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(11) | EP 1 857 609 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Shaped scaffold element |
| (57) The invention relates to an H-shaped scaffold element (3) for increasing the lift
height S (mostly 2000 mm) from the top of working platform to the next top of working
platform of scaffolds with a lift height increase ΔS of 200 - 500 mm, for example,
in which one has mostly employed modular system posts (2) having regular intervals
R between connecting members of e.g. 500 mm for said scaffolds, but this is not required,
since said H-shaped scaffold element (3) can be used in the opposite sense when employing
smooth scaffold pipes, as a result of which the scaffolds can surprisingly be tread
upon by people wearing a safety helmet and having a greater body length.
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[0001] The invention relates to a scaffold element for increasing the lift height S from top of working platform to the next top of working platform of scaffolds with a lift height increase ΔS for persons having a greater physical height, said scaffold element for scaffolds being comprised of posts, longitudinal beams, cross girders and diagonals, with said posts possibly being provided with connecting members at regular intervals R for mutual coupling of longitudinal beams, cross girders and diagonals, or scaffold element for scaffolds comprised of posts, longitudinal beams, cross girders and diagonals, which can be mutually coupled to loose scaffold couplings, to form a spatial supporting structure constituting said scaffold.
[0002] Various types of system scaffolds are available on the market, which are comprised of modular posts, at regular intervals being provided with junctions to connecting members for beams and diagonals. With most types, said junctions are mounted at mutual distances of 50 cm, allowing beam distances in a multiple of 50 cm to be established. For scaffolds one mostly chooses a vertical beam spacing of 2.00 m, because this height is the closes approximate of the height of reach of the workers since the heigth of 2.50 m can not be achieved without any additional provisions. For a scaffold having floors at mutual spacings of 2.00 m, the passage height varies from 1.90 tot 1.95 m, depending on the structure of the floor boards employed. In practice, said passage height is no longer sufficient, because the body length of man has increased during the last decades and furthermore wearing a safety helmet has become regulatory.
[0003] A known solution to the problem is increasing the junction distance of 50 cm to 54 cm. This gives a lift height of 2.16 m. However, the drawback is that these posts can not be employed together with posts having a system dimension of 50 cm and that furthermore the usual vertical diagonals of the system do not fit any longer. Thus, a scaffolding rental company is required to stock a large number of components of differing lengths.
[0004] Another solution has been found by extending the 2.00 m posts with a pipe length of 20 cm at the top, thus giving a post of 2.20 m. Here, a loose 20 cm part does not suffice, because this will create two post junctions situated closely together, as a result of which the required load bearing capacity of the scaffold can no longer be provided. Extending the posts to 2.20 m will introduce posts which can not be abitrarily employed as modular post, and this too is cumbersome in the stock of a scaffolding rental company.
[0005] In practice, with modular scaffold systems, one mostly employs flush-mounted scaffolding poles, serving as intermediate support for standard scaffold planks. This in order to prevent an additional decrease of the passage height and to prevent the railing height from getting below the prescribed minimum size.
[0006] However, this solution has the disadvantage, that for working platforms between the scaffold and the wall, one often can not choose a sufficiently projecting floor for reasons of strength and furthermore the supporting structure consisting of scaffolding poles can not be telescoped across its entire width.
[0007] Further, modular post systems employed as scaffolds mostly have the drawback, that horizontal system diagonals can not be used at floor level because the connecting points at the posts are inaccessible to the diagonal ends in several directions. These diagonals are mostly required for stiffening, when a scaffold can not be anchored at that position. In practice, one employs loose pipes and couplings in such a situation. It is obvious, that such solutions are cumbersome. Furthermore, with a standard passage height of 2.00 m, the mounted diagonals will cause an unacceptable decreas of the passage height.
[0008] Further, modular post systems are characterized in that working platforms can be created at each connecting point of the modular system post. In practice, one mostly employs standard scaffold parts for an edge plank, which must be fixed to the modular posts using loose parts for said reasons, since it is illogical to provide a system post at each connecting point with a fastening member for edge planks. For less heavy loaded scaffolds and/or scaffolds of less height, one sometimes employs a lift height or height between floors of 2.50 m. Beside the fact that this produces limitations with regard to construction height and/or maximum loading capacity of the scaffold, owing to the greater buckling length of the post, the use of this lift height will eliminate just a small part of above-mentioned difficulties. For example, when using scaffold planks with underlying scaffolding poles, the railing heigth will not meet the legal minimum requirement or a third railing pipe should be applied. Furthermore, in case of a height of 2.50 m between floors, the next floor is difficult to mount from the existing floor.
[0009] The object of the invention is to eliminate above-mentioned difficulties by providing a particularly designed scaffold element, which can be put on the market in an economically sound way.
[0010] To this end, the scaffold element is preferably substantially comprised of e.g. a scaffold pipe according to the invention, characterized in that a coupling unit is mounted between the etremities of two subsequent posts, causing the post extremities facing one another to be spaced apart across a distance ΔS, said coupling units of two parallel posts are mutually connected to a connecting beam fastened thereto, in which the coupling units together with the beam fastened between them constitute an H-shaped scaffold element.
[0011] The advantage is that an H-shaped scaffold element with bending stiffness has been formed. Further, the usual lift height S of 2000 mm can be increased in a simple and structurally suitable way by e.g. ΔS = 250 mm, causing the new lift height to be S + ΔS = 2250 mm. Then, the scaffold can be easily tread upon by persons having a greater body length. Naturally, one can also achieve a lift height of 2250 mm by merely employing a length of scaffold pipe with sleeve, without e.g. any scaffold pipe or other profile welded between them. By using only a length of scaffold pipe with sleeve and providing it with connecting members, one achieves the effect of increasing the lift height, but due to the resulting weaker structure one does not achieve the advantages of the H-shaped scaffold element with bending stiffness according to the invention.
[0012] Further, the scaffold element according to the invention is characterized in that said coupling units of the H-shaped scaffold element are comprised of telescoped and mutually fixed tubular parts, in which the inner tubular part is of scaffold pipe having an outer tubular sleeve around it.
[0013] The advantage is that from the underlying working platform, the H-shaped scaffold element can be placed onto the projecting pins of the vertical system posts (2).
[0014] Then, the scaffold element according to the invention is developed further, characterized in that the top extremity of the tubular sleeve is provided with retaining means so as to retain the next post positioned in it with bending stiffness.
[0015] The advantage is, that this yields a connection with bending stiffness instead of two superposed weaker posts.
[0016] Further, the scaffold element according to the invention is developed further, characterized in that connecting members for longitudinal beam and horizontal stiffening diagonals have been mounted vertically underneath said connecting beam to the inner tubular part in such a way, that the top of a connected longitudinal beam is situated at a distance of approximately the size of the diameter of a scaffold pipe, or the height of a scaffolding pipe employed, below the top of the connecting beam of the H-shaped scaffold element.
[0017] The advantage is, that sufficient passage height above the underlying working platform will remain also when employing longitudinal beams and horizontal stiffening diagonals.
[0018] Further, the scaffold according to the invention is developed further, characterized in that said opening is continued to the top of the tubular sleeve, allowing the next post to be positioned laterally in case of an opened flap.
[0019] The advantage is, that after positioning the H-shaped scaffold element the next posts can be positioned quickly and possibly be positioned quickly from the subsequently assembled working platform.
[0020] Further, the H-shaped scaffold element can also be employed without connecting members with working platforms consisting of smooth scaffold pipes in the opposite sense.
[0021] Hereinafter, the invention is explained further by way of a preferred embodiment, illustrated in the drawing, in which:
figure 1 shows a perspective view of a partially illustrated scaffold constructed with modular system posts and provided with a preferred embodiment of H-shaped scaffold elements according to the invention;
figure 2 shows the same as figure 1, yet without the floor boards and edge planks of a working platform, as a result of which the located H-shaped scaffold element according to the invention is visible;
figure 3A shows a perspective view of the H-shaped scaffold element according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;
figures 3B and 3C show side views of the H-shaped scaffold element, but employed in the opposite sense in scaffolds constructed from scaffold pipes without any connecting members;
figure 4 shows a vertical cross-section across two working platforms of a scaffold having modular system posts and the applied H-shaped scaffold elements according to the invention;
figures 5A-5C show perspective views of the various stages or steps of mounting said H-shaped scaffold element; and
figures 6A-6B show a side view of two variations to be developed further for the coupling unit of the H-shaped scaffold element.
[0022] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of part of a scaffold 1, constructed from modular system posts 2 and provided with the H-shaped scaffold element 3 according to the invention. At regular distances R of mostly 500 mm, the modular system posts 2 are provided with connecting members 4 for longitudinal beams 5, cross girders (in this case none), diagonals (not illustrated) and railing beams 6. Between two upward modular system posts 2, the H-shaped scaffold element 3 of figure 3 is mounted according to the figures 5A through 5C. The horizontal beam 3 supports the floor boards 8. Telescoping scaffolding poles 9 are mounted onto said longitudinal beams 5 in the usual way, likewise for supporting the floor boards or planks 8. Figure 1 indicates the telescoping scaffolding poles 9 in the extended position. With the usual scaffold systems, the lift heigth S is 4 x 500 mm (=R) = 2000 mm and the increase of the strok height ΔS is preferably 200 - 250 mm. Further, the edge plank 10 is located in a bracket 11, e.g. executed as an L-shaped piece of round-bar steel.
[0023] In figure 2, mounting of the H-shaped scaffold element 3 built-in in the scaffold is illustrated in more detail. Further, the same parts have been indicated by the same reference numbers throughout.
[0024] Figure 3A an enlarged perspective view of the H-shaped scaffold element 3 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated and this consists of a horizontal beam 7 having assembled tubular parts 12 welded at its extremities for increasing the lift height ΔS by about 200 - 250 mm. The tubular parts 12 are comprised of a lower part 13 of scaffold pipe with a connecting point 14 for longitudinal girders 5, cross girders and diagonals (not illustrated) and an upper part in the form of a tubular sleeve 15 welded to it for receiving the next modular system post 2 with an ample clearance of about 2 - 4 mm. The next modular system post 2 is retained or locked with bending stiffness by way of a clamping device 16, preferably comprising a pivoting flap 17 with wedge retainer of a scaffold coupling. Further, said tubular sleeve 15 of clamping device 16 is provided with a lateral opening 18 extending to the end of sleeve 15, for laterally positioning or mounting the next modular system post 2. Further, at one side of the H-shaped scaffold element 3, lower part 13 mounts an additional connecting member 19 e.g. for common vertical stiffening diagonals (not illustrated) thus forming the usual regular spacing R with the modular post 2.
[0025] In figure 3B, an enlarged side view of the H-shaped scaffold element 3 according to said preferred embodiment is applied in the opposite sense. This application can e.g. be mounted with scaffolds consisting of posts, longitudinal beams and cross girders without connecting members.
[0026] In figure 3C, inner tubular part 13 of the scaffold pipe has its top end provided with a bayonet catch 17 together with the next post 2'. At the same time, in figures 3B and 3C the member 11 for receiving an edge plank 10 is welded upside-down to the inner tubular part 13.
[0027] Figure 4 illustrates a vertical cross-section across two working platforms 20 (floor boards 8) of a scaffold with modular system posts 2 and the employed H-shaped scaffold elements 3 according to the invention. Corresponding parts have been indicated by the same reference numbers. Also, one can see, that by the additional connecting member 19, which has the regular distance R fromt the top of the working platform with connecting points 4, so that the railing height H has been brought at the legal minimum of 1000 mm.
[0028] Figures 5A through 5C illustrate in perspective view mounting of the H-shaped scaffold element 3 by the scaffold constructor 21, who is secured to e.g. a modular system post 2 by a cable. By the clearance between lower part 13 and the projecting pin 23 in a length of about 100 mm of the vertical modular post 2 of about 3 mm, one can achieve a sufficient vertical displacement X with a working platform width of e.g. 1500 mm, allowing for mounting the following modular system post 2' in figures 5B and 5C.
1. Scaffold element for scaffolds comprised of posts, longitudinal beams, cross girders
and diagonals, with said posts possibly being provided with connecting members at
regular intervals R for mutual coupling of longitudinal beams, cross girders and diagonals,
or scaffold element for scaffolds comprised of posts, longitudinal beams, cross girders
and diagonals, which can be mutually coupled to loose scaffold couplings, to form
a spatial supporting structure constituting said scaffold, characterized in that a coupling unit (12) is mounted between the extremities of two subsequent posts (2,
2'), causing the post extremities facing one another to be spaced apart across a distance
ΔS, said coupling units (12) of two parallel posts (2, 2') being mutually connected
to a connecting beam (7) fastened thereto, in which the coupling units (12) together
with the beam fastened between them constitute an H-shaped scaffold element (3).
2. Scaffold element according to claim 1, characterized in that said coupling units (12) of the H-shaped scaffold element (3) are comprised of telescoped
and mutually fixed tubular parts (13, 15), in which the inner tubular part (13) is
made of scaffold pipe having an outer tubular sleeve (15) around it.
3. Scaffold element according to claim 2, characterized in that the top extremity of the tubular sleeve (15) is provided with retaining means (16)
so as to retain the next post (2') positioned in it with bending stiffness.
4. Scaffold element according to claims 1-2, characterized in that connecting members (14) for longitudinal beams (5) and horizontal stiffening diagonals
have been mounted vertically underneath said connecting beam (7) to the inner tubular
part (13) in such a way, that the top of a connected longitudinal beam (5) is situated
at a distance of approximately the size of the diameter of a scaffold pipe, or the
height of a scaffolding pole (9) employed, below the top of the connecting beam (7)
of the H-shaped scaffold element (3).
5. Scaffold element according to claims 1, 2 and 4, characterized in that an additional connecting member (19) is mounted to the inner tubular part (13) vertically
above said connecting beam (7) at said regular intervals R with the other connecting
members (4) for connecting usual vertical stiffening diagonals.
6. Scaffold element according to claim 3, characterized in that said clamping device (16) consists of a pivotably mounted flap, for clamping the
next system post (2') with bending stiffness through an opening (18) in the tubular
sleeve (15).
7. Scaffold element according to claim 6, characterized in that said opening (18) is continued to the top of the tubular sleeve (15), allowing the
next post (2) to be positioned laterally in case of an opened flap.
8. Scaffold element according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that one of said coupling units (12) of the H-shaped scaffold element (3) is provided
with a member (11) for receiving an edge plank (10).
9. Scaffold element according to claim 8, characterized in that said member (11) consists of e.g. welded L-shaped piece of round-bar steel, into
which the edge planks (10) can be positioned.
10. Scaffold element according to claims 1-2, the scaffold being constructed from posts,
longitudinal beams and cross girdes of scaffold pipe without any connecting means
and loose couplings, characterized in that said coupling units (12) of the H-shaped scaffold element (3) comprising the outer
tubular sleeves (15) having retaining means (16) at the lower end have been located
on preceding posts (2) and the inner tubular parts (13) of the scaffold pipe at the
top end for receiving the next posts (2'), as a result of which said H-shaped scaffold
element (3) has been employed in the opposite sense.
11. Scaffold element according to claim 10, characterized in that said inner tubular parts (13) of scaffold pipe have their top ends provided with
a bayonet catch (17) with the next post (2').
12. Scaffold element according to claim 11, characterized in that said inner tubular parts (13) are provided with a member (11) for receiving an edge
plank (10), said member (11) being fixed in opposite sense as well.