EP0633970A1

EP0633970A1 - Tension - and pressure - absorbing construction components

Info

Publication number: EP0633970A1
Application number: EP93908174A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gunnar Strand
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-27
Filing date: 1993-03-25
Publication date: 1995-01-18
Also published as: NO921196D0; NO175270B; WO1993020306A1; NO921196L; NO175270C

Abstract

An elongate tension - and pressure - absorbing construction component (11) for use in scaffolds, comprises a tension-absorbing core piece and a succession of axially impacting, sleeve-shaped sections (16) and sleeve-carrying sections (17). The sections surround and form support abutments against the core piece (15). A pair of tension means (18a, 18b) are arranged at their respective ends of the core piece (15) and form stops for the succession of sections (16, 17). The pressure-absorbing sections (16, 17) are axially set up on the tension-absorbing core piece (15) with a certain tensile force between the pair of tension means (18a, 18b).

Description

Tension- and Pressure-Absorbing Construction Components

The present invention relates to an elongate tension- and pressure-absorbing construction component, especially for use in scaffolds, framework constructions or similar building constructions.

With the present invention the first and foremost aim is to produce a construction component, which can be used for various types of building purposes with the possibility, all according to the conditions, to transfer tension loads and/or pressure loads in a building con¬ struction in an accurately controlled manner. In other words in certain cases of application for example the con- struction component shall mainly transfer internal pres¬ sure forces and external pressure forces, while the con¬ struction component in other cases of application shall transfer internal tension forces and external pressure forces. By the term building construction is to be under- stood both permanent constructions, for example tent hall constructions, and readily dismantleable constructions, such as scaffolds and similar constructions.

It is an objective to produce the construction compo¬ nent with th^"e aid of simple means, that is to say based on individual components, which can be mounted in place in the building component in an easy, but nevertheless accu- rate and reliable manner, for transferring tension and pressure forces externally as well as internally ^'relative to the construction component.

Particularly with construction components of alu- minium and particularly construction components, where a high demand is placed on reliable and accurate connection between the components, one has to a large extent been obliged hitherto, both for strength and safety reasons, to fasten certain components in place by welding. However it is a known fact that welded aluminium constructions must in practice be designed with an over-sized large mass (large cross-sectional dimensions) in order to compensate for a weakening of the construction, as a consequence of the welding operations which must be effected in the con- struction. Extruded aluminium components have a price level which is proportional to the weight of the aluminium components.

Instead of being dependent on welded constructions, it is an objective of the present invention to employ mutually pushed together and mutually coupled together components, which by the aid of simple means and in a ready manner can be assembled into a coherent construction ready for use.

The construction component according to the inven- tion is characterised in that it comprises an elongate, tension-absorbing, rigid core piece, which constitutes a common support means for a succession of mutually axially impacting, sleeve-shaped, separate sections and sleeve- carrying sections, which separately surround the core piece and which form support abutments radially against this, a pair of tension means, which are arranged at their respective ends of the core piece and which project later¬ ally outwards from this, forming stops for the succession of intermediate, mutually impacting sections, while the impacting sections are axially clamped together on the core piece with a certain prestressing force between the pair of tension means to form a rigid coherent construct¬ ion component. According to the invention a construction component is obtained initially, which can be specially made in a specially flexible manner for different purposes of use, based on an arrangement of certain common main components and a relatively small selection of specially designed extra components.

As to production an economic arrangement of rela¬ tively few different components can be achieved, based for example on parts which are cut off from elongate blanks of extruded metal profile. Secondly the parts can be welded together in a ready manner into a coherent construction, by the use of a small number of fastening means. Correspondingly parts which are damaged or undesired in another way can be readily replaced. Thirdly an effective transfer of loads internally in and to and from the construction component can be ensured with effective control of tension and pressure forces, which necessarily arise locally in the construction compo¬ nent. The solution according to the invention is especi¬ ally advantageous in the manufacture of the construction component of aluminium and especially in the use of extru¬ ded aluminium components, where in the construction compo¬ nent with the aid of simple means the components can be fixed in precise positions relative to each other and the components fastened accurately and reliably in place in the construction component, without being dependent on welded joints. By avoiding the over-sizing of the cross- section of the components, the weight of the construction component can hereby be limited and the manufacturing costs thereby directly reduced for the individual compo¬ nents and for the whole construction component. By means of the construction component according to the invention the length of the various external -sections can for example be adjusted to each other, so that on mounting they assume precisely established positions rela- tive to each other and relative to the core piece, and thereby can transfer loads at accurately established points in the construction component in a ready and reli¬ able manner.

The invention is, with reference to the afore- mentioned, characterised in that the sleeve-shaped secti¬ ons form spacing means between the sleeve-carrying secti¬ ons, which are separately adapted to transfer the loads to and from the construction component via the core piece and the adjacent sleeve-shaped sections respectively. An especially simple practial solution, specifically designed for use in scaffolds or in framework construct¬ ions, is characterised in that the core piece consists of a rigid metal pipe which is provided at opposite ends with external threads for the reception of their respective associated tension means with associated internal threads for regulatably setting up the pressure-absorbing sections between the tension means.

By the afore-mentioned solution it is possible, by means of external threads on the core piece pipe and equi- valent internal threads on each of the tension means, to fasten the components together in a ready and simple manner by means of a simple mounting operation and in addition to undertake a simple and effective regulation of the tension force, which is exerted over the intermediate, external sleeve-shaped and sleeve-carrying sections respectively.

By employing a core piece of rigid metal pipe this can transfer tension forces and pressure forces as required. For example vertical scaffold members can in certain cases of application rest vertically against a lower base for absorbing pressure forces, while in other cases, for example in connection with platforms at sea. they can hang vertically downwards from an upper fastening for absorbing tension forces in the vertical scaffold mem¬ bers. Alternatively to the last-mentioned application an extra tension-absorbing wire or similar tension means can be centrally received in the axially following, pipe- shaped core pieces.

Further features of the present invention will be evident from the following description having regard to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows in perspective a part of a scaffold with posts and intermediate, longitudinal and transverse beams and railing members.

Fig. 2 shows in perspective view a part of a post according to the invention, having different sections and parts illustrated ready for mutual coupling together. _^**. Fig. 3 shows in part a post and some beams, which are connected to the post and which are ready for coupling together with the post.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a sleeve-carrying section which forms a part of the post as illustrated in Fig. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 shows in part a side view of a horizontal beam as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows in part a perspective view of some of the members which form a part of horizontal beam according to the invention.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a framework con¬ struction according to the invention.

Fig. 8 and 9 show respectively a side view and a perspective view of a sleeve-carrying section, which forms a part of the framework construction according to Fig. 7. In Fig. 1 there is shown schematically a part of a scaffold 10, which is made up of a number of cooperating construction components lla-lld, 12a-12d, 13a-13d and 14a- 14b. Each scaffold section 10 is shown constructed with four posts lla-lld, two longitudinal upper beams 12a-12b and two longitudinal lower beams 12c-12d, two transverse upper beams 13a-13b and two transverse lower beams 13c-13d together with two longitudinal railing components 14a-14b. In practice additional beams or railing components can be employed as required, the illustrated components being only shown as an illustrating example. All the said compo- nents can separately constitute a construction component according to the invention, that is to say be produced in the form of a combined tension-and pressure-absorbing con¬ struction component.

Each of the said construction components can gene- rally be constructed in one and the same way, as is indi¬ cated in Fig. 2 and 6, that is to say constructed of an elongate inner core piece 15, a number of first, sleeve- shaped sections 16 and a number of second sleeve-carrying sections 17, which are threaded into place in succession on the outside of the core piece 15, together with a pair of tension means 18a, 18b, which are fastened to each opposite end of the core piece 15. By means of a clamping force exerted in the core piece 15 the succession of sections 16, 17 can be tightened axially together between the tension means 18a, 18b.

In the illustrated embodiments the core piece 15 is made of a metal pipe of extruded aluminium. Alternatively however other metals or other materials can also be used in the core piece. Correspondingly the first sections 16 are produced as spacing means in the form of sleeves of different length manufactured by dividing up a metal pipe, which for example is made of extruded aluminium.

In the illustrated embodiment the second sleeve- carrying sections 17 are designed, as shown in detail in

Fig. 4, with an inner sleeve portion 17a and four external bow portions 17b-17e. The sections 17 are also made of extruded aluminium profile by dividing up into relatively short, uniform sections. The length of the sections can be chosen as required.

In the illustrated embodiment the same wall thick- ness is employed in the sleeve-shaped sections 16 and in the sleeve portion 17a of the sections 17 respectively. Furthermore provision is made for the sections 16 and sleeve portion 17a of the sections 17 to be axially dis- placeable into place on the core piece 15 with a sliding fit, so that they can be separately supported internally against the core piece 15. In addition the sections 16 and 17, which have corresponding wall thicknesses and corre¬ sponding internal diameters, can be supported mutually aligned in an axial direction, back-to-back between the tension means 18a, 18b. In practice a wall thickness is chosen in the core piece corresponding to that of the sections 16 and 17. Consequently the sections 16, 17 can thereby transfer, as required, forces laterally relative to the core piece 15 as well as axially between the sections 16, 17 and further via the tension means 18 to the respective end of the core piece 15.

In the illustrated embodiment a circular annular cross-section is used for the metal pipes employed and for the metal profiles employed for the said sleeves/sleeve portions. Special anchoring elements or anchoring means can if necessary be employed in order to anchor the sections 16, 17 in place at accurately adjusted locations on the core piece 15 (for example by anchoring after effecting prestressing) . The anchoring can for example be done by local deformation of the surrounding outer profile member in the core-forming inner profile member.

Alternatively, instead of a circular, annular cross- section, a multi-edged annular cross-section can be employed, so that mutual turning between the internal core piece 15 and the external sections 16, 17 can be preven¬ ted. By means of the bow-shaped portions 17b-17e and the inner lying sleeve portion 17a, which are designed in one and the same section 17, two pairs of mutually oppositely directed fastening grooves 17b -17e can be defined for reception of their respective associated finger-shaped mounting pin 19 which projects vertically outwards from a respective horizontal adjacent construction component or beam 12, for example a pair of longitudinal beams 12a, 12a' or a pair of longitudinal railing components 14a,

14a'', as shown in Fig. 3, or longitudinal and transverse beams such as illustrated in Fig. 1.

Lowermost in Fig. 3 a pair of longitudinal beams 12c, 12c' are shown which are ready for fastening into associated bow portions of the section 17 in the post 11a by lowering of the beam, as is indicated by the arrows A.

By means of two sections 17, which are set up on the core piece 15 at a certain vertical distance relative to each other by means of a sleeve section 16, there can be defined an equivalent upper and lower fastening for an upper and lower finger-shaped mounting pin 19 on their respective beam members 22, 23, as is shown in Fig. 5. Correspondingly pairs of sleeve-carrying sections 17 can be fastened at suitable intermediate spaces in the height direction of the post for the fastening of beams and rail¬ ing and the like at different height positions in the scaffold 10.

Corresponding fastening points are known in connect¬ ion with pipe-shaped posts, where sections which resemble the sections 17 as illustrated in Fig. 4, are threaded on the outside of the pipe-shaped posts and thereafter are fastened by welded joints on the post. In such cases a relatively thick-walled pipe—shaped post is employed where the cross-section is over-sized on account of the welding operation. In the solution according to the invention-a double- walled pipe-shaped post (coaxial inner pipe and outer pipe) can be employed having the same combined wall thick- ness as the wall thickness which is employed in the known construction or including a smaller combined wall thick¬ ness than the wall thickness of the known construction. More specifically the combined wall thickness can accord¬ ing to the invention be shared between two coaxially extending pipes, that is to say a relatively thin-walled inner pipe which is tightly surrounded by an equivalent relatively thin-walled outer pipe, the outer pipe (which consists of axially impacting sections) and the inner pipe being able effectively to support each other mutually in the lateral direction. In addition the inner pipe and the outer pipe can substantially take up correspondingly large axial pressures separately. The sections 16, 17 can in themselves transfer in an effective manner significant axial pressure forces, while the core piece 15 can as required transfer tension or pressure forces axially through the construction component.

As shown uppermost in Fig. 3, a lower post 12a can be jointed endways together with a corresponding upper post 123', as shown in broken lines in Fig. 3, by means of a common connecting pin 20. The pin 20 has at its one end an external thread, which is screwed into engagement with an internal thread in the upper end of the lower post 12a and which with a pin portion 20a projects upwardly into the lower end of the upper post 12a' . In a transverse bore 20b in the pin 20 and in aligned bores in the two impact¬ ing post ends, a common locking bolt is inserted. In addition the ends of the posts can be locked together by ■jmeans of impacting tension means 18a, 18b, as indicated uppermost in Fig. 3. A horizontal construction component 12, as shown correspondingly in Fig. 1 and 3, consists as shown in Fig. 5 of two parallel elongate members 22, 23, which are connected sideways to each other at suitable axial distan¬ ces by a succession of transverse stays 24. In a corre¬ sponding manner, as the vertical construction component 11 which is illustrated in Fig. 2, the members 22 and 23 are composed of an internal core piece 15 and sleeve-shaped, spacing piece-forming sections 16 and sleeve-carrying, load-transferring sections 17' together with tension means 18a' at opposite ends.

In a corresponding manner as described above the core piece is made of a metal pipe which is threaded with a sliding fit through the sections 16 and 17' . By means of external thread 15a on the pipe end and equivalent inter¬ nal thread 18a" a succession of sections 16 and 17' are tightened axially together with a certain clamping force between opposite tension means 18a' (only the tension means at one end of the construction component are shown in Fig. 5 and 6) . In Fig. 5 a short spacing sleeve 16 is shown between the section 17' and the tension means 18a' for preventing contact between the section 17' and the tension means 18a. In the ready mounted condition the finger-shaped pins 19 project vertically downwards from their respective tension means 18a', as illustrated in Fig.5.

The members 22 and 23 are held vertically spaced from each other by means of the transverse stays 24. The section 17' comprises two opposite sleeve portions 17a' and 17b', which form a part of their respective members 22, 23, and the intermediate stay 24, which connects the sleeve portions 17a', 17b' to each other, as is shown in Fig. 6. In practice the section 17' can be made of an extruded length of metal profile which is cut into sections of suitable length as required.

To the stay 24 a pivotably mounted locking member 25 is fastened for locking pins 19 of the beam 12 in place in the associated power-transferring sections 17' of the post 11a. In Fig. 7 the solution according to the invention is shown used for a framework-forming construction component 30, which is made up of three mutually parallel members 31, 32, 33 which are connected to each other by means of obliquely extending stays 34.

In a corresponding manner as the construction compo¬ nent 11, as shown in part in Fig. 2, and members 22, 23 of the construction component 12, as shown in part in Fig. 5 and 6, members 31-33 of the construction component 30 are made up of a core piece 15 and a succession of sleeve- shaped sections 16 together with a succession of sleeve portion-carrying sections 17". In a manner not shown further the sections 16 and 17" are clamped axially together on the outside of the core piece 15 by way of tension means correspondingly as described for the construction components 11 and 12. In Fig. 8 and 9 there is illustrated a section 17" shown respectively in side view and in perspective. The section 17" consists of two opposite sleeve portions 17a" and 17b", which are mutually connected to each other via an intermediate, obliquely extending cross stay 34.

In addition there is indicated in Fig. 8 in broken lines a profile blank 36 from which the section 17 is cut off with a desired oblique contour of the stay 34. By turning the stay 180 degrees the stay can extend with an opposite oblique contour in one and the same member 31 (32, 33) .

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS.

1. Elongate tension- and pressure-absorbing con- struction component (11,12,30), especially for use in scaffolds (10) , framework constructions or similar build¬ ing constructions, characterised in that the construction component (11,12,30) comprises an elongate, tension- absorbing, rigid core piece (15) , which constitutes a common support means for a succession of mutually axially impacting, sleeve-shaped, separate sections (16) and sleeve-carrying sections (17,17',17") , which separately surround the core piece (15) and which form support abut¬ ments radially against this, a pair of tension means (18a,18b; 18a'), which are arranged at their respective ends of the core piece (15) and which project laterally outwards from this, form stops for the succession of intermediate, mutually impacting sections (16,17;16,17'; 16,17"), while the impacting sections (17,17',17") are axially clamped together on the core piece (15) with a certain prestressing force between the pair of tension means (18a,18b;18a', 18a') to form a rigid coherent construction component.

2. Construction component in accordance with claim

1, characterised in that the sleeve-shaped sections (16) form spacing means between the sleeve-carrying sections (17,17',17") , which are separately adapted to transfer the load to and from the construction component (11,12,30) via the core piece (15) and the adjacent sleeve-shaped sections (16) respectively.

3. Construction component in accordance with claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the core piece (15) consists of a rigid metal pipe, which is provided at opposite ends (15a) with external threads for the reception of their respective associated tension means (18a,18b;18a' ,18a' ) with associated internal threads for regulatable fixing of the pressure-absorbing sections (16,17;16,17,17") • between the tension means (18a, 18b;18a' , 18a' ) .

4. Construction component in accordance with claim

3, characterised in that the tension means (18a') is provided with a load-transferring mounting pin (19) for endways fastening together of a horizontal construction component (12) to a transverse, vertical construction com- ponent (11) and for transfer of loads between the con¬ struction components (11,12).

5. Construction component in accordance with one of the claims 1-4, characterised in that the sleeve-carrying section (17,17") consists of two mutually parallel sleeve portions (17a' ,17b' ;17a",17b") and an intermediate connecting piece (34) , where the two sleeve portions (17a' ,17b' ;17a",17b") are adapted to form a part of their respective pair of mutually parallel extending, elongate, force-transferring members (22,23;31,32,33) .

6. Construction component in accordance with claim 5, characterised in that the connecting piece (34) extends at an oblique angle relative to the axial direction of the sleeve portions (17a",17b") .

7. Construction component in accordance with one of the claims 1-3, characterised in that the sleeve-carrying section (17) consists of a peripheral succession of radi- ally outer, bow-shaped fastening portions (17b-17e) , which are incorporated in a radially inner sleeve portion (17a) , which surrounds and is supported in the tension-absorbing core piece (15) .