GB2145761A - Roof structure and bracket for use in supporting said structure - Google Patents

Abstract

A temporary roof structure is supported on a scaffold by a pair of vertically spaced brackets (21, 22). These brackets carry a cantilever support (20) at the outside of the scaffold and an horizontal beam (37) is supported by a roller (36) carried by the cantilever support. Legs (18) of the roof structure rest on the beam and do not obstruct the work platform. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Roof structure, bracket for use in the structure and method of providing a roof The present invention relates to a structure comprising a roof supported on scaffolding and to a bracket suitable for use in the structure.

The bracket of the invention has been devised primarily for use in supporting a temporary roof structure which provides protection for a building during repair of a roof of the building. Normally, when major repairs are to be carried out to the roof of a building, scaffolding is erected adjacent to the building to provide work platforms just below the level of the roof. The bracket of the present invention is especially suitable for supporting the roof structure from such scaffolding but the bracket has other uses.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided, in combination, a roof structure and a scaffold wherein the scaffold comprises a row of poles and a work platform supported, in part, by the poles and lying at one side of said row and wherein the roof structure includes a plurality of legs mounted on the poles of said row and being disposed at the side of said row remote from the platform. Normally, the roof structure will comprise two rows of legs mounted on respective rows of poles adjacent to opposite sides of a building.

In a combination of roof structure and scaffold according to the invention, the legs of the roof structure do not obstruct the work platform. Furthermore, the legs and any cladding attached thereto can be spaced somewhat from the platform to provide a gap through which there can extend a chute for conveying towards the ground material removed from the roof.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a bracket comprising a rectilinear spigot having a free end, an abutment at the opposite end of the spigot and clamping means for mounting the bracket on a cylindrical tube with the length of the spigot parallel to the length of the tube.

The bracket preferably comprises a body defining a recess for receiving a part of the tube and the clamping means preferably comprises two clamps adapted for clamping the tube to the body in the recess, the clamps being spaced apart along the tube.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided the combination comprising a scaffold pole and a support which is connected with the scaffold pole at two positions spaced apart along the pole and which provides a support surface extending substantially at right angles to the length of the pole.

There is also provided in accordance with the invention a support for a combination according to the third aspect, the support comprising a pair of co-axial sockets which are spaced apart along their common axis and are connected together by a frame which presents a support surface perpendicular to the common axis. The support can be mounted on a scaffold pole by means of two brackets according to the second aspect of the invention, the spigot of each bracket being received in a respective socket of the support.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a roof wherein there is erected a scaffold comprising two parallel rows of poles and respective platforms disposed between the rows and each adjacent to a respective one of the rows, a plurality of brackets are mounted on respective poles of each row, each bracket projecting from the corresponding pole in a direction away from the adjacent platform, mounting respective rows of legs on the brackets associated with each row of poles, mounting further members on the legs to form a frame which includes the legs of both rows and applying cladding to the frame to form the roof.

An example of a roof structure embodying the first, second and third aspects of the invention and provided by a method according to the fourth aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein: Figure 1 shows diagrammatically a building, a scaffold surrounding the building and an associated roof structure viewed from one end, a cover of the roof structure being partly broken away; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of adjacent parts of the scaffold and roof structure at one side of the building; Figure 3 shows an end elevation of certain parts shown in Fig. 2, these parts being shown separated from one another for clarity of illustration; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a bracket shown in Fig. 3; Figure 5 shows a perspective view of a roller unit shown in Fig. 3; and Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a part of a carrier shown in Fig. 3.

The structure illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a scaffold erected at opposite sides of a building 1 0. The scaffold includes a first row of poles 11 adjacent to, but spaced somewhat from a first side of the building and a parallel row of poles 1 2 adjacent to the opposite side of the building. A work platform 1 3 which lies just below the level of a roof 1 4 of the building is supported by the poles 12, either in conjunction with a further row of poles 1 4 or in conjunction with the building itself. A corresponding platform is associated with the row of poles 11.

There extends over the roof 1 4 a roof structure comprising rafters 1 6 and 1 7 which meet at an apex of the roof structure above the apex of the roof 14 and which slope downwardly to respective rows of legs 1 8 and 1 9. A cladding of flexible sheet material is supported on the rafters 1 6 and 1 7 and the legs 18 and 19.

The legs 1 9 are arranged in a row adjacent to and parallel to the row of scaffold poles 1 2.

It will be noted that the legs 1 9 lie outside the row of poles 12, that is to say at the side of the row remote from the platform 13, so that the platform is not obstructed by the legs.

In Figs. 2 and 3, there is illustrated a support 20 mounted on one of the scaffold poles 11 by means of a pair of brackets 21 and 22. One of these brackets is illustrated in Fig. 4. Each bracket comprises a cylindrical spigot 23 which is vertical in use. The bracket further comprises two horizontal plates 24 and 25 and a connector 26 which collectively form a body of the bracket. The connector 26 is integral with the spigot 23 and extends between the plates 24 and 25. These plates are welded to the component which comprises the spigot and connector. Respective recesses 27 and 28 are formed in corresponding edges of the plates 24 and 25 to receive respective parts of the scaffold pole 11. On the plates there are mounted respective clamps 29 and 30 for clamping these parts of the scaffold poles in the recesses 27 and 28.The clamps 29 and 30 may be known scaffold clamps and are therefore not shown in detail. They embrace respective parts of the scaffold pole which are spaced longitudinally of the pole.

The brackets 21 and 22 are mounted on the same pole 11 with their respective spigots disposed one above the other in coaxial, spaced relation. The support 20 includes an upright component 31 and laterally projecting lugs 32 and 33 adjacent to opposite ends of this component defining respective sockets in which the spigots 23 of the brackets 21 and 22 are received. The lugs 32 and 33 rest on the plates 24 of the brackets, these plates acting as abutments at the lower ends of the spigots.

The support 30 further comprises a rail 34 which extends from the top of the component 31 in a direction away from the pole 11 and a stay 35 which connects the end of the rail 34 remote from the component 31 with the lower end of that component. On the rail 34, there is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis a roller 36. A carrier in the form of a beam 37 rests on the roller 36 and on the corresponding rollers associated with other poles.

The beam is conveniently formed as an opentopped channel. At intervals along the beam, there are provided plates 38, each carrying one or more upwardly projecting spigots 39.

Each of the legs 1 8 has at its lower end a socket which receives a corresponding spigot 39 or a pair of sockets which receives a pair of adjacent spigots. The poles 1 8 of the row are collectively mounted on the beam 37 and the poles 1 9 of the other row are mounted in a similar way on a beam carried by the poles 1 2. Accordingly, the entire roof structure can be moved on the rollers along the scaffold.

The roller 36 is carried on a shaft supported by a fabricated body 40 which defines, adjacent to opposite ends of the roller, respective recesses 41 for receiving a part of the rail 34 Clamps 42 of a known kind are provided on the body 40 to clamp the rail 34 in the recesses 41 and thereby secure the body 40 with the axis of the roller 36 in the required relation to the support 20. The axis of the roller is disposed above and parallel to the rail 34.

The body 40 has inturned flanges 43 and 44 which lie above and near to opposite ends of the roller 36 to trap between the flanges and the roller opposite lateral portions of the beam 37 so that upward movement of the beam away from the roller is restrained.

It will be noted that the brackets 21 and 22 are provided with respective retaining pins which can be inserted through openings in the spigots 23 to restrain upward movement of the lugs 32 and 33 relative to the scaffold pole. The legs 18 are bolted to the plates 38.

Thus, upward movement of the roof structure relative tci the scaffold poles can be prevented.

Movement of the roof structure along the scaffold is normally restrained by a retainer 45 releasably mounted on the body 40 to extend across the beam 37 at a level just above the beam. When the roof structure is to be moved along the scaffold, each of the retainers 45 is temporarily separated from the corresponding body 40 and is replaced when movement of the roof structure has been completed.

It will be noted that neither the roof structure, nor the beam 37 nor the supports 20 and parts associated therewith encroach significantly on the gaps between adjacent poles 1 2. There can be disposed between a pair of adjacent poles 1 2 a chute for directing towards the ground material removed from the roof 14. This chute can occupy a position such that the chute does not encroach on the platform 15, lying between the platform and the beam 37. The roof structure can be moved past the chute whilst the chute remains in position.

A ladder (not shown) from the ground to the platform 1 5 can be positioned between a pair of adjacent poles 1 2 without encroaching on the platform 1 5. It will be noted that the roof structure does not significantly restrict access to the platform by way of the ladder and that the ladder can remain in position whilst the roof structure is moved along the scaffold.

The supports 20 associated with one row of poles may be connected together by a horizontal rail clamped to the strut 35 of each support. There may further be provided on the strut of each support means for carrying a rain water gutter disposed below a lower edge of the cladding of the roof structure.

Claims (14)

1. In combination, a roof structure and a scaffold wherein the scaffold comprises a row of poles and a work platform supported by the poles and lying at one side of said row and wherein the roof structure includes a plurality of legs mounted on the poles of said row and being disposed at the side of said row remote from the work platform.

2. A method of providing a roof wherein there is erected a scaffold comprising two parallel rows of poles, a plurality of brackets are mounted on respective poles of one row, each said bracket extending from the associated pole in a direction away from the other row, further brackets are mounted in a corresponding manner on the poles of the other row, respective rows of legs are mounted on the brackets associated with each row of poles, further members are mounted on the legs to form a frame and a cladding is applied to the frame to form the roof.

3. A bracket comprising a rectilinear spigot having a free end, an abutment at the opposite end of the spigot and clamping means for mounting the bracket on a cylindrical tube with the length of the spigot parallel to the length of the tube.

4. A bracket according to Claim 3 further comprising a body defining a recess for receiving a part of the tube and wherein the clamping means comprises two clamps adapted for clamping the tube to the body in the recess thereof, the clamps being spaced apart along the tube.

5. A bracket according to Claim 3 adapted to engage two longitudinally spaced parts of the tube and wherein the clamping means is adapted to clamp both of said parts of the tube to a body of the bracket.

6. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein said legs are carried on an elongated, horizontal carrier and the carrier is supported from said poles by supports which permit longitudinal movement of the carrier relative to the poles whilst the carrier remains in assembled relation with the supports.

7. A combination according to Claim 6 wherein the supports are arranged to restrain upward movement of the carrier relative to the poles.

8. A combination according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the supports include rollers on which the carrier rests.

9. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein there is mounted on each pole of said row a respective support which projects from the pole in a direction away from the work platform and the supports collectively support the legs of the roof structure.

10. In combination, a scaffold pole and a support which is connected with the pole at two positions spaced apart along the pole and which provides a support surface which extends substantially at right angles to the length of the pole.

11. A support for a combination according to Claim 9 or a combination according to Claim 10, the support comprising a pair of coaxial sockets which are spaced apart along their common axis and are connected together by a frame which presens a surface substantially perpendicular to the common axis.

1 2. A support according to Claim 11 comprising a roller which presents said surface and which is rotatable relative to the sockets about an axis substantially perpendicular to the common axis of the sockets.

1 3. A combination according to Claim 9 wherein the spacing between the longitudinal centreline of one of said poles and a longitudinal centreline of a leg which is nearest to that pole is at least 300mm.

14. A support according to Claim 1 2 wherein the roller is adjustable towards and away from the common axis and means is provided for securing the roller at a selected distance from that axis.

1 5. In combination, a roof structure and a scaffold substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

1 6. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.