EP2706166B1 - Modular strutting tower for civil engineering and construction - Google Patents

Description

Technical area :

The present invention relates to a modular shoring tower for civil engineering and building, consisting of monoblock frames assembled together to form levels arranged to be superimposed, each level being composed of four monoblock frames mounted at right angles and defining a perimeter each one-piece frame being provided with at least one column segment, an upper horizontal rail and a diagonal bracing rail, each one-piece frame further comprising first locking means arranged to join two by two the adjacent monobloc frames of each level and second locking means arranged to join the two column segments of corresponding one-piece frames at two superimposed levels.

Prior art:

Shoring towers are mainly used to form slabs, floors, beams, etc. in order to carry out any type of concrete works or the like. They can also be used to work at height on certain works. They must therefore meet stringent technical requirements. To this end, the evolution of regulatory texts tends to improve the working conditions of operators as well in terms of safety, hardship, as ergonomics. Among these requirements, it is expected that the mounting of these shoring towers is done without tools and without dangerous maneuver, that the weight of the elements to be assembled is limited, that the operator located inside the tower of shoring can not accidentally fall during the assembly of the tower and that the assembled elements can not be disassembled randomly.

Conventional shoring towers are mounted level by level, like an element-by-element construction set, based on a generally four-foot jack-up base. The first level is formed by nesting on the jack feet two ladders that face each other and linking them together by braces by means of bolts or the like. One hooks a first platform between the two scales then one nests two other ladders with bars on the scales of the first level to form the second level, which one links between them by braces. Guardrail tubes are added at the top end between the two ladders before continuing the assembly of the following levels, and so on. The assembly ends with the installation of railing panels on the last level. This assembly operation is therefore tedious, long, exhausting, exposes the operator to the risk of accidental fall since it is not secured inside the tower when it assembles the scales and braces to form the different levels. In addition, this operation requires the use of tools to screw bolts and other assembly members. Disassembly of such a shoring tower generates the same constraints.

The publication FR 2 939 464 , which is considered as the closest state of the art and which discloses the features of the preamble of claim 1, proposes an improvement to the shoring towers by performing the successive levels by an assembly of monobloc frames incorporating locking means frames between them of the same level and levels superimposed, means of access to the platforms, as well as individual and collective security. In fact, this solution makes it possible to reduce the number of elements to be assembled, to improve the assembly and disassembly operations of the shoring towers, to reduce the arduousness and to increase the safety of the operators.

However, this solution is not totally satisfactory. Indeed, the key system used for locking the monobloc frames of the same level requires the operator, positioned inside the tower, to rotate the first monobloc frame to the outside of the tower by a few degrees, that is to say outside the perimeter of internal security defined by the tower, to be able to assemble it with the last frame monoblock, this to avoid interference problems with the key system. This constraint thus exposes the operator to the risk of an accidental fall. On the other hand, this key system requires a tool such as a hammer or mallet to strike the key down to lock the horizontal assembly during assembly and to strike the key up to unlock it during the disassembly of the tower. This horizontal locking is essential to guarantee the rigidity and stability of the shoring tower. Therefore, the operator must perform two successive voluntary actions. A first action is to rotate the frame, to lock vertically to the frame of the corresponding lower level. And a second action is to hit the key, to lock the frame horizontally to an adjacent frame of the same level. However, this second voluntary action is often forgotten because operators are not qualified and do not necessarily have a hammer at hand. The omission of this horizontal locking can have serious consequences, especially in the event of a collapse of the shoring tower and the construction it supports.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome these disadvantages by providing a shoring tower provided with locking means designed and arranged differently to automatically lock and unlock the one-piece frames relative to each other during assembly and disassembly of the tower. shoring by a simple gesture, without any tooling or insert, ensuring optimum safety for the operator who is inside the tower while providing better ergonomics of work.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a shoring tower of the kind indicated in the preamble, characterized in that the first locking means of each one-piece frame comprise firstly at least one ratchet pin A axis extending radially from the upper end of the pole segment in parallel at the upper horizontal bar, said pawl being pivotally mounted on said pin to form a latch, and secondly a through hole of axis B of complementary shape to said pawl pin and formed at the free end of said upper horizontal bar , in that said axes A and B are perpendicular to each other and lying in the same horizontal plane so that said ratchet and said through-hole corresponding to two adjacent monoblock frames to be assembled fit together by a horizontal pivoting movement of one of the one-piece frames relative to the other about a pivot axis defined by its pole segment, said movement forming part of the security perimeter of said shoring tower and said latch being arranged to lock said tenon to ratchet in said through hole in this security perimeter.

The one-piece frames of each level are preferably identical to build a shoring tower from a single module and optimize the entire chain from the manufacture of these frames to their assembly on a building site.

In a preferred embodiment, the second locking means of each one-piece frame may comprise at least one housing and a complementary shaped locking finger, provided at the upper end of the pole segment and the other at the upper end of the pole segment. lower end of said pole segment, the locking finger of a single-level frame being arranged to lock into the housing of a corresponding one-piece frame of an adjacent level by the horizontal pivoting movement effected by the frame one-piece concerned about its pivot axis.

In the preferred embodiment, the ratchet pin of the first locking means and the housing of the second locking means are provided at the upper end of the pole segment of each one-piece frame, the through hole of the first locking means being planned at the free end of the upper horizontal smooth, and the locking finger is provided at the lower end of the pole segment.

To optimize the manufacture of said monobloc frames, the ratchet pin of the first locking means and the housing of the second locking means are integral with the same locking device radially attached to the upper end of said pole segment.

Preferably, the column segment of each monobloc frame comprises two identical locking devices radially attached at its upper end and at a distance of 90 °, one of the locking devices extending perpendicularly to the upper horizontal stringer and the another locking device extending opposite the upper horizontal beam.

The locking finger of the second locking means may comprise a radial abutment arranged to limit the amplitude of the pivoting movement of a one-piece frame relative to another adjacent monobloc frame prohibiting its exit from the safety perimeter of the shoring tower. .

The second locking means comprise two locking fingers projecting radially at the lower end of the pole segment, at a distance of 90 °, at least one of said locking fingers having said radial abutment.

Each locking device may comprise a vertical plate extending radially at the upper end of the pole segment and arranged to form a skirting support, this vertical plate advantageously comprising the housing of the second locking means and the ratchet of the first locking means.

Each one-piece frame may furthermore comprise a lower horizontal rail extending from the post segment and connected to the upper horizontal rail by two V-shaped bracing rails. Advantageously, it also comprises a central scale segment extending vertically between the upper and lower horizontal rails, inside the V shape defined by the two bracing rails.

In another embodiment, the pawl can be mounted on said post about a pivot axis offset from its center of gravity so that it naturally occupies a substantially vertical position under the effect of its own mass.

In this case, the pawl advantageously comprises in the upper part a head located above its pivot axis forming a front support zone and a rear stop, and in the lower part a foot located below said pivot axis forming a ballast provided of a front cam profile.

The through orifice may be formed in a Z-shaped locking lug delimiting an upper stop and a lower stop spaced apart by an interval equivalent to the gap existing between the rear stop of the pawl head and a lower radial abutment of the ratchet. locking device.

Brief description of the drawings:

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une tour d'étaiement selon l'invention pourvue de trois niveaux,
• la figure 2 est une vue en perspective d'un cadre monobloc selon l'invention utilisé pour construire la tour d'étaiement de la figure 1,
• les figures 3A à 3C sont des vues de dessus montrant le mode d'assemblage horizontal en trois étapes des quatre cadres monoblocs formant un niveau,
• les figures 4A à 4D sont des vues en perspective montrant le mode de fonctionnement en quatre étapes des premiers moyens de verrouillage des cadres monoblocs adjacents d'un même niveau,
• les figures 5A à 5C sont des vues en perspective montrant le mode de fonctionnement en trois étapes des seconds moyens de verrouillage des cadres monoblocs superposés de deux niveaux adjacents,
• les figures 6A et 6B sont des vues similaires respectivement aux figures 4A et 4D illustrant une variante de réalisation des premiers moyens de verrouillage des cadres monoblocs adjacents d'un même niveau, et
• les figures 7A à 7I sont des vues en plan illustrant la cinématique de fonctionnement des premiers moyens de verrouillage des figures 6A et 6B.

The present invention and its advantages will appear better in the following description of several embodiments given as non-limiting examples, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of a shoring tower according to the invention provided with three levels,
• the figure 2 is a perspective view of a one-piece frame according to the invention used to construct the shoring tower of the figure 1 ,
• the FIGS. 3A to 3C are top views showing the three-step horizontal assembly mode of the four one-piece frames forming a level,
• the Figures 4A to 4D are perspective views showing the four-step mode of operation of the first locking means of adjacent monoblock frames of the same level,
• the FIGS. 5A to 5C are perspective views showing the three-step operating mode of the second locking means of the one-piece monoblock frames of two adjacent levels,
• the Figures 6A and 6B are similar views respectively to Figures 4A and 4D illustrating an alternative embodiment of the first locking means of adjacent monoblock frames of the same level, and
• the Figures 7A to 7I are plan views illustrating the operating kinematics of the first locking means of the Figures 6A and 6B .

Illustrations of the invention and different ways of making it:

With reference to the figure 1 , the shoring tower 1 according to the invention is particularly intended to support formwork slabs, beams and other building components of civil engineering structures and structures. It is modular since it is made essentially from monobloc frames 6, detailed below, assembled to form at least two levels 2, and in the example three levels 2, superimposed, supported by at least four feet 3 arranged to spread the vertical load on the ground to which it is subjected. The feet 3 are, for example, jack feet enabling the shoring tower 1 to be leveled. The shoring tower 1 as illustrated can be assembled with other identical and adjacent shoring towers 1 to cover the entire floor area necessary for the realization of said work. It comprises four posts 4 extending the feet 3 and each terminated by a fork 5 supporting the formwork elements (not shown) which are for example aluminum profiles, iron, wood or the like to form the formwork.

Levels 2 may be identical to limit the number of elements constituting the shoring tower 1. However, certain levels 2, such as for example the first level represented in FIG. figure 1 , may be of different construction. Each level 2 is constituted by the assembly of four monobloc frames 6 at right angles delimiting a safety perimeter P inside the shoring tower 1. These one-piece frames 6 are preferably identical to constitute standard elements. They may, however, have a single dimension to form a square one or two different sizes to form a rectangular shoring tower. Each level 2 can support a platform (not shown) on which at least one operator can be positioned, said platform being disposed in the security perimeter P delimited by the upper level 2.

With particular reference to the figure 2 , each one-piece frame 6 comprises a pole segment 40, an upper horizontal rail 61, a lower horizontal rail 62, and two bracing rails 63, 64 arranged in V. These two bracing rails 63, 64 centered in the one-piece frame 6 and in opposition have the advantage of balancing load recovery and failover efforts. In addition, the free space E located at the end of the one-piece frame, opposite to the post segment 40, and which has a triangular shape delimited by the bracing beam 63 and the pole segment 40 of an adjacent one-piece frame 6 , has dimensions sufficiently small to prohibit the passage of a sphere S of diameter 470mm, in accordance with the regulations in force. Each one-piece frame 6 has an access means 7 to the safety perimeter P of the shoring tower 1 in the form of a scale segment 70 extending vertically between the upper horizontal slats 61 and the lower slat 62 The interior of the V-shape defined by the two bracing rails 63, 64. This scale segment 70 has the advantage of being in the center of the one-piece frame 6 thus facilitating access to the operators. The rungs of the ladder segment 70 may of course have a non-skid coating.

Each one-piece frame 6 further comprises first locking means 8 arranged to couple in pairs and horizontally the adjacent monoblock frames 6 of the same level 2 as well as second locking means 9 arranged to join the two segments vertically and vertically. of post 40 monobloc frames 6 superimposed two adjacent levels 2 as and when the tower of the shoring tower 1. The combination of these locking means provides a stable shoring tower 1, stable and freestanding on great heights. Thus, the one-piece frames 6 integrate all the means allowing them to respond to a plurality of functions: assembly and locking both horizontal and vertical monoblock frames 6 between them, individual and collective security, and access to the interior of the shoring tower 1, this without any tools or dangerous maneuver as explained below.

With particular reference to figures 3 and 4 , the first locking means 8 of each one-piece frame 6 comprise a male piece of axis A, in the form of a ratchet pin 80 provided, in the example shown, at the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40 and a female piece of axis B, in the form of a through hole 81 provided at the free end of the upper horizontal bar 61. The axes A and B are perpendicular and included in the same horizontal plane. The reverse configuration in which the ratchet pin 80 is provided at the free end of the upper horizontal bar 61 and the through hole 81 at the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40 is also conceivable. The pawl pin 80 bears as its name indicates a pawl 82 forming a latch and pivotally mounted between a horizontal position which allows it to enter the through hole 81, and a vertical position which allows it to fall back to the rear of said port and thus lock the horizontal assembly. It is mounted on a locking device 10 radially attached to the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40. The through orifice 81 is in turn provided in an L-shaped lug reported at the free end of the upper horizontal bar 61 and arranged to abut against the locking device 10 in the locked position.

With particular reference to figures 5 , the second locking means 9 of each one-piece frame 6 comprise at least one housing 90, and in the example shown, two housings 90 90 ° apart, provided at the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40, and at least a locking pin 91, and in the example shown, two corresponding locking fingers 91, 90 ° apart, provided at the lower end 42 of the pole segment 40. This lower end 42 comprises a sleeve forming a female nozzle arranged to nest on the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40 of a monobloc frame of a lower level 2. The reverse configuration in which the sleeve is provided at the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40 and includes the locking pin 91 and the lower end 42 of the pole segment includes the housing 90 is also conceivable. At least one of the locking fingers 91 comprises a radial abutment 92 arranged to define a stop in rotation of a one-piece frame 6 with respect to another adjacent frame thus preventing the exit of the safety perimeter P from the shoring tower 1.

In the example shown, the ratchet pin 80 of the first locking means 8 and the housing 90 of the second locking means 9 are integral with the same locking device 10 radially attached to the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40. , perpendicularly to the upper horizontal rail 61. Thus, the pawl pin 80 extends in the axis A parallel to the upper horizontal rail 61. Still in the example shown, this locking device 10 is doubled to mount shoring 1 adjacent. Thus a second identical locking device 10 is positioned at 90 ° from the first and the opposite of the upper horizontal rail 61. Each locking device 10 comprises a plate 11 extending vertically and parallel to the pivot axis C, which carries in the upper part the housing 90 and in the lower part the tenon to pawl 80. The shape of the upper part of this plate 11 is arranged to form a skirting support on which a horizontal plinth (not shown) bordering a platform (not shown) can be fixed. Thus, this locking device 10 combines various functions: horizontal locking and vertical locking of the one-piece frames 6 of the same shoring tower 1, horizontal locking of the one-piece frames 6 corresponding to two adjacent shoring towers 1, and baseboard support .

The assembly and locking of the adjacent monoblock frames 6 of a level 2 higher simultaneously with the monobloc frames 6 of a lower level 2 where the operator is located are carried out very simply as explained below with reference to the Figures 3 to 5 . A first one-piece frame 6 _{1 is positioned} inside the safety perimeter P, and the lower end 42 of its post segment 40 is engaged on the upper end 41 of the post segment 40 of the one-piece frame 6 of the lower level 2 by shifting the approximately 1/8 ^of a turn to escape the locking devices 10 and is then rotated (arrow R in the Figures 5A and 5B ) Of about ^1/8 of a turn about its pivot axis C to bring the locking fingers 91 into the slots 90 until the radial stop 92 abuts against the corresponding locking device 10 and stops the movement. This vertical assembly is thus secured ( Figure 5C ) and the first one-block frame 6 ₁ of the upper level 2 is positioned at the limit of the safety perimeter P of the shoring tower 1. A second one-piece frame 6 _{2 is} then positioned inside the safety perimeter P so that the free end of its upper horizontal rail 61 is on the side of the pole segment 40 of the one-piece frame 6 ₁ previously laid. As before, the lower end 42 of its pole segment 40 is engaged on the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40 of the one-piece frame 6 of the lower level 2, by shifting it by about 1/8 ^th of a turn to escape them. locking devices 10 and is then rotated approximately 1/8 ^of a turn about its pivot axis C to bring the locking fingers 91 into the slots 90 until the radial stop 92 abuts against the device corresponding lock 10 and stop this movement. During this pivoting (arrow R on the Figures 4A and 4B ), the through hole 81 provided at the free end of its upper horizontal bar 61 is fitted on the pawl pin 80 provided on the pole segment 40 of the one-piece frame 6 ₁ previously laid. When this second one-piece frame 6 ₂ is correctly positioned at the limit of the safety perimeter P of the shoring tower 1, position also determined by the L-tab 83 which abuts on the corresponding locking device 10, the operator located at inside safety perimeter P at lower level 2 toggles pawl 82 (arrow V on the figure 4D ) to secure and lock this horizontal assembly. We do the same with a third 6 ₃ then a fourth 6 ₄ monoblock frames. To horizontally lock the fourth one-piece frame 6 ₄ to the first one-piece frame 6 ₁ and thereby close the safety perimeter P of the upper level 2, the first one-piece frame 6 ₁ is pivoted ( figure 3A ) about its pivot axis C inside the safety perimeter P to be able to fit the through hole 81 of the first one-piece frame 6 ₁ on the pawl pin 80 of the fourth one-piece frame 6 _{4 in} order to lock this horizontal assembly by the tilting of the pawl 82. These steps can be reproduced as many times as there are levels 2 to superimpose. To dismount such a shoring tower 1, these steps are carried out in the opposite direction, without it being possible to remove or disconnect a one-piece frame 6 from one of the levels 6 without having previously disassembled the upper levels 6.

The figures 6 and 7 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the first locking means 8 to obtain an automatic horizontal locking, ie an automatic tilting of the pawl 820 in the locked position without intervention of the operator. This alternative embodiment is also the subject of the patent application. FR 13/50506 filed on January 21, 2013 by the plaintiff. The constituent parts identical to the previous example bear the same reference numbers. This embodiment differs from the previous example by the shape of its pawl 820 and its through hole 810 described below. Furthermore, the locking device 100 is reinforced relative to the device of 10 and consists of a U-shaped metal part, radially attached to the upper end 41 of the pole segment 40. The upper projecting end of the U-branch, the left-most in the drawings, comprises the housing 90 of the second locking means 9, for receiving the locking pin 91 of a monobloc frame 6 belonging to the upper level. The other leg of the U comprises a notch 93 disposed at the housing 90 to release access to the locking pin 91. The leg of the U carrying the housing 90 is extended in the lower part by a radial stop 94, intended to cooperate with the locking tab 830 provided with the through hole 810 of the first locking means 8.

The ratchet pin 800 is integral with the locking device 100 and extends in the axis A parallel to the upper horizontal beam 61. It carries a pawl 820 forming a latch, pivotally mounted about a pivot axis D between a substantially horizontal position which allows it to enter the through hole 810, and a substantially vertical position that allows it to fall back to the rear of this hole to lock the horizontal assembly. The ratchet 820 has a particular shape that allows it to automatically adopt the substantially vertical position due to its own mass. For this purpose, its pivot axis D is offset at the upper part relative to its center of gravity.

The through hole 810 of axis B is formed in a Z-shaped locking lug 830 integral with the free end of the upper horizontal lug 61, delimiting two vertical, parallel and offset stops, namely an upper abutment 831. upstream of a lower abutment 832 in the direction of the arrow R illustrating the pivoting movement about the pivot axis C of a one-piece frame 6 to be assembled to another adjacent monobloc frame 6 of the same level.

The kinematics of the operation of this locking device 100 is explained in detail with reference to the Figures 7A to 7I when assembling and dismantling two adjacent monoblock frames 6 of the same level. The one-piece frames 6 are not shown to simplify the drawings. Only the column segment 40 of the already assembled frame, bearing the ratchet pin 800 integral with the locking device 100, and the Z-shaped locking lug 830 provided at the free end of the upper horizontal beam 61 of the frame are represented. to be assembled carrying the through hole 810.

The Figure 7A shows the ratchet 820 in the substantially vertical position that it naturally occupies under the effect of its own mass. It comprises a head 821 located above its pivot axis D forming a front support zone and a rear stop, and a foot 822 located below its pivot axis D forming a ballast and provided with a cam profile. before. The head and the foot of the pawl 820 are interconnected by a curved central zone 823 forming a front clearance allowing entry of the pawl 820 into the through hole 810. The arrow M applied on the locking tab 830 represents the voluntary movement performed by the operator on the one-piece frame 6 to be assembled, namely the pivoting movement along the arrow R about the pivot axis C (see Figure 6A ). The Figure 7B shows that the voluntary action M performed by the operator causes the automatic pivoting of the pawl 820 around its pivot axis D in the direction of the arrow N towards its substantially horizontal position so that it enters the through hole 810, and this thanks to the lower stop 832 of the locking plate 830 which circulates on the front cam profile of the foot 822 of the pawl 820. At the Figure 7C when it has passed through the through hole 810, the pawl 820 automatically pivots in the opposite direction along the arrow O to return to its substantially vertical initial position by gravity and lock the horizontal assembly of the two adjacent monoblock frames 6, without tools, no additional voluntary operation on the part of the operator.

The Figure 7D illustrates this horizontal locking position, in which the locking tab 830, of the monobloc frame which has just been assembled, is locked in horizontal translation between the radial abutment 94 and the pawl 820 of the locking device 100 of the frame already assembled, respectively by its lower stops 832 and upper 831. To achieve this objective, the depth of the locking tab 830 is determined according to the the gap between the radial abutment 94 and the pawl 820 substantially vertical position. Thanks to this construction, the one-piece frames 6 are assembled and locked horizontally without play, guaranteeing optimal rigidity of the shoring tower 1.

If the operator pivots the one-piece frame that has just been assembled, the pawl 820 will swing according to the arrow N ( figure 7E ) and position itself automatically against the locking tab 830 on two support points thus creating a double lock. So and as illustrated in the figure 7F , the locking tab 230 can not escape the pawl 820 without a voluntary intervention of the operator on said pawl. In addition, the U-shaped part of the locking device 100, which carries the ratchet pin 800, prevents any lifting of the locking tab 230, if the operator tries to escape the ratchet 820 by lifting said one-piece frame.

When the operator wants to disassemble the one-piece frames 6, this operation must be voluntary. It must press on the head 821 of the pawl 820 according to the arrow M1, as illustrated in FIG. Figure 7G , to switch it according to the arrow N in its substantially horizontal position shown in FIG. figure 7H , then rotate the one-piece frame to be disassembled to move the locking tab 830 according to the arrow M2 to extract it from the pawl 820 as shown in FIG. figure 7I . It is the combination of these two voluntary movements M1 and M2 made by hand and without tools that allows to separate the monobloc frames horizontally. As soon as the locking lug 830 leaves the pawl 820, the latter returns to its substantially vertical initial position by gravity as illustrated in FIG. Figure 7A .

Possibilities of industrial application:

The one-piece frames 6 used for the construction of the shoring tower 1 according to the invention or any other equivalent tower can be made by a welded assembly of tubular sections for example galvanized steel or the like, which has good strengths. both mechanical and climatic conditions. The locking means 8, 9 which are simplified and concentrated in common parts can be reported by welding on the relevant sections. Thus the design of these monobloc frames 6 provides competitive cost.

It is clear from this description that the invention achieves the goals set, namely a simple and fast assembly, without tools or insert, of monobloc frames 6 allowing a modular construction safely a tower of shoring 1 or similar.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variation obvious to a person skilled in the art while remaining within the scope of protection defined in the appended claims.

Claims (14)

1. Modular strutting tower (1) for civil engineering and construction made of one-piece frames (6) assembled with each other to form levels (2) arranged to be superimposed, each level being made of four one-piece frames (6) mounted perpendicular to each other and delimiting a safety perimeter (P), each one-piece frame being provided with at least a post segment (40), an upper horizontal hand rail (61) and a diagonal bracing bar (63), each one-piece frame including moreover first locking means (8) arranged to fasten two by two the adjacent one-piece frames (6) of each level (2) and second locking means (9) arranged to fasten two by two the post segments (40) of the one-piece frames (6) corresponding to two superimposed levels (2), characterized in that said first locking means (8) of each one-piece frame (6) include on the one hand at least one locking catch pin (80, 800) with an axis A that extends radially from the upper end (41) of post segment (40) parallel with upper horizontal hand rail (61), said locking catch (82, 820) being pivotally mounted on said pin (80, 800) and forming a lock and, on the other hand, a through opening (81, 810) with an axis B, having a shape complementary to that of said locking catch pin (80, 800) and arranged at the free end of said upper horizontal hand rail (61), in that said axes A and B are perpendicular to one another and located in a same horizontal plane, so that said locking catch pin (80, 800) and said through opening (81, 810) corresponding to two adjacent one-piece frames (6) to be assembled fit into each other by means of an horizontal pivoting movement (R) of one of the one-piece frames with respect to the other around a pivoting axis (C) defined by its post segment (40), said pivoting movement (R) occurring within the safety perimeter (P) and said locking catch (82, 820) being arranged to lock said locking catch pin (80, 800) on the rear of said through opening (81, 810) inside of this safety perimeter (P).
2. A strutting tower according to claim 1, characterized in that said one-piece frames (6) of each level (2) are identical.
3. A strutting tower according to claim 1, characterized in that said second locking means (9) of every one-piece frame (6) include at least one seat (90) and one locking pin (91) with complementary shapes, one being provided at the upper end (41) of post segment (40) and the other at a lower end (42) of said post segment (40), the locking pin (91) of a one-piece frame (6) of a level (2) being arranged to lock in the seat (90) of a corresponding one-piece frame (6) of an adjacent level (2) by means of said horizontal pivoting movement (R) carried out by the concerned one-piece frame around its pivoting axis (C).
4. A strutting tower according to claim 3, characterized in that the locking catch pin (80, 800) of first locking means (8) and the seat (90) of second locking means (9) are provided at the upper end (41) of post segment (40) of every one-piece frame (6), in that the through opening (81, 810) of first locking means (8) is provided at the free end of upper horizontal hand rail (61) and in that the locking pin (91) is provided at the lower end (42) of post segment (40).
5. A strutting tower according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking catch pin (80, 800) of first locking means (8) and the seat (90) of second locking means (9) are integral parts of a same locking device (10, 100) mounted radially at the upper end (41) of said post segment (40).
6. A strutting tower according to claim 5, characterized in that the post segment (40) of every one-piece frame (6) includes at least two identical locking devices (10, 100) mounted radially at its upper end (41) and separated by an angle of 90°, one of the locking devices extending perpendicularly to upper horizontal hand rail (61) and the other locking device extending opposite to said upper horizontal hand rail.
7. A strutting tower according to any of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the locking pin (91) of second locking means (9) includes a radial stop (92) arranged to limit the pivoting movement (R) range of a one-piece frame (6) with respect to another adjacent one-piece frame (6), preventing it from exiting said safety perimeter (P).
8. A strutting tower according to claim 7, characterized in that said second locking means (9) include at least two locking pins (91) that protrude radially from the lower end (42) of said post segment (40), separated by an angle of 90°, at least one of said locking pins being provided with said radial stop (92).
9. A strutting tower according to claim 5, characterized in that said locking device (10, 100) includes at least one vertical plate (11) that extends radially at the upper end (42) of post segment (40) and is arranged to form a baseboard support, and in that said vertical plate includes at least the seat (90) of said second locking means (9) and the locking catch pin (80, 800) of said first locking means (8).
10. A strutting tower according to claim 1, characterized in that every one-piece frame (6) moreover includes a lower horizontal rail (62) that extends from said post segment (40) and is linked with upper horizontal hand rail (61) by means of two bracing bars (63, 64) arranged in a V-configuration.
11. A strutting tower according to claim 10, characterized in that every one-piece frame (6) includes a central ladder segment (70) that extends vertically between the upper horizontal hand rail (61) and the lower horizontal rail (62) inside of the V shape defined by the two bracing bars (63, 64).
12. A strutting tower according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking catch (820) is mounted on said pin (800) around a pivoting axis (D), offset with respect to its center of gravity, so that said locking catch (820) naturally takes a substantially vertical position under its own mass.
13. A strutting tower according to claim 12, characterized in that said locking catch (820) comprises in its upper section a head (821) located above its pivoting axis (D) forming a bearing area on the front and a stopper on the rear and, in the lower section, a foot (822) located below said pivoting axis (D) forming a ballast with a cam profile on the front.
14. A strutting tower according to claim 13, characterized in that the through opening (810) is arranged in a Z-shaped locking element (830) that delimits an upper stop (831) and a lower stop (832) separated by a distance equivalent to the distance between the rear stop of head (821) of locking catch (820) and a lower radial stop (94) of locking device (100).

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