Fire escape – ladder – or scaffold – Suspended platform
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-21
2001-05-08
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Fire escape, ladder, or scaffold
Suspended platform
C182S138000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06227331
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the art of working platforms for supporting persons performing work on structures, and more particularly to a new and improved platform installed below the deck or roadway of a bridge.
It is necessary to periodically clean and repaint the surfaces of steel bridges to prevent corrosion and deterioration of the steel supporting structure. This, in turn, creates the need to provide a safe and effective support for workmen performing the cleaning and painting of the surfaces beneath the deck or roadway of the bridge. In addition, environmental concerns and regulations give rise to the need for containing the debris from the cleaning operation as well as paint residue and spillage.
A number of bridge platforms have been proposed but many are complex structures and time consuming to erect and dismantle. Other prior art platforms are not sufficiently rigid or are limited in height, i.e., the distance between platform flooring and bridge steel structure, due to the manner in which they are attached to the bridge. Some prior platforms extend for only a short distance longitudinally of the bridge and are limited in that respect.
It would, therefore, be highly desirable to provide a new and improved bridge platform and method of erecting the same which is safe, provides a sufficiently rigid support for workman standing and walking thereon, which is simple in structure, light in weight, and therefore quick, easy and economical to erect and dismantle, which extends for a significant portion of the length of the bridge and which is effective in containing debris from the cleaning and painting operations performed on the bridge.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a bridge platform and method of erecting the same wherein a plurality of cables extend along a section of the bridge in spaced relation below the deck or roadway and steel support structure of the bridge, which cables are supported at opposite ends by a structure of the bridge such as the spaced-apart vertical piers of the bridge, and wherein a plurality of platform flooring panels or sections are supported on the cables, extend laterally of the cables, are arranged side-by-side along the section of the bridge such as between the piers and are removably secured to the cables. The cables preferably are attached to the bridge piers by compression clamp structures. The platform flooring sections comprise elongated rectangular corrugated decking panels and are arranged in end-to-end overlapping relation transversely of the cables, side-to-side overlapping relation along the bridge and with the corrugations extending transversely of the cables. The corrugations maximize the strength-to-weight ratio of the platform flooring and provide recesses or receptacles to contain debris and facilitate its collection and removal. Each of the platform flooring sections is releasably connected at spaced locations to the supporting cables on which it rests. This is provided by connector assemblies each comprising a first part which engages the upper surface of the flooring section and the cable and a second part which engages the upper surface of the flooring section, the two parts being removably connected together through a small opening in the flooring. As a result, individual flooring sections can be removed to provide access through the flooring in emergency or critical situations while at the same time allowing the remainder of the flooring to retain collected debris.
The foregoing and additional advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become clearly apparent upon a reading of the ensuing detailed description wherein:
REFERENCES:
patent: 629935 (1899-08-01), Sturgis
patent: 3603428 (1971-09-01), Hanses
patent: 3858364 (1975-01-01), Proulx
patent: 4660680 (1987-04-01), Potin
patent: 5299655 (1994-04-01), Margaritis
patent: 5417026 (1995-05-01), Brumfield
Chin-Shue Alvin
Paul Kristen, Inc.
Simmons James C.
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