GB2184192A - Scaffolding element - Google Patents

Abstract

A scaffolding element (1) comprises an elongate member (2) provided atone or both ends with an open, hooked end fitting (4) provided with a captive latch (8) having a wedge surface (10), which latch (8) is capable of translational and rotational movements along and about a pin (7) which is fixed across a pair of supporting arms (6) extending from each end fitting (4). The hooked end fitting (4) is applied to a conventional ledger (15). In operation the wedge surface (10) is engaged with a portion (18) of the lower external surface of the ledger (15) by the latch (8) being hammered into its latching position, and is disengaged by being hammered from its latching position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Scaffolding element This invention relates to a scaffolding element, to form part of a scaffolding structure, such structure conventionally being erected from a pluralityofdif ferent scaffolding elements, being upright elements (known as standards and comprising an elongate tubular member usually provided at an end with a suitable fitting), horizontal elements (known as ledgers, transoms and battens, the ledgers compris- ing an elongatetubular member provided at each end with a suitable fitting and generally used in the longitudinal direction of an access scaffold, the transoms comprising an elongate memberofinver- ted "T"-shape provided at each end with a suitable fitting and generally used in the transverse direction of a run of access scaffolding, and the battens being usedtoform the scaffold platforms, and comprising elongate members of rectangular cross-section sup ported on the transoms), and frequently, diagonal elements (known as braces, and comprising an elongate member e.g. oftubing, and a suitable fitting at each end).

In the aforementioned type of scaffold structure the battens which span from transom to transom are required to be of exact or nearly exact length so they may be supported on thetransomswhich are at predetermined distances apart, such battens being of substantial size in order to span safely the distances between the transoms. As an alternative to battens, scaffold boards (of varying lengths and of lighter weight per unit of length than the battens) may be used to provide thewalkway or platform forsupport of personnel and materials if they are given inter mediate support between the transoms, such intermediate support being provided by board bearers supported by a pair of spaced apart ledgers located in the same horizontal plane; with the uppersurfaces ofthe board bearers and ofthetransoms all des igned to be at the same level all may be used to support the scaffold boards.

Clearly, from the safety viewpoint, such board bearers need to be retained in position on the sup porting ledgers, notonlyto preventthem from being accidentally knocked from the scaffolding structure, but also to prevent inadvertent movement of a board bearer(s) along thetubular member of a ledger, particularlywhen a person stands on a board bearer, or moves from one board bearerto another part of the scaffolding structure, as may happen when the scaffold structure is erected, modified or dismantled.

The object of the present invention is to provide a improved construction of scaffolding element, particularly for use as a board bearer, but alternatively usable as a brace.

According to the present invention there is provided a scaffolding element comprising an elongate member provided at one or both ends with an open, hooked end fitting provided with a manually dis placeable, captive latch having a wedge surface, which latch is capable oftranslational and rotational movements along and about a pin which is fixed across a pairofsupporting arms extending from each end fitting, the pin passing through an elongate slot provided in its associated latch,the latch of each hooked end fitting being displaceable between a retracted position, in which the hooked end fitting may be readily applied to, removed from, or adjusted along, an upper surface of the tubular member of a conventional ledger, which ledger forms partofa scaffolding structure, and a latching position, in which the wedge surface is engageable with a portion of the lower surface of the tubular length of the ledger beneath the hooked end fitting, by the latch being hammered into its latching position, and is disengageable by being hammered from its latching position.

It will be appreciated that the scaffolding element in accordance with the invention is employable as a board bearer, by being connected in a horizontal or generally horizontal position, between a pair of spaced apart ledgers located in the same horizontal plane, or is alternatively employable as a brace by being connected in an inclined position, between a pair of spaced apart ledgers located in different horizontal planes, but for either use, the mode of latching remains the same, with the latches being hammered into their latching positions during the courseof erection, and being hammered from their latching positions during the course of dismantling the scaffolding structure.

Each end fitting is preferably a casting, while the elongate member is tubular. To enablethe latch to be hammered in to and out of its latching position, it is provided at one end with a "knock-in" face and atan opposite end with a "knock-out" face, the wedge surface extending between these two faces. Conveni ently,the end fittings are secured by welding to the respective "ends" of their tubular members in such position that the upper surface of the tubu lar member of a board bearerwill lie in the same horizontal plane or approximately so, asthe upper surface of the transoms with which they will be used in the same scaffold structure.

One example of scaffolding element in the form of a board bearer is shown in the accompa nying drawings, in which Figure lisa side elevation of one end of a scaffolding element in accordance with the invention; Figure2 is a plan view of Figure 1; and Figure3isan end elevation of Figure 1.

In the drawings, a scaffolding element 1 comprises an elongate,tubularmember2to be located horizontally in a scaffolding structure and to constitute a board bearer 3, and provided at one or both ends with an open, hooked end fitting 4, only one ofwhich is illustrated. The end fitting 4 is a casting and is secured by welding to the end of the tubular member 2/board bearer 3, either in the upper position illustrated in full line or in the lower position illustrated in chain-dotted line at2A in Figures 1 and 3,to suitthe user's requirement. Shown seated on the board bearer3 are lengths of timber decking 5to form a walkway or platform. The end fitting 4 is also provides with a pair of downwardly depending supporting arms 6 across terminal ends of which extends a pivot pin 7.Furthermore, the end fitting 4 is also provided with a manually displaceable, captive latch 8 having an elongate slot 9 by which the latch 8 is captivated on the pivot pin 7 for both translational and rotational movements, the latch 8 having a wedge surface 10 and at one end a "knock-in" face 11, and at the other end a "knock-out" face 12.The arms 6are spaced from hooked portion 13 of the end fitting 4 by a distance such that each an end fitting 4, ofthe board bearer3 can readily be hooked overatubular member 14 of a conventional ledgerl5locatedorth- ogonally with respect to the ledger 2,so that the board bearer3 spans a pairofspaced-apart ledgers 15 located in the same horizontal plane, so thatthe decking 5 may be laid on and across board bearers 3, the end fitting 4 having an arcuate surface 1 6which seats on an upper external surface 17 ofthetubular member 14 of the ledger 15.Thereafter, the "knock in" face 11 is hammered to force the wedge surface 10intotightfrictional engagementwith portion 18of the lower, external surface ofthetubularmember 14 ofthe ledger 15, to secure the end fittings 4, and hence the board bearer,tothe ledgers 15. Itfollows that to release each end fitting 4from its ledger 15, the scaffold erector hammers on the "knock-out" face 12, to release the frictional engagement between the wedge surface 10 and the portion 18, so that the latch 8 becomes displaceable, by trans- lational and rotational movement, along and about the pin 7 from the latching position illustrated in full line in Figure 1 to the retracted position illustrated in Figure 1 by chain dotted line at 8A, so that the end board bearer 3 can be lifted from the ledger 15 during dismantling.

Claims (6)

1. Ascaffolding element comprising an elongate member provided at one or both ends with an open, hooked end fitting provided with a manually displaceable, captive latch having a wedge surface, which latch is capable oftranslational and rotational movements along and about a pin which is fixed ac ross a pairofsupporting arms extending from each end fitting, the pin passing through an elongate slot provided in its associated latch, the latch of each hooked end fitting being displaceable between are tracted position, in which the hooked end fitting may be readily applied to, removed from, or adjusted along, an uppersurfaceofthetubularmemberofa conventional ledger, which ledger forms part of a scaffolding olding structure, and a latching position, in which thewedge surface is engageable with a por tion of the lower surface of the tu bu la r length of the ledger beneath the hooked end fitting, by the latch being hammered into its latching position, and is disengageable by being hammered from its latching position.

2. Ascaffolding element as claimed in Claim 1, where each fitting is a casting.

3. A scaffolding element as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2,wherein the elongate memberistubular.

4. Ascaffolding elementas claimed in anypreceding Claim, wherein the latch is provided at one end with a "knock-in" face and at an opposite end wth a "knock-out" face, the wedge surface extending between these two faces.

5. A scaffolding element as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the end fittings are secured by welding to the elongate tubular member.

6. Ascaffolding element substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.