Patent Application
20230382689
The present disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for the construction of a lift within a shaft.
Many tall buildings have a concrete core running vertically up from the foundation to the top of the building. Vertical shafts run up through this core. Some of these shafts are used for lifts. A lift shaft is typically equipped with vertically continuous guide rails on which the lift car and counter-weight run and a door set at each storey. Guide rails are positioned to high accuracy. They are secured to the concrete walls of the shafts by adjustable brackets. At each storey there is a door-sized structural opening associated with a landing. A landing side lift door set closes off the opening. This door set is fixed to the inside of the concrete shaft by adjustable brackets. Landing side doors must be accurately positioned so that the lift car doors running within the shaft runs close to but do not touch them.
The accuracy with which a concrete lift shaft is typically constructed is within set limits, typically within circa+/−25 mm of a theoretically perfect centreline, i.e., the plan geometric centre of each shaft at each storey should lie no more than 25 mm from the design intended centreline running up the shaft. This requires brackets securing guide rails and door assemblies to have an adjustable range of 50 mm. This increases bracket size, taking up valuable space within the shaft.
The conventional method of installing guide rails is as follows:
Due to the confined space within a shaft combining with issues of working at height, conventional lift system installation is a relatively slow process. As a result, fit out of the lift shaft is typically on the critical path of a project. This means that the lift only becomes available for use towards the end of construction. As such it has no value in providing access up the building during the construction process. Furthermore, as construction sites seek to move more work from site to factory, the lift shaft fit-out remains an activity that is stubbornly tied to site.
The examples described herein are not limited to examples which solve problems mentioned in this background section.
Examples of preferred aspects and embodiments of the invention are as set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In a first aspect of the disclosed technology, there is provided a method for installing a modular lift within a shaft, comprising the steps of: inserting a frame of the lift within the shaft, the frame comprising one or more stabilisers; adapting the one or more stabilisers to contact an internal face of the shaft; wherein the frame is held in position by the forces exerted through the stabilisers.
The method and apparatus disclosed herein is intended to considerably speed up the installation of lifts in new or existing lift shafts. It also removes much of the site activity back into the factory. This gives greater flexibility in construction planning by removing lift installation from the critical path. Further, by enabling the lift to be operational much earlier in a project, improved access to the higher storey's in a building is achieved during construction. This allows quicker movement around the building, improving productivity and further reducing the construction programme. By being in contact with the concrete, when the lift equipment tries to move, e.g., due to the dynamics of the lift car moving up and down the shaft, then the forces the car generates are reacted to by the stabilisers, thereby preventing the frame from moving.
Optionally, the frame comprises a plurality of stabilisers, optionally arranged in an orthogonal orientation in relation to a longitudinal axis of the frame.
The stabilisers protrude from the frame at an adjustable distance. This distance is set such that they contact the shaft core. This limited attachment of the lightweight frame to the concrete core results in a significant increase in the stiffness of the frame.
Optionally, frame comprises one or more of: guide rail brackets; guide rails; door brackets; and/or door sets.
Such components allow for a lift car to be fitted within the frame, and suitable for users to access. The frame may move vertically in accurate alignment with doors aligning accurately to give safe access for users.
Optionally, the frame comprises a vertical adjustment mechanism.
Owing to tolerances in concrete construction, and other inaccuracies inherent in any building project including those that manifest over a time duration, the frame may require vertical adjustment in order to align the doors with the appropriate openings in the shaft. The length of adjustment provided by, say, a threaded bar must accommodate both long term vertical movement and construction tolerances.
Optionally, the frame further comprises one or more brackets operable to fix the frame to the internal face of the shaft. Optionally, the method as disclosed herein comprises the further step of: inserting a subsequent frame of the lift within the shaft, the subsequent frame comprising one or more stabilisers and one or more brackets; adjusting one or more vertical connecting elements to fix the subsequent frame in vertical alignment with the frame; adapting the one or more stabilisers to contact an internal face of the shaft; fixing the subsequent frame to an internal face of the shaft using one or more brackets, wherein the subsequent frame is held in position by the forces exerted through the one or more brackets; and removing the one or more vertical connecting elements.
It is appreciated that this method is a part of a modular system. Should a longer shaft be required to be traversed by lift, then one or more further frames can be inserted into the same shaft adjacent any previously inserted frames. This provides a method of accommodating the axial shortening that can occur in a lift core. Subsequent frames may be vertically adjusted to the correct position, whilst taking temporary vertical support from a lower frame. The vertically adjusted frames may then be fixed to the lift core wall so that vertical forces in the frame are transferred to the core. The temporary vertical supports to the lower frame can then be removed, so that the vertically adjacent frames can move vertically relative to each other.
Optionally, the one or more stabilisers comprise either separately or in combination one or more of: a pad screwed out from the frame; a pad screwed out from the frame with an adhesive applied to the pad; a glue and/or screw angle bracket between the frame and the shaft; and/or a slotted hole assembly comprising one or more sliding parts.
The stabilisers, also referred to as fixings, can take many forms, including simple pads, noting that they are providing stiffness (stopping something moving) rather than strength. The stabilisers may be infinitely adjustable, according to the individual requirements of the lift under construction.
Optionally, the frame further comprises a lift car.
In use, the lift arrangement will comprise a lift car, inside which users travel between floors of a building. The location of the lift car in the frame influences how the initial installation may proceed, and so it can be advantageous to include a car during the installation process. If the lift car is at the bottom of the frame, then it obstructs access to guide the frame onto the lift pit template. It also prevents subsequent access to adjust the first frame to vertical should there be tolerance issues. The lift car may therefore be advantageously positioned one storey up the frame, enabling access to the lift pit template to make fine adjustments to achieve frame verticality.
Optionally, the shape of the frame remains substantially unchanged during the installation process.
Frames and associated equipment may be accurately set up in a factory ahead of installation within a shaft. In such a case, the frame requires sufficient strength and stiffness to hold these items in the correct position relative to each other during transport and installation.
Optionally, the one or more stabilisers are further operable to exert sufficient pressure on the internal face of the shaft so as to adjust the frame to a predetermined shape.
Although frames and associated equipment may be accurately set up in a factory ahead of installation within a shaft, the frame may be distorted by different gravitational or other forces being applied during transit. In such cases, the frame may require restoration to its intended shape as calibrated in the factory. Such restoration may be provided by using the one or more stabilisers to push against the inner surface of the shaft with sufficient force to reshape the frame.
According to a further aspect, there is provided a frame for a modular lift, comprising: one or more stabilisers operable to contact an internal face of a shaft; wherein in use the frame is held in position by the forces exerted through the stabilisers. Optionally, the frame further comprises one or more fittings for: one or more guide rail brackets; one or more guide rails; one or more door brackets; one or more door sets.
In order to perform the installation as disclosed herein, a frame is required which is suitable for the purpose of installing a lift within a shaft. Such a frame can provide the advantages and features as disclosed herein.
Optionally, the height of the frame is between 6 metres to 12 metres.
This is the typical height of the frame being used, and may be transported using standard road transportation. Other heights are available.
Optionally, the frame further comprises rollers and/or skids.
Rollers or skids which project slightly from the frame may be used to keep parts of the frame assembly, e.g., the doors, from contacting the walls of the shaft and hence being damaged during assembly when lowered from a crane down the shaft.
To enable an upper frame that is being lowered to correctly engage with an already installed lower frame without the need for manual positioning, a three stage guidance system may be used. Stage 1 of this three stage guidance system may comprise a coarse guidance that brings the frame being lowered into alignment within the accuracy of the stage 2 guidance system. This guidance is achieved before the stage 2 guidance system becomes engaged. The stage 2 guidance brings the two frames into more accurate alignment, typically to within the accuracy of a dowel located in a hole with a predetermined clearance. Stage 3 guidance comprises lowering onto the dowel system. Stage 3 guidance is generally fully engaged before any of the equipment items installed within the upper and lower frames come into close proximity or contact with each other. Stage 1 guidance is typically provided by inclined steel members permanently or removably attached to the top or bottom of the frame. Stage 2 guidance is typically provided by cones on the top of dowels and in the lead-in to holes. Stage 1 guidance is typically provided by a small clearance hole running over a dowel, wherein a dowel is optionally in the form of a threaded bar.
Optionally, the frame has a rectangular cross section.
This is the typical shape for a frame in plan view. This provides an efficiently sized enclosure for a conventional lift car, which shares a similar shape in cross section in plan view. This frame shape can be easily constructed compared to other shapes, and reinforced with diagonal or cross braces to conform to the required stiffness.
Optionally, the frame further comprises one or more access platforms. Optionally, the one or more access platforms provide reinforcement to the structure of the frame.
Platforms are useful within a lift arrangement in order to access different parts of the various assemblies. Preferably, removal of a platform is non-destructive so that platforms can be re-used. By attaching platforms to the frame by e.g., friction grip bolts, they can be used to help lock-in the shape of the module during transport and installation. The additional bracing they provide may be used to reduce the member sizes in the permanent frame. The access platform may be pre-fitted in such a way that it acts as a temporary stiffening element to the frame during transport and installation.
Optionally, the frame is substantially made of one or more of: steel; aluminium; and/or fibre reinforced composite.
Steel can provide a relatively inexpensive but sufficiently stiff material from which a frame may be constructed. It is of course appreciated that other materials may also be suitable either individually or in combination, if they impart the required physical properties to the frame.
It will also be apparent to anyone of ordinary skill in the art, that some of the preferred features indicated above as preferable in the context of one of the aspects of the disclosed technology indicated may replace one or more preferred features of other ones of the preferred aspects of the disclosed technology. Such apparent combinations are not explicitly listed above under each such possible additional aspect for the sake of conciseness.
Other examples will become apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction with the drawings, illustrate by way of example the principles of the disclosed technology.
The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples. The skilled person will appreciate that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of boxes, or other shapes) in the drawings represent one example of the boundaries. It may be that in some examples, one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple elements may be designed as one element.
The following description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present technology and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. As will be apparent to anyone of ordinary skill in the art, one or more or all of the particular features described herein in the context of one embodiment are also present in some other embodiment(s) and/or can be used in combination with other described features in various possible combinations and permutations in some other embodiment(s).
In use the frames stand vertically, typically between 2 and 4 storeys high. This height exceeds transportation limits, and the frames are therefore transported horizontally. For residential buildings typical storey heights are circa 3 metres, and therefore a frame may be 4 storeys high and still fit on a flatbed trailer. For commercial buildings storey heights can vary between 3.5 metres and 4 metres and only 3 storeys will fit on a flatbed trailer.
At site, the upper end of the steel frame 201 is attached to a crane hook 202 as shown in
In
The location of the lift car 302 in the first frame 301 influences how the initial installation may proceed. If the lift car 302a is at the bottom of the frame, then it obstructs access to guide the frame onto the lift pit template 303. It also prevents subsequent access to adjust the first frame to vertical should there be tolerance issues. The lift car is therefore advantageously positioned one storey up 302b the first frame, enabling access to the lift pit template to make fine adjustments to achieve frame verticality.
A frame is typically rectangular in plan 106. At each corner there is a vertical running member 107. Each corner member 107, 407 is fitted with a dowel 401 with a sloping lead-in 402 at the top and a hole 403 to receive the dowel of a lower frame (or lift pit template) 408 at the bottom. As shown in
The dowels typically have a male thread 405, for example M30. A standard M30 nut 406 is run on this. As an upper frame 407 descends onto a lower frame 408, the cone 402 on the lower M30 dowel enters the hole 403 on the upper frame. The upper frame lowers until plate 409 on the bottom of corner member 407 rests on nut 406. A washer 410 is optionally used to bridge over hole 403.
The above arrangement exists at each corner. Synchronised rotation of the nuts at each corner enables the frame to be raised or lowered. By rotating the nuts on opposite sides in a different sense, the verticality of the frame may be adjusted. By appropriate adjustment the top of the frame may be brought into a position where it is located in the correct plan position and orientation by the dowels, set at the correct height for the lift doors relative to the landings, and adjusted exactly to vertical, in which state no other part of the frame should be in contact with the shaft.
When adjusted as described above, the frame of at least one embodiment maintains the same shape as it had when guide rails and door sets were aligned in the factory. This will ensure that lift doors are correctly positioned relative to the guide rails, and that guide rails on vertically adjacent frames line up. Shape is preserved by designing the frame so that when it is rotated from horizontal to vertical it substantially maintains shape, under the effect of gravity acting in a different direction or any other forces being applied.
If in certain circumstances the shape cannot be maintained to the required accuracy, the frame still carries the lift equipment into the shaft, where the stabilisers may be used to restore the frame to the intended shape. In such an embodiment where the frame subsides when rearranged such that the shape of the frame changes, the one or more stabilisers operable to contact an internal face of a shaft can be used to exert sufficient pressure on said internal face so as to re-adjust the frame back to the predetermined shape.
In
Side frames 501 are assembled together to form a horizontal box 509. The box is assembled in the same orientation that it will be in when equipment is installed, e.g. door side up. This is the same orientation that the box should be transported in.
The box may be supported at regular intervals on pads 510 that have been levelled to high accuracy. Whenever any further work is done on the box it should be supported at the same locations on pads having a similar level of accuracy, ideally the same pads.
The spacing 511 of pads 510 must be sufficiently close that gravity effects do not cause significant deflections between support points.
Equipment should be installed and accurately set relative to the centrelines 512 defined by the centre of the top dowels 506 and bottom holes 504. A datum plane 513 is defined by the underside of plates 409. These are the datums that the module installs to, and are used for setting out.
Once equipment 514, 515 has been installed and aligned, diagonal or cross braces 516 should be fitted as clearances permit in order to lock in the shape. These should be sized to provide a restraining effect greater than any distortions that may occur due to gravity loads.
Where the apparatus as disclosed herein is used to retrofit existing shafts, if the same sized lift car is to be used as the original, then the metal frame may have only a very limited or even no space to sit within. New-build shafts could use a larger shaft to make space, but this will push up overall core size and potentially reduce lettable area. The frame is therefore beneficially designed to take up as little space within the shaft as possible, using dead spaces that don't interfere with the lift equipment. Given these space restrictions, the frame is relatively slender and will only have limited stiffness when lift car forces are applied in the horizontal direction, for example when restraining the position of the guide rails. The result is distortions to the steel frame. Contrast this to the concrete lift core which has an abundance of stiffness.
Conventional practise would involve extensive setting out and drilling of holes in order to position brackets accurately and secure them to the concrete. If the same were now repeated to secure the frame to the concrete core, then a significant amount of installation effort is re-introduced.
One aspect of the proposed arrangement is the recognition that only limited attachment of the lightweight steel frame to the concrete core results in a significant increase in the stiffness of the steel frame. In
These infinitely adjustable stabilisers or fixings can take many forms, noting that they are providing stiffness (stopping something moving) rather than strength. Their forms include: a simple pad screwed out as described above; as above, but with an adhesive applied to the pad in order to further increase stiffness and provide tensile capacity (75 dia pad, 1 MPa adhesive design stress=>4.5 kN design capacity); glue and or screw angle bracket between steel frame and concrete shaft (tension and compression; relatively small fixing); and/or slotted hole assemblies with sliding parts.
Returning to the installation, the steel frame has been set accurately in position and should not be in contact with the shaft at any position. The next stage is to gain access to the shaft to set the stabilisers or brackets. This may be achieved by installing a platform from each landing. It will be apparent that the vertical positions of all brackets etc. need to be positioned so that they do not coincide with the floor of this platform, else it will not be possible to set brackets from either above or below. The platform should ideally cantilever from the landing and not impose deformations on the frame.
An option is to use the roof of the lift car as an access platform. This requires the lift car to be progressively raised. It will be noted that the lift car is running on the guide rail of an un-stabilised module. If the crane is used to raise the lift car, then any crash decks installed to protect workers will need to be removed each time the lift car is to be raised.
Another option is to pre-install access platforms in the frame. These can be used to advantageously help lock-in the shape during installation.
The above process of installing a module can then be repeated for each steel frame. In this manner the lift equipment in a multi-storey core can be rapidly installed. So far no consideration has been given to the effects of vertical loads nor to differential vertical movements between the frames and concrete core. If not addressed, these can have a profound effect, especially on the door thresholds.
Consider first the cumulative load in the corner member of each steel frame. This may be different for each corner, resulting in different stresses. If one corner has twice the load of another, the differential vertical movement between corner columns at say floor 40 of a 40 storey building could be 30+mm. Only a proportion of this can be adjusted out. The detrimental effect will be to distort modules, potentially putting doors and guide rails out of alignment. Further, the cumulative load in the corner member of each steel frame may be significantly higher at floor zero than say floor 40. Floor zero will therefore govern the sizing of the corner members. An option is to use the same corner member size all the way up the building. This achieves standardisation of design, but is inefficient as most corner members end up being oversized. The other option is to vary the size of the corner member, but this results in multiple steel frame designs. This can create problems pre-setting door levels and finishing threshold and rebate details. This is because as more frames are stacked onto lower frames, so the additional weight of the upper frames causes the corner members to shorten under load, changing the vertical position of the already installed lower doors. Door final vertical adjustment could be left until all frames have been installed, but as door adjustment requires access back in the shaft, this will slow installation.
A second issue arises from the axial shortening of a concrete core over time. This results from: elastic shortening due to increasing load as the building progresses; creep shortening under continuous load which can be rapid at first, reducing over time; and/or shrinkage due to excess water in the concrete drying out over time.
The magnitude of these movements is liable to vary over time. A total value from the moment the concrete is cast until a mature age could be as high as 4 mm per storey. It is noted that quite a lot of this movement occurs early on and more typical movements from time of lift installation forwards would be circa 2 mm per storey for a new core. Where a lift is being retrofitted into an existing core the vertical movement after lift installation would be negligible. In a new-build tall building (40 storeys) movements of 30+mm could occur during installation in the steel and 80 mm after installation in the concrete. Where advantage is taken to install the frames immediately after the core has been cast, higher relative movements are possible.
These magnitudes of vertical movement will be seen at landings since the landing side lift doors are attached to the steel frame. Relative movements measured in tens of mm are possible between the door-set and the landing level. This is well in excess of what a threshold detail can be expected to accommodate.
The vertical movement issue is illustrated with reference to
In
The benefit of this approach can be seen by comparing the relative vertical positions of 708 and 709. Taking bracket 711 to be mid-height of the frame, the differential vertical movement 710 between positions 708 and 709 will be approximately equivalent to the concrete shortening over half a frame height. Assuming door thresholds are set when their remains 2 mm/storey of concrete shortening to occur, the maximum value of this differential vertical movement is 3 mm. By setting the lift frame side door initially 1.5 mm high, the differential vertical deflection 701 will initially reduce from 1.5 mm towards zero before increasing again to 1.5 mm low. These magnitudes of differential deflections can be accommodated by typical threshold details.
In
It will be apparent that access for fixing angles brackets 811 and 812 is poor. Also, the fixings are from within the core and will typically be close to any floor platform accessed from the landing. Two exemplary options are disclosed to speed up installation:
The first option is to only use the bottom bracket set. Threaded bar 808 runs in a close fitting hole in frame member 807 so that the top is restrained from sideways movement. Nuts 809 are backed-off, thus door-set 804 is fixed vertically and horizontally to landing 803, but is only restrained horizontally at the top.
The second option is like the first option, but in order to remove the need for a complex access and fixing within the core, the door-set base member is adapted so that it may be attached to the landing slab from the landing side. This is shown in
Where the method of
Owing to tolerances in the concrete construction, the methods of both
Where steel frames are fixed to the concrete core as in
The method of 7B may be considered preferable. Below is a summary of the benefits this method brings: assuming constant storey to storey height, each intermediate module comprising steel frame with guide rails and doors will be identical to the extent that modules may be interchanged; identical modules will have the same centre of gravity. The lifting arrangements (e.g. chain lengths) can therefore be pre-set and identical for each module, saving crane time; the system is applicable to all core types, whether newly built or pre-existing, slipped or jumped; as each module is installed, it may be accurately set in position, locked off to the core and door thresholds and reveals completed. There is no need to go back and make any further adjustment to allow for vertical movement; and work in the shaft is both standardised and minimised, resulting in both speed and quality. In particular crane operations are minimised and substantially decoupled from the lift installation except when a lift frame is to be installed.
Some of the above benefits make it economic and practical to develop componentry that further simplifies and speeds up installation. These are described below:
The first disclosed is a lifting frame. The centre of gravity of a module is offset from the centre. During lifting the box shape of the steel frame may distort as there is no plan bracing. This can be prevented by attaching diagonals across the top. These fix to the M30 stabbing bolts. If the diagonals are of sufficient size, they can be used to form the braces of a lifting frame. In this manner the lifting frame serves the dual purpose of stiffening the module and providing a point for attachment of the crane.
There is next disclosed an arrangement for weather sealing. A shaft may need to be left open at the top. It is not desirable for rainwater to pass down the shaft into the zone that is already completed. A panel may be attached to the top of the module using the M30 stabbing bolts. A temporary seal bridges the gap between the concrete wall and the panel to intercept water running down the wall of the shaft. The seal may be a rubber lip or made using an adhesive sealing tape. The panel is shaped so as to direct any water to a central sump where any water collects. The sump may either be pumped out or an outlet with tap provided enabling the water to be drained from under. The panel needs to be strong enough to walk on so that seals can be fitted and hooks disconnected.
There is next disclosed a crash deck. When a shaft is left open, there is risk of items accidentally falling down the shaft. If people are working on installing modules lower down the shaft, this presents an unacceptable risk. Normal practice is to provide a crash deck, designed to absorb the energy of any falling objects. Subject to the energy of the falling object, it is possible to attach the crash deck to the M30 stabbing bolts. This would transfer loads into the corner members of the steel frames and thereby into the concrete wall. For larger energies, the crash deck may be designed to absorb the energy, reducing the reaction forces to a value that can be taken by the steel frame corner members. In extreme circumstances, the steel frame can help absorb energy, but if damaged beyond repair the steel frame would require replacement
All the above items may not be known in association with being supported by a frame.
It may be more efficient if the three functions above can be combined into a single piece of equipment. This is technically possible and is therefore considered an innovative feature of the system. A typical installation sequence would be as follows:
An integrated lifting frame is attached to the top of a module whilst the module is on the trailer. A feature is built into the integrated lifting frame to allow it to be handled in a vertical orientation so that it can be attached to a horizontal module frame.
The crane upends the module off the back of the wagon. Pre-set sling lengths provided with the lifting frame ensure a straight lift. A pivot point engaging with holes in the base of the steel frame and clamped to the bed of the wagon prevents uncontrolled longitudinal or lateral sliding during the upending process.
The module is lifted and placed into the shaft. The lifting frame may include rollers or skids so that these are not required at the top of the module. The module is lowered until it sits on a lower module.
Access to the integrated lifting frame is achieved from the landing aligned with the top of the module. The integrated lifting frame top surface is near level with the landing.
If there are subsequent modules to be installed immediately, an operative disconnects the lifting frame from the top of the lower module. The lifting frame is craned out of the shaft, rotated to vertical and attached to the top of the next module.
If there is a gap in module installation activities, then the operative disconnects the crane hook from the integrated lifting frame which then remains in the shaft to act as a weather seal and crash deck. An operative will need to seal the gap between the shaft walls and integrated lifting frame.
On re-starting installation, the crane hook will need to be lowered down the shaft to retrieve the integrated lifting frame, otherwise operations proceed as above.
An example of the proposed integrated lifting frame weather seal crash deck (LWC) is shown in
LWC 907 comprises of a lower steel plate 908 with stiffener plates 909 welded to it. The plates parallel to the x-axis have a lifting eye 910 welded to them. Lifting tackle 911 is connected to this lifting eye.
Plate 908 has a hole 912 in each corner. The hole positions correspond accurately to the location of threaded cone 905. The assembly 907 is placed over the threaded cones 905. Lower nuts 913 are wound up until they just touch the LWC. Upper nuts 914 are then started, screwed down and tightened so that assembly 907 is rigidly attached to the top of frame 902.
Dimension x is set so that the centre of lift lies directly over the centre of gravity of the combined module and LWC. Chain lengths 911 are similarly adjusted so that the centre of lift lies in the correct y position. Since the LWC weight is significant relative to the steel frame (>20%), the CoG must be that of the combined system.
The crash deck is provided by an impact resistant board 915 overlying a crushable material 916. The board may be ply or a reinforced rubber. The board may have a hinged cover in each corner in order to give access to nuts 914. The crushable material may be an organic material such as expanded polystyrene or an inorganic material such as foamed concrete. Board 915 is fixed to steel members 909 so that they can't come loose.
Wind blown rain can be expected to run down the inside of shaft 901. Self-adhesive flashing tape 917 is fixed to deflect water onto board 915 and thereby towards funnel 918. A gradient may be formed on boards 915 to facilitate flow. Water can either be collected in sump 918 or it may be drained via hose 919 into bucket 920.
Removal of the LWC involves cutting the flashing tape, raising the hinged corner flaps and undoing the four corner nuts.
The LWC may additionally be provided with skids or rollers 921 to engage with the concrete wall 901. This can be in lieu of skids or rollers on the top of the steel frame.
Access platforms may be required within the shaft in order to access the following: M30 nuts associated with the stabbing detail; stabilisers that screw out to fix plan position relative to the shaft walls; vertical support brackets; joint line between vertically aligned guide rails; vertical and horizontal landing door adjustment; fine adjustment of guide rail brackets should movement have occurred; and/or electrical connections.
These platforms may be pre-fitted in each module. The steel frame may include brackets to support the platforms. Platforms need to be designed so that they can be safely removed through an open lift door. Ideally removal is non-destructive so that platforms can be re-used.
The access platforms can serve a second purpose. By attaching them to the frame by e.g., friction grip bolts, they can be used to help lock-in the shape of the module during transport and installation. The additional bracing they provide may be used to reduce the member sizes in the permanent steel frame.
Any reference to ‘an’ item refers to one or more of those items. The term ‘comprising’ is used herein to mean including the method blocks or elements identified, but that such blocks or elements do not comprise an exclusive list and an apparatus may contain additional blocks or elements and a method may contain additional operations or elements. Furthermore, the blocks, elements and operations are themselves not impliedly closed.
The steps of the methods described herein may be carried out in any suitable order, or simultaneously where appropriate. The arrows between boxes in the figures show one example sequence of method steps but are not intended to exclude other sequences or the performance of multiple steps in parallel. Additionally, individual blocks may be deleted from any of the methods without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. Aspects of any of the examples described above may be combined with aspects of any of the other examples described to form further examples without losing the effect sought.
Where the description has explicitly disclosed in isolation some individual features, any apparent combination of two or more such features is considered also to be disclosed, to the extent that such features or combinations are apparent and capable of being carried out based on the present specification as a whole in the light of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art, irrespective of whether such features or combinations of features solve any problems disclosed herein. In view of the foregoing description it will be evident to a person skilled in the art that various modifications may be made within the scope of the invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016875.3 | Oct 2020 | GB | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/078909 | 10/19/2021 | WO |
