EP1070183B1

EP1070183B1 - Apparatus and method relating to scaffolding

Info

Publication number: EP1070183B1
Application number: EP99915899A
Authority: EP
Inventors: William O'connor
Original assignee: Universal Scaffolding Services Ltd
Current assignee: Universal Scaffolding Services Ltd
Priority date: 1998-04-09
Filing date: 1999-04-09
Publication date: 2005-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2019-04-09
Also published as: EP1070183A1; DE69925363D1; AU3432299A; WO1999053158A1

Description

This invention is in the field of scaffolding as is typically used to provide access and support structures around buildings, erections, towers and the like.

Such scaffolding is generally made of tubular longitudinal lengths, which are connected together by various fixing methods. One well known method is known as the Cuplok ® method which inter-links tubular members without the use of nuts, bolts or wedges. The locking device is formed by two cups, a fixed lower cup which is welded on the under side of the connection of two tubes and a sliding upper cup. The tubes are provided with forged blade ends which are shaped in a concave manner with a radius which corresponds to the outer radius of the tubes. The blade end of the tubes are located into the lower cup fixed on a second tube and the upper cup is then moved down and rotated to secure the component in place. The upper cup may be tightened by a hammer blow to give a positive and rigid connection.

The Cuplok ® scaffolding system is known and accepted internationally and considered to be a fast and safe scaffolding fixing system.

In an alternative scaffolding system known as Kwikstage ®, the blade ends are replaced by a pin and wedge system. The pin is located in an aperture provided externally on an adjacent tube to be connected and the wedge is then hammered into the aperture to locate the pins securely.

With both the Cuplok ® and Kwikstage ® systems, the tubular components commonly found in scaffolding are provided with irregular fixing arrangements at each end thereof. While these arrangements enable the connection of the tubing, they also cause a disadvantage. Specifically, as the tubing is relatively long and thin, occasionally it may become damaged or bent in use. The existence of the irregular arrangements at each end of the tubing render it unsafe to run the tubing through straightening machines or apparatus. Often, bent tubing is discarded for scrap.

An object of the present invention is to provide a means for reclaiming all or part of bent scaffold tubing.

The present invention also finds application in the construction of scaffolding gates. In the past, such gates have been mounted on the scaffolding using a caster wheel system to enable the gates to slide. Typically, a tube is provided in the scaffold structure that functions as a runner upon which the gates are hung and slide.

It is generally perceived in the trade that sliding scaffolding gates are nc- particularly safe or desirable. The gates should be suitable for easy access and adapted to be simple to open and close by workmen who may be carrying tools or building materials. Sliding gates are generally not adapted to close automatically, nor are they easy to provide with a catching mechanism that maintains them in a closed position for safety reasons and yet are easy to open when needed.

UK Patent Application No. GB 2,305,203 teaches of an alternative safety gate for a scaffolding walkway. The safety gate comprises a gate, gate supports, pintle-type hinges and gate engagement means. The upper and lower ends of the gate support require to be axially offset in a "crank" shape to form mounting portions for attachment via conventional means to the existing scaffolding.

US Patent US 4,565,261 teaches of a detachable gallery for use on buildings or the like. The gallery comprises a platform, a balustrade extending upwards from the platform and a gate. The gate is secured to the balustrade by one or more aligned hinges having a pintle defining for the gate a vertical pivot axis for movement of the gate between an open and closed position.

Both of these documents teach of systems for mounting a gate on a scaffolding system that require complex components particularly machined for such a purpose, namely the gate support and the balustrade sections, respectively.

It can be immediately seen that these gate mounting components are significantly more complex than the scaffolding sections to which they attach. Although designed to be attached to standard scaffolding systems such gate mounting components can be cumbersome and hence restrict the flexibility and available choice of location for the scaffolding safety gates. In addition, neither of the aforementioned systems provide for the gate mounting components to be machined from reclaimed scaffolding sections that have become damaged through everyday use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide improved scaffolding gates and more particularly an improved means for mounting such gates.

According to the present invention, there is provided mounting apparatus for gates used in association with scaffolding, comprising a means for co-operating with a known scaffolding fixing system on a scaffolding pole, a hinge having a hinge axis, means for attachment to a gate and a link member formed between the means for co-operating with the scaffolding fixing system and the gate attachment means, characterised in that the longitudinal axis of link member is substantially perpendicular to the scaffolding pole and to the hinge axis.

Most preferably the link member comprises a truncated tubular scaffolding component.

Preferably the link member is reclaimed from a bent or otherwise damaged tubular scaffolding component.

Preferably, the means for co-operating with a scaffolding fixing system comprises a forged blade end suitable for use in the Cuplok ® system. Alternatively, the means for co-operating with a scaffolding fixing system may comprise a pin and wedge member suitable for use in the Kwikstage ® system. Other systems may be employed.

Preferably, the hinge is formed by a pin which extends vertically through an aperture cut into a link member formed between the means for co-operating with the scaffolding fixing system and the gate attachment means. In a preferred embodiment the pin is fixed in the aperture by lugs or washers welded on the pin on each side of the aperture, yet the pin being free to rotate in the aperture such that it may function as a hinge.

A sleeve or sheath may be provided in the aperture in the link member.

Preferably, the gate attachment means comprises a weld joining the pin to the gate.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of reclaiming bent or otherwise damaged tubular components used for scaffolding, the method comprising the steps of:

a. Truncating the tubular component relatively near a fixing arrangement at an end of the tubular component so as to produce a relatively long portion of the tubular component and end portion of the tubular component; and

b. Using the end portion as a mounting device in association with the scaffolding.

The method may further include straightening the relatively long portion of the tubular component after truncating the end thereof.

The above method may be repeated at the opposite end of the tubular component.

The method may specifically include use of the end portion of the tubular component in the mounting of gates for use in association with a scaffolding structure.

In order to provide a better understanding of the invention, example apparatus and method will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a new tubular component having welded steel blades at each end thereof;

Figure 2 shows a truncated end portion of the tubular component shown in Figure 1 which has been adapted for use in an alternative manner according to the invention;

Figure 3a and Figure 3b show, respectively, elevation and plan views of the truncated end member of Figure 2 used in the mounting of a scaffolding gate;

Figure 4a and Figure 4b show, respectively, elevation and plan views of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figures 5a and 5b and Figures 6a and 6b show, respectively, alternative embodiments of the invention using different scaffold systems;

Figure 7 is an elevation view of a scaffolding gate using the invention;

Figures 8a and 8b show, respectively, elevation and plan views of an alternative embodiment of the invention;

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the mounting gate that may be used.

Referring firstly to Figure 1, a tubular component used in scaffolding is generally depicted at 1. The component comprises a longitudinal tube 2 which is provided with forged blades 3 at each end thereof. The blades 3 are welded to the tube 2 in a substantially orthogonal relationship and are provided with a concave profile which is sized to partially circumnavigate an additional tubular component (not shown) to which the tubular component 1 is to be connected.

These tubular components are prone to be damaged or bent with use. In the event of this occurring, the invention provides for cutting or truncating the tubular component 1 substantially toward and end thereof so as to provide a relatively long portion of the tubular component 1 (not shown) and an end portion generally depicted at 4 in Figure 2.

The end portion 4 has a short tubular portion 5 and a forged blade end 3. The end portion 4 has been modified by providing same with a through-bore or aperture 6 which runs substantially parallel to the longer axis of the blade end 3.

A use of the modified end portion 4 is shown in Figure 3. In Figure 3, a weldmesh gate 7 is mounted on the scaffolding by mounting apparatus comprising the modified end portion 4 and a pin 8. The pin 8 is bent to form a right angle and has one end 8a welded to the gate frame 7a. The free end 8b of the pin is positioned in the aperture 6. Moreover, the pin 8 is secured in the aperture 6 by the use of two washers 9 welded to the pin 8 on either side of the aperture 6.

The blade end 3 on the modified end portion 4 is fixed to adjacent scaffolding, and more particularly, a vertical tubular component 10 using the normal Cuplok ® fixing. For each gate a similar or identical mounting means may be employed and typically two such mounting apparatus are used for each gate.

An alternative use of the modified end portion 4 is shown in Figure 4. In Figure 4, a gate 7 is mounted on the scaffolding by mounting apparatus comprising the modified end portion 4 and a pin 11. The pin 11 is bent to form a quarter circle hinge and has one end 11a welded to the gate frame 7a. The gate frame 7a is now positioned orthogonally to the modified end portion 4. The free end 11b of the pin is bent into a right angle and is positioned in the aperture 6.

Figure 5 illustrates the use of a V-press hinge pin system to suit a Kwikstage ® scaffold system and Figure 6 illustrates the use of a Sprite Brand hinge pin system to suit a Kwikstage ® scaffold system. A nylon sleeve 12 is inserted into the aperture 6 to strengthen the aperture 6. The sleeve could alternatively be made of metal, plastics or any other suitable material. The end of the modified end portion 4 thet is not fixed in the Cuplok ® system is covered with an end cap 13, which in this example embodiment is made of plastic.

Figure 7 illustrates two hinged gates mounted on four of the above described mounting apparatus. A latching system 14 known to the art is employed at the top of the gates and allows them to be maintained in a closed position when not in use. Means may be included at the mounting apparatus for biasing the gates in a closed position.

In Figures 8a and 8b an alternative hinge is illustrated at 15. In Figures 8a and 8b a connector 16 is welded to a modified end portion 17 and a second connector 18 is welded to a gate frame 19. The

connectors

16 and 18 together form an aperture 20 through which is inserted a pin 21. The pin 21 now forms a hinge which acts as a swivel for the gate frame 19. In an alternative embodiment the aperture 20 formed by

connectors

16 and 18 may be provided with a nylon sleeve.

Figure 9 illustrates an alternative gate frame that may be used in conjunction with the hinge systems previously described. In Figure 9 a gate frame is generally depicted at 22 comprising two

smaller gates

23 and 24 connected via hinges 25.

The present invention is inherent with significant advantages in that it allows for the use of what has been considered in the past to be damaged and therefore useless stock. Furthermore, it allows for the reclaiming of such stock in an efficient manner, requiring minimal modification.

It should be noted that the invention is not limited to the type of scaffold fixing system used. Rather, the invention allows for known scaffold systems to be employed in the mounting of gates and other structures in a scaffold in a manner not heretofore known.

A single damaged tubular component can be used to provide two mounts for supporting a single gate.

In an alternative embodiment, a mounting apparatus may comprise a truncated end portion of the tubular end component to which is welded a hinge and means for attaching the mount to a gate or other structure required to be mounted. However the embodiment described and illustrated in the drawings is preferable in that the end portion is modified to function as a hinge.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

Mounting apparatus for gates (7) used in association with scaffolding, comprising a means for co-operating with a known scaffolding fixing system (3) on a scaffolding pole (10), a hinge having a hinge axis, means for attachment to a gate (8a) and a link member (5) formed between the means for co-operating with the scaffolding fixing system (3) and the gate attachment means (8a), characterised in that the longitudinal axis of link member (5) is substantially perpendicular to the scaffolding pole (10) and to the hinge axis.
Mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the link member (5) comprises a truncated tubular scaffolding component.
Mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the link member (5) is reclaimed from a bent or otherwise damaged tubular scaffolding component.
Mounting apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the means for co-operating with a scaffolding fixing system (3) comprises a forged blade end suitable for use in the Cuplok ® system.
Mounting apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the means for co-operating with a scaffolding fixing system (3) comprises a pin and wedge member suitable for use in the Kwikstage @ system.
Mounting apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the hinge is formed by a pin (8) which extends vertically through an aperture (6) cut into the link member (5).
Mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the pin (8) is fixed in the aperture (6) by lugs or washers (9) welded on the pin (8) on each side of the aperture (6), yet the pin (8) being free to rotate in the aperture such that it may function as a hinge.
Mounting apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 wherein a sleeve or sheath (12) is provided in the aperture (6) in the link member (5).
Mounting apparatus as claimed in any of the preceding Claims wherein the gate attachment means (8a) comprises a weld joining the pin (8) to the gate (7).
A method of reclaiming bent or otherwise damaged tubular components (10) used for scaffolding, the method comprising the steps of:

a. Truncating the tubular component (10) relatively near a fixing arrangement at an end of the tubular component (10) so as to produce a relatively long portion (2) of the tubular component and end portion (4) of the tubular component; and

b. Using the end portion (4) as a mounting device in association with the scaffolding.
A method as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the method further includes straightening the relatively long portion (2) of the tubular component (10) after truncating the end (4) thereof.
A method as claimed in Claims 10 or 11 wherein the method may be repeated at the opposite end of the tubular component (10).
A method as claimed in Claims 10 - 12 wherein the method specifically include use of the end portion (4) of the tubular component (10) in the mounting of gates (7) for use in association with a scaffolding structure.