Scaffold

Scaffold erected adjacent to a wall, which enables an easy plastering, drying cleaning, coloring, etc. operation of the wall by automatic means. Said scaffold comprises: a. a platform being erected adjacent and parallel to the wall; b. column members carrying the platform and being connected to the wall, said columns being provided with electrically actuating means enabling the ascending and descending of the platform: c. a movable apparatus (or “cat”) being attached to the platform, preferably located thereunder, which cat is able to move along the length of the platform and is provided with automatic means for actuating the plastering operation and realizing obstacles: d. automatic means for actuating the movable parts of the scaffold; and e. a storage container being suitably connected to the means performing the plastering operation.

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a scaffold erected adjacent to a wall (hereinafter called “scaffold”), which scaffold enables an easy plastering, drying cleaning, coloring, etc. operation (hereinafter called “plastering”) of the wall by automatic means. It also enables an easy performance of repair and the like operations as well as manual performances, if required.

There are known many scaffolds for this purpose erected adjacent to a wall, e.g. that described and claimed in Israel patent specification No 113,990. However, these known structures are quite complicated in their use, in particular as that use requires much manpower in the course of the plastering operation. Moreover, in none of said known scaffolds the plastering operation can be performed automatically without manual work, e.g. with electrical means and by remote control.

It has thus been desirable to design a scaffold to be erected adjacent to a wall which enables a simple automatic performance of the plastering, inter alia, with rather non complicated electrical means, e.g. by way of remote control. The costs involved in the production of said scaffold should be reasonable and its production and erection should not be complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention thus provides a scaffold (as herein defined) comprising:a. a platform adapted to be erected adjacent and parallel to a wall;b. columns carrying the platform and adapted to be connected to the wall, said columns being provided with electrically actuating means enabling the ascending and descending of the platform;c. a movable apparatus (herein called “cat”) attached to the platform, preferably located thereunder, which cat is able to move along the length of the platform and is provided with automatic means for performing a plastering operation and realizing obstacles;d. automatic electrical pneumatic and/or electrical hydraulic means for actuating the various movable parts of the scaffold; ande. a storage container suitably connected to the means performing the plastering operation.

The actuating electrical means are advantageously actuated by remote control means.

The platform advantageously comprises the following parts:a. a floor located on a base;b. two railings extending vertically along the two sides of the floor;c. at least one toothed bar extending along the side of the floor and being provided with means carrying the movable apparatus or “cat” and causing the movement thereof;d. supports for guiding electrical motors; ande. openings for the columns.

In an advantageous embodiment there extend two toothed bars along both sides of the floor.

On the platform is preferably located a compressor on which is mounted a board to which are connected a radio receiver and a control panel. Said compressor actuates the movement of the cat.

There has to be present one central column and at least one side column.

Each column comprises an outside sheet. Said sheet is connected at both sides to a further sheet via a comb-like wall in such a manner that the sheets form a cavity between them.

The further sheet is advantageously provided with several openings.

In said columns is located at least one system (advantageously more), which prevents the descent of the entire platform. Said system may be, e.g. cables inserted in the comb like wall.

Outside of the columns extend preferably suitable cables being connected to rotating drums on which they are rolled. The drums and thus the cables are actuated by electrical means, e.g. motors and gears at least at the central column, which may be actuated by remote control means, which motors cause the ascending and descending of the platform.

The manner in which the cables are located on the drums determines the required height of the platform. The central column is advantageously connected to two drums each being actuated by a motor and a gear, both motors and gears suitably operating in a synchronized manner.

The cat enables the plastering means to move automatically along the length of the platform. Thus, the plastering can be performed in a convenient manner along the entire length of the wall in the desired height and at the desired location.

The cat is preferably provided with an electrical eye, sensors and/or a camera. Said means indicate places where the cat cannot move as a result of an obstacle caused by a rod, a window, a place which is not properly plastered or the like. The eye actuates means, e.g. openings of rails extending on the platform so that the cat may then continue to move on.

The storage container comprises the suitable plastering, drying, cleaning, coloring, etc. material required for the operation to be performed. Care should be taken that a always enough material is present in the container. The plastering material is forwarded advantageously from the container to the plastering means by an electrically actuated pump, cables etc.

The scaffold according to the present invention may be actuated entirely in an automatic manner. The plastering operation thus does not require any manpower on the platform. The height of the platform, the location of the plastering arrangement and the movement thereof can be controlled by way of a remote control apparatus. The performance of the plastering operation can also be actuated by the same remote control apparatus.

The electrical actuation of the various electrical elements may be performed in any conventional manner by suitable electrical elements, e.g. a motor, a gear etc.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Scaffold1shown inFIG. 1is connected to wall2which is provided with window2a. Wall2is connected by means (not shown) to central column3and to side column3astanding on bases4and4a, respectively. The columns will be described in detail inFIGS. 4 to 6.

Storage container11is connected by cable12to the plastering means (not shown).

Upon platform5is located compressor13actuating all hydraulic parts. On compressor13is arranged a main board14which is connected to radio receiver15and control panel16. Radio receiver15and control panel16actuate compressor13via main board14. Also shown are air tank100and control101. Air tank100is an air reservoir which aids compressor13to actuate the various hydraulic parts.

Platform5of scaffold1shown inFIGS. 2 and 3comprises floor6which is located on a support base7(shown only inFIG. 3b), railings8, bar9with a row of teeth (often referred to as a “rack”) (shown only inFIG. 3a) and support line for carrying the cat (not shown). Guiding support10extends parallel to floor6of platform5.

Platform5is shown in detail inFIGS. 2 and 3a–d. The platform shown inFIG. 2shows also wheels17aand17b. Said wheels17aand17bcarry the cat (not shown).

Column3is described in detail inFIGS. 5 and 6. Outside column3extend cables18aand18bbeing rolled on drums19aand19brespectively. Drums19aand19bare actuated by motors20aand20blocated via gears200aand200brespectively on dry shaft21which dry shaft21actuates further drums (not shown). (An enlarged embodiment of drum19aand the movement thereof is shown at the bottom ofFIG. 4.)

The column shown inFIGS. 5 and 6comprises outside sheet22. Sheet22is connected at both sides to sheet23via comb-like wall24in such a manner that said sheets form cavity25between them.

The various parts of the column are shown in detail inFIGS. 6a–e.

Wall23is provided with openings26and at the bottom and at the top thereof with holes27. Holes28are located at the bottom and the top of outside sheet22. Further are shown parts29.

FIGS. 7 and 8show the operating system in which are shown drums19aand19bon which are rolled cables18aand18b, respectively. Said drums19aand19bare caused to rotate by motors20aand20b, gears200aand200band by drive belts30. Motors20aand20bare located via gears200aand200brespectively on shaft21.

FIG. 8shows in detail the separate parts of the system shown inFIG. 7. Said parts are drums19aand19bon which are rolled cables18aand18b, respectively (not shown). Outside of the drums are located walls31aand31bthrough which pass rods32actuating drums19aand19b.

Systems a, b and c which prevent the undesired descent of platform5are shown in detail inFIGS. 9,10and11.

InFIG. 9athere is shown attached to both side walls22of column3system a which prevents said undesired descent of platform5.

InFIG. 9bthere is shown in more detail system a attached to wall22. Said system a comprises housing34in which triangle35is located on springable means36, which springable means36prevent by friction the descent of platform5when cable18(not shown) is torn.

FIGS. 10aand10bshow system b preventing the descent of platform5which co-operate with system a shown inFIGS. 9aand9b.

Said system b comprises the following parts and operates as follows;

InFIG. 10acable18ain the ascending position is caught in hole37of part38. Part38is located on the base of triangle35. When cable18ais tom as shown inFIG. 10b, system a ascends upwards and stops the descending movement.

System c preventing the descent of platform5shown inFIGS. 11a–ccomprises the following parts:

Arm39is connected at one end to piston40and at the other end to the openings of comb24. As is shown inFIG. 11cpiston40extends parallel to springable means41.

FIG. 11bshows the open descending position. Whenever something happens, as shown inFIG. 11c, spring means41pushes arm39into the openings of comb24.

An enlarged perspective view of cat42is shown inFIGS. 13 and 14. An undisturbed movement of cat42along platform5is shown inFIGS. 15aand15band the movement of cat42on platform5which has obstacles is shown inFIGS. 16aand16b.

As is shown unit45is connected at both ends to cylinder46actuating plastering means47. There are also shown various sheets48and connecting parts49.

An undisturbed movement of cat42is shown in detail inFIGS. 15aand15b. InFIG. 15athe movement is from right to left whereas inFIG. 15bthe movement is in the opposite direction.

Cat42shown inFIGS. 16aand16bcomprises optical eye50connected to cat42. Said eye50regulates the plastering operation and stops it when necessary, e.g. at window20.

InFIGS. 17aand17bis shown platform5through which passes column3. Column3is provided with rods53(only one shown) being connected to wall2. Internal piston54causes the opening of rail like55and thus allows the descending and ascending of platform5in spite of rod53. Also is shown structure56which is connected to column3.

The electric block diagram comprising the parts actuating the mechanical parts illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 17is shown inFIG. 18.

Radio receiver15receives the instructions from the remote control (not shown) and is in turn connected to main board14.

Main board14receives electricity from main power input150.

Instructions are being sent from the remote control via receiver15and main board14to cats42and42′. Said cats42and42′ are connected to cameras110and110′. Said cameras110and110′ together with sensors111and111′ controls wall2in order to reveal obstacles, to control the quality and the distribution of the plaster, the color, the coating, etc.

Main board14actuates also motors20aand20b, which cause the ascending and descending of platform5on columns3. It also actuates the operation of compressor13.

Main board14actuates various contact boxes115,115′ and115″ which are located besides column3. Said control box115,115′ and115″ via sensors116,116′ and116″ indicate the position of column3and of platform5. whether there are obstacles on wall2, etc.

As the other parts above, also air compressor13is operated by main board14.