GB2429031A

GB2429031A - A scaffolding clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2429031A
Application number: GB0516255A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Derek Harris
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-08-08
Filing date: 2005-08-08
Publication date: 2007-02-14
Also published as: GB0516255D0

Abstract

A scaffolding clamp comprises fixed and moveable jaws attached to a strut 1. The jaws may be attached to a beam. Position of the beam relative to the support post 6 may be adjusted by moving the jaws along a slot 2 and locking them in position. The support post is adjustable in height using a pin and hole system 5, and may be used to support edge protection.

Description

The invention relates to a clamp that allows a temporary edge protection system to be fixed to a various types of structures or equipment thereby preventing fall of personnel and equipment from heights.

During the construction and or repair of buildings and structures it is often necessary for work operatives to be involved in activities near an elevated edge of the building or structure. Without adequate edge protection there is a risk of work operatives, tools or materials falling injuring the work operative or those persons below.

Current regulations require that any such risk should be minimised by the use of temporary edge protection.

One common method of temporary edge protection involves the erection of scaffolding to provide a barrier, however this method is time consuming and involves the use of skilled operatives who may not be readily available. An alternative is the use of proprietary temporary edge protection systems which use pre-fabricated barriers located onto posts which are secured to the building or structure by a socket arrangement. The proprietary edge protection systems are faster to erect but such systems are not readily attached to certain types of buildings or structures, particularly those using steel beams and columns.

The invention facilitates a fast and secure connection between the building or structure and the temporary edge protection system.

Accordingly the invention provides a method of locating a post onto to type of building or structure by means of a clamping arrangement, whereby the invention will be secured by tightening bolts on the invention which will activate so-called bridge clamps to apply a compressive force on to the horizontal face of the lower flange of a beam.

Furthermore the invention may be adjusted to allow for the various steel beam webs and flanges and concrete slab thicknesses and overhangs. The adjustment in a horizontal plane will be by means of a slot in the horizontal element of the clamp and vertically by means of a pinning the post into series of spaced holes in the vertical element of the clamp.

The invention will be a fabricated metal structure. It includes a means of locating the post in a vertical plane by use of a socket arrangement that will also allow the post to be adjusted vertically. The horizontal element which forms the fixed jaw of the clamp will incorporate a slot to allow horizontal adjustment of the bridge clamps which form the moveable jaws of the clamp that will secure the horizontal element or fixed jaw to the lower flange of the beam. The bridge or moveable clamps are so shaped as to engage with the slot on the fixed jaw to prevent their rotation. The post incorporates a connection to secure a barrier or scaffold tube or timber board that may he permanently attached or may be attached as required.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 Shows a view of the invention FIGURE 2 Shows a view of the invention secured to a beam As shown in Figure 1 the invention comprises of a method of securing the horizontal element or fixed jaw of the clamp I by means of the bridge or moveable jaw 2. The bolt 3 passes through a hole in bridge or moveable jaw 2 and through the slot in horizontal element or fixed jaw I and is located in a moveable block by means of a threaded hole.

As the bolt 3 is tightened it causes the bridge 2 to act in compression on the lower flange of the steel beam. (See Figure 2). By positioning the bridge 3 along the slot in element 1 any overhang in the building or structure can be accommodated. The bridge 3 is so shaped that it engages in the slot in element 1 thereby preventing rotation. The post 4 is inserted into the vertical element 5 and is set to a pre-determined height by inserting a bolt 6 through the matching holes in the post 4 and vertical element 5. The retaining device 7 sets the proprietary barrier or scaffold tube or a timber board to the required height thereby accommodating various slab thicknesses. A proprietary barrier may now be attached.

Claims

Claims.

1. A clamp comprising of a method of locating a post to the lower flange of a steel beam using fixed and moveable jaws.

2. A clamp as in Claim 1 comprising of a method of locating a post to the lower flange of a steel beam using fixed and moveable jaws with horizontal adjustment provided by a slot in the fixed jaw and vertical adjustment provided by a series of matched holes on the post and the vertical element

3. A clamp as in Claim I comprising of a method of locating a post to the lower flange of a steel beam using fixed and moveable jaws where the moveable jaw is restrained from rotation by means of an engagement with the fixed jaw.

4. A clamp as in Claim I comprising of a method of locating a post to the lower flange of a steel beam using fixed and moveable jaws where the post is adjustable vertically by means of matched hole in the post and the vertical element.

5. A clamp as in Claim I comprisihg of a method of locating apostto the lower flange of a steel beam using fixed aild moveable jaws that incorporates a fixed or vertically adjustable post that incorporates a cOnnection to secure a barrier or a scaffold tube or a board.