US1531371A - Portable platform and the like - Google Patents

Description

Mmh 31. 1925. 1,531,371

- F. W. BELKNAP EORTABLE PLATFORM AND THE LIKE Filed April 18, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F c;q.1 7 7 INKEIWWI? mm/usmm/rm ATTORNEYS March 31. 1925.

F. W. BELKNAP PORTABLE PLATFORM AND THE LIKE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 1 1925 INVENTOR.

r/m/vc/s n! BfL/f/V/IP A TTORNEYS March 31, 1925. 1,531,371

7 F. w. BELKNAP .FORTABLE PLATFORM AND THE LIKE File April 18, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 31, 1925.

UNlTED STATES FRANCIS W. BE KNAP, OF FLUSEZll-IG, NEW? YORK.

PORTABLE FLATFORLI AND THE LIKE.

Application filed April 18, 1923.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that l, FRANCIS W. Bnnnnar, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flushing, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Platforms and the like, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

In construction work over bodies of waier 'ect to waves, itis very difiicult to work lrom floating platforms for various reasons, such as because of the motion of the platforn'i by the waves and the drift thereof with the waves. Where platforms have been supported by posts upon the ground beneath the body of water, the moving of the platform to different working locations has been slow and expensive.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved platform, derrick or the like for use over bodies of water, which may be s ipported tirml and in a level position upon the ground beneath the wa er, even though the ground surface may be uneven, which will offer little or no resistance to waves striking the same, which may be rapidlyand inexpensively shifted into different working locations, and which is relatively simple and inexoensive in construction.

(Ether objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of odiinent of the invention, and the novel cures will be particularly pointed out hereinafter in claim.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a platform device constructed in accordance with the invention 5 Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same, taken substantially along the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan of the same taken substantially along the line 33 of Figure 1, with one of the buoyant devices attached thereto;

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the same with the buoyant devices attached thereto;

Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of a tank which may be utilized as one of the buoyant devices; and

Fig. 6 is a. fragmentary section through the tank, taken substantially along the line (5-6 of Figure In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a working platform structure 1 provided upon the upper face of a suitable Serial No. 833,936.

frame 2 which may be reinforced in' any suitable manner such as by structural bracing The frame, at each corner, is pro vided with vertically extending guideways at, in each of which is vertically slidable a supporting post 5. The posts 5 are slidable in the frame independently of one another.

A pulley block 6 is secured to the platform structure of the frame adjacent each post 5, and. another pulley block 7 is secured to each post adjacent the upper end thereof. A cable 8 is secured to the pulley block 7, extends around a pulley of the block 6, then over a pulley of the block 7, then around another pulley of the block 6', then around another pulley of the block 7, then downwardly toward the platforn and around the drum 9 of a suitable winch 10 which is mounted upon the frame or platform adjacent each post. lVhen the winch is operated, the block and tackle device, which is provided by the cable 8' and the pulley blocks 6 and 7, will be operated thereby so that when the cable is wound upon the winch drum the platform and frame will be elevated relatively to the posts 5, and wnen the cable is unwound from the drum of each winch the frame and platform will be lowered upon the posts. Because of the separate elevating and lowering device between each post and the 13 latforn1 or frame, the lower ends of the posts may rest firmly upon uneven ground beneath the body of water over which the frame is disposed, with the frame and platform in a level po siti on in each new working location in which the device may be placed. Each post may be adjusted vertically from time to time, to take care of unequal settlement of the posts.

A pair of buoyant devices which may be closed tanks, are provided upon their periphery with eyes 12, by means of which they ay be attached in any suitable manner to anchoring elements 13 that are provided for this purpose adjacent to or upon the lower edge of the frame, so that when the frame is lowered from the posts the tanks Will floatingly support it by reason of their buoyancy. The posts may then be individually drawn upwardly in any suitable manner, such as by cables 14, so as to be removed entirely from contact with the ground beneath the body of water, and in this con dition the frame may be floated into a new working 1 .tion. In the new location, the posts will be allowed to drop into contact with the ground beneath the body of water, and the winches will be operated to elevate the frame usually entirely above the highest water level or waves likely to be encountered until it is entirely supported from the posts in a level position.

The tanks may, if desired, be allowed to remain attached to the frame, or may be collapsible so that when not in use they will offer little resistance to heavy seas or wind, but to avoid the buffeting action of waves thereon, it is preferable to detach the tanks or buoyant devices from the frame and remove them to a suitable place for safe keeping until it is desired to move the platform or derrick to a new Working location. The framework is preferably open on all of its sides, except for the bracing, so as to allow the passage through the same of any unusually high waves which may strike it, and with such a construction the frame will offer little or no resistance to the waves and wind, and the platform will remain in a substantially firm and stable position.

In the use of the platform or derrick it is assembled in the manner illustrated, and with thetanks attached thereto it may be floated into a working location and the frame elevated upon the posts 5 until it is entirely supported by the posts. The tanks may then be detached and stored in a safe place until the platform or derrick is to be moved to a new location. hen it is to be moved the tanks are reattached to the frame, as indicated in Figures 3 and 4, and the winches are operated to lower the frame until the tanks support the frame entirely by their buoyancy. The cables 14 may then be pulled to elevate the posts out of contact with the ground, and the platform or derrick may then be towed or floated to a new working location. In this new location the winches are operated to elevate the frame -upon the posts until the frame is entirely supported by the posts, afterwhich the tanks may again be removed and stored until the platform or derrick is to be again moved.

It will be obvious that with a platform or derrick constructed in accordance with this invention, any suitable working mechanism, such as booms, pile driving mechanism or any other suitable apparatus, may be carried by the platform. While in a working position the platform will be firmly sup ported so that its action will be substantially unaffected by any waves. lVhen it is tobe moved to a new location, it may be quickly and inexpensively floated into the new working position and reestablished in a firm position. The device is exceptionally simple and inexpensive in construction. It will be obvious that various changes in the details and arrangements of parts, herein described and illustrated for the purpose of explaining the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art within the principle and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claim.

I claim:

In portable platforms, derricks, and the I like, for use over bodies of water, a frame, a plurality of supporting 3osts movable vertically relatively to the rame, and means acting between the frame and posts for elevating or lowering the frame relatively to FRANCIS W. BELKNAP.

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