# US 8,771,544 B2 · Stair tower module > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,544 B2 - Document ID: US8771544B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/068,289 - Filed: 2011-05-07 - Published: 2011-11-10 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2010-05-10 - Applicants: Larry James Hopper - Inventors: Larry James Hopper - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771544B2 ## CPC - E04F 11/028: having a central stringer - E04F 11/02: Stairways; Layouts thereof - E04G 27/00: Temporary arrangements for giving access from one level to another for men or vehicles, e.g. steps, ramps (for scaffolds E04G5/10; gangways B63; lifts B66) - F03D 13/10: Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors - F03D 13/20: Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors - F03D 80/80: Arrangement of components within nacelles or towers - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - E04F: FINISHING WORK ON BUILDINGS, e.g. STAIRS, FLOORS (windows, doors E06B) - 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 - F03D: WIND MOTORS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A modular, prefabricated stair tower comprising a plurality of stairs, landings, handrails and hangers pre-assembled into a module configured such that it might be shipped and installed into a wind power tower tube section, with installation preferably occurring prior to shipment to the wind farm jobsite so that, when the tube section is erected vertically, authorized personnel gain immediate, efficient and economical access for ascending and descending large land based and offshore wind power turbine towers. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A first prefabricated stair tower module installed inside a wind tower, said wind tower having a plurality of first connection points, said first prefabricated stair tower module comprising: a. At least one preassembled ships style stair, said ships style stair having an angle of slope ranging from about 52 degrees to about 68 degrees, comprising; b. At least one stair stringer; c. A plurality of stair treads, each stair tread being supported by the stair stringer; d. Each stair tread being oriented relative to the stringer and to every other tread to comprise rising steps; e. An upper landing attached to the upper end of the stringer, said landing having a substantially flat surface, the upper landing for connecting to a second prefabricated stair within the first prefabricated stair tower module; f. A plurality of support members structurally connected to the upper landing, said support members having a plurality of second connection points whereby the second connection points cooperate with the first connection points and connect the first prefabricated stair tower module to the inside of the wind tower. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The first prefabricated stair tower module of claim 1 further comprising an additional stair stringer, the additional stair stringer being parallel to the at least one stair stringer and further supporting the stair treads. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The first prefabricated stair tower module of claim 1 where the plurality of support members comprises a first upwardly extended corner brace structurally connected to the upper landing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The first prefabricated stair tower module of claim 1 further comprising at least one hand rail connected to the stair tower module and spanning between the upper landing and the lowest step. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The first prefabricated stair tower module of claim 1, further comprising a second prefabricated stair, said second stair having an angle of slope ranging from about 52 degrees to about 68 degrees, said second stair comprising steps leading to a second landing, said second prefabricated stair being connected to the upper landing, and positioned relative to the first prefabricated stair so that the first step of the second prefabricated stair leads upward from the first prefabricated stair and in a different direction from the upper step of the first prefabricated stair. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The stair tower module of claim 5 further comprising at least one hand rail connected to the stair tower module and extending along the steps of the first stair tower module, the perimeter of the upper landing and the steps of the second prefabricated stair. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The first prefabricated stair tower module of claim 2, further comprising a second prefabricated stair, said second stair having an angle of slope ranging from about 52 degrees to about 68 degrees, said second stair having at least two parallel stringers, said second prefabricated stair comprising steps leading to a second landing, said second prefabricated stair being connected to the upper landing, and positioned relative to the first prefabricated stair so that the first steps of the second prefabricated stair leads upward from the first prefabricated stair and in a different direction from the upper step of the first prefabricated stair. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The stair tower module of claim 7 further comprising at least one hand rail connected to the stair tower module and extending along the steps of the first prefabricated stair, and further extending along the perimeter of the upper landing and the steps of the second prefabricated stair. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 8 wherein the second prefabricated stair and the first prefabricated stair are both connected to the same side of the landing. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 9 wherein the landing is larger in size than a step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 10 wherein the second prefabricated stair extends upward from the landing at an angle, and in a direction that is 90 degrees from the direction of the first prefabricated stair. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 11 wherein the steps are connected to the stringers by welds. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 12 wherein there are four support members each support member located at an outer corner of the prefabricated stair tower module. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 13 wherein the second connection points of the support members are connected to the corresponding first connection points of the wind tower by bolting. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 14 wherein the material of construction of the stair tower module is aluminum. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The prefabricated stair tower module of claim 15 further comprising a second hand rail located on the side of the steps opposite the at least one handrail.