Improvements in Scaffolds.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb.,
1898
COMIUMIN DIMULTICATION.
Improvements in Scaffolds.
I, HEZEKIAH MCLAUGHLIN, of 9½, Appleton Street, in the City of Boston, and
State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Mason and Builder, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
د,
This invention relates to that class of scaffolds which are so constructed as to be
independent in stability and operation of any support obtained from the walls of the
building. Moreover it belongs to that class of scaffolds-often termed "stages"
which can be easily dismembered and hence are portable and in which the platforms
upon which the laborers and masons stand can be raised as the work of the brick-
laying, for example, progresses, and can be moved vertically to any point within the
limit of the scaffold.
The nature of the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement
of parts hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
whereby the scaffold or stage is rendered safer, the operation of raising and lowering
the platforms facilitated, its expense and weight decreased, and its rigidity and
strength increased.
The nature of the invention in detail, is fully described below, and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved scaffold or stage, a small portion
of one of the parts of a telescopic post being represented as broken out.
Fig. 2 is an end or side elevation of the same, broken lines indicating the
location of a hanging stage, not shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective showing the method of lengthening the outer'
sections of the telescopic posts, as indicated by broken lines in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an end view of a hanging stage adapted to be applied to the lower bracket,
thereby providing if desired a third or supplemental platform; the location in
which said hanging stage is to be placed being indicated by broken lines in Fig. 2,
showing the upper portion thereof.
Fig. 5 is a vertical, central, longitudinal section of one of the telescopic posts.
Fig. 6 is a plan view of the upper and lower connected brackets at one end of
the scaffold.
Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line 7, Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 is a vertical, central, longitudinal section of the inner telescopic part of one
of the posts removed, showing sections of the brackets connected therewith.
Fig. 9 is a horizontal section taken on line 9, Fig. 5.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts:
Each of the supporting posts consists of an outer stationary upright main post,
and an inner secondary post B sliding telescopically in the main post. Each main
or outer posts comprises two channel-beams a, arranged vertically and with
their flanges facing each other as shown in Figs. 3, 7, and 9. These beams are
connected by vertical plates A¹ which are bolted exteriorly to the inner flanges
:

page_text: of the channel-beams A. The channel-beams are set a sufficient distance apart
to allow vertical longitudinal spaces a, a¹ between them, the latter of which is
covered by the upright plate or bar A. The plate or bar A¹ is provided with
numerous vertically arranged perforations a¹, for the purpose below described, said
perforations being coincident with the vertical space a¹. The post consisting of
these channel-beams and plate may be extended upward to any desired height by
causing the plate A' which extends somewhat higher than the channel-beams,
to be bolted to another set of channel-beams provided with a similar vertical plate
whose lower end is at a suitable point to abut against the upper end of the plate A',
while the lower ends of the channel-beams abut against the upper ends of the
channel-beams A. This is illustrated in Fig. 3, in which side plates or binding
plates A are provided for bolting together the upper and lower sets of channel-
beams.
The secondary post which slides within the main post A consists of a channel-
beam B, whose web faces the outer vertical opening a. Suitable antifriction
wheels have their bearings in the beam B, while their peripheries bear against
the inner surfaces of the Hanges of the beams A. Vertically arranged perfora-
tions B are formed in the web of the beam B, and a dog C is hung from a suitable
pin, preferably the one supporting the lower antifriction wheel b, said dog being
so weighted and hung that its engaging end C will drop by gravity into one of the
openings all in the vertical plate A¹. A larger opening is made in the web of the
beam B in order to allow the heel or weighted portion C to extend through said
web. A lever d is thrust through one of the openings all in the plate A¹ and thence
at a downward angle through one of the openings B in the beam B, and by
depressing the outer end of said lever the inner beam is raised, the end C¹ of the
dog slipping out of its opening and swinging back, and dropping into another
opening when the desired height has been reached, thus locking the inner and
.outer posts together. The webs of the channel-beams A are provided with a vertical
row of perforations a¹ (Figs. 1 and 5) by means of which a safety-bolt e (Fig. 2).
may be inserted, so that in case the dog does not hold, the fall of the inner post
may be arrested. This safety-bolt is not new in this invention.
C
By providing a row of holes all whereby the dog can engage the vertical plate A¹
directly, instead of furnishing the post with horizontal rods for the dog to engage,
I avoid weakening the post and also save the expense and weight of the numerous
rods. Moreover, by this construction, the dog is always in sight when it is engage-
ment and hence it is always possible to ascertain whether the staging is safe. By
providing the large opening in the beam B, I am able to provide the protuberance
or weight C on the dog without interfering with its swinging motion, thus pro-
ducing a quick and positive engagement by gravity with the openings a", whereby
the inner and outer posts are locked together. By making a plurality of aper-
tures B in the channel-beam B and making them near to each other, I am enabled.
to place the lever d through one of the openings all and, without removing it there---
from, apply it in succession to several of the apertures B' for the purpose of lifting
the inner post B.
D and E are two brackets, D being the upper central bracket and E the lower.
These brackets are rigidly connected by suitable bars, preferably by the somewhat
spreading reverse U-shaped bar or brace. I, made of angle iren, and whose closed
upper portion Flies under and supports the upper bracket D and whose lower.ends
are bolted to the outer surface of the lower bracket E. See Figs. 2, 5 and 8. A.
set of these brackets is secured to the scaffold at each end in the following manner.
The brackets D, E are supported respectively by the plates H and H made of
angle iron and having their vertical portions bolted through the metallic blocks.h, h
to the wel of the channel-beam or inner post B. Figs. 5, 7, and 8. The portion Fi
of the supporting brace rests directly on the upper plate H, and the bracket E
rests directly on the lower plate H'. The bracket D, portion F, plate H, bracket Ea
and plate H are perforated in a vertical line to allow two bolts K to drop through
them and secure the brackets together.

page_text: "It will thus be seen that these brackets when in position are rigidly secured
together and must move together vertically when the inner post is raised or
lowered. Suitable planks constituting platforms f and g are stretched from the
brackets at one end to those at the other end, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. On the
platform f will be the brick etc.; on the portion of the platform g next the walls.
will be the masons, and on the outer portion of the same platform will be the
laborers: The platform f is of sufficient height above the platform g to accommodate.
the masons at their work. It will be seen that the bracket E has no braces or,
supports beneath it. Hence it can be lowered to the ground and raised gradually as
the work progresses by the operation of the lever (which can be worked from a
platform or from the ground) and retained in successive heights by the dogs C.
Thus the number of fastening points for supporting the brackets is reduced to a
minimum. Moreover the brackets are easily removed from the posts by withdrawing:
the bolts K.
A supplemental swinging stage L (Fig. 4) may be employed if desired, such stage,
consisting of vertical sides and closed bottom, outwardly and horizontally pro-
jecting flanges or ends L' and a binding bar L". The ends L overlap and rest;
upon the inner edges of the planks or platforms in the position indicated by
broken lines in Fig. 2, and a suitable plank is supported at its opposite ends by.
the hanging stages at opposite ends of the scaffold. Thus a man may stand upon
the plank and lift the outer brackets D, E by operating the lever d, or do any other
desired work.
Brace-rods P (Fig. 1) are properly secured to the floor between the posts and
engage said posts by means of hooked ends P¹ which extend through the perfora-
tions a in the vertical plates or bars A¹. The brace-rods can of course be readily.
removed when the scaffold is taken apart, and hold the posts very firmly when.in
position by means of their shoulders P! which bear against the outer edges of the.
holes or perforations a". S S are ordinary brace-rods.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed; I declare that what I'
claim is:-
1. In a scaffold of the character described, the telescopic main posts each com-
prising a pair of stationary channel-beams set vertically and with the flanges of
one beam facing those of another but not in contact therewith, whereby vertical
spaces are produced between the oppositely arranged flanges, a vertically arranged
sliding channel-beam placed within and between said stationary beams and with
its web opposite one of said spaces, and a vertical bar or plate bolted exteriorly to
two opposite flanges extending from the webs of the stationary beams; means for
raising and lowering the inner sliding-beam; and means for holding said inner
sliding-beam at any desired height, substantially as described
2. In a scaffold of the character described, the telescopic main posts each com-
prising a pair of stationary channel-beams set vertically and with the flanges of
one beam facing those of another but not in contact therewith, whereby vertical
spaces are produced between the oppositely arranged flanges, a vertically arranged
sliding channel-beam placed within and between said stationary beams and with
its web opposite one of said spaces, and a vertical bar or plate bolted exteriorly to
two opposite flanges extending from the webs of the stationary beams, said vertical
plate or bar being provided with a series of substantially vertically arranged per-
forations a, and the web of said sliding channel-beam being provided with a
plurality of substantially vertically arranged perforations B'; a dog pivotally hung
in the sliding-beam and adapted to drop by gravity into engagement with said
perforations a" in the vertical plate or bar; and means for lifting said sliding
beam within the stationary beam, substantially as set forth.
an
3. In a scaffold of the character described, an external, stationary hollow post,
provided with a series of substantially vertically arranged perforations a";
internal telescopically arranged sliding post provided with a series of substantially

page_text: vertically arranged perforations B opposite said perforations 11 and also with the
relatively large opening e opposite said perforations a"; and the dog C
provided with the pointed engaging end C¹ and protuberance or weighted portion C",
said pointed end dropping by gravity into one of said perforations all and said
protuberating or weighted portion extending into the large opening e, substantially
as described.
4. In a scaffold of the character described, the telescopic main posts each com-
prising a pair of stationary channel-beams set vertically and with the flanges of
one beam facing those of another but not in contact therewith, whereby vertical
spaces are provided between the oppositely arranged flanges, a vertically arranged
sliding channel-beam placed within and between said stationary beams and with
its web opposite one of said spaces, and a bar or plate rigidly connecting said
stationary channel-beams on one side; horizontal blocks or extensions projecting
from the web of the inner sliding beam and extending through the space a between
the flanges of the stationary beams opposite said vertical plate or bar, and placed
one above the other, and provided at their outer ends with the horizontal supporting
plates H; and a pair of brackets, D, E set one above the other and rigidly connected
together and supported by the said plates H, substantially as set forth.
5. In a scaffold of the character described, the combination with a telescopic
vertical supporting post comprising a stationary upright beam and a sliding upright
beam; the brackets D, E set one above the other and rigidly connected with said
sliding beam; rods or bars extending from the lower to the upper bracket; and
the removable bolts K, extending through vertical openings in the two brackets.
substantially as described.
6. In a scaffold of the character described, telescopic upright posts; platform-
supporting brackets rigidly secured to the vertically moving elements in said posts
and extending on opposite sides thereof; and the supplemental hanging scaffolds
consisting of the vertical portions L connected at their lower ends to receive a
platform, the outwardly extending horizontal flanges L' for overlapping the inner
edges of the platforms g supported by the brackets on opposite sides of the posts,
and a suitable connecting-bar L", all substantially as set forth.
Date HS
10.
HEZEKIAH MCLAUGHLIN.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.