GB2382837A

GB2382837A - Plastic scaffold system

Info

Publication number: GB2382837A
Application number: GB0200702A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Terence Coulthard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-04
Filing date: 2002-01-10
Publication date: 2003-06-11
Anticipated expiration: 2022-01-10
Also published as: GB2382837B; GB0128976D0; GB0200702D0

Abstract

A kit for constructing access scaffolding adjacent to the surface of buildings comprises formed, square-section, hollow scaffold tubes 3, 4, 5 and all necessary base plates 1, couplers and hinged putlogs (8, 10, 11, 12, fig 9), bolts and nuts (13, fig 9) and scaffold boards 7 designed to connect or engage such square-section tubes. The base plates 1 have a bonded square spigot (2, fig 10) which is inserted into the base of the standards 3. End caps (14, fig 10) may be provided for the open ends of the tubes. Scaffold tubes are secured in U-section couplers by tapered, threaded bolts through holes in the coupler sides. The interior faces of the couplers may have a rough interior finish. Boards 7 are formed from two parallel sheets separated by spacers (15, fig 11) with an anti-slip surface and pipe brackets (16, fig 11) for engaging the transoms or board bearers 5. Preferably, all parts are made of plastic material. A method of erecting scaffolding using the kit of parts is also described.

Description

PLASTIC SCAFFOLD SYSTEM The present invention relates to a construction system, which may be used for building scaffold, towers or other staging.

Many construction systems have been proposed hitherto for building scaffolds, towers, etc. but these known systems suffer from being expensive, heavy, time- consuming or moving around.

I have devised a construction system, which enables a scaffold, tower or other staging to be built quickly and economically, yet provides a strong structure. The construction system may equally be used for building a scaffold or tower for example in a restricted area, or an occupied building.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a construction system or kit which comprises a plurality of formed square hollow pipes comprising, standards, ledgers, transoms, short pipes board bearers, a plurality of formed scaffold, comprising right angle couplers, right angle swivel couplers, split band sleeve couplers, putlog couplers. Each formed putlog coupler fitting comprising a right angle flat top with a hinged single bolt, nut washer and a hinged right angle flat latch, with a recess at the end arranged to interfit with said bolt. Some of the formed coupler fittings comprising formed square adjacent open ends and two square holes, adjacent at each end of coupler and each coupler fitting having a rough interior finish. A plurality of wedge shaped square tapered bolts with round thread at tapered end, nut and washer, each bolt thereof arranged to interfit with said holes and pipe couplers, which connect and secure the said hollow pipes.

A plurality of hollow box section scaffold boards, each board panel comprising two sheets of material, sides and ends and a plurality of separate spacer members interposed between and fixed to the two sheets and spaced apart between the opposite ends of the board panel and a plurality of board panels having at one end, a bonded spaced apart pipe bracket. Each arranged to interfit over a hollow square pipe and a plurality of base plates comprising a square plate with a bonded square spigot in the centre and a number of reveal pins capping tops and anchor bolts.

In use, a structure can be constructed using the square hollow pipes, coupler fittings,

bolts, boards, square base plates for access scaffolding. 11. 1 ; 11 It comprises base plates pairs of standards approximately 1.25m apart and spaced along the structure between 1.2m and 2Am apart. "The pairs of standards are connected horizontally parallel to the building with horizontal pipes called ledgers.

These are normally spaced vertically at the working height of 2m or just under. The

inside and outside grids so formed are connected with short pipes known as transoms.

Ideally these should be placed adjacent to the standards but connected to the ledgers. Boards should not span more than 1. 5m additional short pipes known as board bearers are put between the transoms to provide suitable support for the boards and their ends. A layer of ledgers, transoms and board bearers is referred to as a lift. The scaffold is completed with ledger bracing (a diagonal pipe joining the front ledger at on level with the back one above or below) and façade bracing. This latter runs diagonally up the façade to provide stability along the structure.

Standards may be lengthened using sleeve couplers. Ledgers should be fixed to the standards using right angled couplers. Joints in ledgers should preferably be made with sleeve couplers. The transoms are normally fixed using putlog couplers, as are the board bearers. Preferably some bracing may be fixed with right angle swivel couplers, preferably each coupler interfits with a square hollow pipe.

Preferably the two sheets of each board panel are fixed to the spacer members by bonding or welding.

Preferably the sides and ends of each board are bonded or welded to the sheets.

Preferably the square hollow pipes are formed.

Preferably the coupler fittings are formed.

Preferably the spigot is formed on base plate.

A plurality of board panels having at one end a spaced apart pipe bracket each arranged to interfit over a square hollow pipe, transom or board bearer.

Preferably the outer faces of the board panels are formed with a robust non slip material texture.

Preferably all the above components, square pipes, coupler fittings base plates, bolts nuts washers, boards, reveals screws, ladders are made of a robust plastics material.

Preferably each coupler fitting interfits and connects with a square hollow pipe by means of a tapered square bolt with a round thread, nut and washer to secure.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of building z : l a scaffold using a construction system or lit as defined above, the method comprising laying a said base plate in position, mounting a said standard, parallel to the building, with one end thereof interfitting with said spigot on base plate, laying a similar base

plate spaced apart along the building approximately 1. 2m and 2.4m mounting a

I ilar standard ad I I I similar standard adjacent on base plate, once in position, a said right angle coupler s fittings are connected to standards approximately 2m in height and secured with bolts, nuts and washers.

Then a said ledger pipe is brought into position horizontally parallel to the building, z : l with one end thereof interfitting with coupler on standard and the opposite end of ledger in a similar way.

Once the inside grid is formed, the outside grid is formed in a similar way adjacent approximately 1.25m apart. Once the inside and outside grids are formed short pipes transoms are placed adjacent to the standards and connected to the ledgers with said putlog coupler fittings, and connected with bolts, nuts, washers and spaced along, additional short pipes, said board bearers are put between the transoms to provide support for the boards and their ends. When completed boards are laid on top. A layer of ledgers, transoms and board bearers is referred to as a lift.

Then to complete, a ledger bracing (a diagonal pipe is connected to the front ledger at one level with the back one above or below. A façade bracing runs diagonally up the façade to provide stability along the structure.

The necessary length and height of the scaffold is achieved by further square hollow pipes, coupler fittings etc.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only and with references to the accompanying drawings in which.

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view showing one corner of a scaffold under construction FIGURE 2 shows right angle couplers connected to standard FIGURE 3 shows ledgers connected to fittings on standards FIGURE 4 shows transoms secured to ledgers with putlog coupler fitting FIGURE 5 shows a perspective view of first lift of scaffold FIGURE 6 shows ledger bracings, diagonal pipes connected to ledgers with right angle swivel couplers FIGURE 7 shows extended standards secured with split band sleeve couplers, ledgers transoms board bearers ledger bracings reveal tie, and a working platform of scaffold boards FIGURE 8 shows in perspective a complete scaffold FIGURE 9 shows in perspective scaffold fittings and bolts FIGURE 10 shows in perspective base plate spigot standard reveal pin and expanding anchor bolt and square hollow pipe and capping FIGURE 11 shows in perspective box section scaffold board and separate spacer members and a scaffold board with pipe bracket interfitting over a hollow square pipe

FIGURE 12 shows in perspective a scaffold under construction Referring to the drawings, the successive stages in the construction of an access scaffold staging or platform will be described.

Firstly, a flat base I is laid in position, the flat base plate is square in section with a bonded square spigot 2 in centre. Them the bottom end of a vertical standard pipe 3, is mounted in position interfitting over spigot 2 on base plate 1, the pipe 3 is square in section but hollow, then a right angle coupler 10, is attached connected with one end thereof interfitting with standard 3, approximately 2 metres in height and secured with a tapered bolt 13 nut and washer the right angle coupler 10 comprises two opposite square sections with opposite open ends with two square holes in each opposite end of coupler and each coupler fitting having a rough interior finish. The bolt 13 is square in section but tapered with a round screw thread at the tapered end.

A similar base plate 1 and a standard 3 is erected in like manner, adjacent and spaced along the building approximately 2 metres parallel to the building, and a similar right angle coupler 10 is connected to the standard and secured with tapered bolt approximately 2 metres high.

Once the standards 3, are in position, a ledger pipe 4 is brought into position horizontally parallel to the building and connected with one end thereof interfitting with said right angle coupler 10 on standard. The opposite end of ledger in like manner to adjacent standard, and secured with tapered bolt 13, nut and washer. The ledger pipe 4, is square in section but hollow.

Once the inside grid section is formed. The outside grid section is formed adjacent approximately 1.25m in like manner. Once the inside and outside grids so formed are connected with short pipes transoms 5, placed adjacent to the standards and connected to the ledgers 4 and secured with coupler fittings 11.

The transom pipe 5, is square in section but hollow. The putlog coupler 11 comprises a hinged single bolt, and a hinged right angled flat latch with a recess at the end,

arranged to interfit with bolt and secure with nut and washer to square hollow pipe. The putlog coupler 11 comprises a rough interior finish. Additional short hollow square pipes, board bearers 5, are put between the transoms to provide support for the scaffold board 7 and their ends. A layer of ledgers transoms and board bearers is called a lift. The board bearers 5 comprises short hollow square pipes.

The scaffold board 7 comprises two parallel sheets spaced-apart by horizontally battens or spacers 15. To which the sheets, are secured (e. g. by bonding). The sides and ends are secured (e. g. by bonding) to sheets.

A plurality of the scaffold board panels, are formed at one end with a spaced-apart pipe bracket 16, which is placed over, and interfits with a transom pipe 5 or a board bearer 5. The pipe bracket 16, is secured (e. g. by bonding). Preferably the outside

face of the board panel 7 (is of a rough non-slip texture).

I As mentioned previously all the above components are of a robust plastic material.

The scaffold is then completed with a ledger bracing (a diagonal pipe 6, is connected to the front ledger at one level, with the back one (above or below). A façade bracing runs diagonal up the façade to provide stability along the structure.

Preferably standards may be lengthened using sleeve couplers 8, joints should be staggered. Ledgers should be fixed to the standards using right angle couplers, preferably joints in ledgers should be made with sleeve couplers 8, transoms with putlog couples, as are the board bearers.

Then extending the scaffold thus formed, using successive said standards, ledgers, transoms, board bearers, boards, fittings, a scaffold may be erected in this manner to any desired length or height around the periphery of the building.

Claims

CLAIMS What we claim is :- a self supporting access scaffolding for working platforms adjacent to the surface or buildings.
A construction system or kit which comprises a plurality of formed square hollow pipes comprising standards, ledgers, transoms, short pipes and board bearers, a plurality of formed scaffold fittings, couplers which attach connect one pipe to another comprising right angle couplers putlog swivel couplers split band sleeve couplers putlog couplers a plurality of bolts comprising square shaped tapered bolts with round thread at tapered end, nut and washer, a plurality of base plates comprising square plate with a bonded square spigot in centre and a plurality of hollow box section scaffold boards, each board panel comprising two sheets of material, sides and ends and a plurality of separate spacer members interposed between and fixed to the two sheets and spaced-apart between the opposite ends of the board panel and a plurality of boards having at one end a bonded space-apart pipe bracket each arranged to interfit over a hollow square pipe, the boards form a working platform for scaffold.
3 A construction system or kit as claimed in claim 1 wherein a structure can be erected using the square hollow pipes coupler fittings bolts nuts and washers and scaffold boards.
A construction system of kit as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of the formed coupler fittings comprising formed square adjacent open ends and two square holes adjacent at each end of coupler and each coupler fitting having a rough interior finish.
A construction system or kit as claimed in claim 1,2, or 3, wherein a plurality of said coupler fittings putlog couplers comprising a right angle flat top with a hinged single bolt nut washer and a hinged right angle flat latch with a recess at the end arranged to interfit with said bolt to secure hollow square pipe.
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A construction system or kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein each said coupler fitting is arranged to interfit with said square hollow pipes.
7 A construction system of kit as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein all the above components are all of a robust plastics material.

A construction system or kit substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. q A method of building a structure using a construction system or kit as claimed in any preceding claim, the method comprising laying a said base plate in positions, mounting a said standard vertically with one end thereof interfitting over said spigot, laying a similar base plate spaced-apart, mounting a similar standard on spigot interfitting two right angle coupler fittings, one on each standard approximately 2 metres in height and secure with bolts nuts, then mounting a said ledger horizontally one end thereof interfitting with said coupler on standard and connecting the opposite end of ledger in a similar way to adjacent standard.

< Next a similar set of base plates standards couplers and ledgers is erected adjacent in a similar way approximately 1.25m apart. Then short pipes said transoms are placed adjacent to the standards and connected horizontally to the ledgers with said putlog couplers and connected with said bolts nuts board bearers are placed between transoms to provide support for the boards and connected in a similar way, then a ledger bracing a diagonal pipe is connected with a right angle swivel coupler to the front ledger and the back one above or below, then extending the structure thus formed, using successive said pipes base plates coupler fittings and scaffold boards. t I A method of building a structure, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.