WO1991014061A1

WO1991014061A1 - Anchorage device

Info

Publication number: WO1991014061A1
Application number: PCT/GB1991/000359
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Gerard Gallagher; Stuart Robertson Maclean
Original assignee: Turner Plus Eight Ltd.
Priority date: 1990-03-08
Filing date: 1991-03-07
Publication date: 1991-09-19
Also published as: AU7455591A; GB9005180D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a scaffolding anchorage device (3) suitable for use in anchoring a scaffolding structure (1) or the like to a wall (2). The device (3) comprises an elongate spigot member (5) having a free end portion (6) disposable, in use, inside a borehole (4) in a wall (2). The other end (8) of the spigot member (5) is pivotally connected (9) to a scaffolding clamping device (10) formed and arranged for clamping, in use, around part of a scaffolding member (17, 24, 25) so as to secure the anchorage device (3) to a scaffolding member (17, 24, 25) of the structure (1).

Description

ANCHORAGE DEVICE

The present invention relates to an anchorage device suitable for anchoring scaffolding to buildings.

Previously known methods generally require the use of special more or less complex^' inserts which have to be embedded in pre-formed holes in walls to provide an anchorage for special fixing elements to which the scaffolding member can then be secured. The special inserts however cannot be retrieved and thus their consumption represents a significant additional expenses apart from the additional labour involved in their use. Other known methods involve the use of special scaffolding members with pivotally mounted bars which are axially inserted into pre-formed holes. These are however quite expensive as well as being relatively cumbersome to handle, store and transport.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid or minimise one or more of the above disadvantages.

The present invention provides a scaffolding anchorage device suitable for use in anchoring a scaffolding or like structure to a wall of a building which device comprises an elongate spigot member having a free end portion disposable, in use, inside a borehole in a wall, and its other end pivotally connected to a scaffolding member clamping means formed and arranged for clamping, in use, around a proximal portion of a scaffolding member thereby to secure said anchorage device to a scaffolding member of said structure.

In a further aspect the present invention provides a method of anchoring a scaffolding or like structure to a wall of a building or the like, which method comprises the steps of boring holes into a wall at an angle at least 15° to a perpendicular to said wall; feeding free end portions of the spigot members of anchorage devices of the invention into said holes; and clamping the clamping means of said devices around respective proximal portions of scaffolding members of said structure.

It will be appreciated that the clamping means of the anchorage devices may be clamped to the scaffolding member portions before or after insertion of the spigot member end portions into the holes in the wall. The preferred mode of operation will depend upon the function and disposition of the respective scaffolding members. Thus for example with a transverse scaffold transom member projecting out from the wall it may be more convenient to clamp the clamping means to the proximal end portion of the scaffolding transom member before inserting the spigot end into the hole in the wall. For a vertical scaffold standard member it may be preferable though to insert the anchorage device into the wall first and then bring up a scaffold standard member to the device and clamp the clamping means around it. In addition it may sometimes be convenient to loosely attach the clamping means around the scaffolding member, insert the spigot member into the hole whilst adjusting the position of the clamping means along the scaffolding member and then securely clamp it around the scaffolding member. The anchorage device of the invention is relatively compact and thus of reasonably economic construction, easy to handle, transport, and store, and, by means of using clamping means of different attitudes i.e. formed and arranged for clamping around vertical scaffold standard members or horizontal ledger or transom scaffold members, parallel or perpendicular to the wall, or indeed otherwise disposed scaffold members, is particularly flexible in its mode of use.

Preferably the spigot member is pivotally connected to the clamping means for limited angular movement. Most preferably there is provided a pivotal connection with a limited angular movement of from 15 to 45°, advantageously from 20 to 40°, to a perpendicular to the wall on which the device is to be used, to ensure that the device is used only with boreholes within safe operating angle limits.

Desirably the anchorage device is provided with first and second angular displacement limiting means formed and arranged to provide said pivotal connection with a limited angular movement of 15 to 45°, advantageously from 20 to 40°only, said first limiting means substantially preventing angular movement below 15°, advantageously below 20° and said second limiting means substantially preventing angular movement beyond 45°, advantageously 40°.

Advantageously said anchorage device is provided with two sets of first and second angular displacement limiting means, one set to limit displacement as mentioned supra and a second set formed and arranged to provide said pivotal connection with limited angular movement within the range 315 to 345°, advantageously 320 to 340°, said first limiting means substantially preventing angular movement beyond 345° i.e. excluding it from the range 345 to 0°, advantageously from the range 340 to 0°. It will be understood however that only one set of angular displacement limiting means will normally be operating as such at any one time.

Conveniently the first angular displacement limiting means of each set is provided by a single member e.g. at opposite sides of a pin member, and in use substantially prevents angular movement from the range 345 to 15°, advantageously 340 to 20°. Desirably said first limiting means member is retractable so as to permit said anchorage device to be moved from one side of said member to the other for switching between the two sets of angular displacement limiting means.

Advantageously the spigot member has a reduced diameter shank between its free end and its pivotally connected end, which shank is disposed in the mouth of the borehole, in use of the device, so that the spigot member is freely spaced from the wall at the mouth of the hole thereby to minimise the possibility of damage to the wall around the hole from forces transmitted thereto from the scaffolding.

Further preferred features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description given by way of example of some preferred embodiments illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a general perspective view showing use of three different forms of anchorage device of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view of one of the anchorage devices of

Fig. 1 partly sectioned through a longitudinally extending diametrical plane of the scaffold member;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a further embodiment of an anchor device of the invention; Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the embodiment in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a partial cutaway underside plan view of the limiting means of yet another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 6.

Fig. 1 shows parts of a scaffolding structure 1 secured to the wall 2 of a building by a plurality of anchorage devices 3 mounted in boreholes 4.

As shown in more detail in Fig. 2 each anchorage device 3 comprises an elongate spigot member 5 with a generally cylindrical free end portion 6 connected by a reduced diameter shank 7 to its other end 8 which in turn is pivotally connected 9 to part of a scaffolding member clamping device 10. The clamping device is of generally well known construction with two jaw portions 11, 12 pivotally connected 13 to each other at one end 14, 15 (to one side 16 of a scaffold ledger member 17) and secured together at their other ends 18, 19 (at the other side 20 of the scaffold ledger member 17) by a bolt 21 pivotally connected 22 to one said other end 18 and a nut 23 thereon which engages the other said other end 18 so that tightening of .the nut 23 forces the jaw portions 11, 12 together around the scaffold ledger member 17.

As may be seen in Fig. 1 the clamping devices 10 are secured to the spigot members 5 in different attitudes for clamping to differently disposed scaffolding members including transom members 24 perpendicular to the wall, ledger members 17 closely parallel to the wall, and vertical standard members 25, the clamping devices being disposed so that the central axis X-X of the passage 26 defined between the jaw portions 12, 13 extends in a corresponding direction.

In order to limit the pivotal movement of the spigot member 5 relative to the clamping device 10 (and hence the scaffold transom member 24 etc.), the former is provided at its end 8 with two stop portions in the form of circumferential flats 27, 28 which engage an abutment surface 29 at the base of a yoke portion 30 in which the end 8 of the spigot member 5 is pivotally mounted 9 , so that respective ones of said flats 27, 28 engage said abutment surface at opposite ends of a limited angular movement range angle o< at either side of an optimum offset angle β at which the borehole 6 is inclined to a perpendicular to the wall. In practice it has been found that the offset angle β should be at least 15°, preferably not more than 40°, conveniently about 20° to 25°. The angular movement range is conveniently of the order of 20 to 30°, so that the flats 27, 28 are generally disposed for allowing pivotal movement of the spigot member 5 through a range of 15 to 45°, preferably 20 to 40°, relative to the axis X-X (in the case of the embodiment of Fig. 2) .

In use of the anchorage device a borehole 4 is drilled in the wall at an angle β to the perpendicular, and the free end portion 6 of the spigot member 5 fully inserted therein so that part of the reduced diameter shank 7 is located within the mouth 40 of the borehole 4 and is freely spaced therefrom. When a scaffold transom member 24 is securely clamped in the clamping device 10 it will be seen that it cannot be pulled horizontally away from wall 2, since the spigot member 5 can only be withdrawn by axial movement in a direction having a substantial vertical component. The security of the anchorage of the whole scaffolding structure l is further increased by providing alternating holes inclined in different directions, e.g. above and below the horizontal (see Fig. 1) . In other respects the scaffolding structure 1 may be of any suitable form and arrangement with the usual forms of clamping means 41 for securing 2 or 3 scaffolding members where they cross over each other, and thus need not be further described herein.

It will be understood that various forms of pivotal connection may be used between the spigot member and the clamping means. Thus instead of the yoke mounting 30, the spigot member 5 could be mounted on a pivot pin 42 supported at only one end 43 from the clamping device 10 and projecting outwardly therefrom, the spigot member 5 being captively retained on the pivot pin 42 by an enlarged diameter head 44, as shown in Fig. 3 which is a side elevation of a further embodiment of an anchor device of the invention, and Fig. 4 which is an end elevation of the device of Fig. 3.

In an even simpler form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 5 which is a side elevation of yet another embodiment, the spigot member 5 is simply mounted on the bolt 21 of a generally conventional clamping device 10 between the opposed ends 18, 19 of the jaw portions 11, 12 so as to pivot on the bolt 21. In this embodiment the spigot member 5 is provided with an annular knurled portion 45 to indicate to the user the required depth of insertion into the hole 4 in the wall 2.

Fig. 6 shows an underside plan view of another preferred embodiment of the invention and it will be seen that the borehole 4 and the spigot member 5 are offset in the horizontal plane and not the vertical plan as in the previously described embodiments though of course it will be understood that all the embodiments in Figs 1 to 5 may be used with the spigot member 5 in a horizontal plane perpendicular to the wall 2, i.e. left or right angular displacement as opposed to up or down angular displacement, or indeed any other plane perpendicular to the wall .

In more detail and with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be seen that the anchorage device 3 which comprises a clamping device 10 mounted on a body 46 having a spigot member 5 is mounted into the wall 2 in a horizontal plane with the spigot member 5 offset to the right. As is normal practice, a scaffolding structure 1 is assembled in stages, each consecutive stage being anchored to the wall 2 prior to the assembly of the next stage. It will be seen and with particular reference to Fig. 7, that, as is normal practice, the transom member 24 sits on top of and is attached (not shown) to a ledger member 17 and consequently it will be understood that in order to drill a borehole 4 for the anchorage device 3 the desired position for the borehole should be offset from the ledger member 17 of the scaffold structure 1 to facilitate access of drilling equipment.

In order that the spigot member 5 may be positioned in a left or right handed orientation as required, the spigot member 6 is pivotally connected 9 to the body 46 and the body 46 of the anchorage device 3 is provided with a first angular displacement limiting means in the form of a retractable pin 47. The pin 47 has a head portion 48 and a bottom portion 49 and is slidably mounted within two apertures 50 a, b, on the top 51 and bottom 52 surfaces of the body 46. The hole 50a on the top 51 of the body 46 is arranged not to allow head portion 48 or the bottom portion 49 of the pin 47 to pass through. The bottom 52 hole 50b is large enough to permit the bottom portion 49 to pass through so the pin 47 is always retained in the body 46. Furthermore it will be seen (Fig. 7) that the pin 47 may be retracted to permit a change in orientation (between left and right offset) without having to unclamp the clamping device and turn it around the transom member 46 (which is undesirable) or having to provide separate left and right-handed anchorage devices.

The spigot member 5 has an annular groove 53 towards its pivotal mounting 9 so as to indicate the preferred depth of insertion of the spigot free end portion 6 into the borehole 4. Furthermore the undercut 53 permits the spigot member 5 to be freely spaced from the mouth 40 of the borehole 4 so as to prevent damage to the wall 2 around the borehole mouth 40.

Claims

1. A scaffolding anchorage device (3) suitable for use in anchoring a scaffolding (1) or like structure to a wall (2) of a building which device (3) comprises an elongate spigot member (5) having a free end (6) portion disposable, in use, inside a borehole (4) in a wall (2 ) , and its other end (8) pivotally connected (9) to a scaffolding member clamping means (10) formed and arranged for clamping, in use, around a proximal portion of a scaffolding member (17, 24, 25) thereby to secure said anchorage device (3) to a scaffolding member (17, 24, 25) of said structure (1).

2. A scaffolding anchorage device (3) as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spigot member (5) is pivotally connected (9) to said clamping means (10) for limited angular movement.

3. A scaffolding anchorage device (3) as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said spigot member (5) has an angular movement limited to from 15 to 45° from a perpendicular to the wall (2) on which the device (3) is in use.

4. A scaffolding anchorage device (3) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein said spigot member (5) has a reduced diameter shank portion (53) between its free end (6) and its pivotally connected (9) end (8) whereby in use said shank portion (53) is freely spaced apart from the mouth (40) of said borehole (4) when placed therein so as to prevent damage to a wall (2) around said borehole (4) from forces acting on said spigot member (5) .

5. A scaffolding anchorage device (3) as claimed in any one of claims l to 4 wherein said clamping means (10) comprises first (11) and second (12) jaw portions, pivotally connected (13) to each other at one end thereof and provided with releasable fastener means (21) at the other ends (18, 19) thereof for forcing said jaw portions (11, 12) together around a scaffold member (17, 24, 25) mounted between said jaw portions (11, 12).

6. A method of anchoring a scafroiαing or like structure (1) to a wall (2) of a building or the like, which method comprises the steps of boring holes (4) _Q into a wall (2) at an angle at least 15° to a perpendicular to said wall (2) feeding free end portions (6) of the spigot members (5) of anchorage devices (3) of the invention into said holes (4) , and clamping the clamping means (10) of said devices (3) around 5 respective proximal portions of scaffolding members (17, 24, 25) of said structure (1).

7. A method of anchoring scaffolding (1) as claimed in claim 6 wherein said holes (4) are in the horizontal plane.