EP1700977B1 - Locking device for frames of scaffolds and strutting towers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device of the safety pin type for the construction of shoring towers and other scaffolds.

The technical field of the invention is that of the design of shoring materials, scaffolding and security for building and special works.

The locking device of the invention applies in particular to the construction of shoring towers type "tour ladder" whose vertical payload per amount can go up to 6 tons. Such towers are traditionally composed of support elements such as jacks or base plates providing a stable planar support on the ground and possibly interconnected in pairs by horizontal diagonals spacing the feet of the tower.

On these support elements are then installed parallel first frames comprising amounts interconnected by cross members forming ladder bars, the amounts of each frame fitting on a support member and being locked thereon by a pin. Once the frames secured to the support elements, connecting the two uprights frame by vertical braces or diagonals to stiffen all and avoid the vertical deflection of the tower.

Railings are then installed between the upper ends of the uprights of the frames, said railings comprising smooth connectors having at their ends means of connection to said uprights allowing on the one hand the interlocking of the railings on the first level of frames and secondly the establishment of a second level of frames above the first level, the railings are thus "pinched" between two successive frames, the link between these two levels of frames being secured with locking pins inserted into holes pierced right through the upper and lower ends of the frame uprights.

The locking pins currently used for the construction of shoring and scaffolding towers have a straight pin for insertion into the holes in the posts of the tower or scaffold frames, and a tab formed or attached in the frame. extension of said pin and forming an angle relative thereto, said tab being shaped and oriented (or orientable) relative to the pin so as to allow locking of the pin in the holes of the amounts of the frames. Specific examples of such pins are described in the patent FR 1 082 293 and in the German utility model DE 9215110 U1 which discloses all the features of the preamble of claim 1.

However, despite the adapted form of the tab of the pins, they too often come out of the openings of the frames following the vibrations and movements of the structure of the tower or scaffolding, which causes significant safety problems, particularly for the grutable towers. In addition, it is necessary to constantly put on, then remove, the pins during assembly / disassembly of the structures, which results in frequent pin losses, which require a regular replacement of these parts and therefore an additional cost of use and maintenance of shoring towers and other scaffolding requiring the use of such pins.

Document is also known FR 2 788 804 , a guardrail post having, at the end of said post, a pivoting locking member. However, this locking system provides the use of a ring of plinths to force the locking element in the locking position and maintaining it in said locking position. However, in practice, such plinths are not necessarily used on all shoring towers, so that, in the absence thereof, the locking system described in this document can not function effectively.

We know in JP 2001/003563 a guardrail comprising a frame locking device.

The present invention aims to provide a new type of locking for such shoring towers and scaffolding that overcomes the disadvantages of existing pins.

This object is achieved by means of a device for locking construction elements of shoring towers or scaffolds, such as frames and railings, comprising at least two pins forming a "U" capable of being inserted through holes pierced transversely from one side to the assembly ends of said construction elements. Said building elements nest or juxtapose to form a said tower or scaffold so that said orifices at their ends are aligned to allow the passage of said pins of the device.

More specifically, the device according to the invention is as defined in claim 1.

The device according to the invention comprises a non-return latch, said latch having a determined length allowing its tilting from a raised position of disengagement of the device to a tilted position of locking as and when the insertion of said pins in said orifices of said elements to be locked, said locking position being reached when said pins are fully inserted into said orifices of said elements, the length of said latch being such that the free end of said latch abuts against at least a fixed part of said 'a said railing after tipping. In addition, the device of the invention comprises a connection and sliding means integral with one end of said pins and for fixing said device on the rail of a said guardrail.

The locking device of the invention is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to prevent slipping and falling of the pin of the device out of the locking holes of the frames, even when case of vibrations of the tower or blows on the device. Indeed, when the pin of the device is fully engaged in the orifices of the elements to be locked, in practice the frames and guardrails of a tower ladder for example, the latch anti-return, whose shape and length are adapted depending on the guardrail models, abuts the reservation of the railing installed between two successive frames nested one in the other, thus preventing the recoil of the pin and the locking device as a whole. To then remove the device, simply raise the latch manually and remove the pin out of the holes to release the frames and the guard.

In addition, said connecting means advantageously avoids the loss of the locking device, while allowing easy and quick placement thereof on the rail of a guardrail.

In its said locking position, said latch abuts against a protruding portion of the construction element on which the device is optionally fixed by means of its said connection and sliding means, which can be reversible connection means.

In this configuration, the device according to the invention has the advantage of allowing the locking of two successive frames on a guard rail on either side of the end of the rail thereof. This is particularly advantageous when it is the guardrail which, at the ends of its smooth, comprises connector sleeves on which fit the upper and lower ends respectively of two successive frames of a ladder tower. It is thus possible to move the set of the tower by cranage without risk of dismemberment of the tower by separation of its elements.

The locking device of the invention can advantageously be installed on the rail of a railing, said device sliding in a limited manner between the fastening means of said railing at the ends of said rail and the guard's bookings. body, as defined in claim 5. In this way a guardrail is obtained comprising a locking device according to the invention integral and sliding at each end of its rail by means of said connecting and sliding means, in order to allow inserting at least two of said pins of said locking device into said holes of said two successive frame members to be locked with said shoring tower or scaffold, said latch of the locking device engaging with abutment against said reservation of said guard when it is tilted in its said locking position.

This eliminates the problems of losses encountered with the current pins. However, it may also be envisaged that said means for connecting and sliding the device is a reversible connection means which will thus remove if necessary the locking device of the railing rail.

The method of assembling the frames and guardrails of a shoring tower or scaffold with the aid of a locking device according to the invention is carried out in a completely traditional way, as defined in FIG. claim 6.

Of course, it is possible to use individual locking devices or guardrails equipped with such devices permanently fixed on their rails, as defined in claim 7.

• la figure 1A représente le dispositif de verrouillage de l'invention dans un mode de réalisation préféré en vue de côté;
• la figure 1B représente le dispositif de verrouillage de la figure 1A en vue de dessus;
• la figure 2 à 4 représente les étapes d'assemblage de deux cadres d'une tour échelle et d'un garde-corps à l'aide d'un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• the Figure 1A represents the locking device of the invention in a preferred embodiment in side view;
• the Figure 1B represents the locking device of the Figure 1A in top view;
• the figure 2 to 4 represents the steps of assembling two frames of a ladder tower and a railing with the aid of a locking device according to the invention.

With reference first to Figures 1A, 1B , the locking device 1 according to the invention, named in the following description "locking pin", comprises two pins 11, 12 parallel and connected to one another by a cord conferring on the pin 1 a shape "U". The cord connecting said pins 11, 12 is welded to the outer surface of a tubular parallelepipedal section 14 constituting a connecting ring for threading the pin 1 on a complementary shape guide such as a railing rail as represented at Figures 2 to 4 .

Alternatively, the ring 14 can be made by two halves of tube connected to each other by a hinge along one of their longitudinal edge, thus constituting a reversible connection and sliding means of the pin 1, said ring 14 can be kept closed after installation of the pin by any suitable means such as collars, bolts or other. A tilting latch 13, consisting of a plate preferably slightly bent as shown in the Figure 1A , is pivotally mounted on the upper wall of the ring 14 by means for example of a bolt or pin 9 inserted through a bore pierced at one end of the latch and blocked on both sides the bore by fasteners not shown in the figures.

Complementarily, it is conceivable to machine the free end of the rocking latch 13 so that it has the shape of a hook, which is likely to improve the locking effect of the latch.

The locking device of the invention is particularly suitable for securing assemblies of shoring tower and scaffolding elements such as frames and guardrails. As represented in Figures 2 to 4 , the pin 1 of the invention may in particular be slidably mounted via its ring 14 on the rail 32 of a railing 3 between the end connectors 33 of said rail 32 and the reservation 31 of said guard body.

To do this, it is possible, according to a first embodiment, to thread the pin 1 by its ring 14 on the rail 32 before welding on the ends of the rail of the connectors 33, or, according to a second embodiment, to use a pin 1 comprising a reversible connection ring as described above, allowing the establishment of the pin on a rail 32 rail already equipped with connectors 33.

Said connectors 33 comprise orifices 8 pierced right through in the axis of the pins 11, 12 of the pin when it is mounted on the rail 32 of the railing 3, said pins being thus insertable into said orifices 8 by sliding the pin 1 to the connectors 33. When said pins 11, 12 are not inserted into said orifices 8, the latch 13 is in a raised position of release of the pin, are free end bearing against the reservation 31 guardrail 3 and the elastic return means 5 of the latch being in tension.

The assembly of elements of frames 2a, 2b and guardrail 3 for the construction of a ladder tower or scaffolding is done by simply interlocking the upper and lower ends respectively of the amounts of the frames 2a, 2b on the connectors 33 at the ends of the railing rail 3. Said guard 3 being strictly identical to the ends of its rail 32, it is shown only partially in the figures for the sake of clarity.

Said uprights of the frames 2a, 2b also have at their upper and lower ends respectively orifices 7 pierced right through so that they correspond exactly in alignment with the orifices 8 pierced in the connectors 33 of the guardrail. Once said frames nested on said connectors 33, it is sufficient to lock the assembly with the pin 1 by sliding it on the rail 32 of the railing 3 in the direction of the arrow F on the figure 3 to insert the pins 11, 12 into the orifices 7, 8 of the frames 2a, 2b and connectors 33 respectively.

The sliding of the pin causes a sliding and tilting of the latch 13 of the pin against the reservation 31 of the railing under the effect of the weight of the latch 13. This tilting of the latch 13 of the pin continues until it reaches its locking position when the pins 11, 12 are fully inserted into the openings 7, 8 of the frames 2a, 2b and the railing connectors 33 ( figure 4 ). In said locking position, the free end of said latch 13 then engages against the connection of the reservation 31 of the railing 3 on the rail 32, thus preventing the retraction of the pin 1 and the withdrawal of the pins 11, 12 of the latter out of orifices 7, 8.

Of course, the length of the latch 13 will be determined according to the distance between the reservation 31 of the guard rail 3 connectors 33 at the ends of the rail 32 and the length of the ring 14 on which is fixed the latch 13.

Thus, the locking pin according to the invention allows an automatic locking of the pins 11, 12 in the openings of the frames 2a, 2b to lock, the particular folded shape of the latch 13 and the return means 5 thereof ensuring the maintaining said latch in the locked position, even in case of blows on the ends of the pins 11, 12 or vibrations. In addition, the pin 1 being fixed by its ring 14 on the rail 32 of the railing 3, it is completely captive, even in case of regular assembly and disassembly of said railing and / or transport thereof.

The locking pin 1 of the invention being captive, it further allows when the latch 13 and in its locking position abuts against the reservation 31 of the railing to transport the shoring towers and scaffolds whose elements are locked. using cranes without risk of dismemberment of the elements constituting said tower or said scaffolding.

Once the site is finished and it is desired to dismantle the tower or the scaffolding, it is sufficient, to unlock the frames 2a, 2b and the guardrails 3 to fully push the pins of the pin 1 into the holes 7 , 8 frames and connectors 33 so as to then manually raise the latch 13 of said pin to a substantially vertical position of release and then slide said pin 1 on the rail 32 of the railing 3 towards the reservation 31 of the latter until the pins 11, 12 are out of said orifices 7, 8, thus allowing the dismantling of the frames 2a, 2b and the railing 3.

Claims (7)

1. A locking device (1) adapted in particular to locking together frames (2a, 2b) and balustrades (3) of shoring towers or scaffolding, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins (11, 12) forming a U-shape, one of the ends of said pins secured to connection and sliding means (14) enabling said device (1) to be fastened to the rail (32) of a said balustrade (3), and in that it includes a rocking non-return latch (13) presenting a determined length constituted by a plate, preferably a slightly folded plate that is pivotally mounted on a top wall of said connection and sliding means, said latch being suitable for rocking from a raised disengagement position of the device (1) to a rocked locking position in which its free end is in abutment against at least one fixed portion of said balustrade, the rocking taking place progressively as said pins (11, 12) become inserted in orifices (7, 8) for locking together said frames (2a, 2b) and balustrade (3), are including respectively these orifices (7, 8).
2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said connection and sliding means (14) of the device comprise reversible connection means.
3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that it includes resilient return means (5) for said latch (13).
4. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pivot axis of the latch on said connection and sliding means is perpendicular to the sliding axis, and said pins are parallel to the sliding axis.
5. A balustrade (3) for constructing a shoring tower or scaffolding, the balustrade comprising a rail (32) secured to uprights (31) of said balustrade forming gaps and provided at its ends with fastener means (33) for fastening said balustrade to the ends of the frames (2a, 2b) of a said shoring tower or of scaffolding, the balustrade being characterized in that it includes at least one locking device (1) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4 secured to and suitable for sliding along said rail (32) by a said connection and sliding means (14) between one end thereof and a said upright (31) of the balustrade in order to enable said pins (11, 12) of said locking device to be inserted in orifices (7, 8) formed transversely through assembly ends of two said elements (2a, 2b) of successive frames and fastener means (33) of the balustrade (3) for locking together respectively, said latch (13) of the locking device said latch having a length that is determined so that its free end engages in abutment against the upright (31) of said balustrade after rocking into said locking position.
6. A method of building a shoring tower or scaffolding by assembling together frames (2a, 2b) and balustrades (3), said balustrades comprising rails (32) supporting uprights (31) and provided at their ends with fastener means (33) having transverse orifices (8) passing therethrough, and said frames also having orifices (7) at their top and bottom ends passing transversely through the bars of said frames, the method comprising:

   · firstly, assembling together at least two first frames (2a) and at least one balustrade (3) by engaging said fastener means (33) of said balustrades between the respective top ends of said first frames (2a) in such a manner that said orifices (7) of the frames correspond exactly with the orifices (8) of the balustrades; and

   · secondly, assembling two second frames (2b) by engaging their bottom ends on said fastener means (33) of said balustrades (3) assembling together said first frames in such a manner that said orifices (7) of the frames correspond exactly with the orifices (8) of the balustrades; and

   · thirdly, locking the assembly of said first and second frames (2a, 2b) with said balustrades (3) by inserting pins (11, 12) of locking devices (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4 in the orifices (7, 8) of the frames (2a, 2b) and of the balustrades (3) and by rocking the latches (13) of said locking devices (1) into abutment against the uprights of the balustrades (3).
7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said balustrades (3) are in accordance with the balustrade of claim 5, and wherein the assembly of said first and second frames (2a, 2b) with said balustrades (3) is locked by sliding said locking devices (1) secured to rails (32) of said balustrades by a said connection and sliding means (14) between a said rail fastening means and a said balustrade upright (31) in order to enable said pins (11, 12) of said locking device to be inserted in the orifices (7, 8) of the frames (2a, 2b) and of the balustrades (3).

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