Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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11.07.2016
SP11588PCT
Scaffolding having a coupling
It is known in scaffolding construction to provide a coupling
for the connection of individual components of a scaffolding.
It is further known to secure a scaffolding, in particular a
facade scaffolding, to a building facade by means of a
scaffolding retention member.
The connection between the scaffolding retention member and
scaffolding is generally carried out in this instance by
means of a so-called normal coupling by which a pipe of the
scaffolding retention member is connected to a pipe of the
scaffolding. Such a normal coupling has two half-couplings of
which a first half-coupling is connected to the pipe of the
scaffolding retention member and a second half-coupling is
connected to a vertical scaffolding shaft of the scaffolding.
The half-couplings are generally in the form of half-clips.
In order to install the normal coupling, two half-couplings
consequently have to be closed and screwed shut. These
operating steps are time-intensive and complex for a
scaffolding constructor, in particular when he has only one
hand free for closing and screwing the normal coupling.
Another disadvantage of the use of normal couplings for
connecting a scaffolding retention member is that the spacing
between the scaffolding retention member and scaffolding node
as a result of the width of the half-clip is relatively large,
which has an unfavourable effect on the introduction of
forces into the scaffolding shaft.
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In scaffolding construction, it is further known to use
bracing couplings for connecting a scaffolding pipe which
acts as a scaffolding retention member to a lug of an annular
screw which is fitted to a facade. The bracing couplings have
in this instance a rod which is bent multiple times and which
is introduced into the lug and is located in continuation of
the centre line of the scaffolding retention member which is
intended to be assembled in order to ensure a favourable
force path. The disadvantage is that it thereby constitutes a
limitation for the scaffolding pipe. The known bracing
couplings are used only at the facade side.
Finally, it is known from scaffolding construction to use
carrier couplings for connecting a scaffolding to a steel
carrier or the like. However, carrier couplings can only be
mounted in a relatively complex manner.
An object of the present invention is in this regard to
provide a scaffolding or a method with which a rapid
connection of a scaffolding component is enabled with little
structural complexity.
The object according to the invention is consequently
achieved with a scaffolding having a coupling for a
scaffolding retention member for connecting the scaffolding
to a building facade, wherein the coupling can be connected
at a recess of a connection location of a scaffolding node
which is suitable for system components of the scaffolding.
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The connection location is in this instance constructed in
the form of an anchor plate portion.
The coupling according to the invention, without the use of a
clip which surrounds the scaffolding shaft, can thereby be
connected to the connection location on a scaffolding node.
This enables securing of a scaffolding to a facade in a
manner which is as simple as possible in terms of
construction and handling technology.
In this instance, a scaffolding node is intended to be
understood to be a location which is provided on a
scaffolding shaft with regular spacing and at which at least
two connection locations for system components, such as
longitudinal and/or transverse bars, scaffolding floors,
diagonals and the like, are provided and at which the system
components can be fitted without using a clip which surrounds
the pipe of the scaffolding shaft, at least at substantially
the same height. If bars are securely connected to the
scaffolding shaft, even when only one connection location is
present there is a scaffolding node present in the context of
this application. These scaffolding nodes are constructed in
many commercially available modular scaffoldings in the form
of anchor plates, perforated discs, pockets, cup-like
receiving members or other suitable receiving members.
The solution according to the invention consequently makes
use of the fact that most modular scaffoldings have in the
region of the scaffolding nodes connection locations which
can be used for connection to a coupling. The coupling
according to the invention is consequently constructed in a
structurally very simple manner and can be rapidly assembled
without activating a screw connection.
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In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the coupling has
an angular portion in order to connect the coupling to the
connection location.
In a further preferred manner, the coupling according to the
invention can be connected to the connection location in a
tool-free manner.
The recess of the connection location is preferably
constructed in the form of a through-recess. For connection
to such a connection location, the angular portion can be
constructed to partially engage behind an inner edge of the
through-recess.
The angular portion may be at least a portion of a bent rod
of the coupling. In a preferred embodiment of the coupling,
the angular portion is completely constructed in the form of
a rod which is bent in a simple manner.
Alternatively or additionally, the coupling may have a nose-
like projection so that the coupling can be secured in the
recess of the connection location by means of a clamping
connection. The nose-like projection in this instance
constitutes a rotation prevention member of the coupling
relative to the connection location. The rotation prevention
member is in this instance preferably constructed in such a
manner that it prevents rotation about the longitudinal axis
of the recess.
The angular portion may be constructed as part of a T-shaped
portion of the coupling. As a result of the T-shaped portion,
the coupling is retained at the connection location in a
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particularly secure manner. That is to say, the coupling may
engage behind the through-recess of the connection location
with "both upper side arms of the T-shape". A T-shaped
portion is intended to be understood in this instance to be a
portion which has at least two, in particular angled,
projections for engaging behind the through-recess in the
connection location.
The coupling may be rigidly connected to another scaffolding
element, in particular a scaffolding pipe. Alternatively or
additionally, the coupling may have a clip-like half-coupling
for receiving a scaffolding pipe. The coupling provides in
this instance, on the one hand, a rapid connection to the
connection location of the scaffolding and, on the other hand,
a flexible possibility for connecting a scaffolding retention
member, in particular in the form of a scaffolding pipe, to
the coupling. Preferably, the scaffolding pipe extends
parallel or perpendicularly with respect to the plane of a
plate-like portion of the coupling.
The half-coupling is particularly preferably arranged in such
a manner that a tubular scaffolding retention member of any
length can be introduced into the half-coupling. That is to
say, the half-coupling is preferably orientated in such a
manner that a tubular scaffolding retention member which is
introduced into the half-coupling does not strike a portion
of the coupling. Alternatively or additionally, the half-
coupling may be constructed in such a manner that a tubular
scaffolding retention member which is introduced into the
half-coupling does not strike a portion of the scaffolding.
In this manner, the tubular scaffolding retention member does
not have to be cut to the length of the spacing of the
scaffolding with respect to the scaffolding.
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The coupling may receive in the half-coupling a scaffolding
pipe which can be connected at one end by means of a facade
connection to a building facade. At the other end, the
scaffolding pipe is in this instance preferably connected to
the angular portion by means of the half-coupling.
The coupling can be connected at the recess of the connection
location which is suitable for system components of a
scaffolding in the form of an anchor plate portion. The term
anchor plate portion is intended to be understood to be a
flat plate which has any outer contour and which extends
perpendicularly away from the centre axis of a scaffolding
shaft and which is provided with at least one, preferably up
to eight recesses which are preferably surrounded at all
sides and in which fitted components, such as, for example,
bars or consoles, can be secured. Generally, such anchor
plate portions are arranged with regular spacings, the so-
called vertical modular dimension, on the vertical shafts of,
for example, modular scaffoldings. The anchor plate portion
may be constructed in the form of a portion of an anchor
plate so that the anchor plate portion only partially
surrounds a scaffolding shaft and/or does not have recesses
in all radial directions. Preferably, the anchor plate
portion is constructed in the form of an anchor plate which
completely surrounds the scaffolding shaft.
The object according to the invention is achieved with a
scaffolding having a coupling as described above, a
scaffolding shaft which is vertical in the assembled state
and a connection location which is rigidly connected to the
scaffolding shaft, wherein the connection location is
connected to the coupling. The scaffolding shaft is connected
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to the connection location in this Instance, in particular by
means of a weld connection and/or a clamping connection.
The scaffolding pipe is preferably connected to the facade
connection of a building facade.
The object according to the invention is further achieved
with a method for connecting a coupling described above to a
scaffolding described above, in which the coupling is
arranged, in particular in a tool-free manner, at a
connection location of the scaffolding. In this case, the
coupling is preferably connected to the scaffolding by means
of a recess of the connection location in the form of a
through-recess.
In the method according to the invention, the connection
location is constructed in the form of an anchor plate
portion.
Other features and advantages of the invention will be
appreciated from the following detailed description of two
embodiments of the invention, from the patent claims and the
Figures of the drawings which show details which are
significant to the invention.
The features shown in the drawings are illustrated in such a
manner that the specific features according to the invention
can be made clearly visible. The different features can be
implemented individually per se or together in any
combination in variants of the invention.
In the drawings:
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Figure 1 is a perspective partial view of a scaffolding
according to the invention with a coupling;
Figure 2a is a perspective view of another coupling; and
Figure 2b is a plan view of the additional coupling according
to Figure 2a.
Figure 1 shows a portion of a scaffolding 10. Of the
scaffolding 10, a connection location 12 in the form of an
anchor plate portion can be seen in Figure 1. The connection
location 12 is secured to a vertical scaffolding shaft 14, in
particular welded. At the connection location 12, a coupling
18 is arranged or coupled. The coupling 18 serves to connect
the connection location 12 to a scaffolding retention member
which is not illustrated in Figure 1 and which secures the
scaffolding 10 to a building facade (not shown). By way of
illustration, the longitudinal axis 20 of the tubular
scaffolding retention member is shown in Figure 1. The
scaffolding retention member can be connected at one end by
means of a facade connection (not shown) to the building
facade. At the other end, the scaffolding retention member is
received by means of a half-coupling 22 of the coupling 18.
In this case, the half-coupling 22 is constructed in the form
of a clip (clamp) in which the pipe of the scaffolding
retention member is retained by closing a screw connection 24.
The half-coupling 22 is connected to a plate-like portion 28
by means of a weld connection 26. Alternatively, it could
also be rotatably connected to the plate-like portion 24, for
example, by means of a screw or rivet connection. By means of
an additional weld connection which is not provided with a
reference numeral, the plate-like portion 28 is connected to
an angular portion 30 of the coupling 18.
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The angular portion 30 is constructed in the form of a rod
which is bent in a simple manner. The angular portion 30 is
guided through a first recess 32 which is constructed in the
form of a through-recess.
The connection location 12 has additional recesses in the
form of through-recesses, wherein an additional recess 34 is
provided with a reference numeral. A coupling 18 which can be
connected to the additional recess 34 is illustrated in
Figures 2a, 2b and described below.
Figure 2a shows the coupling 18 with a half-coupling 22 for
receiving a tubular scaffolding retention member. On the
half-coupling 22 a plate-like portion 28 is arranged, in
particular in a rotationally secure manner. Furthermore, the
coupling 18 has a T-shaped portion 36. The T-shaped portion
36 has a first upper side arm 38, a second upper side arm 40
and a lower portion 42. The T-shaped portion 36 is connected
to the plate-like portion 28 by means of the lower portion 42.
As a result of the first upper side arm 38 and the lower
portion 42, a first angular portion 44 is formed. As a result
of the second upper side arm 40 and the lower portion 42, a
second angular portion 46 is formed. As can be seen from an
overview of Figures 1 and 2a, the coupling 18 is retained
partially between the upper side arms 38, 40 and the plate-
like portion 28 in the assembled state of the coupling 18 on
the connection location 12.
A nose-like projection 48 in the assembled state of the
coupling 18 prevents the coupling 18 from becoming
unintentionally released in the position thereof mounted on
the connection location 12 (see Figure 1).
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The nose-like projection 28 is located - as illustrated in
Figure 2a - preferably in the transition region between the
plate-like portion 28 and the lower portion 42.
Figure 2b is a plan view of the coupling 18 according to
Figure 2a. In Figure 2b, it can be seen that the T-shaped
portion 36 is constructed in an asymmetrical manner with
respect to the longitudinal centre plane 50 of the coupling
18: The second upper side arm 40 is constructed to be longer
than the first upper side arm 38. Alternatively or
additionally, the lower portion 42 has a notch 52. The above-
mentioned features facilitate the securing of the T-shaped
portion 36 in the Q-shaped additional recess 34 (see Figure
1). The T-shaped portion 36 may also be constructed
symmetrically relative to the longitudinal centre plane 50.
If the additional recess 34 of the connection location 12 has
a different shape, for example, a trapezoidal shape, the
upper side arms 38, 40, the nose-like projection 48 and the
length of the plate-like portion 28 have to be adapted
accordingly. These are then additional embodiments of the
invention.
In an overview of all the Figures of the drawings, the
invention relates to a scaffolding 10 with a coupling 18
which can be mounted at a connection location 12. The
connection location 12 preferably has in this instance a
recess 32, 34 in the form of a through-recess in which an
angular portion 30, 44, 46 of the coupling 18 can be at least
partially introduced. The angular portion 30, 44, 46
preferably partially engages behind the connection location
12. The coupling 18 may have a half-coupling 22 so that a
simple connection to a scaffolding pipe, in particular for
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connection to a facade, is produced. The invention further
relates to a method for connecting the scaffolding 10 to such
a coupling 18.
