Suspended work platform with an integrated rescue system and a method for rescuing a worker
First Claim
1. A suspended work platform with an integrated rescue system (50) for rescuing a worker on a work platform (100) suspended from a tie-off point (20) on a structure (10) wherein the tie-off point (20) is above the work platform (100) and a fall surface (30) is below the work platform (100), comprising:
- (A) a platform rope (300) having a maximum extension length;
(B) a work hoist (200) having a work hoist motor (210), a work hoist traction mechanism (230) designed to cooperate with the platform rope (300), and a work hoist gear box (220) for transferring power from the work hoist motor (210) to the work hoist traction mechanism (230), wherein the work hoist (200) is attached to the work platform (100);
(C) a work hoist control system (700) having a worker input device (710) accessible from the work platform (100), wherein the worker input device (710) is in operative communication with the work hoist (200), the worker input device (710), and the worker input device (710) controls the work hoist motor (210) such that the work hoist (200) ascends and descends along the platform rope (300); and
(D) a rescue device (400) having a rescue traction mechanism (430) designed to cooperate with the platform rope (300), wherein the rescue device (400) is attached to the tie-off point (20), the rescue device (400) is operated at the tie-off point (20), the platform rope (300) extends downward from the rescue device (400) to suspend the work platform (100) by the work hoist (200), and the rescue device (400) controllably lowers the platform rope (300) and the work platform (100) to near the fall surface (30) before the maximum extension length of the platform rope (300) is reached.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A suspended work platform with an integrated rescue system and a method for rescuing a worker is used to quickly rescue workers from an elevated position. The system incorporates a work hoist and a rescue device cooperating with a platform rope. The work hoist is attached to the work platform. A worker changes the elevation of the work platform by operating a work input device of a work hoist control system. The rescue device cooperates with the platform rope and is attached above the work platform to a tie-off location. A rescuer operates the rescue device to perform a rescue of the worker when necessary. The rescue system may also include an independent fall arrest system having a descent control system with a fall arrest rope attached to the worker and to the tie-off location.
39 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suspended work platform with an integrated rescue system (50) for rescuing a worker on a work platform (100) suspended from a tie-off point (20) on a structure (10) wherein the tie-off point (20) is above the work platform (100) and a fall surface (30) is below the work platform (100), comprising:
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(A) a platform rope (300) having a maximum extension length; (B) a work hoist (200) having a work hoist motor (210), a work hoist traction mechanism (230) designed to cooperate with the platform rope (300), and a work hoist gear box (220) for transferring power from the work hoist motor (210) to the work hoist traction mechanism (230), wherein the work hoist (200) is attached to the work platform (100); (C) a work hoist control system (700) having a worker input device (710) accessible from the work platform (100), wherein the worker input device (710) is in operative communication with the work hoist (200), the worker input device (710), and the worker input device (710) controls the work hoist motor (210) such that the work hoist (200) ascends and descends along the platform rope (300); and (D) a rescue device (400) having a rescue traction mechanism (430) designed to cooperate with the platform rope (300), wherein the rescue device (400) is attached to the tie-off point (20), the rescue device (400) is operated at the tie-off point (20), the platform rope (300) extends downward from the rescue device (400) to suspend the work platform (100) by the work hoist (200), and the rescue device (400) controllably lowers the platform rope (300) and the work platform (100) to near the fall surface (30) before the maximum extension length of the platform rope (300) is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A suspended work platform with an integrated rescue system (50) for rescuing a worker on a work platform (100) having a highest working elevation (110), a fall surface exit elevation (120), and a working elevation range (130) and the work platform (100) is suspended from a tie-off point (20) on a structure (10) having a wall (12) with an interior surface (14) and an exterior surface (16), and an access port (18) extending from the interior surface (14) to the exterior surface (16), wherein the tie-off point (20) is outside the structure (10) and the work platform (100) is inside the structure (10) with a fall surface (30) below the work platform (100), comprising:
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(A) a platform rope (300) having a maximum extension length; (B) a work hoist (200) having a work hoist motor (210), a work hoist traction mechanism (230) designed to cooperate with the platform rope (300), a work hoist gear box (220) for transferring power from the work hoist motor (210) to the work hoist traction mechanism (230), and a work hoist controlled descent device (260) for controlling the non-powered passage of the platform rope (300) through the work hoist (200), wherein the work hoist (200) is attached to the work platform (100) and operation of the work hoist controlled descent device (260) allows the work platform (100) to descend by gravity along the platform rope (300) to the fall surface exit elevation (120) where the work platform (100) cannot be lowered any further; (C) a work hoist control system (700) having a worker input device (710) accessible from the work platform (100), the work hoist control system (700) is in operative communication with the worker input device (710) and the work hoist (200), wherein the worker input device (710) controls the work hoist motor (210) such that the work hoist (200) ascends and descends along the platform rope (300); (D) a rescue hoist (402) attached to the tie-off point (20), the rescue hoist (402) having a rescue hoist motor (410) and a rescue hoist gear box (420) for transferring power from the rescue hoist motor (410), a rescue traction mechanism (430) designed to cooperate with the platform rope (300), a rescue traction brake (440) designed to engage the rescue traction mechanism (430), a rescue over-speed brake (450) for stopping uncontrolled passage of the platform rope (300) through the rescue hoist (402), and a rescue controlled descent device (460) that releases the rescue traction brake (440) allowing controlled withdraw of the platform rope (300) through the rescue hoist (402), wherein (i) the platform rope (300) extends downward from the rescue hoist (402) through the access port (18) to suspend the work platform (100) by the work hoist (200), (ii) the work platform (100) travels on the platform rope (300) between a highest working elevation (110) and a fall surface elevation (120), thereby defining a working elevation range (130), and (iii) the maximum extension length of the platform rope (300) is at least approximately one hundred and fifty percent of the working elevation range (130) of the work platform (100); (E) a rescue hoist control system (800) in operative communication with the rescue hoist (402) and the work hoist (200), the rescue hoist control system (800) having a rescuer input device (810), a work hoist lockout (820), and a power supply tag-out mechanism (830), wherein (i) the rescuer input device (810) is in operative communication with the rescue traction brake (440) and the rescue hoist motor (410); (ii) the rescuer input device (810) has a stop button (812) and a directional control button (814), wherein (a) the stop button (812) disconnects the rescue hoist motor (410) from power, whereby the rescue hoist (402) is inoperable when the stop button (812) is engaged; and (b) the directional control button (814) causes the rescue traction brake (440) to disengage from the rescue traction mechanism (430) while causing the rescue hoist motor (410) to extend or retract the platform rope (300); and (iii) the work hoist lockout (820) disconnects the work hoist (200) from power, whereby the work hoist (200) is inoperable when the work hoist lockout (820) is engaged; and (F) an independent fall arrest system (600) having a fall arrest rope (610) formed with a worker attachment portion (612) and a tie-off point attachment portion (614), wherein the worker attachment portion (612) is fastened to the worker, the fall arrest rope (610) extends through the access port (18), and the tie-off point attachment portion (614) of the fall arrest rope (610) engages a fall arrest device (620) and is attached to the tie-off point (20), such that the independent fall arrest system (600) suspends the worker, and the fall arrest device (620) allows controlled withdraw of the fall arrest rope (610) to lower the worker to the fall surface (30). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for rescuing a worker from an elevated position, comprising:
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moving a work platform (100), wherein a rescuer operates a rescue hoist (402), the rescue hoist (402) is connected to a tie-off point (20), the rescue hoist (402) has a rescue hoist motor (410) and a rescue hoist gear box (420) for transferring power from the rescue hoist motor (410) to the rescue traction mechanism (430), the rescue hoist (402) extends and retracts a platform rope (300), the platform rope (300) is engaged by a work hoist (200), and the work hoist (200) is attached to the work platform (100), and wherein the rescuer operates the rescue hoist (402) by (i) resetting a stop button (812), wherein the stop button (812) prevents the rescue hoist (402) from receiving power until the rescuer resets the stop button (812); (ii) deactivating a rescue over-speed brake (450), wherein the rescue over-speed brake (450) prevents downward motion of the platform rope (300) while engaged, and once deactivated the rescue over-speed brake (450) prevents uncontrolled withdraw of the platform rope (300) through the rescue hoist (402); (iii) disengaging a power supply tag-out mechanism (830), wherein the power supply tag-out mechanism (830) prevents the rescue hoist (402) from operating while engaged; and (iv) operating a directional control button (814) which causes a rescue traction brake (440) to releasably disengage a rescue traction mechanism (430) which allows the rescue hoist (402) to move the work platform (100) and the worker. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification