Particulate containment control method and platform device

A mobile containment platform method and system for sandblasting and the like used in bridge reconditioning and painting that requires removal of paint from the support structure of the bridge. The containment platform provides a safe secure entrapment envelop for spent abrasive and removed paint residue.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Technical Field 
This method relates to bridge painting and cleaning support scaffolds that 
are used to enable workers to be supported safely from an overhead bridge 
support framework. In modern steel bridges, it is necessary to 
periodically clean and repaint the surface to prevent adverse corrosion 
and associated deteriation of the steel support structure. This type of 
maintenance is critical to the useful life of a bridge span to delay 
replacement, the cost of which is becoming in many instances an 
overwhelming burden for the local state and federal entities who are 
responsible for highway bridges which are critical to our transportation 
network. 
Presently there is a growing concern for the contamination of the 
environment and need to contain and control the results of this work, such 
as paint residue when it is removed from the overhead bridge when is 
required before repainting. 
The object of this method is to provide a safe, efficient method utilizing 
a lightweight and inexpensive containment platform that can be easily 
erected on sight that will contain the used sandblast abrasive and paint 
residue removed for collection and periodic removal without entering the 
environment. 
2. Description of Prior Art 
Prior Art devices of this type have generally been directed to safety 
scaffolding configurations used during construction for workers, see for 
example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,533,487, 4,119,176 and 4,732,234. 
Current attempts to provide a containment system have to date been 
cumbersome and expensive. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,487 a safety scaffolding system is disclosed that 
provides a tilt warning inactivation device that automatically clamps the 
scaffolding to the cable when an angular indication is sensed. A safety 
net is provided below the scaffold and is maintained relative to the 
scaffold and the building as the scaffold ascends or descends during use. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,176 discloses a fall arrester for buildings under 
construction. The device moves in and is supported from a guide track 
temporarily secured to the framework of the building under construction. A 
main net support boom movable extends angularly from the track with a 
secondary interconnected boom engaging the track at a point therealong. A 
net extends from the track to the outer portion of the main net support 
boom providing a safety net for workers as they ascend the building during 
construction. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,234 discloses a perimeter safety net system for use on 
buildings under construction. The device uses a net support boom pivotally 
secured to a movable side rail within a channel affixed to the building. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A movable containment method and platform system that can easily be erected 
and moved beneath a bridge structure or the like that will catch and 
temporarily hold used sandblasting abrasive with intrained removed paint 
residue for a safe disposal. The containment platform system has a series 
of interlocking scaffolding elements from which is suspended containment 
catch tarps therebeneath and upwardly therefrom for engagement with the 
bridge support structure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
A self-contained mobile containment method and system for use on highway 
bridges 10 and the like comprises an interlocking grid of scaffolding 
elements 11 suspended in spaced parallel relation to the underside of a 
bridge framework 12. The grid of scaffolding elements 11 comprises main 
multiple spaced parallel stages 13 commonly used in the paint and repair 
industry. Each of the stages 13 is comprised of a pair of main support 
flange beams 14 and 15, with a plurality of spaced interconnected rung 
elements 16 extending between said beams with multiple deck channels 18 
positioned thereon parallel with said beams, as will be well known and 
understood by those skilled in the art, see FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawings. 
The stages 13 are positioned transversely of the bridge framework 12 
initially on support cables 19 secured under the bridge framework 12 by 
modified cable hook assemblies 20. Referring now to FIGS. 2,6,7 and 8 of 
the drawings the cable hook assemblies 20 can be seen comprising a 
generally U-shaped flat bar member 21, the oppositely disposed free ends 
of which are twisted at 90.degree. and returned on themselves to form an 
inverted J configuration that engages the support cable 19 on space 
bearings 22 with release pins 23 positioned in spaced parallel relation 
thereto. A stage support web 24 extends along horizontal position of the 
cable hook 20 with a pressure engagement plate 25 positioned 
longitudinally thereon for direct engagement of the flange beams 14 and 15 
of the stages 13, best seen in FIG. 7 of the drawings. A support stage 
assembly 26 comprises a chain element 27 having oppositely disposed hooks 
28 on its respective ends and a secondary hook 29 and support eylet 30. 
The support chain assembly 26 is attached ot the bridge framework 12 via a 
hooks 28 and the secondary hook and eylets 29 and 30 and extends through 
the inverted J configuration of the cable hook 20 below the cable 19, as 
best seen in FIG. 6 of the drawings. By use of the support chain assembly 
26 and cable hook assemblies 20 they will support an increase load greater 
than that of the cable 19 alone. A plurality of shorter secondary stages 
31 interconnect with the main stages 13 transversely of their longitudinal 
length to form the interlocking grid of the scaffolding elements 11 as 
noted above. Each of the secondary stages 31 are similar in construction 
to said main stages 13 having beams 32, cross connection rungs 33 and a 
decking 34. 
Referring now to FIGS. 1,3,4, and 5 of the drawings a stage connection 
assembly 35 is disclosed comprising stage engagement brackets 36 
consisting of apertured contoured plates 37 and lock bars 38. Each of the 
plates 37 are positioned on the respective sides of said beams 32 and are 
secured thereon by the lock bars 38 engaging the inner side of said beams 
32 and are connected together via fasteners F extending therebetween. 
A tie support tubular member 39 extends through the aligned apertured free 
ends of said respective plates 37 providing a pair of spaced attachment 
points. The stage connection assembly 35 is comprised of a pair of flat 
bar connection members 41 each of which has an upstanding apertured angled 
41A secured to its respective free ends. Each bar connection member 41 is 
secured transversely across said main stages 13 by J hooks 42 engaging 
under each of the flange beams 13 and 14 and extending vertically through 
apertures in said bar connection member at 43 with threaded fasteners 44 
thereon, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 of the drawings. Each of the flat 
connection members 41 thus positioned in spaced parallel relation to one 
another on the main stages 13 so as to be engaged at their apertured 
upstanding angles 41A over opposite ends of said tie support tubular 
member 39 from which is supported the respective secondary stages 31 in 
the interlocking fashion shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. 
Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings spent abrasive catch tarps 
45 can be seen draped between and secured to the main support stages 13 
are removably secured to a cable assembly 47 that extends through one of 
the rungs 16 at two foot intervals in the staging 13 in a closed loop 
formed by a cable connecter 48 secured thereon. The catch tarps 45 have a 
plurality of spaced eyelets 49 along their perimeter edged which are 
reinforced by an additional strip of material 50 extending along the 
perimeter edge of the tarps 45. A hasp 51 is bolted to each of the spaced 
eylets 49 and is engaged by a quick release hook 52 extending therefrom 
for removable engagement on the cable assembly 47. A plurality of tarp 
straps 46 having hooks 54 in each end thereof is of a reinforced fabric 
material and are positioned transversely under the abrasive tarps 45 at 
spaced intervals extending between the hereinbefore described cable 
assemblies 47. It should be noted that the relative spacing between each 
tarp strap 46 is generally twice that of said spacing of said tarp eyelets 
49. Referring now to FIG. 2 of the drawings, the tarps 45 can be clearly 
seen with their respective ends 44A being pulled up and secured to the 
secondary staging 31 via the eyelets 49 and associated hasp and hooks 51 
and 52 respectively as hereinbefore described. 
A plurality of vertically ascending containment walls 55 extend from the 
upper portion of the bridge 10 downwardly to a point terminating within 
the perimeter of the horizontal containment area defined by the tarps 45 
and associated interlocking structure 11. 
In use, the containment platform can easily be erected on the bridge and 
moved along as the sandblasting of the bridge framework 12 progresses in 
preparation for painting. The spent abrasive (not shown) will be contained 
within the containment area and specifically collected within the draped 
tarps 45. Periodically during the sandblasting and containment collection 
the spent abrasive and intrained removed contaminated paint particles, 
etc. are removed from the tarps 45 to prevent overloading of the 
containment platform. 
It will thus be seen that a new and novel contamination and containment 
method and platform device has been illustrated and described and that an 
efficient collection method for spent abrasive sand and remove paint 
matter within a environmentally controlled area without contamination of 
the surrounding environment has been achieve. It will be obvious to those 
skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made therein 
without departing from the spirit of the invention. Therefore I claim: