GB2369665A

GB2369665A - Connection arrangement for scaffolding

Info

Publication number: GB2369665A
Application number: GB0029109A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard William Thompson
Original assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Current assignee: SGB Services Ltd
Priority date: 2000-11-29
Filing date: 2000-11-29
Publication date: 2002-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-29
Also published as: GB0029109D0; GB2369665B

Abstract

A connection arrangement includes two scaffold elements (1, 11) each carrying fixing means (10, 13). A protrusion (7) projects from one of the scaffold elements (1) and a slot is formed in the other of the elements (11), adapted to receive the protrusion (7). The slot defines a passage (15) having an axis, there being a terminal pocket (22, see figure 3) offset from the passage (15) to receive the protrusion (7) such that when the protrusion (7) is received in the terminal pocket (22) the fixing means (10, 13) of the two scaffold elements (1, 11) are rotationally aligned.

Description

"Improvements in or relating to a connection arrangement" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a connection arrangement and more particularly relates to a connection arrangement for scaffolding which enables an upper vertical scaffold element to be mounted on and rotationally aligned with a lower scaffold element.

Previous scaffolding connection arrangements have enabled an upper vertical scaffold element to be mounted on a lower vertical scaffold element but has not facilitated the two scaffold elements to be rotationally aligned with one another. The correct rotational alignment of the scaffold elements may be of particular importance when each vertical scaffold element is provided with fixing means adapted to receive a horizontal scaffold element at a predetermined position about the circumference of the vertical element. The fixing means of the interconnected vertical element should be in vertical alignment.

Clearly it is ideal if, when the upper vertical scaffold element is mounted on the lower vertical scaffold element, the arrangement can sustain upwardly directed tensile forces, for example so that a completed or partially completed scaffold structure may be lifted, i. e. by a crane. In previous arrangements, this has been achieved by forming apertures in the upper vertical scaffold element and the lower vertical scaffold element such that when the upper vertical scaffold element is mounted on the lower vertical scaffold element, the apertures may be aligned and a loose pin may be inserted through each aperture. A disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the pin may be lost or may become remote from the scaffold connection thus causing the upper vertical scaffold element to be rotationally and longitudinally moveable relative to the lower vertical scaffold element.

The present invention therefore seeks to provide an improved connection between two elements, such as two vertical scaffolding elements.

According to this invention, there is a connection arrangement between an upper element and a lower element, the upper element and the lower element each having thereon at least one fixing means to enable respective components to be fixed thereto, the arrangement further comprising at least one protrusion projecting from part of one said element and at least one slot formed in part of the other said element, said parts being adjusted to be telescopically engaged, the slot being adapted to receive the protrusion, the slot each comprising a uniform passage defined by a first side wall and a second opposing side wall, the passage defining an axis, there being a curved wall region extending from one end of the first side wall across the axis of the passage to a boundary of a terminal pocket offset from the passage, the pocket being dimensioned to receive the protrusion, the arrangement being such that when the protrusion is received in the terminal pocket, the fixing means of the upper and lower elements are rotationally aligned. Preferably, the upper and lower elements are scaffold elements.

Conveniently, the upper element and the lower element are both substantially vertical.

Advantageously, the slot defines a diverging mouth extending from the passage to the end of the respective element. Preferably, the terminal pocket formed in the slot has a recessed base.

Conveniently, there are two diametrically opposed slots and two diametrically opposed projections.

Advantageously, the or each slot is in the upper element and the or each protrusion is on the lower element.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a front view of the upper part of a lower scaffold element; FIGURE 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1 showing the lower element from above; FIGURE 3 is a front view of the lower part of an upper vertical scaffold element; FIGURE 4 is a view showing the elements of Figures 1 and 3 illustrating the lower vertical scaffold element in a first position relative to the upper vertical scaffold element; and FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 illustrating the lower scaffold element in a final position relative to the upper scaffold element.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a lower scaffold element 1 comprises a hollow tubular element 2. A solid rod having a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tubular element 2 is partially received within the upper part of the tubular element 2 and projects above the upper end of the tubular element 2 to form a spigot 3.

The spigot 3 is chamfered 5 at its upper end and has a diametrically extending bore 6 located just above the upper end of the tubular element 2. The bore 6 receives, with an interference fit, a pin 7 having a length substantially equal to the outer diameter of the tubular element 2. The two ends of the pin 7 project evenly on opposite sides of the spigot 3 forming protrusions 8,9.

The tubular element 2 is provided with a plurality of fixing means to receive horizontal scaffold members in the form of oval apertures formed in the side wall of the tubular element 2. The fixing means may be at evenly spaced points along the length of the tubular element 2. At each point there are four fixing means arranged orthogonally. Whilst fixing means in the form of apertures are shown, other types of fixing means may be used.

Turning to Figure 3, an upper vertical scaffold element 11 comprises a hollow tubular element 12 corresponding to the tubular element 2. The upper vertical scaffold element 12 is provided with fixing means 13 corresponding to the fixing means 10 of the lower element 1.

The upper vertical scaffold element 11 defines, at its lower end, a slot 14 formed in the side wall of the tubular element 12 having a substantially vertical axis, the slot 14 comprising a substantially uniform passage 15 having a first side wall 16 and a second side wall 17. The axis of the passage 15 is aligned with the axis of the scaffold element 11. The side walls 16,17 are opposed and spaced apart at a distance slightly greater than the diameter of the pin 7. The lower ends of the side walls 16,17 lead to a diverging mouth 18, the diverging mouth 18 opening onto the lower end 19 of the tubular element 12.

At a point a predetermined distance above the diverging mouth 18, the first side wall 16 merges with a wall region 20 that is curved inwardly across the axis of the passage 15. The curved wall region 20 has a substantially uniform radius of curvature which is greater than the width of the passage 15.

The curved wall region 20 extends completely across the width of the passage 15.

At the predetermined point, the other side wall 17 extends, with a very short radius of curvature, away from the axis of the slot 14 and continues to form the recessed base 21 of a pocket 22, the upper boundary of which is defined by a continuation of the curved wall 20. The height and the width of the pocket are each slightly greater than the width of the passage 15. The pocket 22 is offset to one side of the passage 15. The base 21 of the pocket 22 is located on the side of the pocket closest to the end of the element 12.

A slot corresponding to slot 14 is formed on the diametrically opposing wall of tubular element 12.

Referring now to Figure 4, the tubular element 12 may be positioned vertically above the spigot 3, such that the spigot 3 may be received telescopically in the tubular element 12. It is to be noted that the inner substantially vertical surfaces of tubular element 12 will be substantially in contact with the outer substantially vertical surfaces of the spigot 3. The diverging mouth 18 of slot 14 is vertically above and rotationally aligned with the protrusion 8 of pin 7, such that the protrusion 8 may be received by the slot 14. The protrusion 9 projecting from the other end of pin 7 is vertically above and rotationally aligned with the slot corresponding to slot 14, formed on the diametrically opposing wall of tubular element 12. It is to be further noted that the fixing point 13 of the upper tubular element 12 is not rotationally aligned with the fixing point 10 of the lower tubular element 12 when the tubular element 12 is initially being lowered onto the spigot 3.

As the tubular element 12 is further lowered onto the spigot 3, the protrusion 8 of the pin 7 is received in the diverging mouth 18 of the slot 14 thus rotating the upper element 12 to align the passage 15 with the protrusion 8.

The uniform passage 15 moves past the protrusion 8 until the curved wall 20 engages the protrusion 8 of the pin 7. This engagement rotates the tubular element 12 relative to the pin 7 and spigot 3 of the tubular element 2, as the tubular element 12 is lowered further.

As the tubular element 12 reaches the final position of Figure 5, the pin 7 has rotated the tubular element 12 to the extent that the pin 7 is received in the terminal pocket 22. The pin is thus offset from the axis of the passage 15.

When the pin 7 is contained within the terminal pocket 22, it is to be noted that the lower end 19 of the tubular element 12 rests on the lower, horizontal surface of spigot 3.

It is to be noted that the recessed base 21 of terminal pocket 22 is recessed such that if a tensile load is applied to either of the vertical scaffold elements 1,11 tending to draw the elements apart. The pin 7 will be retained within the recessed base 21 of the terminal pocket 22, thus resisting any tendency for the upper element 11 to rotate relative to the lower element 1. Thus the upper vertical scaffold element 11 will remain connected to the lower vertical scaffold element 1.

It is also to be noted that, when the vertical scaffold elements 1, 11 are in the position shown in Figure 5, the fixing point 13 of the upper element 12 is rotationally aligned with the fixing point 10 of the lower element 1 such that aligned horizontal scaffold elements may be easily attached to these fixing points.

In the present specification"comprises"means"includes or consists of and"comprising"means"including or consisting of.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing 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 utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS : 1. A connection arrangement between an upper element and a lower element, the upper element and the lower element each having thereon at least one fixing means to enable respective components to be fixed thereto, the arrangement further comprising at least one protrusion projecting from part of one said element and at least one slot formed in part of the other said element, said parts being adjusted to be telescopically engaged, the slot being adapted to receive the protrusion, the slot each comprising a uniform passage defined by a first side wall and a second opposing side wall, the passage defining an axis, there being a curved wall region extending from one end of the first side wall across the axis of the passage to a boundary of a terminal pocket offset from the passage, the pocket being dimensioned to receive the protrusion, the arrangement being such that when the protrusion is received in the terminal pocket, the fixing means of the upper and lower elements are rotationally aligned.
2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 wherein the upper and lower

elements are scaffold elements. elements are sc
3. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the upper element and the lower element are both substantially vertical.
4. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the slot defines a diverging mouth extending from the passage to the end of the respective element.
5. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims wherein the terminal pocket formed in the slot has a recessed base.
6. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there are two diametrically opposed slots and two diametrically opposed projections.
7. An arrangement according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the or each slot is in the upper element and the or each projection is on the lower element.
8. An arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
9. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.