GB2189566A - Improvements to scaffolding frame - Google Patents

Abstract

Parallel uprights of vertically related scaffold frames are releasably interconnected by socket portions (2) engaging with spigot portions (1), the latter being of parallel profile in a first longitudinal plane but being tapered in the a second longitudinal plane normal to the first plane, whereby an upper frame can be released by lifting one side to pivot it about the interconnection of the uprights on the other side. Spring loaded plungers (7) engage with the spigot to lock the frames together. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements to scaffolding frame Specification This invention relates to a means of connecting together, vertically, scaffolding frames used to construct access scaffolding and scaffolding towers. Scaffolding frames of this type are generally connected together using a spigot portion which mates with a socket portion of the subsequent frame. This method of connection is known to be effective but is extremely prone to jamming due to the close toleranced fits required and due to the ingress of dirt and debris.

This invention provides a method for connecting such frames such that the tendency to jam together is eliminated. This is achieved by constructing the spigot portion such that when viewed in one direction the spigot is nominally parallel and when viewed from the direction at right angles to the first direction it is nominally tapered, such that when releasing any one of the locking pins the frame upright member may be raised rotationally about the conical portion of the other spigot connection thereby vertically releasing the opposite leg member.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings where Fig. la is a plan view of the head fitting spigot joint. Fig. ib is an elevation of the spigot joint viewed in the direction of arrow 'A'. and Fig. 1c is an elevation of the spigot head fitting joint viewed in the direction of arrow 'B'.

The frame connecting means comprises of a Spigot member 1 and a socket portion of another frame member 2. The spigot member comprises a portion 3 which is circular in section and is similar in diameter to the internal diameter of the socket portion. The distal end of the spigot portion 4 is arranged such that when viewed in the direction of arrow 'A' the spigot member is nominally parallel and when viewed in the direction of arrow 'B' the spigot member is nominally tapered. Reference to Fig. la indicates that this is performed by the perimeter of the spigot being constructed having similar radii at both the top and bottom of the spigot member but with the relative centres of radius offset with respect to the central axis. The spigot which may be connected to one end of a frame member 5 by means of welding or otherwise incorporates an aperture 6 into which a plunger 7 engages.

The plunger is retained by means of ring or cotter pin 8 and is held in the inwardly extended position by means of a compression spring 9. The upper portion of the spigot incorporates a bevel portion 10 which on engagement with the socket portion 2 depresses the plunger mechanism 7 such that automatic locking of the joint occurs.

With reference to Fig. 2, showing the connection between two scaffolding frames, it may be seen that the upright frame members 12 may be located upon the frame spigots 13 such that the latching mechanism 14 is automatically engaged. The connection of the frames in this manner ensures that the joint between these adjacent frames is rigid and will remain in axial alignment. To dismantle the scaffolding frame the ring portion of one latch assembly 14 is released by pulling on the ring and simultaneously raising the same leg of the scaffolding frame upwards such that the lower end of the frame is clear of the spigot 13. The opposite latching mechanism 14 will, at this stage, have been automatically released from the mating aperture 6 in the spigot due to the lateral rotational displacement of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

1. A scaffolding frame assembly comprising a plurality of frames each having parallel uniformly spaced operatively vertical frame members provided with mating spigot and socket portions for interconnecting the frames in vertical relationship in use, characterised in that each spigot portion has a section on a first longitudinal plane which substantially tapers to the distal end of that portion and a section on a second plane normal to the first plane which is substantially non-tapered, the spigot portions being so disposed that adjoining frames can be freed from each other by raising one frame member of the upper frame to pivot the latter in the first plane about the interconnection of the other frame member thereof with the lower frame.

2. An assembly as in Claim 1 wherein said interconnecting portions include plunger means for releasably retaining the spigot and socket portions at their fully engaged positions.

3. An assembly as in Claim 2 wherein said plunger means comprises a respective spring loaded plunger acting laterally of each socket portion for engagement in a co-acting formation of the associated spigot portion.

4. An assembly as in Claim 3 wherein said plunger acts in the first plane to engage in a tapered face of the spigot portion.

5. An assembly as in Claim 4 where the plunger and associated formation of the spigot portion are so related that said pivoting of the upper frame with respect to the lower frame will automatically disengage the plunger from said formation of the spigot portion at said interconnection of the other frame member.

6. An assembly as in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the distal end of each spigot portion is bevelled for automatic displacement of the plunger means on assembly together of the spigot and socket portions.

7. A scaffolding frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying draw

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (7)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements to scaffolding frame Specification This invention relates to a means of connecting together, vertically, scaffolding frames used to construct access scaffolding and scaffolding towers. Scaffolding frames of this type are generally connected together using a spigot portion which mates with a socket portion of the subsequent frame. This method of connection is known to be effective but is extremely prone to jamming due to the close toleranced fits required and due to the ingress of dirt and debris. This invention provides a method for connecting such frames such that the tendency to jam together is eliminated. This is achieved by constructing the spigot portion such that when viewed in one direction the spigot is nominally parallel and when viewed from the direction at right angles to the first direction it is nominally tapered, such that when releasing any one of the locking pins the frame upright member may be raised rotationally about the conical portion of the other spigot connection thereby vertically releasing the opposite leg member. The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings where Fig. la is a plan view of the head fitting spigot joint. Fig. ib is an elevation of the spigot joint viewed in the direction of arrow 'A'. and Fig. 1c is an elevation of the spigot head fitting joint viewed in the direction of arrow 'B'. The frame connecting means comprises of a Spigot member 1 and a socket portion of another frame member 2. The spigot member comprises a portion 3 which is circular in section and is similar in diameter to the internal diameter of the socket portion. The distal end of the spigot portion 4 is arranged such that when viewed in the direction of arrow 'A' the spigot member is nominally parallel and when viewed in the direction of arrow 'B' the spigot member is nominally tapered. Reference to Fig. la indicates that this is performed by the perimeter of the spigot being constructed having similar radii at both the top and bottom of the spigot member but with the relative centres of radius offset with respect to the central axis. The spigot which may be connected to one end of a frame member 5 by means of welding or otherwise incorporates an aperture 6 into which a plunger 7 engages. The plunger is retained by means of ring or cotter pin 8 and is held in the inwardly extended position by means of a compression spring 9. The upper portion of the spigot incorporates a bevel portion 10 which on engagement with the socket portion 2 depresses the plunger mechanism 7 such that automatic locking of the joint occurs. With reference to Fig. 2, showing the connection between two scaffolding frames, it may be seen that the upright frame members 12 may be located upon the frame spigots 13 such that the latching mechanism 14 is automatically engaged. The connection of the frames in this manner ensures that the joint between these adjacent frames is rigid and will remain in axial alignment. To dismantle the scaffolding frame the ring portion of one latch assembly 14 is released by pulling on the ring and simultaneously raising the same leg of the scaffolding frame upwards such that the lower end of the frame is clear of the spigot 13. The opposite latching mechanism 14 will, at this stage, have been automatically released from the mating aperture 6 in the spigot due to the lateral rotational displacement of the upper frame relative to the lower frame. CLAIMS

1. A scaffolding frame assembly comprising a plurality of frames each having parallel uniformly spaced operatively vertical frame members provided with mating spigot and socket portions for interconnecting the frames in vertical relationship in use, characterised in that each spigot portion has a section on a first longitudinal plane which substantially tapers to the distal end of that portion and a section on a second plane normal to the first plane which is substantially non-tapered, the spigot portions being so disposed that adjoining frames can be freed from each other by raising one frame member of the upper frame to pivot the latter in the first plane about the interconnection of the other frame member thereof with the lower frame.

2. An assembly as in Claim 1 wherein said interconnecting portions include plunger means for releasably retaining the spigot and socket portions at their fully engaged positions.

3. An assembly as in Claim 2 wherein said plunger means comprises a respective spring loaded plunger acting laterally of each socket portion for engagement in a co-acting formation of the associated spigot portion.

4. An assembly as in Claim 3 wherein said plunger acts in the first plane to engage in a tapered face of the spigot portion.

5. An assembly as in Claim 4 where the plunger and associated formation of the spigot portion are so related that said pivoting of the upper frame with respect to the lower frame will automatically disengage the plunger from said formation of the spigot portion at said interconnection of the other frame member.

6. An assembly as in any one of Claims 2 to 5 wherein the distal end of each spigot portion is bevelled for automatic displacement of the plunger means on assembly together of the spigot and socket portions.

7. A scaffolding frame assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying draw ings.