Patent Application
20250223816
Mast Climbing Work Platforms (MCWP) are powered scaffolding systems used in construction and maintenance applications to provide access to work areas at height. The platforms may be modular and may be configured to fit various lengths and heights as required by the project in question. Existing structures may be a single mast system, or a double mast system for increased platform size and weight capacity.
The work platform may travel vertically up and down the mast in order to reach different locations on a building or other work site. Platforms equipped with existing technology may have difficulty navigating certain types of structures, for example where there exist obstructions. Additionally, platforms may have difficulty working on, for example, beams or other building components that may extend outward from the building.
In one or more embodiments a mast climbing work platform structure may be provided. The mast climbing work platform structure may include a base structure and a mast attached to the base structure and rising vertically from the base structure. The mast climbing work platform structure may further include a work platform attached to the mast. The work platform may have a deck a structural frame underneath the deck and at least one side platform connected to a side of the structural frame. The work platform may be configured to ascend and descend via the vertical mast and the side platform may be configured to raise vertically and translate alongside the side of the structural frame.
Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:
Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows.
As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.
In one or more exemplary embodiments a Mast Climbing Work Platform (MCWP) may be shown and described.
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A mast 120 may rise vertically from the base structure 110. The mast 120 may be any height, for example, in some embodiments 200 meters or more in height. In some embodiments the mast 120 may be made of, for example, 350 W HSS members, and may further include a vertical linear rack. The mast 120 may be connected to the base structure 110 via, for example, one or more mast bolts. A work platform 130 may be attached to the mast 120. In some embodiments the work platform 130 may be between 3 meters and 17 meters long. In other embodiments the work platform may be a different length, e.g. 1 meter, 1.5 meters, 20 meters, etc. The work platform 130 may be configured to ascend or descend via the mast 120 through the use of, for example, a motor and/or hydraulic pistons. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the work platform 130 may be connected to the mast 120 via a platform system drive unit. The drive unit may contain, for example, a rack and pinion drive system to propel the drive unit and connected platform up or down the mast. In some embodiments the drive unit may be supported by two or more drive motors, which may further be attached to the drive shaft via a pinion. The drive motors may be any kind of motor known in the art, for example electric motors and/or hydraulic motors.
In some embodiments the work platform 130 may ascend or descend at speeds up to, for example, 39 feet per minute. In some embodiments the MCWP may include a drive train 140 with one or more power sources, for example one or more primary engines may be located on the drive unit. The drive train 140 may connect the work platform 130 to the mast 120. In some embodiments an additional emergency engine may be located on or near the work platform, for example under an emergency hatch built into the work platform. The emergency engine may allow for a limited number of actions, for example being restricted to allowing the platform to descend in situations where the main power source fails or otherwise has issues.
In some embodiments the MCWP may be a twin mast system, that is the work platform may be attached to two separate mast structures. It may be understood that in a twin mast system the work platform may be larger, for example up to 40 meters in length. In other embodiments the MCWP may be a twin corner mast, where the twin masts are arranged perpendicular to each other, which may be used to service, for example, a building corner or other non-linear structure.
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The work platform 200 may further have the one or more side platforms 220. For example, in an embodiment there may be a side platform extending out from each of a left side and a right side of the work platform 200 so that the side platforms 220 are parallel to a work structure 250. In other embodiments there may be a different number of side platforms 220, and/or they may extend out a different direction relative to the work structure 250. The work structure 250 may further have one or more obstacles 260 or additional structures extending outward from the work structure 250 in the direction of the work platform 200. The obstacles 260 may be, for example, structural beams, wiring, cables, pipe structures, broken portions of the building, or any other obstacle.
In some embodiments the work platform 200 may have a control panel with controls for the work platform and side platform. The control panel may include, for example, an Auxiliary box and drive box for enabling travel of the work platform up and down the mast and/or for controlling operation of, for example, the side platform. In an embodiment, the drive box may include a plurality of switches, knobs, or levers which may be used to control individual operations, for example a first lever may control ascent and descent of the work platform, a second lever may control extension of the side platform, etc.
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The exemplary construction 400 may further have a side platform 420, which may be connected to the work platform 410 via a carriage 422. The carriage 422 may have an inner and outer section with cross beam supports and may be configured to fit between the carriage support structure 418. The carriage 422 may be able to slide along the carriage support structure 418, which may be understood to cause the side platform 420 to translate along the side of the work platform 410. The side platform 420 may further have one or more motors, actuators, pistons, and/or hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders. for example, a first cylinder 424 may be configured to fold the side platform 420, and a second piston 426 may be configured to extend the side platform 420 outward from the work platform 410.
In some embodiments the translating, folding, and extending functions may be controlled by a control mechanism, for example levers, buttons, remotes, etc. for example, in an exemplary embodiment there may be a control panel on the work platform 410, which may include a lever for each function, e.g. a first lever that folds or lowers the platform, a second lever that translates the platform toward or away from the building, and/or a third lever that extends or retracts the platform length.
The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.
Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.
