EP1905921B1 - Improved pliable structure for corbel working - Google Patents

Abstract

The structure has a post (5) articulated at an end on a plate (3) around an articulation axle (4) between a folded position and an opening position, where the structure is made of corbel. A strut (7) connecting the plate and the post (5) includes tubular columns (11) articulated on each other. A rod (30) and a maneuver unit (34) block the strut in the folded position. A support lug (6) is integrated to the post at a free end of the post and projecting from the free end, where the lug is shifted with respect to a plane orthogonal to the plate passing via the axle, in the opening position.

Description

The present invention relates to a collapsible working structure in corbelling according to the preamble of claim 1.

Structures of this type are used in particular in the building and public works to be fixed by the amounts to a wall of the construction, the plateau defining a bridge passable by the workers.

Generally, a structure of this type is folded (the uprights then extending parallel to the plate) to be stored or transported, and unfolded (the uprights then extending orthogonally to the plate) for use on the site.

To be folded and unfolded, the structure is suspended from a crane by slings. The folding operation and / or the unfolding operation requires the intervention of an operator to unlock / lock the articulation between the crutches. In particular, for folding, the structure is placed on the ground by the lower end of the uprights, and an operator maneuvering one of the bracons to initiate its folding, the end of the folding can take place without additional intervention under the effect of the weight of the structure.

In known structures of the state of the art (cf. DE 89 09 026 U ), the convenience of maneuvering the releasable locking means may encourage the operator to go under the load, in this case under the tray, which is detrimental to its safety.

The invention aims to remedy this drawback, and to eliminate the risks for the operator during the maneuver of the locking means, taking into consideration the possibility of breaking a sling when the intervention of the operator.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a structure of the aforementioned type, characterized by the characterizing part of claim 1.

With this arrangement, when the structure is in its configuration of use and for folding, the support of the structure on the ground allows to initiate the folding of the bracons almost automatically, that is to say - Say without significant effort to provide by the operator, the latter can thus remain out of charge.

Other optional features of the invention are described in claims 2 to 10.

• la Figure 1 est une vue schématique, en élévation de côté, d'une structure pliable conforme à l'invention, en configuration d'utilisation ;
• la Figure 2 est une vue de détail de la Figure 1, à plus grande échelle, montrant plus particulièrement l'articulation entre les deux béquilles, le bracon étant partiellement replié ;
• la Figure 3 est une vue de détail, à plus grande échelle, de la structure de la Figure 1, montrant plus particulièrement l'organe de manoeuvre dans sa position verrouillant la tige en position d'engagement ;
• la Figure 4 est une vue de détail, à plus grande échelle, de la structure de la Figure 1, la tige de blocage étant verrouillée dans sa position d'engagement ;
• la Figure 5 est une vue analogue à la Figure 4, illustrant une phase de dégagement de la tige de blocage en vue du repliage de la structure ; et
• la Figure 6 est une vue analogue aux Figures 4 et 5, illustrant la tige de blocage dans sa position de libération de l'articulation, dans une position partiellement pliée du bracon, la structure étant en appui sur le sol.

A particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• the Figure 1 is a schematic view, in side elevation, of a foldable structure according to the invention, in use configuration;
• the Figure 2 is a detail view of the Figure 1 , on a larger scale, showing more particularly the articulation between the two crutches, the bracon being partially folded;
• the Figure 3 is a detailed view, on a larger scale, of the structure of the Figure 1 , showing more particularly the operating member in its position locking the rod in the engagement position;
• the Figure 4 is a detailed view, on a larger scale, of the structure of the Figure 1 , the locking rod being locked in its engagement position;
• the Figure 5 is a view similar to the Figure 4 , illustrating a phase of disengagement of the locking rod for the purpose of folding the structure; and
• the Figure 6 is a view similar to Figures 4 and 5 , illustrating the locking rod in its release position of the joint, in a partially folded position of the bracon, the structure being supported on the ground.

On the Figure 1 , there is shown a collapsible work structure cantilever 1 according to the invention.

This structure includes a tray 3 provided to serve as a bridge to workers.

The structure further comprises two parallel uprights 5 articulated at one end on the plate 3, so as to be able to pivot each about an axis 4 (assumed to be horizontal) between a folded position (not shown), in which the upright 5 s' extends substantially parallel to the plate 3, and an open position of use (as shown in FIG. Figure 1 ), in which the upright 5 extends substantially orthogonally to the plate 3. Thus, each upright 5 can pivot relative to the plate 3 over an angular amplitude of approximately 90 °, the structure 1 comprising means for stopping the upright 5 in the folded position and in the open position.

These means will not be detailed here and are not represented.

In the following description, it will be assumed that the amount 5 extends vertically, which generally corresponds to the normal orientation of the structure in use condition.

The structure 1 further comprises, associated with each upright 5, a heel support 6 ground and a foldable bracon 7, connecting the plate 3 and the upright 5, obliquely in the service position of the structure, such as represented on the Figure 1 .

The heel 6 is integral with the corresponding upright 5 and protrudes at the free end thereof, opposite to the hinge end 4. The heel 6 is arranged so that, in the unfolded or open position of the upright 5, the heel 6 is offset by a distance d relative to the plane P orthogonal to the plate 3 passing through the axis 4.

The structure 1 is provided with an awning 8 pivotally mounted on the plate 3 so as to be folded against the plate or unfolded in its operating position, as shown.

The structure 1 may further comprise protection elements 9 attached to the plate 3 and fixed to the latter for example by pins.

The brace 7 essentially comprises tubular stands 11, 12, and a hinge 13 connecting the stands 11, 12.

The first stand 11 is articulated at one of its ends to a lower portion of the upright 5, so as to be pivotable about a substantially horizontal axis 15 and parallel to the hinge axis 4 of the upright 5 on the plate 3.

In the same way, the second stand 12 is articulated on the plate 3 so as to be able to pivot about a substantially horizontal axis 16 and parallel to the axis 15.

The hinge 13 connecting the two stands 11, 12 is arranged at the end of the stand 11 opposite the axis 15 and the end of the stand 12 opposite the axis 16.

As shown on the Figure 1 , in the service position of the foldable structure 1, the two stands 11, 12 are substantially abutting and extend coaxially, obliquely with respect to the plate 3 and the upright 5.

As will be better seen on the Figure 2 , illustrating the crutches 11, 12 in the folded position, the hinge 13 comprises on the one hand a pin 21 integral with the stand 12, and matérisalising a pivot axis of a stand with respect to the other, this axis being parallel to axes 15, 16. In addition, the hinge 13 comprises a stopper or wedge 23, projecting outwardly and inwardly of the stand 12, along an axis parallel to that of the pin 21. The pin 23 is offset relative to the pin 21 in the fold plane.

Correspondingly, the hinge 13 further comprises, integral with the stand 11, a stirrup 25 receiving, between its branches, the corresponding end of the stand 12. The stirrup 25 has an L-shaped bent light 27, in which is engaged the pin 21 so as to rotate and slide. The stirrup 25 is further formed with two stop notches 28, 29 complementary to the pin 23 and provided to receive the latter. The two notches 28, 29 are offset radially (relative to the axis of the stand 11) in the fold plane.

As shown on the Figure 4 , the locking notch 28 is provided to define, by receiving the pin 23, a sliding stop position of the pin 21 in the bent light 27, and thus ensure a stable unfolded position of the brace 7. This position corresponds to the alignment position of the stands 11, 12 in the service position of the structure 1.

The other notch 29 defines with the pin 23, during the engagement of the latter, a stable position partially folded crutches 11, 12 (not shown).

Referring now to Figures 1 to 4 , it will be noted that the structure 1 comprises releasable means for locking the brace 7 in the unfolded position, as shown in FIG. Figure 1 .

These releasable locking means comprise a rigid rod 30 slidably mounted in the stand 11 between a neutral position, in which the rod 30 is essentially retracted into the tubular stand 11 ( Figure 2 ), and a locking position of the articulation 13, in which it projects coaxially from the stand 11 into the stand 12 ( Figures 1 and 4 ).

In the neutral position, the rod 30 is disengaged from the stand 12, and thus allows the relative pivoting of the two stands 11, 12 around the axis 21.

In the locking position, the rod 30 is engaged in the two stands 11, 12, thus preventing relative pivoting about the axis 21.

The rod 30 has at its free end facing the axis 16, a notch 33 provided to engage the pin 23 when the rod 30 is in its locking position of the joint 13. This position of engagement of the notch 33 on the pin 23 is shown on the Figures 1 and 4 .

The releasable locking means of the brace 7 are further provided with an operating member 34 pivotally mounted on the rod 30, on the side of its end opposite the notch 33. The operating member 34 comprises a handle projecting from the outside of the first stand 11 in the vicinity of the upright 5. The handle 35 thus allows an operator placed outside the load, that is to say on the side of the upright 5 outside the angular sector defined by the plate 3 and the amount 5 in the open position, as opposed to an underload position below the plate 3, to maneuver the rod 30 slidably.

The operating member 34 further comprises a shaft 37 connecting the handle 35 to the rod 30, and embodying the axis of pivoting of the handle 35. This axis is parallel to the axes 15, 16. The shaft 37 is provided with a cylindrical section and at least one flattened section 39, which protrudes from the stand 11 towards the outside through an oblong slot 41 formed in the stand 11. The flattened section 39 is inscribed in the extension of the cylindrical section, and extends over a diameter of the latter. The oblong slot 41 extends axially on the stand 11, that is to say in the direction of sliding of the rod 30.

The light 41 has, at each of its two ends, a substantially circular stop shape 43A, 43B of diameter corresponding to that of the shaft 37. The light 41 has, between the two circular ends 43A, 43B, a rectilinear section 45 of smaller thickness, corresponding to the thickness of the flat section 39. The section 45 is adapted to slide guide the flat section 39 of the shaft 37, in a specific orientation thereof around the pivot axis of the handle 35.

The length of the light 41 corresponds to the stroke of the rod 30 to move from one to the other of its release and locking positions of the joint 13.

The crutch 11 has a fixed shim 50 (see in particular Figure 3 ), arranged in the vicinity of the lumen 41 and adapted to lock the handle 35 in rotation, in a first direction when the flat section 39 is in the first stop form 43A, and in a second opposite direction when the flat section 39 is in the second form of stop 43B.

For this purpose, the wedge 50 has at one end a complementary stop edge 51 of a corrugated face 52 of the handle, and at the other end a stop edge 53 designed to cooperate in abutment with a face 54 (FIG. here essentially flat). The mutual engagement of the opposite faces 52, 54 of the handle 35 with the edges 51, 53 of the wedge 50 also ensures the axial translation stop of the rod 30, respectively in the direction of the engagement (position of the Figure 6 ) and in the sense of withdrawal (position of the Figure 3 ).

It will be understood that on the one hand the handle 35 with the shim 50, and on the other hand the flattened section 39 with the circular stop forms 43A, 43B, constitute complementary stop means for the rod 30 in its positions of release and blocking.

The locking of the rod 30 in one of its stop positions is obtained by orienting the handle 35 around its axis of rotation 37 in a position such that the flat section 39 can not engage, from the one of the stop forms 43A, 43B, in the straight section 45 of the light 41, and such that the handle 35 bears on the shim 40 by the complementary surfaces 51, 52, 53, 54 provided for this purpose.

The unlocking of the rod 30 making it possible to slide in the stand 11 is obtained by placing the handle 35 in such an orientation that the flat part 39 can be engaged and slidably displaced in the rectilinear section 45 of the oblong slot.

On the Figures 4 to 6 the procedure for producing the folding of the upright 5 on the plate 3 has been illustrated, representing successive positions of the rod 30 and crutches 11, 12.

On the Figure 4 , as indicated previously, there is shown the brace 7 in its unfolded configuration, the rod 30 being in its locked position engaged in the stand 12, and the handle 35 being in a position locking the rod 30 in its locking position and preventing thus its sliding.

To fold the brace 7 and thus the structure 1, an operator placed off load must manipulate the handle 35 to rotate to rotate 270 ° (in the direction indicated by the arrow F1) and bring the flat section 39 in the extension of the rectilinear section 45 of the oblong slot 41. This has the effect of allowing the extraction of the flattened section 39 of the circular end 43B and thus the sliding of the rod 30 in the direction of the axis 15.

On the Figure 5 the folding phase is illustrated in which the flattened section 39 of the shaft 37 slides in the lumen 41 in a manner corresponding to the sliding of the rod 30 in the stand 11, in the direction of disengagement. When the flat section 39 reaches the circular end 43A of the lumen 41, indicating the stop position corresponding to the stopping position of the rod, the latter is essentially retracted into the stand 11 and completely disengaged from the stand 12 .

To stop the rod 30 in this position, the operator turns the handle 35 in the direction of the arrow F2 indicated on the Figure 5 , 0 until it bears on the shim 50 by the complementary corrugated faces 51, 52.

When the structure 1 is deposited on the ground while being suspended from a crane by slings, the support is carried out at the level of the heel 6, as shown in FIG. Figure 6 .

Due to the offset position of the heel 6 relative to the hinge pin 4, the ground support causes traction on the crutches 11, 12 tending to remove them and thus to clear the pin 23 of the notch of lock 28.

The crutches 11, 12 can then be folded by pivoting about the axis 21. It may be necessary for the operator to intervene to exert a relatively low traction on the stand 11 and thus facilitate the clearance of the pin 23 of the notch 28 as suggested by the Figure 6 . The operator can easily exert this traction from its off-load position (to the left of the amount 5 in the Figures).

The hinge 13 is designed such that the pin 23 engages naturally in the notch 29 by disengaging the notch 28, so as to place the brace 7 in a partially folded position. The crutches 11, 12 then define between them a small angle and not zero.

The complete folding then occurs under the effect of the ground support of the upright 5 and the weight of the structure 1, which can be achieved without manual intervention.

It is conceivable that, during the unfolding of the structure, the actuation of the releasable blocking means is done in a reverse manner to what has been described above, in order to move the rod 30 from its release position to its locking position.

Claims (11)

1. Corbelled folding working structure comprising:

   - a platform (3);

   - at least one upright (5) which is articulated, at one end, on the platform (3) about an axis of articulation (4) which is substantially parallel to the platform, between a folded position and an unfolded position of use which is substantially orthogonal to the platform;

   - at least one folding strut (7) which connects the platform (3) and the upright (5) and comprises two tubular props (11, 12) which are articulated on one another; and

   - releasable means (30, 34) for immobilising the strut (7) in the unfolded position;

   characterised in that it comprises a heel (6) for resting on the ground which is integral with the upright (5) at the opposite, free end of the latter from the articulating end, the said heel (6) projecting from the free end of the upright (5) and being offset, when said upright is in the unfolded position, in relation to the plane which is orthogonal to the platform (3) and passes through the axis of articulation (4), and the offset position of the heel (6) in relation to the said orthogonal plane is adapted so that the resting of said heel (6) on the ground gives rise to a tractive force on the props (11, 12) which tends to move them apart and makes it possible to initiate the folding of the struts without a significant effort having to be exerted by the operator.
2. Structure according to claim 1, characterised in that the heel (6) is arranged on the upright (5) in such a way that the joint (13) between the two props (11, 12) and the said heel (6) is situated, when the upright (5) is in the unfolded position, on either side of the said plane.
3. Structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the joint (13) between the two tubular props (11, 12) comprises a pivot-pin (21) which is integral with one of the props (12), and an angled slot (27) which is formed in a part (25) integral with the other prop (11) and in which the pivot-pin (21) is engaged so as to be capable of turning and sliding.
4. Structure according to claim 3, characterised in that the props (11, 12) respectively comprise an arresting pin (23) and an arresting notch (28) which are complementary and which define the unfolded position of the strut (7) as well as a position for arresting the sliding movement of the pivot-pin (21) within the angled slot (27).
5. Structure according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the said releasable immobilising means (30, 34) comprise:

   - a rod (30) which is mounted so as to slide within a first prop (11) and is thus capable of being selectively engaged in the second prop (12) or disengaged from the latter, in order to respectively immobilise or release the joint (13) between the two props (11, 12); and

   - a manoeuvring component (34) which is linked to the rod (30) and projects from the first prop (11) in the vicinity of the upright (5) and which makes it possible to manoeuvre the rod (30) in a sliding manner;
6. Structure according to claim 5, characterised in that the first prop (11) comprises an oblong slot (41) which extends in the direction of sliding of the rod (30) and from which the manoeuvring component (34) projects.
7. Structure according to claim 5 or 6, characterised in that the releasable immobilising means (30, 34) comprise means (35, 39, 43A, 43B, 50) for arresting the rod (30) in an immobilising position and in a releasing position, which means are arranged in a complementary manner on the manoeuvring component (34) and on the first prop (11).
8. Structure according to claim 7, characterised in that the manoeuvring component (34) is mounted on the rod (30) so as to pivot between a position in which it cooperates with the first tubular prop (11) in such a way as to immobilise the sliding movement of the rod (30), and an unlocking position in which it allows the sliding movement of the rod (30) between the immobilising position and the releasing position.
9. Structure according to claims 4 and 5, considered in combination, characterised in that the pin (23) is arranged on the second prop (12), and the rod (30) has, at its free end that faces towards the second prop (12), a notch (33) which is designed to engage over the pin (23) when the rod (30) is in the immobilising position.
10. Structure according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the joint (13) between the props (11, 12) comprises, on the one hand, a pivot-pin (21) which is integral with one of the props (12) and brings about an axis of pivoting of one prop (12) in relation to the other (11), and an arresting or wedging pin (23) which is offset in relation to the pivot-pin (21) within the plane of folding.
11. Structure according to claim 10, characterised in that the joint (13) comprises, on the other hand, in a manner integral with the other prop (11), a stirrup (25) which receives, between its side-pieces, the corresponding end of the said one (12) of the props, the stirrup (25) being, moreover, shaped with two arresting notches (28, 29) which are complementary with the pin (23) and are designed to receive the latter.

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