead of a lever.

Claims (24)

CLAIMS 1. A system for working on the top of a glass roof, comprising a walking scaffolding which comprises a large number of two or more, preferably bending-stiff, walking panels which are detachably attached to each other and follow one another in the longitudinal direction of the scaffolding. 2. System as claimed in claim 1, which walking scaffolding rests superficially or along its length between its ends at a large number of at least two places on the roof, preferably on the bars in which the windows of the roof are mounted, or another supporting construction of the roof, possibly with the intervention of window material located directly above the supporting structure. 15 3. System as claimed in claim 1 or 2, which comprises a railing assembled from a large number of two or more railing pieces, successively in the longitudinal direction of the scaffolding. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, which scaffolding is arranged such that it can be assembled on site from the walking panels and any railing pieces and at the same time laid out on the roof for protection against falling sideways and downwards and extending over the glass roof, 25 to form walking and working surfaces. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the walking panels contain locking means for securing to the roof, such as suction cups. 30 6. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, adapted to rest on the roof at a large number of at least two places along the length between the ends of the scaffolding, preferably substantially along the entire length, for instance on one or more glazing bars or another part of the load-bearing structure of the roof, preferably one or more glazing bars / structural parts that extend parallel to the longitudinal / running direction of the scaffolding. 7. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, with support means for supports on the roof on either side, viewed in the longitudinal direction, which means are located at a width distance substantially equal to the distance between two glass rods extending in the longitudinal direction of the walking tower / structural parts. 10 8. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, composed of a large number of at least two or three separate segments, such as panels, which are preferably walkable and which are preferably placed in line with each other above the roof, preferably with fastening means releasably attached to each other, preferably hinged upwards, for assembling the walking scaffold. 9. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, and is assembled on site by successively placing segments so that the length of the scaffolding increases each time. 10. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, which comprises on one or two sides a, preferably removable, railing which is preferably composed of individual pieces in line with each other which preferably coincide with the segments. 11. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, with securing means, preferably spread along the length and / or width of the scaffolding for securing to the building, for instance suction cups which are preferably adapted to engage on the windows. 12. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, with a width substantially equal to the distance between two glass rods extending in the longitudinal / running direction of the walking scaffold. 13. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, with a length substantially equal to at least the length of the glass roof. 14. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, with a preferably collapsible provision for assisting in pivoting upwards of a mounted panel / segment, for example a (for example flexible) pulling member, such as a pulling wire. 15. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, which defines a downward and / or laterally fall-through tread. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, which comprises bending rigid walk panels. 17. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, wherein the walkable panels / segments of the scaffolding have one or more of the following properties: - of plastic or polymeric material, preferably fiber-reinforced, such as PVC; 25. with one or more, preferably integral or embedded, stiffening means, such as stiffeners, for example of aluminum, with which the panels are made to be rigid; - stiffening means which make the panels flexural, preferably in the transverse direction of the walking scaffold; 30. fastening means for releasably securing the edges to each other, preferably so that they can pivot upwards when attached to each other; - mounting points for releasably fixing the railing or part thereof; - one or more locking means for cooperating with the roof, such as suction cups, preferably at a location suitable for engaging a window pane; - a preferably collapsible device for assisting in pivoting upward of a mounted panel / segment, for example a (for example flexible) pulling member, such as a pulling wire; One or more protrusions on the underside, such as support feet, which rest on the roof so that the rest of the panel remains at a distance above the roof or its windows. 18. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, and does not support the walking scaffolding on a part of a window that is not directly supported by the supporting structure of the roof. 19. System as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, and supports the scaffolding directly or indirectly on the supporting structure. 15 20. Method for working on the top of a glass roof, wherein a walking scaffolding is erected on the roof on the roof by successively explaining directly in the end position a large number of at least two walking plates that are to lie in the longitudinal direction of the scaffolding and detachably attached to each other. A method according to claim 20, wherein each subsequent tread plate is first pivotally mounted on the preceding tread plate and then pivoted downwardly from an erected position to come to rest on the load-bearing structure of the roof. 22. Method as claimed in claim 20 or 21, wherein a walking plate, 30 against moving with locking means, is secured to the roof, preferably after pivoting downwards. 23. Method as claimed in claim 20, 21 or 22, wherein railing pieces, following one another in the longitudinal direction of the scaffolding, are mounted to form a railing on the running plates, in order to secure a runway secured against lateral and downward fall and extending over the glass roof - to form a working surface. A method according to any of claims 20-23 in combination with one of claims 1-19.