Mezzanine stair tech

kaiser715

kaiser715

Doing hard time
Joined
Jun 1, 2006
Location
7, Pocket, NC
OK, I need some ideas and out-of-the-box engineering....

Planning the mezzanine for my new shop, and fixed stairs aren't working out. Best place for them, not to interfere with doors, walk paths, lift is to build a retracting stair. I want a full set of stairs, because I will have a lot of usable space that I want easy access too...

Anyway, I found this:



It wouldn't be too hard for me to build as shown, out of steel...BUT...if left horizontal when stored, it would block overhead light in a critical area. So, I need it to pivot up, not 45 degrees (movement to horizontal) as shown but somewhere around 120-135 degrees swing. That, or hinge in the middle and fold up like a set of attic stairs.

Total rise will be 10'. Ceiling in that area will be 19ish feet.

Any ideas on how to rig that? Napkin drawings appreciated.
 
If it hinges in the middle like an attic stair, make sure the lower section can't swing freely during lifting and smash someone. Putting an extension of the lower section that extends past the pivot, and lifting from that, should pretty easy control the swinging of the lower section. I'm trying to work out in my head what is going to happen during lowering though; I'm not sure that will position the bottom properly unless there are rollers on the end of the stairs.
Actually, a linkage to guide the motion of the bottom section would likely cure that. The linkage wouldn't need to carry stair loads during use, only the weight of the stairs during lifting.

If you're going to keep a single staircase like the video, putting a lift arm closer to the pivot and decently low should help get the rotation well over 90 degrees. You'll need more lifting force to do that though, as the arm will be shorter compared to the staircase length so the leverage is reduced (torque is increased).

This is fun, I've been thinking about (and researching) redesigning the staircase in our house for a lot of the day..


For full disclosure, I know nothing about actual stair design, just about mechanical stuff. Follow building codes and consult a structural engineer, especially if this is going to be a commercial building.
 
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Make it just as shown but have a hinge just below the lift point so as it lifted the middle up, the floor end would "fold down" and viola. In the case you could also raise it almost completely vertical.

When you lower it, the floor end would swing out and end up flat on the floor. Adding a set of rollers to the bottom would facilitate the movement and make everything more quiet and smooth.

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How about a small lifting platform powered by a hoist similar to the video. Kind of like an elevator?
 
Shipman's ladder?





newheights.jpg
 
What will the overhead space be used for? For just a hangout space or long term storage? Weight and size of what's carried up there is a big factor here. I like elevators.
 
fordwheelinman said:
Riding on said platform could be quite hazardous were there to be any type of failure

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And that staircase would kill you I'm sure if it were to fall on your head from the raised position due to a mechanical failure.
 
How often do you think you will need to use the stairs? Hinge at the bottom and stow vertical with a folding handrail?
 
YotaOnRocks said:
And that staircase would kill you I'm sure if it were to fall on your head from the raised position due to a mechanical failure.
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With my eye I spy a triangulate brace that folds out to hold it while stored up right.

I am going to have the same issue. I considered a spiral in a corner and using my hoist/ overhead crane to lift anything of size to the top floor.
Or a stair with a intermediate landing......either way I kill floor space. But even retractable requires a debris free landing.
Hmmm...a really long travel lift gate. Oh that's called an elevator.:p
 
Hey, finally one of these discussions I can contribute to! I draw stairs for a living. The strongest/safest bet will be to leave it as one piece and, as has been sugested, put a light on the bottom. then you can use a simple hoist to pick it up and set on a triangulated brace like in the picture. The key here is that your going to have to beef up the attachment point up top due to the fact that when lifting the stair most of the weight will transfer to that point. I would opt for a simple winch lift with a spreader on the end to hook to the bottom of the stair for raising and lowering. I would also think you would need a brace that is a little beefier than the one shown, but with thick tube, it could work. Just my thoughts.


The other option is a Lapierre stair or ships ladder. Those work well in tight spots, but wouldnt be the easiest way to get stuff up there.
 
Mezzanine will be mostly storage (about 20x20', with headroom ranging from 6'6" to 9+'), but I may put a small office area up there, and want easy access for that.

Loading items up there won't be a problem...4 post lift will sit in bay just in front of the mezzanine, and when all the way up, a pickup bed will be just about level with the mezzanine floor. Planning on a "tall" 4 post, with almost 7' of rise (possibly bend pak 14T).
 
Definitely...if I go this route. In the video you can see a swing-out support to catch it....I'd probably do something spring-loaded to latch in up position.
 
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