WO2008000054A1

WO2008000054A1 - Autoliftable bridge crane system for building and tower construction

Info

Publication number: WO2008000054A1
Application number: PCT/BR2007/000171
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weber Cerqueira Leite, Jr.
Original assignee: Cerqueira Leite Weber Jr
Priority date: 2006-06-30
Filing date: 2007-06-28
Publication date: 2008-01-03
Also published as: BRPI0602945A

Abstract

Technical Sector: Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering - Construction of Buildings and Towers. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System which makes lifting, moving and positioning of loads, in the construction of tall buildings and towers, constituted by bridge cranes (01 ) that run over longerons (04) supported by a set of frames linked to the structure under construction, lifting itself by its own resources at each stage of the building or tower structure execution. After ending the execution of the building or tower, the upper bars of the frames are removed, and then the invent steps down involving the building or tower, using just its own resources, until reach the level where will be disassembled; it can be used during the descent as support of scaffolds for external finishing and cleaning of the building or tower.

Description

AUTOLIFTABLE BRIDGE CRANE SYSTEM FOR BUILDING AND TOWER CONSTRUCTION

INTRODUCTION

Technical Sector: Mechanical Engineering and Civil Engineering - Building and Tower Construction. The invention which is the subject of this Description consists of equipment which makes lifting, moving and positioning of loads possible for the construction of tall buildings and towers, with speed, safety, precision, reliability and load capacity greater than those of the devices of the prior art, enabling total industrialization of the construction methods of tall buildings and towers.

Skyscraper construction would be the branch of the civil construction industry most benefited by industrialization, due to the fact that this kind of building generally has a great number of floors which are identical or very similar. Hence, a great advantage would be industrialized fabrication, in factories or on the building site, of structural elements, partition walls with all fittings and utilities included, external walls, etc., which are repeated many times in the same building. Until today, many elements of these buildings, which could be industrialized, are executed in loco, on floors at great height, by semi-skilled work. The invention described here opens up new possibilities for quality, productivity and efficiency for the civil construction industry.

PRIOR ART

The industrialization of tall building construction has been, in the prior art, limited by the practical difficulty of the lifting, positioning and assembling of huge and heavy construction elements at the upper floors with the necessary safety, precision and speed.

The devices available today for this end are tower cranes, which have limited load capacity because of their overhang booms, and this limitation increases proportionally to the distance between the suspended load and the vertical axis of rotation of the boom, that is the tower. The displacement of the loads by tower cranes obey a polar coordinate system with its origin at the tower axis, which makes the assembly operations difficult. The very fact that the boom rotates around the tower axis results in the suspended load also rotating, making it necessary to correct the vertical axis orientation of the load. Even in the most modern devices, the load movement is slow and imprecise.

The boom of the crane generally rotates at great height above the work area, which make the loads susceptible to wind effects and to pendular movements induced by acceleration and deceleration of the rotation of the boom. The crane operator generally stays in the tower, which gives no conditions for accurate operation. Nowadays, electronic remote control systems are being introduced with computerized management of the crane movements that reduce these problems but do not resolve them.

The installation and operation of a great tower crane may be difficult in regions of high density of construction, where the circles described by the rotating boom and its counterweight may interfere with pre-existing tall buildings.

At the end of the work, the cranes must be disassembled and then lowered to ground level, which may be a problem in some cases. By way of example, we have cases of high tower constructions using tower cranes mounted on the same axis as the tower where it became necessary to assemble a second crane to disassemble and lower the one used in the construction. After the disassembling of the second crane, it was necessary to use helicopters to lower its parts. All this makes the assembly of prefabricated elements, in the construction of tall buildings and towers, slow, inefficient, risky and subject to severe limitations of load magnitude and displacement range.

On the other hand, bridge cranes, largely employed in shipbuilding and the heavy machinery industry, have excellent performance in the displacement and positioning of heavy loads with great precision, but we did not find examples of its utilization in the construction of tall buildings or towers. We believe that this comes from the fact that bridge cranes have always been related to fixed industrial installations, and devices of this kind have not yet been conceived that are capable of working satisfactorily in the construction of tall buildings or towers.

OBJECTIVES, SOLUTIONS AND ADVANTAGES

Objective: To make feasible the fast and safe vertical transport, from ground level to any level in construction in tall buildings or towers, of loads with great weight (example: above 50 tf) and large dimensions (example: 15 m x 20 m), the displacement of the load to any point of the floor under cons- truction, its positioning in the desired direction and inclination, and its subsequent assembling with high precision.

Solution: The invention behaves like an industrial bridge crane system with two or more bridge cranes. The loads can be lifted up from the ground level to the floor under construction by two different procedures: 1) displacing one or more bridge cranes (01) to one of the extremities of the upper longerons (girders along all the length of the device) (04) of the device, which overhang beyond the floor perimeter; 2) displacing the winch(es) (02) to one of the extremities of the bridge crane(s) (04), beyond the floor perimeter. In any procedure chosen, the winch(es) lift the load to the working area level, and its displacement is effected by moving the winch(es) (02) along the brid- ge(s) (01), and these along the rails (03) over the upper longerons (04), making it able to reach any point of the floor. The invention makes it possible to assemble huge prefabricated elements in inclined positions (for example, prefabricated flights of stairs) and/or oriented in directions that don't coincide with any axis of the building, with ease, speed and precision, using the device's own resources.

Advantages: In the prior art, using tower cranes, it may be problematic and difficult to lift and position at points of the floor under construction farther from the tower of the crane loads of this magnitude, and even loads smaller and lighter have their assembling operations affected by the slowness inherent to these devices. The bridge cranes of the invention make it feasible to work with loads much greater than those bearable by an overhang boom, and displace them to any point of the floor under construction. This displacement occurs following an orthogonal axis system, which makes the operation easier and faster.

Objective; To create a work environment with industrial characteristics of standardized production and, in the case of it being necessary or desirable, with shelter from weather conditions.

Solution: The invention provides the same working conditions as a factory building fitted with bridge cranes. The stringers (09) (upper beams of the frames), joining the tops of the columns (07) (vertical bars of the frames), can serve as support for a light roof covering - self-supporting plates (39) or purlins (28) supporting tiles (29) - and for lighting points. The invention makes possible the use of utility modules (55), mounted over the lower longerons (08), that may store technical documentation, tools, first aid kits, water closets, drinking fountains and snacks, etc., reducing the need for absences from the workplace and thus increasing productivity. It also makes possible the immediate availability of materials, tools and equipment in containers (58), transported by the winches (02) of the bridge cranes (01), and then hung by adjustable supports (57) that are fixed to the upper longerons (04). Platforms and footbridges may be included, improving the working conditions and safety.

Advantages: In the prior art, the lifting and movement of loads and the assembling of prefabricated construction elements in the construction of tall buildings and towers depends on cranes with overhang booms, resulting in all the limitations already cited. Proposing a system of bridge cranes, the invention makes possible the execution of these tasks to industrial standards of productivity, quality, safety and reliability. The optional roof covering creates a working area free of bad weather, utilizable full time. Utility modules and containers provide immediate availability of materials, tools and equipment, and reduce the need for absences from the workplace. Platforms and footbridges facilitate worker access and allow them, when necessary, to keep off the area at the top of the construction, which can become congested and dangerous, mainly in towers. There remains open the possibility of, thanks to the reliability and safety characteristic of the bridge cranes, and the permanent availability of another bridge crane that can be immediately put into action in case of need, the utilization of dedicated containers for worker transportation.

Objective: A device that can be assembled just once, at ground level or at any other that may be convenient, operate for the duration of the construction, normally without need of adaptations or lengthening parts, and can be descended, using just its own resources, to the original level, where it will be disassembled.

Solution: The invention utilizes as support the structure under construction of the building or tower, and is autoliftable (can lift itself just with its own resources), lifing by its own resources at each stage of the construction of the structure. At the end of the construction, it descends using procedure in- verse of that utilized in the ascent, involving the construction already executed.

Advantages: In the prior art, the devices generally depend on towers, fixed or not to the structure under construction of the building or tower, and this tower in many cases needs a foundation. The invention does not need any foundation or structure. As an additional advantage, the longerons and the bridge cranes can be used, during the descent, as support for scaffolds that can be utilized for finishing and cleaning.

Objective: To allow the unrestricted operation of a device at construction works in urban regions with high building density, with tall buildings already constructed in limitrophe groundplots. Solution: The invention can be assembled and operate strictly inside the margins fixed by the legislation related to ground utilization.

Advantages: In the prior art, the existing devices depend on rotating booms, stabilized by coupling rods or counterweights, which may invade the space above thoroughfares and limitrophe groundplots and even interfe- re with pre-existent tall buildings. The invention represents a device that can be assembled and can operate inside the minimal free ground margins of tall buildings, prescribed by the legislation related to ground utilization of most cities. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The description that follows and the respective drawings, all given as non-limitative examples, will make the invention easily understandable. Figure 1, displayed on 3 (three) sheets, shows on its first sheet a floor plan view, scale 1:150, of an example of the invention at work, assembled on a building under construction. In this plan are defined Section A-A and View B-B, which also are part of Figure 1.

Figures 2 to 24 present an example of the assembly sequen- ce of the invention, in configuration identical to that shown in Figure 1, its operation in the construction of a building and the descent of the invention at the end of the work.

The invention comprises a system of bridge cranes (01) fitted with movable winches (02) activated by electric motors. The winches move, driven by electric motors, along the bridge cranes. The bridge cranes move, self-propelled by electric motors, along the rails (03), which may be rack rail to assure greater movement precision, mounted along all the length of the upper longerons (girders along all the length of the device) (04). The electric motors responsible for the movement of the winches and of the bridge cranes are remote-controlled, with control of speed and direction of displacement.

The upper (04) and lower (08) longerons consist of dismoun- table modules. The lengths of the modules of the lower longerons (08), and even those of the upper longerons (04), in case the design option showed at the left side of Figure 13 is adopted, need to be made compatible with the span between the frames - pairs of columns (07) joined at the top by stringers (09) (beams along the transversal direction of the device) - at each diverse construction work. To this end, adjustable length beams may be utilized (12), which make it possible to adjust the lengths of these modules, shown in the drawings that follow this Description in a simply schematic way, without limitative charac- ter. The technical details of these devices (12) are not part of the targets of this Description because there are satisfactory solutions in the prior art. in case of adoption of the option for continuous upper longerons (04), mounted on the columns (07) (example of assembling in Figure 7), the lengths of the modules of the upper longerons do not need to be made compatible with the spans between the frames. In this case, the lengths of the modules will be dimensioned generically in order to optimize transportation and assembling. The coupling system of the upper longerons (04) on the columns (07) must allow the adjustment of the longitudinal positioning of these longerons, which may be achieved, for example, by screwed couplings endowed with lengthened holes. The total length of the upper longerons (04) will be larger than the greater dimension of the floor plan of the building under construction, with one or both extremities of the longerons overhanging beyond the perimeter of the floor plan in order to make room for vertical transportation of loads. The extremities of the upper longerons are rigidly joined by locking stringers (34). The upper longerons (04) are supported by the columns (07) of the frames. Each column is endowed with two elevatory arms, lower (05) and upper (06), that are coupled to peripheric pillars or other structural elements of the building under construction used as support by the invention. The tops of the columns at opposite sides of the building are rigidly joined by stringers (09), thus forming the frames. The upper stringers (09) at the tops of the columns, and the locking stringers (34) at the extremities of the upper longerons, are constituted by dismountable modules. Optionally, variable length beams (12) can be used between the modules for the adaptation to the possible spans between pairs of columns or upper longerons. But it is not indispensable be- cause the modules can be made with a stepped range of lengths, by way of example a step of 0.50 m, since the adjustment inside this difference can be achieved inside the allowance of extension and retraction of the lower (05) and upper (06) elevatory arms. The bridge cranes (01) will not use variable length beams, the fine adjustment being made by changing the positioning of the wheels that run on the rails (03). The elevatory arms - (05) and (06) - move vertically along the columns (07) of the frames, activated by electromechanical or hydraulic devices with electronic command. The electronic command must make possible the independent movement of each arm or the synchronized and isokinetic movement of all the arms. The elevatory arms are able to retract in order that they can move freely when not coupled to the structure of the building, and afterwards extend again to couple to another point of the structure. Technical details of the devices used to retract and extend the elevatory arms are not part of the targets of this Description because there are satisfactory solutions in the prior art. These elevatory arms are shown in the drawings that follow this Description in a simply schematic way, without limitative character.

Figure 1 also shows lightning conductors (11), the conductor cable for connection with the earth (26) of the lightning conductors and of the invention itself, and also the cable for electric power supply (25), items neces- sary for safety and usefulness of the invention. These and other items may be omitted in other Figures in order to simplify the presentation, which does not mean that they are absent.

The coupling between the elevatory arms and the structure of the building under construction is provided by adapters (13) designed specifi- cally to make the adaptation of the elevatory arms to the kind of coupling available in the structure in view of the different shapes and materials of the structural elements of the building available as support. Figures 25 to 30 show examples, without limitative character, of elements used to fit the invention to greater spans from the coupling points due to the possible changes of the floor plan perimeter of the building along the construction or to floor plan perimeter shapes very different from the rectangular shape.

The example of the invention displayed in Figure 1 was assembled with four frames - four pairs of columns (07) joined at the top by stringers (09) - with a span of 8.00 m between its axis, involving a hypothetic buil- ding with a total length slightly over 24 m in the direction of the longerons and 14 m width in the direction of the stringers, thus resulting in a total width of the invention, as assembled in this example, of 20 m.

In this example, the extremity of the invention at the left of the floor plan was chosen as the main vertical load moving area, with an overhang span of 8.20 m from the faces of the columns (07) to the extremities of the upper longerons (04). To this end, the extremity of the upper longerons (04) at right and the indenture at the floor plan between the second and the third frames may be utilized as secondary areas. The total length of the invention, as assembled in this example, is 38 m. The example presented is totally hypothetical and not limitative since the same parts of the invention used in this assembling can be fitted to a wide range of dimensions and shapes of buildings and/or the specific needs of each construction work. This can be done by changing the distance between the frames, which do not need to be uniform like in this example, by means of adjustment of the lengths of longeron segments; changing the overhanging length of the upper longerons (04); changing the spans of the frames by means of adjustment of the lengths of bridge crane girders (01), top stringers (09) and locking stringers (34); utilizing different types of elements in order to make the coupling of the elevatory arms to the building structure; and changing the number of frames. In the majority of practical applications three, four or five frames will probably be utilized.

In the industrial production of the invention, models will logically be made that are fitted to successive ranges of dimensions and loads.

The invention, as already mentioned, is constituted by dis- mountable elements, making it possible for them to be assembled in order to fit the specific characteristics of the construction work where it will operate and, at the end of this, be disassembled so that it can be utilized again indefinitely.

The elements must be sized according to the example displayed in this Description in order that they may be transported by medium sized trucks and be easily unloaded at the construction site, utilizing at the most small cranes that can be mounted on the same trucks. The assembling and disassembling operations may be performed utilizing only the resources of the invention itself, as will be presented below. The couplings employed to join the elements to each other must assure a rigid coupling, capable of safely withstanding the strains acting on the invention structure, and allowing easy and fast assembling and disassembling operations, without durability concerns even after a great number of reutilizations of the device. The technical details of these couplings are not part of the targets of this Description because there are satisfactory solutions in the prior art.

In the industrial production of the invention, its structural ele- ments - columns, longerons, stringers, bridge cranes girders - will be made preferentially with sheets and bars of structural steel.

The design of the structural elements will take into account the strains due to the weight of the invention itself, variable strains due to the moving weight of the bridge crane girders (01) and the loads suspended, accele- ration and braking strains from the bridge crane girders (01) and the loads suspended, acceleration and braking strains from the winches (02) and its loads moving along the bridge cranes girders (01), and the strains due to the action of the winds.

The envelopment of these strains, applied by the elevatory arms - lower (5) and upper (6) - on the structure under construction, must be taken into account by the structure designer on determining the coupling points.

Figures 2 to 24 display an example, not limitative, of assembling procedure of the invention, in configuration identical to that displayed in Figure 1, its operation in the construction of a building, and its descent and disassembling at the end of the construction work .

The assembling of the invention begins by the assembling of the columns (07), transported to the work site by trucks that can be endowed with cranes (Figure 2), divided in two segments - (07A) and (07B). Figures 3 and 4 display an assembly procedure for a column

(07) with the help of hydraulic jacks over wheels (27), which makes it easier to assemble the segments 07A and 07B. The column (07) is then erected, and the elevatory arms - lower (5) and upper (6) - are coupled to a peripheric pillar of the building or other structural element chosen as support. The columns (07) are fitted with free orientation wheels (14) in order to facilitate its displacement inside the building site and its positioning at the coupling points. These wheels

(14) are shown in the Figures in merely schematic form, thus they can be positioned, at the industrial production of the invention, in order to make a broader base and improve stability.

Figure 5 displays an alternative procedure, where the segment 07A is erected and coupled to the structure and, afterwards, the segment 07B, already fitted with an auxiliary crane (10), is mounted over it utilizing the truck's crane.

Figure 6 displays the assembling of the lower longerons (08), utilizing the auxiliary cranes (10) and/or the hydraulic jacks on wheels (27). This operation is made easier by the corbels (15) in the columns, which help the positioning of the longerons. The lengths of the segments of the lower longerons (08) are adjusted to the spans between the columns (07) using the variable length beams (12) that also make the final adjustment, before the couplings are fixed and they are locked. In Figure 6 there appears a lower longeron (08) segment already assembled between the central columns (07), another being positioned, at right, by the auxiliary crane (10) from the top of the column, already supported by the corbels (15) and, at left, another lower longe- ron (08) segment positioned in order to be assembled by the hydraulic jacks (27).

The invention can be made, in industrial production, in versions that utilize continuous upper longerons (04), whose assembling is shown, in a non-limitative example, in Figure 7. Here are employed two sets of segments (one set for each upper longeron) whose total length provides the designed total length of the upper longerons (04) for a specific construction work where the invention will operate. In the example here illustrated, use was made of a central segment (04A) 14 m long and two extremity segments (04B) 12 m long each one, makinging the total length of 38 m. The assembling begins by mounting the central segment (04A) over the columns (07) before positioning and coupling the extremity segments (04B). The coupling system employed must allow the segments position adjustment in the longitudinal direction in order to make possible the fitting to the span between the frames, joining them rigidly to the columns (07) when the correct positioning is achieved. The technical details of these coupling systems are not part of the targets of this Description because there are satisfactory solutions in the prior art.

Figure 8 displays an example, not limitative, of the assembling of the upper longerons (16), in a version of the invention in which these longerons are divided in segments fitted to the span between the columns. The assembling procedure is analogous to that of the assembling of the lower longerons (08). In the example displayed in Figure 8, the rails cannot be mounted directly over the longerons because of the variable length beams (12) utilized there to fit the length of the segments. In this case, there would be rails endowed with special supports (17), designed specifically for this type of upper longeron (16). These rails (17) can be fitted to the difference in level between the upper surfaces of the variable length beams (12) and the upper longerons (16).

The stringers joining the tops of the columns (09) that form the upper beams of the frames, and the girders of the bridge cranes (01) are also constituted by dismountable segments, fitted to the span between the columns (07) that may vary in function of the specifications of each construction work. The length of these elements, after assembly, is greater than the free span between the upper longerons, which could render its assembling difficult by the auxiliary cranes (10). This assembling may be done by these cranes (10) lifting the elements in a slanting position, as displayed in Figure 9, and then rotating the booms to a position perpendicular to the longerons when a level is reached slightly over that where these elements will be positioned.

Alternatively, the auxiliary device that appears in Figures 10 to

13 can be employed, which allows that a load suspended by two points be freely rotated around its vertical axis. This device consists of an upper beam

(18) endowed with several eyelets to hook hoisting hooks on the top and a lower beam (19) endowed with hoisting hooks.

The two beams are joined by a vertical axis (20) that allows the lower beam (19) to rotate freely. In Figure 10 this device is shown when it is being lowered in order to pick up a bridge crane girder (01) left on the ground of the construction site in position parallel to the longerons. The Views F-F and

H-H and the section G-G show more details.

Figure 11 shows when a bridge crane girder (01), after being lifted and rotated 90°, is ready to be positioned on the rails (03). Figures 12 and 13 display two examples of the positioning of the stringers that form the upper beams of the frames in procedures analogous to those of Figures 10 and 11. In the first example - Figure 12 - are shown the columns (07) and the stringers (09) in the configuration of the basic prototype that was adopted as standard in the majority of the drawings. The second example - Figure 13 - shows a top of frame stringer (38) whose cross section is equivalent to that of the columns (in this case, 1.50 m x 1.50 m), and presents two examples of columns - (23) and (24) - in which this section is maintained nearly constant. These solutions can be adopted in case the manufacturer of the invention would want to increase the rigidity of the frames, since it allows the moment of inertia to be kept nearly constant along the frames.

The example of a column displayed at left (23) is compatible with the proposal of a device that can be assembled and operate in construction works where the building under construction is very close to the limits of the groundplot or to tall buildings already existent, since it keeps itself within a limit of 3 m from the building structure. In this case it will be necessary to adopt, for the upper longerons (16), the configuration displayed in Figure 8, that is, upper longerons (16) divided in segments whose length can be fitted to the span between the frames by means of variable length beams (12). The example of column displayed at right (24) keeps the standardized configuration of the upper longerons (04), just increasing the cross- section of the column at the level of the upper longeron, resulting in an increase in the projection of the invention from the structure of the building under construction. Figure 14 is a partial upper view of the invention, from the cross section I-l, that shows solutions utilized when it is desirable to endow the invention with a cover in order to protect the working area from bad weather. The upper half of the Figure shows a self-sustained sheet (39) mounted across the span between the stringers (09); as can be observed, the same sheet can be employed inside a certain range of spans between the stringers, just varying the overlapping. The lower half shows the purlins (28) mounted over the stringers (09) of the frames. These are small metal beams made in a range of stepped lengths, fitted to any possible spans between the frames by the variation of the length over the stringers. This adjustment of the longitudinal positioning of the purlins can be achieved by screwed couplings endowed with lengthened holes. Over the purlins will be mounted tiles (29) made of synthetic material or metal, fitted to the spans by the variation of its overlappings.

Figures 15 and 16 show the beginning of the procedure for the lifting of the invention after its employment at the initial level is finished (in this example, construction of 1^st and 2^nd floors, with the invention assembled at ground floor level). In Figure 15 the upper elevatory arm (06) is uncoupled from the adapter (13) and moved upward in order to be coupled to another adapter (13) already fixed to the newly executed structure; in Figure 16, in an alternative procedure, the adapter (13) is released from the structure and mo- ved upward, joined to the upper elevatory arm (06) in order to be fixed at its next position. Figures 17 and 18 show analogous procedures for the lower elevatory arm (05).

After all the elevatory arms are coupled to their new positions, they are all moved downward - Figure 19 - synchronously, thus moving the invention upward. These procedures can be repeated successively until reaching the last level at which the invention will be employed.

Figure 20 shows the invention lifting a large prefabricated construction element, demonstrating its capability of easily lifting loads whose dimensions exceed the length of the overhanging portion of the upper longe- rons (04) by means of the simultaneous employment of two bridge cranes (01), which make it feasible to lift loads in a sloping position and level them after reaching the level where they will be positioned. In the example presented, the load is a prefabricated construction element that comprises half of a whole floor of the building. Figure 21 shows the employment of the invention in the construction of a floor of a building. This is an example of how a huge element can be moved in a fully controlled way, inclined in any direction in order to avoid interference in the working area or be assembled in inclined positions with precision and safety. Figure 22 shows the assembling of a prefabricated constructive element that comprises the half of the floor of the building farther from the observer, already comprising the subsequent segment of the pillars.

Figure 23 displays a solution for the assembling of the attic and/or of large equipment, over the roof of the building, whose height exceeds the capability of the invention while coupled directly to the structure. This solution suggests provisory metallic lengthening (38) of the pillars, here shown with their respective locking beams (39). The employment of the invention at the last level of work is over and it is being prepared to begin the descent by means of the disassembling and removal of the stringers (09) of the frames and the covering - (39) or (28) and (29) - that can be mounted over them. After this, these elements will be lowered to ground level, utilizing the bridge crane winches (02) and/or the auxiliary cranes (10).

Figure 24 shows the invention already in the descending procedure. The bridge cranes (01) are displaced to one or both of the extremi- ties of the upper longerons (04) and then the whole equipment begins to descend by a procedure inverse to that employed in the ascent until reaching the level where it will be disassembled. Because of the stiffness loss of the equipment, due to the removal of the frame stringers (09), the elevatory arm - lower (05) or upper (06) - of each column (07) may be uncoupled, moved downwards and coupled again before uncoupling any other, or use may be made of spacers type (21), in the case of a procedure analogous to that of Figures 16 and 18 being employed in the descent, or spacers type (22), in case the procedure is analogous to that of the Figures 15 and 17, as shown in Detail Z. During the descent of the invention, its structure can be used as support for scaffolds employed for finishing services, coating, glass installation, external cleaning and even the closing of holes of the invention's coupling points in the structure.

Figures 25 to 29 display an example, not limitative, of the invention fitting to the construction of buildings whose floor plan shapes are very different from the rectangular shape. In this specific example, an adaptation was used for spans whose magnitude demands the creation of additional supports in order to bear the turning torques induced by vertical strains and by strains in the longitudinal direction of the device. As shown in Figure 26 - Section H-H, the floor plan of the building under construction presents a section with a 6.00 m increase in distance from the columns (07) compared to the ground floor. Here the distance increase from the building structure begins from the level at which the invention is assembled, but this is not a limitative factor for this solution. Using the elements described below, it is possible to fit the invention to buildings whose floor plan perimeter suffer reduction at any height, and also in cases where the floor plan perimeter enlarges at a certain height, diminishing the distance between the floor plan perimeter and the columns (07). When the invention is assembled - Figure 25 - its lower eleva- tory arm (05) is coupled to a triple connector (30) for lengthening bars (31) that allows the coupling of three adjustable lengthening bars (31), keeping the one at the upper position rigidly aligned with the axis of that elevatory arm, and connecting another two bars of the same type (31) below, allowing variation of their incidence angles on horizontal and vertical planes so that they can be connected to the coupling points created below the level of the elevatory arm with appropriate horizontal and vertical pitch. The triple connector (30) can be endowed with mechanical or hydraulic devices in order to make it easier to position the lower lengthening bars (31).

In the example presented, at the beginning of the assembling of the invention (Figure 25) a triple connector (30) is coupled to the lower elevatory arm (05) of the corresponding column (07). Here two initial support points were adopted at the work site ground level to which the lower lengthe- ning bars (31) were fitted with shoes (32) appropriate for this type of support, lying on the ground. Because the invention is still at ground level, on its wheels (14), it is not necessary that both elevatory arms be coupled in order to ensure its stability during its work on the construction of the first floors.

The upper elevatory arm (06) will be coupled after the first and second floors are already executed (Figure 26), making its coupling possible to a device (30) similar to that utilized to the lower (05). The difference consists in the fact that the two lower lengthening bars (31) will be connected to the already executed structure of the first floor, utilizing adapters (33) appropriate for the type of coupling available there. Then the invention will be lifted for the first time, all elevatory arms - (5) and (6) - moving downwards simultaneously.

Figure 27 shows the assembling of a third set, making it possible for the upper elevatory arm (06) to be next moved upwards and coupled to that. Figure 28 shows the invention lifting itself to a new working position while the set abandoned by the lower elevatory arm (05) is already uncoupled and available to be lifted and utilized in the next stage.

These procedures will be repeated, in an analogous way to those described in Figures 26 to 28, until the end of the execution of the structure or until a level is reached where there is an alteration in the building floor plan that leads to sparing or changing the fitting devices.

Figure 29 displays an example, not limitative, of the fitting of the invention to spans from the structure of the building of minor magnitude than that of the example in Figures 25 to 28. The body of the set (35) is coupled to the pillar of the building by two adapters (13) and to the elevatory arms by an adjustable bar (36) that can fit to a certain range of span from the building structure. Adjustable staying bars (37) help to withstand the longitudinal strains. Adjustable elements like these have the advantage that they can be reutilized in many different construction works due to facility in adaptation. But they can be substituted by fixed shape metallic elements of low cost that can be custom-built for specific construction work and occasionally reutilized in similar work or fitted to somewhat different ones. Figure 30 dis- plays non-limitative examples of building under construction floor plans where the invention is assembled employing adjustable and/or fixed shape elements, here named indistinctly as (40).

Figures 31 to 35 display an example, not limitative, of the invention being employed in the assembling of a tower with prefabricated seg- ments that can be pre-cast concrete or any other material.

In Figure 31, a tower segment is being lifted by two winches (02) of a bridge crane (01); the segment has already coupled 4 adaptors (13) that will allow the invention to use them later as supports.

Figure 32 (Section P-P) shows the assembling of the segment in its final position. In Section O-O of Figure 32 it is possible to observe more details of the interface between the invention and the tower under construction. This interface consists of two identical sets coupled, respectively, to the eleva- tory arms, lower (05) and upper (06) of the invention. The elevatory arms are coupled to longerons (41) that lie on sliding supports (46) coupled to the extre- mities of transversal beams (44), whose other extremities are coupled to intermediary beams (42) that are endowed with a retractable connector (43) that makes it possible to couple to and uncouple from the adapters (13) at the tower shaft; besides this, these intermediary beams (42) also lie on sliding supports (46), coupled to adjustable length longitudinal beams (45) whose other extremities are coupled to intermediary beams (42) that are each endowed with a retractable connector (43). These sets make it possible to fit to a certain range of diverse shapes and dimensions of the tower shaft without substituting any element, just changing the positioning of the sliding supports (46) and varying the length of the adjustable length longitudinal beams (45), which can even be done during the job. The same sets can be utilized again many times in the construction of towers of diverse shapes and sizes.

Figure 33 shows the beginning of the invention's ascent to a new job stage procedure. The retractable connectors (43) are released and retracted, liberating the set to ascend by moving upwards, simultaneously, eve- ry upper elevatory arm (06) until reaching the level where it will be coupled to the newly mounted segment adapters (13).

Figure 34 shows analogous procedure for the set coupled to the lower elevatory arms (05).

Figure 35 shows the final displacement of the invention to its new working position, pushing downwards, simultaneously, every elevatory arm, upper (06) and lower (05), which makes the columns (07) go upwards and hence the entire invention.

Figure 36 shows the mounting, over the shaft of the tower, of a huge prefabricated element of the structural transition of a building that will be superposed on the shaft. Figure 37 shows the beginning of the invention's ascent from the tower shaft to the building structure, leaving behind both sets - parts (41) to (46) - that were utilized in the assembly of the tower shaft.

Figure 38 - Sections Q-Q and R-R - shows the structure already executed at transition level, and the sequence of the invention's ascent from the tower shaft to the building structure procedure. In order to fit the invention to its span from the building structure, 4 sets were utilized analogous to those displayed in Figure 29. After completion of construction, the descent of the invention will be done by procedure analogous to that exemplified in Figures 23 and 24. At the passage descending from the building to the tower shaft, the transition will be done by procedure analogous and inverse to that employed in the ascent and afterwards the two sets of parts (41) to (46) will be utilized in order to continue the descent.

This procedure can be executed in inverse order to assemble a tower over a building, in any desired sequence, with great ease and speed, utilizing the winches (02) of the bridge cranes (01) to lift up the two sets of parts from (41) to (46).

The two sets of parts from (41) to (46) can be also utilized to move systems of climbing or sliding formworks for locally (in site) molded con- crete structures. Figures 39 to 42 display an example, not limitative, of a tower construction procedure employing climbing formworks.

Figure 39 - Section P-P shows the assembly of a steel reinforcement stage of the tower shaft structural wall; the reinforcement brings enclosed the coupling niches (52). The set of parts (41) to (46) joined to the upper elevatory arms (06) is coupled to the climbing formworks support (47), while those joined to the lower elevatory arms (05) are coupled to the fixation ring (51). Section S-S shows the top after the last concrete pouring, with the steel bolts waiting for the next stage of reinforcement, the climbing formworks support (47), the formwork positioning and retraction devices (48), the formworks (49) and the locking pins (50). Figure 39 - Details - Sections displays vertical sections at scale 1:100, showing the formworks (49) at open and closed positions.

Figure 40 - Section P-P shows the beginning of the invention's ascent to a new work stage procedure. After the reinforcements and internal formworks assembling, and subsequent concrete pouring, when the structural wall concrete reaches enough strength, the formwork positioning and retraction devices (48) open the formworks (49), the locking pins (50) of the climbing formworks support (47) are released and this is moved upwards by the upper elevatory arms (06) until the locking pins (50) coincide with the coupling niches (52) at a higher position and are locked there. In Figure 40 - Section T-T there appears a section of the tower shaft structural wall, whose coupling niches (52) support the locking pins (50) of the fixation ring (51). A vertical section at scale 1:100 shows details.

Figure 41 displays the procedure's continuation - the locking pins (50) of the fixation ring (51) are released, and then the lower elevatory arms (05) are moved upwards until the locking pins (50) of the fixation ring (51) coincide with their respective coupling niches (52) and are locked there.

Figure 42 shows the final displacement of the invention to its new working position, pushing downwards, simultaneously, every elevatory arm, upper (06) and lower (05), which makes the columns (07) go upwards and hence the entire invention.

The two sets of parts (41) to (46) can be substituted by two metallic fixed shape structures, of low cost, that can be custom-built for specific construction work and occasionally reutilized in a similar work or fitted to somewhat different ones. Whatever the option adopted, the sets must be endowed with platforms and footbridges for worker access and allow them, when necessary, to keep off the area at the top of the construction, defined at executive design of the device, in order to provide safety and good working conditions. Figure 43 shows solutions for working conditions improvements, which become especially important when one takes into account the speed that the invention makes possible in the construction work process. In the case of utilizing the sets of pieces from (41) to (46), it is possible to employ the modular work platforms assembled with "π type" plates (53) mounted over the spans between the transversal beams (44) or over the intermediary beams (42), and with the plates (54) supported by the longerons (41). These platforms may be fitted with accessories for safety and usefulness, as parapets, stairs and footbridges, etc. In every application of the invention it is possible to make use of utility modules (55), mounted over the lower longerons (08), which may store technical documentation, tools, first aid kits, water closets, drinking fountains and snacks, etc., reducing the need for absences from the workplace and so increasing productivity.

Figure 43 - Section U-U shows the temporary load supports (56), coupled to the upper longerons (04), which makes it feasible to employ adjustable supports (57) for containers. These supports have adjustable length elements (12), allowing them to fit a certain range of spans between the upper longerons (04) without substituting any part. This makes it possible to lift containers (58) to the level of the workplace, employing just the winches (02) of the bridge cranes (01) and then hanging them at the level of the floor under construction edge or of the set employed in a tower construction platform. These containers (58) can contain materials, tools, equipments or utility installations.

Claims

1. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction, comprising a set of bridge cranes (01) fitted with movable winches (02), characterized by the fact that these bridge cranes (01) move over longerons (04) (girders along all the length of the device) supported by a set of frames (pairs of columns (07) joined at the top by stringers (09), that is, beams along the transversal direction of the device), said frames being coupled to the structure under construction by two arms at each column, lower (05) and upper (06).

2. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower

Construction according to Claim 1, characterized by the fact that said arms, here named "elevatory arms" lower (05) and upper (06) are capable of extension and retraction and move vertically along the columns (07) of the frames, enabling uncoupling from their coupling points on the building or tower structure and then recoupling to other coupling points above or below on this structure and, being all coupled, moving all the set upwards or downwards by means of moving synchronously all elevatory arms downwards or upwards.

3. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 and 2, characterized by having auxiliary cranes (10) on top of the gantry uprights.

4. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that it is made up of modules that can be transported to the work site by medium-sized trucks, assembled utilizing just small cranes and the resources of the invention itself and, in the same manner, be disassembled and removed at the end of the construction.

5. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that, after the conclusion of its use at the highest level of the construction, the frame stringers (09) may be removed, enabling the whole set to descend, involving the building or tower, until the level where it will be disassembled, utilizing only its own resources, while it can be utilized, during the descent, as support for scaffolds for finishing and cleaning of the building facades.

6. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact that it can be fitted to the dimensions and shape of the building under construction by means of the length adjustment of adjustable length longerons and stringers, and/or by the employment of longerons and stringers assembled with modules made in echeloned dimensions, by the adjustment of the elevatory arms and by change of the number of frames.

7. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that it allows the installation of a roof covering that permits work to be done under shelter from weather conditions.

8. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower

Construction according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it can be coupled to structural elements of diverse shapes and materials by means of the employment of adapters (13).

9. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 8, characterized by the fact that it fits to the construction of buildings whose floor plan shapes are very different from rectangular or those that suffer shape changes along the vertical axis, by means of fitting accessories - example sets comprising elements (30) to (33) and (35) to (37) - that enable the coupling of the invention to points of the building structure distant from the frame columns (07).

10. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it fits to tower construction utilizing accessories - example set comprising elements (41) to (46) - that enable the movement of climbing or sliding formworks by the invention's lower (05) and upper (06) elevatory arms.

11. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it is suitable for tower construction with prefabricated segments mounted by the bridge cranes, utilizing accessories for coupling to the tower shaft - example set comprising elements (41) to (46) - moved by the invention's lower (05) and upper (06) elevatory arms.

12. Set comprising elements (41) to (46), according to Claim 11, characterized by the fact that it can uncouple the retractable connectors (43), which are then retracted allowing the set to be moved to another coupling point where they are extended and coupled.

13. Sliding formwork support - example set comprising elements (47) to (52) - characterized by the fact that it allows changes of external shapes and dimensions and of surface finishing of the tower shaft under construction, changing the position of the formwork positioning and retraction devices (48) and substituting the formworks (49).

14. Set comprising elements (41) to (46), according to Claims 10 and 11, characterized by the fact that it can fit to diverse shapes and dimensions of tower shafts or formwork supports, even during the job, by means of the movement of the sliding supports (46) along the transversals beams (44) and/or along the longerons (41) varying simultaneously the lengths of the adjustable length longitudinal beams (45).

15. Set comprising elements (41) to (46), according to Claims 10 and 11, characterized by the fact that it comprises work platforms that can be assembled with standardized elements - (53), (54) or similar.

16. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower

Construction according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it permits the employment of utility modules (55) mounted on the lower longerons (08).

17. Autoliftable Bridge Crane System for Building and Tower Construction according to Claims 1 to 7, characterized by the fact that it comprises temporary load supports (56) coupled to the upper longerons (04).

18. Adjustable support (57) for containers (58) characterized by the fact that it can fit to a range of spans between the temporary load supports (56), varying the lengths of the adjustable length beams (12).