MAGNETIC ANCHOR SYSTEM FOR SUSPENSION WORK EQUIPMENT, METHOD OF REMOTELY ATTACHING A SUSPENDED WORK PLATFORM TO A WORK STRUCTURE, AND A SYSTEM AND DEVICE FOR SAME

• US 20150014095A1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Published: 01/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SKY Climber Access Solutions Atlanta, LLC
• Original Assignee: SKY Climber Access Solutions Atlanta, LLC
• Inventors: King, Todd, Anasis, George M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,410,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 182/129
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 1/605 scaffolding winshes B66D1/74 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/305 specially adapted for tanks, silos or similar vessels E04G3/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 3/325 Safety devices for stabilising the mobile platform, e.g. to avoid it swinging in the wind
• CPC Class Codes: E04G 5/04 Means for fastening, supporting, or bracing scaffolds on or against building constructions fastenings in general F16B

Abstract

A magnetic anchor system, method, and device for attaching a rigging line to an elevated work structure. A transport vehicle may be used to position and attach at least one magnetic anchor to the elevated work structure, while being operated by a user at a safe location. Upon attachment of the magnetic anchor the strength of the magnetic connection of the primary magnetic anchor to the work structure is tested before anything is attached to a rigging line secured to the magnetic anchor.

Claims

1. A method of remotely attaching a suspended work platform (1200) to a work structure (200), comprising:

a) positioning a primary magnetic anchor (300) in a transport vehicle (800);

b) attaching the transport vehicle (800) to the work structure (200);

c) transporting the primary magnetic anchor (300) vertically with the transport vehicle (800) to a primary anchor position (210) on the work structure (200) at a primary anchor position elevation;

d) attaching the primary magnetic anchor (300) to the work structure (200) at the primary anchor position (210);

e) testing the strength of the connection of the primary magnetic anchor (300) to the work structure (200); and

f) suspending the work platform (1200) and a hoist (1210) on a rigging line (1000) secured to the primary magnetic anchor (300).

2. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

a) positioning a secondary magnetic anchor (1300) in the transport vehicle (800);

b) transporting the secondary magnetic anchor (1300) vertically with the transport vehicle (800) to a secondary anchor position (220) on the work structure (200) at a secondary anchor position elevation;

c) attaching the secondary magnetic anchor (1300) to the work structure (200) at the secondary anchor position (220);

d) testing the strength of the connection of the secondary magnetic anchor (1300) to the work structure (200); and

e) suspending a life line (1100) from the secondary magnetic anchor (1300).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein both the primary magnetic anchor (300) and the secondary magnetic anchor (1300) are positioned in the transport vehicle (800) at the same time.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) and the secondary magnetic anchor (1300) are joined by an interconnection load system (910), and the steps of testing the strength of the primary magnetic anchor (300) and the secondary magnetic anchor (1300) includes the step of applying a predetermined test load to the primary magnetic anchor (300) and the secondary magnet anchor (1300) with the interconnection load system (910), and the step of sensing movement of at least one of the primary magnetic anchor (300) and the secondary magnetic anchor (300).

5. The method of claim 4, further including the step of transmitting a load system test signal from the interconnection load system (910).

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transporting the primary magnetic anchor (300) vertically with the transport vehicle (800) is controlled with a vehicle control system (810) and includes the step of steering the transport vehicle (800) from the remote terminal (812).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of attaching the primary magnetic anchor (300) to the work structure (200) at the primary anchor position (210) includes the step of initiating the attachment from the remote terminal (812).

8. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

a) removing the primary magnet anchor (300) from the work structure (200);

b) transporting the primary magnetic anchor (300) vertically with the transport vehicle (800); and

c) wherein the step of removing the primary magnet anchor (300) from the work structure (200) includes the activation of an anchor release system (350) to reduce the magnetic force exerted by the primary magnet anchor (300) so the primary magnetic anchor (300) can be transported by the transport vehicle (800).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the anchor release system (350) is only capable of activation when the transport vehicle (800) is in contact with the primary magnetic anchor (300).

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the anchor release system (350) includes a set-off distance adjustor (360) to change the distance of an attachment magnet (310) from the work structure (200) and therefore the magnetic force.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the anchor release system (350) includes a rotational adjustor (370 to change the orientation of an attachment magnet (310) and therefore the magnetic force.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the anchor release system (350) includes an electromagnetic adjustor (380) to temporarily change the magnet flux of an attachment magnet (310) and therefore the magnetic force.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) includes a primary anchor location system (340) in communication with the vehicle control system (810), wherein the primary anchor location system (340) guides the transport vehicle (800) to the primary anchor position (210).

14. The method of claim 6, further including the step of visually inspecting the primary anchor position (210) with a vision system (814) prior to attaching the primary magnetic anchor (300) to the work structure (200) at the primary anchor position (210), wherein the vehicle control system (810) includes a remote terminal (812), and images from the vision system (814) are automatically transmitted to the remote terminal (812).

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) includes a friction inducing surface in contact with the work structure (200).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) includes a body (320) formed of non-ferrous material housing a plurality of neodymium magnets.

17. A method of attaching a suspended work platform (1200) to a work structure (200), comprising:

a) attaching a primary magnetic anchor (300) to the work structure (200) at a primary anchor position (210), wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) includes an anchor release system (350) and the primary magnetic anchor (300) has a primary magnetic anchor weight that is less than 5% of the tensile load capacity of the primary magnetic anchor (300) and is less than 10% of the shear load capacity, and wherein a disengagement force of less than the primary magnetic anchor weight applied to the anchor release system (350) will release the primary magnetic anchor (300) from the work structure (200);

b) testing the strength of the connection of the primary magnetic anchor (300);

c) suspending the work platform (1200) and a hoist (1210) on a rigging line (1000) secured to the primary magnetic anchor (300), wherein the hoist (1210) raises and lowers the work platform (1200) on the rigging line (1000); and

d) applying the disengagement force to the anchor release system (350) and removing the primary magnetic anchor (300) from the work structure (200).

18. The method of claim 17, further including the step of attaching a second primary magnetic anchor (300) on the opposite side of the work structure (200) adjacent the primary anchor position (210) to cooperate with the primary magnetic anchor (300)

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) includes a release safety and the anchor release system (350) is only capable of activation when the release safety has been disengaged.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the primary magnetic anchor (300) includes a friction inducing surface in contact with the work structure (200).