US1724713A - Scaffolding - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13, 1929- F. B. JOHNSTON SCAFFOLDING Filed Feb. 24, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK B. JOHNSTON, OF ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN 8AFETY DEVICE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SCAFFOLDING.

Application filed February 24, 1927. Serial No. 170,540.

The present invention relates to scaffolding, and has for an object to provide an im proved means for raising and lowering the scaffold.

6 The present invention aims to provide a motor driven device for raising and lowering the scaffolding without occupying much space and which may be protected from dust and contact with materials which are used upon and about the platform, and a mechanism which may be operated step by step for raising anddowering the plat-form.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating or hoisting means for a scaffolding which may be carried by the scaffolding and which at the same time occupies but small space, may be operated by a single motor of the electric or other suitable type and a device which maybe easily and quickly brought into operation for adjusting any portion or either end or any corner of the scaflolding to suit the same to various conditions of use.

The invention embodies a novel carriage or portable device provided with a motor and with suitable gearing or connections for coupling the motor selectively with independent oisting devices or means carried by the scaffolding at the corners thereof, intermediate the ends thereof, or otherwise as occasion may demand, the portable carriage or device being constructed and provided with means for connecting the hoisting devices either independently or in multiple with the motor on the carriage, so that the hoisting devices may be selectively moved either singly or simultaneously in pairs or the like.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a scaffolding equipped with a hoisting mechanism constructed according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the scaffolding with the hoisting mechanism applied thereto.

Figure 4 is a detail enlarged View of one of the hoisting devices or means employed at the corners or other portions of the scaffolding.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the portable carriage or operating means which may be shifted about on the platform of the scaffolding.

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary view in perspective of the detachable connection between the portable operating device and one of the hoisting means on the scaffolding.

Figure 7 is a top plan View of a modified form of the portable operating device.

Figure 8 1s a side elevation of the same, and

Figure 9 is an end view of the portable operating device of Figures 7 and 8.

Referring to the drawings, the scaffolding may be of any approved construction and in the present instance is disclosed as comprising an upper platform 15 from which is suspended a lower platform 16. These platforms are composed of groups of longitudinally positioned boards seated in edgewise contacting relation across spaced putlogs 17. The upper and lower platforms 15 and 16 are connected together by rods 18 or the like which form the means of suspension and support for the lower platform 16. For supporting and adjusting the scaffolding the upper platform 15 is provided at suitable spaced points, such as near the opposite corners of the platform 15, with hoisting means or devices. Each hoisting device or means comprises a substantially rectangular frame 19 which is attached by angle irons 20 or the like to the platform 15. Within the 'frame 19 is disposed a drum 21 supported on the shaft 22 secured in the frame 19 and upon which the drum 21 may freely turn. Wound upon the drum 21 is a rope or cable 23 forming a flexible support, and the cable 23 is carried upwardly from the drum over an anti-friction pulley 24 mounted on the cross rod 25 forming a portion of the frame 19, and upwardly to a suitable overhanging support 26 which may project from the adjacent wall of the building. These supporting or suspension cables 23 are in any desired number corresponding to the number of hoisting devices used. In the present instance four of these cables 23 are shown associated with four of the hoisting devices, one at each corner portion of the scaffolding, as shown in Figure 2.

One flange of the drum 21 is provided with a ratchet wheel 27 with which cooperates a pawl 28 pivoted at 29 on the frame 19 to hold the drum 21 fromf turning in one direction. The other flange or end of the drum 21 is provided with a worm wheel 30 with which engages and meshes a worm 31 mounted on the shaft 32 which is journaled in the frame 19 and utilized for rotating the drum 21. The shaft 32 of the worm, as shown in Figure 6, is provided with a head 33 on one end which preferably extends inwardly with respect to the outer edges of the scaffolding for interlocking engagement with a second head 34 carried upon the shaft 35 of the portable operating device. It will be noted from Figures 2 and 3 that the hoisting means on the scaffolding is disposed in pairs at opposite ends and that the worm shafts 32 of the hoisting means are so disposed as to be in transverse alinement and register transversely of the scaffolding. It is possible, therefore, to use a portable operating means and shift it into position between a pair of these hoisting devices, as clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3. The detachable heads 33 and 34 permit of the quick interlocking and release of the operating means with respect to the separate hoisting devices. I

The portable operating means comprises a platform or frame 36 mounted upon wheels or rollers 37, so that the platform 36 may be wheeled about the platform 15 from one end to the other and may be easily and quickly adjusted into interlocking engagement with one or more of the hoisting devices as is desired. The platform 36 carries the motor 38 having a shaft 49 upon which is mounted a pinion 50 meshing with a gear wheel 51 on the shaft 52 mounted upon a standard 53 rising from the platform 36. The shaft 52 carries a bevel pinion 54 against the opposite sides of which mesh a pair of bevel gear wheels 55 mounted on the shaft 35. One of the gear wheels 55 may be loose upon the shaft, or the shaft 35 may be divid;- ed so that its opposite ends may be turned in opposite directions.

The overhanging supports or Outriggers 26 may be of any approved form and in the present instance are shown as of I-beam construction and bearing across the upper edge of a wall '46, which may be joined to a roofing or flooring 47 which serves as an anchor for the inner ends of the outriggers 26, the latter being attached thereto by anchor bolts 48 or other suitable means.

In operation, when it is desired to elevate one end or portion of the scaffolding it is onlynecessary to roll the portable operating device into close proximity to the hoisting means of the scaffolding and to interlock the heads 33 and 34 together. This interlock may be accomplished by merely sliding the a head 33 laterally into the opening in the head or socket 34 so that as the head or socket 34 is turned it will rotate the worm shaft 32 therewith and thus actuate the ho1sting means. g 7

As shown in Figure 5 the shaft 35 extends from opposite sides of the platform 36 and there is a socket-34 on each end of the shaf 35 so that the portable device may be disposed between a pair of the hoisting devices to operate them simultaneously and equally to insure the uniform'lifting of the two corners of the platform. In Figures 7, 8 and 9 there is disclosed a slightly modified form of operating means mounted on the portable platform 36 and which may be substituted for the operating means shown in Figure 5, I

This modification shows the platform 36 carrying on one end a motor 38 of any approved type, such as an electric motor as shown. The motor 38 has a shaft 39 which extends centrally of the platform 36 and lengthwise thereof, and is supported at its end remote from the motor 38 by a standard or hearing 40, the shaft 39 carrying a worm 41 which meshes with a. worm wheel 42 fixed on a shaft 43 disposed transversely over the platform 36 in a pair of spaced apart standards or uprights 44. The shaft 43 carries at opposite sides of the worm wheel 42 a pair of pinions 45 which mesh with gear wheels 46 carried upon the drive shaft 35. The motor 38 thus operates, through the reduction gearing described, the operating shaft 35 so as to turn it slowly and thus coinmunicate its motion to the drums 21 of the independent hoisting devices when the portable operating means is connected therewith.

I have illustrated and described a preferred and satisfactory embodiment of my invention, but it is obvious that changes may be made therein within the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In scaffolding, a platform, a pair of independent hoisting means carried by the platform at separated points, and a portable power-driven operating device common to said pair of hoisting means arranged on the platform to be shifted between said hoisting means, said operating means comprising a motor having parts for coupling with said pair of hoisting means for operating them simultaneously as a pair and independently.

2. In scaffolding, a platform, pairs of hoisting devices arranged at opposite ends of the platform, and a power-driven operating device movably mounted on the platform adapted to be shifted into position between the hoisting devices of each pair and comprising a motor and parts for coupling with said hoisting devices to simultaneously operate the hoisting devices in pairs and selectively according to the position of the operating means.

3. In scaflolding, a platform, a hoisting device at each. corner portion of the platform, each of said devices including a drum and shaft connected to the drum for turning it, and a portable power driven operating unit mounted on the platform adapt-ed to be shifted between two of said drums and having a drive shaft and comprising a motor, and means for detachably interlocking the drum operating shaft and the drive shaft to turn the drum from the operating member.

4. In scaffolding, a platform, pairs of hoisting devices arranged in spaced relation on the platform, flexible supports for the platform connected to said hoisting devices, each of said hoisting devices having a driven shaft, and portable operating means mounted on the platform and comprising a motor provided with a drive shaft having detachable coupling parts on its ends, the operating means being adapted to be adjusted between the hoisting devices of the selected pairs and the opposite ends of the shaft of the operating means adapted to interlock with the driven shafts of the hoisting devices.

5. In scaffolding, a platform, a plurality of hoisting devices mounted on the platform, each hoisting device having a frame secured to the platform, a drum mounted to turn in the frame, a worm gear connection in the frame with the drum and having a driven shaft projecting from the frame and portable operating means mounted on the platform adapted to be shifted to the selected hoisting devices, said portable operating means having a motor, and a drive shaft geared to the motor and having a coupling head on the drive shaft for detachable interlocking engagement with the worm gearing of the hoisting devices to selectively op erate the latter.

6. In scaffolding, a platform, a plurality of hoisting devices mounted upon the platform and each including a drum and driven means for turning the drum and including a driven shaft with a socket head thereon, a cable wound upon each drum, Outriggers supporting the upper ends of the cables, and a portable motor including a driving member and a train of reduction gears having a drive shaft with an interlocking head thereon, said portable motor being adapted to be shifted to the selected hoisting device and adjusted with the heads of the operating member and the hoisting device in interlocking engagement to actuate the hoisting device.

7. In scaffolding, a platform, a plurality of hoisting means mounted thereon at separated points, each of the hoisting means including a drum with a supporting cable wound thereon, means cooperating with the drum for holding it against reverse movement, and a portable power driven operating device arranged on the platform to be shifted thereon and comprising a motor and coupling parts common to a plurality of hoisting means for interlocking engagement with them selectively according to the position of the operating means to rotate the drum and wind the cable thereon.

8. In a scaffolding, a platform, hoisting devices secured to the platform in pairs, the members of each pair being at opposite sides of the platform, each of said devices comprising gearing and a projecting shaft to operate said device, a roller truck .for said platform, a power-driven motor carried by said truck, shafting on the truck carrying coupling parts at the opposite sides of the truck, and gearing between the motor and said shafting so that when the truck is moved between the hoisting devices, said shafting can be connected by said coupling parts to the shafts of the said hoisting devices to actuate same.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name hereto.

FRANK B. JOHNSTON.

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