Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to lifting devices for residential, public and industrial buildings and structures, and more specifically, to lifting and carrying systems for maintaining building facades, and is comprised of rail- or mast-type guides, located on the external wall of the building and equipped with teeth or other engaging elements, such as pins or rollers, and a lifting device having a drive, wherein the drive includes a motor with a gearbox and a toothed wheel mounted on the drive shaft of the gearbox so as to be able to engage with the above-mentioned teeth of the guides in such a manner that during rotation of said toothed wheel, said lifting device moves along the guides; the system additionally comprises control means embodied with the possibility of controlling the motor.

The following terms are used in this paper.

Vertical - a direction parallel to the force of gravity.

Horizontal - a direction perpendicular to the force of gravity.

Longitudinal direction - a direction along the surface of the building or along the tangent to the surface of the building.

Transverse direction - a direction perpendicular to the surface of the building.

Toothed wheel - a part, embodied with a possibility to rotate around its axis, and having projections of arbitrary shape. This also applies to the embodiment in the form of a sprocket, or any other design version of a part having teeth or other engaging elements, such as pins or rollers.

Prior Art

This invention relates to a lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades, comprising rail- or mast-type guides, located on the external wall of the building and equipped with teeth, and a lifting device having a drive, wherein the drive includes a motor with a gearbox and a toothed wheel mounted on the drive shaft of the gearbox so as to be able to engage with the above-mentioned teeth of the guides in such a manner that during rotation of said toothed wheel, said lifting device moves along the guides; the system additionally comprises control means embodied with the possibility of controlling the motor.

Such system is described in the utility model patent RF 134917, published in 2013.

This system is the closest to the proposed invention based on the technical essence and achieved technical result, and therefore, was chosen as a prototype.

The disadvantage of this prototype results from the fact that it is not possible to use it on complex shape buildings having a complex curved surface of the facade, while the number of such buildings is constantly growing.

This is due to the fact that by using the system described in the prototype, it is impossible to provide access to various sections of building facades having a complex curved surface, since the prototype system is only able to move along a single vertical guide, while in the case of a complex shape building, such direction may not even exist. This makes the prototype system completely unfit for use on buildings that have a complex curved surface of the facade.

In addition, there are other disadvantages of the prototype, such as:

• this prototype cannot provide access to the extended horizontal section of the building facade;
• this prototype does not have the ability to stabilize the horizontal position of the platform;
• this prototype cannot change the geometry of the platform itself, while adjusting its shape to that of the building facade.

Description of the Invention

This invention is mainly intended to provide a lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades, which allows to mitigate at least one of the above-mentioned disadvantages, namely, to expand the field of application of the system by allowing it to be used on building facades having complex form, which is the technical objective.

To achieve this objective, the rail- or mast-type guides have a shape that mimics the shape of the building and are attached to the building by means of brackets passing through the building facade and secured to the load-bearing structures of the building, while a lifting device includes a platform, each edge of which is hinged to a trolley in the form of a frame connecting two carriages, each of which represents a system of guiding thrust rollers resting on the rail- or mast-type guides.

Because of these advantageous characteristics, it becomes possible to use the proposed system on the facades of complex shape buildings. This is enabled by a special shape of the guides, which are attached to the building's load-bearing structures, and a special platform, located between the two guides, wherein said platform is attached to the trolleys, which in turn are attached to the carriages, each of which represents a system of guiding thrust rollers resting on the rail- or mast-type guides.

There is also a preferential version of the invention, according to which the platform is embodied in the form of a telescopic sectional platform. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to use the lifting and carrying system in cases, when the guides are positioned at a relatively large distance from each other, when the curvature of the facade starts to play a role, and it becomes necessary to adapt the shape of the platform itself to the shape of the curved facade. In addition, such a feature allows moving the platform in a vertical direction while adjusting the shape thereof, which again allows matching the shape of the platform to that of the curved facade. This is why the platform is constructed of individual sections, which are telescopically enclosed within each other. Generally, it is possible to connect several platforms into a single complex shape structure. It is also possible to have several platforms at different levels on the same guides.

There is yet another preferential version of the invention, according to which the platform has a horizontal position stabilization system. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to automatically maintain the horizontal position of the platform. This is especially important, since the platform is intended to have people on it at great heights, and non-horizontal position of the platform can not be allowed.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which the system for stabilizing the platform in a horizontal position is embodied in the form of a mechanical or electromechanical system for providing stabilization in a transverse direction. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to stabilize the platform in the transverse direction.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which the system for stabilizing the platform in a horizontal position has a sensor, specially designed for synchronizing the movement of the carriages along the guides and slowing down the carriage that is getting ahead using a signal from the sensor to provide stabilization of the platform in the longitudinal direction. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to provide stabilization of the platform in the longitudinal direction. In reality, the length of the platform in the longitudinal direction by far exceeds its transverse dimensions. And horizontal stabilization in the longitudinal direction occurs due to synchronization of the carriage movement along the guides. Such synchronization is controlled by a special sensor, which sends control signals causing carriages on each edge of the platform to move.

There is yet another possible version of the invention, according to which the carriages have a locking system, specifically intended to be activated during an emergency situation. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to improve the safety of those working on the platform.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which the carriages are equipped with limit switches. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to ensure that the carriage stops.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which a drive is mounted onto each carriage, which moves the carriage along the guide by means of a "gearwheel - toothed rack" or a "sprocket - chain" transmission. Due to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to ensure engagement between the carriage elements and the guides. This can be embodied in the "gearwheel - toothed rack" or "sprocket - chain" versions.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which the motors are equipped with a normally blocked electromagnetic brake configured to operate if triggered by a spring in the absence of electricity. Thanks to this advantageous characteristic, it becomes possible to increase the safety of work using the proposed system and provide an alternative option for braking in the absence of electricity.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which the platform has a speed limit control device. Due to this advantageous characteristic it becomes possible to progressively or smoothly stop the platform in case of exceeding the set value.

There is yet another version of the invention, according to which the platforms are equipped with a proximity control system with regard to a platform located above or below when moving up or down. The system has two modes:

1. 1. to prevent a doubled load on the guides (provides the distance between the platforms, which guarantees the transfer of load to the guide from only one platform),
2. 2. if the guide is capable of withstanding the load from two platforms, the system allows avoiding collision of the platforms when moving up or down. The carriages are equipped with independent sensors for each mode.

The combination of essential features of the proposed invention is unknown from the prior art with regard to devices serving a similar purpose, which allows to conclude that the invention as a device satisfies the "novelty" criterion. Also, the combination of essential features of the proposed invention does not explicitly follow from the prior art for devices having a similar purpose, which makes it possible to conclude that the "inventive step" criterion has been met.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The other distinctive features and advantages of the invention clearly follow from the description, which is provided below for illustration purposes, and is not limiting, with the references to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a side view of the lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades according to the invention (direction of the gravitational force is shown),
• Figure 2 shows a top view of the lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades according to the invention,
• Figure 3 shows a vertical sectional view of the lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades according to the invention,
• Figure 4 shows a connection version between a guide and a toothed wheel of the lifting device drive according to the invention,
• Figure 5 schematically shows the steps of utilizing the lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades according to the invention.

The following nomenclature is used in the figures:

1. 1 - external wall of the building,
2. 2 - guides,

   • 21 -guide teeth,
   • 22 -guide bracket

3. 3 - lifting device,

   • 31 - lifting device platform,

     • 311 - lifting device platform section

   • 32 - lifting device frame,
   • 33 - lifting device carriage,
   • 34 - lifting device platform stabilization system in the transverse direction,
   • 35 - sensor to ensure platform stabilization in the longitudinal direction,
   • 36 - blocking system
   • 37 - limit switch
   • 38 - upper console,
   • 39 - upper crosshead

     • 391 - upper crosshead carriage

4. 4 - lifting device drive,

   • 41 - lifting device motor,
   • 42 - lifting device drive gearbox,
   • 43 - lifting device drive gearwheel,
   • 44 - normally closed electromagnetic brake,
   • 45 - rotation flywheel for lowering the carriages in emergency situations,
   • 46 - emergency wedge catcher device,
   • 47 - overload device

5. 5 - management tool

According to Figs. 1 to 4, the lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades comprises rail- or mast-type guides 2, located on the external wall 1 of the building and provided with teeth 21, and a lifting device 3 having a drive 4. The rail- or mast-type guides 2 have a shape that repeats the shape of the building and are attached to the building by means of brackets 22, passing through the facade of the building and secured to the load-bearing structures of the building. Depending on the shape of the building, the configuration of the guides 2 can be different - they can be not only vertical, but also inclined, straight or curved, with a positive angle or with a negative angle.

The lifting device 3 includes a platform 31, each edge of which is hinge-mounted to the frame 32 linking two carriages 33 hinged to the frame, each of which represents a system of guide thrust rollers resting on the rail- or mast-type guides 2. Each frame 32 with carriages 33 has its own drive 4, which includes a motor 41 with a gearbox 42, and a toothed wheel 43 installed on the drive shaft of the gearbox 42 capable of engaging with said teeth of the guides 2 in such a manner that when the toothed wheel 43 rotates, the lifting device 3 moves along the guides 2; the system also includes control means 5 embodied with the possibility to control the motor 41.

Platform 31 can be embodied in the form of a telescopic section platform, i.e., consisting of sections 311, which are telescopically inserted into each other and have locks preventing the disengagement of the sections 311. It is possible to have a version, when the platform consists of two or more telescopic sections and several sectional platforms with a "scissors" type connection - the version shown in Fig. 2.

Platform 31 may have a horizontal position stabilization system.

The system for stabilizing the platform in horizontal position can be embodied in the form of a mechanical or electromechanical stabilization system 34 in the transverse direction.

The system for stabilizing the platform in horizontal position can be provided with a sensor 35 specifically intended for synchronizing the movement of the carriages along the guides and slowing down the carriage that got ahead based on the signal from the sensor to ensure stabilization of the platform in the longitudinal direction.

The carriages 33 may be equipped with a locking system 36, specifically intended to be activated during emergency situations. The carriages may be equipped with limit switches 37.

When the platform 31 is lowered/raised under normal conditions by the drive 4, the stabilization system 34 operates by switching off the power of the drive that got ahead by operating the limit switch 37 driven by a rod via a camshaft mechanism. The same mechanism activates the braking device via a cable when descending in the manual mode.

Each carriage 33 can be equipped with a drive 4, which moves the carriage along the guide by means of a "gearwheel - toothed rack" or "sprocket-chain" transmission. The chain can be flexible or rigid.

The motors 41 can be equipped with a normally blocked electromagnetic brake 44, configured to be actuated by the spring in the absence of electricity.

As already mentioned, each carriage 33 is provided with an integrated gearbox 42 having a driving toothed wheel 43 or a sprocket. The movement is transferred to the driving toothed wheels 43 via a gearbox 42 from the drive 41 located on the carriage 33 and connected to the carriage gearbox 42 via a quick-release tapered shaft. The driving toothed wheels 43 of the carriages engage with the rack bar (or a static, phased chain) secured inside the guide 2.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic diagram of the carriage 33 with the stabilization system. In this example, the compensation of the inclination angle of the main guide 2 results from the movement of the upper console 38 toward or away from the facade along the upper crosshead 39. The crosshead carriage 391 moves synchronously as the main carriages 33 are lifted/lowered by using a "nut-screw" transmission. The leading screw of this transmission is kinematically connected with the carriage gearbox, which allows compensating the inclination angles, determined by the building geometry, of the main guide 2 by about +/- 14°.

The movement rate of the platform 31 can be as high as 9 m/min. The electric power for the lifting device drive motors 41 is supplied via busbars placed inside the guides 2. Platform 31 may also be equipped with a speed limit control device ensuring a progressive (smooth) stop if the setpoint is exceeded.

The speed control device has a gearwheel, which is constantly engaged with the toothed rack (chain) and drives the axle with the reference weight attached to it, which actuates the brake cone under a centrifugal force, thus resulting in tightening the brake and causing a smooth stopping of the platform, while simultaneously de-energizing the drives.

The guide 2 represents a hexagonal (possibly, round or rectangular) pipe of a constant cross-section with the circumscribed circle diameter of, for example, 450-500 mm.

Height-wise, the guides 2 are positioned along the edges of the building. At each external or internal corner or surface of the building/structure, one or more guides 2 can be installed. The guides 2 are attached to the building by means of brackets 22 passing through the facade of the building and secured to the load-bearing structures of the building. The mounting distance between the brackets height-wise is determined by calculation. Facade lamps can be installed along the guide 2. The guides 2 can also have a decorative finish.

The telescopic platform 31 can have the required length, for example, 20 m. Each of the sections 311 represents a spatial rod system forming a fence and a floor for the maintenance personnel, interlocked with the main support beam.

In the ABC version of the telescopic platform (see Figure 3), the length of the AB section is about 20 m, and the length of the BC section is about 8 m. Each of the sections represents a spatial rod system that forms a fence and a floor for the maintenance personnel and is interlocked with the main load-bearing beam. The AB link, which is the closest to the guide B, has an additional bus for moving along a special carriage, to which a BC platform is hinged with the side opposite to point C. Such an attachment scheme, with the BC beam attachment point "floating" along the AB beam, allows increasing the span between the points B and C if they get too close, which in turn helps reducing the console protrusion of the beam/platform beyond the point C.

The angle between the platforms can vary from 0° to 107° during rising/lowering. This angle changes when the platform is raised/lowered due to the geometry of the guides and the specially organized kinematic scheme of the system.

To prevent icing of the guides 2, tubular (or other) seals can be provided that are installed along the edges of the longitudinal groove of the guide and cover it to prevent the ingress of snow and ice water into the guide 2. Busbars can also be used in waterproof design.

The platforms 31 may be equipped with a proximity control system with regard to the platform 31 positioned above or below the platform 31 when moving up or down. This system can operate in the following two modes:

• the first mode prevents double loading of the guides 2 by providing such a distance between the platforms 31 that would ensure the transfer of load to the guide 2 from only one platform 31,
• the second mode, if two platforms 31 can move along the same guides 2, ensures that the platforms 31 do not collide when moving up or down.

To ensure operation, the carriage proximity control system 33 includes the sensors for measuring the load on the guides and for detecting the distance between the platforms. Each sensor independently of one another provides the operation of the said system in the two above modes. (The sensors are not shown in the figures.)

Realization of the invention.

The lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades operates as follows. We consider the most comprehensive example of realization of the invention, keeping in mind that this example does not limit the application of the invention.

According to Figure 5:

• Step A1. To move the proposed system, guides 2 are required, which are secured to the building/structure using the brackets 22 and become a part of it. Therefore, these guides 2 are installed during construction of the building/structure or during its reconstruction.
• Step A2. The assembly of the proposed system starts with installing the carriages 33 on the guides 2. Next, a platform 31 is installed, which in turn is assembled from the sections 311.
• Step A3. The system is controlled from the control panel, which is a part of control means 5 and is carried by the maintenance personnel on the platform 31. The power supply of the lifting device drive motor 41 is performed via a busbar located inside the guide 2. (Not shown in the figures.)

In addition, the maintenance personnel as well as the personnel inside the building have radio communication in order to monitor operations and work performed by the maintenance personnel, as well as in the event of an emergency or emergency situation.

The sequence of steps is provided as an example, and allows you to rearrange, remove, add or perform certain operations simultaneously without losing the possibility of using it on the facades of complex shape buildings.

The principle of operation of the system allows the elements of the guide 2 to be installed in fragments, both as an assembly and a subassembly completed at the installation site, including using the platform 31 itself. For this purpose, the platform 31 is attached to the initial sections of the guide 2, and after inspection, it is moved upward until the upper carriage 33 reaches the limit point. Then the next section of the guide 2 is installed and secured on each side by installers from the platform 31 and the cycle is repeated.

Industrial applicability

The proposed lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades can be practically implemented by a specialist, while realizing the claimed application, which enables drawing a conclusion about satisfying the "industrial applicability" criterion of the invention.

According to the proposed invention, calculations were made to determine the design parameters of the pilot version of the lifting and carrying system for maintaining building facades.

The calculations of the pilot version of the system showed that it provides the possibility to:

• adapt the shape of the platform itself to the shape of the curved facade,
• move the platform in a vertical direction while simultaneously changing its shape,
• connect several platforms into a single complex shape construction,
• have several platforms installed at different levels on the same guides, while excluding the possibility of increased load on the guides and eliminating the possibility of collision of different platforms moving along the same guides,
• stabilize the platform horizontally both in the longitudinal and transverse direction,
• quickly block the carriages from movement in case of emergency,
• control and limit the speed of the platform.

Thus, the invention achieves the stated objective, which consists in expanding the field of application of the system by allowing it to be used on facades of complex shape buildings.

An additional advantageous technical result of the proposed invention is that it allows to:

• clean the facades of a complex shape buildings;
• perform glass replacement and repair facade structures of complex shape buildings;
• ensure the delivery of goods and personnel to the workplace.