US3323271A - Framework systems - Google Patents

Description

J. COLLINS June 6, 1967 FRAMEWORK 5 Y5 TEM S 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 16. 1964 J. COLLINS June 6, 1967 FRAMEWORK SYSTEMS Filed March 1 19 4 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J 1967' J. COLLINS FRAMEWORK SYSTEMS 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 16, 1964 June 6,1967 3,323,271

v FRAMEWORK SYSTEMS Filed March 16, 1964 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent M Claims priority, application Great Britain, Mar. 19, 1963,

10,755/63 2 Claims. (Cl. 52638) This invention relates to metal framework systems as used for temporary and permanent building and like constructional purposes and has been devised with the object of providing an inproved heavy scaffolding, shore, tower or other framework system which is less costly than existing systems and which is capable of being readily assembled without benefit of special tools, clamping or locking devices and so forth.

The invention accordingly consists in a frame unit for incorporation in ametal framework system and comprising a pair of parallel uprights which are connected by at least one cross member having enlarged flat end portions extending in a vertical plane for supporting the ends of additional members by which adjoining frame units are connected to one another.

The invention also consists in a framework system comprising frame units as above in combination with a plurality of horizontal or obliquely extending frame unit connecting members having claw portions at their ends adapted to engage with the flat end portions of the frame unit cross members.

Moreover, each frame unit is preferably equipped with means for preventing accidental disengagement of the claw portions from the flat end portions of the or each cross member, and such means may be slidably engaged on the cross members.

Each frame unit preferably also has a pair of welded cross braces extending across its centre and these cross braces are connected by tie bars which in a complete scaffolding assembly constitute a climbing ladder.

The invention also consists in a scaffolding framework structure including a plurality of frame units as aforesaid mounted parallel with one another and connected inter alia by horizontal transverse struts each having a flattened end portion formed with a claw recess which matches and is adapted to embrace the flattened end portions of the cross members of the frame units.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated by way of example only, a particular and at present preferred frame unit according to the invention, components for use therewith, and also a framework structure incorporating such frame units connected together. In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view of a frame unit;

FIGURE 2 shows a bracing lock;

FIGURE 3 shows a spigot coupling;

FIGURE 4 is an end view of the coupling shown in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 shows a transverse diagonal bracing;

FIGURE 6 shows a horizontal strut;

FIGURE 7 shows a short spacer tube;

FIGURES shows a vertical tie;

FIGURE 9 is a detailed view showing connections between adjoining frame units;

FIGURE 10 shows a jack including a base plate;

FIGURE 11 shows a jack including a saddle plate;

FIGURE 12 shows a trestle framework incorporating frame units according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and first to FIGURE 1 each frame unit is of rectangular outline and comprises a pair of parallel tubes or standards 1 which in use are vertical, connected together at their ends by two parallel tubes or transoms 2 of lesser diameter each having hot 3,323,271 Patented June 6, 1967 or cold formed ends 2a which are flattened in the plane of the frame unit and secured by welding to the standards 1. Each end 2a has a stop member 2b on its side.

Each frame unit as aforesaid is stiffened by a pair of diagonal crossed flat bars 3 which are welded together at their crossing point and each of which is Welded at its ends to the respective standards 1.

The two flat bars are also connected together by a pair of short horizontal tubular bars 4 secured by welding and situated one above and one below the crossing point. These bars serve as ladder rungs to facilitate ascent and descent of frame unit assemblies.

Slidably mounted on each transom 2 are a pair of bracing locks 5 which are for the purpose of retaining on the flattened ends of the transoms 2 the horizontal and diagonal members by which adjoining frame units are connected and braced together as hereinafter described. Each such bracing lock 5, as shown in FIGURE 2, is in the form of an ovoidal shaped plate formed with a keyhole aperture 5a.

For supporting one frame unit directly upon another spigot couplings 6 (FIGURES 3 and 4) inserted into the top and bottom ends of respectively aligned standards are used.

Each spigot coupling 6 comprises two tube stubs 9 each connected by four equally spaced external rods 10 to a central dividing plate 11 of increased diameter compared with the diameter of the circle defined by the outside of the rods which is just smaller than the internal diameter of the standards 1.

A pair of frame units or frame unit assemblies as aforesaid are intended to be erected parallel with each other and braced together by diagonal bracing members 7 to form a three dimensional framework system.

These diagonal bracing members as shown in FIGURE 5 are flat bars having a co-planar claw plate 7a welded to each end, the side aspect of one plate being inverted compared with the side aspect of the other. One inclined end edge of each claw plate is formed with a parallel sided opening 7b leading to a substantially semi-elliptical recess 7c the centre of which is oifset from the axis of the bar.

Each bracing member 7 is fitted by causing the recesses .70 in the claw plates to embrace transoms 2 of the respective frame units and then sliding the bracing member laterally until the recesses fit over the flattened ends 2a of the transoms.

In addition to these bracing members horizontal spacing struts 8, as shown in FIGURE 6 are used for maintaining frame units or frame unit assemblies at a predetermined distance apart. These spacing struts take the form of tubes having flattened ends into which claw plates are welded. These claw plates 8a have openings 8b and recesses 8c identical with those in the claw plates 7a of the bracing members 7 except that the axes of the recesses 3c and the centre of the openings 8b thereto lie on the tube axis. FIGURE 7 shows a short spacer tube 10 of the same construction.

The horizontal spacing struts 8 and the tubes 12 are coupled between the transoms 2 of adjacent frame units in a manner strictly analogous to the coupling of the bracing members 7, that is for instance by fitting the claw plate recesses over the transoms 2 and sliding the struts 8 until the recesses fit over the flattened ends 2a of the transoms.

In FIGURE 8 there is shown a vertical tie piece 12 having hooked ends 12a for the purpose of tying together the two parallel and adjacent transoms of a pair of endwise coupled frame units. A typical assembly of frame units with adjacent standards 1 coupled by a spigot coupling 6 and adjacent transoms 2 coupled by a vertical tie piece 12 is illustrated in FIGURE 9. This figure also shows 1 530 the mode of connection of a pair of diagonal bracing members 7 and a pair of hoizontal spacing struts 8 and also the mode of operation of the bracing locks 5 which are slidable along the transoms 2, inverted and then passed over the flattened ends 2a so that the narrow part of the keyhole slot 5a lies on one side or the other of the stop 2b depending on the number of members engaged over the flattened end.

FIGURE 10 illustrates a jack for supporting a frame unit on the ground or some other supporting surface The jack comprises, in conventional manner, a base plate 13 welded to an externally threaded tube 14 which is a sliding fit Within a frame unit standard 1 and carries a jack operating nut 15 on which the end of the standard is supported and which is rotatable to raise or lower the standard, for instance to compensate for an uneven or sloping ground surface.

FIGURE 11 illustrates a jack of similar type to the one shown in FIGURE 10 but intended for operation in an analagous manner at the top of a frame unit standard 1 for which purpose a saddle plate 16 is welded to the externally threaded tube 17 which is inserted into the standard and on which the jack operating nut 18 is mounted.

FIGURE 12 illustrates a trestle embodying six frame units and other components as above described.

The provision of flattened ends on the horizontal members or transoms of the frame unit when these members are tubular, may be effected in various ways. For instance steel plates could be Welded to the ends of the tubes or small strips or lugs could be welded on to the top and bottom of the tubes. Alternatively the sides of the tubes may be crimped, or the tubes may be partially flattened in the normal manner when making a tube totube connection.

In an alternative form of transverse horizontal strut the claw plates have recesses which are offset from the strut axis and downwardly open so that they may be dropped into engagement with the flattened end portions of the transoms of the adjoining frame units.

The invention is applicable not only to rectangular outlined frames, but to H-frarnes, arch type or ladder type frames, or any other type of scaffolding frame. The invention can also be used in the construction of temporary tubular structures, such as shelters, buildings, road barriers and so forth.

The horizontal and diagonal members for coupling together adjacent frames can be of tubular or any other suitable section.

The principal advantage of the present invention is that it has been found to permit an appreciable saving in construction by virtue of the absence of special clamps and so forth and a subsidiary advantage is that the construction permits not only of the diagonal bracing of the frame itself, but the reduction of secondary bending moments to a minimum by virtue of the external bracing ties and struts being connected nearer the nodal points than is possible with conventional framework systems.

I claim:

1. A flat prefabricated frame unit for incorporation in a metal framework system comprising a pair of parallel uprights which are permanently connected by at least one cross-member extending perpendicular thereto, each said cross-member having enlarged end portions which are flattened in the plane of the frame unit for supporting the ends of additional members by which adjoining frame units are connectable to one another, and means mounted on the cross-members for preventing sliding movement of said additional members, each said sliding movement preventing means being composed of stop means projecting substantially perpendicularly from said flattened enlarged end portions out of the plane of the frame unit and lock plate means, each said lock plate means having a keyhole slot comprising a first aperture communicating with a reduced width aperture, said lock plate means being adapted to slidably receive the cross-member intermediate its length in said first aperture, the width of said reduced width aperture being at least equal to the width of said flattened enlarged end portions so that when said flattened enlarged end portions support addition members, said lock plate means can be moved along the crossmember in said first aperture to an enlarged end portion, then moved onto said enlarged end portion in said first aperture and part of said reduced width aperture and then moved downwardly behind the stop means thus preventing sliding movement of said additional members adjacent said lock plate means.

2. A frame work system comprising a plurality of flat frame units, each having a pair of parallel uprights which are permanently connected by at least one cross-member extending perpendicular thereto, each said-cross-member having enlarged end portions which are flattened in the plane of the frame unit, said flat frame units being connected together by rods having claw portions at their ends engaging over the flat enlarged end portions of the crossmembers, said cross-members having means mounted thereon for preventing accidental disengagement of said rods from said flat enlarged end portions, and claw plates for engaging the end portions of adjacent cross-members of flat frame units arranged in endwise connected relationship for tying together said adjacent cross-members.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,676,161 7/1928 Schiller et al 52638 X 2,665,950 1/1954 Johnson 52637 2,765,200 10/1956 Moyer 52-637 3,190,405 6/1965 Squire 52 637 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,892 7/ 1956 Canada.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

R. S. VERMUT, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A FLAT PREFABRICATED FRAME UNIT FOR INCORPORATION IN A METAL FRAMEWORK SYSTEM COMPRISING A PAIR OF PARALLEL UPRIGHTS WHICH ARE PERMANENTLY CONNECTED BY AT LEAST ONE CROSS-MEMBER EXTENDING PERPENDICULAR THERETO, EACH SAID CROSS-MEMBER HAVING ENLARGED END PORTIONS WHICH ARE FLATTENED IN THE PLANE OF THE FRAME UNIT FOR SUPPORTING THE ENDS OF ADDITIONAL MEMBERS BY WHICH ADJOINING FRAME UNITS ARE CONNECTABLE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON THE CROSS-MEMBERS FOR PREVENTING SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONAL MEMBERS, EACH SAID SLIDING MOVEMENT PREVENTING MEANS BEING COMPOSED OF STOP MEANS PROJECTING SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULARLY FROM SAID FLATTENED ENLARGED END PORTIONS OUT OF THE PLANE OF THE FRAME UNIT AND LOCK PLATE MEANS, EACH SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS HAVING A KEYHOLE SLOT COMPRISING A FIRST APERTURE COMMUNICATING WITH A REDUCED WIDTH APERTURE, SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE THE CROSS-MEMBER INTERMEDIATE ITS LENGTH IN SAID FIRST APERTURE, THE WIDTH OF SAID REDUCED WIDTH APERTURE BEING AT LEAST EQUAL TO THE WIDTH OF SAID FLATTENED ENLARGED END PORTIONS SO THAT WHEN SAID FLATTENED ENLARGED END PORTIONS SUPPORT ADDITION MEMBERS, SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS CAN BE MOVED ALONG THE CROSSMEMBER IN SAID FIRST APERTURE TO AN ENLARGED END PORTION, THEN MOVED ONTO SAID ENLARGED END PORTION IN SAID FIRST APERTURE AND PART OF SAID REDUCED WIDTH APERTURE AND THEN MOVED DOWNWARDLY BEHIND THE STOP MEANS THUS PREVENTING SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID ADDITIONAL MEMBERS ADJACENT SAID LOCK PLATE MEANS.

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