# US 2014/0151153 A1 · Self-jacking scaffold for large cylindrical tanks > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151153 A1 - Document ID: US20140151153A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/090,901 - Filed: 2013-11-26 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company - Applicants: Chicago Bridge & Iron Company - Inventors: Oliver Mork; Marty Tellalian; Don Horacek; Glenn Riley; Andy Edenburn; Stuart Hellier; Al Garza; Joseph Kucic - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151153A1 ## CPC - E04G 3/28: Mobile scaffolds; Scaffolds with mobile platforms {(movable inspection or maintenance platforms for bridges E01D19/106, lifting devices for movable platforms, e.g. on vehicles B66F11/04)} - B66F 3/08: screw operated (B66F3/44 takes precedence; gearings F16H) - E04G 3/20: supported by walls (E04G3/28 takes precedence; wall-anchors for supporting scaffolds E04G5/04; consoles E04G5/06) - E04G 3/243: {following the outside contour of a building (E04G3/26 takes precedence)} - E04G 3/246: {following the inside contour of a building} - E04G 5/062: {specially adapted for attachment to building walls} - E04G 5/10: Steps or ladders specially adapted for scaffolds {(E04G27/00 takes precedence)} - E04G 2003/286: {mobile vertically} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS - B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An apparatus and method for raising a self-jacking scaffold system including extending a jacking screw and jacking screw bracket axially upward, connecting a jacking screw bracket to an overhead tank bracket for a plurality of scaffold sections coupled to a jacking assembly, detaching a plurality of scaffold mounting brackets from a plurality of tank mounting brackets, raising the continuously coupled plurality of scaffold sections, and reattaching the plurality of scaffold mounting brackets to a plurality of tank mounting brackets. Noting the plurality of scaffold sections is continuously coupled proximate a circumference of a shell tank, the continuously coupled scaffold sections and tank mounting brackets provide stiffness to the tank shell to enable it to resist external loads and can be quickly moved and restored as required during tank construction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scaffold system comprising: a plurality of scaffold sections comprising: a first top frame element disposed proximate a circumference of a tank shell; a second top frame element disposed a radial distance from the first top frame element; a lower frame element disposed axially below the first top frame element; a space frame truss, wherein the space frame truss connects the first top, second top, and lower frame elements; a plurality of self-jacking assemblies comprising: a jacking assembly frame; a jacking screw; a jacking screw bracket; and wherein each jacking assembly is coupled to at least one scaffold section; and at least one push-pull bar assembly coupled to at least one of the plurality of scaffold sections or at least one of the self-jacking assemblies, wherein the at least one push-pull bar assembly comprises a pair of push-pull bars wherein a first end of a first push-pull bar and a first end of a second push-pull bar are coupled to a portion of the scaffold system and wherein a second end of the first push-pull bar and a second end of the second push-pull bar extend toward the tank shell and attach to a scaffold mounting bracket. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of scaffold sections are connected to form a continuous ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein scaffold sections not coupled to the self-jacking assembly are adjacent to at least one scaffold section coupled to the self-jacking assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of rollers extending from the self-jacking assembly toward the tank shell. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a length of the at least one push-pull bar is adjustable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a bracket to attach the at least one push-pull bar assembly to at least one of the plurality of scaffold sections. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first top frame element is larger than an outer diameter of a plurality of protrusions coupled to the tank shell. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first top frame element is smaller than an inner diameter of a plurality of protrusions coupled to the tank shell. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a scaffold platform disposed on the first top frame element extending to the second top frame element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, further comprising at least one motor coupled to the plurality of jacking assemblies. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, further comprising a control module in communication with the at least one motor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the jacking screw bracket comprises: a jacking screw mount; at least one bolt flange; and a push bar. ### Claim 13 A method for assembling a self-jacking scaffold system comprising: assembling a plurality of scaffold sections proximate a circumference of the tank shell; coupling a plurality of jacking assemblies to selected scaffold sections of the plurality of scaffold sections; attaching the plurality of scaffold sections to the circumference of the tank shell; and connecting each of the plurality of scaffold sections to an adjacent scaffold section forming a continuous ring proximate the circumference of the tank shell. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the forming a continuous ring proximate the circumference of the tank shell provides a stiffness to the tank shell. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the attaching the plurality of scaffold sections to the circumference of the tank shell further comprises using at least one erection support to properly position each of the plurality of scaffold sections, wherein the at least one erection support is coupled to the tank shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, wherein the attaching further comprises attaching a plurality of brackets disposed on the plurality of scaffold sections to a plurality of shell tank brackets disposed on the tank shell and removing the erection support. ### Claim 17 A method for raising a self-jacking scaffold system comprising: extending a jacking screw and jacking screw bracket axially upward; connecting the jacking screw bracket to an overhead tank bracket for each of a plurality of scaffold sections coupled to a jacking assembly, wherein the plurality of scaffold sections are continuously coupled proximate a circumference of a tank shell, the jacking screw bracket is coupled to the jacking assembly, and the overhead tank bracket is coupled to the circumference of the tank shell above the plurality of continuously coupled scaffold sections; detaching a plurality of scaffold mounting brackets from a plurality of tank mounting brackets; wherein the plurality of scaffold mounting brackets extend from the continuously coupled plurality of scaffold sections toward the tank shell; raising the continuously coupled plurality of scaffold sections simultaneously; and reattaching the plurality of scaffold mounting brackets to a plurality of tank mounting brackets. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein raising the plurality of continuously coupled scaffold sections further comprises turning a jacking screw disposed in each of a plurality of jacking assemblies. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, further comprising actuating at least one motor coupled to each jacking screw. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the at least one motor is in communication with a control module configured to actuate and stop the motor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the jacking screw bracket comprises at least one element fastened to the overhead tank bracket. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, wherein the jacking screw bracket further comprises at least one push bar in contact with the tank shell providing a force couple. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein reattaching further comprises adjusting a length of the push-pull bars. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein a plurality of rollers are coupled to each of the plurality of jacking assemblies. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the plurality of rollers guide the plurality of continuously coupled scaffold sections as the self-jacking scaffolding system is raised. ### Claim 26 A scaffold system comprising: a plurality of scaffold sections comprising: a top plate element disposed proximate and approximately perpendicular to a circumference of a tank shell; a lower frame element disposed axially below the top frame element; a truss system, wherein the truss system connects the top plate element to the lower frame element in three dimensions; a plurality of self-jacking assemblies comprising: a jacking assembly frame; a jacking screw; a jacking screw bracket; wherein each jacking assembly is coupled to at least one scaffold section; and at least one push-pull bar assembly coupled to at least one of the plurality of scaffold sections or at least one of the self-jacking assemblies, wherein at least one push-pull bar assembly comprises a pair of push-pull bars wherein a first end of a first push-pull bar and a first end of a second push-pull bar are coupled to a portion of the scaffold system and wherein a second end of the first push-pull bar and a second end of the second push-pull bar extend toward the tank shell and attach to a scaffold mounting bracket. ### Claim 27 A self-jacking assembly comprising: a jacking assembly frame; a jacking screw; a jacking screw bracket; and at least one push-pull bar assembly configured to extend proximate the self-jacking assembly toward a tank shell.