CA1296373C - Modular scaffolding platform and truss frame components therefor - Google Patents
Modular scaffolding platform and truss frame components thereforInfo
- Publication number
- CA1296373C CA1296373C CA000566088A CA566088A CA1296373C CA 1296373 C CA1296373 C CA 1296373C CA 000566088 A CA000566088 A CA 000566088A CA 566088 A CA566088 A CA 566088A CA 1296373 C CA1296373 C CA 1296373C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- top rails
- truss
- platform
- frames
- rails
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
Classifications
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B5/00—Floors; Floor construction with regard to insulation; Connections specially adapted therefor
- E04B5/02—Load-carrying floor structures formed substantially of prefabricated units
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04G—SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
- E04G1/00—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground
- E04G1/15—Scaffolds primarily resting on the ground essentially comprising special means for supporting or forming platforms; Platforms
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
- E04B1/1903—Connecting nodes specially adapted therefor
- E04B2001/1918—Connecting nodes specially adapted therefor with connecting nodes having flat radial connecting surfaces
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
- E04B2001/1924—Struts specially adapted therefor
- E04B2001/1933—Struts specially adapted therefor of polygonal, e.g. square, cross section
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
- E04B2001/1924—Struts specially adapted therefor
- E04B2001/1936—Winged profiles, e.g. with a L-, T-, U- or X-shaped cross section
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
- E04B2001/1957—Details of connections between nodes and struts
- E04B2001/1963—Screw connections with axis at an angle, e.g. perpendicular, to the main axis of the strut
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
- E04B2001/1978—Frameworks assembled from preformed subframes, e.g. pyramids
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E04—BUILDING
- E04B—GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS
- E04B1/00—Constructions in general; Structures which are not restricted either to walls, e.g. partitions, or floors or ceilings or roofs
- E04B1/18—Structures comprising elongated load-supporting parts, e.g. columns, girders, skeletons
- E04B1/19—Three-dimensional framework structures
- E04B2001/1981—Three-dimensional framework structures characterised by the grid type of the outer planes of the framework
- E04B2001/1984—Three-dimensional framework structures characterised by the grid type of the outer planes of the framework rectangular, e.g. square, grid
Landscapes
- Architecture (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Structural Engineering (AREA)
- Civil Engineering (AREA)
- Electromagnetism (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Rod-Shaped Construction Members (AREA)
- Bridges Or Land Bridges (AREA)
- Joining Of Building Structures In Genera (AREA)
- Ladders (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
- Golf Clubs (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract of the Disclosure A truss frame with three-dimensional bracing includes at least three top rails which are joined together so as to define a substantially planar surface. A plurality of bracing members are attached to the top rails and depend toward a bottom connection which has a predetermined location with respect to the top rails. The bottom connection location is chosen so that the bracing members form truss-like braces for the top rails. In one embodiment, the top rails, bracing members, and bottom connection form the shape of a pyramid. A plurality of there truss frames is utilized to form a modular platform. The platform also includes means for fastening the top rails of adjoining truss frames together so as to form a continuous top chord in a direction parallel to that spanned by the connected truss frames. The platform preferably further includes means for connecting together the bottom connections of the truss frames so as to form a bottom chord which also extends in a direction parallel to that spanned by the connected frames. The modular platform may also include filler panels connected between predetermined ones of the truss frames, as well as decking mounted on the truss frames so as to provide a substantially continuous supporting surface and railing members which may be attached to the truss frames so as to provide the platform with a guardrail around at least a portion of the perimeter thereof.
Description
3'~13 MODULAR SCAFFOLDING PL~TFORM ~D
TRUSS FRAME COMPO~ENTS TffEREFOR
Background of the Inve tion This invention relates to scaffolding system~ of the type used in building construction and maintenance.
More p~rticularly, it relates to a modular platform that is extremely adaptable and can be assembled in a variety of sizes and configurations, while at the same time having high structural integrity, ~pan ~trength, and torsional rigidity.
A variety of scaffolding ~ystems have been employed in the pa~t to provide arti~ans with a suitable area from which to perform thei~ task3 on various portions of buildings or other ~tructures.
Such scaffolding systems have been u~ed in tasks ranging from applying siding to buildings under construction to washing the windows o~ a completed buildiny.
In the past, when a sca~olding sy~tem waa required for a particular tasX, the sca~olding would be constructed so that the tasX involved could be performed on one portion o~ the bullalng at ~ timo.
The con3tructea ~ca~oldln~ wa~ typically ~ot move~bl~
from one portion of the building to another. Instead, the scaffolding system frequently required disassembly before being moved, and reassembly after being moved to another portion of the building. For ~uch prior art scaffolding systems, a considerable amount of time and energy is required to dismantle and reas~emble the scaffolding each time it is moved. Typiçally, a plurality of parts of various sizes and shape~ must be individually connected and disconnected during assembly and disassembly, respectively, of the scaffold.
Furthermore, the workers involved in con~tructing this type of scaffolding are often at a safety risk, because of the manner in which the work platforms are suRpended between the vertical supports. Typically, vertical ladders are provided for holding the end~ of the work platforms, and it is necessary for worker~ to scale these ladders in order to attach the work platforms to the ladders. Another problem which has been encountered in past scaffolding ~ystems i8 the inability to individually change the levels of the various work platforms without dismantling a sub~tantial portion of the scaffolding.
The scaffolding systems d~sc~ibed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,234,055 and 4,253,548, issued to G.~. Beeche on November 18, 1980 and March 3, 1981, re3pectiYely, alleviate many of the problems a~sociated with prior art ~caffolding ~ystems. U.S. Patent No. 4,234,055 describes a mobile suspen~ion scaffold which requires assembly and dismantling only once for each construction ~ite, at the beginning of the job and at the end of the job, respectively. The ~caffolding system disclo~ed includes a mobile roof vehicle which permits the scaffold to be moved along the ~ide~ of a buLl~lng and ~round bu~ ldln~ ~o~no~ w~th~u~ b~
di~a~sembled. The sca~fold contalnlng th~ wo~k platforms may be suspended from the roof vehicle and assembled by starting at the top and working downwardly, or it may be assembled by starting at the ground and working upwardly. The ~caffold i~ gu~pended so that a plurality of work platforms can be disposed at pre~elected levels through utilization of the ~uspension system itself. A particularly useful suspended scaffold system is the folding scaffold described in U.S. Patent ~o~ 4,253,548. The scaffold 10 described therein employs a plurality of work platforms in combination with a chain of foldably linked end support sections disposed in a mechanical relationship which permits the scaffold to be collapsed into a relatively small configuration for storage and 15 transportation, and then unfolded into its erected state at the building site. The work platforms are slidably engaged in the end support section~, and may be raised or lowered independently o~ raising or lowering the end supports. The individual work 20 platforms are selectively attached to ths end ~upport sections at de~ired level~ as the end support~ are unfolded, and may also be rai~ed or lowered to different levels while the scaffolding system remains erected.
A3 the number and variety of scaffolding systems needed for modern-day building con~truction and maintenance has grown, a problem that has arisen i~ the requirement imposed by ~uch construction and maintenance of individually tailoring the scaffold to 30 the particular ta~k at hand. Designing and con~tructing uniquely customized ~caf~olding sy~tems for every building construction or maintenance project iq both time-consuming and relatively ~xp~n~lve. Wh~t 1~ need~ le a ~c~ol~lng ~yot0m th~t 1~ ~dAp~ o ~0 35 meet the requ~rements o~ a wld~ varlety o~
applications. The system mugt also have ~ufficient rigidity to provide a safe work area for artisan~ who use the scaffolding and for their material~.
Co~pending Canadian application serial num~er 536~727 filed May 8, 1987 in the name of G.L. Beeche and assigned to the present a3signee, digclogeg a modular scaffolding system which is readily adaptable for use in a wide variety of applications. The present invention provides a scaffolding platform which may be 10 used either in conjunction with the scaffolding system disclosed in application serial number 861,133, or independently thereof. The modular platform of the present invention provides a work platform that may be varied in size and configuration in order to meet the 15 requirements of a variety of si~uations.
The modular platform of the present invention utilizes a truss frame component which is braced in three dimensions 80 as to achleve high resistance to structural deformation caused by externally applied 20 loads. While three-dimensional bracing itself is not new, the principles of that concept have not previously been applied to the scaffolding arts in order to provide modular components for a truss frame platform.
The pre~ent inventor has found that truss frames w~th 25 such bracing can be utilized to form ~ modular platfo~m that has such high structural integrity that the platform can be used as a truss beam for spanning long distance~.
~' .
, _S_ -Summary o the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a truss frame wi~h three-dimensiOnal bracing comprises at least three top rails which are joined together 50 as to define a subs~antially planar 5 surface. A plurality of bracing members are attached to and depend from the top rails. ~he bracing members are di~posed ~o that all of them are connected together at one end thereof to form a bottom connection which has a predetermined location with respect to the top 10 rails. The location of the bottom connection i8 chosen ~o that the bracing member~ ~orm truss~ e braces for the ~op ralls. The truss ~rame may further compri~o means by which the top rails of ad~oinlng truaa ~r~es may be connected together ~o that the top ralls o~ the 15 connected truss frames form a con~inuous top chord, and means by which the bottom CQnneCt~OnS of a~oining trus~ frames may be connected to each oth~r ~o n~ to form a bottom chord in the dlrection ~panned ~y ~he connec~ed truss fr,ames. Each truss ~rame m~y al~o 2~ include decXing mounted to the top rail~ 80 ~ to form a ~upporting sur~ace thereon,~nd ona or more ~ail members connected to the truss ~rame ~o a3 to ~orm a guardrail around at lea3t a portion of the perimeter thereo~, Tho lnventl~ ru~D ~rAmo p~o~o~ly ~U~hO~
25 comprlae~ maan~ ~y whle~ extern~ p~ u~ eh , .
TRUSS FRAME COMPO~ENTS TffEREFOR
Background of the Inve tion This invention relates to scaffolding system~ of the type used in building construction and maintenance.
More p~rticularly, it relates to a modular platform that is extremely adaptable and can be assembled in a variety of sizes and configurations, while at the same time having high structural integrity, ~pan ~trength, and torsional rigidity.
A variety of scaffolding ~ystems have been employed in the pa~t to provide arti~ans with a suitable area from which to perform thei~ task3 on various portions of buildings or other ~tructures.
Such scaffolding systems have been u~ed in tasks ranging from applying siding to buildings under construction to washing the windows o~ a completed buildiny.
In the past, when a sca~olding sy~tem waa required for a particular tasX, the sca~olding would be constructed so that the tasX involved could be performed on one portion o~ the bullalng at ~ timo.
The con3tructea ~ca~oldln~ wa~ typically ~ot move~bl~
from one portion of the building to another. Instead, the scaffolding system frequently required disassembly before being moved, and reassembly after being moved to another portion of the building. For ~uch prior art scaffolding systems, a considerable amount of time and energy is required to dismantle and reas~emble the scaffolding each time it is moved. Typiçally, a plurality of parts of various sizes and shape~ must be individually connected and disconnected during assembly and disassembly, respectively, of the scaffold.
Furthermore, the workers involved in con~tructing this type of scaffolding are often at a safety risk, because of the manner in which the work platforms are suRpended between the vertical supports. Typically, vertical ladders are provided for holding the end~ of the work platforms, and it is necessary for worker~ to scale these ladders in order to attach the work platforms to the ladders. Another problem which has been encountered in past scaffolding ~ystems i8 the inability to individually change the levels of the various work platforms without dismantling a sub~tantial portion of the scaffolding.
The scaffolding systems d~sc~ibed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,234,055 and 4,253,548, issued to G.~. Beeche on November 18, 1980 and March 3, 1981, re3pectiYely, alleviate many of the problems a~sociated with prior art ~caffolding ~ystems. U.S. Patent No. 4,234,055 describes a mobile suspen~ion scaffold which requires assembly and dismantling only once for each construction ~ite, at the beginning of the job and at the end of the job, respectively. The ~caffolding system disclo~ed includes a mobile roof vehicle which permits the scaffold to be moved along the ~ide~ of a buLl~lng and ~round bu~ ldln~ ~o~no~ w~th~u~ b~
di~a~sembled. The sca~fold contalnlng th~ wo~k platforms may be suspended from the roof vehicle and assembled by starting at the top and working downwardly, or it may be assembled by starting at the ground and working upwardly. The ~caffold i~ gu~pended so that a plurality of work platforms can be disposed at pre~elected levels through utilization of the ~uspension system itself. A particularly useful suspended scaffold system is the folding scaffold described in U.S. Patent ~o~ 4,253,548. The scaffold 10 described therein employs a plurality of work platforms in combination with a chain of foldably linked end support sections disposed in a mechanical relationship which permits the scaffold to be collapsed into a relatively small configuration for storage and 15 transportation, and then unfolded into its erected state at the building site. The work platforms are slidably engaged in the end support section~, and may be raised or lowered independently o~ raising or lowering the end supports. The individual work 20 platforms are selectively attached to ths end ~upport sections at de~ired level~ as the end support~ are unfolded, and may also be rai~ed or lowered to different levels while the scaffolding system remains erected.
A3 the number and variety of scaffolding systems needed for modern-day building con~truction and maintenance has grown, a problem that has arisen i~ the requirement imposed by ~uch construction and maintenance of individually tailoring the scaffold to 30 the particular ta~k at hand. Designing and con~tructing uniquely customized ~caf~olding sy~tems for every building construction or maintenance project iq both time-consuming and relatively ~xp~n~lve. Wh~t 1~ need~ le a ~c~ol~lng ~yot0m th~t 1~ ~dAp~ o ~0 35 meet the requ~rements o~ a wld~ varlety o~
applications. The system mugt also have ~ufficient rigidity to provide a safe work area for artisan~ who use the scaffolding and for their material~.
Co~pending Canadian application serial num~er 536~727 filed May 8, 1987 in the name of G.L. Beeche and assigned to the present a3signee, digclogeg a modular scaffolding system which is readily adaptable for use in a wide variety of applications. The present invention provides a scaffolding platform which may be 10 used either in conjunction with the scaffolding system disclosed in application serial number 861,133, or independently thereof. The modular platform of the present invention provides a work platform that may be varied in size and configuration in order to meet the 15 requirements of a variety of si~uations.
The modular platform of the present invention utilizes a truss frame component which is braced in three dimensions 80 as to achleve high resistance to structural deformation caused by externally applied 20 loads. While three-dimensional bracing itself is not new, the principles of that concept have not previously been applied to the scaffolding arts in order to provide modular components for a truss frame platform.
The pre~ent inventor has found that truss frames w~th 25 such bracing can be utilized to form ~ modular platfo~m that has such high structural integrity that the platform can be used as a truss beam for spanning long distance~.
~' .
, _S_ -Summary o the Invention In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a truss frame wi~h three-dimensiOnal bracing comprises at least three top rails which are joined together 50 as to define a subs~antially planar 5 surface. A plurality of bracing members are attached to and depend from the top rails. ~he bracing members are di~posed ~o that all of them are connected together at one end thereof to form a bottom connection which has a predetermined location with respect to the top 10 rails. The location of the bottom connection i8 chosen ~o that the bracing member~ ~orm truss~ e braces for the ~op ralls. The truss ~rame may further compri~o means by which the top rails of ad~oinlng truaa ~r~es may be connected together ~o that the top ralls o~ the 15 connected truss frames form a con~inuous top chord, and means by which the bottom CQnneCt~OnS of a~oining trus~ frames may be connected to each oth~r ~o n~ to form a bottom chord in the dlrection ~panned ~y ~he connec~ed truss fr,ames. Each truss ~rame m~y al~o 2~ include decXing mounted to the top rail~ 80 ~ to form a ~upporting sur~ace thereon,~nd ona or more ~ail members connected to the truss ~rame ~o a3 to ~orm a guardrail around at lea3t a portion of the perimeter thereo~, Tho lnventl~ ru~D ~rAmo p~o~o~ly ~U~hO~
25 comprlae~ maan~ ~y whle~ extern~ p~ u~ eh , .
3,,~d ~ D 7~3 - -suspension cables, support columns, or scaffolding accessories, may be attached directly to the truss frame.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a modular platform comprises a plurality of truss frames of the type described above~ The platform includes means for fastening the top rail~ of adjoining truss frames together so as to form a continuous top chord in a direction parallel to that ~panned by the 10 connected truss frames. It also preferably includes means for connecting the bottom connections of the truss frames together so as to form a bottom chord which extends in a direc~ion parallel to that spanned by the connected frames. The modular platform may 15 further comprise filler panels located between predetermined one~ of the truss frames. In one embodiment, opposite ends of each filler panel are connected to the respective adjoining truss frames by fastening the respective end of the filler panel to the 20 adjacent top rail of the re~pective adjoining truss frame. The modular platform of the present invention may also include decking mounted on the truss frame~
and filler panels 80 as to provide the platform with a substantially continuous supporting ~urface, A
25 plurality o~ rai}ing members may al~o be attached to the trus~ frameq ~o as to provide the plat~orm with a guardrail around the perimeter thereo~.
Brief De~cription of the Drawin~s The ~ubject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding por~ion o~ the ~pecification.
The inv~ntlon lt~ , howqvo~ bo~h a~ ~0 1~
organization and it~ methofl o~ ~raatlco, togoth~r with , .
7~3 further objects and advantage~ thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawinys, in which:
Fig. l is a plan view schematically illùstrating one embodiment of a truss frame in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an oblique view in ~ide elevation of the truss frame shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating a portion of a first embodiment of a scaffolding platform assembled in accordance with the modular concept of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the modular 15 platform shown in Fig. 3:
Fig. 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating a second embodiment of a scaffolding platform assembled in accordance with the modular configuration of the present invention' Fig. 6 is a plan view schematically illustrating a third embodiment of a modular platform in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a fourth embodiment of a modular scaffolding platform 25 constructed in accordance with ~he present invention.
Detailed Description of the Pre_er_ed Embodiments Fig. l schematically illustrate~ one embodiment of 30 a truss frame which is especially useful as a component for a modular platform. In order to lllustrate ~he underlying structure of the truss frame, most of dacking 42 has be~n removed ~n tho v~ew o Fi~ he truss frame o~ th~ pr~nt lnvent~on aomprlao~ o~
35 three top ralls which are join¢d together ~o as to define a ~ubstantially planar ~urface. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, trus~ frame 10 comprises four top rails 12, with rail~ 12 being joined end to end ~o that rails 12 define a closed loop. In 5 the particular embodiment shown railg 12 are disposed so as to form the shape of a square. Trus~ frame 10 also comprises a plurality of bracing member~ 14 which are attached to top rails 12 and which depend therefrom. Member~ 14 are di~po~ed so that all of 10 members 14 are connected together to form bottom connection 16. Bottom connection 16 has a predetermined location with respect to rails 12, with the predetermined location being chosen ~o that bracing members 14 form truss-like braces for top rails 12. In 15the embodiment shown, each bracing member 14 iB
disposed AO that one end ~hereof is attached to one of top rails 12, and the other end thereof i8 attached to the remaining bracing members 14 at bottom connection 16. Preferably, bracing members 14 are further 20disposed ~o that each top rail 12 is attached to at least one of bracing members 14. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, four bracing members 14 are employed, with each member 14 being attached to top rails 12 at the locations where rails 12 are joined to each other, that 25i~, at the locations of the corners of the square formed by rails 12. In order to provlde truss frame 10 with optimum modularity and uniform strength, bracing members 14 are preferably further configured with respect to top rail~ 12 ~o as to be symmetrically 30di~po~ed about a plane which i~ taken through the center of bottom connection 16, which plane i8 perpendicular to the plane containing top rails 12. In one such configuration, top rail~ 12, braclng members 14, nn~ bottom co~nectlon 1~ ~m tho oh~p~
35inverted pyr~mid, in the mann~r illu~trato~ by tru~
7~3 _9_ frame 10. The pyramidal shape o truss frame 10 is better illustrated in Fig. 2, which i5 an oblique side elevation view of the trus3 frame shown in Fig. 1.
Trus~ frame 10 may also comprise mean~ by which top rails 12 of one trusg frame may be connected to the corresponding top rails of adjoining truss ~rames, when two or more truss frames are connected together to form a platform. The means for connecting together adjacent top rails is disposed so that the top rails of the 10 connected truss frames form a continuous top chord in a direc~ion parallel to the direction along which the truss frame3 are connected, that i8, the direction spanned by the connected frames. In the embodiment shown in Figs~ 1 and 2, top rail~ 12 of adjoining truss 15 frames 10 are connected to each other by mean~ of apertures 18 which extend generally in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane containing top rails 12. To connect adjacent top rail~ 12, fastening bolts 20 are inserted through top and bottom link portions 22 20 and 24, respectively, and through aperture~ 18, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In an alternative embodiment which is not ~hown, ad~acent top xails 12 are connected together by inserting fastening bolts through apertures in adjacent rail~ 12, which apertures 25 are aligned with each other and which extend in a direction which is generally parallel to a plane containing top raiL3 12.
Trus3 frame 10 also may include means by which bottom connection 16 of one tru3s frame 10 may be 30 connected to the bottom connec~ions o~ adjoining tru~s frames when two or more tru~s frames are connected together to form a platform. The mean~ employed or connecting together the bottom connection~ of ad~olning trus3 frame~ 1~ dl3po~ed ~o that a bottom cho~ 10 formed which extends in ~ directlon p~rallel to tho direction ~panned by the connected truss frames. In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom connections of adjoining tru~s frames are connected together by means of apertures 28 deined through bottom connection plates 30 and 32. Apertures 28 extend generally in the same direction a aperture~ 18.
Plate 32 i8 separated from plate 30 for a predetermined distance by spacer member 34. One end of spacer 34 is attached to plate 30 and the oth~r end thereof i8 10 attached to plate 32, so that spacer member 34 also serves to attach plates 30 and 32 together. As i~
better illustrated in Figs 3 and 4, in order to join together bottom connections 16 of adjoining truss frames, linking member 36 i8 fa~tened at its oppo~ite 15 ends to the respec~ive bottom connections by bolts 38 which pass through apertures 28.
When truss frame 10 is utilized to provide a support surface, truss frame 10 further comprises decking 42 mounted to top rail~ 12 50 as to form a 20 substantially continuous surface thereon. For the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, corner members 44 of truss frame 10 protrude slightly above the level of rails 12, but not above the level o~ decking 42, 50 that the supporting sur~ace provided by decking 42 i~
25 substantially flat. Furthermore, decking 42 may be cut ~o fit closely around each corner member 44. With corner member~ 44 and decking 42 configured in this manner, decking ~2 i3 constrained from movement in a plane parallel to the plane containing top rail~ 12, 30 Decking 42 may al~o be reQtrained from upward movement, in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane containing top rails 12, by any suitable means, ~uch o~ example, ~luing or ~crewing decking 42 to top ralls 12. One ~op~laliy ~voni~n~ m~no ~
35 restraining decking 42 ~rom movement ln ~n upw~rd d. 3 direction is to fa~ten decking 42 to bracing members 14 by ~ie wires 46 which are threaded through apertures 48 in decking 42 and fa~tened around bracing member~ 14.
DecXing 42 may be chosen from a wide variety of materials which meet the requirements of a particular application. One convenient material for decking 42 i~
plywood, the thickness and grade quality.of which can be chosen to accomodate the ~trength requirements and environmental conditions of the application involved.
For storage and shipping o truss frame 10, decking 42 is usually removed so ~ha~ a plurality of tru~s frames 10 can be stacked in a nested configuration. Doing ~o minimizes the Rpace required for storing and shipping the components required to 15 assemble a modular platform. Decking 42 may ~e installed either before or after the truss frames are a 5 sembled into a platform, As is illu~trated in Fig. 7, tru~ frame 10 may further comprise one or more rail mem~er~ 50 connected 20 to truss frame 10 so a~ to form a guardrail along predetermined oneR of top rails 12. ~ail members 50 provide ~afety for artisans working on the platform.
The guardrail may also be employed to re~train materials and equipment from falling off the edge of 25 the platform. Truss frame 10 may also comprise means by which external apparatu~ may be attached directly to at least one of top railR 12 of trusa frame 10. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig~. 1 and 2, this function i9 provided by acce~ory tab3 52 having tab opening~ 54 30 defined therein. External apparatu~ may be attached to tabs 52 by mean~ of a bolt or fastening pin inserted through tab opening~ 54. Tabs 52 and associated tab openin~s 54 are located at each corner o~ the s~uare formed by top ralls 12, ~horoby p~oYl~lng ~ou~ ~pa~
35 attachment polnt~ ~or ea~h trus~ m~ 10 . ~lth dlr~o~
attachment to the truss frame provided in this manner, trus~ ~rame 10 can be su~pended from above by a suspension cable attached to at least one o~ accessory tabs 52, or it can be auppor~ed from below by a support column similarly attached to truss ~rame 10.
Furthermore, several of accessory tab3 52 may be employed for supporting scaffolding acce$sorie~ ~uch as a cantilevered hoist beam or variou3 scaffolding outriggers.
For optimum strength and rigidity, tru88 frame 10 may further compri~e four corner brace~ 56 di3po~ed 50 a~ to be located substantially coplanar with respect to top rails 12. Each corner brace 56 is located at one of the corners of the square ~ormed by top rails 12.
15 Each corner brace 56 i8 attached to the two top ra~ 18 12 whi~h are joined by the respective corner of the square so that the two top rail~ 12 and corner brace 56 form a figure for which the base i5 longer than the top. For the configuration illu~trated in Fig. 1, side 20 rails 12 and corner brace 56, along with corner member 44, define the shape of a trapezoid. By arranging top rails 12 and corner brace 56 in this manner, the unbraced length of top rail 12 i8 shortened, and thereby strengthened. The bending point for top rail~
12 i~ also moved rom the corner back to the rails themselve~. Also, a structure tha~ has the ~hape of a triangle or trapezoid provide~ a stiffer s~ructure with less weight. To further strengthen the bxacing affect provided by corner brace 56, truss frame 10 may include brace channel 58 diYposed be~ween corner member 44 and corner brace 56. Bracing channel 58 is attached at it~
opposite ends to the respective adjacent end~ o~ corner member 44 and corner brace 56. Truss ~rame 10 is provided wlth even morQ rlgidlty 1~ braaln~ mombcr 1~
i~ also attached to corner brsce 56. Doing eo ~hort~ns the unbraced length of member 14, a~ well a~ providing yet another triange-type stiffener at each corner o~
tru~s frame 10. Channel 58 a~ 80 ~erveg a~ a convenient surface to which.bracing member 14 may be welded, with ~- 5 channel 58 ~rovidin~ a relati~ely large surface area for such welding.
For most applicationY, it i~ preerable to form trus~ frame 10 from a high streng~h material such aq metal. For applications ~uch a~ scaffolding, where it 10 is de~irable to use hollow members in order to ~ave weight and co~t, ~he variou~ portions o truss frame 10 conveniently comprise tubular ~teel, and the attachments between the various portions o~ txu88 frame 10, ~uch a~, for example, rails 12, corner members 44, 15 corner brace~ 56, bracing members 14, and bottom connection 16, may be welded.
The truss frame of the pre3ent invention i~
especially u~eful as a component in a modular ~caffolding platform. However, it should be under~ood 20 that the modular platform provid¢d by the instant invention i8 not limited to sca~olding sy~tema, but rather may al80 be utilized ~n othe~ applicatlons where a structure having high span strength and torsional rigidlty ls desirable. Figs. 3 and 4 ~chem~tically 25 illustrate one embodiment o~ ~ ~t~uctur~l plat~orm that can be con~tructed in accordance with the modular concept of the present ~nvention. Other plat~orm arrangements that may be assembled using th2 same modular concept are illustrated ~n Figs. 5-7. ~11 o~
30 the platform conf~guration~ shown may be ~uicXly ~nd ea~ily as~embled using a ~ew basic component~. Becaus~
of the flexibility with which the platform components o~ the prasent invention may be assembled, most applicatlono c~n ~o aG¢ommo~t~d u~ln~ VOXy ~WI
35 any, customized component~. ~h~ mo~ r p~t~orm components can be assembled either partially or fully at the job site, and the decking which form~ t~e support surface may be in~talled either before or ater assembly of the components to orm the de~ired platform. The platform component~ themselveR may be made having dimensions and weight which acilitates ea3e of handlinq o the components. Components which are even small enough to fit through standard building entry ways can be asaembled into platforms which are 10 useful a~ interior scaffolding.
As is schematically illustrated by Fig. 3, a modular platform in accordance with the present invention comprise~ a plurality of tru~ frames 60.
Each such trus~ fxame includes at least three top rail3 15 which are joined together 80 as to define a subatantially planar surface, and further includes a plurality of bracing membera attached to and depending from the top raila. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, ~our top rails 62 and four bracing mem~ers 64 are 20 utilized for each tru~ ~rame 60. Braclng member~ 64 are disposed ~o that all of mem~ers 64 ~re connec~ed together to form bottom connection 66. Bottom connection 66 ha~ a predetermined loca~ion with respect to top rail 8 6~, whlch locatlon i~ chosen 50 that 25 brnclng member~ 64 form truss-like ~racës for top rails~~ `
62. Top rails 62, brac~ng membcrs 64 and bottom connect~ on 66 are further disposed 80 a3 to form the shape of an inverted pyramid. Thus, truss frame 62 is very ~imilar in structure to tru~ frame 10 shown ln 30 Fig. 1, the ma~or dlference between the two being thnt trusa frame 10 includes corner braces S6 whereAs tru~
frame 60 does not. The modular plat~orm o Fig. 3 ~urther compr~se~ means ~or connscting to~eth~r top rnll~ 62 o~ a~olnlng t~U~I ~æ~moo ~0 ~o th~ t 35 62 form a continuou~ top cho~d ~n ~ dl~o~tlo~ p~3 to that spanned by the connected trug~ frames 60. ~or example, connecting together top railg 62 of adjoining truss frames 60 and 70 in Fig. 3 provides the platform with a top chord between frames 60 and 70 in a direction which is de~ignated in Fig. 3 as the x-axis.
Similarly, connecting together the top rails of truss frame~ 70 and 72 produces a top chord between frames 70 and 72 which extends in a direction which is designated in Fig. 3 as being the y-axis.
In one embodiment, the means used for connecting top rails 62 to each other comprises the type of fastening link illu~trated in Fig. 2~ As shown therein, a top link portion 22 and bottom link portion 24 are fastened to the top and bottom surfaces, re~pectively, of the adjoining top rails 62. Link portions 22 and 24 are fastened together by bolts 20 inserted through appertures 18 in top ralls 62. Bolts 20 are also in~erted through correspondingly aligned apertures in link portions 22 and 24, and retaining nuts 26 are threadably engaged to bolts 20 with ~ufficient force to hold link portions 22 and 24 in position. For the truss frame embodimente illu~trated in Fi~. 1 and 3, link portions 22 and 24 preferably include restraining tab~ 2S. ~estraining tabs 25 are formed in the shape of a "V" or wedge, with the angle of the restraining tab being chosen to match the angle which is formed by adjacent top rails 62 in the vicinity of where rails 62 are ~oined together. With restraining tabs 25 so conf~gured, tab~ 25 serve to restrain adjacent rails 62 in po~ition with respect to each other.
The platform of Fig. 3 preerably further comprises means or connecting together bottom connections 66 o~ pr~det0rmlnod ono~ o~ tho t~u~n ~0 components, 80 as to form a bottom chorfl which extend~
in the same direction as the direction in which the connected truss frame3 extend. For example, when bottom connections 66 of trusg frame~ 60 and 70 are connected together in the manner shown in Fig. 3, a bottom chord i~ formed in the direction designated in Fig. 3 as the x-axi~. When bottom connections 66 of truss frames 70 and 72 are connected together in the manner shown in Fig. 3, a bottom chord is formed in the direction de~ignated as ~he y-axis. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, bottom connectionR 66 of adjoining trus~
frames are connected together by linXing member~ 36.
Opposite ends of each linking member 36 are attached to the respective bottom connections by mean~ of a bolt or other fastener inserted through apertures 28 in bottom connections 66.
With the top rails and bottom connections of the truss frame components being connected together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, the truss rame components can be utilized to form a tru~s beam in either of two perpendicular direction~. Furthermore, bracing members 64 act as diagonal brace3 between the resulting top and bottom chords. Thu~, the modular platform iR braced in three dimensions in Ruch a manner that it distributes and directs loading forces no that the forces travel along the tru88 frame component~ by the ~ame paths as loading orces travel in other three dimensional braced s~ruc~uresO Such three dimensional tru~ses provide high ~tructural integrlty and torsional rigidity.
The structural integrity and torsional rigidity of the modular platform of the pre~ent in~ention i~ such that the platform can be expanded in either lateral direction. Thu~, modular platforms may be as~embled in virtually any ~ize or shape. For example, ~D 1~
illu~trated in ~ig, S, ~ingle llne~ o~ tru~ ~rame~ m~y ~$~ 3 be assembled and attached to each other at a perpendicular angle in order to completely enclo~e the structure for which access i8 to be provided. A8 ~hown in Fig. 5, the platform may comprise a perimeter line S of tru~s frames 74, with the ad~oining top rails and bottom connection~ of truss frame~ 74 bein~ connected together to form top and bottom chord~,~respectively.
In many applications no interior truss frames are necessary to maintain the structural integrlty of the platform. Thus, building co~umns 76 may be entirely enclo~ed by the modular platform~ Furthermore, the platform may be suspended from building girdern 78 at a variety of locations on the platform. For the same reasons, the truss frame components may be assembled in such a manner a~ to follow the contour~ of ~ buildlng structure, in the manner illustrated by Fig. 6.
Because the lines of trus~ ~rame component3 can be as~embled at a perpendicular angle with respect to each other without affe~ting the stability or integrity of the platform, such a plat~orm is ~t~ble even whan suspended from ~uspension rall 82 by single ~ables located a~ variou~ points along the plat~orm.
Furthermore, disposing the two Iines of truss fràmes at a perpendicular angle with respect to each other serves to stabilize each of them agalnst rotation.
Slnce the truss frame components o~ ths inventiva modular plat~orm have structur~l ~nt~gr~ty ln all th~e~
direction~ when the tru3s ~rame8 ~re a3semble~ a8 ~
braced three-dlmensional structure, the plat~orm can be suspended from above or it can be supportea from below.
In ei~her case, the support polnts can be at the end of the span ~o as to form a baam ~on~igu~atlon, o~ ~t vsrious polnt~ ~long tho longth o~ ~o ~p~n ~ 0 35 form a cantilevexed con~i~urat~ion. ~o oap$ta~ r o~ thlo 7~3 flexibility, the platform of the present invention preferably further comprise~ rneans for attaching external apparatuR directly to at least one of the truss frame component top rails. One embodiment of an external apparatu~ attaching means is illustrated in Fig. 3. The instant inven~or has determined that optimal flexibility in attaching external apparatus to the truss frame components i~ achievPd by employing corner members 44 to join the ends of top rails 62 together, so that an acce~s space is provided at the inter~ection point of any number of connected truss frame components, in the manner illu~trated in Fig. 3.
The access space and attachment points provided by corner members 44 and accessory tabs 52, respectively, by each truss frame component re~ults ih there being at least one such attachment point at each corner of each truss frame, and as many as four of such attachment points at a location where four truss frames are joined together. These multiple accessory attachment points allow for multiple suspension or 3upport attachments when such multiple attachment3 are desirable to either accommodate excessive loading on the platform or for any other reason. Furthermore, acces~ory tabs 52 are capable of accepting eccentric loads, 80 that pair~ of angled, opposing ~uspension cables may be utilized to stabilize the platform laterally.
Although not illustrated in Fig. 3, in most applications, the modular plat~orm embod~ment ~hown therein further includes decXing mounted to top rails 62 ~o as ~o form a substantially contlnuous ~upport ~urface thereon. For most sca~folding application~
plywood of sufficient thickness and weathering qualitie~ can be employed. Such a decking material i~
relatively inexpen~ive and can bc qui~Xly ~n~ ~aslly replaced a6 necea~ary due to weatherlng, wear or `73 damage. In most applications, it i~ also preferable for the modular platform to include one or more rail members connected to the truss frames so as to form a guardrail located along predetermined ones of the truss frame top rails, in the manner illustraked in Figs. 5 and 7 by rail members 84 and 50, regpectively. For the truss frame embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, the rail members are conveniently mounted to the truss frame by means of apertures 18 in corner members 44. Whenever there is no adjoining truss frame located along any one of top rails 12, the corresponding apertures 18 are not in use and are available for fastening a rail member to that top rail. In one preferred embodiment, the rail members comprise U-shaped, unitary structures of the type shown in Figure 7.
Because most of the modular platforms of the present invention can be made up of lines of truss frames with no adverse impact on the ~tructural integrity of the platform, filler panels, of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 as filler panels 68, may be used to maintain a smooth and continuous support surface for the platform. Filler panels 68 are disposed between and connected to predetermined ones of the truss frame components of the platform. Preferably each said filler panel i8 connected to the top rails of the respective adjoining trus~ frames. Since the filler panels are not a part of the 3tructural make up of the platform, and do not act as load transferring chords, the filler panels may be formed in virtually any size and shape. In order to maintain the modularity of the platform components, it is preferable that the filler panels have the same shape a8 the tru~s frame components and be in size~ which are multiples of the ~ize of the truss frame components. However, if necessary, other sizes and shapes may be employed, such as filler panel~ 86 and ~8 illustrated in Flg. 6.
Using a comblnatlon o~ filler pan~l~ An~ trU3~ ~x~m~
~ ~$;~'73 components provides a lighter and less expen~ive platform than one made up entirely of truss frames.
Thus, utilizing filler panels in a platform configuration optimizes the efficiency o the platform.
For unu~ually high load~ on the platform or long span lengths, a stronger platform can be as~embled by using the truss frame component~ of the pr2sent invention in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7. A~
shown therein, the second line of truss frame~ 92 may be attached vertically at connection~ 94 to a fir~t line of truss frames 90 in order to effectively double the distance between the top and bottom chords of the truss beam. Becau~e doubling the distance between the top and bottom chords of a beam doubles the beam' 8 loading capacity, the platform configuration ~hown in Fig. 7 has four time~ the strength of a similar platform which utilizes only a ~ingle line of tru~s frames. As also illustrated in Fig 7, single and double lines of truss frame~ can be combined in order to accomodate varying loads on the platform. By adding strength to the platform where it i~ needed and minimizing the weight of the platform in areas where less strength is needed, a high efficien~y modular platform can be as~embled. Al~o, although not illu~tra~ed in the Figure3, the means employed for connecting together the bottom connections of the tru frames may be further dispo~ed 80 as to provide the resul~ing platform with a built--in camber. Either negative or positive camber can be introduced to the platform. Bowever, providing the platorm with a po~itive camber ha~ the effect of compen~ating ~or the loading force produc¢d by both the weight of the platform and external loads apply thereto, The ~oregolng ~crlbes ~ mo~ul~r plA~o~m 1 which a limited number of interchange~bl~ componon~
may be readily a~sembled into a wide variety of configuration~, The flexibility afforded by the platform of ~he present invention fac$1itates a~embly of a platform of virtually any ~ize or shape, with very few or no customized components be$ng required. The present invention al80 provides truss frame~ which may be assembled into a platform having both.high span strength and high torsional rigidity. At the same time, the trus3 frame components of the pr2sent invention may be made of a size and con~iguration which is ea~ily stored and tran~ported.
While the invention has been described in detail herein in accord with certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claim~ to cover all such modification~ and changes as fall with$n the true spirit and scope of the invention.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a modular platform comprises a plurality of truss frames of the type described above~ The platform includes means for fastening the top rail~ of adjoining truss frames together so as to form a continuous top chord in a direction parallel to that ~panned by the 10 connected truss frames. It also preferably includes means for connecting the bottom connections of the truss frames together so as to form a bottom chord which extends in a direc~ion parallel to that spanned by the connected frames. The modular platform may 15 further comprise filler panels located between predetermined one~ of the truss frames. In one embodiment, opposite ends of each filler panel are connected to the respective adjoining truss frames by fastening the respective end of the filler panel to the 20 adjacent top rail of the re~pective adjoining truss frame. The modular platform of the present invention may also include decking mounted on the truss frame~
and filler panels 80 as to provide the platform with a substantially continuous supporting ~urface, A
25 plurality o~ rai}ing members may al~o be attached to the trus~ frameq ~o as to provide the plat~orm with a guardrail around the perimeter thereo~.
Brief De~cription of the Drawin~s The ~ubject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding por~ion o~ the ~pecification.
The inv~ntlon lt~ , howqvo~ bo~h a~ ~0 1~
organization and it~ methofl o~ ~raatlco, togoth~r with , .
7~3 further objects and advantage~ thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawinys, in which:
Fig. l is a plan view schematically illùstrating one embodiment of a truss frame in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an oblique view in ~ide elevation of the truss frame shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically illustrating a portion of a first embodiment of a scaffolding platform assembled in accordance with the modular concept of the present invention;
Fig. 4 is a side elevation view of the modular 15 platform shown in Fig. 3:
Fig. 5 is a plan view schematically illustrating a second embodiment of a scaffolding platform assembled in accordance with the modular configuration of the present invention' Fig. 6 is a plan view schematically illustrating a third embodiment of a modular platform in accordance with the present invention, and Fig. 7 is a side elevation view of a fourth embodiment of a modular scaffolding platform 25 constructed in accordance with ~he present invention.
Detailed Description of the Pre_er_ed Embodiments Fig. l schematically illustrate~ one embodiment of 30 a truss frame which is especially useful as a component for a modular platform. In order to lllustrate ~he underlying structure of the truss frame, most of dacking 42 has be~n removed ~n tho v~ew o Fi~ he truss frame o~ th~ pr~nt lnvent~on aomprlao~ o~
35 three top ralls which are join¢d together ~o as to define a ~ubstantially planar ~urface. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 1, trus~ frame 10 comprises four top rails 12, with rail~ 12 being joined end to end ~o that rails 12 define a closed loop. In 5 the particular embodiment shown railg 12 are disposed so as to form the shape of a square. Trus~ frame 10 also comprises a plurality of bracing member~ 14 which are attached to top rails 12 and which depend therefrom. Member~ 14 are di~po~ed so that all of 10 members 14 are connected together to form bottom connection 16. Bottom connection 16 has a predetermined location with respect to rails 12, with the predetermined location being chosen ~o that bracing members 14 form truss-like braces for top rails 12. In 15the embodiment shown, each bracing member 14 iB
disposed AO that one end ~hereof is attached to one of top rails 12, and the other end thereof i8 attached to the remaining bracing members 14 at bottom connection 16. Preferably, bracing members 14 are further 20disposed ~o that each top rail 12 is attached to at least one of bracing members 14. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, four bracing members 14 are employed, with each member 14 being attached to top rails 12 at the locations where rails 12 are joined to each other, that 25i~, at the locations of the corners of the square formed by rails 12. In order to provlde truss frame 10 with optimum modularity and uniform strength, bracing members 14 are preferably further configured with respect to top rail~ 12 ~o as to be symmetrically 30di~po~ed about a plane which i~ taken through the center of bottom connection 16, which plane i8 perpendicular to the plane containing top rails 12. In one such configuration, top rail~ 12, braclng members 14, nn~ bottom co~nectlon 1~ ~m tho oh~p~
35inverted pyr~mid, in the mann~r illu~trato~ by tru~
7~3 _9_ frame 10. The pyramidal shape o truss frame 10 is better illustrated in Fig. 2, which i5 an oblique side elevation view of the trus3 frame shown in Fig. 1.
Trus~ frame 10 may also comprise mean~ by which top rails 12 of one trusg frame may be connected to the corresponding top rails of adjoining truss ~rames, when two or more truss frames are connected together to form a platform. The means for connecting together adjacent top rails is disposed so that the top rails of the 10 connected truss frames form a continuous top chord in a direc~ion parallel to the direction along which the truss frame3 are connected, that i8, the direction spanned by the connected frames. In the embodiment shown in Figs~ 1 and 2, top rail~ 12 of adjoining truss 15 frames 10 are connected to each other by mean~ of apertures 18 which extend generally in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane containing top rails 12. To connect adjacent top rail~ 12, fastening bolts 20 are inserted through top and bottom link portions 22 20 and 24, respectively, and through aperture~ 18, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. In an alternative embodiment which is not ~hown, ad~acent top xails 12 are connected together by inserting fastening bolts through apertures in adjacent rail~ 12, which apertures 25 are aligned with each other and which extend in a direction which is generally parallel to a plane containing top raiL3 12.
Trus3 frame 10 also may include means by which bottom connection 16 of one tru3s frame 10 may be 30 connected to the bottom connec~ions o~ adjoining tru~s frames when two or more tru~s frames are connected together to form a platform. The mean~ employed or connecting together the bottom connection~ of ad~olning trus3 frame~ 1~ dl3po~ed ~o that a bottom cho~ 10 formed which extends in ~ directlon p~rallel to tho direction ~panned by the connected truss frames. In the embodiment illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2, the bottom connections of adjoining tru~s frames are connected together by means of apertures 28 deined through bottom connection plates 30 and 32. Apertures 28 extend generally in the same direction a aperture~ 18.
Plate 32 i8 separated from plate 30 for a predetermined distance by spacer member 34. One end of spacer 34 is attached to plate 30 and the oth~r end thereof i8 10 attached to plate 32, so that spacer member 34 also serves to attach plates 30 and 32 together. As i~
better illustrated in Figs 3 and 4, in order to join together bottom connections 16 of adjoining truss frames, linking member 36 i8 fa~tened at its oppo~ite 15 ends to the respec~ive bottom connections by bolts 38 which pass through apertures 28.
When truss frame 10 is utilized to provide a support surface, truss frame 10 further comprises decking 42 mounted to top rail~ 12 50 as to form a 20 substantially continuous surface thereon. For the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, corner members 44 of truss frame 10 protrude slightly above the level of rails 12, but not above the level o~ decking 42, 50 that the supporting sur~ace provided by decking 42 i~
25 substantially flat. Furthermore, decking 42 may be cut ~o fit closely around each corner member 44. With corner member~ 44 and decking 42 configured in this manner, decking ~2 i3 constrained from movement in a plane parallel to the plane containing top rail~ 12, 30 Decking 42 may al~o be reQtrained from upward movement, in a direction which is perpendicular to a plane containing top rails 12, by any suitable means, ~uch o~ example, ~luing or ~crewing decking 42 to top ralls 12. One ~op~laliy ~voni~n~ m~no ~
35 restraining decking 42 ~rom movement ln ~n upw~rd d. 3 direction is to fa~ten decking 42 to bracing members 14 by ~ie wires 46 which are threaded through apertures 48 in decking 42 and fa~tened around bracing member~ 14.
DecXing 42 may be chosen from a wide variety of materials which meet the requirements of a particular application. One convenient material for decking 42 i~
plywood, the thickness and grade quality.of which can be chosen to accomodate the ~trength requirements and environmental conditions of the application involved.
For storage and shipping o truss frame 10, decking 42 is usually removed so ~ha~ a plurality of tru~s frames 10 can be stacked in a nested configuration. Doing ~o minimizes the Rpace required for storing and shipping the components required to 15 assemble a modular platform. Decking 42 may ~e installed either before or after the truss frames are a 5 sembled into a platform, As is illu~trated in Fig. 7, tru~ frame 10 may further comprise one or more rail mem~er~ 50 connected 20 to truss frame 10 so a~ to form a guardrail along predetermined oneR of top rails 12. ~ail members 50 provide ~afety for artisans working on the platform.
The guardrail may also be employed to re~train materials and equipment from falling off the edge of 25 the platform. Truss frame 10 may also comprise means by which external apparatu~ may be attached directly to at least one of top railR 12 of trusa frame 10. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig~. 1 and 2, this function i9 provided by acce~ory tab3 52 having tab opening~ 54 30 defined therein. External apparatu~ may be attached to tabs 52 by mean~ of a bolt or fastening pin inserted through tab opening~ 54. Tabs 52 and associated tab openin~s 54 are located at each corner o~ the s~uare formed by top ralls 12, ~horoby p~oYl~lng ~ou~ ~pa~
35 attachment polnt~ ~or ea~h trus~ m~ 10 . ~lth dlr~o~
attachment to the truss frame provided in this manner, trus~ ~rame 10 can be su~pended from above by a suspension cable attached to at least one o~ accessory tabs 52, or it can be auppor~ed from below by a support column similarly attached to truss ~rame 10.
Furthermore, several of accessory tab3 52 may be employed for supporting scaffolding acce$sorie~ ~uch as a cantilevered hoist beam or variou3 scaffolding outriggers.
For optimum strength and rigidity, tru88 frame 10 may further compri~e four corner brace~ 56 di3po~ed 50 a~ to be located substantially coplanar with respect to top rails 12. Each corner brace 56 is located at one of the corners of the square ~ormed by top rails 12.
15 Each corner brace 56 i8 attached to the two top ra~ 18 12 whi~h are joined by the respective corner of the square so that the two top rail~ 12 and corner brace 56 form a figure for which the base i5 longer than the top. For the configuration illu~trated in Fig. 1, side 20 rails 12 and corner brace 56, along with corner member 44, define the shape of a trapezoid. By arranging top rails 12 and corner brace 56 in this manner, the unbraced length of top rail 12 i8 shortened, and thereby strengthened. The bending point for top rail~
12 i~ also moved rom the corner back to the rails themselve~. Also, a structure tha~ has the ~hape of a triangle or trapezoid provide~ a stiffer s~ructure with less weight. To further strengthen the bxacing affect provided by corner brace 56, truss frame 10 may include brace channel 58 diYposed be~ween corner member 44 and corner brace 56. Bracing channel 58 is attached at it~
opposite ends to the respective adjacent end~ o~ corner member 44 and corner brace 56. Truss ~rame 10 is provided wlth even morQ rlgidlty 1~ braaln~ mombcr 1~
i~ also attached to corner brsce 56. Doing eo ~hort~ns the unbraced length of member 14, a~ well a~ providing yet another triange-type stiffener at each corner o~
tru~s frame 10. Channel 58 a~ 80 ~erveg a~ a convenient surface to which.bracing member 14 may be welded, with ~- 5 channel 58 ~rovidin~ a relati~ely large surface area for such welding.
For most applicationY, it i~ preerable to form trus~ frame 10 from a high streng~h material such aq metal. For applications ~uch a~ scaffolding, where it 10 is de~irable to use hollow members in order to ~ave weight and co~t, ~he variou~ portions o truss frame 10 conveniently comprise tubular ~teel, and the attachments between the various portions o~ txu88 frame 10, ~uch a~, for example, rails 12, corner members 44, 15 corner brace~ 56, bracing members 14, and bottom connection 16, may be welded.
The truss frame of the pre3ent invention i~
especially u~eful as a component in a modular ~caffolding platform. However, it should be under~ood 20 that the modular platform provid¢d by the instant invention i8 not limited to sca~olding sy~tema, but rather may al80 be utilized ~n othe~ applicatlons where a structure having high span strength and torsional rigidlty ls desirable. Figs. 3 and 4 ~chem~tically 25 illustrate one embodiment o~ ~ ~t~uctur~l plat~orm that can be con~tructed in accordance with the modular concept of the present ~nvention. Other plat~orm arrangements that may be assembled using th2 same modular concept are illustrated ~n Figs. 5-7. ~11 o~
30 the platform conf~guration~ shown may be ~uicXly ~nd ea~ily as~embled using a ~ew basic component~. Becaus~
of the flexibility with which the platform components o~ the prasent invention may be assembled, most applicatlono c~n ~o aG¢ommo~t~d u~ln~ VOXy ~WI
35 any, customized component~. ~h~ mo~ r p~t~orm components can be assembled either partially or fully at the job site, and the decking which form~ t~e support surface may be in~talled either before or ater assembly of the components to orm the de~ired platform. The platform component~ themselveR may be made having dimensions and weight which acilitates ea3e of handlinq o the components. Components which are even small enough to fit through standard building entry ways can be asaembled into platforms which are 10 useful a~ interior scaffolding.
As is schematically illustrated by Fig. 3, a modular platform in accordance with the present invention comprise~ a plurality of tru~ frames 60.
Each such trus~ fxame includes at least three top rail3 15 which are joined together 80 as to define a subatantially planar surface, and further includes a plurality of bracing membera attached to and depending from the top raila. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, ~our top rails 62 and four bracing mem~ers 64 are 20 utilized for each tru~ ~rame 60. Braclng member~ 64 are disposed ~o that all of mem~ers 64 ~re connec~ed together to form bottom connection 66. Bottom connection 66 ha~ a predetermined loca~ion with respect to top rail 8 6~, whlch locatlon i~ chosen 50 that 25 brnclng member~ 64 form truss-like ~racës for top rails~~ `
62. Top rails 62, brac~ng membcrs 64 and bottom connect~ on 66 are further disposed 80 a3 to form the shape of an inverted pyramid. Thus, truss frame 62 is very ~imilar in structure to tru~ frame 10 shown ln 30 Fig. 1, the ma~or dlference between the two being thnt trusa frame 10 includes corner braces S6 whereAs tru~
frame 60 does not. The modular plat~orm o Fig. 3 ~urther compr~se~ means ~or connscting to~eth~r top rnll~ 62 o~ a~olnlng t~U~I ~æ~moo ~0 ~o th~ t 35 62 form a continuou~ top cho~d ~n ~ dl~o~tlo~ p~3 to that spanned by the connected trug~ frames 60. ~or example, connecting together top railg 62 of adjoining truss frames 60 and 70 in Fig. 3 provides the platform with a top chord between frames 60 and 70 in a direction which is de~ignated in Fig. 3 as the x-axis.
Similarly, connecting together the top rails of truss frame~ 70 and 72 produces a top chord between frames 70 and 72 which extends in a direction which is designated in Fig. 3 as being the y-axis.
In one embodiment, the means used for connecting top rails 62 to each other comprises the type of fastening link illu~trated in Fig. 2~ As shown therein, a top link portion 22 and bottom link portion 24 are fastened to the top and bottom surfaces, re~pectively, of the adjoining top rails 62. Link portions 22 and 24 are fastened together by bolts 20 inserted through appertures 18 in top ralls 62. Bolts 20 are also in~erted through correspondingly aligned apertures in link portions 22 and 24, and retaining nuts 26 are threadably engaged to bolts 20 with ~ufficient force to hold link portions 22 and 24 in position. For the truss frame embodimente illu~trated in Fi~. 1 and 3, link portions 22 and 24 preferably include restraining tab~ 2S. ~estraining tabs 25 are formed in the shape of a "V" or wedge, with the angle of the restraining tab being chosen to match the angle which is formed by adjacent top rails 62 in the vicinity of where rails 62 are ~oined together. With restraining tabs 25 so conf~gured, tab~ 25 serve to restrain adjacent rails 62 in po~ition with respect to each other.
The platform of Fig. 3 preerably further comprises means or connecting together bottom connections 66 o~ pr~det0rmlnod ono~ o~ tho t~u~n ~0 components, 80 as to form a bottom chorfl which extend~
in the same direction as the direction in which the connected truss frame3 extend. For example, when bottom connections 66 of trusg frame~ 60 and 70 are connected together in the manner shown in Fig. 3, a bottom chord i~ formed in the direction designated in Fig. 3 as the x-axi~. When bottom connections 66 of truss frames 70 and 72 are connected together in the manner shown in Fig. 3, a bottom chord is formed in the direction de~ignated as ~he y-axis. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, bottom connectionR 66 of adjoining trus~
frames are connected together by linXing member~ 36.
Opposite ends of each linking member 36 are attached to the respective bottom connections by mean~ of a bolt or other fastener inserted through apertures 28 in bottom connections 66.
With the top rails and bottom connections of the truss frame components being connected together in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3, the truss rame components can be utilized to form a tru~s beam in either of two perpendicular direction~. Furthermore, bracing members 64 act as diagonal brace3 between the resulting top and bottom chords. Thu~, the modular platform iR braced in three dimensions in Ruch a manner that it distributes and directs loading forces no that the forces travel along the tru88 frame component~ by the ~ame paths as loading orces travel in other three dimensional braced s~ruc~uresO Such three dimensional tru~ses provide high ~tructural integrlty and torsional rigidity.
The structural integrity and torsional rigidity of the modular platform of the pre~ent in~ention i~ such that the platform can be expanded in either lateral direction. Thu~, modular platforms may be as~embled in virtually any ~ize or shape. For example, ~D 1~
illu~trated in ~ig, S, ~ingle llne~ o~ tru~ ~rame~ m~y ~$~ 3 be assembled and attached to each other at a perpendicular angle in order to completely enclo~e the structure for which access i8 to be provided. A8 ~hown in Fig. 5, the platform may comprise a perimeter line S of tru~s frames 74, with the ad~oining top rails and bottom connection~ of truss frame~ 74 bein~ connected together to form top and bottom chord~,~respectively.
In many applications no interior truss frames are necessary to maintain the structural integrlty of the platform. Thus, building co~umns 76 may be entirely enclo~ed by the modular platform~ Furthermore, the platform may be suspended from building girdern 78 at a variety of locations on the platform. For the same reasons, the truss frame components may be assembled in such a manner a~ to follow the contour~ of ~ buildlng structure, in the manner illustrated by Fig. 6.
Because the lines of trus~ ~rame component3 can be as~embled at a perpendicular angle with respect to each other without affe~ting the stability or integrity of the platform, such a plat~orm is ~t~ble even whan suspended from ~uspension rall 82 by single ~ables located a~ variou~ points along the plat~orm.
Furthermore, disposing the two Iines of truss fràmes at a perpendicular angle with respect to each other serves to stabilize each of them agalnst rotation.
Slnce the truss frame components o~ ths inventiva modular plat~orm have structur~l ~nt~gr~ty ln all th~e~
direction~ when the tru3s ~rame8 ~re a3semble~ a8 ~
braced three-dlmensional structure, the plat~orm can be suspended from above or it can be supportea from below.
In ei~her case, the support polnts can be at the end of the span ~o as to form a baam ~on~igu~atlon, o~ ~t vsrious polnt~ ~long tho longth o~ ~o ~p~n ~ 0 35 form a cantilevexed con~i~urat~ion. ~o oap$ta~ r o~ thlo 7~3 flexibility, the platform of the present invention preferably further comprise~ rneans for attaching external apparatuR directly to at least one of the truss frame component top rails. One embodiment of an external apparatu~ attaching means is illustrated in Fig. 3. The instant inven~or has determined that optimal flexibility in attaching external apparatus to the truss frame components i~ achievPd by employing corner members 44 to join the ends of top rails 62 together, so that an acce~s space is provided at the inter~ection point of any number of connected truss frame components, in the manner illu~trated in Fig. 3.
The access space and attachment points provided by corner members 44 and accessory tabs 52, respectively, by each truss frame component re~ults ih there being at least one such attachment point at each corner of each truss frame, and as many as four of such attachment points at a location where four truss frames are joined together. These multiple accessory attachment points allow for multiple suspension or 3upport attachments when such multiple attachment3 are desirable to either accommodate excessive loading on the platform or for any other reason. Furthermore, acces~ory tabs 52 are capable of accepting eccentric loads, 80 that pair~ of angled, opposing ~uspension cables may be utilized to stabilize the platform laterally.
Although not illustrated in Fig. 3, in most applications, the modular plat~orm embod~ment ~hown therein further includes decXing mounted to top rails 62 ~o as ~o form a substantially contlnuous ~upport ~urface thereon. For most sca~folding application~
plywood of sufficient thickness and weathering qualitie~ can be employed. Such a decking material i~
relatively inexpen~ive and can bc qui~Xly ~n~ ~aslly replaced a6 necea~ary due to weatherlng, wear or `73 damage. In most applications, it i~ also preferable for the modular platform to include one or more rail members connected to the truss frames so as to form a guardrail located along predetermined ones of the truss frame top rails, in the manner illustraked in Figs. 5 and 7 by rail members 84 and 50, regpectively. For the truss frame embodiment illustrated in Fig. l, the rail members are conveniently mounted to the truss frame by means of apertures 18 in corner members 44. Whenever there is no adjoining truss frame located along any one of top rails 12, the corresponding apertures 18 are not in use and are available for fastening a rail member to that top rail. In one preferred embodiment, the rail members comprise U-shaped, unitary structures of the type shown in Figure 7.
Because most of the modular platforms of the present invention can be made up of lines of truss frames with no adverse impact on the ~tructural integrity of the platform, filler panels, of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 as filler panels 68, may be used to maintain a smooth and continuous support surface for the platform. Filler panels 68 are disposed between and connected to predetermined ones of the truss frame components of the platform. Preferably each said filler panel i8 connected to the top rails of the respective adjoining trus~ frames. Since the filler panels are not a part of the 3tructural make up of the platform, and do not act as load transferring chords, the filler panels may be formed in virtually any size and shape. In order to maintain the modularity of the platform components, it is preferable that the filler panels have the same shape a8 the tru~s frame components and be in size~ which are multiples of the ~ize of the truss frame components. However, if necessary, other sizes and shapes may be employed, such as filler panel~ 86 and ~8 illustrated in Flg. 6.
Using a comblnatlon o~ filler pan~l~ An~ trU3~ ~x~m~
~ ~$;~'73 components provides a lighter and less expen~ive platform than one made up entirely of truss frames.
Thus, utilizing filler panels in a platform configuration optimizes the efficiency o the platform.
For unu~ually high load~ on the platform or long span lengths, a stronger platform can be as~embled by using the truss frame component~ of the pr2sent invention in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7. A~
shown therein, the second line of truss frame~ 92 may be attached vertically at connection~ 94 to a fir~t line of truss frames 90 in order to effectively double the distance between the top and bottom chords of the truss beam. Becau~e doubling the distance between the top and bottom chords of a beam doubles the beam' 8 loading capacity, the platform configuration ~hown in Fig. 7 has four time~ the strength of a similar platform which utilizes only a ~ingle line of tru~s frames. As also illustrated in Fig 7, single and double lines of truss frame~ can be combined in order to accomodate varying loads on the platform. By adding strength to the platform where it i~ needed and minimizing the weight of the platform in areas where less strength is needed, a high efficien~y modular platform can be as~embled. Al~o, although not illu~tra~ed in the Figure3, the means employed for connecting together the bottom connections of the tru frames may be further dispo~ed 80 as to provide the resul~ing platform with a built--in camber. Either negative or positive camber can be introduced to the platform. Bowever, providing the platorm with a po~itive camber ha~ the effect of compen~ating ~or the loading force produc¢d by both the weight of the platform and external loads apply thereto, The ~oregolng ~crlbes ~ mo~ul~r plA~o~m 1 which a limited number of interchange~bl~ componon~
may be readily a~sembled into a wide variety of configuration~, The flexibility afforded by the platform of ~he present invention fac$1itates a~embly of a platform of virtually any ~ize or shape, with very few or no customized components be$ng required. The present invention al80 provides truss frame~ which may be assembled into a platform having both.high span strength and high torsional rigidity. At the same time, the trus3 frame components of the pr2sent invention may be made of a size and con~iguration which is ea~ily stored and tran~ported.
While the invention has been described in detail herein in accord with certain preferred embodiments thereof, many modifications and changes therein may be effected by those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended by the appended claim~ to cover all such modification~ and changes as fall with$n the true spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (30)
1. A truss frame for a modular scaffolding platform, comprising:
at least three tubular top rails, said rails being joined together so as to define a substantially planar surface;
means by which at least one top rail of the truss frame may be readily detachably connected to at least one top rail of an adjoining truss frame when two or more said truss frames are connected together to form a platform, said rail-connecting means being disposed so that, when said truss frames are connected together in said platform, the top rails of said connected truss frames form a continuous top cord in a direction parallel to that spanned by said connected truss frames, and so that said connected truss frames exhibit high torsional rigidity;
a plurality of bracing members attached to and depending from said top rails, said members being disposed so that all of said members are connected together to form a bottom connection - Page 1 of Claims -which has a predetermined location with respect to said top rails, said predetermined location being chosen so that said bracing members form truss-like braces for said top rails; and means by which the bottom connection of said truss frame may be connected to the bottom connection of an adjoining one of said truss frames when two or more of said truss frames are connected together to form a platform, said bottom connection including means for readily detachably receiving bottom connection joining means such that said joining means may be connected to and detached from said bottom connection without requiring disconnection of the top rails of adjoining truss frames, said joining means being disposed so that, when said bottom connections are joined together, a bottom chord is formed which extends in a direction parallel to that spanned by said connected truss frames.
at least three tubular top rails, said rails being joined together so as to define a substantially planar surface;
means by which at least one top rail of the truss frame may be readily detachably connected to at least one top rail of an adjoining truss frame when two or more said truss frames are connected together to form a platform, said rail-connecting means being disposed so that, when said truss frames are connected together in said platform, the top rails of said connected truss frames form a continuous top cord in a direction parallel to that spanned by said connected truss frames, and so that said connected truss frames exhibit high torsional rigidity;
a plurality of bracing members attached to and depending from said top rails, said members being disposed so that all of said members are connected together to form a bottom connection - Page 1 of Claims -which has a predetermined location with respect to said top rails, said predetermined location being chosen so that said bracing members form truss-like braces for said top rails; and means by which the bottom connection of said truss frame may be connected to the bottom connection of an adjoining one of said truss frames when two or more of said truss frames are connected together to form a platform, said bottom connection including means for readily detachably receiving bottom connection joining means such that said joining means may be connected to and detached from said bottom connection without requiring disconnection of the top rails of adjoining truss frames, said joining means being disposed so that, when said bottom connections are joined together, a bottom chord is formed which extends in a direction parallel to that spanned by said connected truss frames.
2. The truss frame of claim 1 further comprising readily removable decking mounted to said top rails so as to form a substantially continuous support surface - Page 2 of Claims -thereon.
3. The truss frame of claim 1 further comprising one or more rail members detachably connected to said truss frame so as to form a guardrail located along predetermined ones of said top rails.
4. The truss frame of claim 1 further comprising means by which external apparatus may be readily detachably connected directly to at least one of said top rails of said truss frame.
5. The truss frame of claim 1 wherein said top rails and said bracing members are formed from a material comprising metal.
6. The truss frame of claim 1 wherein said top rails are joined end to end, so that said rails define a closed loop.
7. The truss frame of claim 6 wherein four of said top rails are disposed so as to form the shape of a square.
8. The truss frame of claim 7 further comprising means for readily detachably connecting external apparatus to said top rails, said means being disposed so that said external apparatus may be connected to said truss frame at the location of any of the corners of said square.
9. The truss frame of claim 1 wherein said bracing members are further disposed so that each of - Page 3 of Claims -said top rails is attached to at least one of said members.
10. The truss frame of claim 9 wherein said bracing members are further configured with respect to said top rails so as to be symmetrically disposed about a plane which is taken through the center of said bottom connection, which plane is perpendicular to the plane containing said top rails.
11. The truss frame of claim 7 wherein said bracing members comprise four of said members disposed so that said bracing members are attached to said top rails at the locations of the corners of said square.
12. The truss frame of claim 11 wherein said top rails, said bracing members, and said bottom connection form the shape of an inverted pyramid.
13. The truss frame of claim 7 further comprising four corner braces disposed so as to be substantially coplanar with respect to said top rails, each of said corner braces being located at one of the corners of said square and being attached to the two top rails which are joined at said corner so that said two top rails and said corner brace form a geometric figure for which the base is longer than the top.
14. A modular scaffolding platform, comprising:
a plurality of truss frames, each of said truss frames including at least - Page 4 of Claims -three top rails, said rails being joined together so as to define a substantially planar surface, each of said truss frames also including a plurality of bracing members attached to and depending from said top rails, said members being disposed so that all of said members are connected together to form a bottom connection which has a predetermined location with respect to said top rails, with said predetermined location being chosen so that said bracing members form truss-like braces for said top rails;
means for readily detachably connecting together the top rails of adjoining truss frames so that said top rails form a continuous top chord in a direction parallel to that spanned by the connected truss frames, and so that said truss frames can be readily disconnected and reconnected as required, when connected said truss frames exhibiting high torsional rigidity; and means for readily detachably joining together the bottom connections of adjoining truss frames so that a - Page 5 of Claims -continuous bottom chord is formed in a direction parallel to that spanned by the connected truss frames, each of said bottom connections including means for receiving said joining means such that said joining means may be readily detached from said bottom connection without requiring disconnection of the top rails of adjoining truss frames, said joining means being disposed so that when said bottom connections are joined together, a bottom chord is formed which extends in a direction parallel to that spanned by said connected truss frames.
a plurality of truss frames, each of said truss frames including at least - Page 4 of Claims -three top rails, said rails being joined together so as to define a substantially planar surface, each of said truss frames also including a plurality of bracing members attached to and depending from said top rails, said members being disposed so that all of said members are connected together to form a bottom connection which has a predetermined location with respect to said top rails, with said predetermined location being chosen so that said bracing members form truss-like braces for said top rails;
means for readily detachably connecting together the top rails of adjoining truss frames so that said top rails form a continuous top chord in a direction parallel to that spanned by the connected truss frames, and so that said truss frames can be readily disconnected and reconnected as required, when connected said truss frames exhibiting high torsional rigidity; and means for readily detachably joining together the bottom connections of adjoining truss frames so that a - Page 5 of Claims -continuous bottom chord is formed in a direction parallel to that spanned by the connected truss frames, each of said bottom connections including means for receiving said joining means such that said joining means may be readily detached from said bottom connection without requiring disconnection of the top rails of adjoining truss frames, said joining means being disposed so that when said bottom connections are joined together, a bottom chord is formed which extends in a direction parallel to that spanned by said connected truss frames.
15. The platform of claim 14 wherein said means for connecting together said bottom connection points is further disposed so as to provide said platform with a built-in camber.
16. The platform of claim 14 further comprising one or more filler panels disposed between and connected to predetermined ones of said truss frames.
17. The platform of claim 16 wherein each said filler panel is connected to the top rails of the respective adjoining truss frames.
18. The platform of claim 14 further comprising decking removably mounted to said top rails so as to - Page 6 of Claims -form a substantially continuous support surface thereon.
19. The platform of claim 14 further comprising one or more rail members detachably connected to said truss frames so as to form a guardrail located along predetermined ones of said truss frame top rails.
20. The platform of claim 14 further comprising means for detachably attaching external apparatus directly to at least one of said truss frame top rails.
21. The platform of claim 14 wherein said top rails, said bracing members, and said bottom connection of each of said truss frames are further disposed so as to form the shape of an inverted pyramid.
22. The truss frame of claim 1 wherein said top rails have apertures defined therein which extend substantially in a direction which is perpendicular to said plane which contains said top rails, said apertures being further disposed so that fastening pins may be inserted therethrough and also through connecting links employed to connect together said top rails of said adjoining truss frames.
23. The truss frame of claim 1 wherein a pair of parallel, spaced-apart bottom connection plates are attached to said bottom connection of said truss frame, said bottom connection plates being disposed so as to be in planes which are substantially parallel to the plane which contains said top rails, said plates having - Page 7 of Claims -apertures defined therein which extend substantially in a perpendicular direction to the plane containing said plates, with said apertures of said pair of plates being aligned so that fastening pins may be inserted therethrough and also through members which connect together said bottom connections of said adjoining truss frames.
24. The truss frame of claim 3 wherein each said rail member comprises a unitary, U-shaped structure which is attached to one of said top rails of said truss frame.
25. The truss frame of claim 8 wherein adjacent top rails are joined together end to end by a corner element which is diagonally disposed at substantially a forty-five degree angle with respect to each of the top rails being joined, and wherein said means for connecting external apparatus to said top rails comprises a pair of parallel, spaced-apart accessory tabs attached to each of said corner elements, said tabs being located on the outer perimeter surface of said corner elements and being disposed so as to be in planes which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of said outer perimeter surface and also perpendicular to the plane which contains said top rails, each of said pair of tabs having openings defined therethrough which are aligned with each other so that external apparatus - Page 8 of Claims -may be connected to said tabs by means of a fastening pin inserted through said openings.
26. The truss frame of claim 13 wherein said corner braces are further disposed so as to be spaced apart from the location where said adjacent top rails are joined together, and so that said corner braces are attached to each of said top rails at a location intermediate the opposite ends thereof, whereby the unbraced length of each top rail is shortened.
27. The platform of claim 14 wherein said top rails have apertures defined therein which extend substantially in a direction which is perpendicular to said plane which contains said top rails, and wherein said means for connecting together said top rails of adjoining truss frames comprises:
a connecting link extending between said adjoining top rails, said link having a pair of apertures defined therethrough which are located at opposite ends of said link; and two fastening pins for each said link, each pin being disposed through one of said apertures in said connecting link and also through an associated aperture in one of said top rails.
a connecting link extending between said adjoining top rails, said link having a pair of apertures defined therethrough which are located at opposite ends of said link; and two fastening pins for each said link, each pin being disposed through one of said apertures in said connecting link and also through an associated aperture in one of said top rails.
28. The platform of claim 14 wherein a pair of parallel, spaced-apart bottom connection plates are attached to said bottom connection of each of said truss - Page 9 of Claims -frame, said bottom connection plates being disposed substantially so as to be in planes which are parallel to the plane which contains said top rails, said plates having apertures defined therein which extend substantially in a perpendicular direction to the plane containing said plates, with said apertures of said pair of plates being aligned with each other, and wherein said means for connecting together the bottom connections of said adjoining truss frames comprises:
a connecting member which extends between said adjoining bottom connections, said member having a pair of apertures defined therein which are located at opposite ends of said member; and a pair of fastening pins for each said member, each pin being disposed through one of said apertures in said connecting member and also through said aligned apertures in the associated pair of said connection plates.
a connecting member which extends between said adjoining bottom connections, said member having a pair of apertures defined therein which are located at opposite ends of said member; and a pair of fastening pins for each said member, each pin being disposed through one of said apertures in said connecting member and also through said aligned apertures in the associated pair of said connection plates.
29. The platform of claim 19 wherein each of said rail members comprises a unitary, U-shaped structure which is attached to one of said top rails of said truss frames.
30. The platform of claim 20 wherein adjacent top rails of each truss frame are joined together end to end by a corner element which is diagonally disposed at substantially a forty-five degree angle with respect to - Page 10 of Claims -each of the top rails being joined, and wherein said means for attaching external apparatus to said top rails comprises a pair of parallel, spaced apart accessory tabs attached to each of said corner elements, said tabs being located on the outer perimeter surface of said corner elements and being disposed so as to be in planes which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of said outer perimeter surface and also perpendicular to the plane which contains said top rails, each said pair of tabs having openings defined therethrough which are aligned with each other so that said external apparatus may be connected to said tabs by means of a fastening pin inserted through said openings.
- Page 11 of Claims -
- Page 11 of Claims -
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US4810887A | 1987-05-07 | 1987-05-07 | |
| US048,108 | 1987-05-07 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1296373C true CA1296373C (en) | 1992-02-25 |
Family
ID=21952784
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000566088A Expired - Lifetime CA1296373C (en) | 1987-05-07 | 1988-05-06 | Modular scaffolding platform and truss frame components therefor |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0358695B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0672487B2 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE133739T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU620332B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1296373C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3854967T2 (en) |
| HK (1) | HK1007780A1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1988008908A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH676482A5 (en) * | 1988-03-04 | 1991-01-31 | Josef Hoein | |
| JP2528465Y2 (en) * | 1990-12-26 | 1997-03-12 | ホリー株式会社 | General-purpose stage |
| CN114991460A (en) * | 2022-07-07 | 2022-09-02 | 中建二局第三建筑工程有限公司 | Truss track overhanging I-steel installation method |
Family Cites Families (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2851311A (en) * | 1955-04-22 | 1958-09-09 | Ralph J Gibbs | Portable scaffold |
| US2882100A (en) * | 1956-10-24 | 1959-04-14 | Morton L Bank | Jack device for lifting fixtures and the like |
| FR1227064A (en) * | 1959-06-12 | 1960-08-18 | metal building element | |
| US3752262A (en) * | 1972-06-01 | 1973-08-14 | B Helms | Scaffold guard rail assembly |
| US4381636A (en) * | 1980-12-08 | 1983-05-03 | Research-Cottrell, Inc. | Framework structure |
-
1988
- 1988-05-06 JP JP63504047A patent/JPH0672487B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-05-06 AU AU17172/88A patent/AU620332B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1988-05-06 CA CA000566088A patent/CA1296373C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-05-06 EP EP88904373A patent/EP0358695B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1988-05-06 WO PCT/US1988/001478 patent/WO1988008908A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1988-05-06 AT AT88904373T patent/ATE133739T1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 1988-05-06 DE DE3854967T patent/DE3854967T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1998
- 1998-06-27 HK HK98106959A patent/HK1007780A1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0358695A1 (en) | 1990-03-21 |
| JPH0672487B2 (en) | 1994-09-14 |
| ATE133739T1 (en) | 1996-02-15 |
| AU1717288A (en) | 1988-12-06 |
| HK1007780A1 (en) | 1999-04-23 |
| EP0358695A4 (en) | 1991-01-02 |
| AU620332B2 (en) | 1992-02-20 |
| JPH03502120A (en) | 1991-05-16 |
| DE3854967D1 (en) | 1996-03-14 |
| DE3854967T2 (en) | 1996-09-05 |
| WO1988008908A1 (en) | 1988-11-17 |
| EP0358695B1 (en) | 1996-01-31 |
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