Method and apparatus for moving a platform into a suspended outboard position

Suspended platform apparatus, comprising:

• a pair of stanchions, each of a type having a vertical portion and an upper horizontal portion;
• means for mounting the stanchions at spaced apart locations on a roof of a structure, for rotation about axes coinciding with said vertical portions, between an inboard position in which the horizontal portions of the stanchions project inwardly over the roof of the structure and an outboard position in which the horizontal portions of the stanchions project outwardly from the structure;
• an elongated platform having a first end and a second end, said platform being of such a length that when the two stanchions are in their inboard positions and the platform is on the roof below the horizontal portions of the two stanchions, the first end of the platform is located under the horizontal portion of a first one of the stanchions and the second end of the platform is located under the horizontal portion of the second stanchion;
• a first suspension system connecting the first end of the platform to the first stanchion, said system including an upper end attached to the horizontal portion of the first stanchion and a lower end attached to the first end of the platform, and said system including a winch drum which when rotated in one direction causes the platform to move upwardly and when rotated in the opposite direction causes the platform to move downwardly;
• a second suspension system connecting the second end of the platform to the second stanchion, said second system including an upper end attached to the horizontal portion of the second stanchion and a lower end attached to the second end of the platform, and said second system including a winch drum which when rotated in one direction causes the platform to move upwardly and when rotated in the opposite direction causes the platform to move downwardly;
• and
• means for rotating the stanchions by two workers located on the platform, one adjacent to each stanchion;
• said means for rotating including handhold means carried by the horizontal portion of each stanchion for rotation therewith;
• and each such handhold means including a pull line attached to the horizontal portion of the corresponding stanchion, operable by a worker who is positioned adjacent to such stanchion to pull on the horizontal portion of such stanchion while the other worker is pushing on the horizontal portion of the other stanchion.

For use with a roof mounted stanchion of a type having a vertical portion, an upper horizontal portion, and means mounting said stanchion for rotation about an axis coinciding with its vertical portion, between an inboard position in which the horizontal portion of the stanchion projects inwardly over the roof and an outboard position in which the horizontal portion of the stanchion projects outwardly from the roof, turning means for the stanchion operable by a worker positioned on a platform which is suspended from the stanchion, comprising:

• a first support eye secured to an outer end part of the horizontal portion of the stanchion;
• a second support eye secured to the horizontal portion of the stanchion at a location spaced inwardly of the first support eye;
• an elongated turning lever insertable through said first support eye and then through said second support eye;
• means for securing the turning lever in position when the lever has been inserted in both of the support eyes and an outboard portion of the lever projects outwardly beyond the horizontal portion of the stanchion;
• and
• a pull line connected to the outer end of the turning lever, said pull line being of a length to be grasped by a worker positioned on the platform to enable the worker to use the line to pull on the horizontal portion of the stanchion from a position on the platform.

A method of moving a platform from a position on a roof of a structure to a suspended position outboard of the structure, comprising:

• providing a pair of stanchions, each of a type having a vertical portion and an upper horizontal portion;
• providing the horizontal portion of each stanchion with a pull line, providing each stanchion with a lever which projects endwise outwardly from the horizontal portion of the stanchion, and securing the pull line to the outer end of the lever;
• mounting the stanchions at spaced apart locations on the roof of the structure, for rotation about axes coinciding with said vertical portions, between an inboard position in which the horizontal portions of the stanchions project inwardly over the roof of the structure and an outboard position in which the horizontal portions of the stanchions project outwardly from the structure;
• positioning an elongated platform on the roof of the structure, with each stanchion in its inboard position, with a first end of the platform located under the horizontal portion of a first one of the stanchions, and with the second end of the platform located under the horizontal portion of the second stanchion;
• connecting the first end of the platform to the first stanchion by a first suspension system including an upper end attached to the horizontal portion of the first stanchion and a lower end attached to the platform, and connecting the second end of the platform to the second stanchion by a second suspension system including an upper end attached to the horizontal portion of the second stanchion and a lower end attached to the platform, each said system including a winch drum which when rotated in one direction causes the platform to move upwardly and when rotated in the opposite direction causes the platform to move downwardly;
• locating two workers on the platform, one at each end of the platform;
• operating the suspension system for raising the platform up off of the roof, into a position from which the platform can be moved into its outboard position by a rotation of the stanchions;
• and
• moving the elevated platform into its outboard position, in the following manner:
• one of the workers pulls on the horizontal portion of the first stanchion while the second worker pushes on the horizontal portion of the second stanchion, until the horizontal portion of the first stanchion is generally aligned with the platform;
• then the first worker pushes on the horizontal portion of the first stanchion while the second worker pulls on the horizontal portion of the second stanchion, until the first end of the platform is located outboardly of the structure and the first stanchion is generally in its outboard position;
• and
• then the first worker again pulls on the horizontal portion of the first stanchion while the second worker again pushes on the horizontal portion of the second stanchion, until the stanchions are in their outboard positions and the platform is in an outboard position generally parallel to the face of the structure;
• wherein the workers use the pull lines at least part of the time when pulling on the stanchions.

Suspended platform apparatus, comprising:

• a pair of stanchions, each of a type having a vertical portion and an upper horizontal portion;
• means for mounting the stanchions at spaced apart locations on a roof of a structure, for rotation about axes coinciding with said vertical portions, between an inboard position in which the horizontal portions of the stanchions project inwardly over the roof of the structure and an outboard position in which the horizontal portions of the stanchions project outwardly from the structure;
• an elongated platform having a first end and a second end, said platform being of such a length taht when the two stanchions are in their inboard positions and the platform is on the roof below the horizontal portions of the two stanchions, the first end of the platform is located under the horizontal portion of a first one of the stanchions and the second end of the platform is located under the horizontal portion of the second stanchion;
• a first suspension system connecting the first end of the platform to the first stanchion, said system including an upper end attached to the horizontal portion of the first stanchion and a lower end attached to the first end of the platform, and said system including a winch drum which when rotated in one direction causes the platform to move upwardly and when rotated in the opposite direction causes the platform to move downwardly;
• a second suspension system connecting the second end of the platform to the second stanchion, said second system including an upper end attached to the horizontal portion of the second stanchion and a lower end attached to the second end of the platform, and said second system including a winch drum which when rotated in one direction causes the platform to move upwardly and when rotated in the opposite direction causes the platform to move downwardly;
• means for rotating the stanchions by two workers located on the platform, one adjacent to each stanchion, said means for rotating including a pull line attached to the horizontal portion of each stanchion, operable by a worker who is positioned adjacent to such stanchion to pull on the horizontal portion of such stanchion while the other worker is pushing on the horizontal portion of the other stanchion;
• and
• a lever carried by each stanchion, each such lever being attached to the horizontal portion of the stanchion and projecting endwise outwardly beyond the outer end of the horizontal portion of the stanchion a predetermined distance, said pull lines being attached to the outer ends of the levers, and said distance being sufficiently great to provide a worker pulling on the pull line with sufficient leverage to rotate the stanchion, and sufficiently short to allow the pull line to be grasped by such worker.