Work platform rail system

Abstract

A system and apparatus for constructing a work platform under a bridge deck that has a decking segment that moves under the bridge deck from one end to the other as work progresses, eliminating the need for constructing decking under the entire length of the bridge deck. The decking segment hangs from a plurality of trolleys that move along a plurality of rails beneath the bridge deck, the trolleys moving the decking segment from one end of the bridge deck to another. The trolley has at least one main wheel that runs on the tubular rail top and a plurality of side wheels that maintain the trolley on the tubular rail, the trolley smoothly moving along the tubular rail.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for hanging and moving a decking segment under a bridge deck as a work area changes, comprising:
 a hollow tubular rail;   a trolley having a plurality of wheels configured for moving along said hollow tubular rail; the trolley configured for hanging a decking segment; and   a support configured for suspending said tubular rail from a structural support below a bridge deck, said trolley moving along said hollow tubular rail, moving the decking segment as a work area under the bridge deck changes.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein the trolley has at least one main wheel configured for moving along a tubular rail top surface. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as described in  claim 2 , wherein the at least one main wheel is a double-flanged wheel. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as described in  claim 3 , wherein the trolley has a pair of side wheels, said wheels on opposing sides of said hollow tubular rail, said wheels configured for stabilizing the trolley on said hollow tubular rail. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as described in  claim 4 , wherein the trolley has a chain shackle for hanging a decking segment. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein said support has a flange clamp configured for grasping a pair of bottom flanges of the “I” beam. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as described in  claim 6 , wherein said flange clamp has a pair of adjustable clamp jaws configured for grasping the “I” beam. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as described in  claim 7 , wherein said support has a “Y” shaped arm extending down and outward from the “I” beam. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as described in  claim 8 , wherein the trolley has an opening configured for accommodating said arm of said support. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as described in  claim 1 , wherein a connecting pin connects said hollow tubular rail of a first apparatus to said hollow tubular rail of a second apparatus. 
     
     
         11 . A work platform rail system for providing a decking segment that moves under a bridge deck as a work area changes, comprising:
 a plurality of apparatuses, each apparatus comprising a plurality of linearly connecting tubular rails suspended from an “I” beam below a bridge deck, said tubular rails suspending from a plurality of supports, a plurality of trolleys, each having a plurality of wheels configured to move along said rails; and   a decking segment hanging from said apparatuses, the decking segment moving under the bridge deck as said apparatuses move along said rails, the decking segment providing a safe work platform, the decking segment moving as a work area changes.   
     
     
         12 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 11 , wherein said apparatuses connect linearly by a plurality of connecting pins, a connecting pin connecting said tubular rail of a first apparatus to said tubular rail of a second apparatus, connecting the tubular rails thereby extending the work platform rail system in a direction so said apparatuses can move the decking segment in said direction. 
     
     
         13 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 11 , wherein a first apparatus is suspended from a first “I” beam below a bridge deck near a first side of the bridge deck and a second apparatus is suspended from a second “I” beam below the bridge deck near a second side of the bridge deck. 
     
     
         14 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 13 , wherein at least one apparatus is suspended from at least one “I” beams below the bridge deck towards the bridge deck center. 
     
     
         15 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 11 , wherein said support for suspending said rail from the “I” beam comprises a flange clamp with a pair of adjustable clamp jaws configured for grasping a pair of bottom flanges of the “I” beam, the support a “Y” shaped arm extending down and outward from flange clamp, the arm configured for supporting said rail. 
     
     
         16 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 11 , wherein the apparatus has a motorized trolley having at least one main wheel configured for moving along a tubular rail top surface, the trolley having a pair of side wheels, said wheels on opposing sides of said rail, said wheels configured for stabilizing the trolley on said tubular rail. 
     
     
         17 . A work platform rail system for providing a decking segment that moves under a bridge deck as a work area changes, comprising:
 a plurality of rails, each rail suspended from an “I” beam below a bridge deck;   a plurality of trolleys, each having a plurality of wheels configured to move along said rails; and   a decking segment hanging from said trolleys, the decking segment moving under the bridge deck as said trolleys move along said rails, the decking segment providing a safe work platform, the decking segment moving as a work area changes.   
     
     
         18 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 17 , wherein said rails linearly connect to each other by a connecting pin, extending the work platform rail system in a direction so the trolleys can move the decking segment in said direction. 
     
     
         19 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 18 , wherein said linearly connected rails are suspended from a first “I” beam below a bridge deck near a first side of the bridge deck and said linearly connected rails are suspended from a second “I” beam below the bridge deck near a second side of the bridge deck. 
     
     
         20 . The work platform rail system as described in  claim 19 , wherein said linearly connected rails are suspended from “I” beams below the bridge deck towards the bridge deck center.