Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Scaffold supported internally on shaft
Patent
1998-07-29
2000-01-04
Chin-Shue, Alvin
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Scaffold supported internally on shaft
182223, E04G 310
Patent
active
060099755
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an adjustable working platform construction suitable for being used in distillation columns and the like, whereby the working platform can be supported on rings present on the inner side of the column wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Distillation columns as used in refineries and chemical companies are tower-like structures, which are substantially built up of a cylindrical outer wall having a height in the order of 100 m and more, whereby the outer wall is provided with rings which are welded to the inner side of said wall in regularly spaced-apart relationship, on which rings the distilling dishes are supported. The outer wall of said columns is provided with manholes at regular intervals, through which access can be gained to the inside of the column for inspecting the dishes and for carrying out repairs and installation work. All the materials needed for carrying out various activities, such as the installation of new dishes, the carrying out of repairs to existing dishes and the modification of dishes, must be introduced into the inside of the column via said manholes. In order to be able to carry out these activities more quickly, operators have proceeded to carry out these activities simultaneously in several sections the last few years. This constitutes a safety hazard, however, because several people are working one above the other and it regularly happens that tools, welding spatter or screw materials fall down the column. In order to overcome this problem operators have proceeded to place wooden planks on the rings, which planks are to function as a temporary working platform. The drawbacks of these wooden working platforms are that they constitute a fire hazard, that they are not strong enough, that refuse of the materials being used is not possible, that the column section is not entirely covered in an optimum manner, and that there is a risk of the planks present on the rings turning over. What makes matters worse is the fact that the planks being used may only have a limited width, since they must be introduced into the column through said manholes, and generally the diameter of said manholes is only in the order of 50 cm.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide a working platform construction which obviates the above drawbacks and which is safe, non-flammable and easy to install and which furthermore consists of few parts of simple construction. In order to accomplish that objective the working platform construction according to the invention is characterized in that it is built up of a system of spokes which are connected to a central plate, whereby two diametrically opposed first spokes are fixedly connected to said plate and at least two pairs of second spokes positioned on either side of said first spokes are pivotably connected to said plate, and whereby two third spokes, which are arranged in diametrically opposed relationship, are detachably accommodated in receiving holes in said central plate, whereby said system of spokes supports cover plates, which are shaped to cover the entire column section. Since said second spokes are pivotably connected to the central plate, said spokes may abut against said first spokes prior to installation, so that a unit is obtained which can readily be installed through a manhole. Said unit is introduced into the interior of the column through the manhole, whereby the first spokes will be supported on a ring present inside the column. Then the second spokes are pivoted away from the first spokes into abutment with the column wall, after which the third spokes are finally placed in the receiving holes in the central plate, thus providing a stable system of spokes which is supported on a ring inside the column. Then said system of spokes is covered by cover plates, which are shaped to cover the entire column section. Said spokes and said cover plates may be made of an non-flammable material, such as aluminium or another light metal.
In order to be able to use the system o
REFERENCES:
patent: 1213043 (1917-01-01), Walker
patent: 1380074 (1921-05-01), Myers
patent: 3080941 (1963-03-01), Fuller
patent: 4095670 (1978-06-01), Martin
patent: 4125174 (1978-11-01), Genhard
patent: 5183625 (1993-02-01), Bastistoni
Chin-Shue Alvin
Safety Floor B.V.
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