A device for lowering a person into a vertical space with a manhole on top of it

Abstract

 A device for lowering a person into a vertical space with a manhole on top of it, characterised in that it consists of, in the operational mode, a vertical console (3) that by means of a hoisting device via said manhole (2) can be lowered in this space and/or hoisted therefrom, to which vertical console (3) is mounted a hinged boom (5) that can be moved in a vertical plane by a pressure cylinder (6).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a device for lowering a person into a vertical space with a manhole on top of it.

[0002] The object of the invention is to realise a device for lowering a person into a vertical space such as for example, a tank, a silo, a reactor or a similar space and to hoist him therefrom so that work can be accomplished in safe conditions in this space.

[0003] The spaces described here can be of various types but always have one important characteristic in common, namely an entrance as a manhole in the upmost wall of the space.

[0004] To make this possible according to the invention, according to the invention the device consists of, in the operating mode, a vertical console that by means of a hoisting device via said manhole can be lowered in this space and/or hoisted therefrom, to which vertical console is mounted a hinged boom that can be moved in a vertical plane by a pressure cylinder.

[0005] Still according to the invention the above hinged boom is composed of telescopic parts.

[0006] According to a preferably applicable embodiment, means for the hanging of a sitting element for a user runs over the extremity of afore said hinged boom.

[0007] Other details and advantages of the invention will be shown by the following description of a device according to the invention for lowering a person into a vertical cylindrical space. This description is exclusively given by means of an example and does not limit the invention. The reference numbers refer to the figures annexed hereto.

[0008] Figure 1 is a schematical side view of the device according to the invention.

[0009] Figure 2 is a schematical top view of the device according to the invention.

[0010] The device represented by these figures, is designed to allow a user to accomplish work in a closed space under the roof and/or on the side walls of this space.

[0011] As already described hereabove, this space can fulfil the most various functions and can be made of any material.

[0012] In figure 1 a part of the side wall and the roof of a tank are indicated with a dotted line and with the reference 1. The manhole 2 has a common form.

[0013] Through the manhole 2, in the operational mode, the vertical console 3 of the device is lowered. With the vertical console 3 a crane 4 is connected and common means are provided to rotate the console with the connected aggregates around its geometrical axis.

[0014] Under the console 3 a hinged boom (5) is connected. The hinge point of the boom 5 with respect to the console 3 is indicated with the reference 6.

[0015] The boom is made of various telescopic parts that can be moved in and out of each other. This is preferably realised by using hydraulic control devices known as such. The rotation of the boom 5 with respect to the console 3 is done by a hydraulic pressure cylinder 7 with hinge points 8 and 9 with respect to, on one hand, the console 3 and, on the other hand, the parts that are connected thereto.

[0016] To allow the user to work at the desired level, a sitting element not represented in the figures is fixed on the hook 10, at the extremity of the hoisting cable 11. With a winch 12, the hoisting cable 11 that runs for the rest over a guide roller 13, can be controlled.

[0017] From the description of the invention given here it immediately appears that a user can inspect the space over its whole circumference and thus do the necessary work at any place. It will also be apparent that the boom 5 can be locked in any other position than the horizontal position represented here. In function of the length of the console and of the parts of the telescopic boom 5 devices can be built that answer each need. It is hereby meant that spaces with many various dimensions and profile can thus be internally inspected and that the necessary activities can be accomplished at any level.

[0018] The invention is not limited to the hereabove described realisation form and many modifications can be brought to it for so far that they are comprised in the scope of the annexed claims.

Claims

1. A device for lowering a person into a vertical space with a manhole on top of it, characterised in that it consists of, in the operational mode, a vertical console (3) that by means of a hoisting device via said manhole (2) can be lowered in this space and/or hoisted therefrom, to which vertical console (3) is mounted a hinged boom (5) that can be moved in a vertical plane by a pressure cylinder (6).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the above mentioned hinged boom (5) is composed of telescopic parts, and is hydraulically adjusted.

3. A device according to claim 2, characterised in that means for the hanging of a sitting element for a user runs over the extremity of afore said hinged boom (5).

4. A device according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that means are provided to allow above mentioned vertical console (3) to rotate around its axis.

5. A device according to claim 4, characterised in that said means, to ensure the rotation of above mentioned vertical console (3), are made of a crane (4) with which above mentioned vertical console (3) is connected and that is provided to collaborate with a flange fixed on the above mentioned manhole (2).

Drawing