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Title:
CLIMBING SCREEN
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/125308
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
A climbing screen (1) comprising a climbing rail (3), which is adapted to be mountable on and translatable along a construction; a safety screen (4); and at least one platform (5) for supporting a work surface, wherein the climbing rail (3) and the safety screen (4) extend in a first direction parallel to one another and the platform (5) extends in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, and the platform (5) is adapted to be translatable along the first direction relative to the climbing rail (3) and safety screen (4), whilst the climbing screen (1) is in an assembled state.

Inventors:
BAMFORD STUART (GB)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2014/050471
Publication Date:
August 21, 2014
Filing Date:
February 18, 2014
Export Citation:
Click for automatic bibliography generation   Help
Assignee:
ISCHEBECK TITAN LTD (GB)
International Classes:
E04G21/32; E04G1/15; E04G3/20; E04G21/20; E04G3/28
Foreign References:
US20120247870A12012-10-04
US20050217934A12005-10-06
EP1691007A22006-08-16
JPH11343729A1999-12-14
JPH05214807A1993-08-24
Other References:
See also references of EP 2956600A1
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Saunders & Dolleymore LLP (WatfordHertfordshire, WD18 0JU, GB)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

1. A climbing screen, comprising:

a climbing rail, which is adapted to be mountable on and translatable along a construction;

a safety screen; and

at least one support member,

wherein the climbing rail and the safety screen extend in a first direction parallel to one another, and the support member is adapted to be translatable along the first direction relative to the climbing rail and safety screen, whilst the climbing screen is in an assembled state.

2. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 1, wherein, in use, the first direction is the vertical direction, and the support member is adapted to be translatable up and down in the vertical direction relative to the climbing rail and safety screen, whilst the climbing screen is in use.

3. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the support member is adapted to support a platform, which extends substantially between the climbing rail and safety screen in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

4. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member extends between the climbing rail and the safety screen. 5. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member engages both the climbing rail and safety screen.

6. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member is arranged such that it may not rotate, in the plane in which the support member lies in use, in one or both of the clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

7. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member engages the climbing rail and/or the safety screen at two or more points that are spaced from one another in the first direction, and such engagement prevents rotation of the support member.

8. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the support member comprises:

a first support element, which engages the climbing rail and the safety screen; a second support element, which is spaced from the first support element in the first direction and engages the climbing rail and the safety screen; and

one or more cross members, which extend between the first and second support elements, joining the first and second support members to one another.

9. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 8, wherein the first support element extends in the second direction and the second support element is substantially parallel to the first support element.

10. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 8 or 9, wherein a pair of cross members are provided, which are joined to one another and each extend at an oblique angle to the second direction.

11. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the pair of cross members combine to form an X-shaped support extending between the first support element and the second support element.

12. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the climbing rail and the safety screen are provided at a fixed spacing from one another, and the support member is arranged such that it is trapped between the climbing rail and the safety screen. 13. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the climbing rail and the safety screen are joined to one another by a plurality of fixed supports.

14. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 13, wherein a climbing screen framework is provided, which comprises the climbing rail, the safety screen and the fixed supports, and the support member is arranged to detachably engage the climbing screen framework.

15. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 13 or 14, wherein translation of the support member back and forth along the first direction is limited by one or more of the fixed supports and/or one or more further support members and/or one or more platforms. 16. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the climbing rail and/or the safety screen are provided with a plurality of attachment points that are spaced from one another in the first direction, wherein the support member is arranged such that it may be attached to and detached from the attachment points. 17. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the climbing rail comprises a longitudinal channel that extends in the first direction, and the support member comprises a first element, which is received by the channel

18. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 17, wherein the support member further comprises a second element, which has a width greater than the channel and which abuts an outer surface of the climbing rail.

19. A climbing screen as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the safety screen comprises a longitudinally extending frame element, which is parallel to and spaced from the climbing rail, and the support member is adapted to engage the longitudinally extending frame element.

20. A climbing screen as claimed in Claim 19, wherein the support member comprises a bracket, which defines a channel and is adapted to receive the longitudinally extending frame element.

21. A support member for use with a climbing screen that comprises a climbing rail, which is adapted to be mountable on and translatable along a construction, and a safety screen, the climbing rail and the safety screen extending in a first direction parallel to one another,

the support member being adapted to engage the climbing rail and the safety screen and the engagement being such as to prevent rotation of the support member, in the plane in which it lies in use, in one or both of the clockwise and anticlockwise directions.

22. A support member as claimed in Claim 21, wherein the support member is adapted to engage the climbing rail and/or the safety screen at two or more points that are spaced from one another in the first direction.

23. A support member as claimed in Claim 21 or 22, wherein the support member comprises:

a first support element, which engages the climbing rail and the safety screen; a second support element, which is spaced from the first support element in the first direction and is adapted to engage the climbing rail and the safety screen; and

one or more cross members, which extend between the first and second support elements, joining the first and second support members to one another.

24. A support element as claimed in Claim 23, wherein the first support element extends in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, and the second support element is substantially parallel to the first support element. 25. A support element as claimed in Claim 23 or 24, wherein a pair of cross members are provided, which are joined to one another and each extend at an oblique angle to the second direction.

26. A support element as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the pair of cross members combine to form an X-shaped support extending between the first support element and the second support element.

27. A method of re-configuring a climbing screen as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 20, when the climbing screen is in an assembled or in use state, comprising the steps of:

removing any fixings from the support member, such that it may be freely translated in the first direction, translating the support member in the first direction, and fixing the support member in place.

Description:
Climbing Screen

The present disclosure relates to a climbing screen comprising a translatable support member, to a support member for a climbing screen and to a method for re-configuring a climbing screen.

In modern construction, particularly in the construction of high rise buildings it is common to have a central core, which houses lift shafts and stairs and which provides support to the floors of the construction, wherein the central core and floors are formed by poured concrete. Such structures commonly have no external walls. During large periods of construction therefore, the floors remain open at their edges. It is only when a fagade is introduced that the perimeter of the building is enclosed. Such open floors cause numerous health and safety risks. Workers operating on the exposed floors of the construction are at risk of falling from the construction. Workers or members of the public on the ground are at risk from tools, equipment or debris falling from the exposed floors.

It is known to provide safety screens, which extend around at least a portion of the perimeter of constructions, which effectively provide a temporary fagade. These safety screens are advantageously moveable vertically to protect the perimeter of any required floor as the construction progresses. Such screens are commonly referred to as "climbing screens". Movement of the climbing screens up the construction may be effected either by crane or by hydraulic lifting equipment located on floors of the construction.

These climbing screens typically comprise a climbing rail and a safety screen. The climbing rail is engaged, in use, by floor guides, which project outwardly from the edges of the floors. The floor guides allow translation of the climbing screen along the construction and are further operable to lock the position of the climbing screen adjacent appropriate floors during use. A key aspect of the climbing screens is the provision of safe working platforms spaced outwardly from the floors, wherein as the climbing screens are translated up the construction it is required that the platforms are at a suitable level relative to the floors to be worked on. The platforms are commonly provided, for example, to allow the safe use of concrete formwork.

In prior art arrangements the levels of the working platforms has been fixed, with the working platforms constituting important structural elements that link the climbing rails to the safety screens of the climbing screens. By fixed, it is meant that the position of the platforms is set when the climbing screens are assembled (typically off site), and, moreover, may not be adjusted when the climbing screen is an assembled state (on-site), including during use. In the prior art, the only means of adjusting the platform positions is to deconstruct the climbing screen and re-position the platforms during re-construction of the climbing screen.

This inflexibility can cause problems. One particular example is on constructions with different floor heights at different levels, wherein either different solutions for different floors must be provided, or workers must work in less than ideal conditions with the platform at the wrong level, or the climbing screen must be taken down and

deconstructed, as mentioned above.

The present invention arose in a bid to provide an improved climbing screen.

According to the present invention in a first aspect, there is provided a climbing screen, comprising: a climbing rail, which is adapted to be mountable on and translatable along a construction; a safety screen; and at least one support member, wherein the climbing rail and the safety screen extend in a first direction parallel to one another, and the support member is adapted to be translatable along the first direction relative to the climbing rail and safety screen, whilst the climbing screen is in an assembled state.

It should be noted that the term assembled state covers the climbing screen being in use, with the climbing rail mounted to a construction. It should be further noted that the terms climbing rail and safety screen as used herein are intended to cover these elements/structures directly and assemblies including these elements/structures.

In use, the first direction is the vertical direction, and the support member is adapted to be translatable up and down in the vertical direction relative to the climbing rail and safety screen, whilst the climbing screen is in use.

Preferably, the support member is adapted to support a platform, which may extend substantially between the climbing rail and safety screen in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction. The platform may be adapted to support a work surface.

With the support member being translatable up and down in the vertical direction, whilst the screen is in use, the position of the platform that is supported thereby may be adjusted as necessary to accommodate different floor heights at different points in the construction, as they are reached, and with the climbing screen in situ.

The support member may extend between the climbing rail and the safety screen. It is preferable that the support member engages both the climbing rail and safety screen.

Advantageously, the support member is arranged such that it may not rotate, in the plane in which the support member lies in use, in one or both of the clockwise and anticlockwise directions. A particularly preferred means of preventing rotation of the support member is to configure the support member such that it engages the climbing rail and/or the safety screen at two or more points that are spaced from one another in the first direction.

When the support member is prevented from rotating, fixing means that retain it at a desired level in the first direction may be removed without the support member rotating, which renders its re-location easier and, more importantly, safer. In particular, when a workman is adjusting the position of a platform, all but a final fixing element (typically a bolt) of the support member may be removed without any movement of the support member taking place. It may not rotate. The support member may be held when the final fixing element is removed and then translated to a suitable position before the fixing element is inserted, along with any additional fixing elements, to securely lock the support member in place.

The support member may comprise: a first support element, which is

advantageously adapted to support an underside of a platform, and which engages the climbing rail and the safety screen; a second support element, which is spaced from the first support element in the first direction and engages the climbing rail and the safety screen; and one or more cross members, which extend between the first and second support elements, joining the first and second support members to one another.

The first support element may extend in the second direction and the second support element may be substantially parallel to the first support element.

A pair of cross members may be provided, which are joined to one another and each extend at an oblique angle to the second direction. The pair of cross members may combine to form an X-shaped support extending between the first support element and the second support element.

The climbing rail and the safety screen are preferably provided at a fixed spacing from one another, and the support member is preferably arranged such that it is trapped between the climbing rail and the safety screen.

With such entrapment, in addition to not being able to rotate, in the plane in which it lies in use, the movement of the support member is further constrained, such that it may not twist or rotate out of the plane in which it lies in use, which adds to the safety of the arrangement.

The climbing rail and the safety screen are preferably joined to one another by a plurality of fixed supports. A climbing screen framework is preferably provided, which comprises the fixed supports, the climbing rail and the safety screen, wherein the support member is arranged to detachably engage and translate along the climbing screen framework. Uniquely, as discussed, the support member is translatable when the climbing rail is mounted on a construction. The fixed supports are preferably arranged to maintain the climbing rail and the safety screen at a fixed spacing from one another. The support member is preferably attached to the climbing rail and/or the safety screen. The climbing rail and/or the safety screen are preferably provided with a plurality of attachment points that are spaced from one another in the first direction, wherein the support member may be attached to/detached from the attachment points. The attachment points may comprise holes that are arranged to receive bolts for attaching the support member thereto. The climbing screen framework has sufficient structural rigidity for attachment of the climbing screen to a construction without the support member attached to the attachment points and/or for detachment/translation of the support member when the climbing rail is mounted on a construction.

Advantageously, translation of the support member back and forth along the first direction is limited by one or more of the fixed supports and/or one or more support members and/or one or more platforms.

With the translation of the support member limited, even if the support member is dropped it will not fall from the climbing screen and there is substantially no risk of injury, again making the re-positioning of the platforms, whilst the climbing screen is in use, very safe.

The climbing rail may comprise a longitudinal channel that extends in the first direction, and the support member may comprise a first element, which is received by the channel. The support member may further comprise a second element, which has a width greater than the channel and abuts an outer surface of the climbing rail.

The safety screen most preferably comprises a longitudinally extending frame element, which is parallel to and spaced from the climbing rail, and is engaged by the support member. Advantageously, it is the climbing rail and the longitudinally extending frame element that trap the support member and it is the engagement with these members that prevents rotation. The climbing rail and the longitudinally extending frame may be considered to comprise guide rails along which the support member is translatable.

The support member preferably comprises a bracket, which defines a channel and is adapted to receive the longitudinally extending frame element. The bracket may be U- shaped.

According to the present invention in a further aspect, there is provided a support member for use with a climbing screen that comprises a climbing rail, which is adapted to be mountable on and translatable along a construction, and a safety screen, the climbing rail and the safety screen extending in a first direction parallel to one another, the support member being adapted to engage the climbing rail and the safety screen and the engagement being such as to prevent rotation of the support member.

The support member is advantageously adapted to engage the climbing rail and/or the safety screen at two or more points that are spaced from one another in the first direction. The support member is further advantageously configured such that it is trapped between the climbing rail and the safety screen.

The support member may comprise a first support element, which may be adapted to support an underside of a platform, and which engages the climbing rail and the safety screen; a second support element, which is spaced from the first support element in the first direction and is adapted to engage the climbing rail and the safety screen; and one or more cross members, which extend between the first and second support elements, joining the first and second support members to one another.

The first support element may extend in a second direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction, and the second support element may be substantially parallel to the first support element. A pair of cross members may be provided, which are joined to one another and each extend at an oblique angle to the second direction. The pair of cross members may combine to form an X-shaped support extending between the first support element and the second support element.

According to the present invention in a final aspect, there is provided a method of re-configuring a climbing screen as detailed above, when the climbing screen is in an assembled or in use state, comprising the steps of: removing any fixings from the support member, such that it may be freely translated in the first direction, translating the support member in the first direction, and fixing the support member in place following translation.

Non-limiting embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a rear isometric view of the climbing screen of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a side view of the climbing screen of the present invention; and Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail side view of a translatable support member.

Figure 1 shows a climbing screen 1 embodying the present invention. The climbing screen comprises, broadly, a pair of climbing rails 3, which are adapted to be mountable on and translatable along a construction, a safety screen 4 and a plurality of support platforms 5, which are adapted for supporting work surfaces (not shown).

As clearly shown, the climbing rails 3 and the safety screen 4 extend in a first (vertical) direction parallel to one another and the platforms 5 extend in a second

(horizontal) direction, which is perpendicular to the first direction. The platforms extend between the climbing rails 3 and the safety screen 4. As will be discussed in detail below, one or more of the platforms is supported by a support member 12 that is adapted to be translatable along the first direction (up and down in the vertical direction) relative to the climbing rail and safety screen, whilst the climbing screen is in an assembled state, as shown in Figure 1. The climbing screen is shown attached to a support 2, which maintains the climbing screen in a vertical orientation on the ground, before it is mounted to a construction. The support is detached when the climbing screen is mounted to a construction for translation along the construction. The climbing rails 3 are adapted to engage floor guides that project outwardly from the edges of the floors of a construction during the mounting to and translation along the construction.

The safety screen 4 comprises a pair of vertically extending screen support members (longitudinally extending frame elements) 6, each of which extends parallel to and in alignment with a respective one of the climbing rails 3; a plurality of screen panel support brackets 7, which extend perpendicular to the screen support members (horizontally) and are fixed to the screen support members 6; and a plurality of screen panels 8, a number of which are fixed to one another and to the screen panel support brackets 7 and a number of which are sandwiched between the fixed panels and the screen support members 6 and are moveable (slideable) for altering the width of the safety screen 4, as desired.

The screen support members 6 lie outwardly of the climbing rails in use (in a direction away from the construction).

The safety screen 4 is fixed to the climbing rails 3 by a plurality of fixed supports 9, shown most clearly in Figure 2. More specifically, respective pairs of the climbing rails 3 and screen support members 6 (that oppose one another/are aligned with one another) are fixed to one another by a plurality of fixed supports 9, which fixed supports extend between the climbing rails and screen support members and are fixed thereto using bolts or other suitable fixing means. The fixed supports 9 maintain the climbing rails 3 and support members 6 parallel to one another and at a fixed spacing to one another.

It should be appreciated that the climbing screen need not always be provided with two climbing rails, for example, additional climbing rails may be introduced. A

corresponding number of screen support members will be provided. There may equally be more or less fixed supports 9 and platforms 5. Also preferably extending between the paired climbing rails 3 and screen support members 6 are a plurality of tie braces 11, which provide increased rigidity to the climbing screen 1. Each tie brace 11 preferably extends at an oblique angle relative to the climbing rails and screen support members. The tie braces 11 are preferably provided in pairs that cross with one another and combine to form an X-shape, as seen most clearly in the side view of Figure 2.

In addition to the fixed supports 9, there are provided one or more support members 12 that are translatable along the first direction relative to the climbing rail and safety screen, whilst the climbing screen is in the assembled state, as shown. Two such support members are shown although there may be more or less provided. Each of the support members 12 extends between, and engages, both a climbing rail 3 and a screen support member 6 and is adapted to be detachably fixed at a desired position in the vertical direction using bolts or other suitable fixing means.

The fixed supports 9 may not be moved whilst the climbing screen is in an assembled (or in use) state without damaging the structural integrity of the assembled climbing screen. The fixed supports 9, the climbing rails 3 and the safety screen 4 form a stable climbing screen structure (climbing screen framework) for the support members 12 to detachably engage and translate along. The translation of the support members 12 along the climbing screen structure does not impact upon the structural integrity of the climbing screen.

The platforms 5, which are arranged to support work surfaces (not shown) which may comprise wooden sheeting or otherwise, may be supported by the fixed supports 9 or by the support members 12, which are translatable. In the present example three platforms are shown to be supported by fixed supports 9 and a single platform is shown to be supported by a support member 12. It should be appreciated, however, that numerous configurations will be possible and the present invention is not limited to the depicted configuration. In any configuration, it is preferable that at least one of the platforms is supported from underneath by a support member 12, such that the supported platform may be repositioned in the vertical direction by translation of the support member 12.

The support members 12 are preferably adapted such that they may not rotate. They are further preferably adapted such that they are trapped between the climbing rails and screen support members 6. In other words, the support members 12 preferably may not rotate in the plane in which they lie in use (the plane in which the climbing rails 3 and screen support members 6 are aligned) and preferably may not twist or rotate out of the plane in which they lie in use.

In the presently described arrangement, the support members 12 may not rotate (in plane) in either a clockwise or anticlockwise direction since both the climbing rails 3 and screen support members 6 are engaged by the screen support members at two points that are spaced from one another in the vertical direction, as discussed in detail below. It should be appreciated, however, that such rotation, in plane, may in alternative arrangements only be restricted in one direction (the clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2) if an alternative form of support member is provided, which engages only the climbing rail or safety screen at multiple points that are spaced from one another in the vertical direction.

The support members 12, according to the present arrangement, are prevented from rotating, in plane, in both clockwise and anticlockwise directions, by engaging the climbing rails 3 at two points 13a, 14a, and engaging the screen support members 6 at two points 13b, 14b, that are spaced from one another in the first (vertical) direction. The support members each comprise a first support element 13, which is adapted such that it may support an underside of a platform 5, a second support element 14, which is spaced from the first support element in the first direction, and a pair of cross members 15, which extend between the first and second support elements and join the first and second support members to one another. The first and second support elements 13, 14 extend in the second direction (horizontally) and lie parallel to one another. The first and second support elements each engage the climbing rail 3 and the screen support member 6 at their opposite ends. The first support element may be considered to provide a first engagement point of the support member 12 with each of the climbing rail 3 and the screen support member 6 and the second support element may be considered to provide a second engagement point with each of the climbing rail 3 and the screen support member 6.

As shown, the pair of cross members each extend at an oblique angle to the first direction and combine to form an X-shaped support extending between the first support element and the second element.

It will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternative structures for the support members 12 are possible that provide for engagement of the climbing rails and/or safety screen at multiple points spaced in the first (vertical) direction. In particular, in the arrangement mentioned briefly above, which prevents rotation, in plane, in a single direction only, the support members may, for example, comprise the first support element 13 only with the second support element 14 omitted and a cross member or other structural element providing the spaced engagement point 14a with the climbing rail 3. The support members 12 are preferably trapped between the climbing rail and the safety screen 4 by virtue of the fixed spacing between the climbing rails 3 and the screen support members 6 and the structure of the climbing rails 3, the screen support members 6 and the support members 12. It is this entrapment that prevents twisting or rotation of the support members 12 out of the plane in which they lie in use.

The climbing rails each comprise a longitudinal channel 16 that extends in the first (vertical) direction, and the ends 13a, 14a of the first and second support elements are received by the channel. The first and second support elements further comprise flanges 17, 18, which provide planar upper and lower surfaces of the first and second support elements, respectively (and thereby planar upper and lower surfaces of the support member 12). The flanges 17, 18 have a width greater than the channel and therefore abut an outer surface of the climbing rail 3. At their opposite ends 13b, 14b, the first and second support elements are provided with brackets, which receive the screen support members 6. The brackets are preferably U-shaped as shown.

Alternative means of trapping the support members between the climbing rail and the safety screen are, of course, possible, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The climbing rails 3 and the screen support members 6 are provided with a plurality of vertically spaced apart holes 18, 19. Corresponding holes are provided in the support members 12, which may be brought into alignment with the holes 18, 19 so that the support members 12 may be fixed in place at a desired position using bolts or similar fixing elements.

Since, by the above described construction, the screen support member is prevented from rotating and is trapped between the climbing rail 3 and the screen support member 6, and moreover has its translation limited by lower platforms, support members 12 or fixed supports 9, it is possible to safely translate the support member 12 up and down in the vertical direction relative to the climbing rail 3 and screen support member 6, and to thereby re-position any element, such as a platform 5, that is supported thereby, when the climbing screen is in an assembled or in use state.

To re-configure the climbing screen, when the climbing screen is in an assembled or in use state, it is simply a case of removing any fixings that are holding the support member 12 in place, translating the support member 12 in the vertical direction to a desired location and fixing the support member in place.

When removing the fixings for relocation, all but a final fixing element of the support member may be removed without any movement of the support member taking place. It may not rotate and is trapped by the climbing rail 3 and the screen support member 6. The support member may be held when the final fixing element is removed, and then translated to a suitable position before an initial fixing element and then additional fixing elements are inserted to securely lock the support member in place.