AU2010214791A1 - Service Delivery Boom - Google Patents

Description

1 Australia Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Service Delivery Boom Specifications: The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: Service Delivery Boom Field of the Invention The invention relates to the provision of services such as electricity and compressed air to various locations on a worksite. Background In factories, workshops and garages workers move to different areas of the worksite in order to perform different tasks. For example, in a garage workers may work all around a vehicle, while in a machinist's workshop a worker could walk between a lathe, milling machine and grinder in order to machine a particular part. Two "services" which are commonly required by workers at such worksites are compressed air and electric power. Compressed air is often supplied from a compressor, with a coiled self store line running across the floor to a location where it 2 is needed. However, the lead can become tangled around machines, and can be tripped over. Such lines are a hassle to use and present a safety hazard. Electric power is usually distributed to several power points around the site. The cost for installation of such points is high, and certain work areas around the site may be still some distance from a point. This invention seeks to provide a low cost and safe device for providing a service or services to various locations around a worksite. Summary of the Invention In accordance with the invention there is a boom for providing a service to a worksite, the boom comprising a rail, a conduit and a carriage wherein: the rail is mounted above the worksite; the service is provided through the conduit; a dropper portion of the conduit extends substantially downward from carriage; and the carriage can slide along the rail so as to provide the service to various locations around the worksite. The rail may be pivotally mounted to rotate above the worksite. Preferably, the carriage can be in one of two modes; a first where it is locked in a position along the rail and a second in which it is unlocked, and free to slide along the rail. Preferably, the boom comprises a tow line connected to the carriage wherein when the tow line hangs, under the effect of gravity from the carriage; the carriage is in a locked mode. Preferably, when the tow line is pulled in a direction parallel to the direction to the rail, the carriage is unlocked.

3 In an embodiment, the tow line forms part of the dropper portion of the conduit that extends downward from the rail. In another embodiment the boom comprises more than one conduit providing more than one service to the worksite. A portion of each conduit extends as a dropper from the carriage. In a further embodiment one of the services is electric power, compressed air, a gas, lubricant or fuel. The boom may provide only two services, compressed air and electric power. Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 shows a side view of a boom, which includes a carriage, in a first embodiment. Figure 2 shows side view of the boom, showing an inner end of the boom in some detail. Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the carriage. Figure 4 shows a second isometric view of the carriage. Figure 5 shows an exploded isometric view of the carriage, the carriage is shown in a configuration for use with an air line. Figure 5A shows an exploded isometric view of the carriage, the carriage is shown in a configuration for use with a power cable. Figure 6 shows a side view of the carriage on the rail in a locked position. Figure 7 show a side view of the carriage on the rail in an unlocked position. Figure 8 show a side view of the boom showing inner end of the boom with electric power cable only. Description of the Preferred Embodiments Several embodiments of the invention are herein described, each of the embodiments relate to a boom 1 for the provision of compressed air and/or electricity for use within 4 a machinist's workshop. However it is understood that the invention is also applicable to the provision of other services such as gases, water, lubricants or fuels which may also be required at various positions around a worksite. The worksite may be a machinist's workshop, a panel beaters, a steel fabricator, a caravan builder, a car detailer or a food processor where cleaning by compressed air or water is required. In accordance with a first embodiment there is provided a services boom 1, shown in Figures I to 8. A side view of the boom is shown in Figure 1. The boom 1 can provide both compressed air and electric power services to a worksite. The boom 1 includes a rail 2, electrical and air conduits, and a carriage 7. The rail 2 is mounted above the worksite. Dropper portions 40, 50 of the conduits extend downward from carriage. The carriage 7 can slide along the rail 2 so as to provide the services to various locations around the worksite. Figure 1 shows the boom situated in a workshop above a vehicle, in a typical application. The boom 1 includes a mast 3, the mast 3 is fixed to the wall W of the workshop with a top bracket 5 and bottom bracket 6. The inner end of the rail 2 is fixed to the mast 3 through a pivotable rail mount 7. A steel cable 4 connects the top of the mast 3 to the outer end of the rail 2. The steel cable 4 supports the rail 2. The steel cable enables simplicity of manufacture and installation. Both the mast 3 and rail 2 are made from rectangular hollow section steel bar. Fixed pins extend from the top bracket 5 and bottom bracket 6 in to the hollow centre of the mast 3. The mast 3 and rail 2 are free to rotate on these pins. Plastic bearings are used between the brackets 5, 6 and mast 3 to allow it to rotate freely. The rail 2 can slew in an arc from wall to wall, around a total of 180 degrees. With slight variation, the rail 2 could be mounted from the ceiling or roof structure and be able to slew in a full 360 degree rotation. The boom 1 can be mounted so that work can be performed under the rail. In a typical workshop this would require the rail 2 to be two to four metres from the floor F. A typical rail length would be three to eight metres. If the arc of movement was 180 degrees, the area covered by a six metre rail would be 56 square metres.

5 A carriage 7 is mounted on the rail 2. The carriage 7 is mounted to the rail 2 on races and can (when required) slide along the rail. Hanging from the carriage 7 is two droppers a power cord dropper 50 and compressed air dropper 40. By swinging the rail 2 around its arc and sliding the carriage 7 along the rail a user can position the droppers 50, 40 anywhere within the area covered by the rail 2. Thus, if a lathe, milling machine and grinder are all positioned within this area the worker can position the carriage near to the each of these machines and access both services in the position where he or she is working. Figure 2 shows the inner end of the boom in greater detail. The compressed air conduit extends from an air compressor or ring main to the air dropper 40. A supply air line 41 runs from the source which may be a compressor (not shown) positioned on the floor F below the mast 3. The supply air line 41 is connected to a lower nipple 42 fixed to the rail mount 7. The lower nipple 42 is joined to an upper nipple 43 through the mount 7. A self store air hose 44 is connected to the upper nipple and runs from here to the carriage 7. The self store hose 44 is coiled, and the coils are looped around the rail 2. As the carriage 7 slides toward the inner end of the rail 2 the hose 44 coils bunch together, as the carriage moves outward the coils can stretch apart. The hose 44 acts somewhat like a tension spring gently pulling the carriage toward the distal end of the rail 2. The power conduit extends in the form of a power cable from a powerpoint on the wall W to a spring loaded retracting reel 50 fixed to the mast 3. A cable 51 extends from the reel 50 to the carriage 7. As the carriage 7 moves along the rail the cable 51 rolls onto and off the reel 50. The reel 50 is spring loaded and, like the hose 44 imparts a gentle force on the carriage pulling it toward the distal end of the rail 2. The carriage 7 is shown in some detail in Figures 3 to 5A. The carriage 7 can be made up of two triangular steel plates 17, 18 fixed apart from one another by upper bolts 27, 30. The carriage 7 can be unlocked to slide along the rail 2. The carriage 7 may also be locked to the rail 2. The mechanics of the carriage 7, including locking and unlocking of the carriage are described in greater detail in a later paragraph.

6 Referring to Figure 3, the power cable 51 extends though a set of cam cleats 53. The dropper portion 50 of the cable hangs from the cleats 53 toward the floor of the worksite providing the power dropper. The cleats 53 allow the length of the power dropper 50 to be adjusted. When the carriage 7 is positioned near where the worker is working they can plug appliances such as a tool into a plug at the end of the dropper 50. Referring to Figure 4, the coiled air hose 44 connects to a nipple 46 in the top end of rigid steel dropper tube bend 45. A nipple 47 is used to connect the dropper tube to the steel tube bend. The dropper tube 48 is made from a plastic material suitable for the pressure and type of material therein and may be 12 mm in diameter. The steel tube is slightly bent (about 45 degrees) and runs through a hole in one of the triangular plates 17 of the carrier 7. The tube 45 is welded to the plate 17 and 18. Both ends of the tube 45 have female threads into which the upper nipple 46 and a lower nipple 47 are fitted. The lower nipple 47 connects to a short length of flexible air hose 48. The dropper 40 is thus made up of both a short rigid tube bend 45, flexible hose 48 and associated hardware. The flexible hose 48 may be supported by a steel spring around its top end to prevent it becoming damaged. It is understood that the boom 1 shown in Figures 1 and 2 includes a carriage for supporting both the electric power cable shown in Figure 3 and the air line shown in Figure 4. Figure 5 and 5A shows an exploded isometric view of the carriage 7, in two different configurations. The two triangular plates 17, 18 which make up the body of the carriage 7 are separated by three top bolts 27, 30. Spacers 24, 26 on these top bolts 27, 30 keep the plates 17, 18 at a fixed distance from one another. A rubber bush 23 (a brake) fits tightly around the spacer 24 on the centre top bolt 30. A spring 25 extends from either end of the centre top bolt 30 to a bottom bolt 34. A bottom bearing race 22 is fixed between the two spaces 31 on the bottom bolt 34. The bottom bolt 34 is free to slide in slots 32 in each plate 17, 18 allowing the springs 25 to impart pressure on the rail 2 between the brake 23 and lower race 22.

7 Figure 6 shows the carriage 7 in the locked position. When the dropper tube 48 is hanging vertically the carriage 7 is in a locked position. The brake 23 is inclined to grip the steel rail 2 under the pressure provided by the two springs 25. Bearing races 20, 21 on each of the outer top bolts 27 are not in contact with the rail 2 when the carriage is in this locked position. When the services are in use and droppers 45, 50 hang freely, and the carriage 7 is locked in this position. The locked position ensures that the carriage 7 remains in the correct location, preventing the carriage from sliding in response to the force applied by the air hose 44 and reel 50. The lock prevents movement if a certain amount of unintentional force is applied to either dropper 40, 50 while connected to a tool. The unlocked position is shown in Figure 7. In order to disengage the brake 23, unlock the carriage 7 from the rail 2 and slide the carriage a worker grasps the dropper 40 and pulls it either outwards along the rail 2 or inwards along the rail 2. As the dropper tube 45 is attached to the body of the carriage 7 the carriage 7 pivots around the brake 23. By tilting the carriage 7 in this way one of the outer top races is bought into contact with the rail 2 and the brake 23 lifts upwards disengaging from the rail. The carriage 7 is now free to slide along the rail in the desired direction. Once the carriage 7 is in the correct position and the droppers are left to hang the carriage returns to the locked position shown in Figure 6. The power cable dropper (not shown in Figures 6 or 7) extends from a point on the body near to the brake 23. This means that by pulling on the power cable 40 a worker can not disengage the brake 23 from the rail, as no significant bending moment can be created about the axis of the brake 23. As such, the worker can not use the power cable dropper 50 to unlock and slide the carriage, which may damage the cable and render it unsafe. Instead, the air dropper 40 must be used which is significantly more durable and less prone to damage. In an embodiment the boom includes the air conduit and dropper 40 but no power conduit. Only compressed air is supplied from the carriage 7. Alternatively, only electrical power is supplied from the boom and a chain (see Figure 3) may be used as the tow line to engage and disengage the lock.

8 It is understood that other simple locking mechanisms could be designed which could also be actuated from below the carriage, for example the lock could be released by pulling downwards on a dropper or pushing it upwards. The boom has certain advantages over known methods of providing services to various locations in a workshop: - It is cheap and simple to produce and can be made from freely available parts. - The conduits such as hose and cables are kept off the floor avoiding a tripping and tangling hazard. - The conduits are kept away from the work area, which minimises the chance that they are damaged - A worker can easily move the droppers from one place to another on the site - Multiple booms can be installed at the same site, particularly where the site is large - By moving a single carriage with them from one location to another, the worker can effectively take more than one service with them. - The boom is applicable to a range of different applications, and can deliver a variety of services.

Claims (9)

1. A boom for providing a service to a worksite, the boom comprising a rail, a conduit and a carriage wherein: the rail may be mounted above the worksite; the service is provided through the conduit; a dropper portion of the conduit extends substantially downward from the carriage; and the carriage can slide along the rail so as to provide the service to various locations within the worksite.

2. A boom in accordance with claim 1 wherein the rail is pivotally mounted to rotate above the worksite.

3. A boom in accordance with claim 1 or 2 wherein the carriage is adapted to take on two modes; a first where the carriage is substantially locked in a position along the rail and a second in which the carriage is substantially unlocked and thus free to slide along the rail.

4. A boom in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising a tow line connected to the carriage wherein when the tow line hangs, under the effect of gravity from the carriage, the carriage is substantially locked in position along the rail.

5. A boom in accordance with claim 4 wherein when the tow line is pulled in a direction parallel to the direction to the rail, the carriage is unlocked and is substantially free to slide along the rail. 10

6. A boom in accordance with claim 4 or 5 wherein the tow line forms part of the dropper portion of the conduit that extends downward from the rail.

7. A boom in accordance with an one of the preceding claims comprising more than one conduit providing more than one service to the worksite and wherein a portion of each conduit extends as a dropper from the carriage.

8. A boom in accordance with any proceeding claims wherein one of the services is electric power, compressed air, a gas, lubricant or fuel.

9. A boom in accordance with any proceeding claims wherein the boom provides only two services, compressed air and electric power.