A SUPPORTING ARRANGEMENT FOR SCAFFOLDING AND SIMILAR

Abstract: A support arrangement for scaffolding and similar structures erected from a number of scaffolding elements (19). A first supporting component (2) in the form of a base plate exhibits at least two supporting edges (6-9) projecting from the base plate and arranged opposite each other in pairs, which demarcate an interjacent space. A second supporting component (13) is connected to one of the aforementioned scaffolding elements (19) and exhibits an arched supporting element (21) with a single-curvature supporting surface (22). Said second supporting component is capable of being connected to the first supporting component with the arched supporting element introduced into said space and resting against the base plate.

Description: Title: A supporting arrangement for scaffolding and similar Technical Field: The present invention relates to a supporting arrangement for scaffolding and similar erected from a number of scaffolding elements. Background: Scaffolding and similar structures incorporate supporting' arrangements which are adjustable for height in order to compensate for any variations in the height of the different points of support due to irregularit es or slopes in the base. These supporting arrangements have usually been executed as extendable legs which may be set to various pre—determined positions, for example by the use of pins passing through holes. In order to provide fine adjustment and in order to prevent the supporting leg from sinking into the base, it has been usual to pack beneath the supporting leg with wooden boards and wedges, etc. Supporting arrangements such as these are not at all reliable and may easily slip, which may lead to settling erf the scaffolding and even to the risk of it tipping. Technical Problem: The purpose of the present invention is to propose a supporting- arrangement which will enable compensation to be provided for the various conditions encountered in the base. Solut on: Said purpose is achieved by means of a supporting arrangement characterized partly by a first supporting component in the form of a base plate with at least m OMPI two supporting edges projecting from the base plate and arranged opposite each other in pairs, which demarcate an interjacent space, and partly by a second supporting component which is connected to one of the aforementioned scaffolding elements and which exhibits an arched supporting ' element with a si ngle—curvature supporting surface, whereby said second supporting component is capable of being connected to the first supporting component with the arched supporting element introduced into said space and resting against the base plate. Description of the Drawings: The invention is described in greater detail below by means of a couple of embodiments, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively show a view from above and from the side of a base plate forming part of a lower supporting arrangement in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 show two different views of an additional supporting component forming part of the lower supporting arrangement in accordance with the invention, whilst Fig. 5 shows a partially sectioned view of the lower supporting arrangement in its operating position. Fig. 6 shows a scaffolding emiodiment with, a number of lower supporting arrangements in accordance with the invention. Fig. 7 ~ shows a view from beneath of a supporting plate forming part of an upper supporting arrangement in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention, and Fig. 8 shows a partially sectioned view of the upper part of an upright in a scaffolding with the upper supporting arrangement in accordance with the invention. Description of Preferred Embodiments: The supporting arrangement in accordance with the invention is shown in a first embodiment as a lower supporting arrangement 1 in acordance with the invention, which is shown in its operating position in Fig. 5. The lower supporting arrangement 1 exhibits a first supporting component 2 in the form of a base plate, the construction of which may best be appreciated from Fig. 1 and Fig. 2. The base plate exhibits an upward—facing and essentially plane base 3 which is provided with a number of anchorage holes, being 4 in number in the example shown, and a central drainage hole 5 . The base plate 2 exhibits a number of supporting edges 6, 7, 8, 9 projecting from the base 3 , which together form a box 10 open to the top, which is rectangular and which is. equilateral in the example shown, i.e. square. The supporting edges 6, 7, 8, 9 are thus arranged opposite each other in pairs. Two of the opposing supporting edges 8, 9 each exhibits a hole 11 for a transcurrent locking pin 12 or locking screw, as shown in Fig. 5. In Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 is shown in two views at right angles to each other a second supporting component 13 , which exhibits a supporting leg 15 provided with a thread 14 and made, for instance, from tubular material. The supporting leg 15 may, of course, also be solid. On the supporting leg is arranged an internally threaded supporting ring 16 which is capable of being rotated so as to provide adjustment for height along the supporting leg 15. The supporting ring 16 exhibits at its top a stepped section 17 of smaller dimensions with a bearing surface 18 designed to support the lower end of a tubular upright 19 (see Fig. 5), which is part of a scaffolding or similar structure. The supporting ring also exhibits four side—facing pins which may be used as gripping organs in conjunction with the rotation of the supporting ring 16 . Rotation may be done manually, by means of a tubular tool, or by means of blows applied to the pins 20 from the side. At one end of the leg 15 of said second supporting component 13 is securely attached a supporting element 21 with an arched supporting surface 22 . The supporting surface is of single curvature and in the example shown is in the form of a cylinder jacket and is made from one half of a length of pipe which has been split lengthwise. This one half is securely attached to a mounting plate 23 which is securely attached to one end of the supporting leg 15 . The mounting plate 23 and the arched supporting element 21 are best attached by means of welding. The supporting ring 16 is thus limited in its downward movement by the mounting plate 23 and in its upward movement by a transverse stop pin 24 which projects by a certain amount beyond the thread 14 of the supporting leg 15 . Between the arched supporting element 21 and the mounting plate 23 is formed an essentially semi—cylindricaI space 25 which is open at both ends, as may be seen from Fig. 3. Fig. 4 shows a view of the supporting component in accordance with Fig. 3 in the same embodiment, but viewed at right angles to the view in accordance with Fig. 3. Fig. 5 shows the entire supporting arrangement ac¬ cording to the invention in the embodimentwhich incorporates the parts shown in Figs. 1 - A .. The first supporting component in the form of the base plate 2 thus rests upon a base 27 , for example sloping ground. The base plate is anchored to the ground in this case by means of anchoring spikes 28 which are driven home through the anchorage holes 4 . The supporting leg 15 of the OjVtPI second supporting component 13 extends for a sufficient distance inside one end of the tubular upright 19 , whereby the upright rests by its end surfaces against the bearing surface 18 and is located laterally by means of the stepped section 17 of smaller dimension. This second supporting component 13 rests with its arched support ng element 21 in the supporting box 10 , i.e. in the space formed between the supporting edges 6, 7, 8, 9 which are arranged opposite each other in pairs. Once the supporting component 13 with the arched supporting element 21 has been placed in the supporting box 10, the component parts will be held together by means of the aforementioned locking pin 12 , which may be in the form of a bolt and which is passed through the holes 11 and is secured by means of a threaded nut on one end of the bolt. The length of the screw is thus maintained by the head of the bolt being located outside one of the supporting edges 9 and by the nut of the bolt being located outside the opposite supporting edge 8. By means of the present invention it is possible to achieve good support for a scaffolding or similar structure against the base on which ft is erected, irrespective of any variations in height or inclination within reasonable limits. Adjustment for height is provided by turning the supporting ring 16 until the desired height is reached for the upright 19 . The ring may be rotated, for example, by passing a length of pipe over one of the pins 20 , whereby rotation may also take place whilst the upright 19 is in position. Nevertheless, it is preferable for the length of the upright to be adjusted roughly with the upright 19 separated from the supporting ring 16 , whereby rotation will be found to be quicker and easier. Adjustment to compensate for the angle of ^BU EA O PI inclination actually present in the base 27 is made before the base plate 2 is anchored by means of the anchoring spikes 28 . The manner in which this is achieved is for the two supporting components 2, 13 to be rotated together in a direction such that the pivoting axis of the ' arched supporting element 21 runs transversely to the direction of inclination of the base 27 . Irrespective of the direction of inclination of the base 27 , there will thus always be a line along which the arrangement can be aligned so that the cylinder jacket—shaped supporting surface 22 of the supporting element 21 will make contact with the base plate 2 over the entire length of the supporting element 21 and not simply point—to—point contact. This line is thus established, and will lie in a horizontal direction in the typical embodiment shown, provided that the upright 19 and the supporting leg 15 are vertical. This direction will always be in a transverse sense to the direction of inclination of the ground locally beneath the base plate 2 . The arched shape of the supporting element 21 means that the same degree of good contact will always be achieved irrespective of the inclination, within certain limits, because the baseplate 2 is able to pivot and can be adjusted to a range of angles relative to the supporting element 13 in a given plane, i.e. essentially about the Locking pin 12 or, more specifically, the pivoting axis of the arched supporting surface 22 . Depending on the angle actuallly present, use is made of that part of the surface 22 of the cylinder jacket which, in the set position, touches the base 3 of the base plate 2 in order to provide support against it. The supporting component 13 is maintained in position in the supporting box 10 by means of the supporting edges 6—9 , whereby the supporting edge 6 situated below the arched supporting element 21 viewed n the direction of inclination provides lateral support for the arched element and thus for the ent re supporting component 13 through the tangential contact of the surface 22 of the cylinder jacket with the supporting edge 6 . This contact also takes place along the entire length of the arched supporting element 21 and is thus, at least theoretically, in the form of linear contact and not simply point—to—point contact. The expression 'surface contact' may thus be used in practice in view of the presence of certain surface irregularities in most materials and in view of a certain degree of minor deformation of the contact surfaces, mainly in the surface 22 of the cylinder jacket. As in the case of the contact surface with the base 3 , the contact surface with the supporting edge 6 will move along the surface 22 of the cylinder jacket depending on the selected angle. In the case of a horizontal base, i.e. when the angle between the base plate 2 and the supporting leg 15 is essentially a right angle, the base plate 2 will normally support the entire load from the upright 19, whereby the supporting edges 6—9 will essentially play the part ' of maintaining the arched supporting element 21 in position. Once the inclination is in the opposite direction to the inclination shown in Fig. 5, the opposing supporting edge 7 will absorb part of the load, which will increase in proportion to the inclination of the base 27 - The function of the supporting edges 8 and 9 is essentially to maintain the upright in position, but may support a load in certain specific cases, for example if the upright 19 « is inclined sideways from the vertical to a certain extent. One or other of the end surfaces 26 of the arched supporting element 21 will then be in contact with either the supporting edge 8 or the supporting "BUR QM edge 9 , whereby good surface contact will be achieved over most of the end surface 26 . Fig. 6 shows an example of a scaffolding 29 which is .provided with a number of supporting arrangements 1 in accordance with the invention for the purpose of supporting the scaffolding on a base with varying conditions of height and inclination, which under practical conditions are almost always present to a greater or Less extent. Apart from the uprights 19 , which are six in number, the scaffolding has a number of side—facing scaffolding elements 30, 31 which extend between the uprights and are capable of being connected to these by means of special connector devices 32 in such a way that they may subsequently be dismantled . As may be seen from the Figure, the supporting rings 16 are rotated to different heights along the supporting legs 15 , causing these to project to a varying degree so that the lower ends of the uprights 19 are all at an identical height, thus enabling the scaffolding to stand with the uprights vertical and with the side—facing scaffolding elements 30, _31 horizontal. The stop pin 24 illustrated in Fig. 3 is positioned in such a way as to prevent the supporting ring 16 from being screwed to such a height as to place the stability and strength of the scaffolding at risk. The stop pin 24 will thus ensure that the supporting leg 15 will always project into the upright 19 by a sufficient amount. It may be seen from Fig. 6 that the base plates 2 are' turned to different positions depending on the local inclination of the base 27 beneath the base plate. The scaffolding 29 with its supporting arrangement is very easy to erect and dismantle. Thus the connection between the supporting arrangement 1 and the associated upright 19 takes place simply by pushing one end of the tubular upright OMP. 19 onto the supporting leg 15 and by forcing it up against the supporting ring 16 . In order to protect the threads 14 , the supporting leg 15 may have at the top a protective ring or supporting ring ( not shown) which will provide support at the top between the supporting leg and- the inside of the upright. This will also provide stability for the supporting arrangement by providing the supporting ring with an appropriate outer diameter. " In order to facilitate the engagement of the parts, the supporting ring may be provided with a conical surface, at least towards the top. The supporting arrangement has been described above as a lower supporting arrangement designed to support scaffoLding and similar structures resting on a base. Figs. 7 and 8 show a variant of the supporting arrangement which is suitable to form a support at the top of a scaffolding, more specifically at the upper end of the upright 19 , for instance to bear objects or building structures or to form a support against, for instance, a roof or a similar structure to accept the scaffolding. The most common application is to utilize the supporting arrangement with shuttering, for instance in conjunction with the casting of concrete in order to support the component parts of the shuttering during the pouring operation and until such time as sufficient strength has been achieved for the structure to become se If—supporting. In this case, the shuttering may only be used for the specified purpose or may be used in combination with a scaffolding so as to form working platforms for the workforce at the same time. In this case, one and the same scaffoLding may be used to bear supporting arrangements both at the bottom at the lower end of the upright 19 and at the top at its upper end. In the embodiment in accordande with Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, the corresponding component parts are given the same reference designation, but with the addition of one hundred in relation to the embodiment described above. The first supporting component 102 is shown from below in Fig. 7 and in this case, too, is • executed in the form of a supporting plate from which project a number of supporting edges 106, 107, 108 . As may be appreciated from Fig. 7, the supporting edges are thus three in number, allowing one side to remain open so as to permit the introduction of the second supporting component 113 . This may not, in fact, be introduced from a point directly below in this case, due to the fact that both the supporting edges 106, 107 exhibit two guide pins 130 which are securely attached to the inside of the supporting edges, for instance by means of welding. The base plate 102 also exhibits a locking mechanism 131 in the form of a Locking arm 133 situated on one of the supporting edges 107 and mounted on a pin 132 so that it is free to pivot, said Locking arm being capable of adjustment between a release position , as shown in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8, and a locked position in which it is folded over, as shown by the dashed and dotted Lines in Fig. 8. When in the folded, locked position, the locking arm 133 forms a stop which will prevent the arched part 121 of the supporting component 113 from being moved unintentionally out of engagement with the supporting component 102 . As may be seen from Fig. 8, the supporting plate 102 has on its top side a number of projecting elements 134 which, in the embodiment shown, are in the form of four rod—like elements arranged opposite each other in pairs, and which are designed to provide support for the one or more objects or structures which are to be supported by means of the supporting arrangement 101 in accordance with the invention. The structures which are to be supported may be in the form of a mould for a cast concrete beam, which may in turn be supported by the upper side 135 of the supporting plate 102 and will be maintained in position, laterally by means of the rods 134 . Alternatively, the rods 134 themslelves may be used to support the structure or the ob ect in question, which will then rest on their upper side 136 . The second supporting element 113 also exhibits in this case a supporting leg 115 which is executed in the form of a tubular sleeve designed to enclose the upper end of the upright 119 . The tubular sleeve exhibits two holes 137 located directly opposite each other, whilst the upper end of the upright exhibits a number, being three in the example shown, of pairs of corresponding holes 138 , located in Line and separated from each other by an appropriate distance, whereby the holes 137, 138 are intended to accommodate a locking pin 139 . By moving the tubular sleeve 115 upwards from the position shown in Fig. 8, the tubuLar sleeve can be set at different heights in relation to the upright 119 and can be locked by means of the locking pin 139 at any desired height, by introducing the pin into the holes 137 and into one of the three pairs of holes 138 in the upright. The locking pin 139 is secured in its introduced position by means of a safety pin 140 , which may be introduced into a hole 141 in the outer end of the locking pin 139 . The two pins 139, 140 are connecetd to each other by means of a wire 142 which passes through an eye 143 on the tubular sleeve 115 . The tubular sleeve exhibits at the top an end piece 144 , by means of which the supporting arrangement 101 is supported by the upper OA.PI end of the upright 119 when the locking pin 139 is removed. The end piece 144 supports the arched supporting element 121 via an interjacent distance piece 145 which, for instance, may be tubular in shape and whose diameter is less than the external diameter of the arched supporting element. In this way, a contact surface 146 is formed outside the length of tube 145 to either side of the length of tube. This contact surface 146 interacts with the supporting pins 130 in order to secure . the supporting component 142 in position. In the embodiment shown, the supporting arrangement 10-1 in accordance with the invention is thus not able to be set to different angles in relation to the upright 119 , but is maintained in position in the position shown in Fig. 8. In this way the supporting component 102 can be supported in a stable fashion by the supporting component 113 and is thus able to support the building structure itself. In this embodiment, too, the arched supporting element 121 is of identical execution to the above embodiment in accordance with Fig- 3 and Fig. 4 and is thus essentially in the form of a cylinder jacket. The upper supporting component is engaged, as indicated above, in a simple manner simply by being pushed sideways onto the arched supporting element 121, whereupon this is Locked in its introduced position by means of the locking mechanism 133 . The supporting component 102 will then be supported by the arched supporting element together with its cylinder jacket surface 122 being provided with a Lengthy contact zone with the under side 103 of the supporting plate 102 . The present invention is not restricted to the embodiment - • specified above and illustrated in the drawings, but may be modified within the context of the following Patent Claims. For example, it is conceivable for the supporting surface 122 in the form of a cylinder jacket to be replaced by a different surface having a sing le—curvature arched form. The arched supporting element 21, 121 can be made from a whole, cylindrical length of tubing. The supporting box 10 can be replaced by a number of supporting pins projecting from the base plate 2 , which determine the position of the arched supporting element ' 21 . Nor is it necessary for the function 'of the arrangement for the Locking pin 12 to be included. Also, the upper supporting arrangement may be executed in a different fashion. For example, the tubular sleeve 115 may be replaced by the supporting leg 15 and the supporting ring 16 shown in the first example. The supporting plate 102 may be of a design other than the upright rods 134 in order to provide support for the building structure or some other object. The locking mechanism 133 and the supporting pins 130 may also be executed in a different fashion. The supporting plate may also be perforated by a large number of holes , or may be composed of a large number of intei—connected elements.

Claims: Patent Claims: A supporting arrangement for scaffolding (29) and similar structures erected from a number of scaffolding elements (19/119), c h a r a c t e r i z ¬ e d on the one hand by a first supporting component (2/102) in the form of a base plate having at least two supporting edges (6—9 / 106, 107, 108) projecting from the base plate and arranged opposite each other in pairs, which demarcate an interjacent space, and on the other hand by a second supporting component (13/113) which is connected to one of the aforementioned scaffoLding elements (19/119, 30, 31, 32) and which exhibits an arched supporting element (21/121) with a singLe—curvature supporting surface (22/122), whereby said second supporting component is capable of being connected to the first supporting component * with the arched supporting . element introduced into said space and resting against the base plate. 2. A supporting arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the supporting surface (22/122) on the arched supporting element (21/121) is in the form of a cylinder jacket and in that the opposing supporting edges (6-9 / 106-108) and the base plate (2/102) exhibit plane supporting surfaces facing the supporting surface of the arched supporting element. 3. A supporting arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the distance between two of thee supporting edges (6,7 / 106, 107) is the same as or slightly greater than the dimension of the arched supporting element (21/121) in the corresponding -direction, 4. A ^ supporting arrangement in accordance with Patent Claims 1, 2 or 3, forming a lower support against a base (27) for an upright (19) incorporated in the scaffolding (29), c h a r a c t e r i z e d -fUREA in that the second supporting component (13) is adjustable not only over a range of extended positions along the longitudinal axis of the upright (19) but also through a range of angles about the longitudinal axis of the upright, and in that the base plate (2) is adjustable through .a range of angles in relation to the upright (19) so as to enable compensation to be made for any variations in the height and inclination of the base (27). 5. A supporting arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 4, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the second supporting component (13) exhibits a long threaded supporting leg (15) which is so arranged as to project at least in part into the upright (19), which is tubular, and an internally threaded supporting ring (16), which is so arranged as to support the upright, whereby the arched supporting element (21) is Located in the end of the supporting leg which faces away from the upright. 6.. A supporting arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 5, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that two additional mutually opposing supporting edges (8, 9) together with the other supporting edges (6, 7) .form a supporting bcx (10) which is open at the top, and in that the arched supporting element (21) exhibits plane end surfaces (26) which are enclosed by said additional supporting edges, which are located at a distance from each other which slightly exceeds the distance between said end surfaces. 7. A supporting arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1 for supporting objects or structures, etc., on top of an upright (119), c h a r a c t e — r i z e d in that the two opposing supporting edges (106, 107) exhibit locking elements (130, 131) which secure the arched supporting element (121) to the supporting plate (102). ^Bϋ E O PI

Inventors: WALLTHER HARRY, WALLTHER, HARRY
Applicants: GOETEBORG STAELLNINGSGRUPPEN, STAELLNINGSGRUPPEN I GOETEBORG AKTIEBOLAG
Application year: 1983
Main classification: E04G1
IPC codes: E04G5, E04G25