WO2024227914A1

WO2024227914A1 - A barrier system

Info

Publication number: WO2024227914A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/062231
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Ask ANDERSEN
Original assignee: Huma Technologies Aps
Current assignee: Huma Technologies Aps
Priority date: 2023-05-03
Filing date: 2024-05-03
Publication date: 2024-11-07
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-03

Abstract

The invention relates to an extendable scaffolding safety barrier, the barrier comprising: a barrier portion to substantially restrict passage of objects therethrough, and a frame for supporting the barrier portion, wherein the frame is of extendable height such that the barrier portion is reversible movable between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the barrier portion is deployed to a desired height to provide a safety barrier around scaffolding.

Description

A barrier system

The invention relates to a barrier system comprising: a barrier portion to substantially restrict passage of objects and/or wind therethrough; a frame for supporting the barrier portion, the barrier portion being connected to; a motor system connected to the barrier portion such that said motor system can move the barrier portion between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the barrier portion is deployed to a desired height to provide a barrier around at least a part of a scaffolding.

In the construction industry, it is frequently desirable to protect workers and buildings under construction from the weather. Contractors normally erect scaffolding around the outside of structures upon which the work is to be performed. Such scaffolding provides support for workers and tools so that work may be done on the structure at elevated levels. Scaffold enclosures are generally applied to the outside of the scaffolding, after it has been erected to create a weatherproof environment around the scaffold and the structure. Prior art scaffold enclosures have frequently been complicated and cumbersome, and they have required significant expense and time to erect or remove. The enclosures have also been difficult to open or close as needed.

When scaffolding is erected around a structure, it is often necessary to provide a cover over the scaffolding to act as a safety barrier and prevent debris, tools and other objects falling from height onto anyone or anything below. Typically, netting is attached to the scaffolding using cable ties to act as such a cover. Alternatively, plastic sheeting encapsulates the exterior of the scaffolding to provide a cover. However, these covers often do not provide barriers of adequate strength to contain dropped objects. In addition, there is a time period during erection and deconstruction of the scaffolding where there is no protection or cover over the scaffolding.

The cover is most often a reinforced plastic tarpaulin, but the tarpaulin can also be made of other materials such as fabric, plastic or a combination of these materials. A disadvantage of such tarpaulin covered scaffolding is that the covering often constitutes a considerable area, which is why e.g. wind loads sometimes leads to the collapse of covered scaffolding. This is of course a great danger to people on and around the scaffolding. There is a lot of technology available today to monitor scaffolding and their surroundings in order to prevent and warn of a potential scaffolding collapse before it occurs. Such technology includes vibration sensors/accelerometers that measure whether a scaffold is shaking or moving so much that the risk of collapse is real. The scaffolding and/or its surroundings can also be monitored by anemometers, so that a collapse can be prevented in the event that the wind at or near a scaffold reaches such high speeds that the wind pressure on the covering becomes so great that the risk of a collapse is assessed as real.

Today, prevention in most cases will consist of manually removing the covering or evacuating around the scaffolding. When covering is removed, it is damaged and therefore scaffold coverings cannot be reused with today's technology and that is regardless of whether the covering is removed for weather reasons (wind) or whether it is due to work on the scaffolding being stopped for natural reasons.

It is an object of the invention to provide a system in which one or more of these disadvantages are remedied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an alternative.

This is achieved by that the barrier system and the motor system are mutually adapted such that the motor system can move the barrier portion partly or fully into its stowed configuration.

By making the barrier system so that the tarpaulin/cover/barrier portion can be switched between a stowed and deployed state, a barrier system has been achieved where the tarpaulin can not only be reused, but also a barrier system that can prevent the collapse of scaffolding, as the cover or parts of it can easily brought back to the stowed state in case of wind, thereby reducing the wind load on the scaffolding.

In an embodiment the barrier system comprises a programable control unit provided with a timer connected to said motor system such that said programable control unit is capable of controlling said motor system.

By providing the barrier system with a programmable control unit with a built-in timer, the system can be adapted to individual conditions. For example, the system can be programmed so that it stows the covering on certain days of the week or certain times of the day, when it is known that there is no work on the scaffolding. In this way, the risk of collapse due to wind pressure during these periods is effectively reduced. In an embodiment said system comprises at least one measuring unit capable of measuring one or more physical parameters such as pressure, temperature, wind speed, vibrations, tilt angles and humidity, said one or more measuring units being connected to said control unit such that said control unit emits an alarm signal if a measuring unit measures a given physical parameter.

By equipping the barrier system with measuring units that can measure physical parameters, it is possible to monitor whether circumstances that endanger people who are on or near the scaffolding occur. By connecting these measuring units to the control unit and letting the control unit emit an alarm when certain physical parameters occur, the alarming situation/circumstance can be assessed and any potential damage can be prevented by, for example, stowing or partially stowing one or more of the barrier portions/tarpaulins covering a scaffold.

In an embodiment, the programable control unit is connected to a communication unit, the programable control unit and any controllable units connected thereto can the export operational date about the barrier systems operational status including the position of the barrier portion and/or the physical parameters measured by the measuring units. Thereby making it possible to remotely monitor the system.

In an embodiment the programable control unit is connected to a communication unit so that the programable control unit and any controllable units connected thereto are remotely controllable via the communication unit. Thereby it becomes possible - from a distance - to fully or partially retract the barrier portion into its stowed state and thereby prevent accidents that could or would occur due to, for example, excessive wind speed/wind load.

In an embodiment the communication unit is a wireless communication unit. This makes it possible to both remotely control and remotely monitor the system.

In an embodiment said programable unit being programmed such that the barrier system at least partially undeploys the barrier portion into its stowed configuration when one or more prerequisite criteria are met. From experience, it is known that wind forces above a given magnitude mean that scaffolding provided with covering is in danger of tipping over/crashing or collapsing. By programming the control unit so that it - in these situations - undeploys the barrier portion or a portion thereof, the wind load at these wind strengths can be automatically reduced and accidents can thereby be automatically prevented.

In an embodiment said motor system comprises a single motor being adapted to the barrier portion such that the single motor can move the barrier portion between the stowed and the deployed configuration and all positions in between.

A barrier system with only one motor is a cheap solution.

In an embodiment of the system said motor system comprises a first and a second motor, the first motor being adapted to the barrier portion such that the first motor can deploy the barrier portion from the stowed configuration and the second motor is adapted to the barrier portion such that the second motor moves the barrier portion in the opposite direction.

A system with two motors is a strong and reliable system.

Other embodiments are recited in the dependent claims 9 and 10.

An embodiment of the invention will now be explained with reference to the figures, In which: fig. 1 shows - in perspective - a building equipped with multiple barrier systems; fig. 2 shows a part of a pulley provided with cord and a barrier portion; fig. 3 shows a part of a scaffold provided with a frame and a cord pulley system; fig. 4 shows - in perspective - a part of a building provided with a scaffold covered by barrier systems.

In Figure 1 , a scaffold with multiple barrier systems according to the invention is shown. The scaffold 9 is built around a house with a sloping roof. The facade of the house is equipped with several barrier systems, and so is the roof of the house. In Figure 1 , you cannot see the roof of the house, but only the barrier systems that cover it. On the other hand, you can see part of the house facade behind the scaffold 9. Each of the barrier systems in the illustrated embodiment includes: a barrier portion 7, 4, 5 that substantially restricts the passage of objects and/or wind through it, and a frame system 8 that supports the barrier portion 7. Each of the barrier portions 2,3, 4, 5 or 7 is connected to a motor system (not shown in the figures) that can move the barrier portion between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration.

In Figure 1 , it can be observed that barrier systems 1 , 2, and 3 are partially deployed, while barrier systems 4 and 5 are fully deployed. The scaffold of the house (7) is surrounded by barrier systems that are not fully deployed, such as barrier systems 2 and 3. This may be due to various factors, but wind load on the scaffold with barrier systems can be a significant factor, as the wind load decreases when the surface area covered by barrier systems is reduced.

This prevents the scaffold from collapsing or even toppling over due to wind load. Additionally, factors such as the need to bring supplies to construction workers working on the scaffold can also influence whether one wants to open one or more barrier systems. Temperatures under the scaffold can also be a parameter that affects whether one wants to open one or more barrier systems. For example, one may want to open one or more barrier systems to ventilate and lower the temperature by simply allowing air to circulate.

In one embodiment of the invention, it thus includes a covering system that includes several barrier systems as stated in the patent claims. In a further embodiment, the invention includes a central computer that can control the individual barrier systems. This central computer can advantageously be adapted so that in given conditions - such as e.g. at a given wind speed and/or wind direction - opens (undeploys) one or more barrier systems. This can e.g. be such that the computer in such a covering system at wind speeds above a given wind speed activates (undeploys) so many barrier systems that the maximum exposed/deployd area of the barrier system's tarpaulins is reduced by a given size, such as 30%, 40, 50, or 100%.

Such a central computer can also be connected to other types of measuring units on a scaffold and/or on one or more of the barrier systems used on the scaffold. Such measuring units can e.g. be units that measure if the scaffolding shakes or if it the scaffold or parts of it actually changes inclination, and the computer in such systems can also be adapted to emit an alarm in the event of shaking above a certain size or in the event that a measuring unit measures a given change in angle. The alarm can be with sound and/or light and/or wireless via a wireless transmitter. Such a central computer can also be programmed so that when an alarm is issued and/or a given measurement is recorded, it initiates a full or partial withdrawal (undeploys) of one or more barrier portions/tarpaulins on the barrier systems used on a scaffold.

Figure 2 shows a roll 10 provided with tarpaulin/barrier portion. Just below this, in figure 2, a barrier portion 7 can be seen. On the right side of the figure, a cord roll 15 is seen. This cord roll 15 is attached to the roll 10 with barrier portion/tarpaulin so that they rotate together. However, cord and barrier portion/tarpaulin are wound in the opposite direction of rotation Thereby, the cord 12 will be unrolled from the cord roll 15 when the barrier portion tarpaulin 7 is rolled in and vice versa. The barrier/tarpaulin 7 is together with the cord 12 held in the frame 8.

Normally the other end of the frame 8 will end with a pulley system 13 as shown in figure 3, which we explain further with reference to.

As seen in figure 3, the barrier/tarpaulin 7 will also be connected - via an opening 14 - to the cord 12 at the other end of the frame 8. Normally, both the left side of a roll 10- as shown in figure 2 - will be provided with a mirrored but otherwise identical cord roll (15) and frame 8 and thereby a tarpaulin on this will be pulled out - by the cord (s) 12 - of the frame/cord/pulley system 8, 12, 13 at the -essentially - same speed, as the speed, it is rolled out of the roll 10.

Figure 4 shows a section of a house provided with a scaffold 9, which is equipped with several barrier systems according to the invention. These barrier systems all include a roll 10 provided with barrier portion/tarpaulin and a frame system 8 as well as a cord/pulley system as explained with reference to Figure 3. An advantage of these barrier systems is that they can be made with a simple motor to pull the tarpaulin 7 both in and out. But of course, a professional can make the system so that it is a motor that pulls the tarpaulin out, while another motor pulls the tarpaulin in.

The system can also, in addition to saving a scaffold from being destroyed (from e.g. wind) also prevent plastic coverings from being used only once and then thrown away. Possibly. In the case of large scaffold constructions, some "windows" can be prefabricated with the invented system. These windows can be opened and closed as needed. Then the craftsmen/workers on the scaffold -or in the building behind the scaffold - can get materials in through those windows and close them again afterwards. In Denmark alone, multi-millions of danish kroner are spent on used and thrown away plastic every year in the civil construction industry. In the description, the words barrier portion and tarpaulin are used for that part in the barrier system that can be deployed and undeployed (rolled in and out). A tarpaulin is always a barrier portion, but the words "barrier portion" - as used in the below claims - covers more than just a tarpaulin.

Claims

1 . A barrier system comprising: a barrier portion to substantially restrict passage of objects and/or wind therethrough; a frame-system for supporting the barrier portion, the barrier portion being connected to; a motor system connected to the barrier portion such that said motor system can move the barrier portion between a stowed configuration and a deployed configuration in which the barrier portion is deployed to a desired height to provide a barrier around at least a part of a scaffolding, characterized in that, the barrier system and the motor system are mutually adapted such that the motor system can move the barrier system partly or fully into its stowed configuration.

2. A barrier system according to claim 1 , wherein the barrier system comprising a programable control unit connected to said motor system such that said programable control unit is capable of controlling said motor system.

3. A barrier system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said barrier system comprises at least one measuring unit capable of measuring one or more physical parameters such as pressure, temperature, wind speed, vibrations, tilt angles and humidity, said one or more measuring units being connected to said control unit such that said control unit emits an alarm signal if a measuring unit measures a given physical parameter.

4. A barrier system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the programable control unit is connected to a communication unit so that the programable control unit and any controllable units connected thereto are remotely controllable via the communication unit.

5. A barrier system according to claim 4, wherein the connection between the programable control unit and the communication unit is a wireless communication.

6. A barrier system according to any of the claims 1-5, wherein said programable unit being programmed such that the barrier system at least partially undeploys the barrier portion into its stowed configuration when one or more prerequisite criteria are met.

7. A barrier system according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein said motor system comprises a single motor being adapted to the barrier portion such that the single motor can move the barrier portion between the stowed and the deployed configuration and all positions in between.

8. A barrier system according to any of the claims 1-6, wherein said motor system comprises a first and a second motor, the first motor being adapted to the barrier portion such that the first motor can deploy the barrier portion from the stowed configuration and the second motor is adapted to the barrier portion such that the second motor can move the barrier portion in the opposite direction.

9. A barrier system according to any of the claims 1 -6, wherein said barrier portion is a plastic barrier.

10. A barrier system according to any of the claims 1 -6, wherein said barrier portion is a reinforced plastic barrier.