GB2152475A

GB2152475A - Mobile, personnel-supporting structures

Info

Publication number: GB2152475A
Application number: GB08325822A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Merryl Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-09-27
Filing date: 1983-09-27
Publication date: 1985-08-07
Also published as: GB8325822D0

Abstract

A mobile structure for use in supporting personnel or equipment at elevated heights, for building or other purposes, comprising a base (10) having ground engaging wheels (11), an elevating structure (15,16) guided for movement in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions, and means (22,23), e.g. ladders to facilitate movement of personnel and equipment to the elevating structure in its raised position. A further structure may be mounted on the elevating structure, via a turntable (34) (Fig. 4), this further structure also being pivotable about horizontal axes at the turntable, to move an upper platform (30) in an arc to provide access to a roof. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Elevating structures This invention relates to elevating structures for supporting personnel or equipment at elevated heights and is particularly, though not exclusively, applicable to equipment included for use in building or like purposes.

Traditionally building work involves erection of scaffolding which is fixed in position while building takes place. This is often the best method available, but in some cases, for instance in small repair work on an existing building, scaffolding is a laborious, expensive, and unnecessary system.

An alternative for temporary repair work is to use one of the hydraulically operated folding arm supports which are normally provided on a trailer or power driven vehicle and operated by the vehicle hydraulic system to raise personnel or equipment to the required position. This equipment is expensive and limited in its usefulness to small operations.

For example, it may be ideal for changing light bulbs in public lighting systems, but far from ideal for repairing a tiled roof.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile elevating structure, which is simple and economical to manufacture and operate and which will overcome many of the limitations of existing systems and allow small building works to proceed at elevated heights and on roofs without the need for fixed scaffolding.

Broadly stated the invention consists in a mobile structure for use in supporting personnel or equipment at elevated heights, for building or other purposes, comprising a base having ground engaging wheels, means for guiding an elevating structure on the base for movement in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions, and means to facilitate movement of personnel and equipment to the elevating structure in its raised position.

In one preferred construction the elevating structure includes an elevating platform carried by vertical columns or elements which engage guides on the base, and the structure includes a subsidiary elevating structure which is vertically movable in relation to the main elevating structure.

In addition there may be an extension structure which is capable of projecting laterally from the elevating structure and conveniently the extension structure is also capable of rotary or swivelling movement about a vertical axis.

According to another preferred feature of the invention the elevating structure or each stage of the structure, is provided with a ladder which is arranged to be capable of collapsing when the structure is in its lowered position.

The invention may be performed in various ways and one specific embodiment, with some possible modifications, will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure / is a general perspective view illustrating an elevating platform trailer according to the invention, Figure 2 is a similar view illustrating the trailer in its closed, lowered position, Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation, partly in section, illustrating the components of the structure in the fully raised position, Figure 4 is a side elevation illustrating an auxiliary cantilever support on a turntable, and Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating another form of auxiliary cantilever support.

The elevating platform trailer illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 comprises a rectangular base unit 10 resembling a conventional caravan, mounted on road wheels 11 and provided with a towing coupling 12.

In addition it has the normal adjustable legs or jacks 13 front and rear.

The elevating platform structure in this example has three horizontal platforms 15, 16, 17 at different heights above the base. The lower platform 17 is fixed to the side walls of the trailer base and the two platforms 15, 16 are telescopically movable, each having supporting legs or columns 18 which fit within the guides 19 in the section immediately below.

The top platform 15 is provided with an upstanding guard-rail 20 which may be hinged to collapse flat for transport and the equipment includes ladders for providing access to each of the floors and hoisting means to elevate the platforms as required. In this example there is a fixed external ladder 22 at the rear of the trailer body providing access to the first floor platform 17. The upper platforms 15, 16 each have a depending ladder 23 hinged to the platform at 24 and capable of folding upwards when the platforms are lowered. Openings are provided in the platform to allow personnel to mount to the top service area.

The elevating gear for raising the platforms in this example consists of a system of cables, pulleys and winches. A winch mechanism 26 in the trailer base operates through step-down gearing to tension separate pairs of cables which run over fixed and moving pulleys to elevate the platforms 15, 16 selectively as required. Alternatively, power operated mechanism may be used. For example, there may be a hydraulic or electric motor operating the winch gear, or hydraulic elevating jacks for the platforms.

Figure 4 illustrates an optional auxiliary cantilever turntable extension. The structure comprises an upper operating platform 30 with a guardrail 31 mounted on a tower frame 32 carried by a turntable 34 supported in bearings on a base 35 mounted on the top platform 15 of the elevating structure. The tower 32 is arranged to be capable of leaning sideways to any selected angle of inclination so that the working platform 30 becomes cantilevered outwards as illustrated at 36. In this example the lateral adjustment of the tower is controlled by a system of cables 39 running over pulleys attached to the corners and centre points of the tower, the cables being manipulated through step-down winding gear mechanism 40. This system may be of particular use for example when dealing with repairs to the roof of a building.

Figure 5 illustrates an alternative cantilever turntable structure in which the lateral adjustment is controlled not by a winch and cable system but by an inclined screwjack 44 acting between one lower hinge point 45 of the tower and an intermediate hinge point 46. In other respects this tower structure is similar to that of Figure 4.

Claims

1. A mobile structure for use in supporting personnel or equipment at elevated heights, for building or other purposes, comprising a base having ground engaging wheels, means for guiding an elevating structure on the base for movement in a vertical direction between raised and lowered positions and means to facilitate movement of personnel and equipment to the elevating structure in its raised position.

2. A structure according to Claim 1, in which the elevating structure includes an elevating platform carried by vertical columns or elements which engage guides on the base.

3. A structure according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, includes a subsidiary elevating structure which is vertically movable in relation to the main elevating structure.

4. A structure according to any of the preceding claims, including an extension structure which is capable of projecting laterally from the elevating structure.

5. A structure according to claim 4, in which the extension structure is also capable of rotary or swivelling movement about a vertical axis.

6. A structure as in any of the preceding claims, in which the elevating structure or each stage of the structure, is provided with a ladder which is arranged to be capable of collapsing when the structure is in its lowered position.