GB2557663A

GB2557663A - Ring lock system for a scaffolding system

Info

Publication number: GB2557663A
Application number: GB1621309.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Hillier Christian; A L Nagalingam Sunderaj
Original assignee: Dscaff Eng Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: Dscaff Eng Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2016-12-15
Filing date: 2016-12-15
Publication date: 2018-06-27
Also published as: GB201621309D0

Abstract

A ring lock system (102) for a scaffolding system (100) comprises a ring shaped support structure (108) having at least one tapered inner wall (122), which is forged to extend from a top surface (110) to a bottom surface (112), a wedge (124) having a tapered surface to match with the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) when engaged and an end cast portion (128) having a redesigned wedge opening (126) to support the wedge (124) and thereby increasing the ability of the wedge (124) to transfer loads. The tapered surface of the wedge (124) engages with a greater contact area of the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) to provide increased strength and rotational stiffness at the joints between a standard (106) and a ledger (104), and the standard (106) and diagonal members of the scaffolding system (100).

Description

(54) Title of the Invention: Ring lock system for a scaffolding system Abstract Title: Ring lock system for a scaffolding system (57) A ring lock system (102) for a scaffolding system (100) comprises a ring shaped support structure (108) having at least one tapered inner wall (122), which is forged to extend from a top surface (110) to a bottom surface (112), a wedge (124) having a tapered surface to match with the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) when engaged and an end cast portion (128) having a redesigned wedge opening (126) to support the wedge (124) and thereby increasing the ability of the wedge (124) to transfer loads. The tapered surface of the wedge (124) engages with a greater contact area of the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) to provide increased strength and rotational stiffness at the joints between a standard (106) and a ledger (104), and the standard (106) and diagonal members of the scaffolding system (100).

102

108

110

112

FIG.2B

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

08 17

202

FIG ΙΑ

108

FIG IB

08 17

208

FIG 2B

08 17

210

FIG 3A

FIG 3B

4/7

FIG 4A

08 17

FIG 4B

5/7

08 17

Stiffness value:
Old design	12.7 kN.m/rad	Value from test conducted on M ay 2011
Ne w desig n	57.2 kN.m/rad	Value from recent FEA

FIG. 5

Old design (from test)-Modified design (from FEA)

08 17

U ....... gr	0.01 0.02 0.03 Rotation (rad) Vertica 1 moment vs rotatio	0 04 n	0.05
Stiffness val ue:
Old design	35.3 kN.m/rad	Value from test conducted on May 2011
New design	151.05 kN.m/rad	Value from recent FEA

FIG 6

RING LOCK SYSTEM FOR A SCAFFOLDING SYSTEM

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to scaffolding systems. More specifically, it relates to an improved ring lock system for a scaffold.

BACKGROUND

Traditionally, scaffolds are temporary structures used for construction or repair of buildings to support people and materials. The scaffolds allow construction workers or repairmen to stand on an elevated surface that allows them to access an elevated area of a building that requires work. The scaffolding systems are assembled from multiple prefabricated materials connected using scaffolding connecting systems. Some existing scaffolding connecting systems employ a ring lock system to interconnect standard and ledger and standard and diagonal members of the scaffold. Existing ring lock systems use wedges to lock the standard and ledger and diagonal members of the scaffold in place.

WO 2002006610 Al discloses such a tubular scaffolding system comprising vertical tubular posts fixed with disc-shaped metal rosettes at regular intervals. The invention has an expanding recess at each of the side edges of a first opening that extend essentially in a radial direction. It has a taper on the removed outer face, but the invention does not disclose anything about means for improving rotational stiffness of the joints formed by the horizontal and vertical tubular scaffolding posts.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention is to provide an improved ring lock system for connecting tubular horizontal and vertical members with increased rotational stiffness. In addition, the needed improved ring lock system would be capable of forming a greater area of contact with the wedge and thereby preventing possible deflection of the wedge while using the assembled structure. Further the needed ring lock system would be capable of significantly improving the sheer load capacity.

SUMMARY

The present invention is an improved ring lock system for a scaffolding system. The ring lock system is capable of providing an improved strength and rotational stiffness to a joint formed by connecting a standard and a ledger and the shaped support standard and diagonal members. The ring structure has a top surface, a bottom surface and openings extending from the top surface to the bottom surface. An inner wall of the opening in the ring shaped support structures is tapered from the top surface to the bottom surface. The tapered inner wall of the opening in the ring shaped support structure matches with a taper on a surface of the wedge, thus providing greater contact area with the tapered wedge when engaged. The ring shaped support structure provides improved strength at the joints formed between the standard and the ledger, and the standard and the diagonal members. The ring shaped support structure offers better rotational stiffness at the joints formed between the standard and ledger and standard and diagonal members. The tapered inner wall of the ring shaped support structure is formed by forging, which significantly improves the material properties of the ring shaped support structure. In addition, the forged tapered inner wall of the ring shaped support structure increases the sheer load capacity. The wedge used to connect the standard and a ledger and the standard and diagonal member is also formed by forging to provide superior material strength and increased sheer load capacity. The end cast portion of the ledger is redesigned to support the wedge and thereby improving its ability to transfer the load from the connected ledger, standard and diagonal members .

Other objects and advantages of the embodiments herein will become readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a part of a ring shaped support structure for use with a conventional scaffolding system;

FIG. IB illustrates a perspective view of a part of the ring shaped support structure for use with a scaffolding system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of a ring lock system employed for connecting standard and ledger and standard and diagonal member forming the conventional scaffolding system;

FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of a ring lock system employed for connecting the standard and the ledger and standard and diagonal member forming the scaffolding system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a sectional view showing an opening profile of an end plate attached to an end of the ledger of a conventional scaffolding system;

FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional view showing an opening profile of the end plate attached to the end of the ledger of the scaffolding system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a top semi transparent view showing an alignment of the opening profile of the end plate attached to an end of the ledger and an opening of the ring shaped support structure of the conventional scaffolding system;

FIG. 4B illustrates a top semi transparent view showing an alignment of the opening profile of the end plate attached to an end of the ledger and the opening of the ring shaped support structure of the scaffolding system of the preferred, embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph showing a comparison of rotation of the structure of the scaffolding system at the ring lock system against the horizontal moment for the conventional scaffolding system and the scaffolding system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph showing a comparison of rotation of the structure of the scaffolding system at the ring lock system with the vertical moment for the conventional scaffolding system and the scaffolding system of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the scaffolding system having a standard and ledger members connected using the ring lock system according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, a reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which the specific embodiments that may be practiced is shown by way of illustration. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the embodiments and it is to be understood that the logical, mechanical and other changes may be made without departing from the scope of the embodiments. The following detailed description is therefore not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Scaffolds refer to temporary structures used for construction or repair of buildings to support people and materials. The scaffold systems are erected using prefabricated materials. The prefabricated components include individual bars such as standards, transoms or ledgers, vertical and horizontal diagonals with integrated connecting members. The transoms or ledgers and vertical and horizontal diagonals with integrated connecting members are interconnected using bolts, hooks, flanges and wedges. The scaffolds allow workers to stand on elevated flooring attached to any of the structural component to allow them to access an elevated area of a building that requires maintenance or construction work. The components including the ledgers, standards and the diagonal connecting members are made from materials such as steel and other metals and are interconnected using the ring and wedge mechanism. The structural· components Including the ledgers, standards and the diagonal members of the scaffolding system should have sufficient load bearing capacity without fail. In addition, the structural· members should be interconnected properly using at least one connecting means such as the ring and wedge mechanism and securely locked before use.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of a part of a ring shaped support structure (202) for use with a conventional ring and wedge scaffolding system. In conventional ring and wedge scaffold systems, the ring lock system interconnects the scaffolding members including the ledger, standard and the diagonal members to form the structure of the scaffolding system. The ends of the ledger are attached to an end cast structure. The ring shaped support structure (202) includes openings (204) to connect with the end cast portion. Multiple ring shaped support structures (202) may be fixed to the standard, concentrically at regular intervals. The end cast structure may include openings to pass the wedge plate through it. The opening at the end cast structure can be aligned with the openings (204) on the ring shaped supporting structure (202). Now the wedge plate can be driven through the aligned openings to securely lock the standard and the ledger or standard and the diagonal scaffolding members.

In the conventional ring lock scaffolding system, the openings (204) of the ring shaped support structures (202) are vertically punched through the surface resulting in vertical inner walls (206). Conventional· wedge plates include a tapered surface at one side. The contact between a sheer internal face of the ring shaped support structure (202) and the wedge forms a joint connecting the scaffolding members. When engaged, the tapered surface of the wedge and the inner wall if the opening does not matches with each other. Thus the contact area between the vertical internal wall (206) of the ring shaped support structure (202) and the tapered surface of the wedge plate is reduced .

FIG. IB illustrates a perspective view of a ring shaped support structure (108) for use with the scaffolding system (100) according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The openings (114) in the vertically spaced, concentric ring shaped support structures (108), which are fixed to the vertical scaffolding members (106) can be used to interconnect the standard (106) and ledger (104) and the standard (106) and the diagonal members. Each of the vertically spaced ring shaped support structures (108) have a top surface (110), a bottom surface (112) and openings (114) extending from the top surface (110) to the bottom surface (112). The openings (114) in the ring shaped support structure (108) are forged to taper from the top surface (110) towards the bottom surface (112) to match with the tapered side of the wedge (124) passing through the opening (114). The increased contact surface area between the tapered surface of the wedge (124) and the tapered inner wall (122) of the opening (114) in the ring shaped support structure (108) significantly increases the strength at the joints formed between standard (106) and ledger (104), and standard (106) and diagonal members.

FIG. 2A illustrates a perspective view of the ring lock system employed for connecting at least one vertical scaffolding member and at least one horizontal scaffolding member of the conventional scaffolding system.

FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the ring lock system (102) employed for connecting the standard (106) and ledger (104) and the standard (106) and the diagonal members forming the scaffolding system (100) of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The ends of the ledgers (104) are connected to the end cast portion (128) having a redesigned wedge opening (126) for allowing a user to manually drive the wedge (124) through the mutually aligned redesigned wedge opening (126) and the opening (114) of the ring shaped support structure (108). The redesigned wedge opening (126) of the end cast portion (128) further supports the wedge (124) thereby increasing the ability of the wedge (124) to transfer the loads on the scaffolding system (100).

Referring back to FIG. 2A, the conventional ring lock system employed for connecting the horizontal and vertical scaffolding members has less contact surface area between the wedge plate surface and the at least one inner wall of the at least one opening (204) on the ring shaped structure (202). The wedge (124) is the weakest component in the ring lock system. For increasing the bending moment capacity of the wedge (124) it should have a bigger section in the position denoted as 'B' in FIG. 2A. Using more material at the bend location may also increase the bending moment capacity of the wedge (124). This can be achieved by adjusting the opening (114) of the ring shaped support structure (108) so that a worker can drive the wedge (124) deeper through the opening (114) as indicated by the dimension ' A' in FIG. 2A. In the present invention, the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped supporting structure (108) matches the taper on the wedge (124), thereby forming a much greater contact area between the ring shaped support structure (108) and the wedge (124) when engaged. Hence, the bending moment capacity of the wedge (124) can be increased by increasing the dimensions of the section in the position denoted as B in FIG. 2B. The tapering further allows the worker to drive the wedge deeper through the opening (114).

FIG. 3A illustrates a sectional view showing an opening profile of an end plate or an end cast portion (210) attached to the ledger of a conventional scaffolding system. The end cast portion (210) includes a wedge opening (212) having dimensions to easily pass the wedge plate through it. FIG. 3B illustrates a sectional view showing an opening profile of the end cast portion (128) attached to the ledger (104) of the scaffolding system (100). The end cast portion (128) is provided with a redesigned wedge opening (126) with dimensions sufficient enough to pass the wedge (124) in order to provide a stiff horizontal connection to the ledger (104) of the scaffolding system (100). The redesigned wedge openings (126) at the end cast portions (128) closes a gap on a top and a bottom of the ring shaped support structure (108), thereby providing a stiff horizontal connection. This further improves the ability of the wedge (124) to transfer loads. In addition, the redesigned wedge openings (126) enhances a rotational moment stiffness of a joint formed by the ring shaped support structure (108) and the end cast portion (128) in a vertical and horizontal directions .

FIG. 4A illustrates a top semi transparent view showing an alignment of the opening profile of the end plate that can be attached to an end of the ledger and an opening of the ring shaped support structure (202) of the conventional scaffolding system.

FIG. 4B illustrates a top semi transparent view showing an alignment of the opening profile of the end cast portions (128) of the ledger (104) and the opening (114) of the ring shaped support structure (108) of the scaffolding system (100), according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The joint formed by aligning the redesigned wedge openings (126) of the end cast portions (128) and the opening (114) in the ring shaped support structure (108) improves the rotational moment stiffness of the scaffold joint in vertical and horizontal directions. This provides improved stiffness and load transfer capability for the ring lock system (102) of the scaffolding system (100).

FIG. 5 illustrates a graph showing a comparison of horizontal moment versus rotation of the structure of the scaffolding system (100) at the joint formed by the ring lock system (102) for the conventional scaffolding system (100) of the preferred invention. The structure formed scaffolding members (106) and members (104) using the ring improved vertical and horizontal system (100), according to the graph, it is obvious that the rin<

system and the scaffolding embodiment of the present by connecting the vertical the horizontal scaffolding lock system (102) provides stiffness to the scaffolding present invention. From the lock system (102) having the ring shaped support structure (202) with tapered inner wall (122) and redesigned end cast ledger portions (128) offers improved bending moment and rotational stiffness in the horizontal direction compared to the existing designs. The average horizontal stiffness value obtained from the graph for the conventional scaffolding system is 12.7kNm/rad compared to the much improved stiffness value of 57.2kNm/rad for the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a graph showing a comparison of rotation of the structure of the scaffolding system (100) with the applied vertical moment at the joint formed by the ring lock system (102) for the conventional scaffolding system and the scaffolding system (100) of the preferred embodiment of the present invention. From the graph it is clear that with the scaffolding system (100) of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the members of the structure can withstand higher vertical moments without much rotation at the ring lock system (102) connecting the ledger (104) and standard (106) and ledger (104) and diagonal members. The average vertical stiffness value obtained from the graph for the conventional scaffolding system is 35.3kNm/rad compared to the much improved stiffness value of 151.05kNm/rad for the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the scaffolding system (100) having the at least one vertical scaffolding member (106) and the at least one horizontal scaffolding member (104) connected using the ring lock system (102) according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. A method for interconnecting at least one ledger (104) and at least one standard (106) using the ring lock system (102) to form the scaffolding system (100), comprising the steps of providing the standards (106) having concentrically attached vertically spaced ring shaped support structures (108). The at least one inner wall (122) of at least one opening (114) in the ring shaped support structure (108) is forged to taper from the top surface (110) towards the bottom surface (112) to match with the tapering on the wedge (124) designed to pass through the at least one opening (114). The wedge (124) is formed by forging to provide improved material strength and increased the sheer load capacity. The tapered surface of the wedge (124) matching with the tapered inner wall (122) of the at least one opening (114) in the ring shaped support structure (108) allows a user to drive the wedge (124) deeper through the at least one opening (114) .

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the invention with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

CLAIM:

1. A ring lock system (102) for a scaffolding system (100) comprising :

a ring shaped support structure (108) having at least one tapered inner wall (122);

a wedge (124) having a tapered surface to match with the tapered inner wall (122); and an end cast portion (128) having a redesigned wedge opening (126) to support the wedge (124);

wherein the tapered surface of the wedge (124) engages with a greater contact area of the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) to provide increased strength and rotational stiffness at the joints between a standard (106) and a ledger (104), and the standard (106) and diagonal members of the scaffolding system (100).

2. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the ring shaped support structure (108) includes a top surface (110), a bottom surface (112) and at least one opening (114) having the tapered inner wall (122).

3. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the tapered inner wall (122) of the at least one opening (114) in the ring shaped support structure (108) is formed by forging and extends from the top surface (110) to the bottom surface (112).

4. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) increases a contact area between the tapered surface of the wedge (124) and the ring shaped support structure (108) when engaged .

5. The ring lock system (102) of claim 4 wherein the increased contact area between the tapered surface of the wedge (124) and the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) provides improved strength and increased sheer loading capacity.

6. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 provides improved rotational moment stiffness in a vertical and horizontal direction at a plurality of joints formed between the standard (106) and ledger (104), and the standard (106) and diagonal members .

7. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the tapered inner wall (122) of the ring shaped support structure (108) enables a user to drive the wedge (124) deep downwards through the opening (114) with the tapered surface of the wedge (124) pressing against the tapered inner wall (122) of the opening (114) .

8. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the wedge (124) is formed by forging to provide improved material strength and increased the sheer load capacity.

9. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the redesigned wedge openings (126) at the end cast portions (128) of the ledger (104) prevents deflection of the wedge (124) and provides a stiff horizontal connection by closing a gap on a top and a bottom of the ring shaped support structure (108).

10. The ring lock system (102) of claim 1 wherein the redesigned wedge openings (126) at the end cast portions (128) improves support to the wedge (124) and thereby increasing an ability of the wedge (124) to transfer loads.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1621309.2 Examiner: Mrs Judith Peake

Claims searched: 1-10 Date of search: 29 June 2017

Patents Act 1977: Search Report under Section 17

Documents considered to be relevant: