EP2044273B1 - Shoring tower - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a shoring tower capable of withstanding significant vertical loads.

The most common shoring towers are of the "ladder" type. This type of shoring tower consists of metal ladder frames comprising two vertical tubular uprights connected by horizontal bars spaced about 50 cm. These frames called scales are placed face to face and connected by horizontal and / or oblique bars that keep them vertical and parallel. The desired number of ladder frames are stacked so that the shoring tower reaches the desired height. FR 1324406 describes a tower according to the preamble of claim 1.

To adjust the height and to compensate for the unevenness of the floor, lower frames of the screw adjustment cylinders are placed under the tubular uprights. Screw jacks are also often placed at the upper ends of the shoring tower to adjust the laying plane of the supported load, for example a slab formwork.

For the displacement of the tower by means of a crane, two superposed frames are connected to each other by means of a double spindle which passes through the vertical uprights of the superposed ladder frames by means of holes provided for this purpose. This operation must be reproduced at each connection in order to make all the elements of the structure integral.

In order for staff to work safely at heights, platforms or floors are usually installed on the ladder rungs at the desired height and guardrails are installed to prevent personnel from falling.

Ladders are also often installed inside the tower between these different levels to make it easier to access the platforms, which in this case are equipped with hatches with secure closure panels.

These known towers are cumbersome and can not be stored as is, and are removed for transport and storage. These assembly and disassembly operations are long and expensive and also it is common that after dismantling, small parts such as bolts, necklaces, keys, frame fasteners, etc. are lost.

It is therefore clear that there is a real need to have shoring towers that have few parts and whose assembly and disassembly would be easy and fast.

In addition, it is necessary that the structure of the shoring tower can withstand heavy loads and can have the height required to achieve the desired support for example that of a slab formwork.

• deux éléments d'échelle comportant chacun deux montants verticaux raccordés entre eux par des barreaux horizontaux ; et
• deux éléments de garde-corps, chaque élément de garde-corps comprenant deux montants verticaux raccordés entre eux par des lisses, ladite tour étant caractérisée en ce que chaque section courante comprend en outre :
• au moins quatre ensembles connecteurs interposés entre deux sections courantes, chaque ensemble connecteur comprenant des premiers moyens pour relier entre eux les montants verticaux de deux éléments d'échelle successifs de telle manière qu'ils soient alignés verticalement et des deuxièmes moyens pour relier entre eux les montants verticaux de deux éléments de garde-corps successifs de telle manière qu'ils soient alignés verticalement.

To achieve this object, according to the invention, the shoring tower comprises a lower section for cooperating with the ground and a plurality of common sections mounted above said lower section, each running section comprising

• two ladder elements each comprising two vertical uprights interconnected by horizontal bars; and
• two railing elements, each railing element comprising two vertical uprights interconnected by rails, said tower being characterized in that each running section further comprises:
• at least four connector assemblies interposed between two current sections, each connector assembly comprising first means for interconnecting the vertical uprights of two successive ladder elements so that they are aligned vertically and second means for interconnecting the vertical uprights of two successive railing elements so that they are aligned vertically.

It is firstly understood that the shoring tower according to the invention has a modular structure which allows, in addition to the lower section, to vertically assemble as many common sections as desired to achieve the desired height. In addition, each running section has a simple structure consisting of two ladder elements being vis-à-vis assembled together through railing elements and interconnection means. The assembly of the tower is thus made easier.

Preferably, the shoring tower is characterized in that the connector assembly is integral and forms an integral part of the lower end of a vertical post of railing element and in that said first connection means are constituted by two organs of vertical connection aligned, respectively turned upward and downward, to cooperate with the lower end of a vertical ladder element upright and the upper end of a vertical upright of a ladder element lower, and in that the second connection means comprise a third connection member facing downwards, aligned with the vertical upright of the railing element, to cooperate with the upper end of a vertical upright member. a lower railing element.

It is understood that according to this preferred embodiment, the connector assemblies for interconnecting the ladder elements and railing elements of the lower section with a current section or between the current sections can avoid the use small assembly parts. Indeed, the connector assemblies are an integral part of the railing elements. In addition, this structure makes it possible to obtain a continuity of the vertical load recovery via the vertical uprights of the ladder elements, the guardrail elements serving, in addition to fulfilling their usual safety function, to ensure the relative maintenance of the ladder elements between them and thus to maintain the rigidity of the structure of the shoring tower. More precisely, the guard body elements serve to take up the lateral forces.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shoring tower is characterized in that each end of the vertical uprights of the ladder elements and vertical uprights of the guardrail elements are hollow, and in that each connector assembly comprises a plate integral with the lower end of a vertical upright of a railing element and in that said three connecting members are extensions projecting from said plate.

Also preferably, the shoring tower is characterized in that each railing element comprises two latch systems, each lock system being adapted, in the active position, to lock said vertical uprights in said connector elements.

More preferably, the shoring tower is characterized in that each latch system is mounted at one end of the upper rail of a guardrail element and in that each latch comprises a movable latch rod in horizontal translation able, in the active position, to penetrate into holes in the ends of the vertical uprights and in said extensions of the connector assemblies.

It is understood that this latch system which is mounted on the ends of the upper rail of each railing allows, in a single operation, to completely secure the ladder elements and railing elements of two sections of successive shoring tower. These locks being integral with the railing elements, they are not likely to be lost.

• deux éléments d'échelle, chaque élément d'échelle comprenant deux montants verticaux raccordés par des barreaux horizontaux ;
• deux éléments de garde-corps, chaque élément de garde-corps comprenant deux montants verticaux reliés entre eux par des lisses ; et
• quatre vérins de réglage de verticalité, chaque vérin étant apte à être monté à l'extrémité inférieure d'un montant vertical d'élément d'échelle dans le prolongement dudit montant ; et
• quatre systèmes de connexion des extrémités inférieures des montants verticaux des éléments d'échelle avec les extrémités inférieures des montants verticaux des éléments de garde-corps.

More preferably, the shoring tower is characterized in that said lower section comprises:

• two scale elements, each ladder element comprising two vertical uprights connected by horizontal bars;
• two railing elements, each guardrail element comprising two vertical uprights interconnected by rails; and
• four vertical adjustment cylinders, each cylinder being adapted to be mounted at the lower end of a vertical amount of ladder element in the extension of said amount; and
• four connection systems of the lower ends of the uprights of the ladder elements with the lower ends of the uprights of the railing elements.

According to a preferred embodiment, the shoring tower is characterized in that each connection system of said lower section comprises a fixed plate integral with the lower end of a lower railing element and a vertical hollow bushing secured to said platen for receiving vertical adjustment cylinders and the lower end of a vertical ladder element upright.

In addition, preferably, each socket of a connection system comprises at least one notch to allow the engagement of one end of the lower bar of a ladder element, the notch being arranged in such a manner that said bar extends in a direction orthogonal to the vertical plane of a railing element.

It will be understood that by virtue of the fact that the sleeves of the connection systems connected to the lower ends of the vertical uprights of the guardrails of the lower section have these notches in the ad hoc direction, during the initial assembly or assembly of the lower section, The orientation of the ladder elements with respect to the guardrail elements is perfectly defined by the insertion of the lower bar of the ladder elements into these indentations. In this way, it is easy to obtain a correct installation and assembly of each section of the shoring tower relative to the lower section. In addition, it is understood that this positioning mode ensures that the moving parts of the locks can actually enter the corresponding holes of the connector assemblies and the vertical uprights of the railings and ladder elements.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une tour d'étaiement comportant une section inférieure et une section courante ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en plan d'un élément de garde-corps inférieur ;
• la figure 3A est une vue en élévation et la figure 3B est une vue de dessus d'un élément d'échelle ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en élévation d'un élément de garde-corps de section courante de la tour d'étaiement ;
• la figure 5 est une vue agrandie montrant le système de connexion associé au garde-corps inférieur ; et
• la figure 6 est une vue montrant un mode préféré de réalisation d'une plateforme ou plancher adaptée pour être montée sur la tour d'étaiement conforme à l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear better on reading the following description of several embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples. The description refers to the appended figures in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoring tower having a lower section and a running section;
• the figure 2 is a plan view of a lower railing element;
• the figure 3A is an elevation view and the figure 3B is a top view of a ladder element;
• the figure 4 is an elevational view of a guardrail element of the current section of the shoring tower;
• the figure 5 is an enlarged view showing the connection system associated with the lower guardrail; and
• the figure 6 is a view showing a preferred embodiment of a platform or floor adapted to be mounted on the shoring tower according to the invention.

Referring first to the figure 1 the whole structure of the shoring tower 10 will be described. In this figure, the shoring tower is constituted by a lower section 12 and a single current section 14 which therefore also constitutes the upper section. Depending on the desired height, the shoring tower forming the subject of the invention comprises several common sections 14, one of which constitutes the upper section.

The lower section 12 is constituted by two scale elements 16 and 18 identical and two railing elements 20 and 22 also identical. The ladder elements 16 and 18 and the lower railing elements 20 and 22 are connected to each other in such a way that they generally form a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped structure, the ladder elements being vertical and parallel to one another, the railing elements being also vertical and parallel to each other and more orthogonal to the scale elements. The current section 14, or each current section 14, is also constituted by ladder elements 16 'and 18' which may be identical to the ladder elements of the lower section. The railing elements 20 'and 22' have a general structure identical to that of the guardrail elements 20 and 22 of the lower section but have, as will be explained later, different rail systems and connector assemblies which are also different. .

The shoring tower also preferably comprises at least one platform 24 to conveniently access its upper end or at intermediate levels, screw jacks such as 26 which make it possible to adjust or adjust the verticality of the tower. shoring in the case where the ground on which it must rest is not flat or horizontal and the upper section 14 of the shoring tower is equipped with fork jacks such as 28 to receive, for example, beams constituting horizontal formwork elements.

Referring now more specifically to the figure 2 a preferred embodiment of a lower guard element, for example the element 20 of the figure 1 .

The railing element 20 is constituted by two vertical uprights 30 and 32, for example of rectangular cross-section, interconnected by an upper horizontal rail 34 and by two inclined rails 36 and 38 ensuring the rigidity between the upper rail 34 and the uprights 30 and 32 while leaving an access path. The upper ends 30a and 32a of the uprights 30 and 32 protrude above the horizontal beam 34 and are hollow at least in this upper part. The lower end 30b, 32b of each upright 30 and 32 is equipped with a connection system 40 which is shown in more detail on the figure 5 . The upper horizontal beam 34 is equipped at each of its ends 34a, 34b with a movable latch 42 whose rod 44 is guided in a bush 46 integral with the rail 34. The rod 44 of the latch can take a retracted position or a position exit, like the one shown on the figure 2 , in which the rod 44 projects out of the upper ends 30a and 32a of the vertical uprights 30 and 32. These are of course provided with horizontal holes 48 allowing the passage of the rod 44 in the extended position. Finally, the uprights 30 and 32 are provided with lifting rings 50 and 52 to allow easy handling including crane.

Referring now to Figures 3A and 3B a preferred embodiment of a ladder element will be described, for example the ladder element 16 of the figure 1 .

This is constituted by two parallel vertical uprights 56 and 58, preferably of circular cross section. At least the lower and upper ends of these amounts are hollow. The vertical uprights 56 and 58 are interconnected by horizontal ladder bars such as 60 regularly spaced, for example, a distance of 30 cm from each other. As best shown by the figure 3B preferably, the structure of the ladder element is such that it is completely symmetrical with respect to its longitudinal plane. This of course simplifies the editing operations since the scale element can be presented according to any one of these faces.

In addition, each vertical upright 56, 58 has at its upper end 56a, 58a and at its lower end 56b, 58b holes such as 61 and 62 which serve to allow the introduction of the movable rod 44 of the lock systems 42 of the railing, as will be explained later.

Referring to the figure 5 a preferred embodiment of the connection systems 40 of the lower railing members will now be described. The connection system 40 comprises a plate 70 preferably forming part of the uprights 30 or 32 on which is welded or fixed by any suitable means the end lower 30b vertical uprights 30 of the lower railing. The same is true for the inclined rails 36. On the plate 70 is mounted a connection member 72 which preferably has the form of a square section sectional section. This profile thus protrudes out of the plate 70 and is parallel to the vertical upright 30 but offset from it in the direction of the plane of the guardrail element. The profile 72 has dimensions such that it allows the insertion of the lower ends 56b and 58b of the vertical uprights 56 and 58 of the lower ladder element. In addition, preferably, the upper end 72a of the profile 72 is provided with two notches such as 74 and 76 which have dimensions suitable for allowing the ends of the bars 60 of the ladder elements to pass. These notches 74 and 76 define a direction that is orthogonal to the plane of the lower railing elements. The presence of the two indentations 74 and 76 allows assembly of the ladder elements and the lower guard elements in both directions. In other words, the indentations make it possible to orient at right angles the scale elements and the railing elements.

In addition, the plate 70 has a lower circular opening 78 to allow mounting of the mechanical foot jacks 26.

As already indicated, the ladder elements of the current sections of the shoring tower are identical to the ladder elements of the lower section, except possibly with regard to their height. It is therefore unnecessary to describe them again.

Referring now to the figure 4 an embodiment of a common railing element 20 'or 22' will be described.

The railing element of the current section 14 is preferably distinguished from the railing element of the lower section 12 by the shape of its smooth and especially by the connector assemblies whose lower parts are equipped.

The current railing element 20 'is also constituted by two vertical uprights, preferably of rectangular cross-section, parallel, 80 and 82 interconnected by an upper rail 84, a lower rail 86 and, preferably, a rail intermediate 88. At the lower end of each upright 80 and 82 is provided a connector assembly 89 which is constituted by a plate 90 attached to the end The vertical upright 80 continues beyond the platen 90 by a portion 92 of smaller dimension capable of penetrating the open upper end 80b of a vertical upright of a guard element. lower body. The connector assembly 89 also has a first upper vertical bushing 94 which can enter the lower end of a vertical upright of an upper ladder element and a lower bushing 96 which faces downwardly and can penetrate into the end. upper open of a vertical amount of another ladder element thus ensuring the continuity of the vertical uprights of the ladder elements. The extension 92 and the lower sockets 96 are provided with an orifice to allow the passage of the rod 44 of the latch systems 42 of the guardrail elements.

Of course, the bushings 94 and 96 have a vertical common axis that is offset from the vertical uprights 80 and 82 of the guardrail element so that when the sections 12, 14 of the shoring tower are assembled, the vertical uprights of the ladder elements which serve to take up the vertical forces, are vertically aligned respectively.

Like the lower railing element, the current railing element 20 'is provided with lifting rings such as 98. The upper rail 84 of the current railing is also equipped at each of its ends. A latch system 100. The latch system 100 is in all respects identical to the latch system 42 of the lower guardrail. The rod 102 of each latch slides in a socket 103 and can penetrate into a hole made in the upper end of the vertical uprights of the railings, in the hole made in the bushings 94 of the connector assemblies 88 of the railings and in the lower ends of the uprights of the ladder elements. This ensures the locking of railing elements and ladder elements vertically arranged one above the other.

On the figure 6 , there is shown a platform member 110 which can be used in the context of the shoring tower object of the present invention but which could be used also in other structures such as more conventional scaffold structures. The platform 110 is constituted by a frame 112 which has two end faces 114 and 116, a longitudinal side 118 and a portion of second longitudinal side 120 which is only part of the length of the platform. The side 120 thus defines with the end edge 116 an opening in the frame referenced 122. The end posts 114 and 116 are equipped with hooks such as 124 and 126 to hook onto horizontal elements of the elements. ladder of the shoring tower or on any horizontal element of a scaffolding system. The platform is also constituted by a plate 127 which is fixed, permanently, on a portion of the longitudinal upright 118, on the end upright 114 and on the partial upright 120. An intermediate upright 128 parallel to the end uprights is planned. The platform 110 also includes a complementary plate member 130 which is hinged to the longitudinal post 118 about its side 130a. Finally, a strut 132 is secured to the end of the intermediate beam 128 and equipped with a hook 134 to ensure the stability of the platform member.

The pivoting of the plate member 130 is limited to comply with the regulations and it is understood that because of the free access area 122 and the pivoting of the plate 130, it is easy to access the part defined by the fixed plate 126 and then fold down the plate 130 to functionally obtain a conventional structural platform.

The mounting of the shoring tower is easy. Two lower railing elements are placed on the ground, keeping them parallel. The lower ends of the uprights 56, 58 of two scale elements are introduced into the sockets 72 of the connection systems. The relative orientation (orthogonal) of the four elements is obtained automatically through the cooperation of the notches and the ends of the bars 60. It was thus realized the mounting of the lower section 12 of the shoring tower.

Two common railing elements 20 ', 22' are superimposed on the lower railing elements 20, 22 by cooperation of the lower ends 92 of the uprights 80, 82 with the upper ends of the lower uprights and the connection members with the ends. lower the amounts of the ladder elements and one sets up two current scale elements 16, 18. The lower ends of the current scale element uprights are engaged on the organs connection 94 of the connector assemblies 89. Then, it acts on the lock systems 42 of the lower railings to lock the assembly.

Claims (9)

1. A shoring tower comprising a lower section (12) for cooperating with the ground and several running sections (14) mounted above said lower section (12), each running section comprising:

   - two ladder elements (16', 18') each including two vertical uprights (56, 58) connected together with horizontal bars (60); and

   - two railing elements (20', 22'), each railing element comprising two vertical uprights (80, 82) connected together by rails (84, 86, 88), said tower being characterized in that each running section (14) further comprises:

   - at least four connecting assemblies (89) interposed between two running sections (14), each connecting assembly (89) comprising first means for connecting together the vertical uprights (56, 58) of two successive ladder elements (16, 18, 16', 18') so that they are aligned vertically and second means for connecting together the vertical uprights (30, 32, 80, 82) of two successive railing elements (20, 22, 20', 22') so that they are aligned vertically.
2. The shoring tower according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting assembly (89) is secured to the lower end and is an integral part thereof of a vertical upright (80, 82) of a railing element (20', 22') and in that said first connecting means are formed with two aligned vertical connecting members (94, 96) and turned upwards and downwards for cooperating with the lower end of a vertical upright (56, 58) of a ladder element (16', 18') and the upper end of a vertical upright (56, 58) of a lower ladder element (16, 18), and in that the second connecting means comprise a third connecting member (92) turned downwards, aligned with the vertical upright (80, 82) of the railing element (20', 21') for cooperating with the upper end of a vertical upright (30, 32) of a lower railing element (20, 22).
3. The shoring tower according to claim 2, characterized in that each end of the vertical uprights (56, 58) of the ladder elements (16', 18') and of the vertical uprights (80, 82) of the railing elements (20', 22') are hollow, and in that each connecting assembly comprises a plate (90) secured to the lower end (80a, 82a) of a vertical upright (80, 82) of a railing element (20', 22') and in that said three connecting members (92, 94, 96) are extensions protruding out of said plate (90).
4. The shoring tower according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that each railing element (20', 22') includes two bolting systems (42), each bolting system (42) being capable in the active position of locking said vertical uprights in said connecting elements.
5. The shoring tower according to claims 3 and 4, characterized in that each bolting system (42) is mounted at one end of the upper rail (34, 84) of a railing element (20, 22, 20', 22') and in that each bolting system (42) comprises a horizontally translationally mobile bolt rod (44), capable in the active position, of penetrating into holes made in the ends of the vertical uprights and in said extensions of the connecting assemblies.
6. The shoring tower according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the upper end (56a, 58a) of the vertical uprights (56, 58) of the ladder elements (16', 18') are able to receive a shoring fork mechanical actuator (28).
7. The shoring tower according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said lower section (12) comprises:

   - two ladder elements (16, 18), each ladder element comprising two vertical uprights (56, 58) connected through horizontal bars (60);

   - two railing elements (20, 22), each railing element comprising two vertical uprights (30, 32) connected together through rails (34, 36, 38); and

   - four cylinder actuators (26) for adjusting verticality, each actuator being able to be mounted at the lower end of a vertical upright (56, 58) of a ladder element (16, 18) in the extension of said upright; and

   - four systems (40) for connecting the lower ends (56b, 58b) of the vertical uprights (56, 58) of the ladder elements with the lower ends (30b, 32b) of the vertical uprights (30, 32) of the railing elements (20, 22).
8. The shoring tower according to claim 7, characterized in that each connecting system (40) of said lower section (12) comprises a plate (70) secured to the lower end (30b, 32b) and an integral part thereof of a lower upright (30, 32) of a railing element (20, 22) and a versatile hollow bushing secured to said plate (70) for receiving said cylinder actuators (26) for adjusting verticality and the lower end (56b, 58b) of a vertical upright (56, 58) of a ladder element (16, 18).
9. The shoring tower according to claim 8, characterized in that each bushing of a connection system (40) comprises at least one indentation (74, 76) for allowing engagement of an end of the lower bar (60) of a ladder element (16, 18), the indentation (74, 76) being positioned in such a way that said bar (60) extends along an orthogonal direction to the vertical plane of a railing element (20, 22).

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