US2041031A - Joint - Google Patents

Description

May 19, 1936. T. THOMPSON JOINT Filed July 51, 1954 INVENTOR ORNEY Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvement in scaffolds and has reference particularly to the type of scaiford supports used on the outside construction work of modern buildings, which require apparatus of particularly heavy duty, convenience of installation, absolute security and ease of manipulation even under very heavy loads.

My invention hasfor its principal object to provide a scaffold which may be adjusted for heavy or light duty without requiring additional hands to manipulate the mechanism.

A further object of this invention is the arrangement of a connecting device at the end of the scaffold platform, and a common means for readily manipulating two scaffolds so that they may be connected together even by a single person.

' Another object is to provide means whereby one man with the aid of this invention and without any other outside aid may connect very heavy scaffolds together so that they will not separate under any conditions.

Other and further objects will present themselves upon reading the following description and will become obvious to those versed in the building construction arts upon reading the following specification in conjunction with the annexed drawing.

The foregoing objects have been accomplished by a device consisting of the arrangement and combination of parts illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a. scaffold shown suspended from supports fronting on a building wall.

Figure 2 is an end elevation and sectional view of the scaffold showing the method and. means used to connect the winch or hoisting mechanism to the scaffold platform and is taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view taken from above; of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2, showing the details of the invention more clearly.

Figure 4 is a side view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3, taken on the line 4-4 thereof, with a portion of the equipment broken away to show the details of the connecting mechanism in greater detail.

Figure 5 is another view taken along the line 55 of Fig. 4, and showing further details of construction of the joint or joining mechanism.

Referring, now, more particularly to the drawing, the overhead beams or girders, temporarily installed in the steel structures of the buildings at an elevation above that to be covered by the operations of the crew on the scafiold, are not shown. However, the scaffold proper is suspended from these beams by means of the usual steel cable I I, which is looped at its upper end around these beams.

The platform frame forming the base of the scaffold, comprises in each instance, two pairs of slightly separated parallel channel beams I2, disposed longitudinally of the scaffold and with their flanges directed inwardly towards each other, as carefully illustrated in Figure 3. Adjacent each end, the beams I2 are tied together in their spaced relation by a rod I3, anchored in the web portions of the beams. The rods I3 are separated from each other a sufficient distance to accommodate the closed end of a U-shaped hanger I4 thereover, as illustratively exemplified in Figure 2. The material of the hanger I4 is of a width equal to the space between the beams and the upright arms I4, I5 project to a. substantial height above the beams I2 to support the mechanism of the hoist. In assembly a number of these platform units are used, depending of course, upon the length of scaffolding to be set up, and when the number is determined they are separated from each other and planks I6 are placed over the pairs of beams I2 and perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the scaffold. As illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the planks I6 are accommodated between the parallel channel beams I2 of the scaffolding and are heldin place by short sections I! on their under sides.

A rack support I8, Fig. 1 is provided with bracket portion I9 and attached by means of bolts to one side of the hanger I4, I5. A safety bar or rod 9-is inserted across from one of these supports I8 to its neighboring support I8 on another hanger.

Thus far only the overhead supporting beams and the scaffold platform have been described. The present invention contemplates an improved joint for linking the scaffolds or scaffold units together at their bases or platforms.

As stated in the foregoing description, each hanger I3, I4, I5 supports a hoist comprising a drum 22 rotatably carried between the upright arms I4, I5 about midway of their height.

In order to connect two neighboring scaffolds together with their associated parts, by means of the invention or device, the U-shaped element 25 is dismantled by removing the bolt member 26 and placing the U-shaped member 25 around the bolt 21 of the left hand scaffold of Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Then rod I3 which may or may not have been withdrawn, is put in place in the hole provided therefore in the frame member I4. Next, the

scaffold on the right of the above enumerated,

figures is moved over and bolt member 28 is inserted'into the U-shaped member 25. The two scaffolds will then be found to have the channel.

members l2 thereof aligned as tothe holes 29 thereof, and rod 13 may be inserted connecting frame member l4 together with the channel members I2. As a final step, bolt 26 is inserted in place and plate 30 is placed over the space between the two scafiold platforms. 7

Bolt member 3| by means of which U-shaped member 25 is firmly fastened to frame member I 4 and angle-iron 33 may be made as shown in full This bolt 3| serves as an additional support for the scaffold and in addilines, encircling rod I3.

tion keeps the channel portions I2 properlyspaced and in place. 7

To connect the ordinary scaffolds carrying :a

light load, either boards are placed across the two scaffolds to connect them or cords are'used;

This is a dangerous condition, as a break in one cable will cause the workers to be plunged to their death in the street below- Furthermore, one man is not suflicient to perform this task. If several.

men stop their work to assist in the lifting operation or in the joining operation, then considerable, time is lost and in the majority of cases there is J r not enough room to care for the men at the point of joining. 7 What is claimed is:

l. A flexible joint for a scaffold comprising a' bar having a pair of arms forming a U, a' pair of scaffold platforms, a loop on each platform, each of said arms being insertable jinto one ,of said loops at a time, and means bridging said'arms and locking the loop members in place thereon. a 2. A flexible joint for a scaffold comprising a 'bar having a pair of arms forming a U, a-pair of scaffold ,platforms, a loop on each platform, each of said arms being insertable into one of said

Images