Adjustable floor system for installation inside a repair pit

Abstract

The adjustable floor system is for installation inside a repair pit and preferably comprises top and bottom parts, a floor mounted on the top part, two folding leg assemblies distal from each other, connected between the top and bottom parts and movable between folded and unfolded positions and cylinders for moving the folding leg assemblies between the folded position where the floor is adjacent to a bottom surface of the repair pit and the unfolded position where the floor fills an upper opening of the repair pit. Preferably, the floor comprises elements and the adjustable floor system comprises a stair frame having steps. The elements of the floor are positioned over the steps of the stair frame when the folding leg assemblies are in the unfolded position, the elements laying down respectively on the steps while the folding leg assemblies are moving from the unfolded position to the folded position.

1 . An adjustable floor system for installation inside a repair pit, comprising: 
 top and bottom parts;    a floor mounted on the top part;    at least two folding leg assemblies distal from each other, connected between the top part and the bottom part and movable between folded and unfolded positions; and    moving mechanisms for moving the folding leg assemblies between the folded position where the floor is adjacent to a bottom surface of the repair pit and the unfolded position where the floor fills an upper opening of the repair pit.    
   
   
       2 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the folding leg assemblies comprise upper legs and lower legs, each leg having first and second extremities, the second extremities of the upper legs being rotatably connected to the first extremities of the lower legs, the first extremities of the upper legs being rotatably connected to distal portions of the top part, the second extremities of the lower legs being rotatably connected to distal portions of the bottom part.  
   
   
       3 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanisms is selected from the group comprising a hydraulic cylinder and a pneumatic cylinder.  
   
   
       4 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the moving mechanisms comprises two cylinders, each cylinder having a first extremity rotatably connected to the bottom part and a second extremity rotatably connected to one folding leg assembly, the cylinders maintaining the folding leg assemblies once the unfolded position is reached.  
   
   
       5 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 1 , further comprising a cross leg assembly operatively connected between the top part and the bottom part, for stabilizing the floor assembly.  
   
   
       6 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 5 , wherein the cross leg assembly comprises a first leg having first and second extremities respectively connected slidably and rotatably to the top and bottom parts, and a second leg having first and second extremities respectively connected slidably and rotatably to the bottom and top parts.  
   
   
       7 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 1 , wherein the floor comprises elements and the top part comprises supports for holding the elements of the floor in a straight horizontal position when the folding leg assemblies are in the unfolded position.  
   
   
       8 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 7 , comprising a stair frame having steps, the stair frame being connected to the bottom part, the elements of the floor being positioned over the steps of the stair frame when the folding leg assemblies are in the unfolded position, the elements laying down respectively on the steps while the folding leg assemblies are moving from the unfolded position to the folded position.  
   
   
       9 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 8 , wherein the stair frame comprises tubes, and wherein the elements comprise anchors cooperating with the tubes of the stair frame to stabilize in position the elements of the floor with the steps of the stair frame.  
   
   
       10 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 9 , wherein each of the anchors has a triangular extremity for easier insertion into the tubes.  
   
   
       11 . An adjustable floor system for installation inside a repair pit, comprising: 
 top and bottom parts;    a floor mounted on the top part;    at least one displacement mechanism, connected between the top part and the bottom part and movable between first and second positions; and    at least one moving mechanism for moving the at least one displacement mechanism between the first position where the floor is adjacent to a bottom surface of the repair pit and the second position where the floor covers an upper opening of the repair pit.    
   
   
       12 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 11 , wherein the bottom part is the bottom surface of the repair pit.  
   
   
       13 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 11 , wherein the displacement mechanism comprises a column, a threaded rod and a nut, said nut being connected to the top part and displaceable along the threaded rod and said threaded rod being rotatably connected to the column.  
   
   
       14 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 13 , wherein the moving mechanism comprises a motor and a gearbox, said gearbox actuating the threaded rod.  
   
   
       15 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 1   1 , wherein the displacement mechanism comprises a column, a loop chain, at least first and second gears and a stop block, said first gears being operatively connected to a first extremity of the column and said second gear being operatively connected to a second extremity of the column, said stop block being operatively connected to the top part and to the loop chain, said loop chain cooperating with the gears.  
   
   
       16 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 15 , wherein the moving mechanism comprises a motor and a gear operatively connected to the loop chain, to drive the loop chain.  
   
   
       17 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 11 , wherein the floor comprises elements and the top part comprises supports for holding the elements of the floor in a straight horizontal position when the folding leg assemblies are in the unfolded position.  
   
   
       18 . The adjustable floor system of  claim 17 , comprising a stair frame having steps, the stair frame being connected to the bottom part, the elements of the floor being positioned over the steps of the stair frame when the folding leg assemblies are in the unfolded position, the elements laying down respectively on the steps while the folding leg assemblies are moving from the unfolded position to the folded position.