Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
a
f
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A connecting Element for Arrangement on a Scaffolding Rod
The invention relates to a connecting element for arrangement on a scaffolding
rod and
more particularly on a post which for scaffolding erection is to be set in an
upright position, which
is preferably generally in the form of a disk and projects from the
scaffolding rod as an encircling
collar and which - for the attachment of fixrther scaffolding rods such as
more particularly runners
to be arranged horizontally and/or diagonal braces to be arranged obliquely -
possesses wedge
sockets, preferably holes or cutouts distributed regularly about its periphery
for receiving
connecting wedges with a locking action.
Furthermore the invention relates to a scaffolding rod fitted with at least
one such
connecting element.
Various different connecting elements of this type or, respectively, rods
akeady fitted with
such connecting elements are now commercially available.
In this case a scaffolding rod, and more especially a scaffolding rod provided
as a post to be
arranged in an upright manner in the scaffolding, will normally have equally
spaced connecting
elements, which consequently in the case of a vertical alignment of the
corresponding scaffolding
rod will project from such scaffolding rod as a surrounding collar or rosette
in a horizontal plane.
With the aid of such scaffolding rods a system scaffolding structure may be
erected by connecting
spaced apart vertically placed scaffolding rods by fixrther horizontally
arranged, scaffolding rods.
For this purpose such ledgers or runners possess connecting heads at their
ends, which like forks
normally fit around the disk-like connecting element on the associated post,
that is to say they can
fit over and under same. In this case the connecting head and also the
connecting element possess
wedge sockets in mutually corresponding positions, that is to say holes or
cutouts, through which
for the locking and connection of the two scaffolding rods a connecting wedge
may be driven,
which extends through the top side of the connecting head of the runner then
through the
connecting element and after this through the lower part of the connecting
head of the runner.
Furthermore adjacently placed upright posts are usually connected together by
means of
diagonal braces, which accordingly connect the connecting element of a post at
a higher level with
a connecting element of another post at a lower level. The connecting heads of
such diagonal braces
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may in principle be designed in a similar fashion to the connecting heads of
the runners, such
connecting heads of the diagonal braces being or being able to be set at an
angle owing to the
oblique alignment to the plane of the connecting element in relation to the
scaffolding rods in the
form of the diagonal braces. For the arrangement of such a diagonal brace on a
connecting element,
on which the connecting head of a horizontal runner has already attached in
the same vertical plane,
the connecting head of the diagonal brace is normally attached in a different
wedge socket of the
connecting element which is adjacent to the wedge socket for the runner.
For this purpose it is possible for a connecting element to be designed like a
spoked wheel
or rosette, that is to say as a sort of hub with a central opening, through
which the rod constituting
the post is fitted, radially outwardly extending ribs or spokes being present
which separate mutually
adjacent wedge sockets from each other and connect the hub with an encircling
hoop or a rim
concentric to the hub. It is in this manner that generally equally large and
more especially congruent
wedge sockets are arranged evenly around the hub, there frequently being eight
wedge sockets so
that as related to the center of the connecting element they have an angular
spacing apart of 45
degrees. This permits not only the adjacent placing of a runner and a diagonal
brace on the same
connecting element but also there is the further advantage that the
possibility of such angular
spacing allows, for example, the erection of a round scaffold, that is to say
for instance in the form
of a tower or the like. With the aid of 45 degree settings of the horizontal
plane around the building
or the like about which the scaffolding is erected, it is possible to erect a
closed octagon using
suitable scaffolding.
To a certain extent the connecting elements which are commercially available
are not of
equal size as regards the wedge sockets and for instance there is an
alternating succession of a
smaller and a larger, that is to say elongated wedge sockets. An elongated
wedge socket, which
consequently comes after a larger or longer section of a circular arc around
the center of the
connecting element, may for example serve to ensure a more continuous or
regular alignment of a
runner at the connecting head in relation to a preceding runner. Therefore in
the case of round
scaffolding it will be possible to have not only octagons but also polygons
with a larger number of
corners on scaffolding so that the outline of the scaffolding will fit a
circular form in a horizontal
plane more snugly and more continuously.
The disadvantage of the more elongated wedge sockets is however that the wedge
inserted
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through them will have more play for movement and accordingly the
corresponding runner will
not, owing to adaptation of the wedge socket in size to the extent of the
wedge, be forced into a
preset, desired alignment. This is more particularly a disadvantage, when no
round scaffolding but
rather a rectangular one is to be erected, because in this case the design and
arrangement of its
wedge socket may not set and define a right angle.
Even if the more elongated wedge socket is employed for the arrangement of a
diagonal
brace, the resulting play allowing movement is disadvantageous.
In other words the less restricted choice of alignment of a scaffolding rod at
a connecting
element is achieved with a corresponding reduction in reliable locking and
alignment of such
scaffolding rod.
Furthermore as regards the design of the wedge sockets it is to be borne in
mind that the
width of the wedge socket, that is to say the dimension of the wedge socket on
the arcuate section
around the center of the connecting element may not be too exactly adapted to
the width of the
connecting wedge itself, since the connecting wedges are usually provided with
a sort of heel or pin
and are thus arranged in a movable manner on the connecting heads of the
scaffolding rods without
there being any danger of loss. This means that during erection of scaffolding
there is the advantage
that the respective connecting wedge is always to hand and cannot be lost in
the course of such
assembly, the loss of such a connecting at a great height involving
considerable danger of injury.
The heels or pins, respectively, do however extend somewhat past the sides of
the connecting
wedge and for making a wedged joint must be slipped through the wedge socket
of the connecting
element. For this purpose it is necessary for the wedge socket to provide
enough space so that for
instance the wedge socket may essentially have the radially widening cross
section of a segment of
an orange, although the radially extending lateral borders of such wedge
socket should be slightly
barreled outward in order to leave the necessary space for the said heel or
pin in this part. The ribs
separating the wedge sockets from one another may consequently taper (become
thinner) in this
region. On the other hand such ribs must have sufficient thickness of their
material even in the
thinnest parts thereof to guarantee the strength of the connecting element.
This means that in the
prior art the number of wedge sockets to be accommodated on the periphery of
the connecting
element is ultimately restricted to eight wedge sockets at a maximum.
The slightly barreled configuration of the wedge socket does not impair
reliable locking of
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the connecting wedge during connection, for example of a runner to a post,
because the runner is in
fact braced between two posts and as a result the connecting wedge is
essentially or even
exclusively in contact with the radially outer side of the wedge socket,
whereas the limit of the
wedge socket on the hub side may possibly be clear of the connecting wedge.
One object of the invention is to provide a connecting element of the type
initially
mentioned, which in the context of a robust design, which is economic in the
use of material,
presets a greater number of set possibilities of alignment for the connection
of scaffolding rods with
such connecting element, that is to say simultaneously permits more varied
possibilities of
alignment or orientation; while nevertheless locking of alignment.
In accordance with the invention such object is to be achieved by a connecting
element,
which is characterized in that in the case of at least one of the wedge
sockets, by means of a
structuring or design of its shape acting in the radial direction, at least
one (further) wedge receiving
compartment is formed or respectively delimited.
Therefore in accordance with the invention a wedge socket is divided up into a
plurality of
equally sized or not equally sized, and preferably two or three wedge
receiving compartments, such
division being achieved with the advantage of not involving the provision of
more continuous ribs,
which would require additional thickness of the material and corresponding
space, which, more
particularly because of the design of the wedges indicated and more especially
because of the pins,
is not available, and instead involves structuring or design of the shape of
the wedge socket.
In this respect, as akeady explained, more particularly the radially outer
lateral limit of the
wedge socket is significant, against which the wedge is braced or jammed in
the connected
condition. In accordance with the invention it is more particularly in this
region of the side wall of
the wedge socket that a structuring or design is respectively provided which
on the one hand preset
lateral compartment limits for the connecting wedge so that a predetermined
and ultimately,
because of the bracing forces, also a locked alignment of the connecting
wedges and of the
scaffolding rods connected by means of same is possible and simultaneously on
the other hand
however more possibilities of alignment are given, because for instance eight
wedge sockets
present may be respectively divided up owing to the configuration into, for
example, respectively
three wedge receiving compartments so that ultimately twenty-four
predetermined possibilities of
alignment are preset, which essentially have an angular spacing of merely 15
degrees between them
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so that more particularly the erection of round scaffolding is facilitated
without loss of reliable
alignment as necessary for the erection of a rectangular scaffold.
The structuring or design in accordance with the invention may only apply for
one
compartment. In this respect the cutout may itself constitute a wedge
receiving compartment, that is
to say for instance by being in the form of a groove, which corresponds to the
width of the
compartment.
It however is question of a relatively shallow concavity, which at least
furthermore restricts
and checks any tendency to drift of the connecting wedge, which as noted is
subject to radially
directed bracing forces. More particularly, such a shallow concavity could
additionally act as a
positioning or centering means, for instance for the alignment of a diagonal
brace, and be provided
in a relatively wider residual wedge receiving compartment, whereas a narrower
wedge receiving
compartment, adjacent to it, would be adapted for a tighter fit in order to
receive the connecting
wedge of a runner.
In the case of a preferred further development of the invention the said
structuring or design
comprises a tooth, which projects inward into the wedge socket, and which may
form a sort of rib
stub, as it were, for the division and separation of two adjacent wedge
receiving compartment
within a wedge socket.
It would be feasible also to provide combinations of tooth structures and
socket structures
for the structuring or design of the wedge socket, the terminology here in any
case being relative,
since the intermediate space between two teeth could be considered as the
base, from which the
teeth extend or as an alternative the intermediate space between two teeth
could also be considered
as a cutout in the initially present material between the teeth.
However combinations are also possible in such a manner that sharper teeth,
which project
further, are combined with flatter teeth or convex surfaces, being provided as
an alternative to a
shallow concavity. This means that structuring or designs is/are possible
which nevertheless render
possible the use of wedges in any position without being limited to steps.
Put differently, a structuring or design can be understood as any measure
leading to a
departure from the strictly circular form of the limit of the wedge socket
centered on the axis of the
connecting element.
In this connection it is to be noted that possibly taking into account static
considerations, a
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connecting element in accordance with the invention does not necessarily have
to have a disk or
wheel form and for instance in the horizontal plane could have the form of a
clover leaf or the like.
Furthermore, the connecting element could depart from a disk form in the
vertical direction, that is
to say be more like a cushion.
In accordance with a further development of the invention from mutually
opposite sides of
the wedge socket or, respectively, of a wedge socket, oppositely placed teeth
project inward toward
each other.
As has been stated already it is more especially the radially inner limit of
the wedge socket
which is functionally important for engagement with, and alignment of, the
connecting wedge so
that a corresponding structuring or design of the radially inner side of the
wedge socket is no longer
necessary. However, such an adaptive structuring or design could also be
useful on the radially
inner side of the wedge socket for the introduction of the connecting wedge
during the connection
operation, because then the corresponding wedge receiving compartment would be
better defined
and more especially skew running or jamming of the wedge into or in a
undesired, and possibly
unstable, intermediate position is prevented, because for example the
intermediate space left
between two teeth projecting toward each other is so short as to prevent skew
positioning of the
wedge in the intermediate space. In this respect it is to be considered that
such connecting
operations are performed extremely rapidly and in part with the application of
a fair degree of force
so that there would in any case be the real danger of a connecting wedge being
driven home in the
wrong position.
In the case of the connecting element of the invention also the element may be
designed to
resemble a spoked wheel and to possess wedge sockets of equal or different
size.
It is more particularly in the case of more elongated wedge sockets that it
may be
advantageous to divide them up into a relatively narrow wedge receiving
compartment and a
relatively wide wedge receiving compartment, the narrower wedge receiving
comparhnent possibly
forming a terminal section of the elongated wedge socket. The wider wedge
receiving compartment
may for example be provided for the attachment of a diagonal brace and the
narrower wedge
receiving compartment may be provided for the attachment of a runner. If the
narrower wedge
receiving compartments are arranged opposite each other in pairs, an alignment
at a right angle of
runners at such connecting element is preset and reliably produced even in the
case of the exclusive
CA 02310930 2000-06-OS
presence of such more elongated wedge sockets.
Independent protection is claimed for a scaffolding rod with at least one
connecting element
in accordance with the invention.
The external peripheral configuration of the connecting element does not have
to be circular
and may for economy in material have bays in the radial direction, which for
static reasons will be
more particularly adjacent to the ribs. Such bays are furthermore of
assistance as regards stacking
scaffolding rods with such connecting elements and restrict rolling of such
scaffolding rods, when
for example they are arranged on scaffolding planks at a great height.
Working examples of the invention are illustrated in drawings, from which
further features
thereof will appear.
Figure 1 diagrammatically shows in partial section a cut
away, separate view of a connecting element on a
scaffolding rod.
Figure 2 shows, in fashion similar to that of figure 1, a
connecting element with different possible positions
of connecting wedges in a wedge socket in the
connecting element.
Figure 3 is a plan view on a larger scale of a connecting
element.
Figures 4a through 4b and
Figures 12a and 12b show various different embodiments of connecting
elements, respectively in a perspective view and in
plan view.
Figure 1 shows a connecting joint 1 of a building scaffold in a partially
sectioned side
elevation, the joint essentially comprising a disk- or dinner plate-like
connecting element 3 on a
scaffolding rod or, respectively, a scaffolding tube 2. The scaffolding rod 2
is a post to be arranged
vertically in building scaffolding, such post bearing several equally spaced
apart connecting
elements 3. These connecting elements 3 serve for the attachment of
horizontally arranged, further
scaffolding rods, namely so-called runners or ledgers, as referenced 4.
Furthermore, the connecting
element serves for the attachment of so-called diagonal braces, same extending
at an angle between
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vertical and horizontal and being attached to the runner 4 indicated at 4 in a
similar fashion to the
connecting element. It is in this manner that the connecting element 3 and,
respectively, the joint
depicted in figure 1 constitute a nodal point at which different scaffolding
rods of a scaffold meet,
more particularly in the case of system scaffolding converge.
At the end 5 of the runner 4 a wedge connection 6 is located, which is in
principle, as noted,
the same for all runners 4 in a uniform manner and for all diagonal braces.
The connecting elements
3 are thus standardized in design for this reason are more particularly
congruent. They are, as
indicated at 7 in figure 2, recessed for receiving connecting wedges 8 so that
they have holes or,
respectively, cutouts distributed about their periphery as wedge sockets for
connecting wedges 8.
For the attachment for runners 4 or diagonal braces in the form of tubes, on
the post 2 or,
respectively, its connecting element 3, the connecting wedges 8 are placed in
heads 9, which are
welded to the ends 5 of the runners 4. The heads 9 are forked and each possess
two prongs 10 and
11, between which the connecting element 3 can be introduced or is introduced.
In the prongs 10
and 11 there is a respective guide for the connecting wedge 8. Once the
connecting wedge 8 has
been driven downward as in figure 1, the head 9 and (therefore the ruruzer 4)
is braced between the
wedge face 13, the connecting element 3 and the outer face 14 of the
vertically extending post 2.
For this purpose the ends 15 and 16 of the fork prongs 10 and 11 bear against
the outer tube face
14. The connecting wedge 8 engages the radially outer side of the wedge socket
of the connecting
element 3 and applies a bracing force to it which is directed radially
outward.
From figure 3 it will be clear that the connecting elements 3 are designed
like spoked
wheels or rosettes. They possess and inner pitch circle, which can be
considered to be a hub 17 and
which surrounds the post 2 as indicated in figure 1. The outer pitch circle of
the connecting element
3 constitutes the rim or, respectively, the wheel hoop 18. On its inner
peripheral face 19 this hoop
18 forms a abutment for the connecting wedge 8 of the wedge connection 6,
which, as already
noted, is drawn against this inner peripheral face 19 under the action of the
radially outwardly
acting bracing force, such peripheral face simultaneously constituting the
radially outer limit of the
wedge socket, through which the connecting wedge 8 is driven.
It will be clear from figure 2 that the center lines 20 and 21 of the spokes
or also ribs are 45
degrees apart. This also means that there are the spokes or ribs, referenced
22 through 29,
distributed about the wheel periphery 8 and between the ribs the above
mentioned eight wedge
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sockets 30 through 37.
Figure 3 indicates the axes 38 through 45 of symmetry of the wedge sockets.
Since in the
working example of figure 3 all wedge sockets are congruent, the axes of
symmetry coincide with
the mutually opposite wedge sockets. The rectangularly intersecting axes 39,
43, 41, 45 and,
respectively, 40, 44, 38, 42 of symmetry constitute two crosses on the axis,
which are offset in
angle by 45 degrees. Accordingly there are eight wedge sockets each with three
wedge receiving
comparhnents and eight ribs separating the wedge sockets.
The connecting elements 3 (figure 1) are for example manufactured by stamping
out the
wedge sockets 30 through 37. Accordingly they possess even parallel limiting
faces 46 and 47 in
the working example of figures 1 through 3, which are connected together via
the cylindrical face
48. The connecting elements 3 may however be also be manufactured by casting.
They do not have
to have plane-parallel faces and a cylindrical periphery. More particularly,
they could possess bays
in the outer periphery, which would facilitate stacking of the scaffolding
rods or poles and reduce
the risk of rolling of the scaffolding rods when stacked.
The spokes 22 through 29 extend ra.dially from the center M of the cross
section of the post 2.
In the working example of figures 1 through 3 three grooves 49 through 51 are
formed in
each wedge socket in the annular face of the inner side of the wheel 18, which
are produced
because teeth having flanks 53 and 54 radially extend inward from the inner
side or, respectively,
annular face 19. At the bottom of these relative grooves there is the abutment
face for the
connecting wedge 8. The two outer grooves 49 and 51 are, taking into account
the play allowed for
motion of the connecting wedge 8, so narrow that there will be a predetermined
wedge position,
which will necessarily align the runner 4 or the diagonal brace to be
connected with this connecting
wedge on driving home the connecting wedge 18. This alignment is more
particularly necessary in
the case of the runners 4, more especially when scaffolding is to be erected
in which it is necessary
for the runners extending toward the connecting element 3 in the horizontal
plane to be at a right
angle to one another. The alignment of the diagonal braces is not quite so
important. The diagonal
braces may therefore be attached adjacent to a runner 4 in the following
groove, and more
particularly in a wider groove 50, which permits a certain degree of play.
The number of grooves 49 through 51 present or, respectively, the teeth
extending into the
wedge sockets 30 through 37 divides the wedge sockets 30 through 37 into a
corresponding
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number, here 24, of wedge receiving compartments. Accordingly this number of
wedge receiving
compartments more particularly also offers the possibility of the erection of
a round scaffold, for
instance around a cylindrical container or tower to whose convex surface the
scaffolding may be
suitably adapted.
In the working example in accordance with figure 2 the outer grooves are wider
in design,
in this special case with a width of 8 mm, whereas the center groove has a
width of only 6 mm. In
the case of this working example it would be more particularly possible for
the center grooves to be
utilized for the positive exact alignment at a right angle of the horizontal
runners 4, that is to say for
the erection of a scaffold which is rectangular in plan.
As will be best seem from figure 3, the grooves are made with a pitch, whose
circle is
denoted 52 in figure 3. The guide face for the wedge face is constituted by
the bottom of the gap
between teeth. The teeth flanks 53 and 54 diverge outwardly and constitute
sliding faces, on which
the edges of the connecting wedge 8 slide so that it is automatically
positioned in the gap between
teeth.
In this connection it is to be yet again emphasized that such a division of
the wedge sockets
30 through 37 into, as indicated by way of example, three wedge receiving
compartments with
further continuous ribs would not be possible, because each rib 22 through 29
must, for reasons of
strength, possess a sufficient thickness and width of its material, for which
within the wedge
sockets there would be no certain space available, which in addition would
provide sufficient space
or, respectively, sufficient width for the connecting wedges 8 in the wedge
receiving compartments.
In this respect it is to be borne in mind that the connecting wedges are
usually provided with
transversely extending heels or pins, which extend proud of the wedges sides
in order to prevent the
wedges 8 slipping out of the connecting heads 9 and thus tether the connecting
wedges 8 to such
connecting heads although they can be moved therein to a sufficient extent.
Such projecting pins
consequently also require sufficient space for passing through the wedge
sockets or, respectively,
the compartments formed.
Owing to the form of teeth as incomplete stubs of ribs there is adjacent to
such truncated
ribs sufficient space, both the teeth and also the main ribs 22 through 29
still present being
sufficiently robust and endowing the connecting elements 3 with sufficient
strength.
Figures 4a through 12b respectively indicate further working examples of
connecting
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elements 3 in accordance with the invention. Here the respective the part
marked a of each set of
figures the working embodiment of the connecting element in perspective view
and the part b of a
figure shows the same working example in plan. No reference numerals have been
included in
order to render the drawings of such various examples more straightforward.
All working embodiments possess the common feature that wedge sockets are
distributed
about the periphery of the connecting elements, at least some of such wedge
sockets having grooves
and/or teeth for forming wedge receiving compartments in such divided wedge
sockets.
In this respect there are working example, in which the wedge sockets are of
equal size.
There are however also examples, in the case of which there is an alternation
of wedge sockets of
different size or extending differently over circular segments.
In this respect it is possible for the smaller wedge sockets to be utilized
for the attachment
of runners 4 and/or diagonal braces, whereas the more elongated wedge sockets
can be employed
for the attachment of diagonal braces, more especially during the erection of
a scaffold which is
rectangular in plan.
In the working examples the wedge sockets provided with teeth are in part
divided into
wedge receiving compartments of equal size and partly however also into wedge
receiving
compartments of different size. Here also it is possible for the smaller wedge
receiving
compartment to be preferentially employed for the attachment of the runners,
whose alignment is
more critical, whereas the more elongated wedge receiving compartments are
preferentially used
for the attachment of the diagonal braces. For a round scaffold it is however
also possible for the
larger wedge sockets or, respectively, wedge receiving compartments to be
employed for an
attachment of runners to achieve a larger range of variation in the case of
such a round building
scaffold.
In connection with, more particularly the more elongated wedge sockets or,
respectively,
wedge receiving compartments it is to be noted that same may be even further
changed in their
design and structure, for instance by having small tooth-like knobs or other
departures for the
circular form of the outer face, indicated in figures 1 through 19, of these
wedge sockets or,
respectively, wedge receiving compartments. By having such a change in
structure it is possible to
restrict any possible tendency of the wedge connection 6 to slip out of place
especially during
attachment of a diagonal brace in this more elongated area, since the smaller
additional teeth serve
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as restricting means or shallow reinforced bays constitute potential lowest
points in the faces 19, in
whose middle part a connecting wedge 8 engaging the face 19 will drift out of
position under the
effect of the radially outwardly directed bracing force.
Furthermore, it will be seen from the working example in figures 4 through 12
that not
necessarily all wedge sockets are divided by tooth into wedge receiving
compartments. More
particularly, it is possible for each second wedge socket to be divided into
compartments.
As indicated in figures 7 and 8, it is possible for more elongated wedge
sockets to have a
compartment structure either at one end or at both ends. In the example of
figure 8 such
compartment structures are formed in the, respectively, same end of the
respective wedge socket as
considered in a direction around the axis.
Furthermore, it will be seen from figures 9 and 10 that teeth provided on the
outer faces 19
may also have opposing teeth on the outer side of the wedge sockets so that
such teeth extend
toward each other in a radial direction in pairs. This means that the
transition between respective
compartment structures is additionally narrowed so that it is more
particularly possible to prevent a
connecting wedge 8 being driven in on the skew at such transition, such wedge
8 instead being
slipped in place while guided by the additional guide means reliably into the
intended wedge
receiving compartment.
From a consideration of figures 12a and 12b it will be clear that sharper and
lower or
shorter teeth may be present in the wedge sockets to adapt the structuring or
design thereof.
