EP2299027B1 - Scaffolding structure, in particular for façade scaffolding - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a scaffolding structure, in particular facade scaffolding.

In a generally known manner, a facade scaffolding comprises a structure formed of vertical elements, especially in the form of prefabricated or non-prefabricated superposed frames, with uprights and crosspieces, which are interconnected by floors at different levels, and also by permanent guardrails which provide protection against falls, at least on the outside of the scaffolding (supposedly installed in front of a building facade or other building).

In order to securely mount such a scaffold, the newly designed permanent guardrails are arranged so that they can be set up from a floor level for the next higher floor level. This principle allows operators to access a higher floor level in complete safety since the guardrails of this higher level are already installed, from the next lower level which was itself already protected, and so on. In general, guardrails designed for such a secure mounting have either end uprights extended downward or hinge fastening systems, facilitating their handling and attachment to the upper floor level, since the lower floor level, possibly by rotating the railing around an attachment point. By way of examples of such permanent safety-mounting guardrails, reference is made here to French patents FR 2516141 , FR 2743103 and FR 2887574 .

However, even if the current guardrails are designed for mounting from the lower floor level, there is no requirement for the assemblers to perform such an operation, so to secure the upper level before accessing this level, so that avoid the risk of accidents. In other words, it remains possible for an operator to first mount the floor of the upper level, then access this floor without being secure and then install, from the floor of the upper level, the guardrail intended for the protection of this floor level. Such a situation is certainly not satisfactory from the point of view of security.

The present invention aims to avoid this drawback, and its main purpose, in addition to the use of railings that can be mounted from a lower floor level, to make mandatory the implementation in place of such a railing, before mounting the floor of the upper level (and not the other way around).

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a scaffolding structure, in particular a facade scaffold, formed of vertical elements, in particular in the form of prefabricated or non-prefabricated frames, with uprights and crosspieces, which are interconnected. by floors at different levels, and also by permanent guardrails provided at different levels of floors, these railings being designed to be mounted from the floor level immediately below the floor level to be protected, this structure of scaffolding being essentially characterized by the fact that the permanent guardrails comprise, in their lower part, at least one element directed inwards, with reference to the mounted position of the railing, this element taking place at the height of the floor of the level to be protected, so that if this floor is already in place the guardrail can no longer be installed, and said element near forming a recessed conformation to normally receive the longitudinal edge of the corresponding floor.

In other words, there is provided on each guardrail an element which, if the floor is already installed at the level considered, forms a stop holding the railing away from its final mounting position, thus preventing the engagement fasteners of this railing in the complementary parts provided on the uprights of the scaffolding structure. This forces the assemblers to proceed in a secure manner, that is to say to secure the next higher floor level by installing the railing, before bringing the floor itself whose edge will then fit into said element.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the or each element directed inwards, provided in the lower part of the railings, is a "U" profile piece, the two branches of which are directed upwards. so as to normally receive between them a longitudinal profile bordering the corresponding floor. As it is understood, if the guardrail is previously installed, the edge profile of the floor will take place "naturally" in the "U" profile piece, during the subsequent assembly of the floor. Conversely, if the floor is installed before the guardrail, the "U" profile piece will abut by its inner limb against an outer face of the longitudinal profile of the floor, thus preventing the installation of the guardrail. .

Advantageously, the element such as "U" profile piece is provided in the region of at least one of the two lower fasteners of the railing, and therefore towards one end of the railing. This element may in particular be screwed or welded to a lower fastener of the railing, in particular on the bracket of the fastener in the case of a stirrup and key fastener. This caliper is thus used for an additional function.

Alternatively, the element such as "U" profile piece may also be provided at an intermediate point of the length of the railing, as long as this element can be rigidly attached to a part of this railing.

The invention also relates to a permanent scaffolding railing designed to be mounted from the floor level immediately below the floor level to be protected, this railing intended for a scaffolding structure as previously defined comprising, in its lower part, at least one element directed inwardly of this railing and intended to abut against the edge of a floor if the latter is installed before the railing, said element having a recessed configuration for normally receive the longitudinal edge of the corresponding floor.

• Figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une structure d'échafaudage conforme à la présente invention avec un garde-corps en cours de montage, Figure 2 montre, à échelle agrandie, le détail A de la figure 1,
• Figure 3 est une vue en perspective similaire à la figure 1, le garde-corps se trouvant en fin de montage,
• Figure 4 montre, à échelle agrandie, le détail B de la figure 3,
• Figure 5 est une vue en perspective similaire aux figures 1 et 3, le garde-corps se trouvant entièrement monté,
• Figure 6 montre, à échelle agrandie, le détail C de la figure 5,
• Figure 7 montre, à échelle agrandie, le détail D de la figure 5,
• Figure 8 est une vue en perspective similaire aux précédentes, montrant l'échafaudage après mise en place du plancher au niveau protégé par le garde-corps précédemment monté,
• Figure 9 est une vue de détail, de face, d'une partie de la structure d'échafaudage et du garde-corps avec son élément en « U »,
• Figure 10 est une vue à échelle agrandie et en coupe, suivant la flèche F de la figure 8, montrant en particulier ledit élément en « U »,
• Figure 11 est une vue similaire à la figure 10, illustrant une première variante de forme de l'élément en « U »,
• Figure 12 est une autre vue similaire à la figure 10, illustrant une seconde variante de forme de l'élément en « U ».

The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing representing, by way of example, an embodiment of this scaffolding structure and the corresponding guardrail:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding structure according to the present invention with a guard rail being assembled, Figure 2 shows, on an enlarged scale, detail A of the figure 1 ,
• Figure 3 is a perspective view similar to the figure 1 , the railing being at the end of assembly,
• Figure 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, detail B of the figure 3 ,
• Figure 5 is a perspective view similar to Figures 1 and 3 , the guardrail being fully assembled,
• Figure 6 shows, on an enlarged scale, the detail C of the figure 5 ,
• Figure 7 shows, on an enlarged scale, the detail D of the figure 5 ,
• Figure 8 is a perspective view similar to the previous ones, showing the scaffolding after placing the floor at the level protected by the previously mounted railing,
• Figure 9 is a detail view, from the front, of a part of the scaffolding structure and the guardrail with its "U" element,
• Figure 10 is an enlarged view in section, along the arrow F of the figure 8 , in particular showing said "U" element,
• Figure 11 is a view similar to the figure 10 , illustrating a first variant form of the element in "U",
• Figure 12 is another view similar to the figure 10 , illustrating a second variant of shape of the element in "U".

As shown in particular figure 1 , the invention relates to a scaffolding whose structure comprises vertical elements 1, in the form of frames 2 superimposed, prefabricated or not, composed of vertical uprights 3 and cross members 4 horizontally connecting the uprights 3. The vertical elements 1 and formed, spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the scaffold, are connected to each other by floors 5 at different levels, the floors 5 being hooked at their ends to the cross members 4 by means known per se. At each floor level is placed at least one permanent guardrail placed on the outside of the scaffold (used as a facade scaffolding). The protection provided by the railing 6 can be completed by a baseboard 7, located at the edge of the floor 5 in the longitudinal direction.

The configuration of the railing 6 is adapted for its safe assembly from the floor level located immediately below the level to be protected, and also adapted for the implementation of the baseboard 7.

The railing 6 comprises an upper rail 8 and a sub-rail 9, joined in a one-piece structure by two end uprights 10 and 11, which extend downward below the sub-rail 9. The structure of the guard -body 6 further comprises two oblique elements 12 and 13 of bracing. These oblique elements 12 and 13 respectively depart from the lower part of the two end uprights 10 and 11; they converge towards a plate 14 connected to the median zone of the upper rail 8. All the constituent elements of the railing 6, described so far, are located substantially in the same vertical plane, designated as "railing plan" .

The two ends of the railing 6 are provided with fasteners designed for fastening this railing 6 to the structure of the scaffolding, the uprights 3 are provided, at different levels, sockets 15 vertical axis adapted to receive said fasteners.

These fasteners comprise, at the top of each of the two end posts 10 and 11 of the guardrail, respective hooks 16 and 17 directed downwards - see in particular the Figures 2 and 4 . The hooks 16 and 17 are not located in the plane of the guardrail, but they are located in respective vertical planes which form an acute angle, for example about 45 °, with the plane of the guardrail.

The fasteners also comprise, at the base of the two end uprights 10 and 11 of the guardrail 6, stirrups 18 traversed vertically by movable keys 19, in particular -see in particular the figure 7 . The stirrups 18 each have a vertical median plane which forms an acute angle, for example about 45 °, with the plane of the guardrail.

The four fasteners of the guardrail 6, namely the two hooks 16 and 17 and the two stirrups 18 with their keys 19, are thus oriented towards the same side of the plane of the guardrail, namely the inner side.

Finally, as shown in particular by Figures 8 and 9 the guardrail 6 is equipped in its lower part with a "U" profile element 20 which is also directed towards the inner side of this railing 6. The element 20 is a piece reported metal which has two branches directed upwards 21 and 22, connected by a horizontal portion 23 located at their base.

One of the branches 21 directed upwards, oriented vertically is fixed for example by welding or screwing, at a lower attachment (bracket 18) of the railing 6. The other branch 22, which is free, is here an oblique branch deviating from the first branch 21.

The drawing illustrates the successive steps of mounting the railing 6 and the corresponding floor 5, mounting that is performed from the floor level immediately below.

The operator (not shown) posted on the floor 5 of this lower level first grabs the railing 6 and rotates it "in the air" (see Figures 1 and 2 ) so as to incline it and to bring an upper fastener, in other words one of the hooks 16, in correspondence with the upper opening of a bushing 15 of a post 3. The hook 16 is thus positioned in the bushing 15, at the desired level.

Then, the operator straightens the railing 6, and he positions the hook 17 of the other end of the railing 6 in a socket 15 located at same level, but on another amount 3. At the end of the operation, the guardrail 6 is straightened horizontally, and its other upper fastener, in other words the other hook 17, is inserted into the sleeve 15 corresponding (see Figures 3 and 4 , as well as figure 6 ).

In a third step, one of the lower caliper fasteners 18 is engaged on either side of a bushing 15 located at the same level, and the key 19 is depressed and locked to secure the stirrup 18 with the bushing 15. (see Figures 5 and 7 ).

Finally, the same operation is repeated at the other end of the railing 6, that is to say that the other stirrup 18 is engaged on the sleeve 15 located at the same level but on the other amount 3, then blocked by depression of the corresponding key 19.

The guardrail 6 is then fixed, by its four fasteners, on the structure of the scaffolding. More particularly, given the orientation of its fasteners, the guardrail 6 is thus positioned so that its vertical plane is located outside the plane of the uprights 3 of the scaffolding structure, thus completely releasing the space between these amounts 3.

Once the railing 6 mounted, in the manner just described, the floor 5 of the level corresponding to the railing 6 can be brought and hooked to the cross members 4 of the scaffolding structure (see figure 8 ).

This floor 5 is thus mounted after prior establishment of the guardrail 6, so at an already secured level, the presence of the element 20 profile "U" makes it impossible to reverse procedure, which would consist of mounting d ' first floor 5 and then only the guardrail 6. Indeed, as shown in figure 10 the two branches 21 and 22 of the element 20 normally receive between them a longitudinal section 24 which borders the corresponding floor 5. If the floor 5 with its profile 24 was mounted before the railing 6, it would abut by its element 20 against said profile 24, during an attempt to set up, thus preventing the normal process of mounting the guardrail 6.

Finally, if a plinth 7 is provided, it is placed in the free space formed between the uprights 3, by the offset to the outside of the plane of the guardrail 6.

If the scaffolding is to be raised, the same procedure is followed for all additional floor levels, each time requiring the guardrail 6 to be raised before the floor 5. Of course, when dismantling the scaffolding in a reverse process, the planned configuration requires to dismount each floor 5 before removing the railing 6 of the same level, and not the opposite, so that no floor 5 can remain in place without protection.

The figure 11 illustrates a first variant, relating to the shape of the element 20. This again has a profile in the general form of "U", but with two branches 21 and 22 of very unequal heights, connected at their base by a part 23 slightly sloping on the horizontal. The branch 22 is here again oblique, but it approaches the first branch 21 instead of departing from it.

The figure 12 illustrates a second variant, also relating to the shape of the element 20. This again has a profile in the general shape of "U", but rounded and not angular, especially in its part passing under the profile 24 from the edge of the floor 5.

In all cases, the element 20 has a recessed configuration, to normally receive the profile 24 which forms the longitudinal edge of the floor 5, while prohibiting the assembly of the railing 6 after the establishment of the floor 5.

As also shown by Figures 10 to 12 , skirting 7 is here constituted by a profile carried by the longitudinal edge of the guardrail 6, but skirting of other shape, or differently fixed for example directly to the uprights 3, are also conceivable.

• par des modifications constructives de la structure du garde-corps, éventuellement même en supprimant les éléments de contreventement,
• par une modification de la configuration des attaches du garde-corps,
• en modifiant la forme de l'élément en « U » ;
• en modifiant la position et le mode de fixation de cet élément sur le garde-corps, par exemple en fixant ledit élément en un point intermédiaire de la longueur du garde-corps (et non pas vers l'une de ses extrémités), et plus généralement en tout endroit du garde-corps se situant au niveau du plancher, du moment que ledit élément puisse être fixé,
• en utilisant un tel garde-corps avec une structure d'échafaudage autre, comportant des douilles ou autres éléments récepteurs analogues de forme quelconque, ou encore des cadres de configuration quelconque, préfabriqués ou non, par exemple des cadres rectangulaires ou des cadres en « H »,
• en appliquant l'invention à des structures d'échafaudage et/ou des planchers ne comportant pas de plinthes, ou comportant des plinthes intégrées aux garde-corps.

In the same vein, one would not depart from the scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims:

• by constructive modifications of the railing structure, possibly even by removing the bracing elements,
• by a modification of the configuration of the fasteners of the railing,
• by modifying the shape of the element in "U";
• by modifying the position and the method of attachment of this element on the railing, for example by fixing said element at an intermediate point of the length of the railing (and not towards one of its ends), and more generally at any point of the guardrail located at the level of the floor, as long as said element can be fixed,
• using such a railing with a scaffolding structure other, having sockets or other similar receiving elements of any shape, or any frames of any configuration, prefabricated or not, for example rectangular frames or frames "H""
• by applying the invention to scaffolding structures and / or floors that do not have skirting boards, or skirting boards incorporated into the railings.

Claims (6)

1. A scaffolding structure, in particular a facade scaffolding, formed of vertical elements especially in the form of superimposed frames (2) prefabricated or not, with mullions (3) and transoms (4), which are connected together by floors (5) situated at different levels, and also by permanent railings (6) provided at different floor levels, railings (6) being designed to be mounted from the floor level immediately lower at the floor level to be protected, characterized in that the permanent railings (6) include, in their lower part, at least one element (20) directed inwards, with reference to the mounted position of the railing (6), this element (20) taking place at the floor (5) height of the level to be protected, so that, if this floor (5) is already in place, the railing (6) cannot be installed anymore, and said element (20) having a recessed conformation to normally receive the longitudinal edge (24) of the corresponding floor (5).
2. The scaffolding structure according to claim 1, characterized in that the or each element (20) directed inwards, provided in the lower part of the railings (6), is a "U" shaped profile part, two branches (21, 22) of which are directed upwards so as to normally receive therebetween a longitudinal profile (24) bordering the corresponding floor (5).
3. The scaffolding structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the element (20) such as a "U" shaped profile part is provided in the region of at least one of the two lower attachments (18) of the railing (6), thus toward the ends of this railing (6).
4. The scaffolding structure according to claim 3, characterized in that the element (20) such as a "U" shaped profile part is screwed or welded on a lower attachment of the railing (6), in particular on the bracket (18) of the attachment in the case of an attachment with bracket and wedge (19).
5. The scaffolding structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the element (20) such as a "U" shaped profile part is provided at an intermediate point of the length of the railing (6), being rigidly fixed to a portion of this railing (6).
6. A permanent scaffolding railing, the railing being designed to be mounted from the floor level immediately lower than the floor level to be protected, and this railing (6) being intended for a scaffolding structure according any of claims 1 to 5 , characterized in that it includes, in its lower part, at least one element (20) directed toward the inside of this railing (6) and provided to abut against the edge (24) of a floor (5) if the latter is installed before the railing (6), said element (20) having a recessed conformation to normally receive the longitudinal edge (24) of the corresponding floor (5).

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