GB2065259A

GB2065259A - Scaffolding joint

Info

Publication number: GB2065259A
Application number: GB8038531A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Kwikform Ltd
Current assignee: Kwikform Ltd
Priority date: 1979-12-01
Filing date: 1980-12-01
Publication date: 1981-06-24

Abstract

A disengageable connection between scaffold uprights (23, 24 or 123, 124) having cooperating retaining formations (18, 29 or 43, 44), the first upright (24 or 124) being adapted to receive the second (23 or 123) in a first position wherein the axis of the second is inclined relative to the axis of the first and the retaining formations are disengaged and to permit the second upright to be pivoted to a second position wherein the first and second uprights are substantially co-axial and the retaining formations are engaged. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to connecting means This invention relates to a disengageable connection for connecting two elements together and more particularly, but not exclusively, to a disengageable connection for connecting together in end-to-end relationship, first and second upright sections in a scaffolding of the type, hereinafter referred to as of the type described, comprising a plurality of uprights connected in spaced parallel relationship by a plurality of members such as ledgers and transoms which are engaged with the uprights, at least one of the uprights comprising at least two upright sections connected in end-toend relationship.

Previously: when it has been desired to connect together first and second upright sections, it has been necessary for one end of the first upright section to be of reduced cross-section and one end of the second upright section to have an opening, to engage the reduced cross-section end of the first section in the opening of the second section thereby providing a spigot and socket connection. Alternatively, it has been necessary to weld or otherwise secure a larger diameter connecting tube to the first section to provide a socket to receive an end of the second upright section therein.

However, such known connecting means have the disadvantage that in order to prevent separation of the sections, means such as a screw operated clamping means or a locking pin which is received in corresponding holes in the second upright section and engages the spigot, needs to be provided which means are expensive and inconvenient to use.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new or improved disengageable connection which overcomes or reduces the above described problems.

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a disengageable connection comprising first and second elements, each element having an axis, said first element having a first retaining formation and said second element having a second retaining formation, said second retaining formation being adapted to co-operate with the first retaining formation, the first element being adapted to receive the second element in a first position wherein the axis of the second element is inclined relative to the axis of the first element and the first retaining formation is disengaged from the second retaining formation of the first element, and to permit the second element to be pivoted to a second position wherein the first and second elements are substantially co-axial and the first retaining formation is engaged with the second retaining formation.

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide a method of connecting first and second elements together, each element having an axis, including the steps of locating the first and second elements in a first position wherein the axis of the second element is inclined relative to the axis of the first element so that a first retaining formation of the first element is disengaged from a second retaining formation of the second element and pivoting said second element relative to said first element into a second position wherein the first and second elements are substantially coaxial and the first retaining formation is engaged with the second retaining formation.

In one embodiment, the first element may comprise a spigot, adapted to engage within an opening of the second element, said spigot having an inclined face, said retaining formation of the first element being located on the spigot substantially opposite to the inclined face.

The first element may have a base part engaged with a first member. The base part may comprise a bifurcated part and be adapted to be received within an opening in the first member and attached thereto. The bifurcated part and the first member may have aligned apertures therein arranged to receive a locking pin.

Alternatively, the base part may be welded to the first member or formed integrally therewith.

In a further embodiment, the first element may comprise a spigot adapted to extend substantially parallel to the axis of, and externally of, the second element when the first and second elements are connected together, said first retaining formation being located on the spigot.

In this embodiment the first element may have a base part comprising a collar adapted to receive an end of a first member and the spigot may be attached to or integral with the collar. The collar may be welded to the first member or otherwise connected thereto.

In either embodiment, the second element may be attached to or integral with the end of a second member and the second retaining formation may comprise an aperture or a recess and the first retaining formation may comprise a lug.

Alternatively, the lug may be provided on the second element and the aperture or recess on the first element.

However, instead of providing a lug and aperture or recess, if desired any other cooperating retaining formations may be provided.

For example, in the first above described embodiment, the second retaining formation may comprise an internal flange in the opening of the second element and the spigot extend past or through an aperture in the flange, a lug provided on the spigot engaging over the flange.

Also, in either embodiment, spacer means may be provided which, when the first and second elements are connected together, are located between the first and second elements.

Where the first and second elements are attached to or integral with first and second members, the members may comprise upright sections or parts of upright sections of an upright of a scaffolding of the type described. The first and second members may be retained in their substantially co-axial orientation by for example diagonal braces and/or other means such as transoms and/or ledgers of the scaffolding joined to the members.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a disengageable connection comprising a first embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 is a section through two sections of a scaffolding upright connected together by the disengageable connection of Figure 1; FIGURE 3 is a section similar to that of Figure 2 but showing a second embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 is a section similar to that of Figure 2 but showing a third embodiment of the invention.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first element comprising a connecting member 10 having a base part 11 and a protruding spigot 12 with spacer means 13 therebetween.

The base part 11 comprises a body 14 having two limbs 15 and 16 extending therefrom. The limbs 15 and 16 each have aligned horizontal apertures 17 therein, the purpose of which will become apparent hereinafter.

The spigot 12 of the connecting member 10 comprises a vertical face 19 and an inclined face 20 which, in this embodiment, is inclined at about 1 50 to the vertical face 19.

It will be appreciated that although the inclined face 20 shown is substantially planar, it may be curved axially and/or longitudinally, if desired.

The spigot 12 is provided with a retaining formation comprising a lug 18 on the vertical face 19 at the end of the spigot distant from the base part 11.

Referring now specifically to Figure 2, there are shown parts of two members comprising hollow upright sections 23 and 24 of an upright of a scaffolding comprising a plurality of uprights connected in spaced parallel relationship by a plurality of cross members such as transoms and ledgers joined to the uprights, the two sections 23,24 being connected in end-to-end relationship by a disengageable connection including the connecting member 10 of Figure 1.

The base part 11 of the connecting member 10 is received within the first upright section 24 and is attached thereto by a bolt 25 which extends through aligned apertures 26 in the wall of the upright section 24 and through the apertures 17 of the limbs 15, 16 of the base part of the connecting member 10, and has a nut 25' screwed thereon.

If desired, in place of the bolt 25, a pin, rivet or any other locking means may be used.

The lower end of the second upright section 23 comprises a second element and has a retaining formation thereon, comprising an aperture 29. The aperture 29 is adapted to co-operate with and be engaged by the corresponding lug 18 of the spigot part 12.

In order to connect the two upright sections 23, 24 in the position shown, the following method is used.

First, the connecting member 10 is engaged within and attached to the first upright section 24 by the bolt 25 and nut 25' as shown, and then the lower end of the second upright section 23 i.e. the second element is positioned over the spigot 12 in a first position at an inclined angle to the connecting member 10 as shown in chain dotted lines in Figure 2. It will be appreciated that it is necessary to introduce the second upright section 23 over the spigot 12 at an inclined angle to clear the lug 18, and that it is only possible to do this due to the inclined face 20 of the spigot 12.

Secondly, the second upright section 23 is pivoted from the first position to the second position shown in full lines where the lug 18 and aperture 29 are engaged.

The sections 23, 24 are maintained in the second position by diagonal and/or other means, such as the transoms and ledgers of the scaffolding.

Referring now to Figure 3, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention.

The spigot part 12' is more centrally situated on the connecting member 10 than the corresponding part 12 of Figures 1 and 2.

This embodiment is intended for use wherein the second upright section 23' is provided with an internal annular plate 30 instead of an aperture 29. A lug 18' extends from the vertical face for a shorter distance than lug 18 of the spigot 12 of Figures 1 and 2, and is adapted to engage the upper surface 31 of the annular plate 30 as shown.

In all other respects, this embodiment is identical to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and substantially the same method is used to connect the two upright sections together.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention.

First and second upright sections 124, 123 are connected together by a disengageable connection including a first element comprising a connecting member 40 having a base part comprising a collar 41 adapted to receive the ends of the first section 124 and the second upright section 123. Integral with the collar 41 is a protruding spigot part 42 which extends substantially parallel to and externally of the upright sections 123, 124 when they are connected together as shown.

The connecting means further includes an aperture 44 provided in a lower end part of the second upright section 23' which comprises a second element, which is adapted to engage a lug 43 provided on the protruding spigot part 42.

To connect the two upright sections together, the collar 41 is engaged with the first upright section 124 and attached thereto by welding or any other means. The second upright section 123 is then inserted into the collar 41 in a first position at an angle inclined to the first upright section 123, and then pivoted into a second upright position so as to be substantially co-axial with the first upright section 124.

The lug 43 will thus engage the aperture 44 and the two upright sections will be connected together.

In all of the above embodiments, when the uprights are inter-connected by other members of the scaffolding, a rigid connection between the two upright sections will be made.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described are only examples of the invention. If desired, a lug may be provided on the second element and a corresponding retaining formation on the first element. The base part of the first element need not comprise two limbs which are received in the first upright section or a collar in which the first upright section is received, but the connecting member may be attached to the first upright section by any other means, or be integral therewith.

Although in the embodiments described with reference to Figures 1,2 and 4, only one aperture has been described as being provided in the second upright section to accommodate a lug, if desired more than one aperture may be provided angularly spaced about the second element as shown at 44a in Figure 4, to enable the two elements to be selectively connected together in different angular relationship.

Although the invention has been described for use in connecting together upright sections of an upright of a scaffolding, it will be appreciated that a similar connecting means may be used to connect together two sections of the cross member of the scaffolding, or in any other application where it is desired to connect together two members.

Claims

1. A disengageable connection comprising first and second elements each element having an axis said first element having a first retaining formation, and said second element having a second retaining formation adapted to co-operate with the first retaining formation, the first element abeing adapted to receive the second element in a first position wherein the axis of the second element is inclined relative to the axis of the first element and the first retaining formation is disengaged from the second retaining formation and to permit the second element to be pivoted to a second position wherein the first and second elements are substantially co-axial and the first retaining formation is engaged with the second retaining formation.

2. A method of connecting first and second elements together, each element having an axis, including the steps of locating the first and second elements in a first position wherein the axis of the second element is inclined relative to the axis of the first element so that a first retaining formation of the first element is disengaged from a second retaining formation of the second element, and pivoting said second element relative to said first element into a second position wherein the first and second elements are substantially co-axial, and the first retaining formation is engaged with the second retaining formation.

3. The invention according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the first element comprises a spigot, adapted to engage within an opening of the second element said spigot having an inclined face, said retaining formation of the first element being located on the spigot substantially opposite to the inclined face.

4. The invention according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the first element has a base part engaged with a first member.

5. The invention according to Claim 4 wherein the base part comprises a bifurcated part adapted to be received within an opening in the first member and attached thereto.

6. The invention according to Claim 5 wherein the bifurcated part and the first member have aligned apertures therein, arranged to receive a locking pin.

7. The invention according to Claim 4 wherein the base part is welded to the first member.

8. The invention according to Claim 1 pr Claim 2 wherein the first element comprises a spigot adapted to extend substantially parallel to the axis of, and externally of, the second element when the first and second elements are connected together, said first retaining formation being located on the spigot.

9. The invention according to Claim 8 wherein the first element has a base part comprising a collar adapted to receive an end of a first member, and the spigot is attached to or integral with the collar.

10. The invention according to Claim 9 wherein the collar is welded to the first member.

11. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second element is attached to or integral with a second member.

12. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the second retaining formation comprises an aperture or a recess and the first retaining formation comprises a lug.

13. The invention according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the second retaining formation comprises a lug and the first retaining formation on the first element comprises an aperture or recess.

14. The invention according to any one of Claims 1 to 11 wherein the second retaining formation comprises an integral flange in the opening of the second element and the spigot extend past or through an aperture in the flange, a lug provided on the spigot engaging over the flange.

15. The invention according to any one of the preceding claims wherein spacer means are provided which, when the first and second elements are connected together, are located between the first and second elements.

16. The invention according to any one of Claims 11 to 1 5 wherein the first and second members comprise upright sections or parts of upright sections of an upright of a scaffolding of the type described.

17. The invention according to Claim 16 wherein the first and second members are retained in their substantially co-axial orientation by other components of the scaffolding.

1 8. A disengageable connection substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

19. A method of connecting first and second elements together, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.