Self-erecting suspension platform system
A self-erecting suspension platform system having a work platform suspended between a sinistral modular mast and a dextral modular mast by a hoisting system. The modular masts are composed of at least two mast units stacked vertically and attached to one another. Each mast unit has a multifunction rail including a plurality of safety engagement devices and a stabilizer guide device, a unit interconnection device, and a unit assembly guide. The work platform has at least two mast stabilizers that cooperate with the stabilizer guide devices to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform. The work platform has a plurality of platform mast engagers cooperating with at least one of the mast safety engagement devices to releasably lock the platform to the modular mast. The hoisting system includes multiple carriages, hoists, and mast cables. Each carriage receives the associated mast so that the carriage may be conveniently slid up and down the mast.
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The instant invention relates to self-erecting suspension platform systems, particularly a ground based tower supported suspension type work platform.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONSuspension type work platforms are well-known in the art. They are traditionally mounted from the roof or upper stories of a building by means of temporary roof beams or permanent mounting davits, and often employ a track-based roof carriage, or monorails, to provide movable anchoring points for a work platform system. Obviously, a roof-mounted suspension platform system requires a usable roof, and therefore such a design is inherently unusable for a vertical structure under construction, for structures having a roof covered in large part with mechanical equipment for the HVAC system, or for a sloping roof. Alternatively, work platforms may be raised from the ground by means of a lift, such as seen in various “cherry-picker” type work baskets; or with a scissors-like arrangements as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,854; or by means of an extending tower, as seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,737. These ground based systems have the advantage of easy mobility, but all share the obvious shortcoming of being severely limited in the height to which the platform may be raised, which is generally limited to a very few stories of building elevation.
Alternatively, ground based systems may utilize scaffolding supports that are built-up from sections in order to reach variable heights. A typical example is that seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,332, in which rectangular scaffolding sections may be built up alongside a platform that climbs the scaffold sections by means of a rack and pinion system. A suspension platform design has also been designed, in which chains hooked to the scaffold section, or towers, serves to raise the platform.
Safety is of paramount concern when working from an elevated, or suspended, work platform. Prior art devices share many severe safety shortcomings. Firstly, modular sections should be easily raised and locked into position from inside the relative safety of the work platform. Such modular sections should be easily connected by secure, yet easily releasable connections that do not require a worker to struggle or lean outside of the work platform boundary. Secondly, the modular sections must be readily attachable to the vertical surface alongside of which the sections, or towers, are erected, in order to allow significant height to be achieved safely. Thirdly, redundant safety systems are highly desirable, to prevent the work platform from accidentally falling in case of equipment malfunction such as a separation of the hoisting and safety locking mechanism into separate components, and most desirably with more than a single safety lock system.
What has been missing in the art has been a system by which a self erecting work platform may be raised on a tower system of easily interlocking sections, all of which may be easily raised from within the safety of the work platform, and which utilizes a motor and cable lift to raise and lower the platform system that is entirely separate from the safety lock mechanisms that operate to lock the work platform in place while tower sections are being added or removed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIn its most general configuration, the present invention advances the state of the art with a variety of new capabilities and overcomes many of the shortcomings of prior devices in new and novel ways. In its most general sense, the present invention overcomes the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art in any of a number of generally effective configurations. The instant invention demonstrates such capabilities and overcomes many of the shortcomings of prior methods in new and novel ways.
The present invention is a self-erecting suspension platform system intended for use in the construction, maintenance, and cleaning of structures, or any other access solution. The platform system comprises a work platform suspended between a sinistral modular mast and a dextral modular mast by a hoisting system.
The sinistral modular mast and the dextral modular mast are each composed of at least two mast units stacked vertically and attached to one another. Each mast unit has a distal end, a proximal end, a multifunction rail extending from the distal end to the proximal end including a plurality of safety engagement devices and a stabilizer guide device, a unit interconnection device located substantially near the distal end, and a unit assembly guide. When the mast units are stacked upon one another the multifunction rail of each mast unit substantially aligns with the multifunction rail of the adjacent mast unit. The modular mast units may be virtually any shape and configuration.
The work platform serves as the stage upon which a user, or users, works to construct walls, wash windows, or any number of other elevated tasks. The work platform has a sinistral end and a dextral end. The work platform is designed to be suspended between the sinistral modular mast and the dextral modular mast. Therefore, the distance from the sinistral end to the dextral end of the work platform is less than, or substantially equal to, the mast separation distance. The work platform also has a sinistral mast stabilizer and a dextral mast stabilizer attached to the platform and is configured to cooperate with the sinistral and dextral mast stabilizer guide devices of the sinistral and dextral mast multifunction rails to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform. The work platform also has a sinistral platform mast engager and a dextral platform mast engager attached to the platform and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of sinistral and dextral mast safety engagement devices of the sinistral and dextral mast multifunction rails to releasably lock the platform to the modular mast thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform.
The hoisting system suspends the working platform from the modular masts. The hoisting system includes a sinistral carriage, a dextral carriage, a sinistral mast hoist, a dextral mast hoist, a sinistral mast cable, and a dextral mast cable. Each carriage is adapted to cooperatively receive the associated modular mast so that the carriage may be conveniently slid up and down the associated modular mast by a user. Each carriage also has a proximal end, a distal end, a body, a cable connector, an operator handle, and a carriage mast engager. The carriage mast engager is configured to releasably lock the carriage to the associated modular mast thereby preventing unintentional descent of the carriage.
The mast hoists are attached to the working platform and the associated mast cable, which is then attached to the cable connector of the associated carriage thereby suspending the working platform from the carriages. The mast hoists adjust the elevation of the working platform by extending and retracting the mast cables.
Lastly, the platform system includes a control system having a central control station for user control. The central console station is in communication with each mast hoist thereby controlling the elevation of the work platform.
These variations, modifications, alternatives, and alterations of the various preferred embodiments may be used alone or in combination with one another as will become more readily apparent to those with skill in the art with reference to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSWithout limiting the scope of the present invention as claimed below and referring now to the drawings and figures:
The self-erecting suspension platform system (10) of the instant invention enables a significant advance in the state of the art. The preferred embodiments of the device accomplish this by new and novel arrangements of elements and methods that are configured in unique and novel ways and which demonstrate previously unavailable but preferred and desirable capabilities. The detailed description set forth below in connection with the drawings is intended merely as a description of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and is not intended to represent the only form in which the present invention may be constructed or utilized. The description sets forth the designs, functions, means, and methods of implementing the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments. It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functions and features may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention.
The present invention is a self-erecting suspension platform system (10) intended for use in the construction, maintenance, and cleaning of structures, or any other access solution. With reference to
First, the modular masts (100, 200) will be disclosed in detail. The sinistral modular mast (100), illustrated in
Similarly, the dextral modular mast (200), seen in
The sinistral mast units (110a, 110b) are configured such that when a portion of the distal end (112) of a second sinistral mast unit (110b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (114) of the adjacent first sinistral mast unit (110a), during assembly of the sinistral modular mast (100), the unit assembly guide (140) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the sinistral unit interconnection device (135) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a), as seen in
As one with skill in the art will recognize, the modular mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) may be virtually any shape and configuration. The design and construction of the modular mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) depends largely on the size and load of the work platform (300), as well as the elevation that the work platform (300) must reach. For example, the modular mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) may be a predetermined size and configuration for use with ten foot long work platforms (300) that will reach an elevation of no more than sixty feet. Further, then modular mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) for use with longer more heavily loaded work platforms (300) may be a different configuration and level of reinforcing such that for safety concerns the modular mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) of one particular work platform (300) and application criteria may not be used with modular mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) of a different work platform (300) and application criteria. As with many structural tower systems, generally a triangular cross-sectioned truss construction tower provides the greatest utility, however any number of widely known structural shapes may be used.
Further, the unit assembly guides (140, 240) may be constructed in any number of effective arrangements. In one embodiment, the unit assembly guides (140, 240) includes a hook device (142, 242), seen in
Next, with reference again to
With reference now to
The sinistral carriage (450) is adapted to cooperatively receive the sinistral modular mast (100) so that the sinistral carriage (450) may be conveniently slid up and down the sinistral modular mast (100) by a user. As seen in
The dextral carriage (470) is adapted to cooperatively receive the dextral modular mast (200) so that the dextral carriage (470) may be conveniently slid up and down the dextral modular mast (200) by a user. As seen in
Referring again to
Lastly, the platform system (10) includes a control system (500) having a central control station (510) for user control. The central console station (510) is in communication with the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby controlling the elevation of the work platform (300) by extending and retracting the sinistral mast cable (410) and the dextral mast cable (420) from the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440). The control system (500) may incorporate any number of electrical interlocks for improved safety. For instance, the control system (500) may include an accelerometer that activates the safety engagement devices (117, 217) upon sensing a predetermined acceleration or velocity. Additional safety features may include top limit switch(s), bottom limit switch(s), and a payload overload detection system.
Now the various elements discussed above will be reviewed in more detail and as applied to various embodiments. The plurality of safety engagement devices (117, 217) of the multifunction rails (116, 216) may be formed as locking recesses (118, 218) formed in the multifunction rail (116, 216) in some embodiments, as seen in
The sinistral carriage mast engager (460) and the dextral mast engager (480) cooperate with their associated modular mast (100, 200) to prevent unintentional descent of the carriages (450, 470). The carriage mast engagers (460, 480) may be virtually any device that can selectively lock the associated carriage (450, 470) to the associated mast (100, 200). Most embodiments the carriage mast engagers (460, 480) include some form of a locking tongue. For instance, one embodiment, illustrated in
Similar to the carriage mast engagers (460, 480) just discussed, the work platform (300) incorporates a sinistral platform mast engager (340) and a dextral platform mast engager (350), seen in
As previously mentioned, in some embodiments the plurality of safety engagement devices (117, 217) of the multifunction rails (116, 216) may be formed as locking projections (119, 219) extending from the multifunction rail (116, 216), as seen in
In the embodiments incorporating locking projections (119, 219), the work platform (300) incorporates a sinistral platform mast engager (340) and a dextral platform mast engager (350), both of which are attached to the platform (300), configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of sinistral and dextral mast locking projections (119, 219) of the sinistral and dextral mast multifunction rails (116, 216). The platform mast engagers (340, 350) serve to releasably lock the platform (300) to the modular masts (100, 200) via the multifunction rails (116, 216) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), as seen in one embodiment in
In one particular embodiment illustrated in
In an alternative embodiment the carriage locking tongues (462, 482) may be biased locking pawls (464, 484) attached to the carriages (450, 470), as seen in
As previously mentioned, the work platform (300) also has a sinistral mast stabilizer (320) and a dextral mast stabilizer (330) attached to the platform (300), illustrated in
In a further embodiment, the sinistral and dextral multifunction rails (116, 216) are U-shaped multifunction rails (125, 225), illustrated in
The carriages (450, 470) may be constructed in a number of arrangements. The carriage bodies (452, 472) may completely encircle the modular mast perimeters (145, 245), as seen in
Now, with the numerous embodiments described, the general sequence of operation may be disclosed. Operation of the system (10) begins with the positioning of the fist mast units (110a, 210a) and the work platform (300), as seen in
Now, with the mast units (110a, 110b, 210a, 210b) in the vertical position, the hoisting system cables (410, 420) are attached to the cable connectors (454, 474) and the hoists (430, 440). The hoists (430, 440) are then activated at the central control console (510) thereby drawing the cables (410, 420) taunt and lifting the work platform (300) to the position shown in
In one particular embodiment, the hoists (430, 440) contain enough cable (410, 420) such that the work platform (300) may be lowered from the highest elevation to the ground without having to reposition the carriages (450, 470). Such is particularly beneficial when the user needs to return the work platform (300) to ground level to obtain more supplies or take a break.
As one with skill in the art will appreciate, each modular mast (100, 200) may have more than one multifunction rail (116, 216), as seen in
Numerous alterations, modifications, and variations of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art and they are all anticipated and contemplated to be within the spirit and scope of the instant invention. For example, although specific embodiments have been described in detail, those with skill in the art will understand that the preceding embodiments and variations can be modified to incorporate various types of substitute and or additional or alternative materials, relative arrangement of elements, and dimensional configurations. Accordingly, even though only few variations of the present invention are described herein, it is to be understood that the practice of such additional modifications and variations and the equivalents thereof, are within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or acts for performing the functions in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.
Claims
1. A self-erecting suspension platform system (10), comprising:
- a sinistral modular mast (100) having at least a first sinistral mast unit (110a) and a second sinistral mast unit (110b), wherein the first sinistral mast unit (110a) and the second sinistral mast unit (110b) are substantially identical with each having a distal end (112), a proximal end (114), a multifunction rail (116) extending from the distal end (112) to the proximal end (114) including a plurality of safety engagement devices (117) and a stabilizer guide device (122), a unit interconnection device (135) located substantially near the distal end (112), and a unit assembly guide (140) located substantially near the distal end (112) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (112) of a second sinistral mast unit (110b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (114) of the adjacent first sinistral mast unit (110a) in the vertical position that the unit assembly guide (140) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the unit interconnection device (135) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a);
- a dextral modular mast (200), separated from the sinistral modular mast (100) by a mast separation distance (50), having at least a first dextral mast unit (210a) and a second dextral mast unit (210b), wherein the first dextral mast unit (210a) and the second dextral mast unit (210b) are substantially identical with each having a distal end (212), a proximal end (214), a multifunction rail (216) extending from the distal end (212) to the proximal end (214) including a plurality of safety engagement devices (217) and a stabilizer guide device (222), a unit interconnection device (235) located substantially near the distal end (212), and a unit assembly guide (240) located substantially near the distal end (212) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (212) of a second dextral mast unit (210b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (214) of the adjacent first dextral mast unit (210a) in the vertical position that the unit assembly guide (240) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the unit interconnection device (235) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a);
- a work platform (300) having a sinistral end (302) and a dextral end (304), a railing (310), a sinistral mast stabilizer (320) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with the sinistral mast stabilizer guide device (122) of the sinistral mast multifunction rail (116) to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform (300), a dextral mast stabilizer (330) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with the dextral mast stabilizer guide device (222) of the dextral mast multifunction rail (216) to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform (300), a sinistral platform mast engager (340) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of sinistral mast safety engagement devices (117) of the sinistral mast multifunction rail (116) to releasably lock the platform (300) to the sinistral modular mast (100) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), a dextral platform mast engager (350) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of dextral mast safety engagement devices (217) of the dextral mast multifunction rail (216) to releasably lock the platform (300) to the dextral modular mast (200) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), wherein the work platform (300) is located between the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200) such that the work platform sinistral end (302) is adjacent to the sinistral modular mast (100) and the work platform dextral end (304) is adjacent to the dextral modular mast (200);
- a hoisting system (400) configured to suspend the working platform (300) from the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200), including, A) a sinistral carriage (450) adapted to cooperatively receive the sinistral modular mast (100) so that the sinistral carriage (450) may be conveniently slid up and down the sinistral modular mast (100) by a user, having a proximal end (466), a distal end (467), a body (452), a cable connector (454), an operator handle (456), and a carriage mast engager (460) to releasably lock the sinistral carriage (450) to the sinistral modular mast (100) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the sinistral carriage (450), B) a dextral carriage (470) adapted to cooperatively receive the dextral modular mast (200) so that the dextral carriage (470) may be conveniently slid up and down the dextral modular mast (200) by a user, having a proximal end (486), a distal end (487), a body (472), a cable connector (474), an operator handle (476), and a carriage mast engager (480) to releasably lock the dextral carriage (470) to the dextral modular mast (200) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the dextral carriage (470), C) a sinistral mast hoist (430) attached to the working platform (300) near the sinistral end (302), D) a dextral mast hoist (440) attached to the working platform (300) near the dextral end (304), E) a sinistral mast cable (410) attached to the cable connector (454) of the sinistral carriage (450) and the sinistral mast hoist (430) thereby suspending the working platform (300) from the sinistral carriage (450) and adjusting the elevation of the working platform (300) as the sinistral mast cable (410) is extended and retracted by the sinistral mast hoist (430), F) a dextral mast cable (420) attached to the cable connector (474) of the dextral carriage (470) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby suspending the working platform (300) from the dextral carriage (470) and adjusting the elevation of the working platform (300) as the dextral mast cable (420) is extended and retracted by the dextral mast hoist (440), and
- a control system (500) having a central control station (510) in communication with the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby controlling the elevation of the work platform (300) by extending and retracting the sinistral mast cable (410) and the dextral mast cable (420) from the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440).
2. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sinistral safety engagement devices (117) are sinistral locking recesses (118) formed in the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the plurality of dextral safety engagement devices (217) are dextral locking recesses (218) formed in the dextral multifunction rail (216).
3. The platform system (10) of claim 2, wherein the sinistral carriage mast engager (460) includes a sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking recesses (118) so that the sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the sinistral locking recesses (118) to releasably secure the sinistral carriage (450) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the dextral carriage mast engager (480) includes a dextral carriage locking tongue (482) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking recesses (218) so that the dextral carriage locking tongue (482) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the dextral locking recesses (218) to releasably secure the dextral carriage (470) to the dextral multifunction rail (216).
4. The platform system (10) of claim 2, wherein the sinistral platform mast engager (340) includes a sinistral platform locking tongue (342) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking recesses (118) so that the sinistral platform locking tongue (342) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the sinistral locking recesses (118) to releasably secure the work platform sinistral end (302) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the dextral platform mast engager (350) includes a dextral platform locking tongue (352) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking recesses (218) so that the dextral platform locking tongue (352) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the dextral locking recesses (218) to releasably secure the work platform dextral end (304) to the dextral multifunction rail (216).
5. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sinistral safety engagement devices (117) are sinistral locking projections (119) extending from the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the plurality of dextral safety engagement devices (217) are dextral locking projections (219) extending from the dextral multifunction rail (216).
6. The platform system (10) of claim 5, wherein the sinistral carriage mast engager (460) includes a sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the sinistral locking projections (119) to releasably secure the sinistral carriage (450) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the dextral carriage mast engager (480) includes a dextral carriage locking tongue (482) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking projections (219) so that the dextral carriage locking tongue (482) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the dextral locking projections (219) to releasably secure the dextral carriage (470) to the dextral multifunction rail (216).
7. The platform system (10) of claim 5, wherein the sinistral platform mast engager (340) includes a sinistral platform locking tongue (342) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral platform locking tongue (342) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the sinistral locking projections (119) to releasably secure the work platform sinistral end (302) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the dextral platform mast engager (350) includes a dextral platform locking tongue (352) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking projections (219) so that the dextral platform locking tongue (352) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the dextral locking projections (219) to releasably secure the work platform dextral end (304) to the dextral multifunction rail (216).
8. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the sinistral stabilizer guide device (122) is integral to the sinistral multifunction rail (116) and the dextral stabilizer guide device (222) is integral to the dextral multifunction rail (216).
9. The platform system (10) of claim 8, wherein the work platform sinistral mast stabilizer (320) includes at least one sinistral platform roller (322) in rolling contact with the sinistral stabilizer guide device (122) to prevent swaying of the suspended work platform (300) and the work platform dextral mast stabilizer (330) includes at least one dextral platform roller (332) in rolling contact with the dextral stabilizer guide device (222) to prevent swaying of the suspended work platform (300).
10. The platform system (10) of claim 8, wherein the sinistral multifunction rail (116) is a U-shaped sinistral multifunction rail (125) having a bearing surface (126), a first sidewall (127), and a second sidewall (128) wherein sinistral mast stabilizer (320) is retained between the first sidewall (127) and the second sidewall (128), and the dextral multifunction rail (216) is a U-shaped dextral multifunction rail (225) having a bearing surface (226), a first sidewall (227), and a second sidewall (228) wherein dextral mast stabilizer (330) is retained between the first sidewall (227) and the second sidewall (228).
11. The platform system (10) of claim 8, wherein the sinistral multifunction rail (116) is a V-shaped sinistral multifunction rail (130) having a first bearing surface (131) substantially orthogonal to a second bearing surface (132) wherein sinistral mast stabilizer (320) is retained between the first bearing surface (131) and the second bearing surface (132), and the dextral multifunction rail (216) is a V-shaped dextral multifunction rail (230) having a first bearing surface (231) substantially orthogonal to a second bearing surface (232) wherein dextral mast stabilizer (330) is retained between the first bearing surface (231) and the second bearing surface (232).
12. The platform system (10) of claim 6, wherein the sinistral carriage cable connector (454) is located substantially at the sinistral carriage distal end (467) and the sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) is a locking wedge (463) rigidly attached to the sinistral carriage (450) below the sinistral cable connector (454) and at, or above, the sinistral carriage proximal end (466), and the dextral carriage cable connector (474) is located substantially at the dextral carriage distal end (477) and the dextral carriage locking tongue (472) is a locking wedge (483) rigidly attached to the dextral carriage (470) below the dextral cable connector (474) and at, or above, the dextral carriage proximal end (476), wherein to move the sinistral carriage (450) relative to the sinistral modular mast (100) the sinistral carriage locking wedge (463) and the sinistral carriage proximal end (466) must be moved away from the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral carriage locking wedge (463) may pass the sinistral locking projections (119) as the sinistral carriage (450) traverses the sinistral modular mast (100), and to move the dextral carriage (470) relative to the dextral modular mast (200) the dextral carriage locking wedge (483) and the dextral carriage proximal end (486) must be moved away from the dextral locking projections (219) so that the dextral carriage locking wedge (483) may pass the dextral locking projections (219) as the dextral carriage (470) traverses the dextral modular mast (200), and upon application of a suspension force on the sinistral carriage cable connector (454) the sinistral carriage locking wedge (463) engages at least one sinistral locking projection (119) thereby preventing movement of the sinistral carriage (450) and upon application of a suspension force on the dextral carriage cable connector (474) the dextral carriage locking wedge (483) engages at least one dextral locking projection (219) thereby preventing movement of the dextral carriage (470).
13. The platform system (10) of claim 6, wherein the sinistral carriage cable connector (454) is located substantially at the sinistral carriage distal end (467) and the sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) is a biased locking pawl (464) attached to the sinistral carriage (450) below the sinistral cable connector (454) and at, or above, the sinistral carriage proximal end (466), and the dextral carriage cable connector (474) is located substantially at the dextral carriage distal end (477) and the dextral carriage locking tongue (472) is a biased locking pawl (484) attached to the dextral carriage (470) below the dextral cable connector (474) and at, or above, the dextral carriage proximal end (476), wherein to increase the elevation of the sinistral carriage (450) relative to the sinistral modular mast (100) the sinistral carriage (450) is forced upward and the sinistral carriage biased locking pawl (464) pivots as it contacts the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral carriage (450) may pass the sinistral locking projections (119) as the sinistral carriage (450) traverses the sinistral modular mast (100), and to increase the elevation of the dextral carriage (470) relative to the dextral modular mast (200) the dextral carriage (470) is forced upward and the dextral carriage biased locking pawl (474) pivots as it contacts the dextral locking projections (219) so that the dextral carriage (470) may pass the dextral locking projections (219) as the dextral carriage (470) traverses the dextral modular mast (200), and upon application of a suspension force on the sinistral carriage cable connector (454) the sinistral carriage biased locking pawl (464) engages at least one sinistral locking projection (119) thereby preventing movement of the sinistral carriage (450) and upon application of a suspension force on the dextral carriage cable connector (474) the dextral carriage biased locking pawl (484) engages at least one dextral locking projection (219) thereby preventing movement of the dextral carriage (470).
14. The platform system (10) of claim 7, wherein the sinistral platform locking tongue (342) is a biased locking pawl (344) and the dextral platform locking tongue (352) is a biased locking pawl (354), wherein to increase the elevation of the work platform (300) relative to the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200) the sinistral hoist (430) and the dextral hoist (440) pull the work platform upward and the sinistral platform biased locking pawl (344) pivots as it contacts the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral platform biased locking pawl (344) may pass the sinistral locking projections (119) as the work platform (300) traverses the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral platform biased locking pawl (354) pivots as it contacts the dextral locking projections (119) so that the dextral platform biased locking pawl (354) may pass the dextral locking projections (119) as the work platform (300) traverses the dextral modular mast (200), and upon deactivation of a sinistral hoist suspension force the sinistral platform biased locking pawl (344) engages at least one sinistral locking projection (119) thereby preventing movement of the work platform sinistral end (302) and upon deactivation of a dextral hoist suspension force the dextral platform biased locking pawl (354) engages at least one dextral locking projection (219) thereby preventing movement of the work platform dextral end (304).
15. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the sinistral carriage operator handle (456) includes a sinistral engager activation device (457) that activates and deactivates the sinistral carriage mast engager (460) to releasably lock the sinistral carriage (450) to the sinistral modular mast (100) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the sinistral carriage (450), and the dextral carriage operator handle (476) includes a dextral engager activation device (477) that activates and deactivates the dextral carriage mast engager (480) to releasably lock the dextral carriage (470) to the dextral modular mast (200) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the dextral carriage (470).
16. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the sinistral carriage body (452) completely encircles the sinistral modular mast perimeter (145) and the dextral carriage body (472) completely encircles the dextral modular mast perimeter (245).
17. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the sinistral carriage (450) includes a guide (458) configured to cooperate with the sinistral multifunction rail (116) and constrain the movement of the sinistral carriage (450) on the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral carriage (470) includes a guide (478) configured to cooperate with the dextral multifunction rail (216) and constrain the movement of the dextral carriage (470) on the dextral modular mast (200).
18. The platform system (10) of claim 1, wherein the sinistral unit assembly guide (140) includes a hook device (142) located substantially near the distal end (112) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (112) of a second sinistral mast unit (110b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (114) of the adjacent first sinistral mast unit (110a) in the vertical position that the hook device (142) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the sinistral unit interconnection device (135) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a), and the dextral unit assembly guide (240) includes a hook device (242) located substantially near the distal end (212) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (212) of a second dextral mast unit (210b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (214) of the adjacent first dextral mast unit (210a) in the vertical position that the hook device (242) pivotably secures the second dextral mast unit (210b) to the first dextral mast unit (210a) such that the second dextral mast unit (210b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the dextral unit interconnection device (235) attaches the second dextral mast unit (210b) to the first dextral mast unit (210a).
19. A self-erecting suspension platform system (10), comprising:
- a sinistral modular mast (100) having at least a first sinistral mast unit (110a) and a second sinistral mast unit (110b), wherein the first sinistral mast unit (110a) and the second sinistral mast unit (110b) are substantially identical with each having a distal end (112), a proximal end (114), a multifunction rail (116) extending from the distal end (112) to the proximal end (114) including a plurality of safety engagement devices (117) and a stabilizer guide device (122) integral to the multifunction rail (116), a unit interconnection device (135) located substantially near the distal end (112), and a unit assembly guide (140) located substantially near the distal end (112) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (112) of a second sinistral mast unit (110b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (114) of the adjacent first sinistral mast unit (110a) in the vertical position that the unit assembly guide (140) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the unit interconnection device (135) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a), wherein the plurality of sinistral safety engagement devices (117) are sinistral locking recesses (118) formed in the sinistral multifunction rail (116);
- a dextral modular mast (200), separated from the sinistral modular mast (100) by a mast separation distance (50), having at least a first dextral mast unit (210a) and a second dextral mast unit (210b), wherein the first dextral mast unit (210a) and the second dextral mast unit (210b) are substantially identical with each having a distal end (212), a proximal end (214), a multifunction rail (216) extending from the distal end (212) to the proximal end (214) including a plurality of safety engagement devices (217) and a stabilizer guide device (222) integral to the multifunction rail (216), a unit interconnection device (235) located substantially near the distal end (212), and a unit assembly guide (240) located substantially near the distal end (212) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (212) of a second dextral mast unit (210b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (214) of the adjacent first dextral mast unit (210a) in the vertical position that the unit assembly guide (240) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the unit interconnection device (235) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a), wherein the plurality of dextral safety engagement devices (217) are dextral locking recesses (218) formed in the dextral multifunction rail (216);
- a work platform (300) having a sinistral end (302) and a dextral end (304), a railing (310), a sinistral mast stabilizer (320), including at least one sinistral platform roller (322) in rolling contact with the sinistral stabilizer guide device (122), attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with the sinistral mast stabilizer guide device (122) of the sinistral mast multifunction rail (116) to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform (300), a dextral mast stabilizer (330), including at least one dextral platform roller (332) in rolling contact with the dextral stabilizer guide device (222), attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with the dextral mast stabilizer guide device (222) of the dextral mast multifunction rail (216) to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform (300), a sinistral platform mast engager (340) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of sinistral mast safety engagement devices (117) of the sinistral mast multifunction rail (116) to releasably lock the platform (300) to the sinistral modular mast (100) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), a dextral platform mast engager (350) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of dextral mast safety engagement devices (217) of the dextral mast multifunction rail (216) to releasably lock the platform (300) to the dextral modular mast (200) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), wherein the work platform (300) is located between the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200) such that the work platform sinistral end (302) is adjacent to the sinistral modular mast (100) and the work platform dextral end (304) is adjacent to the dextral modular mast (200), wherein the sinistral platform mast engager (340) includes a sinistral platform locking tongue (342) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking recesses (118) so that the sinistral platform locking tongue (342) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the sinistral locking recesses (118) to releasably secure the work platform sinistral end (302) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the dextral platform mast engager (350) includes a dextral platform locking tongue (352) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking recesses (218) so that the dextral platform locking tongue (352) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the dextral locking recesses (218) to releasably secure the work platform dextral end (304) to the dextral multifunction rail (216);
- a hoisting system (400) configured to suspend the working platform (300) from the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200), including, A) a sinistral carriage (450) adapted to cooperatively receive the sinistral modular mast (100) so that the sinistral carriage (450) may be conveniently slid up and down the sinistral modular mast (100) by a user, having a proximal end (466), a distal end (467), a body (452) that completely encircles the sinistral modular mast perimeter (145), a cable connector (454), an operator handle (456), a carriage mast engager (460) including a sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking recesses (118) so that the sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the sinistral locking recesses (118) to releasably secure the sinistral carriage (450) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the sinistral carriage (450), and a guide (458) configured to cooperate with the sinistral multifunction rail (116) and constrain the movement of the sinistral carriage (450) on the sinistral modular mast (100), B) a dextral carriage (470) adapted to cooperatively receive the dextral modular mast (200) so that the dextral carriage (470) may be conveniently slid up and down the dextral modular mast (200) by a user, having a proximal end (486), a distal end (487), a body (472) that completely encircles the dextral modular mast perimeter (245), a cable connector (474), an operator handle (476), a carriage mast engager (480) including a dextral carriage locking tongue (482) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking recesses (218) so that the dextral carriage locking tongue (482) can extend into, and retract from, any one of the dextral locking recesses (218) to releasably secure the dextral carriage (470) to the dextral multifunction rail (216) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the dextral carriage (470), and a guide (478) configured to cooperate with the dextral multifunction rail (216) and constrain the movement of the dextral carriage (470) on the dextral modular mast (200), C) a sinistral mast hoist (430) attached to the working platform (300) near the sinistral end (302), D) a dextral mast hoist (440) attached to the working platform (300) near the dextral end (304), E) a sinistral mast cable (410) attached to the cable connector (454) of the sinistral carriage (450) and the sinistral mast hoist (430) thereby suspending the working platform (300) from the sinistral carriage (450) and adjusting the elevation of the working platform (300) as the sinistral mast cable (410) is extended and retracted by the sinistral mast hoist (430), F) a dextral mast cable (420) attached to the cable connector (474) of the dextral carriage (470) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby suspending the working platform (300) from the dextral carriage (470) and adjusting the elevation of the working platform (300) as the dextral mast cable (420) is extended and retracted by the dextral mast hoist (440), and
- a control system (500) having a central control station (510) in communication with the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby controlling the elevation of the work platform (300) by extending and retracting the sinistral mast cable (410) and the dextral mast cable (420) from the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440).
20. A self-erecting suspension platform system (10), comprising:
- a sinistral modular mast (100) having at least a first sinistral mast unit (110a) and a second sinistral mast unit (110b), wherein the first sinistral mast unit (110a) and the second sinistral mast unit (110b) are substantially identical with each having a distal end (112), a proximal end (114), a multifunction rail (116) extending from the distal end (112) to the proximal end (114) including a plurality of safety engagement devices (117) and a stabilizer guide device (122) integral to the multifunction rail (116), a unit interconnection device (135) located substantially near the distal end (112), and a unit assembly guide (140) located substantially near the distal end (112) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (112) of a second sinistral mast unit (110b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (114) of the adjacent first sinistral mast unit (110a) in the vertical position that the unit assembly guide (140) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the unit interconnection device (135) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a), wherein the plurality of sinistral safety engagement devices (117) are sinistral locking projections (119) extending from the sinistral multifunction rail (116);
- a dextral modular mast (200), separated from the sinistral modular mast (100) by a mast separation distance (50), having at least a first dextral mast unit (210a) and a second dextral mast unit (210b), wherein the first dextral mast unit (210a) and the second dextral mast unit (210b) are substantially identical with each having a distal end (212), a proximal end (214), a multifunction rail (216) extending from the distal end (212) to the proximal end (214) including a plurality of safety engagement devices (217) and a stabilizer guide device (222) integral to the multifunction rail (216), a unit interconnection device (235) located substantially near the distal end (212), and a unit assembly guide (240) located substantially near the distal end (212) and configured such that when a portion of the distal end (212) of a second dextral mast unit (210b) is placed in contact with the proximal end (214) of the adjacent first dextral mast unit (210a) in the vertical position that the unit assembly guide (240) pivotably secures the second sinistral mast unit (210b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a) such that the second sinistral mast unit (110b) may be securely rotated into a vertical position such that the unit interconnection device (235) attaches the second sinistral mast unit (110b) to the first sinistral mast unit (110a), wherein the plurality of dextral safety engagement devices (217) are dextral locking projections (219) extending from the dextral multifunction rail (216);
- a work platform (300) having a sinistral end (302) and a dextral end (304), a railing (310), a sinistral mast stabilizer (320), including at least one sinistral platform roller (322) in rolling contact with the sinistral stabilizer guide device (122), attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with the sinistral mast stabilizer guide device (122) of the sinistral mast multifunction rail (116) to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform (300), a dextral mast stabilizer (330), including at least one dextral platform roller (332) in rolling contact with the dextral stabilizer guide device (222), attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with the dextral mast stabilizer guide device (222) of the dextral mast multifunction rail (216) to prevent undesired swaying of the suspended work platform (300), a sinistral platform mast engager (340) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of sinistral mast safety engagement devices (117) of the sinistral mast multifunction rail (116) to releasably lock the platform (300) to the sinistral modular mast (100) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), a dextral platform mast engager (350) attached to the platform (300) and configured to cooperate with at least one of the plurality of dextral mast safety engagement devices (217) of the dextral mast multifunction rail (216) to releasably lock the platform (300) to the dextral modular mast (200) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the platform (300), wherein the work platform (300) is located between the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200) such that the work platform sinistral end (302) is adjacent to the sinistral modular mast (100) and the work platform dextral end (304) is adjacent to the dextral modular mast (200), wherein the sinistral platform mast engager (340) includes a sinistral platform locking tongue (342) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral platform locking tongue (342) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the sinistral locking projections (119) to releasably secure the work platform sinistral end (302) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116), and the dextral platform mast engager (350) includes a dextral platform locking tongue (352) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking projections (219) so that the dextral platform locking tongue (352) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the dextral locking projections (219) to releasably secure the work platform dextral end (304) to the dextral multifunction rail (216);
- a hoisting system (400) configured to suspend the working platform (300) from the sinistral modular mast (100) and the dextral modular mast (200), including, A) a sinistral carriage (450) adapted to cooperatively receive the sinistral modular mast (100) so that the sinistral carriage (450) may be conveniently slid up and down the sinistral modular mast (100) by a user, having a proximal end (466), a distal end (467), a body (452) that completely encircles the sinistral modular mast perimeter (145), a cable connector (454), an operator handle (456), a carriage mast engager (460) including a sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) formed to cooperate with the sinistral locking projections (119) so that the sinistral carriage locking tongue (462) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the sinistral locking projections (119) to releasably secure the sinistral carriage (450) to the sinistral multifunction rail (116) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the sinistral carriage (450), and a guide (458) configured to cooperate with the sinistral multifunction rail (116) and constrain the movement of the sinistral carriage (450) on the sinistral modular mast (100), B) a dextral carriage (470) adapted to cooperatively receive the dextral modular mast (200) so that the dextral carriage (470) may be conveniently slid up and down the dextral modular mast (200) by a user, having a proximal end (486), a distal end (487), a body (472) that completely encircles the dextral modular mast perimeter (245), a cable connector (474), an operator handle (476), a carriage mast engager (480) including a dextral carriage locking tongue (482) formed to cooperate with the dextral locking projections (219) so that the dextral carriage locking tongue (482) can engage with, and disengage from, any one of the dextral locking projections (219) to releasably secure the dextral carriage (470) to the dextral multifunction rail (216) thereby preventing unintentional descent of the dextral carriage (470), and a guide (478) configured to cooperate with the dextral multifunction rail (216) and constrain the movement of the dextral carriage (470) on the dextral modular mast (200), C) a sinistral mast hoist (430) attached to the working platform (300) near the sinistral end (302), D) a dextral mast hoist (440) attached to the working platform (300) near the dextral end (304), E) a sinistral mast cable (410) attached to the cable connector (454) of the sinistral carriage (450) and the sinistral mast hoist (430) thereby suspending the working platform (300) from the sinistral carriage (450) and adjusting the elevation of the working platform (300) as the sinistral mast cable (410) is extended and retracted by the sinistral mast hoist (430), F) a dextral mast cable (420) attached to the cable connector (474) of the dextral carriage (470) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby suspending the working platform (300) from the dextral carriage (470) and adjusting the elevation of the working platform (300) as the dextral mast cable (420) is extended and retracted by the dextral mast hoist (440), and
- a control system (500) having a central control station (510) in communication with the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440) thereby controlling the elevation of the work platform (300) by extending and retracting the sinistral mast cable (410) and the dextral mast cable (420) from the sinistral mast hoist (430) and the dextral mast hoist (440).
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 29, 2005
Publication Date: Jan 4, 2007
Applicant:
Inventors: George Anasis (Lewis Center, OH), Robert Eddy (Johnstown, OH), Jean-Francois DeSmedt (Joachign)
Application Number: 11/170,684
International Classification: E04G 3/28 (20060101);