GB2207177A - An ascent arrangement for scaffolding including at least one staircase - Google Patents

Description

2 'A 07 '171 - 1 AN ASCENT ARRANGEMENT FOR SCAFFOLDING INCLUDING AT LEAST

ONE STAIRCASE This invention relates to an ascent arrangement for scaffolding which comprises vertical scaffolding posts, transverse bars extending therebetween, supporting tiebars extending horizontally beneath the transverse bars, and scaffolding floors suspended from the tie-bars, or to transverse bars and which has at least one staircase having in its end regions suspension devices for the suspension and supporting of the'staircase on respective supporting tie-bars which are offset horizontally and vertically by the extent of one bay.

Ascent arrangements for scaffolding exist in many different forms. Originally one climbed up on a scaffolding ladder or simply used a conventional ladder leant against the scaffolding. Also known were ladders which extended in a straight line, with appropriate inclination, through several scaffolding bays 'and which were positioned in an external ladder bay. Moreover, staircases, without landings, have been provided extending in a straight line, one behind the other at the appropriate inclination, in a staircase bay lying outside the scaffolding bay. This meant that scaffolding of great height also had to have a corresponding length, so that one could climb in a straight line up the staircase.

2 - - Since the scaffolding floor at the level of the topmost step of the staircase needs lateral fall safety means, banisters or handrails have customarily been provided and edge boards have frequently been suspended. Consequently this has meant that the user has had to climb from the topmost step over the banister of the adjacent scaffolding bay in order to arrive at the scaffolding floor. This is not only tedious, but also dangerous.

A staircase has the inherent advantage that one can climb up more easily and more safely than in the case of a ladder and that staircase banisters can easily be provided. However, in the past only the depth of one step has been present for stepping on the level of each scaffolding floor at the top and bottom of each staircase. This Is especially risky if one climbs the staircase carrying loads or bulky goods.

Staircase towers have in the past been constructed in the fashion of conventional stair wells with staircases extending between respective scaffolding floors which serve as landings. These have not, however, been integrated as customary ascent into normal scaffoldings, but only in rare cases into fairly large scaffolding installations. As a consequence of the scaffolding floors serving as landings they need a 1 i 1 1 i 1 1 1 1 i 1 i i i 1 1 particularly large amount of space and, on account of the associated vertical scaffolding poles, also considerable additional scaffolding material for construction.

The object of the invention is to provide an ascent arrangement for scaffolding of the kind mentioned at the beginning hereof using as many scaffolding building elements as are present In the standard programme, and in a stable manner in a staircase bay lying adjacent the scaffolding bay so that at the respective ends of the staircases a safe, easy and riskfree transition to the respective scaffolding floors is possible and, on the other hand, lateral safety devices are provided to an adequate extent and the staircases can be rapidly constructed and dismantled.

In accordance with the invention, in the case of scaffolding of the kind mentioned at the beginning, all the following features are provided:

The or each staircase has a respective landing securely connected thereto at its upper and lower end; suspension devices for engagement of the supporting tie-bars and/or other attachment means on the provided at the ends of each landing; the staircase is arranged in a staircase bay, lying adjacent a continuous scaffolding bay, outside the main scaffolding bay; the passage between staircase bay and scaffolding bay is free from banisters or handrails at least in the region of the landings; banisters or handrails extending substantially parallel to the staircase stringers and their supports are provided on the outside of the staircase bay; several staircases are, considered in ground plan, arranged one above the other, so that the scaffolding floor lying alongside serves as connection path to the next-higher or next-lower staircase; at the level of the topmost bay a cantilever landing, preferably having lateral and transverse banisters, links onto the upper landing piece and extends into the next longitudinal bay of the scaffolding; and 1 i 1 i 1 provided on this top level, on the main scaffolding, on the outside beside the staircase bay, is a conventional banister or handrail.

Thus staircases are provided which have at both ends landings of sufficient extent which can be formed, for example, by two or three profile parts, as used for steps, lying one behind the other, with suspension device provided at the ends of these landings. Moreover, the staircases are now arranged, when considered in ground plan, in only a single staircase bay, and extending parallel to and one above another, so that the scaffolding floor lying alongside can at all times be used as connection path. Vertical scaffolding posts provide the necessary support save for the topmost level where a cantilever landing links onto the top of the staircase in the direction of run. The outsides of the staircases are secured with easily suspensable banisters or handrails and the banister between the staircase bay and the scaffolding floor is abolished because lateral safety is provided by the stringer of the next highest staircase. Thus one can go easily and In a risk-free manner between the stairs and the scaffolding floors, even when carrying bulky or heavy goods. Even in the case of high scaffolding of slight longitudinal extent a safe, convenient, easily mountable staircase ascent can be thus constructed using scaffolding elements which already exist.

These staircases can be used both on scaffolding having frames extending in transverse planes and formed from vertical scaffolding posts and horizontally extending supporting tie-bars and in scaffolding formed from a number of individual posts. In the case of frame scaffolding, two further frames are simply placed alongside on the outside and are connected to the main frames. Then the staircases provided with their suspension devices can be suspended across the thus formed bays. For the suspension of the banisters special boxes equipped with wedges can be used, these boxes being provided on the posts. End hooks of the banisters or handrails extending parallel to the staircase stringers can then be suspended from and secured to these boxes, with the aid of the wedges.

In the case of scaffolding constructions wherein individual scaffolding posts are connected to transverse bars by individual connection means, for example the perforated discs over which connection heads are placed and then secured by wedges which engage therethrough, the suspension devices at the ends of the staircase landings can be suspended from horizontal supporting tie-bars secured to these perforated discs. Also, additional horizontal staircase banister holders and 1 i i i 1 i banister bare extending parallel to the staircase stringers may advantageously have straddling hooks at their ends and wedge securing devices whereby they can be fastened to intermediately located perforated discs.

The suspension devices'at the ends of the landings can be provided for the respective system with designs customary in scaffolding construction, for example claws for gripping over round tubes and having automatic liftoff safety devices or wedge safety devices, or hooks which engage into upwardly-open U-profiles of the supporting tie-bars and which are held in the U-profiles by lift-off safety devices. The cantilever landing at the upper end and the banister beside the topmost scaffolding floor are constructed with conventional scaffolding material of the respective system. Thus the staircase, considered in ground plan, needs only two scaffolding bays and is in all regions secured laterally against fall. Further details, advantages and features of the invention should emerge from the following detailed designation.

Exemplified embodiments of the invention will be explained hereinunder with reference to the drawings, in which:

1 Fig. 1 Is a perspective view of a two-storey scaffolding bay with a two-storey staircase bay 4 positioned in front, and the scaffolding bay lying alongside on the right broken away; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating how the upper ends of the staircases shown in Fig. 1 link at the right to the next scaffolding bay; i Fig. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of an upper staircase landing with suspension hooks engaging into the U-profile of a supporting tie-bar; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a post on which two suspension boxes are mounted and the end of a double bar banister which is suspended thereon; Fig. 5 is a perspective view, corresponding to Fig.

1, of an arrangement, not for frame scaffolding, but for i -scaffolding having Individual vertical posts and further scaffolding elements which can be connected to perforated discs; Fig. 6 is a perspective view, corresponding to Fig.

2, showing how the arrangement shown in Fig. 5 links up at the top right to the next scaffolding bay region; and i 1 i 11 Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a banister connected to spaced-apart perforated discs on the posts of the embodiment of Figs. 5 and 6 with the aid of connection heads, overhang hooks and wedges.

The scaffolding 10 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of frames 11 which are formed from vertically extending scaffolding posts 12 and transverse bars 13 connected securely therebetween as well as horizontally extending SUDDorting tie- bars connected securely thereto. The frames 11 are provided with corner stiffenings 15 and they rest on feet 16 which are adjustable in height. They are erected in conventional arrangement beside a building (not shown) spaced apart from each other, for example at spacing 17. The spacing 17 then corresponds to the horizontally measured scaffolding bay length. Scaffolding floors 18 are suspended by means of conventional hooks 19 engaging into U-profiles 20 of the supporting tie-bars 14 and being secured therein in known manner. Edge boards 21 and 22 are likewise installed in customary manner. Front banisters 23 in the form of double banisters having stirrup-like pieces 24 are provided on higher storeys at the ends. Thus the actual scaffolding bays GF are formed with a depth 25 in rows one behind the other.

As ascent arrangement, further scaffolding frames 11.1 and 11.2 having connection meang 26 are erected in a staircase bay TF which is shown here lying in front of the other scaffolding. Prom those supporting tie-bars 14.1 and 14.2 of this bay TF, which are offset by a scaffolding bay length 17 and a scaffolding bay height 28 respective staircases 30.1; 30. 2 are suspended by means of conventional hooks 31, shown most clearly in Fig. 3, which engage into the upwardly-open U-profiles 20. Additional safe securing devices are provided but are not shown here.

Each staircase consists of two stringers 32.1 and 32.2, between which conventional staircase steps 33 extend at regular intervals. Advantageously the stringers consist of U-profiles and the steps consist of cut-to-size extrusion profiles formed with a ribbed surface, in which respect both advantageously consist of light metal"and are welded together. Landing stringers 35.1 to 35.4 are welded to the ends 34.1 and 34.2 of each of the two stringers 32.1 and 32.2. These landing stringers 35.1 and 35.4 extend horizontally i.e. at a slant relative to the main stringers 32.1 and 32.2 and at their remote ends they carry hooks 31. Formed between these landing stringers are the actual landings 36, which consist, for example, of three profiles 33.4 (exactly as used for the steps 33) which are ranged side i i -1 i i by side. Thus a relatively large landing surface is created. This lies, as can be seen, exactly on the level of the respective scaffolding floor 18, so that a user can easily climb up the staircase steps 33 and standing on the landing surface 36, even when laden with a load, turn sideways and move over onto the relevant floor 18. He is also not hindered, because at the side of the scaffolding floor 18.1 of the storey, shown here as the first storey, no banister or handrail is present. The absence of such banister or handrail can be accepted since the second staircase 30.2, which extends above and parallel to the lower staircase 30.1, lies closely adjacent this scaffolding bay. Thus the scaffolding floor 18.1 serves as connection path from the landing 36.2 to the landing 36.3.' Parallel to the stringers 32 1 and 35 of the staircases 30 there extend banister tubes 37.1 and 37.2, which are connected together by connection bars 37.3 and 37.4 and form a stable double banister. As can be seen, no front banister is provided in the lower entry bay EF, whilst a front banister 23.1 is suspended in ftont of the upper landing 36.2. Provided on the front side of the lower end of the upper staircase 30.2 is likewise a front banister 23.2. Also the upper staircase run has on the outside a corresponding double banister 37.1 to 37.4.

i As can be seen in more detail from Fig. 2, there extends beside the scaffolding floor 18.3 of the first storey in the next scaffolding bay a conventional banister 39, and at the end a front banister 23 is again provided. Nothing is constructed on the level of the first storey in-line with the staircase bay. On the second storey, however, a further supporting tie-bar with a bracket 41 is provided so that a cantilever landing 40 can be formed by a further scaffolding floor 18.5 which links on in a straight line to the topmost landing 36.4 of the upper staircase 30.2. Provided at the front side of this landing is a front banister 23.4. No horizontal banister Is provided between the external staircase bay TF and the internal scaffolding bay GF. Only at the outside of the staircase bay TF is a banister 39.2 provided. In contrast, on the topmost storey in the first-mentioned scaffolding bay GF, a horizontal banister 39.3 is formed in conventional manner, because here no staircase prevents a lateral fall.

Fig. 4 illustrates the banister or handrail suspension. Pocket-like banister suspension boxes 45 are welded laterally onto the scaffolding post 12. Wedges 46 are inserted therein and secured against dropping out. The end hooks 47 of the banister bars 39 are located into these boxes 45 and secured by knocking 1 1 1 - 13 down of the wedges 46. Such boxes are provided at locations evident from Figs. 1 and 2,.but towards the inwards so they are not visible.

The exemplified embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 has a similar basic structure of scaffolding staircase installations, with landings and the like, only here individual scaffolding post 12 are provided and between the scaffolding bay Gf and the staircase bay Tf not two posts, but only one post 1.2 is provided. Mounted on the posts 12, at spacings characteristic of the scaffolding system are perforated discs 50 which, as illustrated in Fig. 7, are designed in known manner with holes 51 for securing wedges 52. Known connection heads 53 are placed over the perforated discs 50 and the wedges 52 are knocked in. The details are known and can be gathered from the diagrammatic representation of Figs. 5 and 6. With this system, instead of front banisters 23, horizontal tiebars 54 are fastened at the locations which have already been explained with regard to Figs. 1 and 2 by means of connection heads and wedges as aforesaid. Instead of the special banister bars of the last exemplified embodiment, in this case conventional horizontal tie-bars 59 are used as banister bars. Also, the cantilever landing 40.1 is here formed with a bracket support 60.

14 - The banister bars 39.5 are in this case, as shown in Fig. 7, provided at their ends with downwardly-open hooks 56. These are secured over banister retaining tubes 55 with the aid of the wedges 57 which are knocked in horizontally. The banister retaining tubes 55 have connection heads 53 at one end and stop collars 58 at the other, as shown. As is evident from Figs. 5 and 6,, beside the customary horizontally extending banister bars consisting of simple straight scaffolding tubes, the outside staircase banisters extending parallel to the staircase stringers can be fastened likewise in a suitable and rapid manner.

As will be appreciated, the staircases arranged in an extra staircase bay outside the scaffolding bay are simple to construct using many conventional scaffolding parts and result in safe and clear ascent and transition conditions, no matter what basic type of scaffolding construction is used.

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Claims (9)

1. An ascent arrangement for scaffolding which comprises vertical scaffolding posts, transverse bars extending therebetween, supporting tiebars extending horizontally beneath the transverse bars, and scaffolding floors suspended on the tie-bars or transverse bars, and which has at least one staircase having in its end regions suspension devices for the suspension and supporting of the staircase on respective supporting tiebars which are offset horizontally and vertically by the extent of one bay, In which respect the or each staircase has a respective landing securely connected thereto at its upper and lower end, suspension devices for engagement of the supporting tiebars and/or other attachment means on the scaffolding are provided at the ends of each landing, the staircase is arranged in a staircase bay lying adjacent a continous scaffolding bay, outside the main scaffolding bay, the passage between staircase bay and scaffolding bay is free from banisters or handrails at least in the region of the landings, banisters or handrails extending substantially parallel to the staircase stringers and their supports are provided on the outside of the staircase bay, several staircases are, considered in ground plan, arranged one above the other, so that the scaffolding floor lying alongside serves as connection 1 path to the next-higher or next-lower staircase, at the level of the topmost bay a cantilever. landing, preferably having lateral and transverse banisters, links onto the upper landing piece and extends into the next longitudinal bay of the scaffolding, and, provided on this top level, on the main scaffolding, on the outside beside the staircase bay, is a conventional banister or handrail.

2. An ascent arrangement as claimed in claim 1 when provided on a scaffolding structure consisting of frames extending in transverse planes and formed from vertical scaffolding posts, as well as horizontal supporting tiebars and transverse bars extending between the vertical posts, and scaffolding floors which are supported between said frames.

3. An ascent arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised" in that the banisters or handrails are suspended from banister suspension boxes.

1

4. An ascent arrangement as claimed in claim 1 when provided on a scaffolding structure consisting of individual scaffolding posts to which perforated discs are fastened at intervals for connection of other scaffolding elements by means of connection heads and securing wedges, as well as individual horizontal 1 1 II i i 11 1 1 I j.i i i tie-bars, the staircase(s) being suspended from horizontal tie-bars which serve as supporting tie-bars.

5. An ascent arrangement as claimed In claim 4, characterised in that the banister or handrails are constituted by horizontal tie-bars which are held with the aid of banister holders having connection heads which are fastened to perforated discs.

6. An ascent arrangement as claimed In any preceding claim, characterised in that the staircases have, as suspension devices, hooks which can be suspended into upwardly-open Uprofiles and supporting tie-bars and can be secured therein.

7. An ascent arrangement as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that provided on the staircases and/or scaffolding bars are claws which can be hung over round tubes and secured there with pins or other fasteners.

1

8. An ascent arrangement as claimed in any preceding claims, characterised in that linking on to the topmost landing of the topmost staircase in the next following bay is a cantilever landing.which-is provided laterally and outwardly with a banister or handrail, and in that banisters or handrails are provided laterally i i 1 0 1 - 18 and outwardly on the topmost scaffolding bay alongside the staircase bay.

9. An ascent arrangement for scaffolding substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as -illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, or Figs. 5 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.

i i 1 i 1 1 i Published 1988 at The Patent Office. State House. 86.71 High Holborn, London WC1R 4TP. Further copies may be obtained from The Patent Office, Sales Branch. St Mary Cray. OrPington. Kent BR5 3RD. Printed by Multiplex techniques ltd, St Mary Cray, Kent. Con. 1187.