Liftable work platform

Abstract: Displaceable device (1) with an open lower side and a gangway means (3) such that a person can move on said gangway means (3) along said opening to work on a wall below (4) said device while said person is on said gangway means (3), and wherein said device (1) is preferably adapted for use outdoor under all weather conditions while safeguarding the persons thereon. Said gangway means (3) is displaceable aside with respect to the device (1).

Description: The invention is concerned with a device and method to work on a wall. It is concerned with working, such as processing or repairing or servicing, on a wall, such as a roof or floor or ceiling, e.g. of a house or a factory or sports building, e.g. installing new or replacing existing roof plates, or installing bituminous roof covering, etc. Roof plates are e.g. of metal and e.g. rectangular, e.g. elongated, e.g. with a length of about 11 m and a width of about 1 m. The use or processing of different prefab elements is also possible, but also e.g. painting. In the field it is known, to replace existing roof plates with the aid of a hoist, wherein the roof plates are lifted on the roof one by one with the aid of the hoist, and they are installed and fixed by workers standing on the roof. US-A-4 646 877 discloses a prior art displaceable device with an open lower side and a gangway. The object of the invention is multiple. According to one aspect of the invention, safety is concerned. According to another aspect of the invention, work saving is concerned. According to a third aspect of the invention, saving of costs is concerned. According to a fourth aspect of the invention, saving of materials is concerned. According to a fifth aspect of the invention, saving of implements is concerned. According to a sixth aspect of the invention, time saving is concerned. According to a seventh aspect of the invention, ergonomics are is concerned. According to an eighth aspect of the invention, transportation on the public roads is concerned. The object of the invention is to realise one or more of the above aspects. The invention is therefore characterised by the subject indicated in the annexed claim 1. The invention is further explained with the aid of several non-limiting embodiments of the invention, while referring to the enclosed drawing, showing in: Fig. 1 a perspective view of the device according to the invention in a first embodiment; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the device according to the invention in a second embodiment; Fig. 3 a side view; Fig. 4 a top view of the device of fig. 1; Fig. 5 a side view of the device of fig. 1; Fig. 6 a front view of the device of fig. 1. The device shown is an implement meant to be able to work on a wall, such as a roof or a floor. The device is preferably as much as possible open at its lower side, more preferably at least substantially completely open. The device preferably comprises a base frame that is rectangular in top view. The shape of the lower side of the device in side view is preferably adapted to the profile of the roof or floor one is working on. So with a flat or inclined roof or a flat floor or ceiling, the device has a flat lower side, and with a roof convex curved from the top to the gutter, the device has a concave curved lower side. The device is preferably liftable by preferably a supple hoist member, such as a chain, preferably four branch hoist member, connected to a lifting device or a hoist. The device is preferably provided with inclination setting means, such as a two or four or multi branch hoist member to adapt its attitude to e.g. the inclination of the roof in the lifted position. The base frame is preferably designed such that it can be parted, e.g. along the centre line, to make its plan dimensions smaller for storage and transport. The device is preferably adapted to bear on or against a support structure, e.g. of the building that is worked on, preferably to bear near the opposing sides of the device, for which suitable support means are provided, such as elastic yielding elements, like of rubber. The load from the device is preferably spread between the support structure and the lifting device, for which the device can be provided with convenient load spread means, such that the support structure is loaded to a minimum and still the device is sufficiently motionless. The device is preferably provided with a guarding means, such as a railing, preferably at least substantially completely around, to protect persons within the device against falling from the device. Said guarding means can also be designed to add stiffness to the device. The device has one or more, preferably at least two, bridging elements or gangways whereon one or more persons can move, e.g. crawl. Said bridging elements are displacable aside, preferably at least substantially parallel to itself, mounted to the device and can preferably locked and unlocked in different sideways displaced positions. As such the device can be used to work strip by strip. By virtue of the sideways movability of the bridging elements it is e.g. possible to adapt the working area of the device without the need to displace the complete device. A bridging element has e.g. a free span. A bridging element preferably bears on the device with its longitudinal ends. The device has preferably a width such that two or more, preferably at least three, strips next to each other can be processed, without the need to displace the device intermediately, wherein said strips preferably have a width such that at least one bridging element has to be displaced aside such that all said strips can be processed. The device preferably has an implement to secure a person in or on the device, such as a rail with a coupling means for a safety line moving therealong. If the device is meant for two or more persons, there are preferably as much rails or other implements for securing, as there are persons. The bearing parts of the device are preferably leight weigth and preferably at least substantially of a convenient aluminium alloy. The device has a step track element that is preferably immovably mounted with respect to the device, whereon a person can move, e.g. crawl, preferably at one, more preferably two opposing sides. Step track element and bridging element preferably mutually extend such that a person on the one bridging element can enter the other briding element via the step track element, for which e.g. the lengthwise direction of the step track element is at least substantially perpendicular to that of the bridging element. Step track element or bridging element are e.g. provided with e.g. a railing on one or both longitudinal sides that can be swung aside, to protect a person on it against falling off. The device 1 according to fig. 1 can be defined as a tray or cage with open lower side and possibly open upper side, wherein within the opening at the lower side one or more bridging elements 3 and/or step track elements 2 extend. On works on the wall, such as roof 4 (fig. 3) below the device 1. The device preferably has e.g. to one side, preferably two opposite sides for balance, an integrated storage for a supply of prefab elements, such as roof plates, that are used while working, e.g. two or more brackets 5 with mutual spacing in lengthwise direction and at least substantially on the same level for commonly carrying a stack of one or more of those prefab elements. The device has preferably an implement-unit (not visible), such as power unit for tools, preferably installed overhead, and preferably at least substantially above the centre of gravity of the device. The power unit is e.g. positioned on top of couple plate 6 (to be described). The power unit supplies e.g. compressed air to drive the tools. The aggregaat has e.g. one or more leads to the tools, winded on a common or individual reel of the automatic reeling type. The device 1 can be parted along the centre line (extending parallel to the lengthwise direction of the bridge elements 3). 11 refers to the parting line in the step track elements 2. With the aid of coupling plates 6 and 12 and coupling means (not visible) at the step track elements the device is kept in the working position. The device has a length of 12 m and a width of 6 m and weighs 2000 kg. A bridging element has a width of 60 cm. The bridging elements 3 and/or step track elements 2 are preferably provided with vents for venting water. The bridging elements 3 can preferably locked in the desired sideway position with the aid of a lock 3. The bridging elements 3 are guided in guiding elements (not visible) near their longitunidal ends to be movable aside. At the lower side the device 1 has a cushion profile 13 near each step track element 2. Around the device there is a railing 14 to provide support against falling of workers. Access doors are referred 15. The opening below the railing 14 is closed against falling therethrough with a for that purpose convenient closure, e.g. cloth or gaze or netting material, e.g. of plastics. The device has an erection of uprights 16 and a overhead frame 17 on top. The erection is designed such that workers that walk on the bridging elements 3 are not hindered by it. The frame 17 has a hoist member 18 at each corner. The frame carries a falling security 19. Stiffeners, such as stretch wires 20, extend from the top of the uprights 16, to further improve the stiffness of the structure. Fig. 2 shows an alternative device. This has a yoke 7 with a two branch hoist chain 8 for connection to a hoisting crane. A beam 9 connects to each limb of the yoke. Two bridging elements 3 extend between the two beams, and can move along the beams 9 (see arrows A). One or more of the above features mentioned for the discussion of fig. 1 can be added to the device according to fig. 2. One preferably acts as follows with the device: With the aid of the hoist this is positioned with respect to the wall that is worked on, whereafter the bridging elements 3 are possibly shifted aside into the desired position and then the work is done to the strip near the bridging elements from the bridging elements. Then the bridging elements are moved aside into the next desired position, preferably without displacing the device, and then the work is carried out to another strip near the bridging elements. Preferably the work is carried out to the strip between two bridging elements. To e.g. replace roof plates the device is preferably provided with two bridging elements and the device has a width such that at least two, preferably at least four, more preferably at least five strips next to each other can be processed by moving aside the bridging elements whithout intermediate displacement of the device. In that case the device contains at least two workers. Each worker can work on the wall, whithout the need to displace the device. The device allows that this requires little accurate positioning; tuning takes place with the displacable bridging elements. Further alternatives of the invention are possible. E.g. the device can be provided with lifting tools to lift an object with respect to the device. The device can possibly rotatably fixed mounted to the hoist such that the device can hang stable above the wall without bearing against the wall. Fig. 3 shows the device 1, suspending from a hoist 10 and bearing on an inclined roof 4.

Claims: Displaceable device (1) with an open lower side and a gangway means 3 such that a person can move on said gangway means along said opening to work on a wall (4) below said device while said person is on said gangway means, and wherein said gangway means is displaceable with respect to the device, preferably aside at least substantially parallel to itself. Device according to claim 1, wherein said device is adapted for use outdoor under all weather conditions while safeguarding the persons thereon. Device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein there are two gangway means 3 mutually extending substantially parallel and preferably each displaceable aside with respect to the device. Device according to any of claims 1-3, wherein there are locking means for locking the sideway poisition of at least one of the gangway means. Device according to any of claims 1-4, wherein it can be parted for transport. Device according to any of claims 1-5, wherein it comprises means, such as a fence and/of rail means (14) for connection thereto of a lifeline connected to a person, to prevent or impede a person falling therefrom. Device according to any of claims 1-6, wherein it has a rectangular, open frame means in top view, between its opposing sides at least one gangway means can reciprocate aside. Device according to any of claims 1-7, comprising an overhead frame means, particularly for stiffening the device, load transferring means preferably extend downwards therefrom. Device according to any of claims 1-8, being of leigth-weight structure and provided with means for coupling to a hoist means, particularly to be suspended from a hoist means. Device according to any of claims 1-9, comprising one or more implements for the work to be carried out with the device, such as a storage for storing goods at the device and/or a generator for generating driving force for tools.

Inventors: HOONDERT JOANNES SIMON GERARDU, HOONDERT, JOANNES SIMON GERARDUS
Applicants: HOONDERT BEHEER BV
Application year: 1999
Main classification: E04G3
IPC codes: E04G3, E04G21