AU642067B2 - Working gondola - Google Patents

Description

bAk42 06 I k~

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: 0 0 0 0 WORKING GONDOLA.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- SO S S 0

SO

5055

SO

5* 0

S

5t050* O 0000 O S

SO..

*0 S 0 0 0 5 50 WORKING GONDOLA BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a working gondola for use in cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure.

A known working gondola for use in cleaning the glass windows of a building structure comprises, as shown in Figs. 31 to 32, a set of outwardly extending gondola support arms C mounted to a body B located on the rooftop of a structure A such as a building, a gondola D suspended by ropes F from the distal ends of the gondola support arms C for carrying a worker who conducts a cleaning job, and a powered winch(es) E mounted on the gondola D for winding and unwinding the ropes F to lift the gondola D up and down.

Such a working gondola allows its gondola D to be lifted up and down by winding and unwinding the ropes F on the winch(es) E. Hence, the critical disadvantage is that breaking of the ropes F may result in drop off of the gondola D causing fatal injury of the worker.

It has been proposed an idea for eliminating the disadvantage by tying the worker on the gondola D with a life line. This scheme is however awkward and less 25 practical in action because the life line has to be lifted up and down as the gondola D moves vertically.

'SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention envisages a working gondola 30 comprising: i. a gondola capable of carrying a workr for use in cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure; a gondola support arm mounted on the rooftop of the building structure and extending outward; a gondola driver system for winding and unwinding a rope which extending downward from a close-to-frontend portion of the gondola support arm for up- and downward movement of the gondola; a supplementary rope hanging down close to the ground from the front end of the gondola support arm; a supplementary rope guide case mounted to the gondola and having a supplementary rope guide passage therein through which the supplementary rope extends; and a lock device arranged in the supplementary rope guide case to lock systematically the supplemen rope which extends the supplementary rope guide passage instantly when the rope breaks accidentally.

Other objects and novel features of the present invention will be apparent from reading of the detailed description accompanied with relevant drawings.

The accompanied drawings are provided for ease of the understandings and will not limit the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS •Fig. 1 is a front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are explanatory views of a carrier; 25 Figs. 4 and 5 are explanatory views of a gondola; Figs. 7 and 8 are explanatory views showing the locking action of a lock device; S: Figs. 9 to 12 are explanatory views showing a second embodiment of the present invention; 30 Figs. 13 to 15 are explanatory views showing a third embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 16 to 18 are explanatory views showing a S: fourth embodiment of the present invention; i- C^ Figs.19 to 21 are explanatory views showing a fifth embodiment of the present invention; Figs.22 to 24 are explanatory views showing a sixth embodiment of the present invention; and Figs.25 to 27 are explanatory views showing a seventh embodiment of the present invention; Figs.28 to 30 are explanatory views showing an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and Figs.31 and 32 are explanatory views showing a prior art working gondola, *o a* *0Se DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail referring to the accompanying drawings.

Figs.l to 8 illustrate a first embodiment of the present invention in which a carrier 1 is provided on the *i rooftop of a structure 2, e.g. a building, for movement along the outer wall of the same. The carrier 1 comprises, as best shown in Figs.2 and 3, a base 4, four wheels 3,3,3,3 mounted adjacent to four corners of the base 4, four support legs 7,7,7,7 mounted to the four corners of the base 4 for extension downward as being rotated by a lever 5 so as to sustain the base 4 unmovable on the floor 6 of the rooftop, two..upright arm supports 8,8 fixedly mounted, e.g. by welding, to the base 4, a gondola support arm 9 fixedly mounted, e.g. by welding, to the uppermost ends of the upright arm supports 8,8 and extending outward from the structure 2, and a plurality of balance weights 10 which will appropriately be loaded onto the top of the base 4 for placement stability.

As illustrated in Figs.4 and 5, a one-man gondola 11 is also provided comprising four columns 12,12,12,12 made of pipe materials, a seat plae 14 mounted to the lower ends of the four columns 12,12,12,12 and provided with a back rest 13 so that a cleaning worker can sit thereon, two upper tie bars )2 12 fixedly mounted, e.g. by welding, between the upper ends of the four columns 12,12,12,12, an arcuate support art-16 fixedly mounted at both ends, e.g. by welding, 'to the center regions of the two tie bars 15,15, a safety belt 19 having a receptor 7 and a hook 8 for engagement and extending between the two front columns 12,12 for o 9 protecting the worker on the seat plate 14 from slipping off during cleaning, and an L-shaped suspender 20 fixedly mounted, e.g. by welding, to the support arm 16.

There is also provided a gondola driver system 21 for up- and downward movement of the gondola 11. The gondola driver system 21 comprises a radio or remote controlled power winch 22 installed on the base 4 of the carrier 1, a oi. rope 26 wound on a drum 23 of the winch 22, and an operation *0 panel 28 mounted to the gondola 11 and provided with a control lever 27 for operating the power winch 22. The leading end of the rope 26. extends through two rope guide rollers 24, 24 installed to the gondola support arm 9 and is coupled by a sensor mechanism 25 to the suspender The sensor mechanism 25 is arranged for detection of breaking of the rope 26 and consisted mainly of a stopper 29 formed on the uppermost end of the suspender 20, a rope support lever 31 pivotably mounted by a pivot pin 30 to the suspender 20 and coupled at the distal end to the leading end of the rope 26 so that it comes into direct contact with the stopper 29 when the rope 26 is tensioned, and a sustaining wire 32 coupled to the distal end of the rope support lever 31.

Denoted by the numeral 33 is a supplementary rope guide .6 case of tubular shape fixedly mounted to one side of the .o gondola 11. The supplementary rope guide case 33 has at 9 lower interior region a supplementary rope guide passage ago* of which slope portion 34 is tilted thus forming a crank shape.

A supplementary rope 36 is tied up at one end to the distal end of the gondola support arm and hangs down close to the ground. More specifically, the supplementary rope 36 extends downward through a guide ring 37 mounted to the suspender 20, another guide ring 38 mounted to an upper region, above the supplementary rope guide case 33, of the gondola 11, and the supplementary rope guide passage 35 and preferably, has at the lowermost end a weight 39 for eliminating looseness.

In addition, a lock lever 40 is mounted at center by a pivot pin 41 to the supplementary rope guide case 33 for pivotal movement. The lock lever 40 has at front end a lock tab 42 thereof provided for locking the supplementary rope 36 by pressing down it against the supplementary rope guide passage 35 and at rear end a rope guide 43 thereof provided for guidinq the supplementary rope 36. Also, a control bar 45 is mounted to a rear portion of the lock lever 40, which extends outward through a long slot 44 provided in the supplementary rope guide case 33 so that it can be manipulated by hand in emergency. The sustaining wire 32 extending from the sensor mechanism 25 through a couple of guide 10 rollers 46,46 is connected to a front portion of the lock goo lever Denoted by 47 is a stopper for holding the lock lever 40 of the supplementary rope guide case 33 in its unlock position.

9 A spring 48 is also provided in the supplementary rope guide case 33 for urging the lock lever 40 towards its lockup position when the rope 26 breaks.

"More particularly, the sensor mechanism 25, the supplementary rope guide case 33, the supplementary rope guide passage 35, the lock lever 40, and the spring 48 constitute in combination a lock device 49 for lockup of the supplementary rope 36 in case of emergency.

In action, a working gondola 50 having the foregoing arrangement can be controlled with the control lever 27 on the operation panel 28 for activating the power winch 22 and thus, rolling in and out the rope 26 so that the gondola 11 can move upward and downward..

tr rf Simultaneously, the carrier 1 can be displaced on its wheels 3,3,3,3 along the outer wall of the rooftop of the structure 2 for proper placement.

The carrier 1 is of course securely installed on its legs 7,7,7,7 in place during cleaning operation, thus allowing the worker carried on the gondola 11 to perform a cleaning job with much safety.

If the rope 26 svistaining the gondola 11 snaps accidentally, the unlock statement of the lock lever 40 is immediately released by the action of the rope support lever 31 and the sustaining wire 32. Hence, the lock tab 42 of the lock'lever 40 is turned down by the urging force of the e* S s* spring 48 to press the supplementary rope 36 against the supplementary rope guide passage 35 for lockup, as shown in Figs.7 and 8, thus averting the gondola 11 from falling down to the ground.

When the lock lever 40 has been thrown to the lock S position, the control bar 45 is manually actuated to release the lock lever 40 and thus, allow the supplementary rope 36 to move through the supplementary rope guide passage Accordingly, the gondola 11 can be landed to the ground with 0*"0 safety.

The Other Embodiments of the Invention The other embodiments of the present invention will now be described referring to Figs.9 to 30. Like components are denoted by like numbers as described in the first embodiment and will no more be explained.

A second embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.9 to 12 is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the gondola support arm 9 is replaced with another gondola support arm 9A which comprises a stationary arm 51 of channel form fixedly mounted, e,g welding, to the two upright supports 8,8 on the base 4 of the carrier 1, a movable arm 52 coupled to the stationary arm 51 of channel form for extension and retraction, a bolt 55 extending through a long slot 53 provided in the movable arm 52 and a bolt slot 54 provided in the stationary arm 51, and a nut 56 so that the movable arm 52 can be fastened in a desired position on the stationary arm 51.

Accordingly, a working gondola 50A equipped with the gondola support arm 9A will be compact in its storage state with the movable arm 52 remaining retracted.

A third embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.13 to 15 is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the gondola support arm 9 is replaced with a further gondola support arm 9B which comprises a stationary

S

arm 51 fixedly mounted, e,g welding, to the two upright supports 8,8 on the carrier base 4 and a movable arm 52 coupled by a hinge 57 to the stationary arm 51 so that it can be folded down onto the stationary arm 51. A working gondola 50B equipped with the gondola support arm 9B will thus provide the same effect as of the second embodiment.

A fourth embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.16 to 18 is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the gondola support arm 9 is replaced with a still further gondola support arm 9C which comprises a stationary arm 51 fixedly mounted, e,g welding, to the two upright supports 8,8 on the carrier base 4, a movable arm 52 coupled by a hinge 58 to the stationary arm 51 so that it can be folded down onto a side of the stationary arm 51, a joiner 60 having a bolt slot 59 therein and mounted to the rear end of the movable arm 52 for retaining the same at its extending position, and a bolt 62 arranged to be screwed through the bolt slot 59 of the joiner 60 into a threaded hole 61 provided in the stationary arm 51 for fastening. A working gondola 50C equipped with the gondola support arm 9C

S

will thus provide the same effect as of the second embodiment.

0 A fifth embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.19 to 21 is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the carrier 1 is replaced with another carrier l1A which has four rail wheels 64,64,64,64 mounted to a base S 4 thereof for running along two rails 63,63 installed on the rooftop floor 6 of the structure 2. Also, a couple of wheel stoppers 65,65 are provided on the floor 6 for preventing S the wheels 64,64,64,64 from derailing. A working gondola equipped with the carrier lA which may be light-weighted can lift up and down the gondola 11 with equal safety.

It is a good idea to have a brake system assembled to the rail wheels 64, 64 for stopping the carrier lA with much ease.

A sixth embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.22 to 24 is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the sensor mechanism 25 is replaced with another sensor mechanism 25A which comprises a rope support lever 31, a spring 66 urging the rope support lever 31 in a direction for disengagement from a stopper 29, and a switch 67 adapted for switching on when the rope support lever 31 is turned downward by the urging force of the spring .66 upon breaking of the rope 26. The sensor mechanism 25A is accompanied with an actuator 68, e.g. an electromagnetic solenoid, arranged to press the supplementary rope 36 against the supplementary rope guide passage 35 for lockup in response to the closing of the switch 67 of the sensor mechanism 25A. A working gondola 50E having such an arrangement will offer the same effect as of the first embodiment.

For safety landing to the ground at emergency, the gondola 11 can be lifted down by repeating a lock and release action of the supplementary rope 36 with the rope support lever 31 being turned down and up to switch on and off the switch 67 of the sensor mechanism A seventh embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.25 to 27 is distinguished from the first embodiment by the fact that the gondola support arm 9 is replaced with a still further gondola support arm 9D of inverted-L shape which can detachably be coupled with a bolt(s) 70 and a nut(s) 71 to one of support cylinders 69 fixedly mounted at equal intervals on the rooftop of the structure 2. In addition, the power winch 22 is installed on the gondola 11.

Accordingly, a working gondola 50F having such an arrangement allows a worker on the gondola 11 to operate the power winch 22 directly for up- and downward movement.

Traverse movement of the gondola 11 can be conducted by displacing the gondola arm support 9D to another support cylinder 69.

An eighth embodiment of the present invention shown in Figs.28 to 30 is distinguished from the first embodiment by 10 the fact that the lock device 49 is replaced with another 0* 0 lock device 49A which comprises a lock lever 40 pivotably a mounted with a pivot pin 41 so that it can permit the supplementary rope 36 to pass smoothly during the up- and downward movement of the gondola 11 and when the rope 26 a breaks accidentally and thus, the supplementary rope 6 is loaded, can press the supplementary rope 6 against the supplementary rope guid passage 35 for lockup, a spring 72 urging the lock lever 40 towards its unlock position, and a S lock release lever 73 for use in turning the lock lever back to its unlock position. A working gondola 50G equipped with the lock device 49A will provide the same effect as of the first embodiment.

As set forth above, the present invention can provide the following advantages.

A working gondola according to the present invention comprises: a gondola capable of carrying a worker for use in cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure; a gondola support arm mounted on the rooftop of the building structure and extending outward; a gondola driver system for winding and unwinding a rope which extending downward from a close-to-frontend portion of the gondola support arm for upand downward movement of the gondola; a supplementary rope hanging down close to the ground from the front end of the gondola support arm; a supplementary rope guide case mounted to the gondola and having a supplementary rope guide passage therein through which the supplementary rope extends; and a lock device arranged in the supplementary rope guide case to lock systematically the supplementary rope which extends the supplementary rope guide passage instantly when the rope breaks accidentally. Accordingly, cleaning of e.g. building windows will be carried out at efficiency through moving the gondola up and down with the power winch.

As depicted in the above paragraph the supplementary rope is systematically locked when the rope sustaining the gondola breaks accidentally. Hence, the gondola *0 will be prevented from falling down to the ground and thus, u safety cleaning action will be ensured.

As depicted in the above paragraph the supple- **b mentary rope passes smoothly through the supplementary rope guide passage during the normal up- and downward movement of the -gondola. Hence, no extra action for handling the supplementary rope will be needed thus easing the operation.

As depicted in the above paragraph the working gondola is simpler in construction and will thus be manufac- U a tured at lower cost.

ad..

o 00 *0 I e.g..

0 0.gO *0 .h a a

I''

a 4 *0*

S

.e~aa a a

Claims (6)

1. A working gondola comprising: a gondola capable of carrying a worker for use in cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure; a gondola support arm mounted on the rooftop of the building structure and extending outward; a gondola driver system for winding and unwinding a rope which extending downward from a close-to-frontend portion of the gondola support arm for up- and downward movement of the gondola; a supplementary rope hanging down close to the ground from the front end of the gondola support arm; a supplementary rope guide case mounted to the gondola and having a supplementary rope guide passage therein through which the supplementary rope extends; and a lock device arranged in the supplementary rope guide case to lock systematically the supplementary rope which extends the supplementary rope guide passage instantly when the rope breaks accidentally.

2. A working gondola according to Claim 1, wherein the gondola support arm is mounted on a carrier which can move along an outer wall of the rooftop of the building struc- ture.

3. A working gondola according to Claim 1, wherein the gondola driver system is a power winch mounted on the gondo- la for winding and unwinding the rope.

4. A working gondola according to Claim 4, wherein the gondola driver system is a radio or remote controlled power winch mounted on the rooftop of the building structure for winding and unwinding the rope which extends to the gondola through a rope guide arranged on the front end of the gondo- la support arm.

A working gondola according to Claim 1, wherein the lock device is consisted mainly of a sensor mechanism for starting action upon breaking of the rope and an actuator, e.g. an electromagnetic solenoid, for pressing the supple- 130 mentpry rope against the supplementary rope guide passage for lockup in response to a signal from the sensor mecha- nism.

6. A working gondola according to Claim 1, wherein the lock device is consisted mainly of a lock lever pivotably mounted so that it can permit the supplementary rope to pass 2, i smoothly through the supplementary rope guide passage during a normal operation and when the rope breaks accidentally, can press the supplementary rope against the supplementary rope guide passage for lockup, an urging means for urging the lock lever towards its lock position, and a sensor mechanism which maintains the lock lever to its unlock position during the normal operation where the gondola is suspended by the rope, and when the rope breaks, activates the urging means. DATED THIS 20TH DAY OF JANUARY 1992 DOEI GAISO YUGEN-GAISHA By its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO. Fellows Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia 1 I ABSTRACT A working gondola which carries a worker for cleaning e.g. glass windows of a building structure, has a power winch for up- and downward movement of its gondola and a lock device for locking a supplementary rope systematically when the rope sustaining the gondola breaks accidentally in order to prevent the gondola from falling down to the ground. see 0 eo S* eo 0 o I 600 .g ea *0* e O 0* a C C