Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02665985 2009-05-15
SCAFFOLD ELEVATOR
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This application claims benefit of the filing date of and right o priority of
United
States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 61/115,158 filed November 17,
2008. The present invention relates to the field of masonry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of construction, scaffolds are regularly utilized to enable
workers to
work at height. Each stage of the scaffold typically makes provision for the
suspension of planks or other decking elements, to provide large, stable
platforms within the scaffold at spaced-apart elevations. As well, a plurality
of
mounting holes are provided on the scaffold frames, to permit brackets [for
suspending planks or other decking elements] to be installed on the scaffold
exterior at periodic heights intermediate the platform intervals. In
masonryuse,
brackets are typically installed on the scaffold exterior to support work
platforms
at an elevation which renders it relatively convenient for the mason to
practice his
or her trade. The exterior work platforms are removed and reinstalled from
time
to time, as work progresses, to maintain a convenient working height for the
masons. Typically, laborers load stores of building materials, i.e. bricks,
blocks
or stones, onto the interior platform nearest the exterior platform on which
the
mason is situated, and transfer building material therefrom as needed to the
platform of the mason, to keep the mason productively engaged.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An elevator system, for use by a mason with a scaffold structure, forms one
aspect of the invention. This elevator system comprises lifts, decks and
benches.
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The lift, in use, are disposed in a group and secured to said scaffold
structure in
horizontally-spaced relation to one another to define therebetween one or more
intermediate locations alongside said scaffold structure. Each lift includes:
a rail
secured in use to said scaffold structure to stand upright; a shuttle mounted
for
constrained movement along the rail; a winch rigidly mounted to the shuttle
for
movement therewith; and a cable extending from a location proximal to the top
of
the rail to the winch such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable
thereon
draws the shuttle upward.
The decks, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and
supported
by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide a platform
upon which said mason can stand while building.
The benches, in use, are provided one for each intermediate location and
supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate location to provide
a
surface, elevated in relation to the deck provided for said each intermediate
location, from which said mason can retrieve materials for building.
According to another aspect of the invention, the winches can be electric and,
in
use, the winches of the group can be switched for movement in concert.
According to another aspect of the invention, in each lift, the shuttle can be
mounted to the rail by rollers carried by the shuttle and captured by the
rail.
According to another aspect of the invention, in each lift, the rail can
include a
plurality of holes spaced apart along its length and the shuttle can carry a
safety
device which is spring-biased for movement in a manner such that, in use, the
safety device rides over the holes during upward movement of the shuttle but,
upon commencement of downward movement of the shuttle, engages the first of
the holes that it meets, unless externally restrained against said spring-
biased
movement, to arrest further downward movement of the shuttle.
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According to another aspect of the invention, the group can be a group of
three
or more lifts arranged such that the platforms collectively define a walkway
alongside said scaffold structure.
According to another aspect of the invention, the walkway can have two
straight
lengths arranged in perpendicular to one another, for laying a building inside
corner.
According to another aspect of the invention, the system can further comprise
elements adapted for mounting to the shuttles to serve as safety railings at
the
ends of the walkway.
Forming another aspect of the invention is an elevator system for use by a
mason with a scaffold structure. This scaffold structure is of the type formed
of:
standard frame structures, each including a pair of parallel standards rigidly
connected to one another; and standard cross-braces, each brace rigidly
connecting and supporting a pair of adjacent frame structures such that the
standards are upright.
This system includes lifts, standard deck elements and standard bench
elements.
The lifts, in use, are provided one for each of a group of two or more
adjacent
frame structures in said scaffold structure. Each lift includes a rail secured
in use
in sistered relationship to a standard of the frame structure for which it is
provided. The rails define therebetween one or more intermediate locations
alongside the scaffold structure. Each lift further includes: a shuttle
mounted for
constrained movement along the rail; a winch mounted to the shuttle for
movement therewith; and a cable extending from a location proximal to the top
of
the rail to the winch such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable
thereon
draws the shuttle upward.
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The standard deck elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate
location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate
location to
provide a platform upon which said mason can stand while building.
The standard bench elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate
location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate
location to
provide a surface, elevated in relation to the deck provided for said each
intermediate location, from which said mason can retrieve materials for
building.
According to another aspect of the invention, the lifts, in use, can be
provided
one for each of a grouping of three adjacent standards in said scaffold
structure
to flank adjacent, perpendicular sides of said scaffold structure, with two of
the
lifts disposed on one of the perpendicular sides and the third lift disposed
on the
other of the perpendicular sides. As well; the system can further comprise
extended-length deck elements, standard bench elements, filler elements,
corne.r
brackets and filler sheives.
The extended-length deck elements, in use, are provided one for each grouping,
each extended-length deck element being secured, in use, to the shuttles of
the
parallel lifts of said each grouping to provide a platform along the one
perpendicular side flanked by said each grouping which.cantilevers beyond the
other of the perpendicular sides flanked by said each grouping.
The standard bench elements, in use, are provided one for each grouping, each
standard bench element being secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel
lifts
of said each grouping to provide a surface, elevated in relation to the
platform
along the one particular side, from which said mason can retrieve materials
for
building.
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The filler elements, in use, are provided one for each grouping, each filler
element being 'secured, in use, to the shuttle of the third lift of said each
grouping
and supported by the extended-length deck element provided for said each
grouping to provide a pfatform alongside the other of the perpendicular sides
flanked by said each grouping,
The corner brackets are provided one for each grouping, each corner bracket,
in
use, being rigidly secured to the shuttie of the iift adjacent to the third
lift of said
each grouping.
The filler shelves are provided one for each grouping, each filler shelf, in
use,
being rigidly secured to the shuttle of the third lift of said each grouping
and
supported by the corner bracket provided for said each grouping, to provide a
surface alongside the other of the perpendicular sides flanked by said each
grouping from which said mason can retrieve materials for building.
Forming yet another aspect of the invention is a scaffold system for use by a
mason. This system comprises frame assemblies, cross-braces, shuttles,
winches, cables, standard deck elements and standard bench elements.
The frame assemblies each include a pair of rigidly-connected parallel rails.
In use, each cross-brace rigidly connects and supports a pair of adjacent
frame
assemblies such that the rails thereof stand upright in horizontally-spaced
relation to one another.
The shuttles, in use, are provided one for each rail in a group of two or more
adjacent rails and mounted for constrained movement therealong, the group of
two or more adjacent rails defining therebetween one or more intermediate
locations.
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The winches, in use, are provided one for each rail in the group and mounted
for
movement with the shuttle mounted to said each rail.
The cables, in use, are provided one for each rail in the group, each
extending
from a location proximal to the top of the rail for which it is provided to
the winch
mounted to said each rail such that actuation of the winch to coil the cable
thereon draws the shuttle upward.
The standard deck elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate
location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate
location to
provide a platform upon which said mason can stand while building.
The standard bench elements, in use, are provided one for each intermediate
location and supported by the shuttles flanking said each intermediate
location to
provide a surface, elevated in relation to the deck provided for said each
intermediate location, from which said mason can retrieve materials for
building.
As yet another aspect of the invention, in the lifts, the winches can be
rigidly
mounted to one of the rail and the shuttle and the cable can extending from
the
winch to the other of the rail and the shuttle such that actuation of the
winch to
coil the cable thereon draws the shuttle upward.
Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, will
become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and
the
appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being
briefly described hereinafter.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a prior art scaffold structure;
Figure 2 is a schematic view of the structure of Figure 1 in use with an
exemplary embodiment of the elevator system of the invention;
Figure 3 is a schematic view of the structure of Figure 1 in use with another
exemplary embodiment of the elevator system of the invention;
Figure 4 is a side detail view of the structure of Figure 2, disposed against
a
masonry wall
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of a portion of the structure of Figure 4;
Figure 6 is a front detail view of the structure of Figure 2, with the
guardrail
components removed, for clarity;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a enlarged, partial view of encircled structure 8 of Figure 6,
with
the guardrail elements shown;
Figure 9 is a view, similar to Figure 7, showing another application of the
invention;
Figure 10 is a side view of a portion of the structure of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a partial front view of the structure of Figure 9; and
Figure 12 is a view of the various components of the system in isolation.
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r
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An elevator system 20 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is
shown in attached Figures 2-12, in use with a scaffold structure 22 of the
general
type that is shown in isolation in Figure 1.
With initial reference to Figure 1, the scaffold structure 22 shown therein is
of
conventional construction and forms no part of the invention, but for clarity
in the
following description should be understood to be of the type formed of
standard
frame structures 24, standard cross-braces 26 and planks 27.
The standard frame structures 24 each include a pair of parallel standards 28
rigidly connected to one another. As shown, the frame structures 24 are of the
"arch" type, with spaced-apart welded steel ladders 30 defiriing the sides of
the
frame structures 24, a truss arrangement 32 defining the top of the frame
structure 24, and an open central area 34 beneath the arch defined by the top
and sides. The planks 27 are set upon the truss arrangements 32 to define
interior platforms 40. For greater certainty, it is herein clarified that in
Figure 1,
four "stages" of scaffolding are shown [2 in height, 2 in length].
Each cross-brace 26 is formed of a pair of tubular steel elements pivotally
connected to one another. In use, the cross-braces 26 are arranged to rigidly
connect and support a pair of adjacent frame structures 24 such that the
standards 28 thereof are upright.
With general reference to Figures 2, 3, the elevator system 20 itself will be
understood to comprise lifts 44, decks 46 and benches 48.
The lifts 44 indicated generally in Figures 2,3 will, with reference to Figure
5,
each be seen to include a rail 50, a shuttle 52, a winch 54 and a cable 56.
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In the exemplary embodiment, the rail 50 is a length of Unistrut P1000 T
channel.
The shuttle 52 has a pair of spaced-apart parallel arms 58 and is mounted to
and
for constrained movement along the rail 50 by rollers 60 carried by the
shuttle 52
and captured by the rail 50. The winch 54 is electric and is rigidly mounted
to the
shuttle 52 for movement therewith. The cable 56 extends from a location
proximal to the top of the rail 50 to the winch 54 such that actuation of
winch 54
to coil the cable 56 thereon draws the shuttle 52 towards the top of the rail
50.
The decks 46 are of a depth sufficient to permit a person to stand thereon.
The benches 48 are of a depth sufficient to stack building materials such as
brick, block or stone, thereon.
In one application of the invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 4-6, a group of
the
lifts 44 are secured to the scaffold structure 22 in horizontally-spaced
relation to
one another to define therebetween one or more intermediate locations 58
alongside said scaffold structure 22. To provide this, the rails.50 are
secured in
use via wedge clamps 61 in sistered relationship to standards 28 of the frame
structures 24 to form frame assemblies, wherein the rails 50 are upright.
In this application, standard deck elements 62 are provided one for each
intermediate location 58 and supported by the shuttles 52 flanking said each
intermediate location 58 such that the deck 46 defined by the deck element(s)
62
provides (i) a platform upon which a mason can stand while building and (ii)
an
elongate walkway along the length of the wall. Similarly, standard bench
elements 64 are provided one for each intermediate location 58 and supported
by the shuttles 52 flanking said each intermediate location 58 such that the
bench 48 provides a surface, elevated in relation to the deck 46, from which a
mason standing on the platform can retrieve materials for building.
Pins 104 are used to secure the elements together.
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The winches 54 of the group are, in use, gang-switched for movement in
concert,
such that the shuttles 52, winches 54, standard deck elements 62 and standard
bench elements 64 move in unison, to define an elevator arrangement for
transporting the platform to any desired height, without the need for
laborious
removal and replacement of the building materials, planks and brackets with
each move, as demanded in the prior art.
For safety, in each lift 44, rail 50 includes a plurality of holes 66 [best
seen in
Figure 6] spaced apart along its length and shuttle 52 carries a safety device
68
[best seen in Figure 5] biased by a spring 70 for movement in a manner such
that
the safety device 68 rides over the holes 66 during upward movement of the
shuttle 52 but, upon commencement of downward movement of the shuttle 52,
engages the first of the holes 66 that it meets, unless externally restrained
[i.e.
tied back] against said spring-biased movement, to arrest further downward ,
movement of the shuttle 52. When the elevator is intended to be lowered, the
building materials and mason are vacated therefrom, the safety devices
withdrawn and physically restrained against said spring-biased movement [i.e
tied back] and the winches are actuated in unison to lower the assembly.
Also shown in the Figures are elements 72 which are mounted to the shuttles 52
in use, to serve as safety railings at the ends of the walkway/platform. Yet
further
adding safety are outrigger assemblies 100 and lateral support arms 102 that
stabilize the scaffold 22.
Another application is shown in Figures 3 and 7. In this application, the
lifts 44
are provided one for each of a grouping of three [or more] adjacent standards
in
said scaffold structure to flank adjacent, perpendicular sides of the scaffold
structure, with two of the lifts disposed on one of the perpendicular sides 74
and
the third lift disposed on the other 76 of the perpendicular sides. Also
provided,
for the group, is an extended-length deck element 78, a filler element 80, a
corner bracket 82, a standard bench element 64 and a filler shelf 84.
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The extended-length deck element 78 is secured, in use, to the shuttles of the
parallel lifts to provide a platform on the one perpendicular side 74 which
cantilevers beyond the other 76 of the perpendicular sides. The filler element
80
is secured to the shuttle of the third lift and is supported by the extended-
length
deck element 78 to provide a platform alongside the other 76 of the
perpendicular sides. Together, the extended-length deck element 78 and the
filler element 80 define a walkway having two straight lengths arranged
perpendicular to one another, for use by the mason when laying a building
inside
corner. The standard bench element 64 is secured, in use, to the shuttles of
the
parallel lifts to provide a bench on the one perpendicular side 74. The corner
bracket 82 is rigidly secured to the shuttle of the lift adjacent to the third
lift. The
filler shelf 84 is rigidly secured to the shuttle of the third lift of said
each grouping
and supported by the corner bracket 82 to provide a surface alongside the
other
of the perpendicular sides 76 from which said mason can retrieve materials for
building.
Yet another exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 9-11. In
this application, the lifts 44 are provided one for each of a grouping of two
adjacent standards 44 in said scaffold structure. Also provided, for the
group, is
an extended-length deck element 78, a standard bench element 64, a safety rail
adapter 88, a safety rail bracket 90 and a pair of chains 92. The extended-
length
deck element 78 is secured, in use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts to
provide a
platform which cantilevers beyond one of the shuttles to a desired extent [the
deck element 78 is telescopic, in the manner of a sliding door or the like,
such
that the cantilever is adjustable]. The standard bench element 64 is secured,
in
use, to the shuttles of the parallel lifts to provide a bench. The safety rail
adapter 88 is secured to the end of the deck element 78, to provide a safety
railing at the end of the deck element 78. The safety rail bracket 90 is
secured
to the lift beyond which the deck element is cantilevered, and the chains 92
are
suspended between adapter 88 and bracket 90, to provide railing elements.
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This embodiment of the invention is useful for cladding structures with
underhangs or the like.
Although only three embodiments of the present invention are herein shown and
described, it will be evident that numerous variations may be made.
For example, whereas the embodiments of Figures 2 and 3 each include three
lifts, arranged, respectively, in linear and perpendicular fashion, greater or
lesser
numbers of lifts may be deployed.
As well, whereas the invention is illustrated as an aftermarket item, for use
with
conventional scaffolds, custom frame assemblies could be created, wherein
rails
could take the place in the scaffold frame structures of the standards; but
for this
change, the system would be substantially identical in form and function to
the
embodiments disclosed, and thus, neither illustrations nor detailed
description
are provided nor viewed as necessary for the purpose of enablement.
Additionally, whereas in the exemplary embodiments, the shuttles carry the
winches, and the cables are secured to the rails, persons of ordinary skill
would
readily appreciate that the winches could be carried by, for example, the
rails,
with the cables secured to the shuttles.
Yet further modifications are also possible. Accordingly, the present
invention
should be understood to be limited only by the accompanying claims,
purposively
construed.
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