GB2347106A

GB2347106A - Apparatus for moulding a staircase

Info

Publication number: GB2347106A
Application number: GB9903959A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Soest Bert Van; Adrie Lubbers; Timothy Marsden; Stephen Carr
Original assignee: TARMAC UK Ltd; Tarmac Heavy Building Materials UK Ltd
Current assignee: TARMAC UK Ltd; Tarmac Heavy Building Materials UK Ltd
Priority date: 1999-02-23
Filing date: 1999-02-23
Publication date: 2000-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-23
Also published as: EP1033215A2; GB2347106B; GB9903959D0; EP1033215A3

Abstract

An apparatus for moulding a staircase includes a plurality of tread and riser mould part assemblies (14) arranged along the apparatus (10), each tread mould part (24) of each assembly (14) extending downwardly from a connection (26) with the riser mould part (25) of the assembly (14), which riser mould part (25) also extends downwardly at all opposite side of the connection (26), the lengths of each of the tread and riser mould parts (24, 25) from their respective connections (26) being adjustable, and the apparatus (10) further includes a support structure (16, 17) characterised in that the tread mould part (24) of a first assembly (14) and the riser mould part (25) of an adjacent second assembly (14) are connected to a first bogie means (40) which is movable along the support structure (16, 17) of the apparatus (10), and the riser mould part (25) of the first assembly (14) and the tread mould part (24) of a third adjacent assembly (14) are connected to a second bogie means (41) which is movable along the support structure (16, 17) of the apparatus (10), the lengths of the tread and riser mould parts (24, 25) of the first assembly (14) and of the riser mould part (25) of the second assembly and of the tread mould part (24) of the third assembly (14) being adjustable as the first and second bogie means (40, 41) are moved towards or away from one another. The tread and riser mould parts (24, 25) may be telescopic for length adjustments. The staircase may be made of concrete.

Description

2347106 Title: Apparatus for Moulding a Staircase

Description of Invention

This invention relates to an appai-atus and method of moulding a staircase in using a castable matei-lal such as concrete.

Moulds for staircases are already known. Prior European Patent 0191711 describes one such mould in which the lengths of tread and riser mould parts in the mould are adjustable so that the treads and risers of the staircase can have desired dimensions. The treads and risers are provided as modular assemblies and the treads and risers of the individual modules are independently adjustable This is a ver,- time consuming and skilled process because, to ensure that in the resulting staircase, all of the treads and risers respectively,, are of a consistent length and comply Nlth accepted building standards, it is necessai, to perfomi detailed calculations and then accurately to perform adjustments to each IllOdLI1e. The Mould Is lined in this proposal, with a continuous]met- wrapped alOLInd rollei-s to ensure that the liner is kept taught, which complicates tile adJUstinent pi,ocess.

A modified arranoeinent is described in our pi-loi- International patent application W097/3) 163 I'll \\ hich each of the modules has Its own liner, and tile connection between the tread and riser Mould parts of each niodLile is of fixed angle, \N'IIICll Simplifies 11101.11d adiistinent, bUt nevei-theless, each module requires individual adustment and again detailed CalCUlations are required.

Accordin- to a fii-st aspect ofthe invention Ne proNicie ail appal-MLIS fOi- -'D Moulding a staircase including a plw-allt- of tread and riser mould part t) -- assemblies arranged aloil- the appal-,NLIS, each tread Mould pail of each C assembly extendino dowil"ai-dl, froni I connection with the riser mould part of 0 2 the assembly, which riser mould pail also extends downwardly at an opposite side of the connection, the lengths of each of the tread and I- Iser mould pails from their respective connections being adjustable, and the apparatus further including a support structure characterised in that the tread mould pail of a first assembly and the riser mould pail of an adjacent second assembly are connected to a first bogle means xvillch is movable along the support structure 0 of the apparatus, and the riser mould pail of the first assembly and the tread mould pan of a tliii-d adjacent assen-lbly are connected to a second bogie means which is movable along the support Structure of the apparatus, the lengths of the tread and riser mould parts of the first assembly and of the riser mould part of the second assembly and of the tread mould pail of the third assembly being adjustable as the first and second bogie means are moved to-'N,ards or away from one another.

Thus vN'hereas in the previous proposals described. the tread and riser assemblies have been provided as individual modules, in tile apparatus of the invention, the tread and riser assemblies are interconnected via the bogie means. Tlius the tread mould pail of the second assembly is preferably connected to a fuilher bot-ne means as is the riser mould part of the third assembl%, all of the boole ineans belno mo%,eable alonu the suppoil structure whereb,, the lengths. of all of the tread and I-ISer 11101.11d parts inay be adjusted upon relatk.'e inovernent of tile respective boo' ie means.

To enable adjustment to be inore easlIN, perforined. preferably each tread and riser mould pail assembly lias ail associated link-ag inecharilsin includiii(I C an adjustment member, the adjustment member being moveable to cause relative movenient between the pail- of ad'acent bo-le means to whicli the tread 1 -- and riser mould pails are connected, or beim',, moveable in response to relati\'e I- movement between the pair of ad iacent bogie means to CaUse adil- lstnlent of the lengtli of at least one of tile tread and riser inotild parts.

For example each, linkage mechanism may include an adjustment member which is pivotally connected to one of the bogle means of the pair, and a linkelement which extends between and is pivotally connected to each of the adjustment membei- and a point adjacent to the tread and riser mould pall connection.

To ensure that the treads and/or risers respectively of the staircase are of a consistent length along the staircase, preferably the adjustment members of each of the linkage mechanisms of the apparatus are moveable together whereby the lengths of all of the tread and/or riser mould paits of the apparatus may simultaneously adjust generally equally witli the other respective tread and riser mould parts.

Thus as one of the tread and riser Mould pail assemblies is adjusted, each of the other tread and riser assemblies will be caused to be adjusted. Hence there is no need for individual assemblies to be adjusted, and furthermore because the assemblies are intei,connected, if the end closures of the apparatus are set in positions to provide a staircase of a desired lenoth, the lengths of the treads and/or risers v,,111 automatically be set and accordin.gly much simpler calculation than vlth the previous proposal is required, it only being necessaiy to detemilne the 1111111ber of steps required along the staircase C for a given staircase.length.

Thus the invention enables a variety of Staircases to be produced usin" the apparatus, faster and NvIth less skill than filthertofoi-e.

Althou-h various means of operatino the linkage iiieclianisnis may be designed, in one embodiment the adJUStillent members Ina% each be moved In response to movement of an aCtt.13ting mecins witli whicli eaJi of the ad' Z-) JUstnient members is en-aged.

Althou-h inany different geometries of linkaoc ni eclian 1 sills illay be provided, in one embodiment the link element IS C0111leCted at or towards one end to the point adjacent to the tread and riser mould pail connection and at or 4 towards the opposite end to the adjustment inember intermediate the ends of the adjustment member. To suit a particular support structure, the adjustment member may be cranked along its length and the Ili ik element may be connected to the adjustment member in the region of the crank.

Each linkage mechanism may include a further link fixed at or close to the point adjacent to the tread and riser mould part connection, which link is moveable independently of tile adjustment member to cause adjustment of the length of the riser and/or tread mould part.

Thus the length of e.g. the treads may be ad. lusted by adjustment member movement, as a result of relative moN,ement between the bogie means, and the lengths of the riser may be adjusted by movement of the further link-.

Although the bogie means inay comprise a single bogle, which for a large staircase may entail additional support for the tread and riser mould part assemblies, preferably each bogle ineans Includes a pail- or pairs of bogies spaced laterally of tile apparatus so that the asseniblies are supported adequately across substantially their entire,,ldths by the bogies.

Z:

Tile bogies may comprise simple silding members, bUt preferably each Z:: C, bogle has a pair of wheels or rollers %vii1cli roll along a support rall of the Z-1 1.7 Support StrUCture, to facilitate movement.

Each tread and riser mould part assenibl may 111CIUde a liner which provides an interface between the tread and riser moLild patis and tile material to be cast into the MOUld, tile liner extendim', over the connection bet-Neejl the tread and riser MOUld parts and being fixed with respect to either the tread or riser mould pail of the assembly and beln', , ad.1tistable \\Itli respect to the riser or tread mould pail to accommodate tread and riser mould pail length ad. JUstments. For example, the hiler may extend dowm\ardly bet\veen a riser mould part of one assembly and the tread 111OUld part of ail ad.lacent assembly, and may be biased downwardly so that tile lillel- 1'enlalllS talWIlt dUrill" tread and riser mould pail length adjUstirlem.

In one arrangement each of the adjacent tread and riser mould pails of adjacent assemblies, are connected to the bogle means by a generally cylindrical connecting member which extends laterally of the apparatus, tile liners of each of the adjacent tread and riser mould pail assemblies passing extendina around a respective cylindrical connecting mernber.

It will be appreciated that between the cylindrical connecting members In of the tread mould pail of one assembly and the riser pail of the adjacent assembly a step nosing is formed. To improve the shaping of the step nosings, there may be provided a nosing Insert, tile Insert InClUding all upper pail having C) 0 a concave configuration which upper pail spans any gap between the adjacent ZD connecting members and partially overlaps the uppermost lined surfaces of the adjacent tread and riser mould pails, tile nosing insert also havino a lower pail which extends downwardly from tile Lipper pail and is configured to engage the adjacent cylindrical members of the ad.jacent connectino members.

According to a second aspect of tile invention we provide a method of mouldino usino an apparatus aCCOI-dim, to the fii-st aspect of tile invention characterised in that alternate bogie means ai'e moved towards or away fi-orn adjacent bope means to adl 0 ust each of the tread and r1sei- mould pails to a desired lenoth. and tile Mould is closed to pl'OVIde a 111OL11ding cavity bet'N'eell side and end niould closure members and a Mould bottom fornied b the plurality of tread and riser mould part assemblies, and nioulding rilaterial is cast into the moulding cavity and permitted to hai-den.

If desired, reinforcement elements may be provided k\-hich extend fi-oni one end of the apparatus to tile other, and ina be pre-stressed so that stress may be applied to the cast concrete Olen hardened.

The invention %,111 noN, be described x\ ith reference to tile accollipallyin(y drawings in 6 FIGURE I is a side view of part of an apparatus in accordance with the invention showing a tread and riser assembly with tread and riser mould parts adjusted to a maximum length-, FIGURE 2 is a view similar to figure I but showing the tread and rise]mould parts adjusted to a mininlLim length- FIGURE ') I's an end view of tile apparatus Of figures I and 2 but with parts omitted for clarity, FIGURE 4 is an Illustrative view of a tread and riser assembly of the apparatus of figures I to 3, showing how a liner therefor is kept taught; FIGURE 5 is a detailed view of a nosing insert for use with the apparatus of figures I to 3).

Referring to figures I to 3) of tile dravlngs, there is shown an apparatus 10 for moulding a staircase in e.g. concrete or other settable/liardenable material, which concrete etc. rnav be reinforced as desired and as is well known in the art, or as described hereinafter.

The moulding apparatus 10 has a moLilding caN ity defined between side closure members 12, 13, end closure members (not seen) and a bottom wall provided by a plurality of tread and riser motild part assemblies 14.

The side 12, 1') and end clostire members and tile assemblies 14 are supported by a support Sti-LICtUl-e XVIlIC11 InClUdes bracing to hold the closure members rigid. A filler (not Shown) niay be positioned betv,,een the side closure members 12, 13, at any desired position laterally of the apparatus 10 to enable staircases of varying width to be prodticed. 'File SLII)I)01-t SIRICRII-C also enables tile overall len,,th of the moUldill" ca\,ItN between the end closure members to be adjtisted, so that a staircase of a desired lenoth illay be produced. The number of steps of the staircase can be changed b adding/rernoving tread and riser mould part assemblies 14, and the geometry of 0 the inclividiial steps can be ad jLlSted ZIS hereinafter described, within limits, so 7 that the moulding apparatus 10 may be used to produce staircases of widely varying dimensions.

The support structure Includes Outer main ralls 16, 17 arranged at the sides of the apparatus 10, and corresponding auxillary inner ralls 18, l8a, 19, l9a the rails all being supported oil a base Sti-LICtUre 20. Side support structui,es 21, 22 provide for bracing of tile side closures 12, 1 ') i-espectively.

The tread and riser mould pail assemblies 14 each comprise a tread mould pail 24 and a riser mould pail 25, the mould parts 24, 25 being connected at a connection 26 at a fixed relative angle of 90 15 ', Each of the tread and riser mould pails 24, 25 Is adjustable in len-th downwardly fi- om the connection 26, by V11-tLie of being telescopic, the IIIOLI]d pails 24, 25 havill(I outer parts 28, 29 and inner relatively slideable pails 30, 3)1 respectively. The inner parts 30, 31. may have a slot or slots therein wliicli receives a guide pin (or pins) 33, 34 whereby the slidini- 1; movement of the Inner pail 30, -3)1 IS guided. Fillers F may be provided as necessary to fill an%, surface discontinuity formed as the Inner pails 33), 34 are telescoped OLItwardly. as seen in figure I only.

The tread 24 and riser 25 nioLild pails are eacli connected at then- ends 34, 3)5 to respective bogies 40, 4 1, at eacli side of the apparatLIS 10. Tile bogies 40, 41 at one side al-e movable along the rall 17 wilereas tile bovies 40, 41 at the other side are moveable alono the rall 16.

The bogies 40, 4 1 eacli are connected to cylindrical formations 46, 47 at the ends of t1le tread and riser 11101.11(i parts 24, 25.

Each boaje, for example bo-Ie 40, lias connected iliereto, a tread nlOLIld pail 24 of a first assenibly 14, and a riser 25 HIOUld INIFt of an adjacent assembly 14, and by N'11-tLIe of the 111OLintino of the cvhndrial forniations 46, 47 relative rotation and dius variance of the angle bet\\,een the tread niould part 24 ZD and the I-ISel- MOLI]d paii 25 at each bogle 40 is perinitted.

8 Thus all of the tread and riser assemblies 14 are interconnected by the bogies 40, 41 and adjacent pairs of bogies 40 and 41 may be moved towards and away from one another along the respective rails 16, 17 to adjust the lengths of at least the tread mould pails 24 as the inner pails 30 thereof slide in or out relative to the outer pails 28. Such relative bogie movement may also cause some adjustment of the lengths of tile riser mould pails 25, although in the main this is effected by other means as hereinafter explained.

The bogies 40, 41 each comprise a pail- of wheels 'N', but could alternatively be rollers or pairs of rollers or tile like to facilitate movement of the bogies 40, 41 along the rails 16, 17.

To ensure of consistent tread/riser lengths for all steps of the staircase, and to effect relative movement of tile bogle 40, 41 pairs, tile tread and riser mould parts 24, 25 are further Interconnected by liiika(,,e mechanisms 50.

Each linkage mechanism 50 comprises, at each side of the apparatus 10, inwardly of the rails 16, 17, ail adjustment member 5 1 which in this example is of cranked configuration, alid is pivoted at one end 52 to a cylindrical formation 46 e.(,. provided at the end of the tread IllOLIld pail 24. At its other end 53, the adjustment member 51 has I roller 54 Milcli is carried oil a liffing mechanism 60 supported oil ralls I 8a (or 19a) of the stipport structure. As liftino mechanism 60 is operated, tile adjUstineiii member -51 will be moN,ed bet-ween tile lower positioil sho%, -n III fiOUre 2 aiid the iipper position of figure Intermediate its ends 52, 53, the adjUstmetit member 51 is pivotally connected at A to a iink 55,011ch e\teiids to a polm 56 ad - lacew to tile connection 26 between tile tread aild riser mould pails 214.2-5. xNhere the link 55 is pivotally connected.

It will be appreciated that dLie to the geometry of the adjListment mernber 51 and the link 55, as tile lifting mechanism 60 operates (in practice both liftino mechanisms 60 are operated In synciii-oillsin) the ad. acem bogies 40, 4 1 C..1 0 9 of adjacent pails will be moved towards or away fi-oin one another whilst the lengths of the tread mould pails 24 at least will be adjusted. Sliding of the inner parts 30 relative to the outer pails 28 of the tread mould pails 24 will be assisted by the links 55 existing, generally in the sliding direction. A yet further link 57 extends at each side of the apparatus 10, inwardly of the links 55, generally vertically downwardly to a roller 58 which is suppot-ted on a second lifting mechanism 61 of the support st-ructure.

As the second liftino mechanisms 61 are operated. the connections 26 between the tread and riser mould parts 24, 25 will be moved upwardly or downwardly, which will cause adJustinent of the lengths of the rise]mould parts 25.

Of course during operatioi-I of the first liffing mecliailisnis 60, some riser mould pail 25 length adjustment may occur, and during operation of the second lifting mechanisms 61, some ti-ead mould pail 24 length adjustment may Occur but by providing both first and second 11iffing mechanisms 60. 61, which may be operated separately or together the tread and riser mOUld pails 24, 25 lengths can be relatively adjusted.

Because all of the adJUStment menibet-s 51 beat- oii the lifting mechanism 60 and the fui-ther links 57 all beat- on the second liftim-, meclianism 61, the tread and/or rise]-. 111OUld parts 24. 25 respectively \vIII all be adjusted simultaneously as the respective liftHig mechanisms 60. 61 are Operated. Further the tread mould pails 24 and riser niould pails 25 lespectively will be adjusted generally equally. \Itli the result diat the staircase formed in the moulding apparatus 10 \\III liave genei-ally equally spaced steps i.e. the tread and riser dimenstoi-is will be consistClIt tlI1_0LI(1I1OLIt the stairc.ase. as is demanded by accepted building standards.

Fuillier features Of the apparatus 10 al-C as f0HOWS.

The lifting mechanism 60, 61 may IIICiUde respective ralls R on which the rollers 54/58 beat-, Much ralls are moved Up or dowti by one or more hydraulic or other fluid operated actuators, or by ail electric or other motive means, e.g. through a transmission, as desired.

Each tread and riser assembly 14 has ail associated liner L which extends over the connection 26 bet-,A'een the tread and riser mould parts 24, 25, and downwardly over and betkveen adjaceilt cyllridi-Ical formations 46, 47 at the ends of tread and riser mould pails 24, 25. The liner L is fixed at one end, e.g. by wrapping around the cylindrical formation 47 of the riser mould pall 25 and is secured to a clamp block 62, which extends fi-oni side to side of tile liner L, and at an opposite end the liner L depends between the cylindrical formations 46, 47 to a free hanging connector 63. The connector 63 extends throughout the liner L width, and is connected to welolits 64 as illustrated in figure 4. Thus the liner L is held taught as tile bogies 40, 4 1 are moved along the ralls 16, 17 to adjust the lengths of at least the tread MOLIld pails 24. Of Course any alternative means for maintaining the liner L taught could be employed.

It will be appreciated that between the adjacem cylMdrical formations 46, 47 there will necessarily be a small gap. Ill the finished staircase, this gap is in the region of a step nosing. It Is Important that the step nosirig Is properly formed, or else a machining oi- tile like operation will subsequently be required.

Accordin-ly, a iloslilo Msert 70 (best seeil Ill FlUL11-e 51) IS Iriserted Ill tile gap, the insert 70 havino ail upper part vvith a concave forniation 72 of tile desired step nosing shape, the upper part haviiii; legs 74. 75 \\hIch overlap tile uppermost surfaces of the tread and I-ISer 1110LIld pails 24. 25. Tile insell 70 further has a lower part 76 which depends fi-om the upper pail and is configured gerierally to coifform to tile shape of tile eviltidrical formations 46, 47. The nosffl- insert 70 tilay have to be positioiie(I froni the side, before side closure plate 121 or 13 is Ill position, bLIt preferabl the Hisert 70 is made of a material, Such as a Suitable plastic or Ribber which allo\Ns sufficient resilient deformation for tile Insert 70 to be positiotied froin abo\e. III each case the I I insert 70 is securely held III positioti dUl-111111 casting by the legs 74, 75 aild tile cylindrical formations 46, 47.

Various modifications to the apparatus may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.

For example the geometry of the llilkage mechanism 50 described is only an example as other geometries inay be employed,vhIch permit of the simultaneous adjustment of each of the tread and/or riser mould parts 25 as described. The support Structure may be adapted for a pamcular mould design, as may the construction and positionim, of the bogies 40, 41 etc.

1D Although the tread and riser IIIOLI]d parts 24, 25 have been described as being adjustable in lenoth by being telescopic, alterriative arrangements are possible.

In the example described, as is preferred, the angle between the ti-ead and riser mould parts 24, 25 at tile cotmectioti 26 fi-om vvhIch they each extend downwardly is fixed, but In aiiother exampie, some adjUstmeTIt of this angle within the range 75 to 105 ' may be pennitted if desired.

The apparatus 10 described is particularly for casting concrete staircases, but other castableliarcleilabie inaterials could be used, In vvi-lich case some modificatioii to the apparatus 10 inay thus be IeqLIIT-ed or desirable.

By VIIILle of. the rigidity of the 111OUld desigii, aiid M partICLIlaltile positive suppoi-t afforded by the adiustment members 5 1 bearing on the liffing mechamsms 60 and the further lHiks 57 bearii-io oil the llftlil,, mechanisms 61, I 'f d e sh ing apparatLiS 10 way have pre-stressed i-ed, the adJustable 111OUICli reinforcenietit members provided thereoii, extetidim, fi-om one end of the apparatus to the other, e.o. as slimvil at N-1 III fi('Lli-e 3. Thus wheii the concrete is harderIed, and the stress oil tile reliffoi-ceiiiew membel. N1 is released, stress will be applied to the concrete, III this way the iliass of concrete required necessai), to achieve adequate staircase streiioth caii be substaiinally reduced.

I- 12 The features disclosed In the foregoin(I; description, or the follov'ring claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for per-forming the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utillsed for realisim, the invention in diverse forms thereof

Claims

I An apparatus for moulding a staircase includinp a plurality of tread and riser mould pail assemblies aii-anged along the apparatus, each tread mould pall of each assembly extending downwardly frorn a connection with the riser mould pail of the assembly, which riser MOUld pail also extends downwardly I ide of the connection, the lengths of each of tile tread and riser at an oppos te si I - - mould pails from then- respective connections being adjustable, and tile apparatus fui-ther includiffil a SLIPPOII structtire characterlsed in that the tread mould pail of a first assembly and the riser niould paii of an adjacent second assembly are connected to a first bogie nicans vdilch is movable along the support structure of the apparatus, and tile riser 11101.11d pail of the first assembly and the tread mould pail of a third adjacent assenibk are connected to a second bogie means which is movable along, tile stipport sti'Licti.ire of the apparatus, the lengths of the tread and I-ISei11101.11d pails of the first asseilibly and of the riser mould pail of tile second assembly an(] of tile tread WOUld pail of the third assembly being adjustable as the first and second bogne means are moved towards or away fropi one another.

2. An apparatus according to claini I characterlsed in that the tread inould pail of the second assenibly is connected to a further bogie ineans as is the risel, mould part of tile third assenibly, all of' the bo,,ie ineans being moveable along the suppoil structure Nx-liereby tile, len,ths of all of tile tread and riser inould I'D pails are adjustable UPOIl I-el.lti%'e movement oftlic rcsl)ectI%e bogie nieans.

I 3. An apparatus accordin,.'; to claim I or clalin 2 chaiacterised in that each tread and riser mould part assenibly has an associated linkage mechanism 0 14 including an adjustment ineinber, the ad.11.1stinent inember being moveable to cause relative movement between tile pail- of adjacent bogie means to which the tread and riser mould pails ai-e connected, or being moveable in response to relative movement between the pail- of adjacent bogie means to cause adjustment of the length of at least one of the tread and riser mould pails.

4. An apparatus according to claim ') characterised in that each link-age mechanism includes ail adjUstinent ineinber which is pivotally connected to one of the bogie means of tile pail-, and a link element vlilch extends between and is pivotally connected to each of the adjustment meniber and a point adjacent to the tread and riser mould pail connection.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 or clalin 4 characterlsed ill that the adjustment members of each of the linkage mechanisms of the apparatus are moveable together -,,N,hereby the lengths of all of the tread and 1-Iser mould pails of tile apparatus are simultaneously ad - iustable generally equally with tile other respectwe tread and /or riset- HIOUld parts.

6. Ali appal-atUs accordlil(, to claiiii 5 characterised in that the adjustment members are moved.in response to nio\ einent of an actuator means with.Nlilcli each of the adjustment ilien-ibers is eil-aued.

7..4\n apparatus accoi-diii- to claiin 4 or clalin 5 or clalin 6 characterised ill 0 that the link element is connected at or towards one end to tile point adjacent to the tread and riser Mould part connection and at oi- towai-ds the opposite end to the ad-lustnient member lilterilledl cite the onds of the ld.)'LIStlllellt meniber.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 characterised in that the adjustment 0 1 member is cranked alon,, its len,,th and the link element is connected to the 0 0 adjustment member in the region of the crank, 9. An apparatus according to any one of claims ') to 8 characterised in that 4D each linkaae mechanism includes a further link fixed at or close to the point 0 adjacent to the tread and riser mould part connection which further linkis moveable independently of the ad.11.1stment nieniber to cause adjustment of the length of the riser and/or tread mould part.

10. Ail apparatus according to any one of tile preceding claims characterised in that each bogie means includes a pair of bogles spaced laterally of the apparatus.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10 characterised in that each bogle has a pair of,rlieels or rollers vJilch roll alojl,, a SLIPPOI-t I-ail of the support structure.

12. Ail apparatus according to ally one of the preceding clainis characterised Z7, t-I in that each tread and riser IllOLIld part assembly Includes a liner xvilich provides an interface betNveen the tread and riser 11101,11(i I)arts and the material to be cast into the niould, the liner extending over the connection between the tread arid riser mould pails and being Fixed ith respect to either the tread or riser mould part of the assembly and belilo adLlstable with i-espect to the riser or tread mould part to accommodate tread and riser would part lenoth ad' Justments.

I I Ali apparatus accordino to claini 12 charicterised in that the liner extends downwardly between a riser niculd 1),irt of one ass;mlbly arid tile tread 16 mould pail of an adjacent assembly, and beiii,; biased downwardly so that the liner remains taught dunno tread and I'lSer IIIOLIId pail length adjustment.

1-1) 0 14. An apparatus according to claim 12 or claim 133 characterised in that each of the adjacent tread and riser mould parts of adjacent assemblies, are connected to the bogie means by a generally cylindrical connecting member which extends laterally of the apparatus, the liners of each of the adjacent tread and riser mould pail assemblies passing extending around a respective cylindrical connecting member.

15. An apparatus according to claiin 14 cliaracterlsed in that between the cylindrical connecting members of tile tread IIIOLIICI pail of one assembly and the riser pail of the adjacent assembly there is provided a nosing insert, the insert including an upper pail having a coneave configuration which upper pail spans any gap between tile adjacent connectlm.,,> members and partially overlaps the uppermost lined surfaces of the ad.lacent tread and riser mould pails, the nosino insert also havim, a lower part \Oilcli exteiids do\nardly form tile upper pail and IS C01"Iffi'Llred to en-ag the ad'acent cylindrical surfaces of the adjacent connecting members.

16. An apparatus f0l' 111OUIdIng a staircase substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown M the accompaliyllig drawill0s.

z- t-I 17. A niethod Of 1110111(ilil(I Using all appat-atus accordin" to any one of tile preceding claims char-,ictensed In thit alterilate bogie ineans are moved to\vards or away fi-oni adjacent bogle nlealls to ad'ust the treid -iild,"or rlsei- mould pails to a desired length, and tile lnOLl1d is closed to pro\Ide a 11101. 11dinty cavi 0 tY between side and end nIOLlId CIOSLII-C inembers atid a mould bottom formed by 17 the plurality of tread and riser mould part assemblies, and moulding material is cast into the moulding cavity and permitted to harden.

18. A method according to claim 17 which includes, prior to casting the mouldino material, providing reinforcement elements which extend from one of 0 the apparatus to the other end and are pre-tensioned so that stress is applied to the cast concrete when hardened.

19. A method of moulding SUbstantially as fiereinbefore described with 0 reference to the accompanying drawings.

0 20. Any novel featUre 01' Tlovel combination of features described herein and/or in the accompanying drawith's.

0