GB2097055A

GB2097055A - Connecting scaffolding elements to girders

Info

Publication number: GB2097055A
Application number: GB8205561A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-04-18
Filing date: 1982-02-25
Publication date: 1982-10-27
Also published as: DK6982A; FR2504176B3; DE3115707A1; BE891717A; FR2504176A1; GB2097055B; NL8105517A

Abstract

Providing for secure connection between a girder, comprising a lower I-section 2 and an upper U-section 23 and forming part of a support for a work platform, and a scaffolding element 3, forming a handrail for the work platform, is a connection device 1 comprising a plate 11 (provided with a slot 13) extending laterally of and secured to the sections of the girder and having along one edge an elbowed part 12 mounted on which is a half-coupling 14 for retention of the scaffolding element 3 parallel to a longitudinal central plane of the girder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A connection device for connecting scaffolding elements to girders This invention relates to a connecting device for connecting scaffolding elements to girders, in particular I-section or T-section girders, wherein on at least one flange of the girder is a groove substantially T-shaped cross-section arranged along a longitudinal central plane of the girder, or intermediate webs of the girder, and provided with ledges along its outer edges, which ledges face toward the longitudinal central plane of the girder.

Girder sections of the kind with which the present application is concerned are already known (see German Offenlegungesschrift No. 28 50 098 and German Patent Application No. P3 1 07 416.2) and serve, inter alia, as horizontal supports for work pla.tforms used, for example, where renovating ceilings of fairly large rooms. In cases such as this use is generally made of scaffold frame panels which can be suspended, with the help of claws provided at their end faces, on sections of the girder structure.In order to make this possible, the sections of the girders forming supports are so arranged that a groove, of T-shaped cross-section, is provided on one of the sections and along this groove are laid upwardlyopen U-sections of the girder in the webs of which U-sections there are provided, at suitable spacings, slotted holes extending in the longitudinal direction of the section. Through these slotted holes there can be inserted into the groove hammerhead bolts, the heads of which, through a rotation through 900, engage under ledges provided at the outer edges of the groove and in this way makes possible an impeccable fastening of the U-section to the rest of the girder.

The necessity now arises of mounting, along the edges of such a work platform, handrails necessary for the protection of workers using the platform.

An object of the present invention is to provide, in the simplest possible manner, a connection device which makes possible the connection of handrails to work platforms constructed in the aforementioned manner.

With this object in view the present invention provides a connection device for connecting scaffolding elements to girders, particularly but not exclusively I-section or T-section girders, wherein on at least one flange of the girder is a groove substantially T-shaped in cross-section, arranged along a longitudinal central plane of the girder, or intermediate webs of the girder, and provided with ledges along its outer edges, which ledges face toward the longitudinal central plane of the girder, characterised in that said connection device comprises a plate elbowed at right angles along one of its edges and having a slotted hole extending parallel with the elbowed part, a scaffold half-coupling being mounted on said elbowed part in such a way that it is either fixed relative to or rotatable about an axis standing perpendicular to the elbowed part so as to receive the scaffolding element such that said scaffolding element's longitudinal axis extends parallel to the outer surface of the elbowed part.

With the device of the invention it is possible to clamp the plate securely under the U-section in such a way that advantageously the elbowed part at the outer edge of an upper flange of one girder section projects downwardly. To facilitate securement of the plate to the girder sections advantageously hammerhead bolts employed, which bolts extend through the groove of Tshaped cross-section, the hole in the plate and corresponding holes in the U-section part of the girder. The half-coupling, which is fastened to the elbowed part and which for the mounting of a protective handrail may be welded securely to the elbowed part can now receive scaffolding elements in the form of scaffold tube which serve to provide protective handrails for work platforms.

In the case where the half-coupling, is rotatably mounted on the plate it can also serve to mount, for example, diagonally-extending stiffenings.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the connection device of the invention illustrating its use in connecting a scaffolding element to a girder, both of which are shown in broken lines; and Fig. 2 is an underneath plan view, in the direction of the arrow 11 of Fig. 1, of the preferred connection device only.

Referring to the drawings the illustrated preferred connection device 1 comprises connection plate 11 having a slotted hole 1 3 and being elbowed at right angles along one of its edges so as to provide a downwardly projecting or elbowed part 12.

Mounted on the elbowed part 12 is a halfcoupling 14, which consists of a dish-shaped part 15, connected securely at 18, for example by welding, to the part 12, and a clamp arm 16 which is hinged so as to be swingable relative to the dish-shaped part 1 5. Instead of being welded to the elbowed part 12 at 18, the half-coupling.

can also be rotatably connected to the elbowed part 12 about an axis A-A extending perpendicularly to the elbowed part 12.

The use of the connection device of the present invention for connecting a scaffolding element to a girder will now be described. In the example shown in Fig. 1 the girder comprises an upper part of U-section 23 and a lower part of l-ection 2.

The connection plate 11 is clamped, by means of a hammerhead bolt 24, between the girder's Usection 23 and an upper flange of the I-section 2.

The I-section has two spaced-apart webs 21 parallel with one another. A groove 22 extends along the upper flange, which groove 22 is Tshaped in cross-section and has along its edges inwardly-pointing ledges 25. The connection plate 11 and the U-section 23, which U-section 23 is similarly provided with slotted holes in its web, are placed one above the other in such a way that the slotted hole 13 in the plate 11 is in alignment with one of the slotted holes in the Usection 23. The head of the hammerhead bolt 24 is then introduced through the two slotted holes into the groove 22 and brought, through a rotation through 900, into a position in which it engages under the ledges 25, so that it can be tightened to ensure secure connection of plate 11 and the U-section 23 with the I-section 2.

A scaffolding element such as a scaffold tube 3 can now readily be introduced into the half-coupling 14. The coupling 14 is then bolted closed by a bolt which is mounted on the dishshaped part 1 5. The scaffold tube 3 can serve, for example, as a handrail support for a work platform on a scaffolding structure. The connection device 1 can also be used for mounting scaffold tubes which serve as running rails for a workpiece conveying mechanism. The fastening of diagonal struts to the girder can be achieved where the connection device has a halfcoupling 14 which is swingably mounted on the elbowed part 12 about an axis extending perpendicularly to the elbowed part 12.

Claims

1. A connection device for connecting scaffolding elements to girders, particularly but not exclusively I-section or T-section girders, wherein on at least one flange of the girder is a groove substantially T-shaped in cross-section, arranged along a longitudinal central plane of the girder, or intermediate webs of the girder, and provided with ledges along its outer edges which ledges face toward the longitudinal central plane of the girder, characterised in that said connection device comprises a plate elbowed at right angles along one of its edges and having a slotted hole extending parallel with the elbowed part, a scaffold half-coupling being mounted on said elbowed part in such a way that it is either fixed relative to or rotatable about an axis standing perpendicular to the elbowed part so as to receive the scaffolding element such that said scaffolding element's longitudinal axis extends parallel to the outer surface of the elbowed part.

2. A connection device for connecting scaffolding elements to- girders substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.