GB2347453A

GB2347453A - Scaffold system mountable on window sill or ledge

Info

Publication number: GB2347453A
Application number: GB0003421A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bernard Crawford Robert Blain; Elizabeth Olive Blain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-02-18
Filing date: 2000-02-16
Publication date: 2000-09-06
Anticipated expiration: 2020-02-16
Also published as: GB9903583D0; GB0003421D0; GB2347453B

Abstract

The system comprises a working platform (11), at least one cranked support member (1) with an adjustable clamp (2) fitted at one end, at least two vertical support members (3) with adjustable legs (4) and feet (5), upright posts (14) and guard rails (7). In use, the cranked support member is located over a window sill or ledge and the clamp is adjusted in order to secure the system. An additional point of support is provided by the vertical support members as the feet and legs may be adjusted such that contact is made with a roof at a horizontal distance from and below the level of the window sill. As the length of the support members and the angle of the feet may be adjusted various roof pitches can be accommodated. In an alternative embodiment (Figure 6) the additional point of support is provided by a bracket (Figure 6 ref. 21), attached to the lower end of the vertical support members, which contacts the structure vertically below the window. The lower end of the bracket may be provided with an adjustable plate (Figures 8 and 9 ref. 22, 24).

Description

DEMOUNTABLE EXTENDING SCAFFOLD FRAME This invention relates to an extending scaffold frame. Scaffolding is the usual method of supporting work platforms. Traditional scaffolding commences from ground level and the cost of providing small work platforms for dormer window maintenance work and for high rise window maintenance work is enormous, increasing as the height of the building increases.

Occasionally there are restrictions preventing the erection of scaffolding in busy thoroughfares and occasionally there are structural obstructions.

According to the present invention there is provided a scaffold system to allow a means of access to the face, cheeks and to the roof of a dormer window from the inside of a building.

The system also supports a safe work platform 11 which can be placed onto a roof surface through a dormer window opening Fig 4. The platform support comprises a cranked transom 1 which together with the standard 3 forms a frame (hereinafter called a frame) which is secured at one end on and to a window cill or ledge by means of an adjustable screw cramp 2 and supported the other end by an inward folding outer standard 3, inner standard 4 and a load distributing swivel base plate 5 placed onto a scaffold board (not shown) on the roof surface.

Various roof pitches can be accommodated by adjusting the inner standard 4 inside the outer standard 3 and securing by pinning both 18 through pre-determined holes in the outer standard 3 and the inner standard 4. The holes in the inner standard 4 are spaced to accommodate different roof pitches with a fine adjustment 17 for levelling the transom. The height of the top and lower guardrail is regulated by rivets 15 (Fig 5) fixed onto the capped standards 3 & 14.

The end section and return guardrails 7 are of standard lengths whilst the central section guardrails 6 are telescopic in order to span the centre section which will be governed by the length of window and position of opening sashes. (the system could be used on new construction before glazing). The ledgers 8 for the fixed width work platform panels 11 are secured to the box section transom by'U'shaped saddles 16 (welded to the tubular ledgers) and secured in position by trapped wedges 9. One end of the ledger 8 is upturned 20 to receive the end standard 14.

A work platform for high-rise window maintenance work Figs 6 & 7 is supported by the cranked transom 1 secured at one end on and to a window cill or ledge by an adjustable screw clamp 2 with a triangular bracket 21 fixed to the underside of the transom 1. The bracket 21 transmits the load to the supporting vertical face of the wall. The cill overhang is taken-up by the adjustable spacer 22. Levelling the transom 1 is also obtained by the adjustable spacer 22.

The rest of the construction is as previously described and illustrated in Figs 1,2 3,4 & 5.

Work below cill level for high-rise window maintenance work Figs 8 & 9 is accommodated by a work platform 11 suspended from a window cill or ledge by a shortened transom with at one end an adjustable screw clamp 2 and wall standard 25, adjusted vertically by spacer 22.

The ledgers and work platform are supported by a vertical sliding frame comprising a standard 26, transom 1 and folding standard 3. secured to the wall standard 25 by collar guides/clamps 23 and supported on a bracket 24. The rest of the construction is as previously described and is illustrated in Figs 1-7 inclusive.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a side view of the scaffold system with its constituent parts ; Figure 2 shows an end view of the scaffold system with its constituent parts ; Figure 3 shows a plan view of the scaffold system with its constituent parts.

Figure 4 shows a pictorial view of the frame scaffold system in position, with its constituent parts assembled, incorporating the upturned ledger/standard 20, the fixed length top and bottom guard rails, the telescopic top and bottom guard rails and filler ledgers. The rails are omitted in part to allow unobstructed view of the assembly.

Figure 5 shows a pictorial view of the constituent parts particularly the hinged standards 3 and the pre fixed short standards 20 to receive and secure the separated standards by means of a spring loaded fitting.

Figure 6 shows a side view of a detachable triangular frame 21 with adjustable spacer 22 fixed to the already mentioned constituent parts of the scaffold system.

Figure 7 shows an end view of a detachable triangular frame 21 with adjustable spacer 22 fixed to the already mentioned constituent parts of the scaffold system.

Fig 8 shows a pictorial view of the extended system at a level for placing ledgers, guardrails, work platform etc., prior to lowering to required level. This comprises a shortened transom, screw clamp 2, wall standard 25, adjustable spacer 22, sliding standard 26, transom 1, folding standard 3, collar guides 23 and support bracket 24.

Fig 9 shows a pictorial view of the extended system as described in Fig 8 at the required level for use. The ledgers, work platform, standards, and guardrails are similar to those shown. in Figs 1-7 inclusive.

Referring to the drawing, Figs. 1,2,3,4 & 5. the scaffold system comprises a cranked transom 1 with at one end an outer standard 3 at the other end a screw cramp 2 to secure the frame to a cill or ledge. The inner standard 4 is adjusted vertically inside the outer standard 3 and secured by a pin 18. The base plate 5 swivels to accommodate any pitch of roof surface.

The length of the transom 1 is fixed to accommodate the required width of the working platform 11. Lateral stability is provided by the load bearing swivel base plate 5 (two frames per working platform) and by fixed ledgers 8. Different lengths of window (spans) are accommodated by inserting filler ledgers/spacers 10 into the ends of the fixed ledgers 8 and pinned. Standards 3 have a snap-fix joint 12 which allow inward folding to facilitate safe and easy fixing of the telescopic guard rails from inside the building/room. The end standards 14 are secured to upturn ledgers/standards 20 by spring loaded joints 13. Standards allow a predetermined height of the top and bottom guardrails which are secured to the standards by spring loaded couplers. Rivets 15 are fixed into each standard at appropriate positions to prevent the guardrail sliding down. The top of the standards have enlarged caps to prevent the top guard rails lifting off. The triangular bracket 21 with an adjustable spacer 22 fixed to the underside of the transom 1 transmits loads from cill level, to vertical surfaces. Fixed standard 25, sliding standard 26, transom 1, folding standard 3, adjustable spacer 22, collar guides 23 and bracket 24 forms a frame to transmit loads from below cill level to a vertical surfaces.

Both systems have are secured on and to support the work platform, guardrails etc., For a dormer window with two opening sashes Fig 4. The sequence for providing a working platform 11 to the front of the dormer and for providing access to the dormer cheeks and roof surface is as follows: The frames are adjusted to suit the roof pitch by means of the pre determined holes in the inner 4 and outer 3 standards which are securely pinned 18. (allowance has been made for the thickness of a scaffold layer board in the pre determined spacing of the holes).

The first frame is offered through the window opening with the swivel base plate 5 being positioned onto the scaffold layer board on the outer end with the transom 1 laid on the cill.

Should it be necessary, the transom can be levelled using the fine adjuster 17. The transom is then securely (temporary) fixed to the cill/ledge by tightening the screw clamp 2. (right side from the inside the building/room). Obstructions to fixing such as radiators etc., can be overcome by the use of shaped or plain packing.

The second frame is positioned in the same manner as the first. (Left side from inside the building/room).

A filler ledger 10 is inserted into the end of a ledger 8 which is then slid along the right side transom 1 to the standard 3 and secured to the transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16.

A filler ledger 10 is inserted into the end of a ledger 8 which is then placed onto the right side transom 1 nearest to the cill and secured to the transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16.

A ledger 8 is slid along the left side transom 1 to the standard 3 and secured to the transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16.

A ledger 8 is placed onto the left side transom 1 nearest to the cill and secured to the transom 1 by a trapped wedge 9 through the saddle 16.

The filler ledgers 10 inserted into the right side ledgers 8 are partly slid out and inserted into the left ledgers 8 (completing the span to carry the work platform panels 11) and secured by pinning.

The top and bottom telescopic guard rails 6 are clipped on to folded standards 3 which are then pushed out and snapped/secured in the vertical position by means of the snap fix joint 12.

With the ledgers 8 & 10 and the telescopic guardrails 6 in position, single work platform panels 11 are offered out from the inside of the building/room and slid along the ledgers 8 and filler ledgers 10 to form a work platform between the extremity of the window openings. Spring shells 19 are inserted into the semi-circular saddle 19 to accommodate the reduced diameter of the filler ledger 10.

The remaining panels 11 at both ends of the work platform 11 are laid from the safety of the already positioned centre work platform 11.

Individual end standards 14 are fixed into the upturned ledger/standard 20 and secured in position by a spring loaded joint.

The remaining guardrails are then snapped into position.

Access to the cheeks and roof surface of the dormer can be obtained using a ladder or scaffold boards placed on the work platform at either end of the scaffold.

To dismantle the scaffold, the steps described above are carried out in reverse sequence.

For high level windows or for windows in high-level buildings the sequence is as follows: For providing a work platform at cill height Figs 6 & 7 the triangular bracket is fixed to the frame underneath the transom 1. The spacer 22 is then adjusted to take up the distance of cill projection and offered through the window opening. First, ensuring that the triangular bracket is bearing against the vertical surface of the wall, the transom 1 is then securely (temporary) fixed to the cill/up stand by tightening the screw clamp 2 (right side from inside the building/room).

This process is repeated for the left side support.

The sequence of further operations is as before described.

Work platforms for below cill level require that the frame is assembled Figs 8 & 9, adjust for the cill overhang 22 and offer out of the window as before described. The frame is secured at cill level Fig 8 by pinning the sliding standard 26. (Right side from inside the building/room).

The process is repeated for the left side support.

The ledgers 8 & 10, guardrails 6 and single work platform panels 11 are positioned as before described. Pins in the back of the sliding standard 26 are withdrawn and the frame is lowered to the required position. The operative descends to the partly completed platform and positions the end platform panels 11 from the safety of the already positioned centre platform. The end standards 14, remaining guardrails 7 and toe boards are then positioned to provide a safe work place.

Claims

CLAIMS 1 A demountable scaffold frame and extending components to be positioned from window or other openings onto inclined or horizontal roof surfaces or from other horizontal, inclined or vertical surfaces.
2 A demountable scaffold frame as in claim 1 wherein the horizontal and vertical supports are in the permanent shape of a cranked transom and folding standard fixed at 90 degrees.
3 A demountable scaffold frame as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cranked transom, the folding standard and the load distributing swivel base plate accommodates all roof pitches.
4 A demountable scaffold frame as in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cranked transom, the folding standard and the triangular bracket distribute the load to a wall or other vertical surface
5 A demountable scaffold frame as in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the cranked transom, folding standard and triangular bracket when not in use is converted to a folding storage container for the frames components.
6 A demountable scaffold frame as in claim 1 where the short transom, the vertical wall standard and the vertical sliding frame provides support from vertical surfaces.

When not in use, the frame acts as a storage container for its components.