GB2326208A

GB2326208A - Scaffolding and shoring connector

Info

Publication number: GB2326208A
Application number: GB9810385A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter J Rogers; Paul J Hannigan
Original assignee: Aluma Enterprises Inc
Current assignee: Aluma Enterprises Inc
Priority date: 1997-05-16
Filing date: 1998-05-15
Publication date: 1998-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 2018-05-15
Also published as: CA2205154A1; GB2326208B; CA2205154C; GB9810385D0

Abstract

A connecting element comprises a central connecting section 35 interconnected to first and second end portions 31,33. The central section 35 includes a rosette or circular disc 73 with a series of connecting ports 75 for connection with elements transverse to the connecting element. The end portions 31,33 have X-shaped cross sectional spigots for connection with non-circular shoring legs 51, and end plates 37 for engaging the ends 53 of the legs 51. Locking pins 61 pass though apertures in the end portions 31,33 and the legs 51. Alternatively, one end of the connecting element can be provided with a removable spigot (33a, Fig 4) for inserting in a scaffold tube. The connecting element may also be connected to a telescopic screw jack (10, Fig 6).

Description

TITLE: INTEGRATED FRANCE AND POST SUPPORT SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to adapters for use in connecting vertical standards used in scaffolding and shoring. The invention also relates to a combination of scaffolding and shoring frame arrangements.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Scaffolding arrangements are commonly used for providing temporary support for work platforms or other support surfaces which are removable. One example of a removable support surface is a bleacher system where temporary bleachers are set up for a particular event or activity.

Scaffolding systems basically use vertical leg members having a connecting member welded thereon. These vertical members are adapted to connect with like vertical members in an end to end manner and are adapted to be connected to adjacent vertical members by either horizontal supports or diagonal bracing using the connecting member as part of a releasable securement.

It is also known to use shoring frames which are basically two vertical leg members normally permanently connected by horizontal members. For example many shoring frames have two vertical legs held in a fixed configuration by two horizontal members and a diagonal brace. Frame systems are faster to set up and shoring frames are typically of higher load carrying capacity as the leg members of a larger cross section.

Scaffolding systems are basically a modular system where vertical members are located at a predetermined spacing and are interconnected by bracing and ledgers to maintain stability. Frame based shoring systems normally require less interconnection.

The present invention provides a simple arrangement for integrating a scaffolding system with a shoring frame arrangement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An adapter according to the present invention allows connection between two vertical support members and provides for non vertical connection with adjacent support members. The adapter comprises an elongate body having a first end portion connected to a second end portion by a central section. The central section has a horizontal connecting structure, with a series of connecting ports distributed thereabout. The first end portion is of a cross section for connection with a scaffold vertical component, and the second end portion is an adapter for a vertical component of a significantly greater cross section. The second end portion is of a size to define a periphery envelope which overlaps with the ports of the connecting structure and the connecting structure is sufficiently spaced from the second end portion to provide full access to the ports used for non vertical connection.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold leg spigot.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the second end portion is adapted for receipt and cooperation with a tubular shoring leg.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the first end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold leg spigot and the second end portion is adapted for co;ection with a tubular shoring leg having a non circular cross section.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the central section is a tube having a circular cross section.

The present invention is also directed to an adapter for connecting two vertical support members and for providing non vertical connection to other members. The adapter comprises an elongate body having a first end portion interconnected to a second end portion by a central section. The central section has a horizontal connecting rosette with a series of connecting ports distributed thereabout. The first end portion has a cross section for connection with a vertical component and the second end portion is adapted for connection with a vertical component of significantly greaterjcross section relative to the central section. The first and second end portions are of a size to define a periphery envelope which overlaps with the ports of the rosette. The rosette is sufficiently spaced from said first and second end portions, to provide full access to the ports used for non vertical connection.

According to an aspect of the invention, the first and second end portions are adapted for connection with a non circular cross section vertical component of a shoring frame.

According to a further aspect of the invention, each end portion of the adapter has a horizontal plate portion for butting with the end of a vertical member and the end portion includes a projecting insert for locating within the end of the vertical member.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the adapter has a hollow cylindrical open ended cavity running from one end portion to the other end portion.

The adapter is also capable of connecting a scaffold leg and a shoring frame leg in an end to end manner while allowing for the normal mechanical connection of horizontal and diagonal bracing used in scaffolding in the conventional manner.

The adapter can also be used for forming a connection between two stacked shoring frames while providing a mechanical connection at the traditional spacings used in a scaffolding frame arrangement. This arrangement allows shoring frames and scaffolding systems to be integrated into a combined system and in this way the equipment can be more effectively utilized.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bleacher arrangement; Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the bleacher arrangement; Figure 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of an adapter connecting to shoring frame legs; Figure 4 is an exploded view showing an adapter for connection with a shoring frame leg on the bottom and a scaffold leg above; Figure 5 shows the adapter of figure 4 used to connect a scaffold leg located below and; Figure 6 shows an adapter for insertion in the base of a shoring frame and allowing connection to a screw jacket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION The combination modular scaffold system and shoring frame system of the present invention will be described for supporting a temporary bleacher arrangement. The combination system can be used for any scaffolding or shoring application and is not limited to bleachers. The term scaffolding system is used to refer to separate posts with releasable bracing assembled at the job site. Shoring frame is being used to refer to two separate posts connected by horizontal members to form a frame and is stored as a frame. The temporary bleacher arrangement of figure 1 shows a bleacher system 2 which is really made up of a series of bleacher bents generally shown as 6. The bleacher bent is a complete unit and is adapted to be supported by a support system generally shown as 4. This support system can be a scaffold based system, a shoring frame system or a combination of both. A series of screw jacks 10 are located at ground level and allow levelling of the various sections of the supports. It can be seen that the support system has bottom vertical supports 12 with associated screw jacks and also has two half vertical members generally shown as 14. This represents the first lift of the support system. The second lift or the second tier has stacked vertical members 20 and stacked half vertical members 22. The third lift includes only the half vertical member 23.

The support systems includes adapters 30 which form the connection from one lift to the next lift. In addition, they also allow for mechanical fastening of the horizontal or ledger members 38 as well as the diagonal brace members 36. As can be appreciated from the drawing the adapters 30 also include a mechanical connecting structure similar to connecting arrangements used on scaffolding systems which allow for the mechanical connection to the adapter. These connecting structures will be referred to as rosettes although other connecting arrangements can be used. The adapters are of a length to appropriately vertically space the adapters, such that the rosettes of vertically spaced adapters are at the same vertical spacing as found in the rosettes of a scaffold leg.

Figure 2 shows the last row of shoring frames used to support the rear of the bleachers. Each shoring frame is shown as 50 and has two tubular shoring legs 51 connected by a top horizontal member 52 a bottom horizontal member 54 and a diagonal brace member 56. These shoring frames stay together as a frame and the system uses frames as opposed to individual legs. The frames are relatively light and simplify initial setup. Shoring frames 50 are typically of a higher load carrying capacity relative to scaffolding legs with shoring frames bridge 60 can be used to form a connection between shoring frames for supporting the bleachers. Thus the higher capacity of the frames allows the vertical members that would normally be positioned below the center of the bridge to be deleted.

This again allows the bleacher system to be assembled more quickly with less equipment.

The shoring frame legs are of reduced height relative to a scaffold leg and the adapter corrects this vertical difference and also narrows the leg to meet the horizontal spacing of rosettes in the scaffold system.

Figure 3 shows adapter 30 used to connect two shoring frame legs partially shown as 51. The adapter has a first end portion 31 a second end portion 33 and a central connecting portion 35. It can be seen that the central connecting section 35 is of reduced diameter relative to the shoring frame legs 51. Each of the ends 31 and 33 include a stop plate 37 for engaging the end 53 of a shoring frame leg. Each of the ends 31 and 33 are of an X cross section where the legs of the X's fit in appropriate corners of the shoring leg 51. Thus the ends 31 can be inserted in a shoring frame leg and the leg will bottom out against the stop plate 37. The X configuration provides a close fit with the leg and thus provides a good connection.

In order to maintain this connection lock pins 61 may be inserted through a hole 63 in the shoring frame legs which pass through a port 65 in each end portion. In this way the adapters are pinned to the shoring frame legs either side of the adapter.

It can be seen from figure 3 that the distance 71 between the stop plates 37 is fairly substantial and the rosette 73 is located centrally on the center section 35.

The rosette includes a plurality of securing ports generally shown as 75 distributed thereabout. This is similar to the conventional connection used on scaffolding legs where the rosettes are welded to the scaffolding leg.

The rosette on the adapter 30 allows common connectors between a scaffolding system and a shoring system to be used together. It can be seen that a scaffolding system is modular and the adapter allows conversion of the shoring frame leg which is of larger diameter, to the diameter of the scaffolding leg. The rosettes of the adapters and the scaffold legs are at the same spacing as used in the scaffold system. Thus the normal horizontal connecting members and diagonal bracing members used for the scaffolding system are used for the combined system. It can also be appreciated that there is a required vertical spacing between lifts of the support system. For example a shoring frame first lift can support a scaf olding lift thereabove connected by adapters. The adapters are positioned to maintain the modular spacing between rosettes as would be the case if both lifts were of scaffold components. The space 71 is sufficient to allow good access to the securing ports 75 whereby a wedge member, as is commonly used with these connectors, can be inserted in the port and form a good mechanical connection with the rosette. Similarly there is enough room to have the wedge removed and thus the adapter provides for smooth integration of the combined system.

A modified adapter 30a is shown in figure 4 having a first end 31 similar to figure 3 whereas the second end 33a is in the form of a removable spigot for 83 insertion in and connection with a scaffolding leg or support leg of a bleacher bent. One of the stop plates 37 has been removed and an outwardly stepped shoulder 39 forms the stop face. Removable spigot 83 is retained by pin 85 and clip 89 to the center section 35. The pin 85 passes through the port 87 and through the spigot 83 and out the other side of the center section 35. This arrangement demonstrates how the end portions can be removably secured to the center section if desired.

Figure 5 shows an adapter 30b with a first end portion 31 for adapted with a shoring frame leg and the second end portion 33b being adapted for receiving a spigot 91 inserted in a scaffold leg 93. The second end 33b has a port 100 which can be aligned with port 101 in the spigot 91 and the end 33b sleeves onto the spigot and is held on this spigot due to the retaining pin 102. End 33b is extended and this extension is such that it appropriately spaces the rosette 75 of the adapter at the appropriate location as would be the case if two scaffold legs were stacked one above the other. This provides for the suitable modularity in the vertical direction and allows the adaption from scaffold leg to shoring frame leg.

Figure 6 shows a suitable adapter 30c for connecting a shoring frame leg 51 to a telescopic screw jack 10. It can be seen that the adapter 30c has a hollow tubular cavity 110 running through the length thereof for receiving the screw jack 70. A rosette 73 is provided at the appropriate location on the central section 35. The bottom of the central section has a shoulder for engaging the screw handle 112 and allowing suitable adjustment of the telescopic jack 10.

Although the invention has been described here in detail the understood by those skilled in the art that variations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS: 1. An adapter for connecting two vertical support members and providing for non vertical connection, said adapter comprising an elongate body having a first end portion interconnected to a second end portion by a central section, said central section having a horizontal connecting structure with a series of connecting ports distributed thereabouts, and wherein said first end portion is of a cross section for connection with a scaffold vertical component and said second end portion is adapted for connection with a vertical component of significantly greater cross section, said second end portion being of a size to define a periphery envelope which overlaps with the ports of said connecting structure and said connecting structure is sufficiently spaced from said second end portion to provide full access to said ports used for non vertical connection.
2. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold leg spigot.
3. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second end portion is adapted for connection with a tubular shoring leg having a non circular cross section.
4. An adapter as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first end portion is adapted for slide connection over a scaffold leg spigot and said second end portion is adapted for connection with a tubular shoring leg having a non circular cross section.
5. An adapter as claimed in claim 4 wherein said central section is a tube having a circular cross section.
6. An adapter for connecting two vertical support members and providing for non vertical connection, said adapter comprising an elongate body having a first end portion interconnected to a second end portion by a central section, said central section having a horizontal connecting rosette with a series of connecting ports distributed thereabouts, and wherein said first end portion is of a cross section for connection with a vertical component and said first and second end portions are adapted for connection with a vertical component of significantly greater cross section than said central section, said first and second end portions being of a size to define a periphery envelop which overlaps with the ports of said rosette and said rosette is sufficiently spaced from said first and second end portions to provide full access of said ports used for non vertical connection.
7. An adapter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second end portions are adapted for connection with a non circular in cross section vertical component of a shoring frame.
8, An adapter as claimed in claim 7 wherein each end portion has a horizontal plate portion for abutting with the end of a vertical member and a projecting insert for locating within the end of the vertical member.
9. An adapter as claimed in claim 8 wherein said projecting insert portion has an X cross section.
10. An adapter as claimed in claim 6 wherein said adapter has a hollow cylindrical cavity running from one end portion to the other end portion and which is open at each end.
11. In combination, a modular scaffolding system and a shoring frame system, said scaffold system comprising scaffold legs with each leg having a connecting structure at one end thereof, horizontal ledgers and diagonals are securable to connecting structures of adjacent scaffold legs, each scaffold leg being adapted to connect with another scaffold leg in a vertical stacked manner and space, the connecting portions a predetermined modular distance, said shoring frame system having shoring frames which cooperate with said modular scaffolding system to have the same horizontal distance between vertical members of the shoring frame as between horizontally connected scaffold legs of said modular scaffold system and can vertically stack therewith, each shoring frame vertical member including an associated connecting structure appropriately positioned to continue the modular spacing of said modular scaffold system whereby shoring frames can be used interchangeably with paired scaffold legs of the modular scaffold system.
12. In combination as claimed in claim 11, wherein said vertical members of said shoring frames are of reduced length relative to said scaffold legs and adapters form the connection between vertical stacked scaffold legs and shoring frame vertical members.
13. An adapter substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
14. A modular scaffolding system and a shoring frame system in combination substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.