NL1033376C2 - Collapsible scaffolding part for forming platform or barrier, comprises fold away deck and supports, casing for deck and supports, guide for deck, and fastener for securing to scaffolding frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The part (1, ) comprises a fold-away deck, fold-away supports for the deck, a casing which at least partly encloses the deck and supports when they are folded away, a guide for the deck when it is being folded away or unfolded, and a fastener mechanism for securing the part to a scaffolding frame (16). An independent claim is also included for a method for installing the part in a scaffolding frame, by securing the casing to the frame, unfolding the supports, securing the unfolded supports to the frame, and unfolding the deck.

Description

Brief description: scaffolding part, scaffolding, as well as method for placing such a scaffolding part

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a scaffolding part, in particular to a scaffolding part for providing a platform. The invention furthermore relates to a scaffolding provided with such a scaffolding part and to a method for placing such a scaffolding part in a scaffolding frame.

Scaffolding parts for providing a platform are known from the prior art.

10 Scaffolding is a temporary construction to make it possible to work in high places that are difficult to reach, for example in construction or for the maintenance of buildings. A scaffolding is made up of scaffolding parts such as steel or aluminum pipes that are used to assemble a rigid scaffolding frame. The scaffolding frame 15 is then provided with sleepers over which gangways are laid for providing a platform on which work can be carried out and over which people can walk.

A drawback of such scaffolding is that building and dismantling is a time-consuming affair.

20

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution to the problem that the construction and demolition of a scaffold is a time-consuming affair.

1033376 * 2

This object is achieved according to the present invention by providing a scaffolding part according to claim 1.

Such a scaffolding part offers the advantage that in the operating position it provides a platform that is self-supporting. As a result, only a limited number of beams are needed for supporting the scaffolding part, and no separate sleepers are required for supporting the platform. The number of parts required for providing a workplace is therefore less than for platforms that must be supported with the help of sleepers. Fewer individual parts need to be supplied and assembled, which shortens the time required for erecting and dismantling the scaffolding.

In addition, the scaffolding part can easily be transported and stored in the compact position.

Furthermore, a scaffolding part according to the invention offers the advantage that, in the operating position, it can offer both a platform and a shield. Because the scaffolding part can be used for different functions, a scaffold builder has to keep fewer, different scaffolding parts in stock.

Special embodiments of the invention are laid down in the dependent claims.

These and other aspects as well as effects and details relating to the invention are described below with reference to the schematic figures in the accompanying drawing.

25 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a simplified perspective view of a scaffolding frame provided with a first and a second scaffolding part according to the invention for providing a first and a second platform and a third scaffolding part according to the invention for providing a shield.

FIG. 2 shows a simplified perspective view of the first scaffolding part of figure 1; FIG. 3 shows a simplified sectional side view of the scaffolding part of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4. shows a simplified sectional side view of the scaffolding part of figure 2 in the compact position;

FIG. 5. shows a simplified perspective view of the underside of the scaffolding part of figure 2; and

FIG. 6 shows a simplified perspective view of an underside of an alternative scaffolding part according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 15

A scaffolding part according to the invention is adjustable between an operating position for providing a platform or a shield, and a compact position for transporting and storing the scaffolding part.

Figure 1 shows a part of a scaffolding 15, with a scaffolding frame 16 provided with a scaffolding part 1 for providing a platform, a scaffolding part 1 'for providing a platform and a scaffolding part 1 "for providing a shield.

Figure 2 shows the scaffolding part 1 of Figure 1 in the operating position for providing a platform 5. Figures 3, 4 and 5 show a side sectional view, respectively, of the scaffolding part 1 in the operating position, a side sectional view of the scaffolding part 1 in the compact position, and a bottom perspective view of the scaffolding part 1 in the operating position.

The invention will now first be explained with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in Figs. 2-5.

4

The scaffolding part 1 comprises a housing 4, a deck 2 movably accommodated in the housing and, on the underside of the deck, movably accommodated in the housing support 3 for supporting the deck 2 in the operating position for forming the deck 5 or the cover 6. The housing is provided with a guide 11 and a guide 12 for guiding the deck 2 and the supports 3, respectively, during movement in an adjustment direction 14 between the compact position and the operating position. In the compact position, deck 2 and supports 3 are included in the guide 11 and the guide 12 respectively in the housing. In the operating position 10, the scaffolding part 1 provides a platform 5 with a surface which is partly formed by the housing 4 and partly by the deck 2.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the scaffolding part is provided with fixing means 8 at the corner points, for fixing the scaffolding part 1 on the vertical scaffolding tubes 9 of a scaffolding frame 16.

The fixing means are preferably suitable for, or can be adapted in a simple manner to, different fixing systems known from the market, such as, for example, the rosette system. For example, attachments can be used to adapt the fixing means to different fixing systems.

In the example shown, the scaffolding part 1 is self-supporting on its long sides, that is to say its sides transverse to the setting direction 14, and therefore does not have to engage with beams there. Moreover, the scaffolding part thus contributes to the rigidity of the scaffolding frame, and no beams are needed along the long sides of the scaffolding part to connect the vertical scaffolding tubes to each other.

The scaffolding part rests along the short sides with hooks 7 on beams 10. The scaffolding part 1 is self-supporting, so that no scaffolding tubes in the form of sleepers are required to support the platform 5.

5

In an alternative embodiment, the scaffolding part can also be provided on one or both long sides with hooks to support on beams of the scaffolding frame. In such an embodiment, the scaffolding part rests on beams on three or four sides. This has the advantage that the scaffolding part 5 has to be dimensioned less robustly, so that it can be made lighter and more compact.

The scaffold part 1 is adjustable in the setting direction 14 between the operating position and the compact position in that the deck 2 and the multiple supports 3 are arranged such that they can be received in the housing 4. The housing preferably has a width in the setting direction 14 of 40 centimeters in length of 2 meters, and deck and supports can be pulled out over a distance of at least 80 centimeters to provide a rectangular platform or cover of 2 meters by 1.2 meters. In scaffolding construction, the dimensions of scaffolding fees are highly standardized, and platforms often measure 2 meters by 1.2 meters.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the deck 2 is composed of hingedly connected parallel strips 18, whereby the deck is flexible transversely of the setting direction 14. As a result, the deck 2 in the compact position can be "folded" into a relatively compact volume, while in the operating position it can cover a relatively large surface. The deck can alternatively be formed, for example, from one piece of flexible sheet material.

The housing 4 is provided with a guide 11 for guiding the deck 2 such that when it is moved from the operating position to the compact position, the deck 2 is, as it were, folded in two. In an alternative embodiment, the guide can for instance be arranged to roll up the deck while moving from the operating position to the compact position, or the hinged parts can for instance be folded onto each other in a Z-pattern.

6

The scaffolding part comprises a plurality of supports 3, which support the deck 2 in the operating position for forming the deck 5 or the screen 6. The supports are preferably made of strips of sheet material with a high bending stiffness in the plane in which the strip extends, and relatively low bending stiffness in a plane perpendicular thereto. The strips can thus, on the one hand, absorb a large load, and thus be used to support the deck, and, on the other hand, can simply be rolled up or folded in two. The strips can for instance be manufactured from plastic, metal or composite sheet material. The 10 strips are preferably made from steel strip.

In the operating position the strips 3 extend with the surface transverse to the deck 2, preferably at an angle of 90 degrees, so that they are loaded in the direction with the relatively large bending stiffness when supporting the deck 2. In the compact position, shown in figure 3, the strips in the flexible direction, transverse to their surface, are partially deformed for compact storage in the housing.

In order to be able to compactly store the supports 3, the guide 12 is adapted to deform the strips 3 from a position in the operating position with the surface transverse to the deck 2, to a folded position in the compact position with the surface parallel to the deck 2. Figures 3 and 4 show that the strip 3 is tilted by the guide 12 from a position with the surface parallel to the plane of the drawing for supporting the deck 2, to a position with the surface transverse to the plane of the drawing. In this latter position, the strips 25 are further guided through the housing parallel to the deck 2, folded in two, and received along the underside of the housing in the guide 12. In an alternative embodiment, the guide can also be arranged around the surface of the strips for example not to rotate to a position parallel to the deck, but for example to roll up about an axis parallel to the surface of the strip in the operating position.

7

The deck 2 is provided on the underside with receiving means 17, in the shown example series of protruding parts with receiving slots, for at least partially receiving the supports 3, so that supports and deck form a rigid whole in the operating position. During the movement of the deck 2 and supports 3 from the compact position to the operating position, the deck is guided through the guide 11 towards the supports 3 so that the receiving parts 17 are slid over the supports 3. In this way the supports 3 are fixed in the direction perpendicular to their surface, and not only the deck 2 is supported, but the combination of deck and supports also contributes to the rigidity of the scaffolding part 1.

In an alternative embodiment, the deck at the bottom can for instance be provided with continuous notches, or the receiving means can only be slid over the supports after the deck has been brought into the operating position, etc.

In the preferred embodiment 1 shown, the supports 3 and the deck 2 are connected to each other in such a way that they can be combined to move between the operating position and the compact position, and can be combined to connect to the scaffolding frame 16. The ends of the supports 3 and the deck 2 are received in a holder 13, provided with a scaffolding tube, so that they can easily be moved simultaneously in the setting direction 14 and can be attached to the scaffolding frame 16.

In an alternative embodiment, for example, the supports can first be pulled out to the operating position and be attached to the scaffolding frame, whereafter the deck is pulled out, placed over the supports, and connected to the scaffolding frame.

The scaffolding part is preferably embodied such that the width of the scaffolding part is adjustable in the operating position, for providing platforms with a width larger or smaller than a standard width of 1.2 meters. The scaffolding part can thus be fitted in a scaffold frame in a flexible manner. For example, when a scaffolding is built next to a wall, this is usually done at a distance of approximately 30 centimeters from the wall. In order to prevent an opening between the platform and wall, the scaffolding is provided on the wall side with supports for a narrow additional platform for partially sealing the gap. By designing the deck and the supports of a scaffolding part according to the invention variably adjustable up to a distance of, for example, 1.5 meters, a scaffolding can be provided with one scaffolding part which also seals such a gap. As shown in Figure 1, a scaffold part 1 'can also be used in the compact position to provide a narrow platform.

In an alternative embodiment, a scaffolding part can have a length of 1.2 meters transversely to the setting direction. Such a scaffolding part can then be used for filling in a gap between two standard platforms of 1.2 meters by 2 meters. For example, when a scaffolding is built along a wall of 5.5 meters, a distance of 1.5 meters remains after the installation of two platforms of 2 meters in length. A scaffolding part with a width of 1.2 meters can then be placed transversely, with the setting direction in line with the other two platforms for providing a platform of 1.2 meters by 1.5 meters in the operating position.

The weight of a scaffolding part according to the invention is preferably less than 30 kg, more preferably less than 28 kg, more preferably less than 24 kg, so that the scaffolding part can be carried by a person.

When placing a scaffolding part in a scaffolding frame, the scaffolding part is preferably supplied in the compact position to the location in the frame where it is to be placed. The scaffolding part is then attached to the scaffolding frame with the housing, for example by placing the brackets on the short sides over the beams and attaching the housing at the 9 corner points to the vertical scaffolding tubes of the scaffolding frame.

The supports are then moved in the setting direction 14 from the compact position to the operating position and connected to the scaffolding frame.

The deck is moved in the direction of adjustment from the compact position to the operating position, and placed on the supports to form the deck or the shield. The deck is preferably provided on the underside with receiving means so that the supports are partially received in the deck for freeing a rigid whole.

The supports and the deck can be partially connected to each other, for example by including the ends in a bracket as shown in Figs. 2-4, so that they simultaneously move in the direction of adjustment from the compact position to the operating position. The deck is herein preferably guided such that receiving means of the deck at least partially receive the supports during the movement from the compact position to the operating position.

In a further preferred embodiment the supports are deformed during movement in the setting direction between the compact position and the operating position 20, for example as shown in figures 3-4, so that they are folded or rolled up in the compact position, and in the operating position substantially be rigid in the plane transverse to the deck in the operating position.

For example, when the ends of the deck and the supports are to be placed in the operating position with hooks over a scaffolding tube for attachment to the scaffolding frame, the housing can for instance be tilted to lift the hooks over the tube. The scaffolding part can also first be brought into the operating position and only then placed in the scaffolding frame.

To provide a screen 6, as shown in figure 1, the scaffolding part 1 "is placed parallel to the vertical tubes 9 in the scaffolding frame 16 of the scaffolding 15. The hooks thereby engage the vertical scaffolding tubes 9 instead of on beams 10. Deck and supports are preferably fixed in the operating position to the vertical tubes 9 to which the housing is also attached, or to a beam between said scaffolding tubes.

The surface of the shield can be adjusted by sliding the deck and the supports more or less far out of the housing. To provide limited protection, the scaffolding part can also be attached to the scaffolding frame in a compact position.

In an alternative embodiment, the deck is divided in the direction transversely to the setting direction 14 into segments that can be moved separately between the compact position and the operating position. For example, the deck can be moved segment by segment from one position to the other, or, for example, a segment cannot be brought into the operating position for leaving an opening in the deck as a hatch or for allowing a scaffolding pipe.

Figure 5 shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of a scaffolding part 31 according to the invention in the operating position. The supports 33 are designed as a rod mechanism which rests against the housing 34 when folded in the compact position 20. The deck 32 can be moved independently of the supports 33 between the compact position and the operating position. When the supports 33 with the holder 43 are brought into the operating position, and the holder with the hooks 37 is connected to a girder of the scaffolding frame, the deck 32 is placed over the supports 33 and connected to the holder 43 for forming a deck or a shield, in the operating position the deck rests on the supports 33.

The scaffolding part is provided with hooks on all four sides for engaging beams of a scaffolding frame. In a preferred embodiment the hooks are staggered along opposite sides, so that two adjacent platforms can engage on one intermediate scaffolding tube. If, for example, two scaffolding parts are laid side by side in a scaffolding, and are supported along one side facing each other on one girder, then the hooks engage alternately on that girder.

The invention as set forth in the following claims is not limited to the embodiments discussed here. For example, the housing can be provided with coupling means for coupling a scaffolding part to another scaffolding part, for example a scaffolding part 1 used as a platform with a scaffolding part 1 "used as a shield as shown in figure 1. Further, the coupling means can be rotatably arranged to a scaffold part can be simply connected to the scaffolding frame in a horizontal position for providing a platform and a vertical position for providing a shielding, and a housing can for instance also be provided with receiving possibilities for receiving hooks from others scaffolding parts.

Furthermore, for example, a guide can be provided which resiliently receives the supports and the deck in the housing, to facilitate the movement of the deck and supports from the operating position to the compact position, and integrated handles and / or use of lifting devices to facilitate the transport of the scaffolding parts, etc

Furthermore, the housing can be embodied such that the deck and / or the supports are only partially enclosed in the compact position in order to enable, for example, cleaning of the deck, supports and / or validation in the compact position. The housing can for instance also comprise a second part for connecting the ends of deck, and / or a second part of the housing can be adapted to receive a part of the deck and / or the supports in the compact position.

Such variants are considered to be within the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

1033376

Claims (19)

Scaffolding part for use with a scaffolding (15), which scaffolding part is adjustable in a setting direction (14) between a compact position for transporting and / or storing the scaffolding part (1, 1 ', 1 "; 31), and a An operating position for providing a platform (5) or a shield (6) for the scaffolding (15), comprising: a deck (2; 32), movable in the setting direction (14) between the compact position and the operating position; supports (3; 33) movable in the setting direction (14) between the compact position and the operating position for supporting the deck (2; 32) to form the deck (5) or the shield (6); housing (4; 34) for at least partially covering the deck (2; 32) and the supports (3; 33) in the compact position; a guide (11) for guiding the deck (2; 32) between the Compact position and the operating position and fixing means (7, 8, 37) for fixing the scaffolding part to a scaffolding frame (16). 2. Scaffolding part according to claim 1, wherein the deck (2; 32) and the supports (3; 33) are combined movable between the compact position and the operating position. Scaffolding part according to claims 1 or 2, wherein in the operating position the scaffolding part provides a rectangular platform (5) or screen (6) with a size of 2 meters by 1.2 meters. 1 033 376 « Scaffolding part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the fixing means (8) are adapted for fixing the scaffolding part to a vertical scaffolding tube (9). Scaffolding part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deck (2) comprises receiving means (17) for at least partially receiving the supports (3) in the operating position for forming a rigid whole in cooperation with the supports (3). Scaffolding part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the deck (2) is formed from hingedly connected parallel strips (18), such that the deck (2) can be rolled up transversely of the direction of adjustment. 7. Scaffolding part according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a guide (12) for guiding the supports (3) between the compact position and the operating position. Scaffolding part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the supports (3) are formed from strips of sheet material. 20 Scaffolding part according to claim 8, wherein the supports (3) are formed from steel strip. Scaffolding part according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the supports (3) are deformable. Scaffolding part according to claim 10, wherein the supports (3) can be rolled up. t I Scaffolding part according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the guide (12) is provided with means for rotating at least a part of the strips (3) from a position in the compact position with the surface parallel to the deck (2) to a position in the operating position 5 with the surface transverse to the deck (2). Scaffolding part according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the width of the scaffolding part (1, 1 ', 1 "; 31) is adjustable in the operating position in the setting direction (14) to provide a platform (5) or a shield (6) of more than one width. Scaffolding part according to claim 13, wherein the width is adjustable between a distance of 1 meter, and preferably a distance of 1.2 meters. 15 Scaffolding part according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the scaffolding part (1, 1 ', 1 "; 31) has a weight of less than 30 kg, more preferably less than 28 kg, more preferably less than 24 kg. Scaffolding (15) comprising a scaffolding part (1, 1 ', 1 "; 31) according to one of the preceding claims. 17. Method for placing a scaffolding part according to claims 1-15 in a scaffolding frame (16), comprising: attaching the housing (4; 34) of the scaffolding part (1; 31) to the scaffolding frame (16); moving the supports (3; 33) in the setting direction (14) from the compact position to the operating position; attaching the supports (3; 33) to the scaffolding frame (16); and «moving the deck (2; 32) in the setting direction (14) from the compact position to the operating position, 18. Method according to claim 16, wherein the supports (3) and the deck (2) are simultaneously moved in the setting direction (14) from the compact position to the operating position. 19. Method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the supports (3) are deformed during movement in the setting direction (14) between the compact position and the operating position. 1 03 3 37th