EP2268872A1 - Device and method for safely erecting and dismantling a scaffold - Google Patents

Device and method for safely erecting and dismantling a scaffold

Info

Publication number
EP2268872A1
EP2268872A1 EP09721456A EP09721456A EP2268872A1 EP 2268872 A1 EP2268872 A1 EP 2268872A1 EP 09721456 A EP09721456 A EP 09721456A EP 09721456 A EP09721456 A EP 09721456A EP 2268872 A1 EP2268872 A1 EP 2268872A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
railing
scaffold
cable
level
structures
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP09721456A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Bart Paul Adolf Van Den Brande
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
VCS SYSTEMS BVBA
Original Assignee
Vcs Management Consult bvba
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Vcs Management Consult bvba filed Critical Vcs Management Consult bvba
Publication of EP2268872A1 publication Critical patent/EP2268872A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04GSCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
    • E04G5/00Component parts or accessories for scaffolds
    • E04G5/14Railings
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04GSCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
    • E04G5/00Component parts or accessories for scaffolds
    • E04G5/14Railings
    • E04G5/144Railings specific for the lateral, i.e. short side of a scaffold
    • EFIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E04BUILDING
    • E04GSCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
    • E04G5/00Component parts or accessories for scaffolds
    • E04G5/14Railings
    • E04G5/147Railings specially adapted for mounting prior to the mounting of the platform

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for safely erecting or dismantling a scaffold with a number of scaffold levels, comprising at least two railing structures for placing on the end surfaces or side parts of the scaffold.
  • the invention further relates to a method for safely erecting and dismantling a scaffold, to the railing structure itself and to a cable assembly system.
  • a safety railing with a horizontal girder supported on two vertical posts is lifted upward from a first safe scaffold level, wherein the vertical posts are connected to two vertical scaffold elements on the front part of the safe level.
  • a limited safe zone is in this way created on the second level located thereabove, although the scaffolder will have to leave this safe zone in order to construct the complete second level.
  • the present invention has for its object to provide a simple and safe device and method for erecting and dismantling a scaffold in complete safety.
  • the device of the invention is distinguished for this purpose in that each railing structure is provided with coupling means for releasably connecting the or each railing structure to a side part of a first scaffold level in order to form a railing for a second scaffold level located thereabove, wherein each railing structure is adapted for connection to at least one cable, this such that the at least one cable forms, together with the railing structures, a railing on respectively the front part and the side parts of the second scaffold level. From a safe level, such a device thus allows a level located thereabove to be made in complete safety by providing in convenient manner a railing which extends along both the front part and along both side parts of the level located thereabove .
  • each railing structure consists of a lower part which is provided with the coupling means and an upper part connected hingedly thereto and adapted for connection to the at least one cable.
  • Use is preferably made of a hinge with a pivot axis arranged such that the upper part can be tilted outward relative to the front plane of the scaffold (i.e. the plane in which the front vertical and horizontal elements of the scaffold lie) .
  • the hinge is more preferably provided with damping means for damping the tilting movement.
  • each railing structure comprises two substantially vertical support tubes for connecting to the vertical elements of the scaffold by means of the coupling means, wherein the distance between the vertical support tubes corresponds to the distance between two vertical elements on the side part of the scaffold.
  • the coupling means are preferably such that on the one hand a "light” form of coupling is possible, wherein the coupling means are slidable relative to the vertical scaffold elements, and that on the other a firm coupling is also possible. Further advantageous embodiments are described in claims 1-6 and 13-20.
  • the railing structure takes an extendable form. In this way the railing structure can be extended and it is not necessary to push the railing structure upward along vertical elements of the scaffold.
  • the railing structure is then attached to the scaffold at the bottom using the coupling means, and is height-adjustable relative to this lowermost point attached to the scaffold. This is possible for instance by providing the lower part with telescopically co-acting tubes.
  • two railing structures can be placed one on the other. This can for instance be realized by providing the top side of the upper part with pins and providing the underside of the lower part with cavities into which these pins fit.
  • the method according to the invention is distinguished by the following steps of : - erecting a first level;
  • the invention further relates to a method for safely dismantling a scaffold as according to any of claims 10-12.
  • the invention also relates to a railing structure for use in a device according to the invention, and to a carrying structure of the cable system for use in a device according to the invention.
  • the device also relates to an assembly of a first and a second support plate as according to claim 25.
  • Such an assembly allows a railing with a lower and upper cable to be provided in very simple manner in a scaffolding construction.
  • - figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a prior art scaffold
  • - figures 2(A) and (B) illustrate the sequential erection of a prior art scaffold
  • - figures 3 (A) - (F) illustrate schematically a first embodiment of the method according to the invention
  • - figures 4 (A) - (B) illustrate schematically a front view and side view of a first embodiment of a railing structure of a device according to the invention
  • FIG. 5(A)-(F) illustrate schematically the sequential erection according to a second embodiment of the method according to the invention
  • FIG. 6 (A) and (B) illustrate respectively a schematic front and side view of a second embodiment of a railing structure of a device according to the invention
  • - figure 7 illustrates schematically a side view of the variant of figures 6 (A) and 6 (B) , wherein two railing structures are provided one above the other,-
  • FIG. 8(A), (B) and (C) illustrate respectively a top, front and side view of an embodiment of a guide structure for the safety cables .
  • Figure 1 illustrates the erection of a typical prior art scaffold 1, wherein a first and second level 6, 7 have already been erected, in each case with railings 10-12, and a worker must begin placing the railings at third level 8.
  • the illustrated embodiment is a wall scaffold in which several railings 10-12 are provided on front part 2 and on the side parts or end surfaces 3, 4, although the skilled person will appreciate that for determined particular applications it may also be desirable to provide a railing on the rear side, and the system according to the invention is likewise applicable to such scaffolds.
  • the invention can in general be applied perfectly for both types of scaffold, and the skilled person will appreciate that the invention can be used in any type of scaffold, so also in traditional (tube/coupling) scaffolds and in aluminium scaffolds with a number of scaffold levels for safe assembly thereof .
  • the problem of the prior art scaffolds is that a scaffolder, after finishing a level, has to go to the next level where no railings are as yet provided, see figure 1, and the scaffolder has only a floor below him and, in the case of a wall scaffold, a wall behind him.
  • Figure 2 illustrates a known method of erecting a scaffold in so-called “sequential" manner.
  • a safe zone bounded by frames 20, 20' and railings 21, 22 is first made (figure 2(A)), although starting out from the situation of figure 1, i.e. from a wholly unsafe situation.
  • a subsequent step (figure 2(B)) a subsequent frame 20" is again placed in unsafe manner and the zone is secured by arranging railings 21', 22'.
  • An embodiment of a device according to the invention typically comprises two railing structures for the purpose of forming respective railings on the side parts of the scaffold.
  • Figures 4 and 3(A) shows such a railing structure 36, intended for mounting on a side part 30 of a scaffold.
  • Railing structure 36 comprises a lower part 39 and an upper part 38 connected hingedly thereto.
  • Lower part 39 is provided with coupling means in the form of clamps 40 which can be arranged around the vertical scaffold elements.
  • Pivot axis 37 allows outward pivoting away from the front of the scaffold.
  • Upper part 38 is adapted for connection to two safety cables. This part 38 is provided for this purpose with plates 41 for the purpose of mounting thereon a winding system for one cable in each case.
  • Clamps 40 are preferably such that they can on the one hand be coupled around the vertical scaffold elements and herein still allow vertical sliding, and can on the other be tightened (for instance through screwing) around the vertical scaffold elements after a suitable positioning of the railing structure.
  • the clamps are preferably provided at a sufficiently great distance d4 from the lower part so that they are not obstructed by the rings used around the vertical scaffold elements .
  • lower part 39 has two substantially vertical posts 46, 47 and a horizontal connecting girder 45.
  • Posts 46, 47 are connected to vertical elements 30 of the scaffold by means of coupling means 40, and the distance dl between vertical posts 46, 47 substantially corresponds to the distance between two vertical elements on the side part of the scaffold.
  • the upper part comprises two vertical posts 48, 49 and a number of railing elements 42, 43 provided therebetween, and optionally a side plank 44.
  • the distance d3 between railing elements 42, 43 and the height d2 of the side plank are typically determined by safety regulations and the like.
  • a scaffolder in a first step (figure 3(A)) a scaffolder can be seen who is standing at a safe first level and holding on to a railing structure 36.
  • the scaffolder connects this railing structure 36 to vertical scaffold elements 30 on the side part of this first level (figure 3 (B) ) . He does this by- positioning the railing structure on the outside of the side part of the scaffold and slightly tightening the couplings 40, this such that sliding along vertical elements 30 is still possible - see below.
  • the upper part 38 and lower part 39 can preferably be locked relative to each other, for instance by a locking cable, at a position in which the parts are mutually in line, as shown in figure 3 (B) .
  • the safety cables 50, 51 are attached at the locations provided on upper part 38 of a first railing structure, and unwound and hooked in at locations provided for this purpose on the upper part of the second railing structure, as shown partially in figure 3 (C) .
  • the upper parts can now be pivoted back inward, after which locking cable 53 is attached in order to hold the upper parts fixedly relative to the lower parts (figure 3(D)).
  • the left-hand variant is a mirror image thereof and is not illustrated in these figures, although it can be seen in figure 5B, which will be discussed hereinbelow in order to elucidate the method.
  • Railing structure 136 comprises a lower part 139 and an upper part 138 connected hingedly thereto.
  • Lower part 139 is provided with a first set of coupling means 140 and a second set of coupling means 150 in the form of clamps which can be arranged around vertical scaffold elements or uprights, see in particular figure 7, where lower part 139 is connected to an upright 130 via clamps 140, 150.
  • lower part 139 comprises two parallel vertical posts 146,146'; 147,147' and a horizontal connecting plate 145 therebetween.
  • the vertical posts take an extendable form, wherein the respective upper posts 146, 147 co-act telescopically with lower posts 146', 147' by means of respective tubes 151, 152. Tubes 151, 152 are attached to the lower posts, on which the second set of coupling means 150 is provided.
  • Upper part 138 can tilt outward, for instance through an angle of 90°, around an axis 137 directed perpendicularly of the plane of the railing structure, as illustrated in figure 5(B) (see below) .
  • upper part 138 is intended for connection to two safety cables.
  • Upper part 138 comprises two vertical posts 148, 149 and a number of railing elements 142, 143 provided therebetween, and optionally a side plank 144.
  • Upper part 138 is provided at the bottom with a lower plate 153 extending in a horizontal plane, and lower part 139 is provided with a similar upper plate 154. In the non- outward tilted position the lower plate 153 of the upper part supports on upper plate 154 of the lower part .
  • a locking pin 155 can further be arranged through the lower and upper plates 153, 154 in order to prevent the upper part swinging outward.
  • top ends of vertical posts 148, 149 of the upper part are respectively provided with pins 156, 157.
  • Vertical posts 146 ', 147' of the lower part preferably take a hollow form such that they are slidable over pins 156, 157. In this way a second railing structure can be easily arranged on a first railing structure situated thereunder. Note that it would also be possible to give the vertical posts 148, 149 of the upper part a telescopic form instead of the posts 146, 146'; 147, 147' of the lower part, in which case coupling means 140 can be displaced in each case to the upper post of each set of telescopically co- acting posts of upper part 138.
  • both the upper and lower part can take a telescopic form. It is further also possible to make the telescopically co-acting parts lockable relative to each other, in which case coupling means 140 can strictly speaking be omitted.
  • Assembly system 160 consists of a left-hand (not shown in figure 8) and a right-hand support plate, which can be attached in simple manner to upper part 138 of respectively a left-hand and right-hand railing structure.
  • each support plate 161 is provided here with two curved suspension strips 162, 163, which make it possible to suspend the support plate around respective horizontal girders 142 ' , 143 ' .
  • Support plate 161 is further provided with a vertical suspension strip 164 in which vertical post 149 can be received. In this way the support plate 161 can be suspended in simple manner from upper part 138.
  • the skilled person will however appreciate that many other variants can be envisaged for the purpose of realizing the suspension/mounting on the railing structure.
  • Support plate 161 is further provided with two mounting points 165, 166 for respective pulleys 167, 168.
  • a winch for instance a geared winch 169, can be mounted at the bottom of support plate 161. In the mounted situation of the support plate this winch is preferably situated just above pivot point 137 so that it is easy to operate by a worker in the tilted position of the upper part. This winch will typically only be provided on a right-hand support plate, as will become apparent from the description hereinbelow of figure 5B.
  • the safety cable can be trained along pulleys 167, 168 from winch 169 via an opening 170 in plate 161, from which pulleys the safety cable is guided to a more distant railing structure at the same scaffold level, as will be elucidated below with reference to figures 5 (A) - (F) .
  • the end of the cable is returned to the right-hand support plate and secured to the right-hand support plate by means of a hook or other suitable fixing means.
  • support plate 161 is provided with a handle 171.
  • This handle 171 further facilitates the arranging of the assembly system by a worker.
  • a second embodiment of the method of the invention will now be described with reference to figures 5(A)-(F) .
  • a worker attaches a left-hand end railing 136 with its two lower couplings 150 to the vertical posts of a left-hand scaffold frame, for instance just above the tilt closure of upper scaffold railing 132. This operation is repeated for a right-hand end railing 136 on the other side of the scaffold.
  • a worker folds the upper part 138R of right-hand end railing 136R outward and suspends the right- hand support plate 161R with winch 169 and guide wheels from the right-hand end railing 136R.
  • This operation is repeated on the left-hand side of the scaffold, wherein a left-hand support plate 161L with only guide wheels is mounted on the left-hand end railing 136L.
  • Cable 170 is typically pre- mounted in a set of a left-hand and right-hand support plate 161R, 161L, wherein the worker must take care that safety cable 170 hangs sufficiently slack when the support plates are suspended from the end railings.
  • a third step the left-hand end railing 136 is folded inward again and the end railing is slid upward, wherein vertical hollow posts 146, 147 are moved upward relative to guide tubes 151, 152. End railing 136 is then attached to the scaffold with the two upper couplings 140. These operations are once again repeated on the right-hand side of the scaffold. The safety cable can then be tensioned. In this way the higher scaffold level is made safe and can be walked on by a worker.
  • a fourth step is illustrated in figure 5 (D) .
  • a worker places a second right-hand end railing 136' on pins 156, 157 of a right-hand end railing situated thereunder on the right-hand side of the scaffold.
  • a second scaffold frame 130' is then placed on the pins of an underlying scaffold frame 130.
  • the lower two couplings 150' of the right-hand end railing are attached by a worker to scaffold frame 130'.
  • a fifth step is illustrated in figure 5 (E) .
  • the safety cable is slackened and upper part 138' of the highest-placed right-hand end railing 136' is folded outward.
  • the right-hand winch holder 160 is suspended from the outward folded right-hand end railing.
  • a scaffold can also be dismantled safely by performing these operations in reverse sequence using a device according to the invention.
  • the safety cables could also extend along both side parts, wherein they are connected to the upper parts of the railing structures on the rear side of the scaffold.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Architecture (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Civil Engineering (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
  • Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
  • Movable Scaffolding (AREA)

Abstract

Device for safely erecting or dismantling a scaffold with a front part and two side parts and with a number of scaffold levels, comprising at least two railing structures for placing on the side parts of the scaffold, wherein each railing structure is provided with coupling means for releasably connecting each railing structure to a side part of a first scaffold level in order to form a railing for a second scaffold level located thereabove, wherein each railing structure is adapted for connection to at least one cable, this such that the at least one cable forms, together with the railing structures, a railing on respectively the front part and the side parts of the second scaffold level, wherein each railing structure consists of a lower part which is provided with the coupling means and an upper part connected hingedly thereto and adapted for connection to the at least one cable.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SAFELY ERECTING AND DISMANTLING A SCAFFOLD
The present invention relates to a device for safely erecting or dismantling a scaffold with a number of scaffold levels, comprising at least two railing structures for placing on the end surfaces or side parts of the scaffold. The invention further relates to a method for safely erecting and dismantling a scaffold, to the railing structure itself and to a cable assembly system.
According to a known technique, a safety railing with a horizontal girder supported on two vertical posts is lifted upward from a first safe scaffold level, wherein the vertical posts are connected to two vertical scaffold elements on the front part of the safe level. From a first safe level a limited safe zone is in this way created on the second level located thereabove, although the scaffolder will have to leave this safe zone in order to construct the complete second level. For more details about this technique reference is made to the Plettac SL70 system from ALTRAD plettac assco GmbH.
The present invention has for its object to provide a simple and safe device and method for erecting and dismantling a scaffold in complete safety. The device of the invention is distinguished for this purpose in that each railing structure is provided with coupling means for releasably connecting the or each railing structure to a side part of a first scaffold level in order to form a railing for a second scaffold level located thereabove, wherein each railing structure is adapted for connection to at least one cable, this such that the at least one cable forms, together with the railing structures, a railing on respectively the front part and the side parts of the second scaffold level. From a safe level, such a device thus allows a level located thereabove to be made in complete safety by providing in convenient manner a railing which extends along both the front part and along both side parts of the level located thereabove .
A possible embodiment is described in claim 1. According to a preferred embodiment, each railing structure consists of a lower part which is provided with the coupling means and an upper part connected hingedly thereto and adapted for connection to the at least one cable. Use is preferably made of a hinge with a pivot axis arranged such that the upper part can be tilted outward relative to the front plane of the scaffold (i.e. the plane in which the front vertical and horizontal elements of the scaffold lie) . The hinge is more preferably provided with damping means for damping the tilting movement.
According to another aspect of the invention, each railing structure comprises two substantially vertical support tubes for connecting to the vertical elements of the scaffold by means of the coupling means, wherein the distance between the vertical support tubes corresponds to the distance between two vertical elements on the side part of the scaffold. The coupling means are preferably such that on the one hand a "light" form of coupling is possible, wherein the coupling means are slidable relative to the vertical scaffold elements, and that on the other a firm coupling is also possible. Further advantageous embodiments are described in claims 1-6 and 13-20.
According to an advantageous embodiment, the railing structure takes an extendable form. In this way the railing structure can be extended and it is not necessary to push the railing structure upward along vertical elements of the scaffold. The railing structure is then attached to the scaffold at the bottom using the coupling means, and is height-adjustable relative to this lowermost point attached to the scaffold. This is possible for instance by providing the lower part with telescopically co-acting tubes.
It is further recommended that two railing structures can be placed one on the other. This can for instance be realized by providing the top side of the upper part with pins and providing the underside of the lower part with cavities into which these pins fit.
The method according to the invention is distinguished by the following steps of : - erecting a first level;
- releasably connecting one railing structure at a time to the respective side parts of the first level;
- arranging at least one cable between the railing structures, this such that the at least one cable and the railing structures form a safe railing for a second level located thereabove ;
- erecting the second level.
Such a method thus allows a very great working safety problem to be resolved in a cost-effective, safe and simple manner.
Advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention are described in claims 7-9 and 21-22.
The invention further relates to a method for safely dismantling a scaffold as according to any of claims 10-12. The invention also relates to a railing structure for use in a device according to the invention, and to a carrying structure of the cable system for use in a device according to the invention.
Finally, the device also relates to an assembly of a first and a second support plate as according to claim 25. Such an assembly allows a railing with a lower and upper cable to be provided in very simple manner in a scaffolding construction.
Other features and advantages will become apparent from the description of a number of non-limitative exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
- figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a prior art scaffold; - figures 2(A) and (B) illustrate the sequential erection of a prior art scaffold;
- figures 3 (A) - (F) illustrate schematically a first embodiment of the method according to the invention; - figures 4 (A) - (B) illustrate schematically a front view and side view of a first embodiment of a railing structure of a device according to the invention;
- figures 5(A)-(F) illustrate schematically the sequential erection according to a second embodiment of the method according to the invention;
- figures 6 (A) and (B) illustrate respectively a schematic front and side view of a second embodiment of a railing structure of a device according to the invention; - figure 7 illustrates schematically a side view of the variant of figures 6 (A) and 6 (B) , wherein two railing structures are provided one above the other,-
- figures 8(A), (B) and (C) illustrate respectively a top, front and side view of an embodiment of a guide structure for the safety cables .
In the drawings of the different embodiments the same components are designated as far as possible with the same reference numerals, wherein 100 is added for the second embodiment . Figure 1 illustrates the erection of a typical prior art scaffold 1, wherein a first and second level 6, 7 have already been erected, in each case with railings 10-12, and a worker must begin placing the railings at third level 8. The illustrated embodiment is a wall scaffold in which several railings 10-12 are provided on front part 2 and on the side parts or end surfaces 3, 4, although the skilled person will appreciate that for determined particular applications it may also be desirable to provide a railing on the rear side, and the system according to the invention is likewise applicable to such scaffolds.
In scaffolding assembly use is further made of two main types of pre-assembled scaffolds: on the one hand the so- called wall scaffold in which the vertical scaffold elements consist of frames (designated with reference numeral 20 in figure 2) and on the other so-called system scaffolds in which use is made of vertical posts with rings to which the horizontal girders are attached. As will become further apparent, the invention can in general be applied perfectly for both types of scaffold, and the skilled person will appreciate that the invention can be used in any type of scaffold, so also in traditional (tube/coupling) scaffolds and in aluminium scaffolds with a number of scaffold levels for safe assembly thereof .
The problem of the prior art scaffolds is that a scaffolder, after finishing a level, has to go to the next level where no railings are as yet provided, see figure 1, and the scaffolder has only a floor below him and, in the case of a wall scaffold, a wall behind him.
Figure 2 illustrates a known method of erecting a scaffold in so-called "sequential" manner. According to this method, a safe zone bounded by frames 20, 20' and railings 21, 22 is first made (figure 2(A)), although starting out from the situation of figure 1, i.e. from a wholly unsafe situation. In a subsequent step (figure 2(B)) a subsequent frame 20" is again placed in unsafe manner and the zone is secured by arranging railings 21', 22'. Although the dangers are thus limited to a very small extent, it will be apparent that erection or dismantling remains a risky business.
A first embodiment of a device according to the invention will now be described with reference to figures 4 (A) and (B) . Reference will also be made here to figures 3 (A) - (F) , which illustrate an embodiment of the method according to the invention.
An embodiment of a device according to the invention typically comprises two railing structures for the purpose of forming respective railings on the side parts of the scaffold. Figures 4 and 3(A) shows such a railing structure 36, intended for mounting on a side part 30 of a scaffold. Railing structure 36 comprises a lower part 39 and an upper part 38 connected hingedly thereto. Lower part 39 is provided with coupling means in the form of clamps 40 which can be arranged around the vertical scaffold elements. Pivot axis 37 allows outward pivoting away from the front of the scaffold. Upper part 38 is adapted for connection to two safety cables. This part 38 is provided for this purpose with plates 41 for the purpose of mounting thereon a winding system for one cable in each case.
Clamps 40 are preferably such that they can on the one hand be coupled around the vertical scaffold elements and herein still allow vertical sliding, and can on the other be tightened (for instance through screwing) around the vertical scaffold elements after a suitable positioning of the railing structure. In the case of system scaffolds the clamps are preferably provided at a sufficiently great distance d4 from the lower part so that they are not obstructed by the rings used around the vertical scaffold elements .
In the shown embodiment lower part 39 has two substantially vertical posts 46, 47 and a horizontal connecting girder 45. Posts 46, 47 are connected to vertical elements 30 of the scaffold by means of coupling means 40, and the distance dl between vertical posts 46, 47 substantially corresponds to the distance between two vertical elements on the side part of the scaffold. In the shown embodiment the upper part comprises two vertical posts 48, 49 and a number of railing elements 42, 43 provided therebetween, and optionally a side plank 44. The distance d3 between railing elements 42, 43 and the height d2 of the side plank are typically determined by safety regulations and the like.
The combination of two railing structures 36 with two cables 50, 51 allow, from a first safe level, a second level situated thereabove to be made safe, as will be further elucidated with reference to figure 3. It will be apparent to the skilled person that a "left- hand" and a "right-hand" railing structure is typically necessary in a device according to the invention, wherein the railing structures have dimensions which are adapted to the type of scaffold. Different railing structures will thus typically be necessary for scaffolds with a "metric" and a "non-metric" dimensioning.
In a first step (figure 3(A)) a scaffolder can be seen who is standing at a safe first level and holding on to a railing structure 36. The scaffolder connects this railing structure 36 to vertical scaffold elements 30 on the side part of this first level (figure 3 (B) ) . He does this by- positioning the railing structure on the outside of the side part of the scaffold and slightly tightening the couplings 40, this such that sliding along vertical elements 30 is still possible - see below. The upper part 38 and lower part 39 can preferably be locked relative to each other, for instance by a locking cable, at a position in which the parts are mutually in line, as shown in figure 3 (B) . The locking is then released, for instance by releasing a locking cable 53, and upper part 38 of railing structure 36 is pivoted outward around pivot axis 37 (figure 3(C)) . These steps are repeated for the second railing structure which must be mounted on the other side part (not shown) .
After mounting of the two railing structures the safety cables 50, 51 are attached at the locations provided on upper part 38 of a first railing structure, and unwound and hooked in at locations provided for this purpose on the upper part of the second railing structure, as shown partially in figure 3 (C) .
The upper parts can now be pivoted back inward, after which locking cable 53 is attached in order to hold the upper parts fixedly relative to the lower parts (figure 3(D)).
Both railing structures are then slid further upward to the desired level, as shown in figure 3(E), after which couplings 40 are firmly tightened. The next level is now ready and can be walked on safely - see figure 3 (F) . A second exemplary embodiment of a right-hand railing structure according to the invention is shown in figures 6(A) and (B) and figure 7. The left-hand variant is a mirror image thereof and is not illustrated in these figures, although it can be seen in figure 5B, which will be discussed hereinbelow in order to elucidate the method. Railing structure 136 comprises a lower part 139 and an upper part 138 connected hingedly thereto. Lower part 139 is provided with a first set of coupling means 140 and a second set of coupling means 150 in the form of clamps which can be arranged around vertical scaffold elements or uprights, see in particular figure 7, where lower part 139 is connected to an upright 130 via clamps 140, 150. In the shown embodiment lower part 139 comprises two parallel vertical posts 146,146'; 147,147' and a horizontal connecting plate 145 therebetween. The vertical posts take an extendable form, wherein the respective upper posts 146, 147 co-act telescopically with lower posts 146', 147' by means of respective tubes 151, 152. Tubes 151, 152 are attached to the lower posts, on which the second set of coupling means 150 is provided. Note that many variants can be envisaged, for instance a variant with more than two telescopically co-acting tubes or a variant with two or more vertical posts which are embodied for extending in random manner. For the sake of completeness it is also noted that in the shown embodiment the slot 158 is intended to fit around bolts which protrude through posts 146, 147 but does not have an essential function.
Upper part 138 can tilt outward, for instance through an angle of 90°, around an axis 137 directed perpendicularly of the plane of the railing structure, as illustrated in figure 5(B) (see below) . Just as for the first variant, upper part 138 is intended for connection to two safety cables. Upper part 138 comprises two vertical posts 148, 149 and a number of railing elements 142, 143 provided therebetween, and optionally a side plank 144.
Upper part 138 is provided at the bottom with a lower plate 153 extending in a horizontal plane, and lower part 139 is provided with a similar upper plate 154. In the non- outward tilted position the lower plate 153 of the upper part supports on upper plate 154 of the lower part . A locking pin 155 can further be arranged through the lower and upper plates 153, 154 in order to prevent the upper part swinging outward.
The top ends of vertical posts 148, 149 of the upper part are respectively provided with pins 156, 157. Vertical posts 146 ', 147' of the lower part preferably take a hollow form such that they are slidable over pins 156, 157. In this way a second railing structure can be easily arranged on a first railing structure situated thereunder. Note that it would also be possible to give the vertical posts 148, 149 of the upper part a telescopic form instead of the posts 146, 146'; 147, 147' of the lower part, in which case coupling means 140 can be displaced in each case to the upper post of each set of telescopically co- acting posts of upper part 138. According to yet another variant, both the upper and lower part can take a telescopic form. It is further also possible to make the telescopically co-acting parts lockable relative to each other, in which case coupling means 140 can strictly speaking be omitted. A possible embodiment of an assembly system for the safety cables will now be set forth with reference to figure 8. Assembly system 160 consists of a left-hand (not shown in figure 8) and a right-hand support plate, which can be attached in simple manner to upper part 138 of respectively a left-hand and right-hand railing structure. For this purpose each support plate 161 is provided here with two curved suspension strips 162, 163, which make it possible to suspend the support plate around respective horizontal girders 142 ' , 143 ' . Support plate 161 is further provided with a vertical suspension strip 164 in which vertical post 149 can be received. In this way the support plate 161 can be suspended in simple manner from upper part 138. The skilled person will however appreciate that many other variants can be envisaged for the purpose of realizing the suspension/mounting on the railing structure.
Support plate 161 is further provided with two mounting points 165, 166 for respective pulleys 167, 168. A winch, for instance a geared winch 169, can be mounted at the bottom of support plate 161. In the mounted situation of the support plate this winch is preferably situated just above pivot point 137 so that it is easy to operate by a worker in the tilted position of the upper part. This winch will typically only be provided on a right-hand support plate, as will become apparent from the description hereinbelow of figure 5B. The safety cable can be trained along pulleys 167, 168 from winch 169 via an opening 170 in plate 161, from which pulleys the safety cable is guided to a more distant railing structure at the same scaffold level, as will be elucidated below with reference to figures 5 (A) - (F) . After being trained along two corresponding pulleys 167, 168 on a left-hand support plate, the end of the cable is returned to the right-hand support plate and secured to the right-hand support plate by means of a hook or other suitable fixing means.
Finally, support plate 161 is provided with a handle 171. This handle 171 further facilitates the arranging of the assembly system by a worker. A second embodiment of the method of the invention will now be described with reference to figures 5(A)-(F) . In a first step, which is illustrated in figure 5(A), a worker attaches a left-hand end railing 136 with its two lower couplings 150 to the vertical posts of a left-hand scaffold frame, for instance just above the tilt closure of upper scaffold railing 132. This operation is repeated for a right-hand end railing 136 on the other side of the scaffold.
In a second step a worker folds the upper part 138R of right-hand end railing 136R outward and suspends the right- hand support plate 161R with winch 169 and guide wheels from the right-hand end railing 136R. This operation is repeated on the left-hand side of the scaffold, wherein a left-hand support plate 161L with only guide wheels is mounted on the left-hand end railing 136L. Cable 170 is typically pre- mounted in a set of a left-hand and right-hand support plate 161R, 161L, wherein the worker must take care that safety cable 170 hangs sufficiently slack when the support plates are suspended from the end railings. In a third step the left-hand end railing 136 is folded inward again and the end railing is slid upward, wherein vertical hollow posts 146, 147 are moved upward relative to guide tubes 151, 152. End railing 136 is then attached to the scaffold with the two upper couplings 140. These operations are once again repeated on the right-hand side of the scaffold. The safety cable can then be tensioned. In this way the higher scaffold level is made safe and can be walked on by a worker.
A fourth step is illustrated in figure 5 (D) . During this fourth step a worker places a second right-hand end railing 136' on pins 156, 157 of a right-hand end railing situated thereunder on the right-hand side of the scaffold. A second scaffold frame 130' is then placed on the pins of an underlying scaffold frame 130. The lower two couplings 150' of the right-hand end railing are attached by a worker to scaffold frame 130'. These operations are repeated for the other side of the scaffold. The entire scaffold level can now be completed according to the instructions of the manufacturer .
A fifth step is illustrated in figure 5 (E) . During this step the safety cable is slackened and upper part 138' of the highest-placed right-hand end railing 136' is folded outward. The right-hand winch holder 160 is suspended from the outward folded right-hand end railing. These steps are repeated on the other side of the scaffold.
Finally, in a sixth step, which is illustrated in figure 5(F), the left-hand end railing 136' is folded inward and slid upward in the same way as described in the third step. The end railing is then attached with its two upper couplings 140' to scaffold frame 130'. These operations are repeated on the other side of the scaffold, after which the safety cable is tensioned. The higher scaffold level is now also safeguarded and can be walked on. The fourth to sixth steps are repeated per scaffold level .
Although the methods have been described above for the purpose of erecting a scaffold, the skilled person will appreciate that a scaffold can also be dismantled safely by performing these operations in reverse sequence using a device according to the invention.
The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated above, and the skilled person will appreciate that many modifications can be envisaged without departing from the scope of the invention, this scope being defined solely by the following claims.
It is thus possible for instance for fewer horizontal intermediate girders to be provided in the railing structures, or the side plank can be omitted. In addition to extending along the front of the scaffold, the safety cables could also extend along both side parts, wherein they are connected to the upper parts of the railing structures on the rear side of the scaffold.

Claims

1. Device for safely erecting or dismantling a scaffold with a front part and two side parts and with a number of scaffold levels, comprising at least two railing structures for placing on the side parts of the scaffold, characterized in that each railing structure is provided with coupling means for releasably connecting each railing structure to a side part of a first scaffold level in order to form a railing for a second scaffold level located thereabove, wherein each railing structure is adapted for connection to at least one cable, this such that the at least one cable forms, together with the railing structures, a railing on respectively the front part and the side parts of the second scaffold level, wherein each railing structure consists of a lower part which is provided with the coupling means and an upper part connected hingedly thereto and adapted for connection to the at least one cable.
2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the hinge has a pivot axis arranged such that the upper part can be tilted outward relative to the front plane of the scaffold.
3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the upper part is hinged around an axis parallel to the front part of the scaffold in the mounted position of the railing structures such that the upper part can be tilted outward relative to the front part of the scaffold.
4. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims for a scaffold with a number of vertical elements, characterized in that each railing structure comprises two substantially vertical support tubes for connecting to the vertical elements of the scaffold by means of the coupling means, wherein the distance between the vertical support tubes corresponds to the distance between two vertical elements on the side part of the scaffold.
5. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one of the at least two railing structures is provided with at least one wind-up system for a cable.
6. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the railing structures are adapted for connection on the front part of the scaffold to two cables, this such that, after mounting of the railing structures, these two cables form a safe railing on the front part of the second scaffold level.
7. Method for safely erecting a scaffold with a front part and two side parts and with a number of scaffold levels, comprising the following steps of:
- erecting a first level;
- releasably connecting one lower part of a railing structure at a time to the respective side parts of the first level;
- tilting an upper part of the railing structure;
- arranging at least one cable between the railing structures and tilting back the upper part of the railing structure, this such that the at least one cable and the railing structures form a safe railing for a second level located thereabove;
- erecting the second level .
8. Method as claimed in claim 7 for erecting a scaffold constructed from vertical and horizontal scaffold elements, characterized in that railing structures are used with a lower part and an upper part connected hingedly thereto, and that
- each lower part is coupled on a side part to vertical scaffold elements of the first level; - each upper part is tilted outward relative to the front part of the scaffold;
- the at least one cable is attached between the upper parts, after which the upper parts are once again tilted inward and secured relative to the lower parts.
9. Method as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that after the upper parts have been secured relative to the lower parts the railing structures are slid upward along the vertical scaffold elements and that the upper parts are locked at the desired height relative to the lower parts .
10. Method for safely dismantling a scaffold with a front part and two side parts and with a number of scaffold levels, comprising the following steps of:
- releasably connecting one lower part of a railing structure at a time to the respective side parts of a second level;
- arranging at least one cable between the railing structures, this such that the at least one cable and the railing structures form a safe railing for this second level;
- dismantling this second level;
- tilting the upper parts from a first level located below the second level;
- removing the cable and the railing structures from the first level.
11. Method as claimed in claim 10 for dismantling a scaffold constructed from vertical and horizontal scaffold elements, characterized in that railing structures are used with a lower part and an upper part connected hingedly thereto, and that
- each lower part is coupled on a side part to vertical scaffold elements of the second level; - the at least one cable is attached between the upper parts; and
- the upper parts are tilted outward from the first level before the cable is removed.
12. Method as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that prior to removal the railing structures are slid downward along the vertical scaffold elements.
13. Device as claimed in any of the claims 1-6, wherein the railing structure takes an extendable form, this such that the height thereof can be adjusted after forming of the railing.
14. Device as claimed in claim 13, wherein the lower part comprises at least two vertical bars which each take an extendable form.
15. Device as claimed in claim 14, wherein each extendably embodied vertical bar of the lower part comprises a lower tube and an upper tube co-acting telescopically therewith, wherein a set of first coupling means for connecting the lower tubes to the scaffold is connected to the lower tubes and a set of second coupling means is connected to the upper tubes .
16. Device as claimed in claims 1-6 or 13-15, wherein the lower part is adapted at the bottom for coupling to the top of an upper part such that two railing structures can be placed one on the other.
17. Device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the lower part is provided with cavities which can co- act with corresponding pins on the upper part, or vice versa.
18. Device as claimed in claims 1-6 or 13-17, wherein at least a first and second support plate are each provided with a set of the guide wheels for the cable, wherein a winch for this cable is provided on one of these support plates, said first and second support plates being adapted for mounting on respectively a first and second railing structure on two opposite side parts of a scaffold.
19. Device as claimed in claim 18, wherein each support plate has an upper and a lower guide wheel, this such that the cable is trained in a first direction along the lower guide wheels and guided back along the upper guide wheels, or vice versa, for the purpose of forming a lower and upper railing part.
20. Device as claimed in claim 18 or 19, wherein each support plate is adapted to be suspended from horizontal and vertical bars of the upper part of a railing structure.
21. Method as claimed in any of the claims 7-8, wherein the lower part of each railing structure is connected to the scaffold using first coupling means, and the railing structure takes an extendable form above these first coupling means, wherein the railing structure is extended after the upper parts have been tilted back.
22. Method as claimed in claim 21, wherein after the erection of the second level a subsequent railing structure is placed in higher position on top of each railing structure, the upper part of each railing structure in higher position is tilted, the at least one cable is rehung from the railing structures in the lower position to the railing structures in the higher position, the upper parts are tilted back and the railing structures in higher position are extended.
23. Railing structure for use in a device as claimed in any of the claims 1-6 or 13-21.
24. Support plate for use in a device as claimed in any of the claims 18-20.
25. Assembly of a first and a second support plate for use in a device for safely erecting or dismantling a scaffold with a number of scaffold levels, wherein the first support plate is provided with a cable wind-up system with a cable, and with at least a lower and upper guide wheel for this cable, and wherein the second support plate is provided with at least an upper and lower guide wheel for said cable, this such that the cable extends between the two lower guide wheels and between the two upper guide wheels and can be tensioned/slackened using the cable wind-up system, wherein the outer end of the cable is provided with a fixing means for securing the cable to the first support plate.
EP09721456A 2008-03-20 2009-03-18 Device and method for safely erecting and dismantling a scaffold Withdrawn EP2268872A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
BE2008/0170A BE1018056A5 (en) 2008-03-20 2008-03-20 DEVICE AND METHOD FOR THE SAFE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION OF A SCAFFOLDING.
PCT/BE2009/000015 WO2009114912A1 (en) 2008-03-20 2009-03-18 Device and method for safely erecting and dismantling a scaffold

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EP2268872A1 true EP2268872A1 (en) 2011-01-05

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DE102011014614B4 (en) * 2011-03-21 2014-12-24 Rux Gmbh Scaffolding and procedures for creating a scaffolding
BE1023499B1 (en) * 2015-10-07 2017-04-07 Vcs Systems Bvba Scaffolding floor and method for safely erecting and dismantling scaffolding

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DE19821323C2 (en) * 1998-05-13 2001-11-29 Herbert Schuette Fall protection
JP3692293B2 (en) * 2000-12-21 2005-09-07 アルインコ株式会社 Safety handrail for assembly and disassembly of frame scaffold
DE20113864U1 (en) * 2001-08-22 2001-11-22 Isack, Thomas, 51067 Köln Fall protection for scaffolding
JP2003147954A (en) * 2001-11-16 2003-05-21 Yoshiharu Miyoshi Advance handrail of framework scaffold
US20040200668A1 (en) * 2003-04-14 2004-10-14 Benoit Duplessis Scaffolding system
JP4091587B2 (en) * 2004-10-15 2008-05-28 アルインコ株式会社 Safety handrail

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WO2009114912A9 (en) 2009-11-26
BE1018056A5 (en) 2010-04-06
WO2009114912A8 (en) 2010-12-16

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