GB2087466A - Scaffold - Google Patents

Abstract

An improved prefabricated scaffold frame may be employed to construct a numerous variety of scaffold structures. The scaffold frame comprises three tubular uprights 10, 11, 12 of equal height, and at least three bar means 18, 19, 20 attached to the uprights and spaced equidistant from one another. Each bar means may be formed from two tubes connected with a connector 22, this connector and two further connectors 23 are then welded onto the uprights in a horizontal axis. A ladder 25 located between uprights 10 and 11 may form an integral part of the bar means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Prefabricated Scaffolds This invention relates to prefabricated scaffold frames.

Prefabricated scaffold frames or units, which may be stacked to form a scaffold structure are well known. However, the adaptability of the basic prefabricated frame and the ability to simply form a numerous variety of scaffold structures is of prime importance. For example US Patent No.

231 6952 (Halferty) discloses a scaffolding unit comprising three vertical members connected by two adjacent horizontal straight beams located at the upper end of the vertical members. The height of the members and the displacement between two adjacent members is chosen to define a door shaped framework sufficiently large for a typical workman and associated equipment to comfortably pass through. A brace links the lower horizontal beam section between the adjacent vertical members, to one of these members.

It is apparent that in a structure comprising parallel stacks of these scaffolding units, a complete platform spanning a gap between the stacks may only be formed at intervals determined by the height of the door shaped framework, which intervals may be too large and hence inconvenient for a user of the structure.

Furthermore the requirement of these units to have dowel pins located between each unit and the unit size itself, impedes simple construction of scaffold structures.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved prefabricated scaffold frame being versatile in use and allowing simple construction of a numerous variety of scaffold structures.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a scaffold frame comprising, a) At least three tubular uprights all of the same height h, and equal diameter, i.e. two end uprights and an intermediate upright or uprights; b) n horizontal bar means where n 3, each being fixed to all the uprights at positions on a respective common horizontal axis and wherein at least three of said n bar means are spaced substantially equidistantly apart from one another by a distace substantially equal to or greater than 1/n of said height h; c) The uprights have sprockets fixed thereto at one end and spigots fixed thereto at the other end.

In a preferred embodiment with the frame having three vertical uprights, a second end upright is spaced from the intermediate upright a distance approximately twice that between a first end upright and the intermediate upright; the height of the uprights is preferably 75% to 100% of the distance between the intermediate upright and the second end upright. The bar means may be equidistantly spaced and also include members forming a vertical ladder between two uprights.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a veiw of a scaffold frame made in accordance with the invention.

Figure 1a illustrates a modification of the scaffold frame.

Figures 2-10 illustrate a variety of scaffold structures utilizing the scaffold frame made in accordance with the invention and additional basic scaffold units.

In one example of the invention shown in figures 1 and 1 a the scaffold frame illustrated comprises a first end upright 10, a second end upright 12 and an intermediate upright 11. The uprights may be aluminium alloy tubes having identical diameters and each formed with a spigot 1 5 at the upper end and a fixed socket 1 6 at the lower end. It is apparent that materials other than aluminium alloy may be employed, and further uprights may be utilized.

The second end upright 12 is spaced from the intermediate upright 11 by a distance A, which is arranged to be approximately twice a distance B between the intermediate upright 11 and the first end upright 10. For example distance A may be 4 feet 5 inches and distance B therefore 2 feet 26 inches. Clearly other values and ratios linking distance A and distance B may be used. The heights of the three uprights are the same and are typically chosen to be 75% to 100% of the value for distance A, although clearly other heights may be utilized.

The three uprights are linked by three bar means 18, 19, 20 located with their respective longitudinal axes horizontal but vertically spaced.

The bar means may be formed from similar tubes to the uprights. In figure 1 each bar means comprises two tubes joined together by a connector 22, the ends of the bar means also being fixed by suitable means to connectors 23.

The connectors 22 and 23 may typically be made on the principles disclosed in US Patent No.

4193709. The three connectors are then fixed to respective uprights by suitable means, welding for example. Naturally each bar means may comprise a single tube. The bar means are preferably fixed to the uprights to produce equidistant spacing of the bar means, and may also be arranged when the scaffold frames are stacked or assembled together, to result in equidistant spacing of all the bar means. The lower bar means 20 may be fixed to be adjacent the lower ends of the three uprights, and as a consequence of the equidistant spacing of all the'bar means, the bar means 19 is spaced from lower bar means 20 by a distance approximately one third of the height of the uprights. It will be apparent that further bar means may be added as required. The uprights may carry collars 24 for attachment of known stabilizers or outriggers.

Figure 1 a illustrates a modification of the scaffold frame wherein a member 25 is incorporated with the bar means to form a fixed vertical ladder section. The bar means sections 18, 18' and 1 8D are still fixed to all three uprights in a common horizontal axis. It will be apparent that further uprights and bar means may be incorporated as required either into or in order to extend the scaffold frame illustrated in figures 1 and 1 a, the dimensions being varied aceordingly.

Figure 2 illustrates a scaffold structure that may be formed by stacking the scaffold frames of the invention. No bracing has been portrayed for the sole purpose of clarity. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the assembly of this structure is simple, each scaffold frame slotting onto the underlying ones without the need of further connecting elements. in addition, the frame size allows easy manoeuvre of the frame during assembly and the arrangement of the bar means allows a platform 26 to be located in a known way within near proximity of a required height for the platform as a consequence of the equidistance spaces of all the bar means.

Figure 3 illustrates a scaffold structure wherein the scaffold frame of the invention is combined with a basic scaffold unit 306 comprising two uprights 31 and 32 and horizontal bar means 35 linking the uprights, which may be spaced apart by a distance corresponding to either distance A or distance B, defining type A basic units or type B basic units. The appendent letter on unit 306 clearly indicates a type B basic unit is utilized in figure 3.

The uprights of the basic units have fixed sockets and spigots corresponding to those on the scaffold frame of the invention. The basic scaffold unit may be formed from tubes similar to the scaffold frame, and may include ladder sections 33. In the structure illustrated the basic scaffold units 306, added onto the scaffold frame, provide a narrow working platform 36.

Furthermore the frame acts as a stabilizer for the structure, satisfying known safety criteria and also enabling a platform 65 to be added allowing the placement of a counterweight thereon further enhancing the structure stability.

Figure 4 shows a scaffold structure including, a basic scaffold unti 40A having two uprights spaced apart by a distance A, used in conjunction with scaffold frames of the invention. In this example, the platform area at the top of the structure, formed by planking traversing two scaffold frames, extends iaterally beyond the stacked basic frames overhanging on one side or the other. This enables a platform to be placed adjacent to a work area of a building even when the structure must be placed some distance away from the building; e.g. because of a projecting part of the building. Vertical ladders may be provided in the scaffold structure. Furthermore the scaffold frames adjacent the platform may in conjunction with an extra bar means provide an element of a guardrail around the platform.

Figure 5 illustrates a structure utilizing basic scaffold units 40A in conjunction with stability poles 42 and 43 and scaffold frames of the invention. An uninterrupted walkway without tripping hazards could thereby be formed comprising for example platform 45 supported by a bar 64 as shown in figure 5a mounted on brackets 64', which are threaded onto longitudinal bars 64" spanning the stacks forming the structure. Our copending application No. 81 26236 may form a preferred walkway. Stability pole 44 belongs to an adjacent structure of similar or alternative construction.

Figure 6 illustrates a structure utilizing the scaffold frames of the invention, together with known braces to provide a variety of working areas or platforms 26.

In figure 7 there is illustrates a structure, which employs the advantage of an overhanging platform, as shown in figure 4, to full effect.

Scaffold frames 52, 53 and 54 are spaced apart vertically by basic scaffold units 40A, allowing frames 52 and 53 to extend beyond the basic scaffold units, whilst frame 54 forms a stable base. A side elevation of the structure in the direction of arrow X illustrated in figure 8 clearly shows how the structure may be utilized to allow platforms 26 and 36 to be positioned adjacent to require working areas over obstructions, for example balconies 56 of a building 55.

The structure constructed in figure 9 includes a scaffold frame of the invention having a fourth upright 70 spaced a distance B from the adjacent upright 12. Basic units 60B and 618 stacked onto the scaffold frame may provide a stable structure both allowing considerably less tubing to be used in its construction and allowing clearance around obstructions. Figure 9A illustrates a similar structure wherein the basic units 60A and 61A are stacked onto the appropriate scaffold frame.

Figure 10 illustrates a structure utilizing a four upright scaffold frame in conjunction with basic units 62A to form a platform 49.

It is apparent from the examples described herein that the scaffold frame of the invention is extremely versatile and may be utilized in a variety of manners. Furthermore, the person skilled in the art will appreciate that the frame size and method of inter-frame connection allows single and rapid construction of a variety of scaffold structures.

It will be appreciated that the embodiment illustrated shows an application of the invention in one form only for the purpose of illustration. In practice the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straightforward for those skilled in the art to implement.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A scaffold frame comprising a) At least three tubular uprights all of the same height h and equal diameter, i.e. two end uprights and an intermediate upright or uprights; b) n horizontal bar means where n 3, each being fixed to all the uprights at positions on a respective common horizontal axis and wherein at least three of said n bar means are spaced substantially equidistantly apart from one another by a distance substantially equal to or greater than 1/n of said height h; c) The uprights have sockets fixed thereto at one end and spigots fixed thereto at the other end.

2. A scaffolding frame according to claim 1 wherein the intermediate upright of uprights are located nearer to one end upright than the other.

3. A scaffolding frame according to claim 2 wherein a first distance between an intermediate upright and a first adjacent upright is twice a second distance between said intermediate upright and a second adjacent upright.

4. A scaffolding frame according to any preceding claim wherein a ladder located between adjacent uprights is integral with said bar means.

5. A scaffolding frame according to any preceding claim wherein all said n bar means are spaced substantially equidistantly apart from one another by a distance substantially equal to or greater than 1/n of said height h.

6. A scaffolding frame according to any preceding claim wherein the lower bar means is disposed adjacent to the lower ends of the uprights.

7. A scaffolding frame according to any of claims 3 to 6 wherein the height of said uprights is approximately 75V1 00% of said first distance.

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