GB2397612A

GB2397612A - Scaffolding with door access through sidewall or floor into the workspace

Info

Publication number: GB2397612A
Application number: GB0301663A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Henry Weller
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-01-24
Filing date: 2003-01-24
Publication date: 2004-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 2023-01-24
Also published as: GB0301663D0; GB2397612B

Abstract

A scaffold (10) comprises ledgers (L1-L3), transoms (T1-T6) and standards (S1-S5), where the transoms are spaced apart by a distance 'd', preferably 1200mm, an entrance (18, 20) of width 'd' and a door hingedly mounted to close the entrance and open into the workspace defined by the scaffolding. Preferably the door is biased, by a spring to a closed position and its movement limited to around 90 degrees rotation when it is opened. When the door (34) is in the floor (16) of the workspace the door may be bounded by a frame (30) secured to adjacent transoms which prevents the door from opening downwards. When the entrance is in the sidewall, a ladder (40, Figure 4) may cover part of the distance 'd' of the entrance and the door (46, Figure 4) close the space up to the ladder.

Description

239761 2

SCAFFOLDING

This invention concerns scaffolding, which is to say frameworks of interconnected uprights and cross-members used in the construction industry to support workers at an elevated level.

In the construction industry, the uprights are commonly known as "standards" and the cross-members as "ledgers" (which extend longitudinally) and "transoms" (which extend from front to rear of the scaffolding), and these terms are used herein. The standards, ledgers and transoms conventionally comprise À . .. 10 metal tubes interconnected by scaffolding fittings - which is to say clamps of which several kinds are in general use, and the precise form of which is not germane to À the present invention. Among a variety of regulations and recommendations À À applicable to scaffolding, it is provided that the transoms should be regularly spaced (in the UK, at least, at intervals of 1200mm) and this defines a modular dimension for the scaffolding.

Other regulations provide that elevated workspaces should be enclosed with a secure floor and properly fenced sides, whereby workers (and tools and materials) are safeguarded against falling from the workspace. This in turn requires access to the workspace to be by way of defined entrances with ladders extending thereinto.

Thus in use a worker enters the workspace by climbing the ladder to pass through the entrance. - 2

If the entrance is left open, there is a risk of workers or objects faring through it. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a door whereby the entrance is closed when not in use.

Thus according to the invention there is provided scaffolding comprising a plurality of interconnected standards, ledgers and transoms defining an elevated workspace having a floor and a side, the transoms being spaced apart in at least a lengthwise direction by a modular distance d and the floor and/or the side of the workspace being provided with an entrance of length d to the workspace, which A. À scaffolding includes a door dimensioned and arranged to close said entrance, À . .. 10 wherein the door is hingedly mounted to open only into the workspace. À . .

À The door is preferably biased towards a position in which it closes the À . entrance and may also be constrained to less than 180 opening movement, maybe À . À À.

less than 120 and preferably about 90 .

Such an arrangement offers three important benefits. First, because the door opens only into the workspace, it prevents a worker from faring outwards even if he or she stumbles or leans on the door. (It win be understood that a worker wishing to leave the workspace first opens the door inwards). Next, with the door biased towards its closed position, workers are not required to close the door after they have passed through the entrance. And third, because the door is constrained to less than 180 opening movement it necessarily extends into the workspace when fully open, thus providing a safety barrier alongside the entrance and also, because it would obstruct the workspace, discouraging workers from wedging it open. (This effect is naturally most marked if the door opens only to 90 , but there is very substantial obstruction - and therefore benefit if the opening movement is less than 1209.

For scaffolding in which the entrance is in a side of the workspace, the door preferably has hinge mountings secured to a standard bounding the entrance. The mountings may be secured to this standard by means of scaffolding fittings and may include check means preventing the door from opening outward of the workspace. With this arrangement the entrance may accommodate a ladder for a À . worker to enter the workspace and the door, in its closed position, may extend from the mountings to adjacent the ladder. A spring, preferably contained within a À..

À housing to prevent possibly dangerous snagging, may be provided to bias the door À À .ÀÀ towards its closed position. À. À À À.

For scaffolding in which the entrance is in a floor of the workspace, the entrance preferably includes a frame of length somewhat greater than d extending between two transoms supporting the floor. This frame, which preferably prevents the door from opening downward from the workspace, may be secured to said two transoms and the door may be biased towards its closed position by gravity.

Other aspects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, which is made by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings in which Pigure 1 is an isometric view of scaffolding to which the invention may be applied; - 4 Figure 2 is an isometric view of a scaffolding door embodying one form of the invention; Figure 3 is a plan view of a scaffolding door embodying another form of the invention; Figure 5 is a front elevation corresponding to Figure 3; and Figure 5 shows part of Figure 3, in cross section and to an enlarged scale.

Referring first to Figure 1, this shows scaffolding indicated generally at 10 erected against a wall 12 extending upwards from the ground (indicated by line 14) À and defining an elevated workspace having a floor 16. The scaffolding 10 comprises a rectilinear framework of interconnected standards, ledgers and transoms. Thus the rearward face of the scaffolding 10, against the wall 12, is À À À. formed by a run of five vertical standards S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5 mutually spaced À. À À À À-

apart along the wall 12. The forward face of the scaffolding 10 is formed by a corresponding run of five standards S6, S7, S8, S9 and S10. The longitudinal disposition of the forward standards S6, S7, S8, S9 and S10 is maintained by ledgers L1, L2 and L3, and corresponding ledgers interconnect the rearward standards S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5. The ends of the scaffolding 10 are defined by transoms T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, together with intermediate standards S11 and S12. It will also be understood that three other transverse ledgers T7, T8 and T9, not seen in Figure 1, extend below and support the floor 16, between the ledger L3 and its rearward counterpart and respectively adjacent the corresponding front and rear standards S2 and S7, S3 and S8, and S4 and S9. In well-known manner, the ledgers are - 5 connected to the standards, and the transoms to the ledgers, by appropriate fittings which may be of any convenient kind and the form of which does not form part of the present invention. In line with regulations, the transoms are mutually spaced apart by a modular distance of 1200mm.

Although not detailed in Figure 1 (but see Figure 4), to comply with safety regulations the ends and front of the elevated workspace are bounded by mesh, between the transoms 'I'2 and 'I' 3, between the transoms T5 and 'l' 6, and between the ledgers L2 and I, 3. *.

À . As shown in Figure 1, the floor 16 is cut away in one corner to provide a : 10 first entrance, indicated in broken lines at 18, to the elevated workspace. Although À not shown in Figure 1, a vertical ladder may located between the standards S6 and À À .. S11 to allow workers to access the workspace by way of the first entrance 18. Also À* À . a.

as shown in Figure 1, the ledger I,2 does not extend along the full length of the scaffolding 10 but rather extends only between the standards SG and S9. '['his provides a second entrance, indicated in broken lines at 20, to the elevated workspace. An inclined ladder, not shown in Figure 1, may be leant upon the ledger L3 to give access to the workspace. It will be understood that it may not be necessary to provide both of the entrances 18 and 20, but that either may be sufficient on its own.

'line invention provides safety doors for entrances such as 18 and 20. Thus, referring now to Figure 2, this shows a rectangular frame 30 defining the entrance 18 of Figure 1. The frame 30 extends between the transom T3 and a rearwardly - 6 positioned counterpart T7 (not visible in Figure 1) and is secured to them by four fittings illustrated schematically at 32. (For simplicity, no attempt to detail the fittings is made in the drawings, but it will be understood that each may typically comprise fixed and movable jaws clamped around the transoms by a bolt).

A door 34 is connected to the frame 30, near one end thereof, by hinges 36.

In Figure 2 the door 34 is shown opened to allow a worker to climb through the entrance defined by the frame 30. After this it may be lowered, as indicated by arrow A, to a horizontal position wherein it rests on the frame and closes the À.

À . entrance. In this closed position the door 34, being dimensioned to fill the frame 30, serves to fill in the open area of floor 16 over the entrance 18 (Figure 1) so that workers will not fall through. A handle 38 facilitates lowering of the door 34 and À À .À also enables it to be raised to allow a worker to leave the workspace by way of the À. À À

same entrance.

Figures 3 to 5 show a door for the entrance 20 of Figure 1 defined by the standards S9 and S10 and the ledgers L1 and L3. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, an inclined ladder 40 is leant upon and secured to the ledger 1,3, adjacent the standard S9, to enable a worker to climb through the entrance and step on to the floor 16 (Figure 1). An upright 42 is secured to the standard S10 by fittings 44 and a mesh filled door 46 is connected to the upright 42 by means of hinges 48.

As shown in Figure 4, the door 46 has a closed position in which it extends to adjacent the ladder 40 so as substantially to fill the space between the standard S10 and the ladder 40. This completes the safety fence of mesh 50 bounding the elevated workspace of the scaffolding. Ilowever the door 46 can be turned, as indicated by arrow B (Figure 3) to an open position 46a to allow a worker to enter or leave the workspace.

More details of the construction are shown in Figure 5. First, in the closed position of the door 46, the edge of the door 46 bears on the upright 42. This prevents the door 46 from opening outward of the workspace so that a worker will be held safely within the workspace even if he or she stumbles or leans against the door 46. Second, the door 46 comprises a hollow member forming a housing for a À - ..

À . coil spring 52. The coil spring is secured, under tension, between the door 46 and the upright 42 so as to bias the door 46 towards its closed position. Finally, a stop À À 54 is secured to the rear of the upright 42 so as to check the door against turning À . À .. beyond the 90 opening of 46a. Since, in this fully open position, the door 46 À À . À À.

extends into to workspace, workers will be discouraged from wedging it open, and thus the <loot 46 should provide its intended safety function at all times.

The doors and fittings of the invention may be made of galvanised steel and various modifications may be made without departing from the present invention.

For instance, the door 46 may be mounted upon rising butt hinges and the door 34 may be provided with check means to limit its opening. - 8 -

Claims

1 Scaffolding comprising a plurality of interconnected standards, ledgers and transoms defining an elevated workspace having a floor and a side, the transoms being spaced apart in at least a lengthwise direction by a modular distance d and the floor and/or the side of the workspace being provided with an entrance of length d to the workspace, which scaffolding includes a door dimensioned and arranged to close said entrance, wherein the door is hingedly mounted to open only into the workspace.

À - .e À

2 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the door is biased towards a I.: 10 position in which it closes the entrance. À A.

À

3 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the door is À . . constrained to less than 180 opening movement. À À À À.

4 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 3 wherein the door is constrained to less than 120 opening movement.

5 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the door is constrained to about 90 opening movement.

6 Scaffolding as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said entrance is in said side and said door has hinge mountings secured to a standard bounding the entrance.

7 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 6 including scaffolding fittings securing the mountings to said standard. - 9 -

8 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7 wherein the mountings include check means preventing the door from opening outward of the workspace.

9 Scaffolding as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 8 wherein said entrance accommodates a ladder for a worker to enter the workspace and said door, in its closed position, extends from the mountings to adjacent the ladder.

Scaffolding as claimed in any of Claims 6 to 9 including a spring to bias the door towards its closed position.

11 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the spring is contained e...

À I. within a housing. I.

12 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 11 wherein the housing comprises part of the door. À .

À ..

13 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said entrance is in said floor Àe À À À Àe and includes a frame of length somewhat greater than d extending between two transoms supporting the floor.

14 Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 13 wherein the frame is secured to said two transoms.

Scaffolding as claimed in Claim 13 or Claim 14 wherein said door is biased towards its closed position by gravity.

16 Scaffolding as claimed in any of Claims 13 to 15 wherein the frame prevents the door from opening downward from the workspace.

17 Scaffolding as claimed in any preceding claim wherein d is substantially equal to 1200mm. -

18 Scaffolding including a door substantially as hereinbcfore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

19 Scaffolding including a door substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings. À:e À-ee be.. A.. A... À e À.e À À À À. e À À À À.