Cement industry gangway and safety cage

Abstract

A safety cage improves the safety of workers servicing tanker vehicles having top side hatches. A part or parts of the cage can be repositioned to permit the hatch cover to be opened and then can be returned to a safety enhancing position.

1 . An apparatus for providing safe access to a top of a mobile container, said apparatus comprising:
 a cage having a first end and an opposing second end, said cage comprising a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a joining side for joining said first and second lateral sides at said opposing second end of said cage, and a partial side adjoining said first lateral side at said first end;   wherein said joining side comprises a first gate, said first gate is vertically slidably engaged with said joining side; and   wherein said partial side comprises an access opening and a second gate positioned adjacent to said opening, said second gate is vertically slidably engaged with said partial side.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus further comprises a gangway attached at said opening of said partial side, said gangway capable of being raised and lowered. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein said gangway comprises a body and an access, said body supports said access and said access includes self leveling steps. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2  further comprising an elevated platform wherein said gangway is also attached to said platform. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said joining side comprises a first horizontal rail, a second horizontal rail, a first vertical rail, and a second vertical rail, said first and second horizontal rails connected to said first and second vertical rails, said first gate slideably engaged with said first and second vertical rails. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein said first gate is slideably engaged with said first and second vertical rails by rollers affixed to said first and second vertical rails of said joining side. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said partial side comprises a third horizontal rail, a fourth horizontal rail, a third vertical rail, and a fourth vertical rail, said third and fourth horizontal rails connected to said third and fourth vertical rails, said second gate slideably engaged with said third and fourth vertical rails. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said partial side comprises a first horizontal rail, a second horizontal rail, a first vertical rail, and a second vertical rail, said first and second horizontal rails connected to said first and second vertical rails, said second gate slideably engaged with said first and second vertical rails. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said second gate is slideably engaged with said first and second vertical rails by rollers affixed to said first and second vertical rails of said partial side. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus for providing safe access to a top of a mobile container, said apparatus comprising:
 a cage having a first end and an opposing second end, said cage comprising a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a joining side for joining said first and second lateral sides at said opposing second end of said cage, and a partial side adjoining said first lateral side at said first end;   said first lateral side of said cage comprises a first horizontal rail, a second horizontal rail, and a third horizontal rail, said first lateral side also comprises a first vertical rail and a second vertical rail;   said second lateral side of said cage comprises a fourth horizontal rail, a fifth horizontal rail, and a sixth horizontal rail, said second lateral side also comprises a third vertical rail and a fourth vertical rail;   said joining side comprises a first gate, said gate is vertically slidably engaged with said joining side; and   said partial side comprises an access opening and a second gate positioned adjacent to said opening, said second gate is vertically slidably engaged with said partial side.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said apparatus further comprises a gangway attached at said opening of said partial side, said gangway capable of being raised and lowered. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  further comprising an elevated platform wherein said gangway is also attached to said platform. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10  further comprises an elevated platform wherein said apparatus is attached to said platform. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said joining side comprises a seventh horizontal rail and an eighth horizontal rail, said seventh and eighth horizontal rails are connected to said second vertical rail of said first lateral side and said fourth vertical rail of said second lateral side. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein said joining side further comprises a fifth vertical rail and a sixth vertical rail, said first gate is slideably engaged with said fifth and sixth vertical rails. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 10  wherein said partial side comprises a seventh horizontal rail and an eighth horizontal rail, said seventh and eighth horizontal rails are connected to said first vertical rail of said first lateral side. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16  wherein said partial side further comprises a fifth vertical rail and a sixth vertical rails, said second gate is slideably engaged with said fifth and sixth vertical rails. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus for providing safe access to a top of a mobile container, said apparatus comprising:
 a cage having a first end and an opposing second end, said cage comprising a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a joining side for joining said first and second lateral sides at said opposing second end of said cage, and a partial side adjoining said first lateral side at said first end;   wherein said partial side comprises an access opening and a gate positioned adjacent to said opening, said gate is vertically slidably engaged with said partial side.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said apparatus further comprises a gangway attached at said opening of said partial side, said gangway capable of being raised and lowered. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  further comprising an elevated platform wherein said gangway is also attached to said platform. 
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 18  further comprising an elevated platform wherein said apparatus is attached to said platform. 
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said partial side further comprises a first horizontal rail, a second horizontal rail, a first vertical rail, and a second vertical rail, said first and second horizontal rails connected to said first and second vertical rails, said gate slideably engaged with said first and second vertical rails. 
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein said gate is slideably engaged with said first and second vertical rails by rollers affixed to said first and second vertical rails of said partial side. 
     
     
         24 . A method for providing safe access to a top of a mobile container, said mobile container having a hatch cover positioned at the top of said mobile container, said hatch cover pivoting between a desired open and closed position, said method comprises:
 providing a gangway capable of being raised and lowered;   providing a cage having a first end attached to said gangway and an opposing second end, said cage comprising a first lateral side, a second lateral side, a joining side for joining said first and second lateral sides at said opposing second end of said cage, and a partial side wherein said partial side comprises an access opening and a gate positioned adjacent to said opening, said gate is vertically slidably engaged with said partial side;   positioning said cage into engagement with said mobile container by lowering said gangway wherein said cage surrounds said hatch cover of said mobile container;   accessing said cage through said access opening of said partial side of said cage;   sliding said gate in an upward direction to allow access for said hatch cover of said mobile container to be pivoted between said desired open and closed position; and   lowering said gate once said hatch cover is in said desired position.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24  wherein said joining side of said cage further comprises a vertically slideably engaged second gate, said method further includes the step of sliding said second gate in an upward direction to allow access for said hatch cover of said mobile container to be pivoted between said desired open and closed position and lowering said gate once said hatch cover is in said desired position.