GB2353817A

GB2353817A - Support arrangement for scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2353817A
Application number: GB9917983A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alexander Kevin Anderson
Original assignee: SGB Services PLC
Current assignee: SGB Services PLC
Priority date: 1999-07-30
Filing date: 1999-07-30
Publication date: 2001-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2019-07-30
Also published as: GB9917983D0; GB2353817B

Abstract

A support arrangement, particularly for a scaffold platform, includes a tubular element which has a flattened region 1, the tube being bent so that two linear portions 3,4, on opposed sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each other. One of the portions of the tube 3 may rest on the upper surface 7 of a horizontal beam 6. The depending portion 4 supports the scaffold element.

Description

2353817 DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SUPPORT

ARRANGEMENT" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a support arrangement, and more particularly relates to a support arrangement adapted to support an access platform or the like.

There is often a need to support access platforms, and on many occasions it is necessary to support an access platform within, or immediately beneath a roof space. Typically such a roof space may have within it horizontally extending beams forming part of the building. Such beams may have a 'T' cross-section.

The present invention seeks to provide a support arrangement adapted for use in supporting an access arrangement from horizontal beams.

According to this invention there is provided a support arrangement, the support arrangement including a tubular element, the tubular element having a flattened region, the flattened region being bent so that two portions of the tube on opposed sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each 2 other, the tube being adapted to engage a horizontal beam and being adapted to support an element to be supported.

Preferably the support arrangement may be in combination with an access platform, the tube being connected to the access platform to support the access platform.

Conveniently part of the tube is associated with a clamp adapted to clamp a portion of the tube to a beam.

The invention also relates to an access platform adapted to be supported from a plurality of horizontally extending beams, the access platform being provided with a plurality of support arrangements, each support arrangement being adapted to engage a respective beam, each support arrangement having a tubular element the tubular element having a flattened region, the flattened region being bent so that two portions of the tube on opposed sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each other.

Additionally the invention relates to a method of making a support arrangement, the method incorporating the steps of taking a metal tube, flattening a part of the tube intermediate the ends of the tube and bending the tube so that regions on opposite sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each other, with the bend being confined to the flattened region.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a length of tube, part of which has been flattened, FIGURE 2 is a view showing the tube of Figure 1 after it has been bent within the flattened region, FIGURE 3 illustrates a support arrangement incorporating a tube of the type shown in Figure 2, showing the support engaging a beam of "I" crosssection, FIGURE 4 shows the support of Figure 3 together with part of an access platform, and FIGURE 5 illustrates an access platform with a plurality of supports of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 4.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a tube 1 is illustrated which may comprise a conventional scaffolding tube. Such a tube may be formed of steel and may have an outer diameter of 48 millimetres and may have a wall thickness of 4 millimetres.

As can be seen in Figure 1, a portion 2 of the tube intermediate the ends has been flattened. The length of the flattened section of tube may be between 50 and 75 millimetres. The tube may be flattened using a hydraulic powered press or the like. The flattened region is typically approximately 500 millimetres from one end of the tube. The other end of the tube may have a length in excess of 1,800 millimetres.

4 After the intermediate portion 2 of the tube has been flattened, one end portion 3 of the tube, on one side of the region 2, is moved relative to the other end region 4, on the other side of the flattened region 2, so that the flattened region 2 becomes bent. The region 3 of the tube is moved until it is substantially at a right angle to the region 4 of the tube. Because the tube is thus bent with the bend being confined to the flattened region 3, a sharp substantially right angled corner 5 is defined between the inner surfaces of the portion 3 and the portion 4 of the tube.

As can be seen from Figure 3, the tube 1 is of such a configuration that it can be located with the first part 3 of the tube resting on top of an "I" beam 6, with the second part 4 of the tube depending vertically and located immediately adjacent the side edges of the flanges 7, 8 of the "I" sectioned beam 6. The tube 1 thus fits relatively snugly up against the "I" beam and the portion 4 of the tube cannot move by any substantial distance relative to the "I" beam without engaging the 'T' beam.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the portion 3 of the tube 1 is clamped to the upper flange 7 of the 'T' beam by means of a clamp 9.

Turning now to Figure 4, it can be seen that the vertically depending portion 4 of the tube may be connected to pail of an access platform 10 in order to support the access platform.

Figure 5 illustrates a plurality of "I" beams 11, 12, 13, with two of the "I" beams being associated with tubes 1 of the type disclosed above, those tubes supporting opposed ends of the access platform 10. A third tube 1, shown in phantom, may be provided co-operating with the "I" beam 12 in order to support the central part of the access platform 10.

The support arrangement as described has a relatively low number of connectors, and the safe working load of the access platform is not restricted to the relatively low strength of a scaffold fitting.

It is to be appreciated that as a consequence of the tube 2 being flattened before bending, it is possible to effect a bend with a very tight radius. Because the tube can be bent, with a very tight radius, a very sharp substantially rightangled corner 5 is defined between the inner surfaces of the portion 3 and the portion 4 of the tube.

As a consequence, the portion 4 of the tube can touch the support beam to reduce the eccentricity of the centre line of the portion 4 of the tube. Thus, in the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the inner edge of the portion 4 of the tube would actually touch the outer edges of the two flanges 7 and 8 of the beam 6.

It is believed that reducing the eccentricity of the centre line of the portion 4 of the tube will provide the advantage of a direct load transfer on to the supporting beam, with a reduction in the torsional effect that a more eccentric "traditional" tube arrangement might induce. In the example shown in Figure 3, because the portion 4 of the tube actually bears against the lower flange 8 of the beam, no additional tube or fitting is required to be fitted there to transfer any horizontal load (caused by eccentricity) into the lower flange of the beam.

The tightness of the bend, and the reduction in eccentricity, and the bearing of the portion 4 of the tube against the support beam 6 all contribute to 6 a relatively stiff suspended access platform, without the need to provide additional bracing.

The described arrangement possesses the advantage that there is no requirement for a check or safety fitting. Because there is no scaffold joint, in tension, at the top of the vertical support tube, no check fitting is required, in contrast with the traditional arrangement.

It is believed that using an arrangement as described will lead to a reduction in the number of scaffold fittings that may be required to form a suspended support. This leads to a commercial saving in materials and labour.

Claims

7 CLAIMS:

1. A support arrangement, the support arrangement including a tubular element, the tubular element having a flattened region, the flattened region being bent so that two portions of the tube on opposed sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each other, the tube being adapted to engage a horizontal beam and being adapted to support an element to be supported.

2. A support arrangement according to Claim 1 in combination with an access platform, the tube being connected to the access platform to support the access platform.

3. A support arrangement according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein part of the tube is associated with a clamp adapted to clamp a portion of the tube to a beam.

4. An access platform adapted to be supported from a plurality of horizontally extending beams, the access platform being provided with a plurality of support arrangements, each support arrangement being adapted to engage a respective beam, each support arrangement having a tubular element the tubular element having a flattened region, the flattened region being bent so that two portions of the tube on opposed sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each other.

5. A method of making a support arrangement, the method incorporating the steps of taking a metal tube, flattening a part of the tube intermediate the ends of the tube and bending the tube so that regions on opposite sides of the flattened region are substantially at right angles to each other, with the bend being confined to the flattened region.

6. A support arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

7. An access platform substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of making a support arrangement substantially as herein described.

9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.