AU2018232939A1

AU2018232939A1 - Walkway

Info

Publication number: AU2018232939A1
Application number: AU2018232939A
Authority: AU
Inventors: John Carratello; Lee Heitmann; Carl Sachs
Original assignee: WORKPLACE ACCESS & SAFETY Pty Ltd
Current assignee: WORKPLACE ACCESS & SAFETY Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2013-11-07
Filing date: 2018-09-18
Publication date: 2018-10-11
Also published as: AU2014259574A1

Abstract

Abstract A walkway for use on rooftops etc. at a workplace includes a first subframe that can be prefabricated and transported as an assembled component to the installation site. The subframe includes longitudinal support members and cross members spanning between the longitudinal support members. A walkway platform may be secured to the cross members. A second subframe may be provided to span gaps between roof beams and/or may be suspended from a roof. The first subframe may be accommodated within the second subframe. Figure recommended to accompany abstract: Figure 7 Figure 7

Description

Australia

Patents Act 1990

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

Invention Title: walkway

The invention is described in the following statement:

WALKWAY

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to a walkway, in particular for use as a safety walkway at a workplace.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Rooftop walkways can be required in many workplaces to traverse above ground areas and in particular to provide a safe and level walking surface. It is typical, for example, for walkways to be secured directly onto corrugated roofing or other roofing materials with múltiple holes into the roof being required. Some workplaces can also require walkways to be installed within roof spaces, which can be difficult, especially where the walkway is required to span a gap.

[0003] Typically, walkways are assembled and installed on site. This can have several problems, including the requirement for the transport of additional assembly tools such as welders and the like, the use of which can be problematic in some workplace environments. A further problem is that the assembly is often by people bent over, leading to back injuries and that the time for installation is quite long, which, when working at heights, increases the risks.

[0004] What is required is an improved walkway system that, amongst other benefits, can be more easily installed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a walkway including a subframe and a walkway platform secured to the subframe. The subframe may include a first longitudinal support member and a second longitudinal support member. A plurality of cross members may span between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member. The walkway platform may be secured to the plurality of cross members.

[0006] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of assembling a walkway at an installation site. The walkway may include a subframe and a walkway platform. The subframe may include a first longitudinal support member, a second longitudinal support member and a plurality of cross members spanning between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member. The method may include transporting the subframe as an assembled component to the installation site, securing the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member to a structure of the installation site.

[0007] The method may include securing the walkway platform to the cross members of the installed subframe at the installation site.

[0008] In one aspect of the disclosure there is provided a walkway including a first subframe, a second subframe and a walkway platform secured to the subframe. The first subframe may include a first longitudinal support member and a second longitudinal support member. A plurality of first cross members may span between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member. The second subframe may include a third longitudinal support member, a fourth longitudinal support member and a plurality of second cross members that span between the third longitudinal support member and the fourth longitudinal support member. The second subframe may be secured to the first subframe. The walkway platform may be secured to the plurality of second cross members.

[0009] In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method of assembling a walkway at an installation site. The walkway may include a first subframe, a second subframe and a walkway platform. The first subframe may include a first longitudinal support member, a second longitudinal support member and a plurality of cross members spanning between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member. The method may include transporting the first subframe as an assembled component to the installation site, securing the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member to a structure of the installation site, and securing the second subframe to the installed first subframe at the installation site.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Reference will now be made, by way of example only, to specific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings in which: [0011] Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of a walkway; [0012] Figure 2 shows an end view of the walkway of Figure 1; [0013] Figure 3 shows a side view of the walkway of Figure 1; [0014] Figure 4 shows a top view of the walkway of Figure 1; [0015] Figure 5 shows a cross section of a support member; [0016] Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a subframe for an elevated walkway; [0017] Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the subframe and walkway module; and [0018] Figure 8 shows a perspective view of an elevated walkway assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] In Figure 1, there is shown an exploded perspective view of a walkway in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure. The walkway 10 ineludes a subframe 12 including a first longitudinal support member 14, a second longitudinal support member 15 and a plurality of cross members 16 that span between the first and second support members 14, 15 at intervals. A walkway platform 18 is secured to the subframe 12.

[0020] The assembled walkway is shown in end view in Figure 2, side view in Figure 3 and top view in Figure 4.

[0021] In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the first and second supports 14, 15 are lengths of angle metal, such as steel, aluminium, etc, though other materials, including non-metals, will be apparent to the person skilled in the art. Each support member may have a vertical section 41 and a horizontal section 42 at the lower end of the vertical section. Other profiles may be used for the supports 14, 15, including, without limitation, box sections, fíat sections, I-beams or more complex extruded sections which may be apparent to a person skilled in the art. The support members 14, 15 extend longitudinally along the length of the walkway.

[0022] Cross members 16 span the width of the walkway between the supports 14, 15. The cross members 16 are placed at intervals along the longitudinal direction of the support members. In one embodiment, the interval between cross members is a máximum of 650mm but this can vary dependent on various factors including the materials used for the supports, cross members and walkway platform.

[0023] The cross member is shown in cross section in Figure 5. The cross member 16 may be a double angle extrusión having a vertical piece 51. A bottom piece 52 extends horizontally from a lower end of the vertical piece 51 and provides a lower fíat surface 54 for securing the cross member 16 to the support members. A top piece 53 extends horizontally from an upper edge of the vertical piece 51 and provides an upper fíat surface 55 for securing the walkway to the cross member 16.

[0024] The walkway platform 18 may be any suitable planar surface such as a mesh, board or the like. The walkway platform 18 can be secured to the cross members 16 through the use of a suitable fastener 17 coupled with retaining dises 19 or washers that are able to secure the mesh of the walkway platform 18. Suitable fasteners may include bolts, screws, tek screws and the like, though other fasteners may be apparent to a person skilled in the art. To facilítate securing the walkway platform 18, the top piece 53 of the cross members may be pre-formed, e.g. at the assembly site, with fastener holes. Alternatively the fastener holes may be formed at the installation site.

[0025] At the end of the walkway, an end cap 22 may be secured to provide protection against the exposed ends of the mesh walkway platform 18. Typically, a máximum length of walkway will be approximately 6 meters. If the walkway is required to be longer than this length, múltiple walkway modules can be used. A joiner cap 24 can be fitted where one walkway module adjoins a second adjacent section of walkway.

[0026] To as semble the subframe, fastener holes may be preformed in the support members 14, 15 or may be drilled at the time of assembly. The cross members 16 may then be secured to the support members 14, 15. For example, the bottom piece 53 of each cross member may be secured to the horizontal section 42 of the support member 14, 15 by welding, spot welding, brazing or through the use of fasteners such as bolts, screws, tek screws, rivets etc.

[0027] In one embodiment, the components of the walkway module may be transported individually to the installation site for assembly at the installation site. However, a particular advantage of the use of the subframe is that the subframe can be assembled at an assembly site and then transported as an assembled component to the installation site. This enables the subframe to be made in a factory environment, e.g. on a bench, which may be more ergonomic than assembling the subframe at the installation site.

[0028] To install the walkway module at the installation site, the support members 14, 15 of the assembled subframe may be laid over any suitable structure at the installation, such as an external roof surface, corrugated roof surface, roof beams, framework, rafters or the like and then secured to the installation using suitable fasteners, such as bolts, screws, tek screws, rivets, roofing screws, etc. Holes may be pre-formed in the subframe, e.g. in the horizontal section 42 of the longitudinal supports, for connecting the subframe to the installation, or may be drilled or otherwise formed at the time of installation. The walkway platform 18 may then be secured to the cross members 16 using the fasteners 17 and retaining dises 19.

[0029] An advantage of the use of the subframe 12, and in particular the support members 14, 15 over prior art systems that do not utilise a subframe is that only a relatively small number of connections between the support members 14, 15 and the installation are required, compared with having to connect each walkway cross member 16 to the installation at each end of the cross member. For example, over a 6 meter length of walkway, a typical prior art walkway would require 22 holes in a roof. In the present embodiments, the subframe can be installed with as few as four roof holes.

[0030] A further advantage is that the walkway module can be installed significantly faster on site where people are working at heights and in less ergonomic positions.

[0031] In one embodiment, the prefabrication process may also involve securing the walkway platform 18 to the subframe 12 so that the walkway can be transported as fully assembled modules.

[0032] Guardrails (not shown) may be attached to the walkway as an additional safety measure.

[0033] While two longitudinal support members 14, 15 are shown, more longitudinal supports may be used in parallel for increasing the strength of the subframe if required.

[0034] An altemative embodiment is depicted in Figures 6 to 8. In the embodiment of Figures 6 to 8, a second subframe is used in applications where spanning of gaps is required. For example, the second subframe may be laid over beams which are spread far part, e.g. a distance of 8 meters or more. The subframe thus acts as a bridge and can be particularly advantageous in ceiling space applications. In a further example, the second subframe may be suspended from a roof.

[0035] The second subframe is shown in isolation in Figure 6 and ineludes longitudinal support members 141, 151. In one embodiment, the supports 141, 151 may have a strengthened cross section that can withstand a vertical load, in particular across an unsupported center section of the supports 141, 151 without substantial flexing or bowing. Cross members 161 may be spaced at intervals along the longitudinal supports 141, 151 to provide a brace between the supports 141, 151.

[0036] Typically, the second subframe will be initially installed at the site. For example, the second subframe may be disposed to bridge a gap between two supports and secured to the supports by suitable fixings or may be suspended from a roof or ceiling. Alternatively, the second subframe may be suspended from a ceiling by wires, cables or rigid supports. The second subframe may then receive upon it one or more walkway modules. Figure 7 shows a walkway module on the second subframe with the right side longitudinal support member 151 removed for clarity. As can be seen in Figure 7, the supports 14, 15 of the walkway module rest on the cross members 161 of the second subframe. The vertical sections of supports 14, 15 can be secured to the side walls of the support members 141, 151 (e.g. side wall 142) by tek screws or other suitable fasteners. As a consequence, the walkway module can be installed onto the subframe as a complete module, i.e. with the walkway platform 18 pre-connected to cross members 16 of the first subframe, thereby making installation at the site relatively simple. Alternatively, the first subframe can be connected to the second subframe by fixings through the horizontal sections of the supports 14, 15 into the cross members 161 of the second subframe with the walkway platform 18 being installed thereafter.

[0037] While Figure 7 shows one walkway module on the second subframe, an extended walkway can be produced by installing múltiple walkway modules end to end on the second subframe, with additional second subframes if required.

[0038] Figure 8 shows a complete elevated walkway assembly. End caps 180, 181, may be used on the ends of the support extrusions 141, 151 to cover any sharp or unsightly edges.

[0039] The first subframe sits within the borders of the second subframe such that the sides of the supports 141, 151 extend above the height of the walkway 18, thereby providing a toe board as protection for the edges of the walkway. In one embodiment, the toe board extends at least lOOmm above the height of the walkway platform 18.

[0040] Because the walkway of Figures 6-8 is intended for use above heights, the walkway may include a guardrail on one or both sides of the walkway. The guardrail may include one or more posts 190 connected to the sides of the support members 141, 151 and extending upwards. An upper rail 192 may be seated in a rail saddle 197, while a lower rail 194 may be supported by rail guides 196 connected to the posts 190.

[0041] The second subframe may be assembled at an assembly site and then transported as an assembled component to the installation site.

[0042] Throughout the presently described embodiments, relative positional terms such as front, back, upwards, downwards, horizontal, vertical, etc. are used to aid the description of the features of the apparatus with respect to their depictions in the Figures and are not intended to be limiting.

[0043] Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth herein and as defined by any claims that follow.

Claims

. A walkway including a first subframe and a walkway platform secured to the first subframe, the first subframe including: (A) a first longitudinal support member; (B) a second longitudinal support member; and (C) a plurality of first cross members that span between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member, wherein the walkway platform is secured to the plurality of cross members. . The walkway of claim 1 wherein at least one first cross member of the plurality of first cross members includes a double angle extrusión including: (A) a substantially vertical piece; (B) a substantially horizontal bottom piece extending from a lower end of the vertical piece that secures the first cross member to the first and second longitudinal members; and (C) a substantially horizontal top piece extending from an upper end of the vertical piece that provides an upper flat surface for securing the walkway platform to the first cross member. 10
3. The walkway of claim 1 or 2 including a joiner cap for joining a first length of the walkway platform to a second length of the walkway platform.
4. The walkway of any one of claims 1 to 3 including a second subframe including: (A) a third longitudinal support member; (B) a fourth longitudinal support member; and (C) a plurality of second cross members spanning between the third longitudinal support member and the fourth longitudinal support member; (D) wherein the first subframe is supported by the second subframe.
5. The walkway of claim 4 wherein the plurality of second cross members span across a lower section of the third and fourth longitudinal support members such that the third and fourth longitudinal support members extend above a height of the walkway.
6. A method of assembling a walkway at an installation site, the method including securing a first preassembled subframe to a structure at the installation site, securing a second subframe to the first subframe, and securing a walkway platform to the second subframe, wherein the first preassembled subframe ineludes a first longitudinal support member, a second longitudinal support member and a plurality of first cross members spanning between the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member.
7. The method of claim 6 including transporting the first subframe as an assembled component to the installation site, securing the first longitudinal support member and the second longitudinal support member to a structure of the installation site, and securing the second subframe to the installed first subframe at the installation site.
8. The method of claim 6 or 7 wherein the second subframe includes a third longitudinal support member, a fourth longitudinal support member and a plurality of second cross members spanning between the third longitudinal support member and the fourth longitudinal support member.
9. The method of claim 8 including transporting the second subframe as an assembled component to the installation site as an assembled second subframe assembly.
10. The method of any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the second subframe is secured within the first subframe.
11. The method of any one of claims 6 to 10 wherein securing the first preassembled subframe to the structure at the installation site includes suspending the first subframe from a roof of the structure.
12. A walkway assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.