GB2482322A

GB2482322A - Support post and support ring assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2482322A
Application number: GB201012761A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Huang Guowei
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-07-29
Filing date: 2010-07-29
Publication date: 2012-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 2030-07-29
Also published as: GB201012761D0; GB2482322B

Abstract

A support post 1 and ring assembly for supporting a decorating or work or access platform, or as used in scaffold systems. The support ring 2 includes an annular plate or discoidal support collar, and an inner bushing 3 of two of more segments (3b, 3d, figure 7) that fit around the post, and at least of the annular plate and inner bushing has a conical or tapered surface (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, figures 6 and 7). When the annular plate is lowered over the inner bushing segments, the inner bushing grips the post to secure the support ring on the post at a fixed height. The bushing may have lugs (3c, figure 7) which can fit in into positioning holes (1a, figure 2). The plate 2 may have slots (2c, figure 5) which can be mounted onto lugs on the bushing.

Description

Support Post and Support Ring Assembly

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a support post and support ring assembly, and more especially, relates to a support post and support ring assembly as used for supporting decorating/work/access platforms and as used in scaffold systems, whether for use indoors or outdoors.

Background to the Invention

The Ring Lock System' is a scaffolding system widely used for interior and exterior decoration. It boasts a simple structure and high bearing capacity. The traditional ring-lock ring comprises an annular plate that fits as a collar over an upright scaffold pole and which has radially spaced apart apertures in the plate that provide attachment points for horizontal scaffold poles or other structural components. An example of this system is shown in Chinese Utility Model CN 201326273. Generally the ring-lock ring plate is welded to the pole and this requires a lot of welding that is cost-consuming and time-consuming. Moreover, the high temperature caused by welding may damage the internal structure of the post, decreasing the load-bearing strength and also the welding process tends to pollute the environment. It is a general object of the present invention to address these drawbacks of the prior art, allowing quick assembly and avoiding the need for welding.

Sum mary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a support post and support ring assembly having a support post and a support ring, wherein the support ring comprises: an annular plate! discoidal support collar (preferably having a number of apertures for attaching other decorating/work-platform/scaffold components) and an inner bushing of two or more segments that fit around the post, wherein at least one of the annular plate! discoidal support collar and inner bushing has a conical or tapered surface whereby when the annular plate/ discoidal support collar is lowered over the inner bushing segments the inner bushing will grip the post to secure the support ring on the support post at a fixed height on the support post without need for welding.

Preferably the annular plate! discoidal support collar has a conical or tapered radially inner wall surface and the inner bushing has a conical or tapered radially outer wall surface to co-operate with the conical/ tapered radially inner wall surface of the annular plate! discoidal support.

The inner bushing segments are preferably arcuate segments of a collar and preferably semicircular to define a substantially full circular collar when fitted around the circular cylindrical post/ pole.

Preferably the inner bushing segments are each installed to the support post at a positioning hole of the support post, each segment having a positioning lug that engages in a respective positioning hole. Preferably the positioning lugs are configured on both radial inner and outer sides of the inner bushing collar segments.

Preferably there are two radial outer conical surfaces on each of the inner bushing segments, namely an upper conical surface from middle to top and a lower conical surface from middle to bottom respectively. The upper and lower conical surfaces of the inner bushing segments are suitably sleeved in the internal conical surfaces of the annular plate! discoidal support collar.

Preferably the annular plate! discoidal support collar has an annular plate! discoidal upper part and a cylindrical sleeve lower part and preferably an internal conical surface! taper is formed in the sleeve. Preferably a downwardly broadening internal conical surface! taper is formed at an upper part of the cylindrical sleeve Preferably a downwardly narrowing internal conical surface! taper is formed at a lower end of the cylindrical sleeve of the annular plate! discoidal support collar.

The downwardly narrowing internal conical surface! taper is preferably formed by moulding after fitting the inner bushing segments to the post and fitting the annular plate! discoidal support collar over the inner bushing segments.

Preferably the annular plate! discoidal support collar has slots in the internal surface of the cylindrical collar lower part to engage the radially outwardly projecting lugs on the bushing segments.

In a further aspect or alternative definition of the invention it comprises a post non-welding locking device, comprising a post, an internal conical surface disc and two dual-conical surface inner bushings.

The configuration of the support post and ring-lock assembly fastens the ring-lock securely onto the post without welding and is easy to be operated. Moreover, it also boasts better environmental credentials and lower cost than a conventional welded assembly with identical mechanical properties.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 is an exploded assembly perspective view of the support post and ring-lock assembly; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the support post! pole alone; FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the annular plate! discoidal support collar; FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section through the annular plate! discoidal support collar of Figure 3; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the annular plate! discoidal support collar but compressed inwardly at its lower end as it will be following assembly to the pole; FIG. 6 is a longitudinal section through the annular plate! discoidal support collar of Figure 5.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the semicircular pair of inner bushing collar segments; and FIG. 8 is a longitudinal section through the support post with the ring-lock assembled to it as in use.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring to Figure 1, this shows a tubular steel support post! scaffold pole 1 and a ring-lock assembly comprising an annular plate! discoidal support collar 2 and a two segment inner bushing collar 3. The two semicircular segments of the inner bushing collar 3 are shown being brought together encircling the support post 1 and the annular plate! discoidal support collar 2 being lowered down onto them.

The support post 1 has a pair of radially opposing positioning holes 1 a drilled into it at a selected stage along its length. These positioning holes la are adapted each to receive a respective positioning lug 3c projecting from a radially inner arcuate face 3d of each bushing collar 3 segment.

The inner bushing 3 has external dual conical surfaces, one facing upwardly and the other downwardly (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 7) -namely an upper conical surface 3a from middle to top and a lower conical surface 3b from middle to bottom respectively. The positioning lugs 3c are configured projecting on both internal and external sides of the dual-conical surface inner bushings 3.

The upper part of the inner surface of the circular cylindrical sleeve 2a of the annular plate! discoidal support collar 2 is tapered to conform with the conical surface 3a (see FIG. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8) and the clamping slots 2c are set at a location corresponding to the positioning lugs 3c. After assembly, the lower end part of the cylindrical sleeve 2a of the annular plate! discoidal support collar 2 is molded by using an equipment to form a conical surface 2b narrowing lower down, conforming to the lower conical surface 3b of the inner bushing 3.

In real-life assembly, the dual-conical surface inner bushings 3 are installed before the installation of the annular plate! discoidal support collar 2; after positioning, the lower part of the annular plate! discoidal support collar 2 is molded by using an equipment and the disc is locked tightly by means of the dual-taper so that the disc is closely contacted with the inner bushings. One, two or more discs can be mounted on one post according to the actual situation and the installation location is also subject to the applications demands.

Claims

Claims 1. A support post and support ring assembly for supporting decorating Iworklaccess platforms or as used in scaffold systems, having a support post and a support ring, wherein the support ring comprises: an annular plate! discoidal support collar; and an inner bushing of two or more segments that fit around the post, wherein at least one of the annular plate! discoidal support collar and inner bushing has a conical or tapered surface whereby when the annular plate! discoidal support collar is lowered over the inner bushing segments the inner bushing will grip the post to secure the support ring on the support post at a fixed height on the support post without need for welding.
2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner bushing segments are arcuate segments of an inner bushing collar.
3. An assembly as claimed in claim I or 2, wherein the post has positioning holes therein at a selected height and the inner bushing segments each have a lug to engage a respective positioning hole.
4. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein an upper extent of a cylindrical sleeve part of the annular plate! discoidal support collar has an internal taper broadening downwardly.
5. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein a lower extent of a cylindrical sleeve part of the annular plate! discoidal support collar, following installation to the bushing and post, has an internal taper narrowing downwardly.
6. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein slots! grooves are provided in the inner wall of the annular plate! discoidal support collar to engage positioning lugs of the inner bushing collar.
7. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner bushing is dual conical, having an upper conical external surface narrowing upwardly and a lower conical external surface narrowing downwardly.
8. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the inner bushing collar has a positioning lug on each segment, each lug projecting radially inwardly and radially outwardly.
9. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the two inner bushing segments are assembled with one on the left and the other on the right surrounding the post as a collar and the annular plate! discoidal support collar fits as a sleeve over the thus-assembled inner bushing collar.
10. An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an upper part of the inner surface of the circular cylindrical sleeve of the annular plate! discoidal support collar conforms to an upper conical surface of the inner bushing; the positioning lugs engage in the clamping slots; and a lower part of the circular cylindrical sleeve of the annular plate! discoidal support collar is molded into an internal taper that narrows downwardly to conform to the lower conical surface of the bushing by using equipment in the lower part.