U.S. patent application number 11/817950 was filed with the patent office on 2009-07-09 for working platform.
Invention is credited to Aloys Wobben.
Application Number | 20090173577 11/817950 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36764517 |
Filed Date | 2009-07-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090173577 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wobben; Aloys |
July 9, 2009 |
WORKING PLATFORM
Abstract
The invention concerns a working platform assembly for use in
the interior of a tower-like building. The object of the present
invention is to provide a working platform assembly which can be
used in the interior of a tower-like building even if the tower is
closed at the top by an upper structure thereon. According to the
invention that object is attained by a scissor lattice-like carrier
structure and a working platform arranged on the carrier structure.
In that respect the invention is based on the that the working
platform assembly according to the invention can be adapted to
different inside diameters of the tower-like building by virtue of
the scissor lattice-like carrier structure and can thus extend
completely across the tower cross-section. That makes it possible
to work on the platform assembly. The working platform assembly can
be released from the tower wall by the scissor lattice-like carrier
structure and fixed again in another region of the building of a
different cross-section.
Inventors: |
Wobben; Aloys; (Aurich,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SEED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW GROUP PLLC
701 FIFTH AVE, SUITE 5400
SEATTLE
WA
98104
US
|
Family ID: |
36764517 |
Appl. No.: |
11/817950 |
Filed: |
March 16, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
March 16, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP06/60785 |
371 Date: |
September 28, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
182/128 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 1/36 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/128 |
International
Class: |
E04G 1/36 20060101
E04G001/36 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2005 |
DE |
10 2005 012 497.6 |
Claims
1. A working platform assembly for use in the interior of a
tower-like building comprising: a scissor lattice-like carrier
structure, a working platform arranged on the carrier structure,
wherein the carrier structure has at least three scissor
lattice-like carrier arms spaced at a uniform arcuate distance, a
central carrier element to which the scissor lattice-like carrier
structures are pivotably mounted in radial orientation and are
radially extendable, a plurality of mutually partially overlappling
plates that form at least a portion of the working platform. each
of the plates having an opening that, extends from a central
position of the plate in a radial direction towards the central
carrier element.
2. A working platform assembly according to claim 1 characterized
by a Tirak winch at the peripheral end of each carrier arm.
3. A working platform assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2
characterized by an actuating element which is arranged around the
central carrier element and acts on the lower scissor lattice bars
bearing against the central carrier element and is arranged along
the central carrier element.
4. A working platform assembly according to claim 1 characterized
by a holder for attaching cables which are fixed to the wall in the
interior of the tower-like building at predetermined spacings,
wherein the cables are guided through the Tirak winches.
5. A working platform assembly according to claim 4 characterized
by a transverse member which can be arranged releasably in a tower
segment which is to be fitted in position and which co-operates
with the actuating element by means of a cable and a winch.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention concerns a working platform assembly
for use in the interior of a tower-like building.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] When erecting a tower-like building such as for example a
pylon of a wind power installation it is necessary inter alia also
to carry out operations in the interior of the tower-like building.
For that purpose typically a working platform assembly is fixed to
a crane and introduced from above into the interior of the
tower-like building. That is only possible however as long as the
upper end of the tower-like building is open. As soon as the
tower-like building is closed off upwardly it is no longer possible
to use a working platform assembly on a crane. As the pylon of a
wind power installation can attain for example a height of 100
meters operations in the interior of the pylon are not readily
possible.
[0005] At this juncture as state of the art attention is directed
generally to the following publications: DE 366 A; AT 203 033 and
U.S. Pat. No 1,652,403.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0006] Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide
a working platform assembly which can be used in the interior of a
tower-like building.
[0007] That object is attained by a working platform assembly as
set forth in claim 1 and by a system for the use of a working
platform assembly as set forth in claim 8.
[0008] Thus there is provided a working platform assembly which can
be used in the interior of a tower-like building such as for
example a pylon of a wind power installation. The working platform
assembly has a scissor lattice-like carrier structure. A working
platform is arranged on that carrier structure.
[0009] Therefore there is provided a working platform assembly
which can be adapted to different cross-sections. That is of
significance in particular in relation to tower-like buildings
whose cross-sections narrow upwardly so that the available area for
a working platform assembly varies accordingly.
[0010] A scissor lattice-like support arrangement is provided as
the carrier structure for a working platform assembly, which
support arrangement climbs upwardly in the interior of a tower or
pylon with the building progress and has a working platform
assembly. Such a working platform assembly or internal platform
assembly can advantageously be used in relation to towers or pylons
which are made from pre-cast concrete parts.
[0011] The pre-cast concrete parts used for erecting a tower or
pylon have at their inner periphery holders on which the inner
platform assembly or parts thereof can be suspended. Preferably
those holders are disposed at predetermined heights and spacings.
Holders can either be mounted at the outset in the pre-cast
concrete parts or they can be subsequently fitted therein. The
holders which are arranged in a distributed configuration permit
the working platform assembly to behave in a similar fashion to a
mountain climber who drives hooks into a mountain face above his
position and then continues to climb up to those hooks.
[0012] Subsequent fitment of those hooks is basically possible but
is time-consuming. Thus the holders are preferably fitted at the
start so that a working platform assembly can quickly climb up or
down on those holders.
[0013] It will be noted however that subsequent installation may be
appropriate if the alternative is temporary dismantling of the wind
power installation pod as that requires considerably more
effort.
[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention arranged around
the central carrier element is an actuating element which acts on
the lower scissor lattice bars which bear against the central
carrier element. The lower scissor lattice bars can be subjected to
a tensile force by the actuating element. That results in
retraction of the scissor lattice and thus a reduction in the size
of the working platform assembly so that it can be moved into a
part of the tower which is of smaller cross-section. In contrast,
acting on the scissor lattice bars with a pressure force results in
extension of the scissor lattice structure and thus an increase in
the size of the working platform assembly. If the working platform
assembly already extends through the entire tower cross-section and
bears against the wall of the tower the pressing force exerted on
the scissor lattice bars can provide for adjusting the contact
pressure with which the peripheral edge of the working platform
assembly bears against the tower wall.
[0015] Further configurations of the invention are set forth in the
appendant claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The embodiments by way of example of the present invention
are described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0017] FIGS. 1 to 4 each show a cross-section through a tower-like
building in the erection of the building in accordance with the
first embodiment,
[0018] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of a tower-like building with
a working platform assembly disposed therein,
[0019] FIG. 6 shows a cross-section through a tower-like building
with a corresponding working platform assembly,
[0020] FIG. 7 shows a further cross-section of a tower-like
building with a working platform assembly in accordance with the
first embodiment, and
[0021] FIG. 8 shows a simplified view of an individual plate of the
working platform assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a cross-section through a tower-like building
100 with a working platform assembly in accordance with the first
embodiment. The building 100 which is in the course of
construction, preferably a pylon of a wind power installation, has
two pre-cast concrete parts 10, 11 which were produced at the
outset and which are arranged one upon the other. The working
platform assembly 50 is lowered into the interior of the tower-like
building by means of a crane cable 20. In this example, the working
platform assembly 50 substantially comprises a carrier structure
which has scissor lattice-like carrier arms 5, and a working
platform 7. A cable 2 may extend from a Tirak winch 1 for power
input from the ground region. Tirak is a brand of winches well
known in the art for lifting objects and other functions.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through a tower-like building
with a working platform assembly in accordance with the first
embodiment. While FIG. 1 shows a situation in which the working
platform assembly is introduced into the interior of the tower-like
building, FIG. 2 shows the situation in which the working platform
assembly has been extended and extends completely across the tower
cross-section. That is substantially achieved by the scissor
lattice-like carrier arms 5 being extended until they are in
contact with the inside wall of the tower-like building. A
plurality of Tirak winches 1 are provided in the lower region of
the working platform assembly. They are preferably each mounted to
an outer end of each scissor lattice arm. People and material and
tooling can be disposed on the platform 7 which preferably extends
over the entire cross-section of the interior of the tower-like
building. In that respect the platform 7 takes over the function of
a working platform assembly and the people can there perform
working steps in order to erect the tower-like building.
[0024] FIG. 3 shows a further cross-section through the tower-like
building with a working platform assembly in accordance with the
first embodiment. While only two pre-cast concrete parts 10 and 11
are shown in a condition of already being fitted in position in
each of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIG. 3 shows the situation in which a
further pre-cast concrete part 12 is being mounted on the two
pre-cast concrete parts 10 and 11 which have already been
installed. Additional sections will be added as desired to build
the pylon tower. In order on the one hand to secure the working
platform assembly and on the other hand to permit it to climb in
the interior of the tower, provided in the inside wall of the
pre-cast concrete parts are holders 3 on which cables (not shown)
are suspended. Those cables pass through the Tirak winches so that
the platform assembly according to the invention can move in a
vertical direction along the cables within the tower by suitable
actuation of the Tirak winches.
[0025] A power supply for the working platform assembly and its
Tirak winches can be provided for example by a cable 2 from
below.
[0026] FIG. 4 shows a cross-section of a tower-like building with a
working platform assembly in accordance with the first embodiment.
Here, three pre-cast concrete parts 10, 11 and 12 have now been
assembled and the working platform assembly 50 has to be moved
upwardly in order to permit operations to be carried out in the
upper pre-cast concrete part 10 and/or fitment of the subsequent
pre-cast concrete part. For that purpose one of the workers can
climb by means of a ladder 15 to the holder 3 on the inside wall of
the third pre-cast concrete part 12 in order to appropriately fix a
cable of the Tirak winch 1 there. As an alternative to the ladder
15 it is also possible to use a telescopic bar. Preferably the
number of holders 3 at the inside wall of the tower-like building
should be at least equal to the number of Tirak winches so that the
cables of the Tirak winches can be suitably fixed thereto. For that
purpose, the brake on a respective winch is released so that the
cable can be pulled upwardly. After the cable has been attached to
the upper holder the cable is fixed in the winch again so that the
platform assembly is also again carried by that cable. Thereupon
the next winch is released and attached to the corresponding upper
holder 3, and so forth.
[0027] During those preparatory operations for displacing the
working platform assembly within the tower it is repeatedly not
held for a short time by a respective winch or the associated
cable. The load of the working platform assembly must then be
respectively carried by the other holders and cables.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows a cross-section through a tower-like building
with a working platform assembly in accordance with the first
embodiment. The scissor lattice-like carrier arms 5 of the working
platform assembly are to be seen here. In addition the working
platform assembly has rollers 16 (6 rollers are shown in this
example but fewer or less can be used) externally on the working
platform assembly. When the working platform assembly is extended
the rollers then come into contact with the inside wall of the
tower-like building so that the working platform assembly 50 can be
more easily moved upwardly or downwardly and damage to the inside
wall of the tower and/or the working platform assembly during the
movement is avoided.
[0029] The platform includes a predetermined number of plates 17,
which is greater by 1 than the number of carrier arms. All plates
17 are of a circular round configuration in the present embodiment.
One of those plates includes a central rod (see reference 60 in
FIG. 6) in order to close the central part of the platform.
[0030] The other plates 17 are each arranged on a respective
carrier arm and fixed to the outer end of the carrier arm. Those
plates are further provided with an opening slot 19. That opening
19 extends outwardly in a straight line in a radial direction from
the center of the plate. In that respect the opening is of a width
which is slightly greater than the diameter of the central rod. In
situ each of those plates is so oriented that its opening faces
towards the central rod 60. As the arms 5 expand, the plates 17
spread apart, providing a larger platform 7.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a detailed sectional view through the working
platform assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. In this case the scissor
lattice-like carrier arms 5 are extended on the right-hand side. In
that way a larger internal cross-section of the tower-like building
can be covered by the working platform assembly.
[0032] FIG. 7 shows a further detailed cross-section of the
tower-like building with the working platform assembly in
accordance with the first embodiment. This FIG. 7 shows a situation
in which the working platform assembly is disposed within a
pre-cast concrete part 12 in the upper region of the tower-like
building. In this case, the cross-section of that pre-cast concrete
part is smaller than the cross-section of the pre-cast concrete
part 10 shown in FIG. 6. Accordingly the scissor lattice-like
carrier arms 5 of the working platform assembly are adapted to the
cross-section which decreases in size when the working platform
assembly is displaced upwardly, by the arms being retracted.
[0033] Accordingly there can be provided an internal platform
assembly or working platform assembly which can itself climb up or
down in the tower. For example in the case of a pylon of a wind
power installation it is no longer necessary to go up or down from
the pod in a basket with a winch. Rather there is now provided an
internal platform assembly which can extend completely across the
pylon and which can easily climb up where precisely working
operations are to be executed. Furthermore by virtue of the
configuration of the scissor lattice-like carrier arms 5 it can
adapt to different pylon cross-sections.
[0034] As soon as the working platform assembly is no longer
required it can be retracted by the scissor lattice-like carrier
arms being contracted. Thereafter the working platform assembly can
be removed again for example through a door in the pylon of a wind
power installation. Preferably the working platform assembly has a
central rod 60 and scissor lattice/carrier arms 5 pivotably mounted
thereto. Arranged on the carrier arms 5 are plates 17 which then
form the working platform 7. The so-called through-pass winches or
Tirak winches are provided beneath the carrier arms. With Tirak or
through-pass winches of that kind, the working platform assembly
can itself climb up or down on cables extending through the
winches. The cables of the Tirak winches 1 are preferably fixed to
holders 3 at the inside of the tower-like building so that the
Tirak winches can run up or down on the cables. Preferably a
plurality of Tirak winches are provided at the periphery of the
working platform assembly. For moving up or down the cables of the
Tirak winches have to be successively released from the holders and
fitted to the next higher or next lower holder, depending on
whether the working platform assembly is to be moved up or down.
Preferably there are at least five Tirak winches at the periphery
of the working platform assembly so that there are also at least
five cables with the corresponding holders 3.
[0035] The plates 17 of the working platform are preferably of such
a configuration that they overlap each other so that the working
platform 7 can adapt to the different cross-sections within a
tower-like building.
[0036] That adaptation operation takes place as follows. As the
plates 17 of the working platform 7 overlap and do not lie in front
of each other in butting relationship, they can move relative to
each other. That movement of a plate 7 inevitably occurs upon
actuation of the scissor lattice. When the scissor lattice is
retracted the plate which is fixed thereto moves towards the
central rod and vice-versa.
[0037] As each of the plates 17 in fixed to a carrier arm 5 has an
opening which is directed towards the central rod and is somewhat
wider than same retraction of a carrier arm with the concomitant
movement of the corresponding plate 7 does not result in the plate
7 colliding with the central rod. Rather the opening moves towards
the central rod and receives it. The length of the opening is a
measurement of the extent to which the platform can be pushed
together or the scissor lattice-like carrier arm can be
retracted.
[0038] A simplified representation of a plate 17 is shown in FIG.
8.
[0039] The rollers 6 at the periphery of the working platform
assembly 50 are provided so that the working platform assembly
rolls against the inside of the tower wall and does not scrape
along it there.
[0040] The working platform assembly which is adjustable in its
cross-section can provide a working platform which is adapted to
the cross-section of a tower-like building which narrows
upwardly.
[0041] The above-described working platform assembly is found to be
particularly advantageous when a pod of a wind power installation
is already arranged on the pylon of the wind power installation and
there is thus no longer any possible way of gaining access to the
interior of the pylon of the wind power installation by means of a
crane from above. In such a situation the working platform assembly
which can be collapsed or which can be dismantled can be introduced
through the door in the lower region of the pylon and appropriately
set up so that it can then move up and down along the pylon by
means of the holders 3 which are disposed in the pylon
segments.
[0042] As the scissor expands, the plate 17 that is fixed to the
respective arm 5 also moves from the center, providing an
enlargement of the platform 10. As the arms are pushed together,
the slots 19 go over central rod 60, making the platform
smaller.
[0043] The various embodiments described above can be combined to
provide further embodiments. All of the U.S. patents, U.S. patent
application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign
patents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publications
referred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application
Data Sheet, are incorporated herein by reference, in their
entirety. Aspects of the embodiments can be modified, if necessary
to employ concepts of the various patents, applications and
publications to provide yet further embodiments.
[0044] These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in
light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the
following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit
the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the
specification and the claims, but should be construed to include
all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents
to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not
limited by the disclosure.
* * * * *