Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
  • E04G7/00—Connections between parts of the scaffold
  • E04G7/30—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements
  • E04G7/302—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements for connecting crossing or intersecting bars or members
  • E04G7/303—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements for connecting crossing or intersecting bars or members the added coupling elements are only fixed at one of the bars or members to connect
  • E04G7/304—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements for connecting crossing or intersecting bars or members the added coupling elements are only fixed at one of the bars or members to connect with tying means for connecting the bars or members
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E04—BUILDING
  • E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
  • E04G7/00—Connections between parts of the scaffold
  • E04G7/30—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements
  • E04G7/302—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements for connecting crossing or intersecting bars or members
  • E04G7/306—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements for connecting crossing or intersecting bars or members the added coupling elements are fixed at several bars or members to connect
  • E04G7/307—Scaffolding bars or members with non-detachably fixed coupling elements for connecting crossing or intersecting bars or members the added coupling elements are fixed at several bars or members to connect with tying means for connecting the bars or members

Definitions

• THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to scaffolding, and in particular relates to a scaffolding connection and scaffolding components incorporating elements of the scaffolding connection.
• the present invention seeks to provide an improved scaffolding connection and components mcorporating elements of the scaffolding connection, together with a method of creating a scaffolding connection.
• a scaffolding connection comprising a vertical scaffold member provided with a slot, a horizontal scaffold member provided with a shaft dimensioned to be inserted in the slot and carrying an engagement element dimensioned or adapted to be dimensioned so that part of the engagement element has greater dimension than the width of at least part of the slot to engage inner walls adjacent the slot, and wedge means to bias the said part of the engagement element against said inner walls, the wedge means comprising a wedge element mounted on an end element on the horizontal scaffold member, there being a plurality of projections provided on one of said elements to engage co-operating guiding surfaces provided on the other element, said wedge element presenting an edge positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member.
• the said projections comprise at least one set of projections including a first projection and a second projection provided on the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the first projection being located to engage a first guiding surface provided on the wedge element, and the second projection being located to engage a second guiding surface provided on the wedge element, the first and second guiding surfaces being substantially parallel.
• the first and second guiding surfaces are of corresponding shape and aligned.
• the edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member comprises two substantially linear surfaces that are horizontally spaced apart.
• the first guiding surface provided on the wedge element is an outer peripheral surface of part of the wedge element
• the second guiding surface provided on the wedge element is an edge of a slot provided in part of the wedge element
• first and second guiding surfaces are arranged in alignment such that they are located are substantially vertically above the other, when the connection is made up.
• the first and second guiding surfaces are vertically spaced apart by a distance greater than the maximum transverse cross-sectional dimension of the horizontal scaffold member.
• a slot is provided in part of the wedge element, the slot being inclined relative to the edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member.
• first guiding surface and the second guiding surface are inclined relative to the edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member.
• the said slot is provided, at the end thereof which is closest to the said edge of the wedge element positioned to engage the vertical scaffold member, with an inclined recess which is inclined towards the said edge of the wedge element.
• the wedge element comprises a substantially hollow member mounted on a substantially planar plate forming part of the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the plate carrying two sets of oppositely directed projections on opposed sides of the plate, the wedge element having two parallel side walls adjacent said sides of the plate, the said side walls, when viewed from opposed sides of the wedge element, being of mirror image configuration, the said guiding surfaces being provided on each of said side walls.
• the wedge element is formed of sheet metal, the sheet metal defining an upper part of the wedge element and two depending side walls, these said side walls being provided with the guiding surfaces adapted to co-operate with the projections, the lower edges of the side walls being secured together.
• the said lower edges of the side walls are secured together with a welded tab.
• the wedge element comprises a substantially hollow member mounted on a substantially planar plate forming part of the end element of the horizontal scaffold member, the plate carrying a pair of projections extending in the plane of the plate, the wedge element having two side walls adjacent opposed sides of the plate, the said guiding surfaces extending between said side walls of the wedge element.
• the wedge element comprises a metal casting.
• the end element of the horizontal scaffold member is an element carrying a plug dimensioned to be received within the horizontal scaffold member to mount the end element on the horizontal scaffold member.
• the engagement element comprises a head carried by the shaft having a major axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the horizontal scaffold member.
• the engagement element comprises a disc having a face orthogonal to the axis of the horizontal scaffold member.
• the vertical scaffold member is provided with a plurality of said slots.
• the slots are position at 25cm intervals along the length of the vertical scaffold member.
• the slots are arranged in groups of orthogonal slots.
• a set of components to form a scaffolding connection as described above, said set of components comprising at least one scaffold member provided with a slot adapted to be a vertical scaffold member, and at least one scaffold member provided with a shaft dimensioned to be inserted in the slot and carrying an engagement element dimensioned, or adapted to be dimensioned, so that part of the engagement element has a greater dimension than at least part of the slot, and wedge means.
• the wedging arrangement comprises a plate element and a wedge element, the plate element having two opposed parallel faces, the wedge element being adapted to be mounted on the plate element with two opposed substantially planar parts of the wedge element adjacent said opposed faces, one element being provided with a plurality of projections and the other element being provided with guiding surfaces adapted to co-operate with the projections of the adjacent element to guide the wedge element as the wedge element moves relative to the plate.
• the wedge element defines an edge adapted to be brought into contact with a further element during operation of the wedge element, the guide surfaces comprising two guide surfaces inclined relative to said edge, wherein the said projections comprise at least one set of projections including a first projection and a second projection, the first projection being located to engage a first said guiding surface provided on the wedge element, and the second projection being located to engage a second said guiding surface provided on the wedge element.
• the guide surfaces are located at different distances from the said edge.
• the plate element is substantially planar and is provided with two projections extending in the plane of the plate element, and the guiding surfaces extend between said two opposed substantially planar parts of the wedge element.
• At least one of the two faces of the plate element is provided with two projections and at least the planar part of the wedge element adjacent the said at least one face of the plate element is provided with the first and second guiding surfaces.
• the first guiding surface provided on the wedge element is an outer peripheral surface of part of the wedge element
• the second guiding surface provided on the wedge element is an edge of a slot provided in part of the wedge element.
• a slot is provided in part of the wedge element.
• said slot provided in the wedge element is inclined relative to said edge of the wedge element adapted to be brought into contact with a further element, and a recess is provided, inclined towards said edge of the wedge element, at that end of the slot which is closest to said edge of the wedge element.
• the wedge element is of hollow structure and is formed of sheet metal, the sheet metal defining an upper part of the wedge element and two depending side walls, the lower edges of the side walls being secured together.
• the wedge element is a metal casting.
• the plate element is adapted to be secured to one end of the scaffold member.
• a wedging arrangement comprising a support element and a wedge element, the support element having at least one face and the support element being provided with first guide means, the wedge element being mounted on the support element with part of the wedge element adjacent the said at least one face, and the wedge element being provided with second guide means, the wedge element defining an edge to be brought into contact with a further element on operation of the wedge, one of the guide means comprising at least two projections, the other of the guide means comprising at least two guiding surfaces to engage the projections and guide the wedge as it moves, the two guiding surfaces being substantially parallel.
• the two guiding surfaces are linear and are inclined relative to said edge of the wedge element.
• the two guiding surfaces are spaced by different distances from the said edge of the wedge element.
• the support element carries the said projections and the wedge element is provided with the guiding surfaces.
• one said guiding surface is constituted by an edge part of the wedge element, and the other guiding surface is constituted by a slot formed in the wedge element.
• the slot in the wedge is provided with a recess dimensioned to receive the projection engaging the guiding surface constituted by the slot, the recess extending from that end of the slot which is closest to said edge of the wedge and being inclined towards the edge of the wedge.
• the support element comprises a plate defining two opposed parallel faces, each of the faces being provided with guiding means, the wedge element being provided with two substantially planar parts each located adjacent a respective face on the plate of the support element, each planar part of the wedge element being provided with said second guiding means.
• the support element comprises a plate defining two opposed parallel faces
• the wedge element is provided with two substantially planar parts each located adjacent a respective face on the plate of the support element, the said second guiding means extending between said two substantially planar parts.
• the said edge of the wedge element comprises two spaced- apart parallel elongate surfaces.
• a scaffolding connection between a vertical scaffold member and a horizontal scaffold member the vertical scaffold member being provided with at least one scaffold member slot, the horizontal scaffold member being provided, at one end thereof, with a shaft dimensioned to be inserted in the scaffold member slot and carrying an engagement element dimensioned so that part of the engagement element has a greater dimension than the width of at least part of the scaffold member slot to engage the walls adjacent the scaffold member slot, the horizontal scaffold member also being provided, adjacent the engagement element, with a wedge element, the wedge element having two substantially planar parts which are located adjacent two opposed parallel faces of a plate element secured to the horizontal scaffold member, one element being provided with a plurality of projections, and the other element being provided with guiding surfaces adapted to co-operate with the projections of the adjacent element, the guiding surfaces being linear and being inclined relative to an edge part of the wedge element, the method comprising the steps of initially locating the horizontal scaffold element with the plate element being positioned so that the said opposed parallel faces are substantially horizontal
• the said plate element is provided with said projections and the wedge element is provided with the guiding surfaces, one guiding surface being constituted by a wedge slot inclined relative to said edge of the wedge, the method comprising the intermediate step, to be performed after the horizontal scaffold member has been located with the engagement element inserted in the scaffold member slot, of rotating the horizontal scaffold member so that the wedge element extends beneath the said plate element with one projection being received in the end of the slot which is closest to said edge of the wedge element.
• the said slot is provided with a recess at the end of the slot closest to the said edge of the wedge element, the recess being inclined towards the said edge of the wedge element, the method comprising the step of applying an upward force to the wedge element when the wedge element is in the wedging position, causing the wedge to move generally upwardly being guided by the co-operating projections and guiding surfaces, and perntitting the wedge to rotate about the guide means contained within the wedge slot when the wedge is being moved to such an exteut that the said guide means within the slot is located at the bottom part of the slot and subsequently perrnitting the wedge to fall with the guide means located in the said recess to dis-assemble the connection.
• said plate element is provided with said projections and a retaining projection
• the wedge element being provided with the guiding surfaces and a wedge slot inclined relate to said edge of the wedge
• the method comprising the intermediate step, to be performed after the horizontal scaffold member has been located with the engagement element inserted in the scaffold member slot, of rotating the horizontal scaffold member so that the wedge element extends beneath the said plate element with the retaining projection being received in that end of the wedge slot which is closest to said edge of the wedge element.
• the said wedge slot is provided with a recess at the end of the wedge slot closest to the said edge of the wedge element, the recess being inclined towards the said edge of the wedge element, the method comprising the step of applying an upward force to the wedge element when the wedge element is in the wedging position, causing the wedge element to move generally upwardly being guided by the co-operating projections and guiding surfaces, and permitting the wedge element to rotate about the retaimng projection received within the slot when the wedge element is being moved to such an extent that the retaimng projection within the slot is located at the bottom part of the slot and subsequently permitting the wedge element to fall with the retaining projection located in said recess to dis-assemble the connection.
• FIGURE 1 is a perspective view illustrating part of a vertical scaffold member and an end part of a horizontal scaffold member to be connected to the vertical scaffold member, immediately prior to connection, with the horizontal scaffold member being provided with part of a scaffolding connection in accordance with one embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a metal stamping used to form a wedge element of the first embodiment
• FIGURE 3 is an end view of the metal stamping when formed to constitute the wedge element
• FIGURE 4 is a side view showing the wedge element mounted on the end of the horizontal member as shown in Figure 1 to form part of a scaffolding connection,
• FIGURE 5 shows a horizontal scaffold member provided with part of a scaffolding connection as shown in Figure 4 being offered up to a vertical scaffold member of the type shown in Figure 1,
• FIGURE 6 shows the horizontal scaffold member of Figure 4 when engaged with the vertical scaffold member and moved to a first position
• FIGURE 7 corresponds to Figure 6 and shows the horizontal scaffold member when rotated by 180°
• FIGURE 8 corresponds to Figure 7 and shows the wedge element in a lowered and clamped position
• FIGURE 9 is a top perspective view of the scaffolding connection shown in Figure 8.
• FIGURE 10 illustrates the scaffolding connection of Figures 8 and 9 when the wedge element is moved towards the release position
• FIGURE 11 is a view corresponding to Figure 10 showing the wedge element in the release position
• FIGURE 12 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a modified embodiment of the invention
• FIGURE 13 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing a further embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 14 is an end view of a wedge element, forming a further part of the scaffolding connection illustrated in Figure 13;
• FIGURE 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of Figure 14;
• FIGURE 16 is a top plan view of the wedge element of Figures 14 and 15;
• FIGURE 17 is a side view showing the wedge element mounted on the end of the horizontal member as shown in Figure 13 to form part of a scaffolding connection, the horizontal member being engaged with a vertical scaffold member and moved into a first position;
• FIGURE 18 corresponds to Figure 17 and shows the horizontal scaffold member having been rotated by 180°, and the wedge element in a lowered and clamped position;
• FIGURE 19 illustrates the scaffolding connection of Figure 18 when the wedge element is moved towards a released position.
• a vertical scaffold member or standard 1 is illustrated in the form of a plain tube provided with a plurality of axially extending parallel sided slots or openings 2 formed in the side wall of the tube.
• the slots or openings 2 are provided in a plurality of groups 4 of openings.
• the groups of openings may be spaced apart by a regular distance of, for example, 25cm.
• Each group of openings may comprise four openings, the openings being arranged orthogonally around the tube.
• the openings may all be at the same height, although in each group of openings some openings may be slightly axially off-set relatively to the other opening in order to enhance the strength of the tube in the region of the openings.
• Figure 1 also illustrates part of a horizontal scaffold element in the form of a transom or ledger 5.
• the transom or ledger 5 is in the form of a conventional scaffold tube provided with an end piece 6.
• the end piece 6 is adapted to engage one of the apertures or openings 2 and, is also adapted to carry a wedge (as will be described hereinafter in greater detail), which is adapted to engage the exterior of the vertical scaffold tube 1 to form a secure scaffold connection.
• the end piece 6 is in the form of a casting.
• the casting incorporates a plug portion 7 adapted to be received within the open end of the tube 5, the plug portion 7 supporting a plate 8 which has two opposed parallel sides 9, 10 which, in the position illustrated in Figure 1, are vertical.
• each of the two sides are two horizontal guide pins.
• the guide pins 11, 12 protruding from the side 9 are visible in Figure 1, but corresponding guide pins protrude from the surface 10.
• the guide pin 11 is above and located to the side of the pin 12 furthest from the plug 7.
• a shaft 13 extends from the plate 8 in alignment with the axis of the horizontal scaffold tube 5.
• the shaft 13 carries, at its end, a transversely extending head 14.
• the head has a width, in the orientation shown in Figure 1, which is greater than the distance between the opposed sides of the shaft 13.
• the diameter of the shaft 13 is less than the width of the slot 2.
• the head has a major axis extending perpendicularly to the axis of the horizontal scaffold tube 5.
• the head 14 is dimensioned to be inserted through an opening 2 as formed in the side wall of the vertical scaffold tube 1. This is achieved by rotating the horizontal scaffold element through 90° so that the axis of the head 14 is aligned with the axis of the aperture or slot 2, the plate 8 then being horizontal. The head 14 may then be inserted through the aperture 2 and the horizontal scaffolding element 5 may again be rotated through 90° so that the head 14 again resumes its initial horizontal position. The portions of the head which extend to either side of the shaft 13 will again engage against the inner surface of the vertical scaffold tube 1 in the regions adjacent the edges of the slot or aperture 2, thus preventing the head 14 from being withdrawn back out through the slot or aperture 2. The head 14 thus acts as an engagement element. As mentioned above, it is intended that a wedge is to be mounted on the end piece 6.
• Figure 2 illustrates a flat metal stamping 20 which presents a first planar region 21 defining a "tick"-shaped aperture or opening 22, and a second planar region 23 which defines a second "tick"-shaped aperture or opening 24.
• the stamping of Figure 2 is substantially symmetrical about a substantially central horizontal line, and it is to be appreciated that the stamping may be folded so that the planar regions 21 and 23 are parallel, but spaced apart.
• an intermediate region 25 between the regions 21 and 23 is bent to be arcuate having an extent of 180°, as can be seen from Figure 3, and a tab region 26 extending from the region 21 is folded to extend horizontally being welded, by a weld 27, to the free edge of the region 23.
• the side walls constituted by the planar regions 21, 23 of the wedge one of mirror image configuration when viewed from opposite sides of the wedge.
• the curved region 25 of the stamping intermediate the planar regions 21 and 23 is provided with an arcuately recessed edge 28. The purpose of this recess will become clear from the following description.
• the stamping when folded and welded as described, constitutes a wedge element 30.
• the wedge element 30 is adapted to be mounted, as shown in Figure 4, on the plate 8 of the end element 6.
• the region 23 of the stamping forming the wedge which has a plane condition, abuts the face 9 of the plate 8, with the projecting pin 11 being received in the tick-shaped opening 24, and the second guide pin 12 engages part of the exterior of the wedge element 30.
• the region 21 of the stamping which is planar, engages the face 10 of the plate 8. The wedge is thus guided, by the engagement of the two planar regions 21, 23 with the planar faces 9, 10 of the plate 8, to move in a plane which is parallel with the plane of the plate 8.
• the wedge element presents a substantially flat front edge. At the lower end of the front edge 31 the periphery of the wedge defines a rearwardly inclined region 32.
• the tab 26 extends horizontally across the width of the wedge element 30, at the lowermost part of the wedge element.
• the rear edge of the wedge element 30 comprises a lower-most vertically extending region 33 which merges with an outwardly and rearwardly inclined region 34.
• the region 34 in turn merges with an upwardly and rearwardly inclined contact region 35. This region is adjacent the pin 12.
• the rear edge of the wedge element terminates with a vertically upwardly extending region 36.
• the forward-most or front edge 31 of the wedge element is constituted solely by the forward-most edge of the planar region 21 and the forward-most edge of the planar region 23.
• the edges of these regions are linear and are parallel and are spaced apart.
• the tick-shaped aperture 24 defines a first relatively long guide slot 40 which is inclined to the vertical, and which extends substantially parallel with the guide surface 35 provided on the rear of the wedge element.
• the slot 40 is dimensioned to receive the pin 11 as a sliding fit.
• the edges of the slot act as guide surfaces.
• the recess 41 is thus inclined towards the front edge of the wedge.
• the corner region 42 between the guide slot 40 and the retaining recess 41 is cut-away and rounded.
• the guide surface 35 on the rear of the wedge is spaced from the front edge, by a distance greater than the distance between the front edge and the guide slot 40.
• the wedge element 30 when the wedge element 30 has been mounted on the plate 8, the wedge element may slide freely relative to the plate 8, because the planar regions 21 and 23 are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the plate 8.
• the wedge element When the wedge element is in the position illustrated in Figure 4, the wedge element may move up and down in a vertical plane, because of the co-operation between the regions 21 and 23 of the stamping 20, and the adjacent planar faces 9 and 10 of the plate 8. Movement of the wedge is also guided by the engagement of the pin 11 within the guide surfaces defined by the edges of the guide slot 40, and the corresponding engagement of the pin 12 with the guide surface 35, formed on the rear edge of the wedge. Because the guide surface 35 is parallel with the guide slot 40, the wedge is constrained to move in a direction which is parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40. The wedge cannot tilt or topple about the axis defined by the guide pin 11.
• transom 5 as shown in Figure 5, will be provided with an end piece 6 and wedge element 30 as described above at each end of the transom.
• the transom may be intended to be mounted simultaneously to two standards, such as the standard 1.
• a transom may have to be mounted to the standard 1 at a position located above the head of the scaffolding erector.
• the scaffolding erector would initially rotate the transom so that the end pieces 14 on the shafts 13 extend vertically.
• the wedge element 30 will then lie substantially horizontally.
• the end piece 14 on the shaft 13 can then be inserted through an aperture 2 into the hollow interior of the standard 1.
• the transom 5 may then be rotated by 90°, so that the main part of the wedge element 30 lies below the transom. This will result in the wedge element falling until the guide pin 11 reaches the junction between the guide slot 40 and the retaining recess 41.
• the guide pin 11 thus pivotally supports the wedge element 30 which hangs down below the end piece 6.
• the operative rotates the transom by 180°.
• This moves the wedge element 30 to a position in which the main part of the wedge element extends upwardly above the plate 8 of the end piece 6.
• the wedge element begins to fall and the pin 11 strikes the rounded corner 42 between the guide slot 40 and the retaining recess 41.
• Figure 7 As the wedge continues to fall, due to the configuration of the corner 42, the guide pin 11 enters the guide slot 40 and the guide pin 12 comes into contact with the parallel guide surface 35.
• the wedge is forced to move along an axis which is parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40. Under the force of gravity the wedge will fall to an engagement position as shown in Figure 8.
• the wedge As the wedge falls under the force of gravity, the wedge is constrained to move along an axis parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40 and the engagement surface 35.
• the front edge 31 of the wedge element 30 is maintained vertical, but moves in a direction which has a component aligned with the axis of the ledger 5.
• the front face 31 of the wedge thus comes into engagement with the exterior surface of the standard 1 adjacent the aperture 20 through which the shaft 13 extends.
• the wedge will, solely under the influence of gravity, move to a position in which a substantially rigid connection or joint is created.
• the scaffolding erector has, simply by mserting the head 14 provided on the shaft 13 through an appropriate aperture 2 and rotating the ledger, created a substantially rigid connection between the ledger and the standard.
• the erector may then hammer the wedge element 30 downwardly to create a very secure connection, as shown in Figure 9.
• the recess 28 formed in the intermediate region 25 is such that there is no contact between the intermediate region 25 and the outer surface of the standard or ledger 1.
• the only contact between the wedge element 30 and the ledger 1 is at the front edge 31 of each of the regions 21 and 23. Since these regions are spaced apart and parallel, the wedge will make a secure wedging engagement with the standard 21.
• the wedge also has a front edge of substantial vertical height.
• the lower part of the wedge element 30, constituted by the tab 26, is struck with a hammer providing a generally upward movement to the wedge element 30.
• the wedge element tends to move upwardly in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the guide slot 40.
• the wedge element 30 moves upwardly with a movement which has a vertical component, and a component directed towards the left, as shown in the accompanying drawings.
• the wedge element moves upwards until the guide pin 11 reaches the bottom of the slot 40 at the junction between the slot 40 and the retaining recess 41. This terminates the upward movement of the wedge element 30.
• the component of movement directed towards the left causes the wedge element to rotate anti-clockwise about the axis defined by the pin 11.
• This rotation is facilitated by the fact that the rearwardly inclined region 32 beneath the vertical front face 31 of the wedge element 30 is configured to permit this leftward or anti-clockwise pivoting of the wedge element 30 without the wedge element reengaging the standard before the wedge element has effected a substantial rotational movement.
• the retaining recess 41 is substantially vertical and is directly above the pin 11. The wedge element then again falls under the force of gravity, but as the wedge element falls, the pin 11 is received within the retaining recess 41, as shown in Figure 11.
• the wedge element 30 is retained in position in which there is no wedging effect between the wedge and the standard.
• the ledger may then be removed from the standard simply by rotating the ledger to bring the head 14 into alignment with the respective aperture 2, and by withdrawing the ledger with a transverse, horizontal movement.
• the described scaffolding connection is straightforward to manufacture, and provides a connection which is very straightforward and easy to assemble, and very easy and straightforward to dis-assemble.
• each slot 2 formed in the standard is an elongate parallel side slot
• the head 14 provided on the end piece 6 is of a corresponding configuration.
• Figure 12 shows a modified embodiment of the invention in which each slot 50 is provided with a relatively large, substantially round upper portion 51, and a centrally located downwardly extending parallel sided extension 52 of the opening.
• the head provided on the shaft 13 of the end piece 6 is of disc form 53, and is dimensioned to be inserted into the relatively large round upper part 51 of the slot 50.
• the shaft 13 has a diameter such that it may be accommodated within parallel sided extension 52 of the opening. It is to be appreciated that in this embodiment it is not essential to rotate the transom to secure engagement between the head 53 and the interior of the hollow standard 1.
• Figure 13 illustrates a vertical scaffold member or standard 1 generally identical to the standard 1 illustrated in Figure 1 of the above-described embodiment.
• the standard 1 again takes the form of a plain tube provided with a plurality of axially extending parallel-sided slots or openings 2 formed in the side wall of the tube.
• the slots or openings 2 are again provided in a plurality of groups 4 of openings, each group of openings preferably comprising four openings, the openings being arranged orthogonally around the tube.
• Figure 13 also illustrates part of a horizontal scaffold element in the form of a transom or ledger 5 similar to that illustrated in Figure 1.
• a transom or ledger 5 again takes the form of a scaffold tube provided with an end piece 106.
• the end piece 106 is adapted to engage one of the apertures or openings 2 formed in the side wall of the standard 1 and, is also adapted to carry a wedge element (as will be described hereinafter in greater detail), which is adapted to engage the exterior of the standard 1 to form a secure scaffold connection.
• the end piece 106 is in the form of a casting, and incorporates a plug portion 107 supporting a substantially planar plate 108 which has two opposed parallel sides 109, 110, which, in the position illustrated in Figure 13, are vertical. Protruding from each of the two sides of the plate 108, is a horizontal retaining projection in the form of a retaimng pin 111.
• the retaining pin 111 protruding from side 109 of the plate 108 is aligned with the retaining pin 111 protruding from the other side 110 (not shown).
• the flat plate 108 of the embodiment illustrated in Figure 13 does not carry pairs of guide pins 11, 12 as in the case of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 11. Instead, the plate 108 of the Figure 13 embodiment is fitted with a pair of guide projections 112, 113, each projecting generally away from the transom 5 in the plane of the plate 108.
• the guide projections 112 and 113 are aligned and located such that one of the guide projections 112 is substantially vertically above the other guide projection 113 in the orientation illustrated in Figure 13.
• the first, uppermost guide projection 112 presents an outwardly directed upper projection surface 114, whilst the second, lowermost guide projection 113 presents an outwardly- directed lower projection surface 115.
• Each of the projection surfaces 114, 115 are generally planar and are inclined relative to the vertical, as can be seen, for example, in Figure 18.
• the upper projection surface 114 is substantially parallel to the lower projection surface 115.
• the uppermost corner 198 of the plate 108 (as illustrated in Figure 13) is chamfered so as to define a bearing surface 199, immediately adjacent the uppermost guide surface 114.
• the bearing surface 199 is inclined relative to the uppermost guide surface 114.
• a shaft 116 extends from the plate 108 in alignment with the axis of the horizontal scaffold tube 5 and carries, at its end, a transversely-extending head 117.
• the shaft 116 and the head 117 of this embodiment are substantially identical to the shaft 13 and the head 14 of the previously-described embodiment and interact in an identical manner with the openings 2 of the vertical scaffold tube 1, and so will not be described in more detail again.
• FIG 14 and Figure 15 illustrate a metal casting which forms the wedge element 118 of this embodiment of the invention.
• the wedge element 118 comprises a pair of spaced-apart side walls 119, 120 which may be generally parallel with one another but which, in the arrangement illustrated, are slightly divergent as can be seen clearly in Figure 16.
• the side walls 119 and 120 are substantially planar over most of their extent, although, as can be seen in Figure 14, in the vertically central region of the wedge element 118, the side walls 119, 120 are flared outwardly at 121, 122 respectively.
• This outward flaring of the side walls 119, 120 provides a convenient finger or hand grip on the wedge element 118, which a person operating the arrangement can use to grasp the wedge element and manually manipulate it.
• the outwardly flared side walls also help to improve the overall strength of the wedge element 118.
• the wedge element 118 present a substantially linear front edge 123 which is defined by the forwardmost edges 124, 125 of the side walls 119, 120.
• the forwardmost edges 124, 125 of the side walls are generally planar.
• the side walls 119, 120 are joined together by arcuate front faces 126, 127, the radius of curvature of which is substantially equal to the radius of the lowermost surface of the vertical scaffold tube 1.
• there is no front face such that the side walls 119, 120 and the upper and lower front faces 126, 127 define a central aperture 128 through the wedge element 118.
• the outwardly flared wall regions 121, 122 define a widened region 128a of the central aperture 128.
• the width of this widened region is preferably slightly greater than the distance between the outermost ends of the retaining pins 11 carried by the plate 108.
• the width of the widened aperture region 128a is slightly less than the distance between the outermost ends of the retaining pins 111, in which case, the wedge element is configured such that the side walls 119, 120 are resiliently deformable and can be manually pulled apart in the region of the aperture 128 so as to widen the region 128a to a degree sufficient for its width to become greater than the distance between the outermost ends of the retaimng pins.
• upper and lower guiding surfaces 129, 130 are generally planar and are inclined, by substantially the same angle, relative to the flat front edge 123 of the wedge element.
• the guide surfaces 129, 130 of the wedge element and the projection surfaces 114,115 of the plate 108 make a substantially equal angle to the vertical.
• the upper guide surface 129 is located substantially vertically above the lower guide surface 130, with both guide surfaces being generally parallel to one another. As will become apparent, the upper guide surface 129 is configured to co-operate with the upper guide projection 112 of the end piece 106 and the lower guide surface 130 is configured to co-operate with the lower guide projection 113 of the end piece 106.
• a bearing surface 200 which is inclined relative to the uppermost guide surface 129 and to the front edge 123 of the wedge element.
• the angle between the bearing surface 200 of the wedge element and the uppermost guide surface 129 is substantially equal to the angle between the guide surface 199 of the plate 108 and the uppermost projection surface 114.
• the two aforesaid bearing surfaces 199 and 200 co-operate with one another.
• each of the side walls 119, 120 there is provided a "tick"-shaped aperture or operiing 131, the opening 131 of each side wall 119, 120 being aligned.
• the side walls of the wedge element are of mirror image configuration when viewed from opposite sides of the wedge element.
• the wedge element 118 is adapted to be mounted, as shown, for example, in Figures 17 and 18, on the plate 108 of the end piece 106.
• Each side wall 119, 120 of the wedge element 118 is located generally adjacent a respective face 109, 110 of the plate 108, with the respective retaining pin 111 being received in each tick-shaped opening 131.
• the widened central aperture region 128a allows the retaining pins 111 to be received therethrough and hence accommodated within the tick-shaped opening, so as to mount the wedge element 118 on the plate 108.
• the retaimng pins 111 project from the plate 108 by a distance sufficient to retain the wedge element substantially captively on the plate 106, unless the pins are aligned with the widened central aperture region 128a, in which case, the wedge element can be removed from the plate 108.
• the wedge element 118 remains captively mounted on the plate 108 unless the side walls 119,120 are pulled apart so as to widen the aperture region 128a by an amount sufficient to allow passage of the retaining pins 111 therethrough).
• the tick-shaped openings 131 define a first relatively long guide slot 132 which is inclined relative to the front edge 123 by an angle equal to the angle which the guide surfaces 129,130 make to the front edge 123.
• the slot 132 is dimensioned to receive the retaining pin 111 as a sliding fit.
• the retaining recess 133 is thus inclined towards the front edge 123 of the wedge element 118.
• the corner region 134 between the guide slot 132 and the retaining recess 133 is cut away and rounded.
• the wedge element 118 when the wedge element 118 has been mounted on the plate 108, the wedge element may slide freely relative to the plate 108, because the planar region of the side walls 119, 120 are spaced apart by a distance slightly greater (at their closest point) than the thickness of the plate 108.
• the wedge element When the wedge element is in the position illustrated in Figure 18, the wedge element may move up and down in a vertical plane, because of cooperation between the upper and lower guide surfaces 129, 130 and the upper and lower guide projections 112, 113 respectively.
• a transom 5 will be provided with an end piece 106 and a wedge element 118, as described above, at each end of the transom.
• a scaffolding erector in a generally identical manner as described previously in connection with the earlier embodiment, would mitially rotate the transom so that the transversely-extending heads 117 on the shafts 116 extend vertically.
• the wedge elements 118 will then lie substantially horizontally.
• the head 117 on each shaft 116 can then be inserted through a respective opening 2 into the hollow interior of the standard 1.
• the transom 5 may then be rotated by 90°, so that the main part of the wedge element 118 lies below the transom. This will result in the wedge element 118 falling until the retaining pin 111 reaches the junction between the guide slot 132 and the retaining recess 133.
• the retaining pin 111 thus pivotally supports the wedge element 118 which hangs down below the end piece 106. This condition is illustrated in Figure 17.
• the scaffolding erector rotates the transom by 180°. This moves the wedge element 118 to a position in which the main part of the wedge element extends upwardly above the plate 108 of the end piece 106.
• the wedge element thus begins to fall under the force of gravity and the retaining pin 111 strikes the rounded corner 134 between the guide slots 132 and the retaming recess 133.
• the retaining pin 111 enters the guide slot 132 and the guiding projections 112, 113 of the end plate come into contact with the parallel guide surfaces 129, 130 of the wedge element.
• an alternative embodiment may have no tick-shaped opening 131 or retaining pins 111, in which case the wedge element 118 would be guided so as to move along an axis parallel to the guide surfaces 129, 130, solely by virtue of the bearing surface 200 of the wedge element 118 striking the bearing surface 199 of the plate 108.
• the wedge element Under the force of gravity, the wedge element will fall to an engagement position as shown in Figure 18. As the wedge element falls under the force of gravity, the wedge element is constrained to move along an axis parallel with the axis of the guide slot 132 and the guide surfaces 129,130. The front edge 123 of the wedge element 118 is maintained substantially vertical, but moves in a direction which has a component aligned with the axis of the ledger 5. The front edge 123 of the wedge element thus comes into engagement with the exterior surface of the standard 1 adjacent the aperture 2 through which the shaft 116 extends. The wedge element will, solely under the influence of gravity, move to a position in which a substantially rigid connection or joint is created.
• the scaffolding erector has, simply by mserting the head 117 on the shaft 116 through an appropriate aperture 2 and rotating the ledger 5, created a substantially rigid connection between the ledger 5 and the standard 1.
• the scaffolding erector may then hammer the wedge element 113 downwardly to create a very secure connection, in a manner similar to that described previously in connection with the previous embodiment.
• the upper and lower arcuate front faces 126, 127 of the wedge element and the front edges 124,125 of the side walls 119,120 engage the outer surface of the standard or ledger 1, such that the wedge element makes a secure wedging engagement with the standard 1.
• the front edge 123 of the wedge element is of substantially greater vertical height relative to the dimensions of the transom 5.
• the lower part of the wedge element 118 is struck with a hammer, providing a generally upward movement to the wedge element 118. Because of the engagement of the retaining pin 111 within the guide slot 132, and because of the engagement between the guiding projections 112, 113 and the respective guiding surfaces 129,130, which are parallel to the guide slot 132, the wedge element 118 tends to move upwardly in a direction substantially parallel with the axis of the guide slot 132. The wedge element 118 thus moves upwardly with a movement which has a vertical component, and a component directed towards the left, as shown in the accompanying drawings.
• the wedge element moves upwards until the retaining pin 111 reaches the bottom of the slot 132 at the junction between the slot 132 and the retaining recess 133. This terminates the upward movement of the wedge element 118, at which point, the upper guiding projection 112 has become completely disengaged from the upper guiding surface 129, and the lower guiding projection 113 has similarly become completely disengaged from the lower guiding surface 130.
• the component of movement directed towards the left thus causes the wedge element to rotate anticlockwise about the transverse axis (into the page) as defined by the retaining pin 111.
• the wedge element then again falls under the force of gravity, but as the wedge element falls, the retaining pin 111 becomes received within the retaining recess 133, as shown in Figure 19, in a generally similar manner to the previously disclosed embodiment as illustrated in Figure 11.
• the ledger 5 may then be removed from the standard 1 simply by rotating the ledger to bring the head 117 into alignment with the respective opening 2, and by withdrawing the ledger with a transverse, horizontal movement.
• the wedge elements 30,118 in the above-described embodiments of the invention have a substantial vertical length, and the length of the front edges 31,123 respectively which engage the standard when the wedge elements are in their respective clamping positions is at least twice the diameter of the associated ledger 5. This provides a joint which is very resistant to any tendency of the ledger to rotate about a horizontal axis co-incident with the aperture 2 through which the shafts 13,116 pass.
• the connection provided by the arrangement of Figures 13 to 18 is particularly strong because the guide surfaces 129,130 engage the guide projections 112,113 at positions spaced apart by more than the diameter of the ledger 5.
• the resultant connection is very resistant to any tendency of the ledger to rotate, in a horizontal plane, about a vertical axis coincident with the aperture 2 through which the shafts 13,116 pass.
• the scaffolding connection is very strong.
• the standard 1 described above is a simple scaffold tube with apertures, slots or openings formed in the side wall thereof.
• the scaffold tube is not provided with any additional component which is welded or secured thereto. This minimises the manufacturing costs for the scaffold tube.
• the described scaffold tube utilised for this standard 1 is of round cross- section, it is to be appreciated that a tube of any appropriate cross-section, such as square cross-section, or octagonal cross-section may be used if desired.

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• 2000
  • 2000-05-03 GB GBGB0010698.9A patent/GB0010698D0/en not_active Ceased
• 2001
  • 2001-05-03 DE DE60120149T patent/DE60120149T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-05-03 EP EP01929780A patent/EP1278926B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2001-05-03 AU AU56463/01A patent/AU5646301A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-05-03 WO PCT/GB2001/001944 patent/WO2001083913A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 2001-05-03 AT AT01929780T patent/ATE328171T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation

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