GB2169641A

GB2169641A - An erection aid for scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2169641A
Application number: GB08531448A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ruth Langer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-12-28
Filing date: 1985-12-20
Publication date: 1986-07-16
Also published as: NL8503503A; FI855101A; FR2575507A1; DK584785D0; DE3447680A1; GB8531448D0; FI855101A0; NO855212L; SE8505984D0; SE8505984L; DK584785A; BE903955A

Abstract

To facilitate lateral erection of suspended scaffolding parts under a supporting structure 10 an erection aid comprises a jib-supporting element 22 having a tread surface 22.1, the outer ends of the element 22 bearing hinges 25 for diagonal bars 26, which are suspended with the aid of couplings 27 from horizontal scaffolding tubes 29, whilst the element 22 is suspended with similar couplings 23 from a further horizontal scaffolding tube 24. The erection aid serves for erecting, at the nearest retaining point, the first scaffolding parts of the next scaffolding bay and is easily dismantled for use at another location. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An erection aid for scaffolding this invention relates to an erection aid for the installation of scaffolding parts under supporting structures.

From time to time working platforms have to be installed with the aid of scaffolding parts under supporting structures of the most varied kind, for checking, maintenance and routine care work on the supporting structures and/or on the elements supported by them. In many cases such working platforms cannot be installed permanently. For example, under off-shore platforms, scaffolding cannot be left in place on account of their inevitable attack by chemical constituents of seawater and the momentum of the water movement. Also in chemical plants scaffolding often has to be installed suspended at a great height to provide working platforms. The same holds true for work on ceiling structures and the like. In this respect, the procedure for erection of scaffolding is generally such that a first scaffolding bay is fastened to the supporting structure.This may take place with the aid of a crane, a suspended working basket or an extending ladder with a working basket. Subsequently, further scaffolding is build out from the sides of the first scaffolding bay. In this respect, the further scaffolding parts, more especially the perpendicular struts, have to be fastened with suitable means, for example hook parts engaging under the lower flanges of I-girders or holders with lugs or devises. At least one perpendicular strut invariably has to be fastened at a distance which is greater than the normal reach of the arms of a human-being and in order to get to the fastening points in the past platforms of fairly great length, for example of about 5m, have been pushed out from the first bay.These platforms are usually caused to jut out in such a way that they have one end secured against tilting upwardly on the existing scaffolding part, for example by extending under a horizontal tube, whilst a central piece adjacent to the bay that is to be erected rests on another scaffolding tube.

Such a long platform can be manipulated at great height only with difficulty, because it is bulky and of great weight.

A need therefore exists for a lightweight erection aid which is easy to handle, reliable to connect and can also be shifted rapidly. An object of the invention is to propose such a simple, lightweight erection aid that can be manipulated rapidly and that works reliably.

In accordance with the invention, the erection aid comprises a jib and supporting element of sufficient working width for one person and having a tread surface as well as retaining means at one end which can be fastened to horizontally extending scaffolding tube parts, and a hinge at its other end, to which a diagonal bar is attached, which bar, for its part has at its free end, means for connection to scaffolding parts.

Thus, in accordance with the invention, a jib is used which can be fastened, with diagonal rods reaching from its free end to horizontally-extending scaffolding parts.

The tread surface needs only to be of a length which is sufficient for the stepping out of the person erecting the next scaffolding bay so that this person can reach the next fastening element that is to be provided under the supporting structure. This is, as a ruie, about half the length of the bay. Consequently, the erection aid of the invention can be smaller than hitherto known platforms and fashioned with about half their weight so that they are considerably simpler to erect. In this respect, the connection means of the diagonal bars are advantageously suspended from a horizontal scaffolding tube while the jib is pushed forward over a lower horizontal tube to such an extent until its retaining means can also be fastened. Then the erection aid is securely installed and the erector can safely use it.In this respect, the diagonal bars also serve as railings and hand-grips during the erection of the next region of scaffolding.

The connection means are advantageously downwardly-open U-shaped claws, which can be secured in a suitable way, preferably with wedges which are not readily detachable.

Further details, developments, features and advantages of the invention will become aparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which an exemplified embodiment of the erection aid of the invention is illustrated, and in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the right-hand part of a first scaffolding bay underneath a supporting structure with the erection aid attached thereto; Figure 2 is a top view of the same scaffolding bay with the erection aid attached thereto; and Figure 3 is an enlarged side view showing the erection aid in its final use in solid lines and after partial suspension in the erection phase in dot-dash lines.

Of a supporting structure 10 under which scaffolding 15 is to be fastened, only the lower parts of I-girders 11 with their horizontal flanges 12 are shown in Fig. 1. The right-hand part of a first rectangular scaffolding bay 13, including four vertical struts 17 and a working platform 16, is fastened to the first l-girder 11.1. On the right-hand side horizontal tubes 18 are provided. These can be fastened to protruding discs 19 by insertion and wedging. A further scaffolding bay, which is to be hung from the I-girder 11.2, is now to be erected.

An erection aid 20 comprises a jib and supporting element 22 having a tread surface 22.1, to one end of which are fastened retaining means in the form of couplings 23. The couplings 23 can be suspended from a lower horizontal tube 24, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. Provided at the free end of the element 22 are two hinges 25, to which respective diagonal bars 26.1, 26.2 are pivotally attached. At their free ends these bars 26.1, 26.2 have connection means in the form of couplings 27 for fastening to a further horizontal tube 29. The couplings 23 and 27 are designed as downwardly-open U-shaped claws and they are used in conjunction with wedges 28 of conventional construct which are intended to be placed under the horizontal tubes to complete the fastening and are not readily detachable.

With reference to Fig. 3, a person standing of the platform 16 is able to install the erection aid by firstly suspending the couplings 27 of the diagonal bars 26 from the upper horizontal tube 29 and initially leaving these loose (i.e. the wedge not pushed tight), whilst the element 22 rests on the lower horizontal tube 24, as indicated in dot-dash lines in Fig. 3. The element 22 is then pushed further outwards, until the claws 23 can be placed over the tube 24 and can be secured with the wedges 28. Subsequently the wedges 28 of the upper claws 27 are also driven home.

The tread surface 22.1 is now in substantially horizontal disposition and the diagonal bars 26 have assumed their supporting, railing and securing function and position. The tread surface 22.1 of the erection aid can now be walked upon and be used to erect the first parts of the next scaffolding bay.

It will be appreciated that the erection aid can easily be dismantled by knocking-loose and withdrawing the wedges 28 and can then be installed in the same way in the next necessary erection position rapidly and easily by one person, whilst larger components or structures would have to be handled by two persons. It will also be appreciated that the supporting is advantageously effected upwards by means of the diagonal bars because as a rule no adequate supporting possibilities are afforded downwardly.

The design of the jib and supporting elements, the tread surface, the hinges and the couplings can be varied multifariously in the manner customary in scaffolding building. It is important that the erection aid, which can rapidly be fastened on and secured as well as be rapidly dismantled, is easily available and easily transportable.

The invention can also be summed up as follows: An aid for the lateral erection of suspended scaffolding parts under a supporting structure 10 comprises a jib-supporting element 22 with a tread surface 22.1, the outer ends of the element 22 bearing hinges 25 for diagonal bars 26, which are suspended with the aid of couplings 27 from horizontal scaffolding tubes 29, whilst the jib-supporting element 22 is suspended with similar couplings 23 from a further horizontal scaffolding tube 24. The erection aid serves for erecting, at the nearest retaining point, the first scaffolding parts of the next scaffolding bay, in order then easily to be dismantled and used at another site.

The following schedule of the parts indicated by the reference numerals will facilitate the understanding of the drawings: 10 Supporting structure 22 Tread surface element 11 I-girder 22.1 Tread surface 11.1 I-girder 23 Coupling 11.2 I-girder 24 Lower horizontal tube 12 Horizontal folange 25 Hinge 13 First scaffolding panel 26 Diagonal rod 15 Scaffolding 26.1 Diagonal rod 16 Working platform 26.2 Diagonal rod 17 Strut 27 Coupling 18 Horizontal tube 28 Wedge 19 Disc 29 Horizontal tube 20 Erection aid CLAIMS

Claims

1. An erection aid for the installation of scaffolding parts underneath supporting structures comprising a jib-and supporting element of sufficient working width for one person and having a tread surface as well as retaining means at one end, which can be fastened to horizontally extending scaffolding tube parts, and a hinge at its other end, to which a diagonal bar is attached, which bar, for its part has at its free end means for connection to scaffolding parts.

2. An erection aid as claimed in claim 1 wherein two diagonal bars are provided, one attached at each side of the tread surface of the jib-and supporting element.

3. An erection aid as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the connection means and the retaining means are downwardly-open U-shaped claws which are securable by means of wedges which are not readily detached.

4. An erection aid for the installation of scaffolding parts underneath supporting structures substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.