AU2016277606B2 - Loading Platform - Google Patents

Abstract

A loading platform for use in construction of multi-storey buildings and extending from an open side of the building during construction; the loading platform having a floor that is hinged and can pivot open like a gate, in order to allow for access to areas beneath the loading platform. 3 Fig A: Without side, floor#3 partially open and gate#1 floor fully open 3 Fig B: Floor#3 horizontal, and Floor#1 fully open (gate) Page 115

Description

A loading platform for use in construction of multi-storey buildings and extending from an open side of the building during construction; the loading platform having a floor that is hinged and can pivot open like a gate, in order to allow for access to areas beneath the loading platform.

Fig A: Without side, floor#3 partially open and gate#1 floor fully open

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Fig B: Floor#3 horizontal, and Floor#1 fully open (gate)

Page 115

Loading Platform

Technical field

This invention concerns loading platforms, which are often used in the construction of multi-storey buildings. As the floors of a multi-storey building are being constructed, loading platforms, at the levels of the various floors and extending from an open side of the building, enable building materials and heavy items of equipment to be conveyed to the interior of the building at their required level. The materials or equipment items are placed on the loading platform, using a crane, for subsequent movement into the interior of the building.

Background to the invention

Loading platforms have been used in the construction of multi-storey buildings for a number of years. In Australia, the best-known form of loading platform is probably the loading platform that is Australian patent No. 708,796. A similar loading platform is described in the specification of Australian patent No. 722,781 (which is a patent 25 of addition to patent No. 708,796).

Disadvantages of prior art

The main disadvantage of the prior art is that the crane movement is restricted due to the protrusion of the platform and requires folding up platforms or sliding in platforms to access the lower platform. Even after they are folded or made to slide into the building, a significant portion of the platform protrudes out of the building thereby reducing the available deck space for loading materials and restricting the crane movement. In addition, when loading or unloading a platform at a particular level, all platforms above that level needs to be kept in folded position or made to slide into the building. In the case of a sliding platform, the extent of the available area may further be reduced by the space available inside the building. This process is time consuming and requires additional labour. Another disadvantage of the prior art is that it requires special wide load permits and escort vehicles to transport them from one site to the next. The weight of individual platforms is also a significant disadvantage of the prior art systems as they often weigh over four tons.

Objective of the present invention

The objective of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned disadvantages by providing a loading platform which

1. Maximises the available deck area for loading and unloading. 2. Eliminates restrictions on crane movement 3. Facilitates transportation in two halves thereby eliminating the need for road escort vehicles.

- Uses a continuous perimeter beam around four sides two of which acts as cantilevers which is further strengthened by the hand rail which is incorporated into the continuous perimeter beam around the three sides outside of the building.

Description of the present invention

In the present invention, the floor of the loading platform, which can be constructed in sections (as oppose to one complete unit in the prior art) is connected to the structural perimeter beam of the platform via a holding/movement means such as hinges or a pivot axle which passes through aligned aperture of circular cross sections that are fixed to the perimeter support members. The perimeter, in some cases may have some holding movement such as a hinge or a pivot axle. The floor of the loading platform can open like a gate.

The holding/movement means of the invention holds the floor of the loading platform in which the planar top surface is substantially horizontal when in loading/unloading position or in the vertical position when not in use. The holding/movement means are used to rotate the floor (sections) about the pivot axis from one of these positions to another. The base/floor of the platform can be made in one complete piece or in several pieces that interlock with each other.

Thus according to the present invention, there is provided a loading platform for use on the external wall of a building said loading platform comprising.

(a) A perimeter beam around the platform with a pair of extendable substantially parallel arms perpendicular to the face of the building and are able to be extended beyond the floor of the platform into the building. The two parallel beams can slide in and out.

(b) Respective clamping means to clamp said extended beams to the structure of the said building when so positioned.

(c) Respective pivot connection means connecting one edge of the rotatable floor panels to the adjacent perimeter beams and

(d) Holding/ movement means being operative (1) to hold said floor member in which said floor member is substantially horizontal in the loading/unloading position and in a second position in which the floor/s has/have been rotated in an upward direction about said pivot connection means the said top surface of the said floor panel is substantially vertical and (2) to enable said floor member to be rotated about said pivot connection means between said first and second position.

Normally, the loading platform will be assembled prior to installation on the building, with the width of the platform less than the width of the said open wall space, the loading platform will be lifted by a crane to the floor of the building on which it is to be installed.

The platform holding/movement mean can be hydraulic rams each connected between (a) a respective support perimeter beam and an arm extending below the platform floor of the platform. Embodiments of the present invention will be described by the way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The platform may be manually or electronically operated depending on what is necessary. The platform may be operated through a battery or an electronic power source. The battery may be charged by renewable resources (e.g. solar power) or it may be charged through an electronic source.

Brief Description of the Drawing

The invention is described with fig A, B, E, F and "Additional Features".

Fig A - Single platform with partially open floor with the barrier floor fully open (perspective view)

Fig B - Single platform, plan view, the larger floor section fully closed at horizontal position, smaller barrier section fully open in vertical position.

Fig E - Full size platform (two single platforms joined together along the centre), Larger floor section partially open and smaller barrier floor section fully open (Perspective view).

Fig F - Full sized platform fully closed in the horizontal position, ready to accept the load (plan view).

Addition Features- The third embodiment with travelling gantry or hoist mounted underneath the platform.

The Key to figures

1) Platform that acts as a floor when horizontal and a gate or barrier with a minimum height of 1.0 m when fully open. This is opened first and closed last.

2) Extendable parallel arms, extended by (for example) an electrically operated hydraulic ram.

3) Platform that acts as a floor when horizontal and rotates into a vertical position when fully opened by for example an electrically opened hydraulic ram.

4) Additional raked supports from platform to slab below.

5) Additional chain supports from platform to slab above

6) Hydraulic Rams.

7) Perimeter cantilevered arms.

8) Connecting Perimeter Beams.

9) External perimeter handrail.

Description of the invention. Fig A is a first embodiment of the invention showing a single platform of less than 2.4 m wide. This embodiment comprises two floor panels (1 and 3). Both floor panels 1 and 3 are horizontal in use and rotate into a vertical position when fully opened. The rotation can be done by any means and could include electrically operated hydraulic rams and any other mechanical or electrical devices. When the two floors are in a horizontal position they are held by a hinge and support members which butt against the perimeter beam. The floor panel 1 acts as a gate or a safety barrier in fully open position. The height of the floor I is at least 1 meter if designed to act as a safety barrier. The platform is connected to the building via the two extendible parallel arms (2) which can slide in and out to adjust to the length available. The structure comprises an external perimeter hand rail (9) which adds to the integrity and strength of the perimeter beam. The structure can be further supported by additional chains (5) to the slab above and additional raked supports to the slab below. In operation, when the platform is in open position, a crane can load and unload to the platform below.

In a second embodiment, two single platforms can be joined together along the centre line as shown in fig F. The joining can be by any fastening means such as bolts or pins. Interlocking is the most likely method that will be used, however it could be by use of bolts and pins as well. In this embodiment, the floor comprises four separate platforms as shown in fig F. The two larger floor sections can be rotated vertically open the floor. The smaller floor section act as a barrier as shown in the first embodiment. The two larger floor sections are approximately of the same dimensions. Similarly, the two smaller floor sections are also of similar dimensions as shown in fig F. The whole structure is strengthened using two connecting perimeter beams (8). The sliding beams (2) slide into the perimeter cantilevered arms (7).

In a third embodiments, as shown in "Additional features", a travelling hoist or a gantry can be mounted to the underside of the upper platform to act as a lifting mechanism for loading and unloading lower platforms.

Claims (14)

1. The claims defining the invention are as follows:

   Claim 1

   A loading platform for use on the external wall of a building said loading platform comprising.

   (a) A floor section consisting of multiple rotatable floor panels,

   (b) A perimeter beam around the platform with a pair of extendable substantially parallel arms perpendicular to the face of the building and are able to be extended beyond the floor section of the platform into the building, the pair of parallel arms capable of sliding in and out,

   (b) Respective clamping means to clamp the said extended beams to the structure of the said building when so positioned,

   (c) Respective pivot connection means connecting one edge of the rotatable floor panel(s) to the adjacent perimeter beams,

   (d) Holding and movement means being operative to hold said floor section in which said floor section is substantially horizontal in the loading or unloading position and in a second position in which the floor panels section or the floor sections have been rotated in an upward direction about said pivot connection means the said top surface of the said floor panel is substantially vertical and to enable said floor member to be rotated about said pivot connection means between said first and second position ;

   (e) Thereby maximising the available deck area for loading and unloading and eliminating restrictions on a crane movement across the floors.
2. Claim 2

   A loading platform as defined in claim 1 where the floor section comprises several floor panels, said floor panels are joined by fastening means.
3. Claim 3

   A loading panel as defined in claim 2 where the fastening means is by interlocking or by use of bolts and pins.
4. Claim 4

   A loading platform as defined in claim 3 where the floor section is made of two or more floor panels, one of the floor panels act as a gate or a safety barrier in fully open position.
5. Claim 5

   A loading platform as defined in claim 4 where the holding and movement means are hydraulic rams each connected between a respective support perimeter beam and an arm extending below the floor section of the platform.
6. Claim 6

   A loading platform as defined in claim 5 where the movement of the platform is carried out manually.
7. Claim 7

   A loading platform as defined in claim 6 where the movement of the platform by the hydraulic rams is via electronic or electrical means.
8. Claim 8

   A loading platform as defined in claim 7 where the hydraulic rams are powered by a battery.
9. Claim 9

   A loading platform as defined in claim 8 where the battery is charged by a renewable energy source.
10. Claim 10

    A loading platform as defined in claim 9 where the renewable energy source is solar.
11. Claim 11

    A loading platform as defined in claim 10 where it is operated by a remote control.
12. Claim 12

    A loading platform as defined in claim 11 is assembled prior to installation on the building, where the width of the platform is less than the width of an opening in the wall of the building.
13. Claim 13

    A loading platform as defined in claim 12 where the dimensions are such that it can be transported on a truck chassis of a standard with of 2.4 meters.
14. Claim 14

    A loading platform as defined in claim 13 where a travelling hoist or a gantry is mounted to the underside of an upper platform to act as a lifting mechanism for loading and unloading lower platforms.

    3 1

    Fig A: Without side, floor#3 partially open and gate#1 floor fully open

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    Fig B: Floor#3 horizontal, and Floor#1 fully open (gate)

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    Fig C: Floor#3,1 fully flat ready to accept load

    Fig D: Platform 3, 1 fully open

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    Fig E: Full size platform with floor 3 partially open and floor 1 fully open

    Fig F: Floors 3,1 fully closed Page 3/5

    Fig G: Floor 3,1 open, fully ready for load

    Fig H Page 4/5

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    Fig1 Fig2 3 1 3

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    Fig4 Fig3 Page 5/5