REMOVABLE WORK DECK SYSTEM FOR FABRICATING A PROCESSING MODULE

PLATE-FORME DE TRAVAIL AMOVIBLE PERMETTANT DE FABRIQUER UN MODULE DE TRAITEMENT

English Abstract

A removable work deck system is designed for assembly within a frame system of a processing module for installing equipment in the module. The work deck system is designed to be suspended below the frame system with a work deck being movable within the length of the module. The work deck is supported on castors that are guided along runner beams positioned either side and extending the length of the module. These runner beams are suspended from the frame members by adjustable vertical telescopic support hangers.

French Abstract

Une plate-forme de travail amovible est conçue pour un assemblage dans un système de bâti dun module de traitement pour linstallation dun équipement dans le module. La plate-forme de travail est conçue pour être suspendue sous le système de bâti avec une plate-forme amovible à lintérieur de la longueur du module. La plate-forme de travail est supportée sur des roulettes qui sont guidées le long de poutres de déplacement de chaque côté et sétendent sur la longueur du module. Ces poutres de déplacement sont suspendues à partir des éléments du bâti par des supports de suspension télescopiques verticaux réglables.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A removable work deck system for fabricating a
processing module comprising
a pair of elongate runner beams with each runner
beam suspended below a frame member of the processing
module and including a guide track extending in the
length of the runner beam for guiding castor members;
a work deck extending between and supported by
said runner beams, said work deck including castors on a
lower surface of said work deck and in engagement with
said guide tracks, said work deck being movable along the
length of said runner beams.
2. A removable work deck system as claimed in claim 1
wherein each runner beam is suspended below the frame
member by an adjustable telescopic vertical support
hanger.
3. A removable work deck system as claimed in claim 1
or 2 including means for locking said work deck in a
selected location along the length of said runner beams.
4. A removable work deck system as claimed in claim
1, 2 or 3 wherein said work deck includes two collector
beams extending between said runner beams with said
castors secured to said collector beams with said
collector beams positioned at opposite ends of said work
deck.
5. A removable work deck system as claimed in claim
1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein each runner beam is an 'I' beam with
a channel secured to a top surface of said 'I' beam to
form said guide track.
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Description

Mk 02600661 2007-09-07
WH 13 . 241CA
TITLE: REMOVABLE WORK DECK SYSTEM FOR FABRICATING A
PROCESSING MODULE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a removable work
deck system that is used in the construction of
processing modules.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Processing modules are commonly used in
association with petrochemical processing facilities and
are manufactured offsite in a modification yard and are
designed for transport to a remote cite for subsequent
assembly. The processing modules are often of a height
of approximately 30 feet with a length of approximately
100 feet and of a width between 10 and 20 feet.
The processing modules include rectangular support
frames that define the exterior of the modules. These
support frames provide the framework for supporting
equipment within the modules. Depending upon the
particular module, the equipment often includes a series
of pipes positioned at two or three different elevations
within the module below the top members of the frames.
The current industry practice is to build
scaffolds either side of a module and extending the
length of the modules. The scaffolds are typically of
the approximate height of the module. The purpose of
these scaffolds is to allow workers to support a series
of beams across the module at different elevations and
provide a work surface for fabricating of the module.
The present invention provides a simplified
arrangement for providing a moveable work platform within
a processing module that simplifies the manufacture of
the module.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A removable work deck system for use in
fabricating a processing a module according to the
present invention comprises a pair of elongate runner
beams with each runner beam suspended below a frame
member of the processing module. Each runner beam
includes a guide track extending in the length of the
runner beam for guiding castor members. A work deck
extends between and is supported by the runner beams with
the work deck including castors on a lower surface
thereof and in engagement with the guide tracks. The
work deck is movable along the length of the runner
beams.
According to an aspect of the invention, each
runner beam is suspended below the frame member by an
adjustable telescopic vertical support hanger.
According to a further aspect of the invention,
the removable work deck system includes means for locking
the work deck in a selected location along the length of
the runner beams.
In a further aspect of the invention, the work
deck includes two collector beams extending between the
runner beams with the castors secured to the collector
beams. The collector beams are positioned at opposite
ends of the work deck.
In yet a further aspect of the invention, each
runner beam is an 'I' beam with a channel track secured
to a top surface of the 'I' beam.
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Mk 026(0661 2007-09-07
WH 13 241CA
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Preferred embodiments of the invention are shown
in the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a partial end view of a processing
module with the removable work deck system suspended
therein;
Figure 2 is a partial side view showing the
suspension of the removable work deck system from a frame
support of the processing module;
Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of a
processing module having three rectangular support frames
with the removable work deck system suspended therein;
Figure 4 is a top view of the processing module
and removable work deck system of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is a side view of the system of Figure 3;
and
Figure 6 is an end view of the system as shown in
Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The processing module 2 has a series of
rectangular frames 102 spaced along the length of the
module. These frames 102 can be appropriately supported
to maintain their vertical orientation. The width of the
frames determines the width of the module and the height
of these frames is typically approximately 30 feet.
Each rectangular frame 102 as shown in Figure 3,
includes a top beam 104, column members 106 and 110, and
a bottom beam 108.
Rather than erect twinned scaffold frames down
each side of the module 2, a removable work deck system
20 is assembled inside the module and is adjustably
suspended from the frames 102. The removable work deck
system 20 includes two runner beams 24 that extend in the
length of the processing module 2 and are used to support
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the movable work deck 38 at various positions in the
length of the module as well as at different heights
within the module. The runner beams 24 are preferably of
an 'I' beam type section and on the top flange 25 include
a shaped channel 26 which forms a guide track for
receiving and guiding the wheels of the castors 34. A
pair of collector beams 36 are provided at opposite ends
of the work deck 38 and these collector beams include the
castors 34 on opposite ends thereof for supporting of the
collector beams above the runner beams 24. The collector
beams 36 support a series of nailer beams 48 that support
the work deck 38. The top surface 40 of the work deck
typically is made of plywood or other suitable material.
The castors 34 include an appropriate locking arrangement
for maintaining the work deck in a desired location along
the length of the runner beams.
The runner beams 24 are supported by adjustable
telescopic vertical support members 50 at various
positions along the length of the module 2. The
adjustable telescopic vertical support members 50 each
include a beam hanger 62 supported from the top beam 104
of the rectangular frames 102. Each beam hanger 62
engages and supports a first elongate member 54 which
receives a second outer member 56 that telescopes with
the first member 54. A series of ports are provided in
the first member and the second outer member whereby
these members can be secured by a bolt arrangement to fix
the length thereof as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In this
way, the runner beams 24 can be appropriately suspended
within the frames 100 and the adjustable telescopic
vertical members 50 may then be fixed by means of bolts
to thereby fix the height of the work surface 38.
The bottom edge of the adjustable telescopic
vertical support members include a combined flange and
gusset 200 that provides a support surface for the bottom
flange 28 of the 'I' beam runner 24. In the embodiments
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shown, the runner beams are made in a number of sections
and are connected to the flange and gusset connector 200
at a suspension point defined by an adjustable telescopic
vertical support member 50. As the runner beams are
supported to one side and interior to the members 50, the
upper surface of the runner beams and in particular, the
'IP shaped channel 26 is free to allow movement of the
work surface in the length of the processing module 2.
The removable work deck system 20 is assembled
within a processing module and simplifies the
installation of various equipment within the processing
module 2. The work surface is movable along the length
of the runner beams and is positioned at various points
within the processing module as is required to install
particular components. The removable work deck system
can be adjusted in height as required for installing of
additional equipment within the processing module.
Typically, any equipment that is required at a first
elevation near the top of the processing module is
installed first and the work deck system is then lowered
to allow installation of a second level of equipment.
This process can be repeated and typically involves two
or three different levels. As can be appreciated from
the figures, the work deck, the nailer beams 42 and the
collector beams 36 can be removed as a unit either from
the end of the processing module or through a side of the
processing module. Often a forklift truck is used to
remove the work deck system.
The removable work deck system as disclosed herein
significantly simplifies the fabrication of the
processing module and eliminates the need for twinned
scaffolding extending down the length of the processing
module. Furthermore, the movable work deck is easily
repositioned within the length of the module to complete
securement of components as may be required while leaving
a significant portion of the interior of the processing
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ak 02600661 2014-05-27
,
module uninterrupted. The area within the processing
module either side of the movable work deck is open
and this arrangement may simplify the positioning of
equipment to be secured. The removable work deck
system is height adjustable and simplifies the
positioning of the work deck at different points or
heights in the processing module. The movable work
deck allows the work deck to be of a smaller size (for
example, 10 to 15 feet in dimension extending in the
length of the processing module) and simplifies
removal of the work deck from the processing module.
Once the work deck has been removed, the suspension
equipment namely the runner beams, the various
adjustable telescopic vertical support members and the
beam hangers can be removed from the processing
module.
Although preferred embodiments have been
described in detail, it will be understood by those
skilled in the art that variations may be made
thereto. The invention, rather, is defined by the
appended claims.
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Representative Drawing