U.S. patent application number 10/508304 was filed with the patent office on 2006-03-16 for working platform.
Invention is credited to Gerhard Volkel.
Application Number | 20060054356 10/508304 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 28045856 |
Filed Date | 2006-03-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060054356 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Volkel; Gerhard |
March 16, 2006 |
Working platform
Abstract
The invention illustrates and describes a working platform
which, for straightforward use in a vertical shaft, has a basic
body, on which is provided a supporting means for support on a
vertically running surface, and a working means, which is connected
to the basic body by connecting means such that it can be moved
between working positions.
Inventors: |
Volkel; Gerhard;
(Erndtebruck, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
COOK, ALEX, MCFARRON, MANZO, CUMMINGS & MEHLER LTD
SUITE 2850
200 WEST ADAMS STREET
CHICAGO
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
28045856 |
Appl. No.: |
10/508304 |
Filed: |
March 20, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
March 20, 2003 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP03/02949 |
371 Date: |
June 21, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
175/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 3/28 20130101; E04G
3/246 20130101; E04G 3/24 20130101; E21D 7/00 20130101; E04G 3/30
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
175/057 |
International
Class: |
E21B 7/00 20060101
E21B007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 20, 2002 |
DE |
102 12 290.3 |
May 31, 2002 |
DE |
102 24 193.7 |
Dec 10, 2002 |
DE |
102 57 560.6 |
Claims
1. A working platform for drilling tools or the like, having a
basic body, having supporting means for directly or indirectly
supporting the working platform on an essentially vertically
running surface, and having a working means, e.g. a drilling tool,
which is connected to the basic body by connecting means such that
it can be moved between working positions.
2. A working platform for drilling tools or the like, having a
basic body, on which is provided a supporting means for direct or
indirect support on an essentially vertically running surface, and
having a working means, e.g. a drilling tool, which is connected to
the basic body by connecting means such that it can be moved
between working positions.
3. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that two supporting means are provided and have supporting panels,
and in that, at least in the case of one supporting means, the
supporting panel is connected to the basic body via movement means,
for the retraction and extension of the supporting panels relative
to the basic body.
4. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the supporting means has fastening means for connection to the
vertically running surface.
5. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the working means is an installation panel.
6. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the working means is a drilling tool.
7. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the connecting means provided is at least one telescopic
element.
8. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the connecting means provided is a rotary arrangement.
9. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized in
that the connecting means provided is a pivoting arm.
10. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a
securing line for connecting the working platform to a securing
point located above the working platform.
11. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized by
fastening on the shaft wall using connectors, anchors, nails,
spikes or the like.
12. The working platform as claimed in claim 1, characterized by at
least one cushion or air cushion which is provided on a side of a
supporting means which is directed toward the shaft wall.
13. The working platform as claimed in claim 12, characterized in
that the air cushion has a form which is adapted to the shaft
wall.
14. Use of a working platform as claimed in claim 1, for producing
connections in a vertical shaft.
15. A method of working on side walls or of producing connections
in a vertical shaft, characterized by the operation of lowering a
working platform, fixing the working platform on the walls of the
shaft and carrying out the work from the working platform.
16. The method as claimed in claim 14, characterized by the
operation of drilling from the working platform.
17. The working platform as claimed claim 2, characterized in that
two supporting means are provided and have supporting panels, and
in that, at least in the case of one supporting means, the
supporting panel is connected to the basic body via movement means,
for the retraction and extension of the supporting panels relative
to the basic body.
18. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the supporting means has fastening means for connection to the
vertically running surface.
19. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the working means is an installation panel.
20. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the working means is a drilling tool.
21. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the connecting means provided is at least one telescopic
element.
22. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the connecting means provided is a rotary arrangement.
23. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized in
that the connecting means provided is a pivoting arm.
24. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized by a
securing line for connecting the working platform to a securing
point located above the working platform.
25. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized by
fastening on the shaft wall using connectors, anchors, nails,
spikes or the like.
26. The working platform as claimed in claim 2, characterized by at
least one cushion or air cushion which is provided on a side of a
supporting means which is directed toward the shaft wall.
27. The working platform as claimed in claim 26, characterized in
that the air cushion has a form which is adapted to the shaft wall.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a working platform for
drilling tools.
[0002] Working platforms are used wherever a floor is not suitable
for bearing a tool, for example a drilling tool, or for bearing an
operator for the tool. This may be due to the distance of the floor
relative to the location at which the work is to be carried out.
For example, the floor may be located so far beneath the working
location that a tool positioned on this floor, or a tool held by an
operator standing on this floor, cannot reach the working location.
However, working platforms are also used where the floor is not
suitable as a working base. For example, a floor may not be
suitable for bearing heavy loads, with the result that a heavy tool
positioned on the floor sinks into the floor. It is likewise
possible for the floor to have properties which do not allow the
tool to be set up reliably on the floor. Furthermore, the floor may
have too smooth a surface for holding back, for example, a
horizontally drilling tool to a sufficient extent.
[0003] Conventional working platforms have supporting means by way
of which a working surface can be supported on the horizontal
floor. These working platforms have the disadvantage that the
supporting means have to be long enough in order, in the case of
large distances between the floor and working location, to make the
working surface available in the region of the working location.
The length of the supporting means renders such working platforms
unwieldy to transport and construct. Furthermore, the construction
of these working platforms in shafts which are accessible from
above involves high outlay.
[0004] In a large number of application areas, work has to be
carried out on side surfaces of an essentially vertically running
shaft. These shafts are usually accessible from above via a shaft
opening and have a shaft floor at the opposite end. In order to
construct a conventional working platform in such a shaft, it is
necessary for the structural parts of the working platform to be
moved downwards, through the entire shaft, onto the shaft
floor.
[0005] In front of this background, the object of the present
invention is to provide a working platform which can easily be used
in a vertical shaft.
[0006] The object is achieved by the subject matter of the
independent claims. Advantageous configurations form the subject
matter of the subclaims.
[0007] According to the invention, it is provided that the working
platform has a basic body and supporting means for direct or
indirect support on a vertically running surface. Since the working
platform is now supported, for example, on a vertical surface, for
example in the vicinity of the working location, rather than on the
floor, the positioning of the working platform does not depend on
the floor. The arrangement of the working platform thus does not
depend on the distance of the floor from the working location. The
platform may thus be of more compact configuration. Furthermore,
construction of the working platform is simplified. The working
platform according to the invention need only be lowered into the
shaft, through the shaft opening, until it has reached the region
of the working location. It can be positioned directly beneath this
working location by support on the vertical surface, without the
individual structural parts first of all having to be lowered onto
the floor, which may possibly be located at a somewhat lower level.
In addition, the stability of the working platform does not depend
on the nature of the floor. Irrespective of whether the floor is
load-bearing or not, in particular if it has become soft as result
of moisture in a shaft or the shaft surrounds, the working platform
according to the invention can provide a stable base for working on
the side surfaces of the shaft. The working platform according to
the invention is also suitable for use in trenches, for example for
laying pipes using the burst lining method.
[0008] In order to orient the working means provided by the working
platform, this working means is connected to the basic body by
connecting means such that it can be moved between working
positions. Working means is to be understood as any means which can
be provided for the work which is to be carried out from a working
platform. This is usually a working surface or installation panel.
The working surface provides means from which an operator standing
thereon can hold and/or operate a tool. An installation panel is
suitable for accommodating a tool by the latter being connected,
for example, to the installation panel or being positioned on the
installation panel. However, a working means may also be an actual
tool, for example a drilling tool, which is retained in the working
position on the basic body via the connecting means.
[0009] The connecting means are preferably provided such that,
rather than producing a rigid connection between the working means
and the basic body, they allow the working means to move relative
to the basic body. The working means can thus be moved into the
correct working position. It is also possible, however, for the
working means to be moved gradually into a number of working
positions, and for work to be carried out in these positions, from
a working platform once the latter has been supported on the
vertical surface. Thus, the connecting means may allow pivoting,
rotation or height adjustment of the working means. It is also
possible for the connecting means to allow only pivoting, rotation
or height adjustment. It is preferable, however, to provide
connecting means which allow combinations of these types of
movement. The connecting means preferably allow the movements to
take place in a stepless manner, with the result that the working
means can be moved precisely into the working position. The
movement capabilities of the working means additionally make it
possible to avoid obstructions, for example climbing irons, on the
vertical surface when the working means is moved to the working
location.
[0010] The working platform according to the invention can be used
wherever work at a working location has to be carried out, for
example, on a vertical surface. The vertical surfaces are usually
side walls of a shaft or of a trench, but may also be the vertical
boundary surfaces of other areas. Vertical surfaces here are to be
understood not just as plumb surfaces, but also as essentially
vertical surfaces on which it is not possible to position
conventional working platforms with positioning feet. In
particular, the working platform can also be used in a shaft of
which the center longitudinal axis is oriented at small angles to
the vertical.
[0011] Supporting means are understood as means which are suitable
for supporting a working means directly or indirectly on a vertical
surface. This may be a strut which supports the basic body from
beneath and is located at an angle to the vertical, with the result
that it is supported on the vertical surface beneath the basic
body. It is preferable, however, for the basic body to be retained
by a plurality of supporting means which are supported on opposite
vertical surfaces, for example shaft walls. The basic body is
preferably retained by a friction fit. For this purpose, the
supporting means have to be arranged such that they butt, at least
in part, in a planar manner against the vertical surface. The
surface of the working means is preferably designed so as to
produce a good frictional resistance against the working means
slipping off vertically.
[0012] The supporting means are preferably arranged on the basic
body. However, it is also possible for them to be provided on the
working means connected to the basic body and to support these
working means directly. In the case of such an arrangement, the
basic body is used predominantly for providing a point of
engagement for means for lowering the working platform into the
desired position. The actual operation of fixing the working means
in the desired position then takes place via the supporting means
provided on the working means.
[0013] The supporting means thus preferably have supporting panels.
These serve for bearing in a planar manner on the vertical surface
and supporting the basic body. They may be connected to the basic
body such that they can be adapted in terms of orientation in
order, even in the case of non-plumb vertical surfaces, to allow
planar bearing on the vertical surface. In the case of a plurality
of supporting means, the supporting panel at least of one
supporting means is preferably connected to the basic body via
movement means, for the retraction and extension of the supporting
panel relative to the basic body. This makes it possible for the
working platform to be capable of being lowered into the shaft
through a narrow opening, for example a shaft opening, with the
supporting means drawn in and for it to allow good support of the
basic body by virtue of the supporting means being extended at the
envisaged working location, even in the case of large shaft cross
sections. In addition, a working platform, with retractable and
extendable supporting means also makes it possible for the working
platform to be supported eccentrically in a shaft. This takes place
by virtue of the supporting means being extended to different
extents. Moreover, a working platform can be supported in different
surroundings, for example different shaft geometries, since the
retractable and extendable supporting means can be adapted to good
effect to the surroundings of the working location.
[0014] Movement means are means which make it possible to move the
supporting panel relative to the basic body and to fix it in a
supporting position relative to the basic body. These means are
usually telescopic elements, for example a cylinder/piston element.
It is also possible, however, to provide a shank which is retained
in a releasable manner in a clamp.
[0015] In order to ensure that the support is particularly
reliable, the supporting means preferably has fastening means for
connection to the vertically running surfaces. These fastening
means may be connectors, anchors, nails or spikes. The fastening
means may be arranged on elements of the supporting means which are
provided specifically for them, although they are preferably
provided in conjunction with a supporting panel and fix the latter
on the vertical surface.
[0016] Good easy-to-handle movement of the working means is
achieved if the connecting means provided is at least one
telescopic element. Depending on the orientation of the telescopic
element, the working means thus connected to the basic body can be
moved vertically, obliquely or horizontally and retained in the
desired working position. It is preferable for a plurality of
telescopic elements to be connected in an articulated manner to the
working means at different points, with the result that the working
means can also be pivoted into differently oriented working
positions and retained there.
[0017] As an alternative, or in addition, a rotary arrangement is
also provided as connecting means. This rotary arrangement can
rotate the working means into the desired working position, for
example about a vertical axis. The connecting means may also be
arranged such that the telescopic elements are connected to the
rotary arrangement, with the result that the working means can be
both rotated into the working position and pivoted.
[0018] According to one embodiment of the working platform
according to the invention, a pivoting arm is provided as
connecting arm. This pivoting arm bears the working means and is
connected to the basic body. The pivoting arm may be mounted in a
rotatable manner in the basic body. It may be designed such that it
can be pivoted about its point of connection to the basic body. It
is preferably of multi-part and multi-jointed design, with the
result that it can be moved with numerous degrees of freedom in
order to bring the working means into the desired position.
[0019] For safeguarding purposes, the working platform may have a
securing line for connection to a securing point located above the
working platform. The securing line serves for retaining the
working platform if the support by means of the supporting means
should fail. A securing line may be a cable, in particular a steel
cable, a chain or some other means that can be guided in a flexible
manner from the working platform to a securing point. A securing
point may be a fastening point, for example a climbing iron, in a
shaft. It is also possible, however, to use fastening points
outside a shaft, for example anchor elements rammed into the ground
alongside the shaft opening, as the securing point. It is likewise
possible to use a ring which is located around the shaft opening,
and the diameter of which is larger than the shaft opening, as the
securing point.
[0020] In a preferred configuration, the working platform has at
least one cushion which is provided on a side of a supporting means
which is directed toward the shaft wall. This air cushion can
assist uniform introduction of the necessary supporting force into
the shaft wall. As a result, the differently configured shaft
walls, damage to the shaft walls by the punctiform introduction of
forces is avoided.
[0021] A cushion is to be understood as any cushion which can be
arranged between a supporting means and a shaft wall and which
evens out the introduction of forces into the shaft walls. In
particular, air cushions are medium-filled cushions, in particular
with flexible boundary walls. The medium may be air, but also any
other medium which flows freely in the cushion, for example a fluid
or a granular material. In particular, the cushion may also consist
of foam or other compressible media.
[0022] The cushion preferably has the same peripheral dimensions as
that surface of the supporting means, for example of the supporting
panel, which is directed toward the shaft wall. It is also
possible, however, for the cushion to be of any other form and to
be designed, for example, as a ring or torus which encloses the
working platform. The air cushion preferably has a form which is
adapted to that of the shaft wall. The cushion can thus introduce
the supporting force into the wall to particularly good effect over
a large surface area.
[0023] Although the invention which has been explained above can be
used at a multiplicity of use locations, the working platform
according to the invention is particularly preferably used for
producing connections, in particular service connections, for
example for fiber-optics cables, in a shaft. For this purpose, use
has always been made to date of a working platform which is seated
on the shaft floor and, in order to be constructed, has required
people to climb into the shaft and has had to be constructed from
the shaft floor.
[0024] The invention is explained in more detail hereinbelow with
reference to exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawing, in
which:
[0025] FIG. 1 shows a sectional view of a working platform
according to the invention in a first working position;
[0026] FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the working platform from
FIG. 1 in a second working position;
[0027] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the working platform from FIG.
1;
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a sectional view of a further working platform
according to the invention; and
[0029] FIG. 5 shows a working platform according to the invention
with an air cushion.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a working platform 1 with a basic body 2 on
which two supporting means 3a, 3b are fastened. A working means 5
in the form of an installation panel with a cradle is connected to
the basic body 2 via a connecting means 4. A drilling tool 6 with a
drill pipe 7 is connected to the working means 5. The working
platform 1 is inserted into a shaft 8 and is supported on the shaft
walls 9. Securing lines 10 are connected, at one end, to the
working platform 1 and, by the other end, to a securing point 11 in
the form of a ring positioned over the shaft opening 12.
[0031] The connecting means 4 is designed as a telescopic element
in the form of a cylinder/piston element which allows vertical
movement of the working means 5 relative to the basic body 2 and
can retain the working means 5 in a working position relative to
the basic body 2.
[0032] The basic body 2 is in the form of a cylinder with a
supporting means 3a in the form of a supporting panel fastened at
one end. A movement means 13 in the form of a piston is introduced
into the basic body 2 and, at its end which is directed away from
the basic body 2, has a supporting means 3b in the form of a
supporting panel. The supporting means 3b can be retracted and
extended relative to the basic body 2 by way of the cylinder/piston
connection between the movement means 13 and basic body 2.
[0033] In order to install the working platform 1 according to the
invention in the shaft 8, it is lowered into the shaft through the
shaft opening 12, by means of the securing lines 10, with the
supporting means 3b retracted. At the desired position, the
supporting means 3b is extended out of the basic body 2, by virtue
of the movement means 13 being extended, until, along with the
supporting means 3a, it gives rise to clamping in the shaft 8 which
retains the working platform 1 in the desired position in the shaft
8. From this position, the working means 5 is moved into the
desired working position via the connecting means 4 by virtue of
the cylinder/piston element being extended or retracted. In the
working position, a connection hole 14 can be drilled into the
shaft wall 9 by way of the drill pipe 7 of the drilling tool 6. As
is illustrated in FIG. 2, the working means 5, for working at a
different working location, can be moved into a different working
position, by virtue of the connecting means 4 being extended
further, without the clamping position of the basic body 2 having
to be changed.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the working means 5. The
drilling tool 6, arranged on the working means 5, with drill pipe 7
is arranged in a position in which it has been rotated in relation
to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. This change in orientation
of the drill pipe 7 is achieved by virtue of the drilling tool
being repositioned on the working means 5. However, it is also
possible to achieve the change in orientation of the drill pipe 7
by virtue of the working means being rotated relative to the basic
body 2.
[0035] The possibility, which is only restricted by the type and
extending length of the connecting means 4, of freely selecting the
working position relative to the basic body 2 allows free selection
of the location at which the basic body 2 is supported on the
vertical wall. Irrespective of the working position which is to be
reached, the basic body 2 can be supported in a position which is
particularly well-suited for supporting purposes, because the
vertical surface there is, for example, particularly stable or has
a high coefficient of friction. Moreover, it is possible to reach a
large number of working locations from one position, with the
result that there is no need to reposition the basic body 2.
[0036] In the case of the working platform 21 with a basic body 22
which is shown in FIG. 4, supporting means 23a, 23b are provided
directly on the working means 25. The working means 25 is connected
to the basic body 22 via connecting means 24. The working means 25
has a drilling tool 26. For positioning the working platform 21 in
the shaft 8, the working platform is lowered into the desired
position, through the shaft opening 12, by way of securing lines 30
fastened on it. In this position, the securing lines 30 are secured
at a securing point 31 outside the shaft and retain the working
platform 21. In this position of the basic body, the working means
25 is moved into a desired orientation by the connecting means 24.
The working means 25 is then retained in this orientation by
supporting means 23a, 23b. For this purpose, the supporting means
23a, 23b are supported on the shaft wall 9.
[0037] With the same designations being maintained for the same
structural parts, FIG. 5 shows a working platform 1 with a basic
body 2 on which two supporting means 3a, 3b are fastened. Air
cushions 40 are arranged between the supporting means 3a, 3b and
the shaft wall 9. As a result of these air cushions, the supporting
force which is introduced by the supporting means 3a, 3b is
introduced uniformly into the shaft wall 9.
* * * * *