U.S. patent application number 11/751892 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-13 for lifting cradle.
Invention is credited to Kevin James Hourihan.
Application Number | 20070283634 11/751892 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38265207 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070283634 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hourihan; Kevin James |
December 13, 2007 |
Lifting Cradle
Abstract
A lifting cradle for use with a modular building system of the
type in which pre-fabricated modules constructed off-site are
inserted into openings in a support frame constructed on-site to
produce a building according to a user's requirements. The lifting
cradle has a central loading platform and two safety cages arranged
on opposite sides of the platform for operatives to view and/or
control installation of the module in the opening. The lifting
cradle is temporarily attached to the building during installation
of the module and a counterbalance mechanism is provided to
maintain stability of the lifting cradle during installation. The
lifting cradle may also be employed when removing modules from the
building.
Inventors: |
Hourihan; Kevin James;
(Beyton, GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POLSTER, LIEDER, WOODRUFF & LUCCHESI
12412 POWERSCOURT DRIVE SUITE 200
ST. LOUIS
MO
63131-3615
US
|
Family ID: |
38265207 |
Appl. No.: |
11/751892 |
Filed: |
May 22, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/122.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 21/166 20130101;
E04G 21/16 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/122.1 |
International
Class: |
E02D 35/00 20060101
E02D035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 23, 2006 |
GB |
0610185.1 |
Oct 4, 2006 |
GB |
0619540.8 |
Claims
1. A lifting cradle having a working platform to receive a module
to be inserted in or removed from an opening in a building, and
means for temporarily attaching the cradle to the building.
2. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein the temporary
attachment means comprises one or more electromagnets for
releasably securing the cradle to a frame of the building.
3. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein the temporary
attachment means comprises temporary clamps, locating bolts or
inserts or fixtures for releasably securing the cradle to a frame
of the building.
4. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein means is provided
for reducing out of balance loads as the module is inserted in or
removed from the opening.
5. A lifting cradle according to claim 4 wherein the out of balance
reduction means comprises a counter balance weight movable in
response to the direction of movement of the module to maintain the
cradle in a stable condition.
6. A lifting cradle according to claim 5 wherein the out of balance
reduction means is electronically controlled in response to
movement of the module.
7. A lifting cradle according to claim 5 wherein the counter
balance mechanism is provided on the platform.
8. A lifting cradle according to claim 4 wherein the out of balance
means is provided or jib or lifting arm of a crane used to lift the
cradle.
9. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein at least one
safety cage is provided for an operative to monitor and/or control
insertion/removal of the module.
10. A lifting cradle according to claim 9 wherein the safety cage
extends substantially the whole length of the platform.
11. A lifting cradle according to claim 9 wherein the safety cage
allows an operative to access the platform.
12. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein means is provided
for aligning the platform with the opening in the building.
13. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein means is provided
to insert a module into an opening and/or to remove a module from
an opening.
14. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein means is provided
to level a module installed in an opening.
15. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein means is provided
for monitoring operation of the cradle.
16. A lifting cradle according to claim 1 wherein means is provided
for electronically controlling operation of the cradle.
17. A method of installing a module in an opening of a support
frame during construction of a modular building, the method
including the steps of: providing a lifting cradle having a working
platform, positioning a module to be installed on the working
platform, lifting the cradle to position the working platform
adjacent to an opening in a support frame of the building,
temporarily attaching the lifting cradle to the support frame,
transferring the module from the working platform through the
opening into the support frame, releasing the lifting cradle from
the support frame, and lowering the lifting cradle.
18. A method according to claim 17 wherein counterbalance means is
provided to maintain stability of the lifting cradle during
installation of the module.
19. A method according to claim 17 wherein leveling means is
provided for leveling the module in the support frame.
20. A method according to claim 17 wherein aligning means is
provided for aligning the working platform with the opening in the
support frame.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is related to, and claims priority
from, co-pending UK patent application No. 0610185.1 filed on 23
May 2006, and co-pending UK patent application No. 0619540.8 filed
4 Oct. 2006, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH
[0002] Not Applicable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This invention concerns improvements in or relating to
buildings constructed from prefabricated modules and in particular
to a building system for constructing buildings employing such
pre-fabricated modules and apparatus for use in such system.
[0004] The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application
to building systems of the type described in co-pending UK patent
application publication No. 2415444-A, published on 28 Dec. 2005,
and in co-pending UK patent application No. 0619540.8 filed 4 Oct.
2006, the contents of each of which are incorporated herein by
reference.
[0005] In the aforesaid applications, modules are inserted in and
removed from openings in a support frame employing a mechanism that
allows the modules to be slid into and from the frame. The modules
may be room or service modules or floor or roof modules or other
components or sections for construction of the building. Achieving
and maintaining the necessary alignment while supporting the module
from a crane to enable the module to be slid into place in the
frame can be difficult and time consuming. Similar problems arise
when removing a module from the frame.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Briefly stated, the present disclosure provides a lifting
cradle having a working platform to receive a module to be inserted
in or removed from an opening in a building, and means for
temporarily attaching the cradle to the building. The temporary
attachment means may comprise one or more electromagnets and/or
temporary clamps, locating bolts or inserts or fixtures for
releasably securing the cradle to a frame of the building.
[0007] According to another aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a lifting cradle having a working platform to receive a
module to be inserted in or removed from an opening in a building,
and means for reducing out of balance loads as the module is
inserted in or removed from the opening. The out of balance
reduction means may comprise a counter balance weight movable in
response to the direction of movement of the module to maintain the
cradle in a stable condition. The counter balance mechanism may be
provided on the platform or the jib or lifting arm of a crane used
to lift the cradle.
[0008] According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a lifting cradle having a working platform to
receive a module to be inserted in or removed from an opening in a
building, and at least one safety cage for an operative to monitor
and/or control insertion/removal of the module. The safety cage may
extend substantially the whole length of the platform and may allow
an operative to access the platform to carry out any work
required.
[0009] According to still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a lifting cradle having a working platform to
receive a module to be inserted in or removed from an opening in a
building, and means for leveling a module in the building. Working
from the lifting cradle, access may be gained in order to control
the leveling of the room, services, roof and floor modules within
the building. It is envisaged that the installed modules could be
adjusted to a level position automatically from the cradle or
remotely by any suitable means such as hydraulics or pneumatics.
Alternatively or additionally, the installed modules could be
packed to a level position within the building using conventional
means and/or locking feet or castors adjusted to a level position.
For example, the modules could be leveled automatically by
hydraulic or pneumatic means and then packers inserted or locking
feet or castors adjusted to maintain the level position. The
lifting cradle according to each of the preceding aspects of the
invention may be employed for installation/removal of modules such
as room or service modules or floor or roof modules or any other
components or sections employed during the construction of the
building.
[0010] According to yet another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of installing a module in an opening of
a support frame during construction of a modular building, the
method including the steps of:
[0011] providing a lifting cradle having a working platform,
[0012] positioning a module to be installed on the working
platform,
[0013] lifting the cradle to position the working platform adjacent
to an opening in a support frame of the building,
[0014] temporarily attaching the lifting cradle to the support
frame,
[0015] transferring the module from the working platform through
the opening into the support frame,
[0016] releasing the lifting cradle from the support frame, and
[0017] lowering the lifting cradle.
[0018] Preferably, counterbalance means is provided to maintain
stability of the lifting cradle during installation of the
module.
[0019] Preferably, leveling means is provided for leveling the
module in the support frame.
[0020] Preferably, aligning means is provided for aligning the
working platform with the opening in the support frame.
[0021] The foregoing features, and advantages set forth in the
present disclosure as well as presently preferred embodiments will
become more apparent from the reading of the following description
in connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] In the accompanying drawings which form part of the
specification:
[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cradle according to the
invention viewed from one end;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cradle of FIG. 1 viewed
from the other end;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cradle shown in FIGS. 1 and
2;
[0026] FIG. 4 is an end view of the cradle shown in FIGS. 1 to
3;
[0027] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the underside of the cradle
shown in FIGS. 1 to 4;
[0028] FIG. 6 shows part of a modular building system; and
[0029] FIGS. 7 to 9 show various stages in the construction of a
modular building.
[0030] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several figures of the drawings. It is to be
understood that the drawings are for illustrating the concepts set
forth in the present disclosure and are not to scale.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0031] The following detailed description illustrates the invention
by way of example and not by way of limitation. The description
enables one skilled in the art to make and use the present
disclosure, and describes several embodiments, adaptations,
variations, alternatives, and uses of the present disclosure,
including what is presently believed to be the best mode of
carrying out the present disclosure.
[0032] Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6 of the drawings, FIGS. 1 to
5 show a modular lifting cradle 1 for use with a modular building
system of the type shown in FIG. 6 in which pre-fabricated modules
3 constructed off-site are inserted into openings 5 in a support
frame 7 constructed on-site to produce a building according to a
user's requirements. In this embodiment, the support frame 7 is
constructed from steel but it will be understood that other metals
or alloys or other materials such as timber, reinforced plastic or
composites thereof could be used. For convenience, FIG. 6 shows one
module 3 and one opening 5 and it will be understood that the frame
7 will be constructed with several openings to receive a plurality
of modules according to the user's requirements.
[0033] The modules 3 may be room or service modules as described in
co-pending UK patent application No. 2415444-A to which the reader
is directed for details of the building system. While, the lifting
cradle 1 described herein has particular application to the
building system described in the aforesaid UK patent application,
it will be understood that it is not intended for the lifting
cradle 1 to be limited thereto and that the lifting cradle 1 can
have application to other building systems where it is desired to
support and accurately locate a module or other component or
section during initial construction of a building or during
refurbishment of a building.
[0034] The lifting cradle 1 comprises three sections, a central
loading platform 9 and two safety cages 11,13 arranged on opposite
sides of the platform 9 for operatives to view and/or control
installation of the module 3 in the opening 5.
[0035] In this embodiment, the cradle 1 is provided with its own
power supply (not shown) thereby reducing or avoiding any trailing
cables that could cause accidents. This is not essential, however,
and the cradle 1 could be adapted for use with a separate power
supply. The cradle 1 is also provided with cameras (not shown) for
viewing different parts of the cradle 1 to assist monitoring and/or
control of the loading operation from within the safety cages 11,13
and/or from a remote control location on the ground. Again, this is
not essential, however, and the cameras could be omitted and the
loading operation monitored visually from the safety cages and/or
the ground and/or frame.
[0036] A module such as the module 3 to be inserted into the
corresponding opening 5 in the frame 7 of FIG. 6 is loaded onto the
platform 9. Longitudinally extending channel section guide rails 15
on the platform 9 accept guides 17 (FIG. 6) such as wheels or
runners located on the bottom of the module 3. Safety barriers
19,21 extend between the safety cages 11,13 at opposite ends of the
platform 9 and retain the module 3 on the platform 9 as the cradle
1 is lifted by a crane or other lifting means 9 (not shown) to a
height and position at which the guide rails 15 align with similar
channel-section guide rails 23 (FIG. 6) on the frame 7. In this
embodiment, the guide rails 15 project from the platform 9 at one
end of the cradle 1 to assist alignment with the guide rails 23 on
the frame. This is not essential, however. It will be understood
that any suitable co-operating guide means may be provided to
enable the module 3 to be inserted into the opening 5. In addition
to guides 17 on the underside, the module may be provided with
guides 17a on the sides to co-operate with guide rails 15a on the
frame 7.
[0037] Monitoring systems (not shown) such as cameras operable from
inside one or both cages 11,13, or from an area away from the caged
area, allow operatives in the cages 11,13 to view the alignment of
the platform 9 with the opening 5 in the building. When aligned,
the cradle 1 is temporarily connected to the steel frame 7 by a
pair of electromagnets 25,27 that are located at one end of the
platform 9 and can be operated from inside one or both of the
safety cages 11,13. It will be understood that any number of
electromagnets 25,27 can be used as may be required and that the
electromagnets may be replaced by any other suitable means for
temporarily securing the cradle 1 to the frame 7. A laser level
(not shown) or other suitable means ensures the module 3 is level
by sighting level marks already incorporated on the steel frame
7.
[0038] Once the cradle 1 is secured to the frame 7, the safety
barrier 19 at the secured end of the cradle 1 is opened to allow
the module 3 to be slid into the opening 5 by any suitable drive
means (not shown) such as a rack and pinion mechanism driven by a
motor or any other suitable means, for example a robotic mechanism.
The safety barrier 21 at the other end of the cradle 1 remains in
place as the module 3 is moved into position within the opening 5
allowing an operative to safely access onto the platform 9 by means
of doors 29,31 on the cages 11,13 to ensure that the module 3 has
been positioned at the correct location in the opening 5. The rack
and pinion mechanism may be arranged to slide the module platform 9
is provided with thrust points 33,35 for one or more hydraulic or
pneumatic rams (not shown) that can be deployed to push the module
3 to its final resting position in the opening 5 as necessary.
[0039] To overcome any uneven loading occurring as the module 3 is
pushed into the opening 5, the platform 9 is provided with a
sliding counter balance weight 37 to the underside that moves
weights (not shown) or counterbalanced mechanism on the jib or
lifting arm of the crane in the opposite direction to the load so
as to ensure the platform 9 remains stable and safe. The counter
balance weight 37 and drive mechanism may be electronically
controlled, for example by a computer or the like, to link
operation to avoid human error and maintain a stable balanced
condition of the cradle 1. In a modification (not shown), the
counter balance weight on the platform may be replaced by a
counterbalanced mechanism on the jib or lifting arm of the crane
(not shown) employed to lift the cradle 1 to the required position
for inserting the module 3.
[0040] Operatives within the safety cages 11,13 have full access to
the facade to carry out any work that may be required during
installation of the module 3 in the opening 5. The safety cages
11,13 have upper and lower walkway platforms 39,41 from which
operatives can view all the procedures safely and for gaining
access at different heights. The cradle can be manufactured or
assembled with or without the safety cage(s) or part of the safety
cage in order to facilitate the loading of components at ground or
levels where the components obstruct operations.
[0041] The above operation can be used in reverse in order to
remove the module 3 from the opening 5, for example to replace the
module 3 with another module or to carry out repair or maintenance
operations on the module 3. The platform 9 is enclosed by the
safety cages 11,13 and safety barriers 19,21 and can therefore
provide a safe working/loading environment for operatives during
installation/removal of a module as well as for the maintenance of
a module and/or for lifting/lowering any materials. The cradle 1
may be provided with tool kits for operatives to carry out any
operations during installation/removal of a module and/or servicing
of a module.
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 7 to 9, there is shown various stages
in the construction of a building employing a modular floor and
roof system in addition to modular rooms or services. For
convenience, part only of the building is shown. FIG. 7 shows a
steel support frame 114 erected on a foundation 122. FIG. 8 shows
the installation of panels 116 of a modular floor by lifting and
sliding into the support frame 114 to form an open plan ground
floor area of the building using the cradle described above or any
other suitable means. FIG. 9 shows the installation of panels 124
of a modular roof and a glazed unit 125 to form the roof area of
the building. The panels 124 are lifted and slid into place over
the support frame 114 using the cradle as described above or any
other suitable means and the glazed unit 125 is lifted and lowered
into place by a crane or the like. Flat roof sections have been
shown, but these could also be pitched roof sections. FIG. 9 also
shows the installation of a room module 118 on the first floor of
the building by lifting and sliding into the support frame 114
using the cradle as described above or any other suitable means.
The room module 118 may house plant equipment such as an air
conditioning unit or may be fitted out for use as an office. Room
or service modules (not shown) may also be installed on the ground
floor by lifting and sliding into the support frame 114 using the
cradle as described above or any other suitable means.
[0043] It will be understood the invention is not limited to the
embodiment above-described.
[0044] For example the cradle could be operated electronically by a
programmable control system provided, for example, with a processor
enabling operation by robots or by laser targeting or other
suitable control means such that the need of human or manual
operations in installing or removing the modules is reduced or
eliminated. It is envisaged that laser targets/readers may be set
on the steel support frame or other locations at intervals to allow
for the platform to align at the correct position either vertically
or horizontally. Once the platform is electronically aligned and is
temporarily secured in a safe position, the module or other
component or section is automatically inserted or withdrawn from
the frame as described previously. The cradle is released from the
building, once the module or other component or section is safely
installed or removed from the building. This results in a
controlled installation or removal by the control system where the
controller gives co-ordinates as to the location of the module or
component or section within the building and the platform is
located automatically to the correct location and position. The
control system may carry out a series of safety procedures and
sequencing to ensure the temporary attachment to and release from
the building facade and the safe removal/insertion of the module or
component or section is carried out safely. The safety procedures
and sequencing could be monitored from the cradle or remotely by
any of the means described previously such as cameras. Means may be
provided to level modules installed in the building. The leveling
means may be operable from the lifting cradle or remotely to level
modules automatically, for example by hydraulic, pneumatic or other
suitable means. Alternatively or additionally, modules may be
leveled by inserting packers or by height adjustable feet or
castors that can be locked when adjusted.
[0045] As various changes could be made in the above constructions
without departing from the scope of the disclosure, it is intended
that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the
accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not
in a limiting sense.
* * * * *