WO2020206507A1

WO2020206507A1 - A shroud

Info

Publication number: WO2020206507A1
Application number: PCT/AU2020/050364
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mark Nicholas Smith; Francisco Raminez
Original assignee: CPR Group Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2019-04-11
Filing date: 2020-04-14
Publication date: 2020-10-15
Also published as: AU2023100094A4; AU2020100560B4; AU2020100560A4

Abstract

A shroud (100) including: a frame (125) having spaced apart ends, each end having one or more connectors; a base (120) to support one or more operators, the base (120) connected to the frame (125) at the one or more connectors by one or more slings (161, 162, 163); a material connected to and surrounding the base (120) and frame (125) to form side walls (140) of the shroud, thereby providing operator protection; and one or more ligatures (160) connected to the slings (161, 162, 163), wherein in use, the base (120) is suspended from the frame (125) by the one or more slings (161, 162, 163) and the ligatures (160) support the weight of the shroud (100) and thereby support the one or more operators.

Description

A SHROUD

Field

[0001] This invention relates to a shroud for protecting operators suspended from the side of a building.

Background

[0002] In situations where access to the side of a building or any other structure that needs maintenance such as, for example, bridges, stadiums and towers, where it is required to renovate, paint repair or clean, for example, it is typical for a worker to abseil from the top of the building. One method of abseiling requires the worker to carry their tools and abseiling equipment to the roof of a building and perform their work whilst descending from the roof sitting in a harness, which is secured to an abseil anchor point via one or more ropes. Access to the roof of a building can sometimes be restrictive due to the small size of manholes (utility holes) and the size of equipment to perform the required work. It can sometimes be difficult to fit the equipment through the manhole. Safety precautions are generally taken, such as attaching all tools to the worker’s harness, which makes handling the equipment awkward.

[0003] Other difficulties that arise when performing maintenance on a building include, for example, pitched and slippery roofs, glass balustrades, glass awnings and tile roofs. In these exemplary scenarios, access to the roof can be limited or very dangerous as the risk of slipping is high.

[0004] Another method of abseiling involves the use of a platform suspended from a crane, the crane being secured to the roof of a building. This method is more stable than abseiling in a harness, as the platform is rigid and swings around less. However, these platforms are generally available only on high-rise buildings and are very expensive for the developer or building owner to install and maintain. Furthermore, this means roof access does not necessarily allow the operators to reach all areas of the building, for example, if there is a roof overhang.

[0005] Conventional height work platforms, such as swing stages, and swing scaffolding, for example, can ordinarily only be used on buildings or structures with flat roofs. Therefore, there are limitations for accessing buildings which have pitch roofs, or structures such as bridges, towers, masts or industrial work sites.

[0006] Other methods of accessing the side of a building to renovate, repair or clean, for example, is to use a bucket truck. However, operators need to be able to park the truck close enough to the side of the building. Thus, there is a limitation as to how high the bucket truck can extend. Additionally, the bucket truck may cause damage to gardens surrounding the building and there may even be restrictions due to the weight of the truck and the floor around the building.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more the above disadvantages, at least to an extent.

Summary of Invention

[0008] An aspect of the present invention provides a shroud including:

a base to support one or more operators;

at least one side wall attached to the base to provide operator protection;

an attachment means connected to the shroud;

one or more ligatures connected to the attachment means, wherein in use, the ligatures support the weight of the shroud and thereby support the one or more operators.

[0009] Preferably, the at least one side wall is made of a flexible material.

[0010] Preferably, the shroud is collapsible relative to the base and the attachment means.

[0011] Preferably, the shroud has a retractable roof to protect the operators from natural elements.

[0012] Preferably, the attachment means is connected to the at least one side wall.

[0013] Preferably, the ligatures connected to the attachment means are also connected to one or more abseil anchor points.

[0014] Preferably, the base is suspended from the attachment means. [0015] Preferably, the shroud further comprises a lifting means to move the shroud along the ligatures.

[0016] Preferably, the lifting means is a motorised ascender.

[0017] Preferably, the at least one side wall has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having three primary surfaces and the lower portion having five primary surfaces.

[0018] Preferably, at least one of the primary surfaces of the upper portion has a transparent portion.

[0019] Preferably, the side wall has a rail to provide a hold for the operators.

[0020] Preferably, the side wall has a storage means.

[0021] Another aspect of the present invention provides a shroud including:

a base to support one or more operators;

side walls;

a material surrounding the base to form the side walls of the shroud, thereby providing operator protection;

an attachment means connected to the material;

[0022] Preferably, the material is a webbed load-bearing material.

[0023] Preferably, the ligatures connected to the attachment means are also connected to one or more abseil anchor points.

[0024] Preferably, the shroud has a retractable roof to protect the operators from natural elements

[0025] Preferably, the side wall has an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having three primary surfaces and the lower portion having four primary surfaces. [0026] Preferably, the shroud further comprises a lifting means to move the shroud along the ligatures.

[0027] Preferably, the material is flexible to collapse the shroud.

[0028] Another aspect of the present invention provides a shroud including:

a frame having spaced apart ends, each end having one or more connectors;

a base to support one or more operators, the base connected to the frame at the one or more connectors by one or more slings;

a material connected to and surrounding the base and frame to form side walls of the shroud, thereby providing operator protection; and

one or more ligatures connected to the slings, wherein in use, the base is suspended from the frame by the one or more slings and the ligatures support the weight of the shroud and thereby support the one or more operators.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0029] Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the

accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0030] Fig. 1 is a top perspective view of a shroud according to a first embodiment.

[0031] Fig. 2 is a side view of the shroud shown in Fig. 1.

[0032] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the shroud shown in Fig. 1 when in a collapsed position. [0033] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a shroud according to a second embodiment.

[0034] Fig. 5 is another perspective view of the shroud shown in Fig. 4.

[0035] Fig. 6 is a partial environmental view of the shroud shown in Fig. 4.

Description of Embodiments

[0036] Figures 1 to 3 show a shroud 10 according to a first embodiment. The shroud 10 has a base 12, at least one side wall 14, and an attachment means 16 connected to the shroud 10. The attachment means 16 is also connected to one or more ligatures 20, which support the weight of the shroud 10. The attachment means 16 is load bearing, and is therefore made from a suitable material such as wood or steel.

[0037] The base 12 supports the weight of one or more operators when standing or sitting in the shroud 10. To provide stability, the base 12 is rigid and does not flex under load. Therefore, a suitable material for the base 12, for example, is wood or a high-strength reinforced plastic.

[0038] The side walls 14 of the shroud 10 are preferably made from a single piece of material. However, in alternative embodiments (not shown), the side walls 14 may be constructed from multiple pieces of material, stitched or fused together. The material may be webbed for increased strength. In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the side walls 14 have a lower portion 26 and an upper portion 22. The lower portion 26 has rectangular cross section, and defines 5 primary surfaces. The base 12 sits within the lower portion 26 of the side walls 14. The upper portion 22 is connected to the lower portion 26, or can be a single piece and integral to the lower portion 26. The lower portion 26 has 3 primary surfaces 23, 24 and 25. Both the upper portion 22 and the lower portion 26 of the side walls 14 provide a protective barrier from the natural elements such as wind, UV light and rain, to the operators when within the shroud 10. The shroud 10 also provides encapsulation for dropping objects, such as operator tools.

[0039] The shroud 10 also comprises an attachment means 16 in the form of two cross members 17, 18. The cross members 17, 18 each have two ends 35 and 36. As shown in Figure 1, the side walls 14 are connected to the end 35 of each of the cross members 17, 18 by suitable fasteners such as a bolt, for example.

[0040] Figure 1 also shows 4 fasteners in the form of carabiners 40, which are connected to the cross members 17, 18, and are used to suspend the base 12 therefrom. It is envisaged that the ligatures 42, in the form of a rope, connect the base 12 to the attachments means 16, and thus the ligatures 42 support the weight of the base 12 and the operators standing or sitting on the base 12

[0041] Also shown in Figure l is a central hook and carabiner 44 connected to the cross members 17, 18. Ligatures 20 are connected to the hook and fastener in the form of carabiner 44 to support the entire weight of the shroud 10 and the operators therein. Also supporting the weight of the shroud 10 and the operators are the ligatures in the form of ropes tied to the ends 35 of the cross members 17, 18.

[0042] Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the shroud 10, which includes a transparent portion 28, in the form of a window, in the side wall 14 to allow light into the shroud 10. The preferred embodiment may have more than one window, in any of the side walls 14, and can also have a second window 29. The side wall 14 can also open to allow the operators access to the shroud. This may be in the form of a zipper (not shown).

[0043] Whilst Figures 1 and 2 show the shroud 10 in an open or suspended state, Figure 3 shows the shroud 10 in a collapsed or storable state. This is provided through the use of a flexible yet strong material for the shroud 10.

[0044] Use of the invention will now be described.

[0045] Typically, the operator will begin setting up the shroud 10 starting from the collapsed state at the base of a building which is intended to be scaled. The operator will tie one end of the ligatures to one or more anchor points at the top of a building. The other end of the ligatures will be connected to the attachment means 16, as shown in Figure 1. Once tension is applied to the ligatures and the attachment means 16 is lifted off the ground, the shroud 10 transforms into an open state, thus allowing the operators to enter via opening or window 28. Further tension in the ligatures can be applied to ascend and descend the shroud 10. The ligatures 20 in the form of ropes are pre-rigged as a twin rope system, that is, two ligatures attached to independent anchor points with redundancy. This means that both ligatures in the twin rope system are attached to both anchors.

[0046] Rather than implementing a complex pulley system, a powered / motorised ascender 30 may be used. The powered ascender 30 is connected to the ligatures and is located between attachment means 16 and the top of the building, preferably close to the attachment means. The operators are then able to select whether to ascend or descend the shroud 10. The powered ascender 30 has a redundancy feature in the form of a fall arresting device attached to the second rope in the twin rope system. This means, at any point in time, if there is a main line failure, the second ligature will immediately arrest the fall of the whole system, inclusive of the shroud 10 and powered ascender 30. [0047] A second embodiment of the invention will now be described.

[0048] Figures 4 to 6 show a second embodiment of a shroud 100. The shroud 100 shares the same inventive concept as the shroud of the first embodiment 10 and thus part names will be similar.

[0049] Best seen in Figure 5, which shows the internal structure of the shroud 100, there is a frame 125. The frame 125 is made from a suitable structural material such as stainless steel. In the preferred embodiment, 38mm dimeter 304 grade stainless steel tubing is used at 1.6mm thickness. The frame 125 is made from three pieces which are generally rectangular in shape. There are two opposing vertical rectangles and one rectangle which is located between and perpendicular to the two opposing vertical rectangles. These are welded or bolted together. The frame 125 is connected to main ligatures 160 at a series of connectors or connection points (not numbered). Preferably, there are 3 connection points at each end of the frame 125. It is envisaged that each connection point is in the form of an ml6 threaded rod and corresponding hex nut which passes through an aperture of the frame 125. The threaded rod has an eyelet which allows slings 161, 162, 163 and 164 to pass therethrough. Suspended from the slings 161- 163, is a base 120. The base 120 can be made from any suitable structural member. In the present embodiment, the base 120 is made from aluminum elongate planks 121, 122, 123. Each end of the aluminum planks 121-123 has an aperture to receive a fastener, such that there are 3 apertures at each end of the base 120. The fasteners connect the base 120 to the slings 161, 162, 163. There is also a structural member 124 in the form of a piece of timber underneath each end of the base 120 to support the shroud 100 when connected to the slings 161-163.

[0050] Moving upward from the base 120, the slings 161-163 are connected to slings 164 by a fastener in the form of a carabiner. The slings 164 transfer to a single main ligature 160 at each end of the shroud 100. There are two lifting means in the form of power ascenders 300, located on the two main ligatures 160, to raise and lower the shroud 100. Preferably, power ascenders with a safe working load of 200kg or 300kg are used. If a heavier shroud 100 is used, then power ascenders with a high safe working load must be used.

[0051] Referring to Figure 4, the shroud 100 has sidewalls 140, which have guards 141, 142,

143 and 144 to protect the base 120, the frame 125 and the slings 161, 162, 163. Also shown in Figure 4 is a removable cover 150, which has a transparent or translucent back 151. The back 151 may be a clear plastic sheet or a mesh, which allows airflow for the operators.

[0052] Turning to Figure 6, the shroud 100 is shown in an environmental view, suspended from the side of a building (not shown). Shown generally, there is an anchor base 400, which has anchors 406, 408 to secure the anchor base 400 to a surface of the building. Outriggers 402, 404, like outriggers 124, are used and connected to the anchor base 400 and the main ligatures 160.

[0053] The shroud 100 is used in the same way as the shroud 10 and collapses in the same manner for loading onto or into personal work vehicles. The shroud 100 can be moved between an operable position to a collapsed position, such that in the collapsed position, the shroud 100 has smaller envelope dimensions than when the shroud is in the operable position. The shroud 100 is made from the same webbed load-bearing or ripstop material that shroud 10 is made from.

[0054] Advantages of the invention will now be described.

[0055] The shroud 10 and 100 provides complete or partial operator protection from harmful UV sunlight, wind and rain. This helps to minimise operator fatigue and heat stroke by providing shade for the operators. It is also more cost effective than most alternatives.

[0056] As the shroud 10 and 100 encapsulates the operators, there is reduced likelihood of items such as operator equipment falling to the ground. This increases the safety for people below, as dropped tools and building materials, for example, are one of the major causes of injury and fatality in the building industry.

[0057] The lightweight construction and collapsibility of the shroud 10 and 100 provides convenient transport, set up and dismantling and movement, which lowers the injury risk when being handled. In particular, the collapsibility means that less equipment space is taken up in operator vehicles. The shroud 10, 100 may even be linked to another shroud of the same or similar shape or size

[0058] Unlike conventional rope access systems where the operators are confined to a chair and must attach all tools to his/her harness, the present invention allows operators to have greater mobility inside the shroud 10, 100 and have more space to carry the tools required for the task at hand.

[0059] As long hours of traditional rope access systems can cause back and knee issues, the present invention improves the ergonomics and comfort for the operators.

[0060] Conventional height work platforms such as swing stages and swing scaffolding can ordinarily only be used on buildings or structures with flat roofs. However, embodiments of the present invention can also be used to access any type of building or structure including buildings that do not have flat roofs, bridges, towers, masts, and industrial work sites. Embodiments of the invention can also be used on properties with pitch roofs, multiple pitch roofs, and where the ground slopes. Embodiments of the invention also obviates the cost of setting up expensive scaffolding.

[0061] Although the shroud has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the invention can be embodied in other forms. Accordingly, further alternative embodiments and features will now be described.

[0062] The operators may place sand bags or other heavily weighted objects in the comers of the base to prevent or at least reduce the swinging of the shroud if wind speeds are too great and cause the shroud to swing. Alternatively, the base may be weighted or biased toward the end closest to the building. For example, it is envisaged that if the base is made from a high strength plastic, it may be constructed such that the one end is heavier than the other.

[0063] Another embodiment may include powered fans to push the shroud against the building, thereby preventing swinging of the shroud in windy situations. The powered fans may be built into the walls of the shroud, or alternatively, protrude from the top or sides of the shroud.

[0064] The shroud 10, 100 may have a storage system in the side walls 14, such as a set of pouches or hooks, so that the operators can store or hang tools when they are not in use. The shroud 10, 100 also allows the operators to carry items such as a cool -box (esky) and ice packs, for example.

[0065] The shroud 10 may have a retractable roof to protect the operators from sun and rain.

The roof can be made from the same material as the side walls or from a tough lightweight plastic. The roof may use a zipper system to open and close, or another means for securement to the side walls such as press studs.

[0066] The shroud can include one or more hand rails (not shown) to give the operators a hold for stability when inside the shroud. It is envisaged that the hand rails are secured to the inside of the shroud by one or more fasteners and that the hand rails are rigid. The hand rails may be secured to each of the primary surfaces 23, 24, 25 or only one of the primary surfaces or a combination of them. Accordingly, the hand rail may extend all the way around the primary surfaces 23, 24, 25 of the shroud 10. Alternatively, the hand rail may only extend across surface 23 or 24 or 25. To be most ergonomic it is envisaged that the hand rails are at a height of 1.2 to 1.5 meters from the base 12 of the shroud 10. However, the hand rail can be secured at which ever height is desired by the operator. This provides the operators with a feeling of stability when suspended inside the shroud 10. The shroud 100 may also have hand rails

[0067] Alternatively, the hand rails described above may be flexible and made from the same material as the shroud 10. These hand rails may be stitched to the primary surfaces 23, 24, 25 of the shroud 10, and take the form of loops to provide a hold for the operators. It is envisaged that these fabric hand rails may form a plurality of loops for the operator to grab provide them with a feeling of stability.

[0068] It is further envisaged that instead of using ropes and carabiners to suspend the base 12 from the attachment means 16, the side walls 14 made from a webbed material can take the load of the shroud and its operators, and suspend the base directly from the attachment means.

[0069] Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention may be embodied in many other forms.

Claims

1. A shroud including: a frame having spaced apart ends, each end having one or more connectors; a base to support one or more operators, the base connected to the frame at the one or more connectors by one or more slings; a material connected to and surrounding the base and frame to form side walls of the shroud, thereby providing operator protection; and one or more ligatures connected to the slings, wherein in use, the base is suspended from the frame by the one or more slings and the ligatures support the weight of the shroud and thereby support the one or more operators.

2. The shroud of claim 1, wherein the one or more connectors of the frame each comprise a threaded rod and a corresponding hex nut and washer.

3. The shroud of claim 2, wherein the frame is generally rectangular.

4. The shroud of claim 3, wherein the base comprises a plurality of elongate planks, each plank having two ends that are fastened to the slings by a connector.

5. The shroud of claim 4, wherein the material is a webbed load-bearing material.

6. The shroud of claim 5, wherein the one or more ligatures are connected to anchor points of a building or structure, to suspend the shroud from the side of the building or structure.

7. The shroud of claim 6, wherein the side wall comprises a retractable roof to provide further operator protection.

8. The shroud of claim 7, wherein the shroud can be moved between an operable position to a collapsed position, such that in the collapsed position, the shroud has smaller envelope dimensions than when the shroud is in the operable position.

9. The shroud of claim 8, further comprising a lifting means connected to each of the one or more ligatures to move the shroud along the ligatures.

10. The shroud of claim 9, wherein the lifting means is a power ascender.

11. The shroud of claim 10, wherein the side wall has pockets and/or hand rails.

12. The shroud of claim 11, where the side wall has a transparent portion to allow natural light into the shroud for the operators.

13. The shroud according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein in use the shroud escalates the side of a building or structure starting at the bottom of said building or structure.