GB1579240A - Scaffolding shuttering and raisable platform - Google Patents

Description

(54) SCAFFOLDING, SHUTTERING AND RAISABLE PLATFORM (71) I, EDWARD NORMAN WEIGHTMAN, of 12 Windermere, Cleadon Village, Nr. Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, a British Subject, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to a dual purpose scaffolding and shuttering element. The invention also relates to scaffolding and shuttering constructions.

In the prior art, scaffolds are constructed by the use of tubes, which are connected together by clamps to provide vertical supports, latteral beams, and diagonal bracing struts. Alternatives may include the use of prefabricated sections such as towers, corner pieces, etc. above or alongside the ordinary clamped tubular scaffolding. In any case, whatever prior art scaffolding construction is adopted, it is necessary to build a separate support structure for each selected level of planking for walk-ways, working platforms and the like as the scaffold is built up during construction of a building, even if structure from lower abandoned levels is cannabalised and reused at higher levels.This also has the practical effect, from the point of view of a workman such as a bricklayer, that he has to work from a series of fixed levels, and usually has to build a wall through a range where the work is rather too low for comfort and accuracy to one where it is too high.

When work levels are being changed, the planks from a lower level have to be cleared and relayed at a higher level.

It is an object of the invention to provide a scaffolding construction which will enable a single working platform to be used throughout e.g. the construction of a wall, further to provide a scaffolding element for use in such a construction, and to provide a shuttering construction which uses such scaffolding element whereby economy can be achieved by eliminating need for storage of different types of shuttering and scaffolding elements.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided a scaffolding and shuttering element comprising an elongate member of T-shaped box cross-section, a ratchet or rack being provided on one face of a leg of the T-shape.

From a second aspect, the invention provides a scaffolding construction comprising vertical supports, one or more of said supports being elements according to the invention, and a platform supported on said supports with a pawl mechanism whereby the platform may be jacked up and down by co-operation between the pawl mechanism and the rack or ratchet on one or more of the supports.

From a third aspect, the invention provides a shuttering construction comprising a plurality of horizontally disposed elements according to the invention superimposed to define two spaced apart and facing surfaces, and further said elements forming uprights.

The spacing between the surfaces is preferably maintained by wall ties extending between the uprights.

Embodiments of the invention in its different aspects will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a scaffolding structure in use in the construction of a brick wall; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a main vertical element of the structure, and Figure 2a is a cross-section on line A-A of Figure 2; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a sliding collar for use in carrying platform supports on the vertical element; Figure 4 is a perspective view of a form of support bracket attachable to the collar of Figure 3 for carrying planking in alternative configurations; Figure 5 is a fragmented view of one support and bracket set of the scaffolding structure, illustrating the mode of raising and lowering the bracket set and collar;; Figure Sa is a diagram illustrating the operation of the jack device used for raising and lowering the platform, and Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a scaffolding construction of a different type using element as shown in Figure 2. As shown in the drawings, a scaffolding construction comprises a plurality of spaced apart masts or vertical elements, 10. Each mast 10 has a pair of opposed feet 11 which can be leveled by leveling jacks 12 each comprising a screw 13 and a rest plate 14, The masts 10 are inter-connected by spacing and alignment struts at the top 15, and the bottom 16, and cross-bracing struts 17. The masts carry a platform 20 the construction of which will be further described below, and is raisable and lowerable on the masts 10.

As shown in Figure 2, the masts each comprise a box section or C-section girder, having one flange 18 extended by addition of an angle strip 19 to form an overall T-sectionecl box section with a slot 21. A series of pins 22 extend across the slot 21, and form a rack. The angle strip 19 is either formed as a piece with the flange 18 in the same rolling opcration as the C-section part of the girder, or is welded separately thereto.

The masts 10 together carry the platform 20 which is carried by a collar 25 (Figure 3) on each mast 10. The collar 25 comprises a generally tubular part, of the generally pentagonal section needed to slide up and down the mast 10, side plates 26, 27 and an end plate 28 forming bearing surfaces for engaging the mast, and the remaining parts of the collar being of open work. The collar 25 also carries a flange 29 with an aperture 30 near each corner, and an upwardly extending hook structure comprising two spaced apart plates 31, 32 having L-shaped slots 33, 34 tllerein, thereby defining hooks 35, 36 which engage on the pins 22 of the rack in slot 21.

A tubular socket 37 is provided at the foot of end plate 38.

Figure 4 shows a platform support bracket 40. This comprises a rectangular frame 41, and is reversible to provide a support 40a (Figure 1) for a higher ]evel catwalk or a support 40b (Figure 1) for a low level walk with stepped up work area. The support bracket 40 has a short support 42 with plank support flanges 43, and a long support 44, comprising a pair of side by side tubular members with extendable arms 45 telescopically received in said members 44. The flanges 43 have locating stops 46 for locating planks, and similar locating stops 47 are provided on the outer ends of arms 45. The support 42 carries two securement pins 48, and the long support 44 two similar, oppositely directed pins 49.These are for engagement with apertures 30 of the sleeve 25 in the opposed positions of the bracket 40, pins 49 being used when 44 is uppermost, and pins 48 when 42 is uppermost. A further oppositely directed pin 50 is provided midway between pins 48, and a second further pin 51 is provided between pins 49, and oppositely directed thereto, for engagement in the socket 37, when members 42 and 44 are in the lower positions respectively.

Figure 5 shows the assembly in exploded view. A mast 10 may be built up of a plurality of mast sections 1 0a connected by connectors 10b which fit into the C-beam part, and by means of pins passed through holes 10c, 10d.

Collar 25 is carried around mast 10 and carries two o brackets 40, one 40a being attached with members 44 uppermost, and the other 40b with members 42 uppermost.

This produces a two level deck, with a catwalk at the upper level on one side of the mast, and a catwalk at the lower level with a work surface at the higher level on the other side.

Planks 53 are used to provide the deck surfaces.

Guard rails 54 are provided by attaching parts 55 to the stops 47.

The platform is raised and lowered by means of a climbing jack 56, which comprises a lever 57 used to 'walk' two pawls 58, 59, up the rack of teeth 22 alternatively one pawl remaining engaged with a tooth 22 when the other is moved above it. As seen in Figure 5a a line 60 is attached to the lever 57, and suspended from a pulley 61, so that when the lever is pressed down the hook part 31 of sleeve 25, to which the line 60 is attached is pulled up and the hook 35, 36 engaged with a higher tooth 22 A further embodiment of scaffolding of the invention is shown in Figure 6 and uses scaffolding elements 60 each one being as shown in Figure 2 inter-connected to form a scaffold rather in the manner of conventional tubular scaffolding. In this embodiment, a plurality of vertical props 61 are disposed in e.g. two or more spaced apart rows.Further members 62 are used as support beams extending between pairs of vertical props 61, resting on collars 63 around the tops of the props, with the head of the T-section directed downwards.

Decking beams 64, in the form of further elements 60 are then laid between the support beams 62 using the end adaptation to mate with the leg of the T of the support beams.

A deck may be made up completely of such decking beams 64 or planks may be laid between spaced decking beams.

A final possible embodiment of the invention comprises a shuttering assembly.

The assembly comprises a pair of spaced apart walls of shuttering, with a cavity between for pouring concrete. Each wall comprises a plurality of spaced apart uprights, which are constituted by elements according to the Figure 2. These are disposed with the heads of their T-sections facing inwardly, and the legs of the T-section directed outwardly to provide a smooth walled casting cavity.

The major surfaces of the walls are provided by a plurality of similar elements slotted between the uprights, with the plane surface provided by the heads, of the Tsections presented inwardly to the cavity to make up a continuous flat surface. The horizontal elements mate with the uprights by reason of the cut end part of the leg of their T-section.

The walls are spaced apart by wall ties extending between the uprights.

Whilst a box beam construction has been described as the scaffolding and shuttering element of the invention a solid rolled steel beam of T-, I- or J sections could be used, the important points being a cross-bar or head part, to provide a shuttering surface and structural strength, and a leg part to carry the ratchet.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A scaffolding and shuttering element comprising an elongate member of T-shaped box-cross-section, a ratchet or rack being provided on one face of a leg of the T-shape.

2. An element according to Claim 1 wherein the box section comprises a Csectioned 'head' part of the T-shape, and a J-sectioned leg part of the T-shape, defining an open side of the leg part, and such rack or ratchet being within said open side.

3. An element according to Claim 2 wherein said ratchet is formed by a plurality of pins extending across the said open side.

4. An element according to any preceding claim which is adapted at each end to nest at right angles to a further such element by having an end part of the leg part cut away.

5. A scaffolding construction comprising a plurality of masts each comprised of at least one section according to Claims 1 to 3, and platform supports carried by a slideable collar with a jack device engaging the rack or ratchet of each mast.

6. A scaffolding construction according to Claim 5 wherein said platform supports comprise a rectangular frame with a short plank supporting member on one side, and a longer, extensible plank supporting member on the other side, and detent means connectable to corresponding means on the sliding collar, whereby the bracket may be attached to the collar in either of two inverted positions to provide either a walkway, or a split-level catwalk with a higher working surface.

7. A construction according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein each mast is provided with a pair of feet which are adjustable for levelling.

8. A scaffolding construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A scaffolding element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. The major surfaces of the walls are provided by a plurality of similar elements slotted between the uprights, with the plane surface provided by the heads, of the Tsections presented inwardly to the cavity to make up a continuous flat surface. The horizontal elements mate with the uprights by reason of the cut end part of the leg of their T-section. The walls are spaced apart by wall ties extending between the uprights. Whilst a box beam construction has been described as the scaffolding and shuttering element of the invention a solid rolled steel beam of T-, I- or J sections could be used, the important points being a cross-bar or head part, to provide a shuttering surface and structural strength, and a leg part to carry the ratchet. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A scaffolding and shuttering element comprising an elongate member of T-shaped box-cross-section, a ratchet or rack being provided on one face of a leg of the T-shape.

2. An element according to Claim 1 wherein the box section comprises a Csectioned 'head' part of the T-shape, and a J-sectioned leg part of the T-shape, defining an open side of the leg part, and such rack or ratchet being within said open side.

3. An element according to Claim 2 wherein said ratchet is formed by a plurality of pins extending across the said open side.

4. An element according to any preceding claim which is adapted at each end to nest at right angles to a further such element by having an end part of the leg part cut away.

5. A scaffolding construction comprising a plurality of masts each comprised of at least one section according to Claims 1 to 3, and platform supports carried by a slideable collar with a jack device engaging the rack or ratchet of each mast.

6. A scaffolding construction according to Claim 5 wherein said platform supports comprise a rectangular frame with a short plank supporting member on one side, and a longer, extensible plank supporting member on the other side, and detent means connectable to corresponding means on the sliding collar, whereby the bracket may be attached to the collar in either of two inverted positions to provide either a walkway, or a split-level catwalk with a higher working surface.

7. A construction according to Claim 5 or 6 wherein each mast is provided with a pair of feet which are adjustable for levelling.

8. A scaffolding construction substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

9. A scaffolding element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.