GB2375136A

GB2375136A - Scaffolding connection for platform

Info

Publication number: GB2375136A
Application number: GB0110777A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard William Thompson
Original assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Current assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Priority date: 2001-05-02
Filing date: 2001-05-02
Publication date: 2002-11-06
Anticipated expiration: 2021-05-02
Also published as: GB2375136B; GB0110777D0

Abstract

A scaffold member 2 with a cruciform shaped slot 23 and a scaffold element 6 defining a pair of opposed locating surfaces 17, which receive the scaffold member 2, and engaging means 20 and 21 to engage slot 23. Platform 4 rests on scaffold member 2, opposed locating surfaces 17 stop horizontal motion perpendicular to the scaffold member. Platform 4 is placed on scaffold member 2 (fig 4) and moved horizontally in a direction parallel to the scaffold member 2 to locate engaging means 20 and 21 in wide part 24 of slot 23a (fig 5). Further movement in the horizontal direction parallel to the scaffold member moves bulbous part 21 of engaging member below narrow part 25 of slot 23a and hence stops platform from lifting off scaffold member (fig 6).

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A SCAFFOLDING CONNECTION THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a scaffolding connection. More particularly, the invention relates to a scaffolding connection between a scaffolding element secured to or securable to a platform and a horizontal scaffolding component or transom. The invention also relates to a scaffolding assembly.

Scaffolding assemblies comprising a plurality of vertical scaffolding uprights or standards, and a plurality of horizontal scaffolding members or transoms interconnecting adjacent standards are well known. Once a scaffolding assembly of this type has been erected, it is frequently necessary to provide a platform of some description upon which workmen may stand and walk. Typically, removable scaffolding deck plates are used for this purpose and are supported at either end by a horizontal scaffolding member or transom forming part of the scaffolding assembly.

It has been proposed previously to provide such scaffolding deck plates with downwardly depending hooks at each end thereof, the hooks being adapted to engage an upper edge of a U-shaped channel section of a respective transom. Whilst this system is clearly more secure than simply laying wooden planks or deck plates on top of transoms, in that it prevents planks or deck plates sliding off the transoms, significant problems have been experienced

regarding vertical movement of the deck plates and hence disengagement of the hooks thereof from the U-sectioned transoms. For instance, when a scaffolding system is used in an exposed area, wind speed can be significant and hence substantial vertical forces may be applied to the deck plates tending to lift them and disengage their hooks from the transoms. This is a particular problem when scaffolding is used against the walls of buildings in areas where high wind speeds occur, since substantial wind deflection occurs, resulting in strong eddies and vertical wind components.

It will thus be appreciated that it is advantageous to provide a scaffolding assembly in which some form of locking arrangement is provided to prevent the ends of the deck plates becoming disengaged with their supporting transoms.

Some prior proposed methods of securing the ends of deck plates have involved complicated mechanisms which prevent quick and easy assembly or disassembly of a scaffolding system. Other prior proposed arrangements involve the use of a separate cross-member element disposed substantially vertically above the U-sectioned transom and adapted to prevent vertically upward movement of the ends of said deck plates. However, it has been found to be disadvantageous to require the use of two horizontal components in such scaffolding assemblies, as it makes their erection and subsequent disassembly more complicated and hence labour intensive. It is advantageous to provide scaffolding components which may be simply or easily installed and secured to a scaffolding assembly.

Another prior proposed arrangement provides a scaffolding component comprising a substantially inverted integrally formed channel member, comprising spaced apart side walls and an upper top part interconnecting the

upper edges of the side walls. The arrangement has apertures formed in the channel member in the region of the junction between the side walls and the top part of the channel member, the apertures being such that recesses are provided in an upper part of each side wall, at least part of each recess being immediately adjacent a region of the top part of substantial width, and each recess also being adjacent to a region of the top part of less width. The arrangement is such that a hook at an end of a deck plate may be introduced into each recess by passing the hook through a space defined adjacent the portion of a lesser width and may then be located in the recess with part of the hook member lying under the region of substantial width. Whilst this arrangement has, to a certain degree, overcome the aforementioned problems of other earlier arrangements, it necessitates careful manipulation of a deck plate by a scaffolder, in order accurately to align the hooks with the recesses. It is often the case that a scaffolder must support the entire weight of a deck plate, sometimes above head-height, as it is being manipulated for engagement with a pair of transoms, and this can make it difficult for the scaffolder accurately to align the hooks with the recesses.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved scaffolding connection and scaffolding assembly.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a scaffolding connection comprising a scaffold member provided with a slot and a scaffold element configured to engage the scaffold member; the scaffold element defining a pair of opposed locating surfaces configured to receive the scaffold member therebetween, and having engagement means located between the locating surfaces, the engagement means being configured to engage the slot in the scaffold member.

Preferably, the slot provided in the scaffold member has at least a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a greater width than the first portion.

Conveniently, the engagement means comprises a shaft dimensioned to be received within the first portion of the slot, the shaft carrying an engagement element dimensioned to be inserted in the second portion of the slot but having a dimension greater than the width of the first portion of the slot to engage inner walls of the scaffold member adjacent the first portion when the shaft is received within the first portion.

Advantageously, the scaffold member is elongate and the locating surfaces are configured to receive the scaffolding member therebetween at any position along a length of the scaffold member and to slide along the scaffold member as the engagement means is aligned with the slot.

Preferably, the locating surfaces are substantially parallel with one another.

Conveniently, the scaffold member is of substantially circular crosssection and the scaffolding element defines a substantially semi-circular opencollar portion configured to receive the scaffold member.

Advantageously, the locating surfaces extend substantially tangentially from said open-collar portion.

Preferably, the engagement means project into said open-collar portion but does not project past the locating surfaces.

Conveniently, the scaffolding element comprises a guide surface configured to bear against the scaffolding member and guide the scaffolding member between the locating surfaces.

Conveniently, the scaffold member is a substantially horizontal member and the scaffolding element is secured or securable to a platform supported by the scaffold member.

The present invention also provides a scaffolding assembly comprising a plurality of scaffolding members and at least one platform supported by said scaffolding members, the assembly comprising means to hold said scaffolding members substantially horizontally and in spaced parallelism, and a plurality of scaffolding connections as defined above, wherein the scaffolding element of each scaffolding connection is secured or securable to the or a said platform and are configured to engage a said substantially horizontal scaffolding member.

So that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, an embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding assembly generally in accordance with the present invention ; FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a scaffolding element forming part of a scaffolding connection in accordance with the invention ;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view illustrating a deck plate, with a pair of scaffolding elements as illustrated in Figure 2 secured thereto, being offered up to a transom; FIGURE 4 is perspective view corresponding generally to that of Figure 3, illustrating the scaffolding elements of the deck plate being located with respect to the transom; FIGURE 5 is a perspective view corresponding generally to that of Figure 4, illustrating engagement means of the scaffolding elements of Figure 4 being introduced into slots formed in the transom; and FIGURE 6 is a perspective view corresponding generally to that of Figure 5, illustrating the securing elements engaged with the transom.

Referring initially to Figure 1, there is provided a scaffolding assembly comprising a plurality of vertical uprights or standards 1 arranged in pairs, each pair of standards 1 having a substantially horizontal scaffold member or transom 2 extending therebetween. Each standard 1 has a number of securing means 3 located at regular positions along the length of the standard 1, to receive and engage respective ends of a transom 2. It is to be appreciated that the securing means 3 may take any convenient form and so will not be described in detail here. There may also be provided a number of horizontal or diagonal reinforcing braces 5 extending between respective standards 1 in order to strengthen the scaffolding assembly.

As will also be seen from Figure 1, there is provided a number of substantially horizontally deck plates 4, each deck plate 4 extending between a pair of spaced apart transoms 2. At the ends of each deck plate 4, there is

provided at least a pair of scaffold elements 6, as illustrated, for example, in Figures 3 to 6.

Figure 2 illustrates, in more detail, a single scaffold element 6. The scaffold element 6 takes the form of a metal casting having a substantially uniform thickness. The uppermost surface 7 of the scaffolding element 6 is stepped, at 8, to provide a first substantially planar portion 9 and a second substantially planar portion 10, the second planar portion 10 being slightly lower (in the orientation illustrated in Figure 2) than the first planar portion 9.

The step 8 is located substantially half-way along the length of the entire scaffold element 6 and can be considered to divide the scaffold element 6 into a transom-receiving part 11 and a deck plate securing part 12. The deck plate securing part 12 comprises a frame 13 defining therethrough an aperture 14 over most of the extent of the deck plate securing region 12. The aperture 14 serves to lighten the scaffold element 6 so as to reduce the weight of the overall arrangement. Around the aperture 14, there are provided four bores 15 passing through the entire width of the scaffold element 6. Each of the through-bores 15 enables the scaffold element 6 to be rigidly secured to a deck plate 4 as illustrated schematically, for example, in Figure 3. Each throughbore 15 receives a conventional bolt or rivet for securement to, a stile 15a running along a respective longitudinal edge of the deck plate 4 as illustrated schematically in Figure 3. Whilst, for reasons of clarity, the two scaffolding elements 6 illustrated in Figure 3 are shown to engage, at their substantially planar portion 10, the undersurface of a deck plate 4 directly, it is also envisaged that the scaffolding elements 6 could engage the undersurface of brackets or channel members secured along the longitudinal edges of the deck plate 4.

The bores 15 in each scaffold element 6 can also be used to secure the scaffold elements and respective deck plate stiles 15a to the ends of a transverse brace (not shown) extending below the deck plate 4 between the stiles 15a.

Returning now to Figure 2, the transom-receiving region 11 of the scaffold element 6 comprises a semi-circular open collar portion 16. The scaffold element 6 is also provided with a pair of opposed locating surfaces 17 which are generally planar, and orientated substantially vertically such that they extend tangentially from the open collar 16. The semi-circular open collar 16 and the two opposed locating surfaces 17 therefore define an open recess 18 having a pair of substantially vertical sides and a substantially semi-circular top part.

Located approximately halfway along the length of the scaffold element 6, there is provided a guiding surface 19 immediately adjacent and angled relative to one of the locating surfaces 17. The guiding surface 19 is substantially planar and angled downwardly and away from the recess 18.

At the top of the recess 18, the semi-circular open collar portion is provided with a downwardly depending shaft 20 which extends into the recess 18. At its lowermost end, the shaft 20 is provided with an enlargened head 21 which, as will become clear, serves as an engagement element. The head 21 defines a pair of outwardly, and downwardly extending engagement surfaces 22 on upper shoulders of the head 21. As can be seen in Figure 2, the head 21 is located entirely within the recess 18, such that the locating surfaces 17 each extend downwardly past the enlargened head 21.

Figure 3 illustrates a deck plate 4 having a pair of scaffold elements 6 secured thereto at one end thereof. The deck plate 4 is shown being offered up to a substantially horizontal scaffold member 2, for engagement therewith. The scaffold member 2 takes the form of an elongate metal scaffold tube, having a circular cross-section. At several points along the length of the scaffold member 2, the scaffold member 2 is provided with slots 23.

Each slot 23 is generally rectangular in form, but having a widened central region 24 such that each slot 23 takes the general shape of a cruciform.

Each slot 23 therefore comprises two end regions 25 of equal width to one another, and central region 24 having a width greater than the end regions 25.

Each of the slots 23 in the scaffold member 2 are aligned with one another along the length of the scaffold member 2 at the top of the scaffold member 2.

The slots 23 are grouped in pairs, the slot of each pair being spaced apart by a distance substantially equal to that by which the scaffolding elements 6 secured to the deck plate 4, are spaced apart from one another. In the particular arrangement illustrated in Figure 3, the scaffold member 2 is provided with two such pairs of slots 23. The slots 23 are each configured to receive and engage a respective head 21 of a scaffold element 6 and so, the arrangement illustrated in Figure 3 is configured such that two deck plates 4 can be supported at one end by the scaffold member 2, with the scaffold elements 6 of each deck plate engaging a respective pair of slots 23.

The width of each end region 25 of each slot 23 is slightly greater than the width of the shaft 20 of a scaffold element 6, whilst being narrower than the head 21 carried by the shaft. The widened central region 24 of each slot 23 is sized so as to have a width slightly greater than the width of the head 21. The head 21 can therefore only be inserted into the slot 23 through the central region 24, but, when so inserted, can be moved below an adjacent end region

25 of the slot 23 such that the shaft 20 is received within the end region 25.

This means of engagement will be explained in further detail hereinafter.

As already explained, Figure 3 illustrates a deck plate with two scaffold elements 6, being offered up to the scaffold member 2. One end of the deck plate 4 is presented to the scaffold member 2 with its associated scaffold elements 6 being orientated substantially vertically, with the shaft 20 and head 21 extending generally downwardly. As illustrated in Figure 4, the scaffold elements 6 secured to the deck plate 4 are brought to rest initially such that the scaffold member 2 is received between the opposed locating surfaces 17, and with the lowermost surface of the heads 21 resting on the uppermost surface of the scaffold member 2. The inclined guiding surface 19 allows easy location of the scaffold element 6 in this position, as the deck plate 4 can be urged towards the scaffold member 2 until the guiding surface 19 bears against the outermost surface of the scaffold member 2. Then, by simply lowering the deck plate 4, the scaffold member 2 is guided by the guiding surface 19 into the recess 18, such that it is located between the opposed locating surfaces 17.

In the position illustrated in Figure 4, the scaffold member 2 supports the weight of the deck plate 4 and, because the scaffold member 2 is located between the opposed locating surfaces 17 of each scaffold element 6, horizontal movement of the deck plate 4 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the scaffold member 2 is prevented. The position illustrated in Figure 4, therefore ensures that the deck plate 4 is adequately supported at an intermediate step of the engagement procedure. This is convenient because it allows the scaffolder simply to lower the scaffold elements 6 of one end of a deck plate 4 on to a scaffold member 2 to support the weight of the deck plate 4 without requiring alignment of the scaffold elements 6, with respective slots 23 whilst still supporting the weight of the deck plate 4 himself. This is

particularly advantageous in situations where the horizontal member 2 is located above the scaffolder's head, in which case, the scaffolder will not be able to see the slots 23 which are located along the uppermost surface of the scaffold tube 2.

After the scaffolding element 6 has been initially engaged with the scaffold member 2 in the configuration illustrated in Figure 4, the scaffolder can then align the scaffolding element 6 with respective slots 23 simply by moving the deck plate 4 such that the scaffolding elements 6 are caused to slide along the length of the scaffold member 2. For example, in order to align the scaffold element 6 illustrated in Figure 4 with the respective slots 23a illustrated in Figure 4, the deck plate 4 would be pulled along the length of the scaffold member 2 towards the right of Figure 4. The scaffold elements 6 are therefore caused to slide along the scaffold member 2, until their heads 21 become aligned with respective central portions 24 of the slots 23. Because the end regions 25 of each slot 23 are narrower than the heads 21, as the scaffolding elements 6 are caused to slide along the scaffold member 2, each head 21 passes over the end region 25 of a respective slot 23 and becomes located over a respective central portion 24. At this point, the heads 21 are allowed to pass through the central portions 24 of each slot 23, such that the scaffold elements 6 and the associated deck plate 4 drop slightly as the heads 21 pass through the central portions 24 of the slots 23 into the scaffold member 2. The scaffold elements drop in this way until the semi-circular collar portion 16 engages the upper region of the scaffold member's outer surface. This position is illustrated in Figure 5. From this position, the deck plate 4 can be moved either from left to right, or from right to left, such that the scaffold elements 6 again slide along the scaffold member 2. Such sliding movement causes the shafts 20 of each scaffold element 6 to become received within respective end regions 25 of each slot 23, as illustrated in Figure 6. In this

position, the head 21 carried by each shaft 20 becomes located below the end region 25 of the slot 23, such that the shoulders 22 of the enlargened head 21 engage, or are located generally adjacent, the inner walls of the scaffold member 2. Thus, in this position, as illustrated in Figure 6, vertically upward movement of the deck plate 4 is prevented, by virtue of engagement of the shoulder surfaces 22 with the inner walls of the scaffold member 2.

In order to disassemble the above-described arrangement, the reverse procedure is followed, whereby the deck plate is manipulated such that the scaffold elements 6 are caused to slide along the scaffold member 2 until the enlargened heads 21 are located vertically below the central regions 24 of each slot 23. The deck plate can then be moved vertically upwardly such that the enlarged heads 21 pass through the central regions 24 of each slot 23. Further upwards movement of the deck plate 4 causes the scaffold elements 6 to become completely disengaged from the scaffold member 2.

As will be appreciated, the arrangement of the present invention allows the weight of the end of a deck plate, equipped with the scaffold elements 6, to be supported by a scaffold member 2, such that the deck plate 4 is prevented from sliding off the scaffold member 2, before the engagement means of the securing elements 6 are positively aligned and engaged with the slots 23 of the scaffold member 2. This allows easy and safe erection of deck plates, as it enables a scaffolder initially to rest the ends of a deck plate 4 on respective scaffold members 2, without needing to align the scaffolding elements 6 with the slots 23, but whilst also ensuring that the deck plates 4 cannot slide off the scaffolding members 2 and fall. Then, whilst the weight of the deck plate 4 is still supported by the scaffold members 2, the deck plate 4 can simply be manipulated until the engagement means of the scaffold element 6 are received within and engage the slots 23 of the scaffold member 2.

It should be appreciated that the present invention has been described with particular reference to a preferred embodiment and certain modifications or alterations could be effected without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, whilst specific reference has been made to the scaffold elements taking the form of metal castings, other'forms are equally possible and other materials could also be used.

In the present specification"comprise"means"includes or consists of" and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS : 1. A scaffolding connection comprising a scaffold member provided with a slot and a scaffold element configured to engage the scaffold member; the scaffold element defining a pair of opposed locating surfaces configured to receive the scaffold member therebetween, and having engagement means located between the locating surfaces, the engagement means being configured to engage the slot in the scaffold member.
2. A scaffolding connection according to claim 1, wherein the slot provided in the scaffold member has at least a first portion and a second portion, the second portion having a greater width than the first portion.
3. A scaffolding connection according to claim 2, wherein the engagement means comprises a shaft dimensioned to be received within the first portion of the slot, the shaft carrying an engagement element dimensioned to be inserted in the second portion of the slot but having a dimension greater than the width of the first portion of the slot to engage inner walls of the scaffold member adjacent the first portion when the shaft is received within the first portion.
4. A scaffolding arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the scaffold member is elongate and the locating surfaces are configured to receive the scaffolding member therebetween at any position along a length of the scaffold member and to slide along the scaffold member as the engagement means is aligned with the slot.
5. A scaffolding arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the locating surfaces are substantially parallel with one another.

<Desc/Clms Page number 15>
6. A scaffolding arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the scaffold member is of substantially circular cross-section and the scaffolding element defines a substantially semi-circular open-collar portion configured to receive the scaffold member.
7. A scaffolding arrangement according to'claim 6, wherein the locating surfaces extend substantially tangentially from said open-collar portion.
8. A scaffolding connection according to claim 7, wherein the engagement means projects into said open-collar portion but does not project past the locating surfaces.
9. A scaffolding connection according to any preceding claim, wherein the scaffolding element comprises a guide surface configured to bear against the scaffolding member and guide the scaffolding member between the locating surfaces.
10. A scaffolding connection according to any preceding claim, wherein the scaffold member is a substantially horizontal member and the scaffolding element is secured or securable to a platform supported by the scaffold member.
11. A scaffolding assembly comprising a plurality of scaffolding members and at least one platform supported by said scaffolding members, the assembly comprising means to hold said scaffolding members substantially horizontally and in spaced parallelism, and a plurality of scaffolding connections according to any preceding claim, wherein the scaffolding element of each scaffolding connection is secured or securable to the or a said platform and are configured to engage a said substantially horizontal scaffolding member.

<Desc/Clms Page number 16>
12. A scaffolding connection substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
13. A scaffolding assembly substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
14. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.