Simultaneously Operable Suspension Means Patents (Class 182/143)
  • Patent number: 8863903
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aerial platform for a wind turbine with a tower and rotor blades arranged on the tower, which aerial platform comprises: a vehicle; at least a first pair of cables and a second pair of cables, which are each attached with one end to the vehicle and can be attached with the other end close to the upper side of the tower of the wind turbine; a lift cradle which is guided by at least a first pair of cables; and hoisting means for hoisting the lift cradle with the second pair of cables along the first pair of cables. The invention further comprises a lift cradle for an aerial platform according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Special Blade Service B.V.
    Inventors: Mikel Hendrikus Jozef Besselink, Marco Johannes Bernardus Oostenbrink, Gerhard Reineke
  • Patent number: 8292031
    Abstract: A platform lift apparatus enables the safe movement of objects to and from an attic storage space. The platform lift apparatus includes a frame, a drive mechanism, and a platform. The frame includes internal and external mounting surfaces. The drive mechanism is substantially disposed within the frame and is coupled to the internal mounting surfaces. The drive mechanism includes a plurality of rotatable, parallel shafts with each shaft further including at least one lift drum having an associated lift tether at least partially wound thereon and having an end hanging therefrom. The platform is coupled to each lift tether end and is thereby suspended from the frame. The platform is selectively movable by operation of the drive mechanism within in a vertical dimension between raised and lowered positions. The drive mechanism further comprises an electric motor operatively coupled to the plurality of parallel shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Spacelift Products Inc.
    Inventors: Jay P. Penn, George Kaszas, Brian M. Berliner
  • Patent number: 8015647
    Abstract: An extended safety cage provides access to a plurality of hatches on the top of a mobile container. The cage is rotatably attached to the end of a gangway, which extends from and is rotatably attached to a platform. The platform carries a pair of braces that extend out in opposite directions and support the cage through spring-loaded lifting arms. The apparatus can include actuators, such as hydraulic or pneumatic actuators, that urge the gangway and cage downward when activated. Secondary braces ensure that the lifting arms and safety cage move in unison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Aluminum Ladder Company
    Inventor: Ronald W. Bennett
  • Publication number: 20110024233
    Abstract: There is provided a suspendable maintenance platform for accessing a blade of a wind turbine. The platform includes arms for holding a maintenance unit, a frame onto which each arm is movably attached in a joint enabling planar movement, and means for supporting the frame in relation to the wind turbine tower. The maintenance unit is slidably attached to the arms that are configured for positioning the platform in relation to the blade, and wherein the frame is configured to be in close proximity to the turbine tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventor: Kenneth Skovbo Lott
  • Patent number: 7849637
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a fold-up scaffold system that includes multiple spaced vertical beams supported at one end on a floor of a building and scaffold sections extending across the vertical beams. The system also includes means at opposite ends of the scaffold sections for pivotally supporting the scaffold sections to the vertical beams and at least two air cylinders for each scaffold section connected between the scaffold sections and the vertical beams. In addition, each of the at least two air cylinders is adapted to be actuated between a lowered and a raised position, the scaffold sections being pivoted away from the vertical beams when the at least two air cylinders are actuated to the lowered position to provide a substantially horizontal surface and is positioned substantially vertically against the beam when the at least two air cylinders are actuated to the raised position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Inventor: Erwin Lowe
  • Patent number: 7140467
    Abstract: A bulk material transport vehicle access structure includes an elongated service platform for workers which is pivotally supported at its opposite ends to cantilever arms on parallel horizontal axes to avoid binding between the roller carriages of the cantilever arms and a pair of support pillars. The floor of the platform includes a walkway and a doorway covered by a plurality of side by side doors which may be selectively opened. Electric controls are provided to automatically stop operation of the power means used to control the elevation of the cantilever arms should the service platform become tilted a predetermined extent. Electric controls are also provided to stop lowering of the service platform when it reaches the top of a bulk material transport vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Inventor: Anthony Jay Cook
  • Patent number: 6227537
    Abstract: An apparatus for stacking sheets has a frame defining a stacking station, a conveyor for delivering the sheets continuously one after the other at a predetermined upper level in a transport direction to the station, a platform vertically displaceable in the stacking station between the upper level and the lower level, and a drive for displacing the platform vertically. Stops are provided on the frame at an intermediate level below the upper level, above the lower level, and slightly above a stack of maximum height supported on the platform with the platform at the lower level. A walkway is vertically displaceable on the frame immediately downstream of the stacking station between an upper position generally at the upper level and a lower position at the intermediate level. The platform is engageable underneath the walkway for raising the walkway from the intermediate level to the upper level on movement of the platform upward past the intermediate level to the upper level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Jagenberg Papiertechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Frank Schmid
  • Patent number: 5785148
    Abstract: A work platform assembly is modular in construction so as to be configurable according to the configuration and size, particularly width, requirements of each bridge and to metal surfaces thereof which are to be reconditioned by abrasive stripping and recoating. The assembled platform is suspendable at each end by suspension frame assemblies which are rollable along the parapets of the bridge for repositioning the platform assembly, with the suspension assembly being adjustable to various configurations of parapets. An adjustable curtain frame enables sealed enclosure of bridge surfaces to be treated and optimum access of workers to those surfaces during the treatment. Airborne residue is evacuated by vacuum for subsequent disposal in a manner which does not contaminate the environment, while heavier residue and spent abrasive grit is collected and positively moved off of the platform assembly for subsequent, environmentally safe separation and reconstitution of the grit for reuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Robert J. Wildner
  • Patent number: 5431246
    Abstract: A device for displacing a gondola in the vertical and horizontal direction alongside a building has a guide rail with a first and a second end connected to the building. A carriage is slidably connected to the guide rail. A gondola is connected to the carriage so as to be vertically displaceable relative to the carriage and horizontally displaceable parallel with the carriage. A first drive unit is operatively connected to the gondola and has a first pulling member movable so as to be retractable into and releasable from the first drive unit for displacing the gondola. A second drive unit is operatively connected to the gondola and has a second pulling member movable so as to be retractable into and releasable from the second drive unit for displacing the gondola.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1995
    Assignee: Andrea Matherly
    Inventor: John Matherly
  • Patent number: 5351788
    Abstract: Rope arrangement for an elevator car. There is a hoisting machine and hoisting ropes moving the elevator car, in which a rope arrangement of the hoisting ropes of the elevator run over rope pulleys placed under the elevator car. The hoisting ropes run over the rope pulleys so that the transmission ratio between the speed of the elevator car and the rotational speed of the hoisting machine is at least 1:4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 4, 1994
    Assignee: Kone Elevator GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes DeJong
  • Patent number: 5343979
    Abstract: A working gondola which carries a worker for cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure, has two powered winches for winding and unwinding two ropes respectively for up-, down-, left-, and rightward movement of its gondola, whereby cleaning of an extended area can be conducted with efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1994
    Assignee: Doei Gaiso Yugen-Gaisha
    Inventor: Hideo Goto
  • Patent number: 4633975
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing access to the underside of a bridge deck. A tower is supported vertically beside a bridge deck by means of a launch frame mounted on a stabilized support pillar; the tower in turn supporting a platform horizontally beneath the bridge-deck by means of a centilever frame. The apparatus is made quickly deployable by providing that the tower is engageable with the launch frame so as to allow it to be launched over the parapet of the bridge-deck while being supported in a substantially horizontal position with the platform supported substantially vertically to the tower, and to be rotatable into a substantially vertical portion adjacent the bridge deck to bring the platform into position underneath the bridge-deck. Access is gained to the underside of the bridge deck by climbing down the tower and onto and along the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Richard C. Connor, Dennis A. Rule