EP1700977A1 - Locking device for frames of scaffolds and strutting towers - Google Patents

Abstract

The pin (1) has pins (11, 12) inserted via orifices (7, 8) bored at the ends of frames (2a, 2b) and a balustrade (3). A non-return latch (13) tilts from a raised release position to a locking position with the pin insertion. The latch`s free end abuts against a reentrant (31) of the balustrade in the locking position. A tubular ring (14) fixed at one of the ends of the pins fixes the pin (1) on a wall plate (32) of the balustrade. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a balustrade for the construction of a strutting tower/scaffolding comprising a locking pin (2) a method for assembling strutting towers/scaffoldings` construction units e.g. frames and a balustrade.

Description

The present invention relates to a locking device of the safety pin type for the construction of shoring towers and other scaffolds.

The technical field of the invention is that of the design of shoring materials, scaffolding and security for building and special works.

The locking device of the invention applies in particular to the construction of shoring towers type "tour ladder" whose vertical payload per amount can go up to 6 tons. Such towers are traditionally composed of support elements such as jacks or base plates providing a stable planar support on the ground and possibly interconnected in pairs by horizontal diagonals spacing the feet of the tower.

On these support elements are then installed parallel first frames comprising amounts interconnected by cross members forming ladder bars, the amounts of each frame fitting on a support member and being locked thereon by a pin. Once the frames secured to the support elements, connecting the two uprights frame by vertical braces or diagonals to stiffen all and avoid the vertical deflection of the tower.

Railings are then installed between the upper ends of the uprights of the frames, said railings comprising smooth connectors having at their ends means of connection to said uprights allowing on the one hand the interlocking of the railings on the first level of frames and secondly the establishment of a second level of frames above the first level, the railings are thus "pinched" between two successive frames, the link between these two levels of frames being secured with locking pins inserted into holes pierced right through the upper and lower ends of the frame uprights.

The locking pins currently used for the construction of shoring and scaffolding towers have a straight pin for insertion into the holes in the posts of the tower or scaffold frames, and a tab formed or attached in the frame. extension of said pin and forming an angle relative thereto, said tab being shaped and oriented (or orientable) relative to the pin so as to allow locking of the pin in the holes of the amounts of the frames. Specific examples of such pins are described in the patent FR 1 082 293 and in the utility model German DE 9215110 U1 .

However, despite the adapted form of the tab of the pins, they too often come out of the openings of the frames following the vibrations and movements of the structure of the tower or scaffolding, which causes significant safety problems, particularly for the grutable towers. In addition, it is necessary to constantly put on, then remove, the pins during assembly / disassembly of the structures, which results in frequent pin losses, which require a regular replacement of these parts and therefore an additional cost of use and maintenance of shoring towers and other scaffolding requiring the use of such pins.

Document is also known FR 2 788 804 , a guardrail post having, at the end of said post, a pivoting locking member. However, this locking system provides the use of a ring of plinths to force the locking element in the locking position and maintaining it in said locking position. However, in practice, such plinths are not necessarily used on all shoring towers, so that, in the absence thereof, the locking system described in this document can not function effectively.

The present invention aims to provide a new type of locking for such shoring towers and scaffolding that overcomes the disadvantages of existing pins.

This object is achieved by means of a device for locking construction elements of shoring towers or scaffolds, such as frames and railings, comprising at least one pin that can be inserted through transversally pierced orifices. apart from the assembly ends of said construction elements. Said building elements nest or juxtapose to form a said tower or scaffold so that said orifices at their ends are aligned to allow the passage of said pin device.

The device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a non-return latch, said latch having a predetermined length allowing it to tilt from a raised position of disengagement of the device to a tilted position of locking as and when measuring the insertion of said pin into said orifices of said elements to be locked, said locking position being reached when said pin is fully inserted into said orifices of said elements, the length of said latch being such that the free end of said latch engages abutting against at least a fixed part of a said railing after tilting. In addition, the device of the invention comprises a connection and sliding means integral with one end of said pin and for fixing said device on the rail of said railing.

The locking device of the invention is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to prevent any slipping and falling of the device spindle out of the locking holes of the frames, even in the event of vibrations of the tower or of blows on the latch. the device. Indeed, when the pin of the device is fully engaged in the orifices of the elements to be locked, in practice the frames and guardrails of a tower ladder for example, the latch anti-return, whose shape and length are adapted depending on railing models, comes up against the reservation of the railing installed between two successive frames nested one in the other, thus preventing the recoil of the pin and the locking device as a whole. To then remove the device, simply raise the latch manually and remove the pin out of the holes to release the frames and the guard.

In addition, said connecting means advantageously avoids the loss of the locking device, while allowing easy and quick placement thereof on the rail of a guardrail.

In its said locking position, said latch engages preferably abutting against a projecting part of the construction element on which the device is optionally fixed by means of its said connection and sliding means, which can be a reversible binding means.

Advantageously, said non-return latch is integral with said means for connecting and sliding the device.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking device comprises at least two pins forming a "U" integral with said means for connecting and sliding the device.

In this configuration, the device according to the invention has the advantage of allowing the locking of two successive frames on a guard rail on either side of the end of the rail thereof. This is particularly advantageous when it is the guardrail which, at the ends of its smooth, comprises connector sleeves on which fit the upper and lower ends respectively of two successive frames of a ladder tower. It is thus possible to move the entire tower by crane without risk of dismemberment of the tower by separating its elements.

The locking device of the invention can advantageously be installed on the rail of a railing, said sliding device of limited way between the fastening means of said railing at the ends of said rail and the bookings of the guardrail. In this way, a guardrail is obtained comprising a locking device according to the invention integral and sliding at each end of its rail by means of said connecting and sliding means, in order to allow the insertion of at least one said pin. said locking device in said orifices of said two successive frame members to be locked of said shoring tower or scaffolding, said latch of the locking device engaging abutting said reservation of said railing when it is tilted in its said locking position.

This eliminates the problems of losses encountered with the current pins. However, it may also be envisaged that said means for connecting and sliding the device is a reversible connection means which will thus remove if necessary the locking device of the railing rail.

The method of assembling the frames and guardrails of a shoring tower or scaffold with the aid of a locking device according to the invention is carried out in a completely traditional manner. In a first step, between the respective upper ends of at least two first frames at least one railing, the ends of the rails of said railings resting and / or fitting on the upper ends of said first frames are positioned. , and two second frames are then positioned by their lower ends on said first frames and the ends of the rails of said railings, said lower ends of said second frames fitting on said ends of the rails of said guardrails or said upper ends of said first frames. In a third step, the assembly of said first and second frames with said railings is locked with the aid of locking devices according to the invention.

Of course, it is possible to use individual locking devices or guardrails equipped with such devices permanently fixed on their rails.

• la figure 1A représente le dispositif de verrouillage de l'invention dans un mode de réalisation préféré en vue de côté;
• la figure 1B représente le dispositif de verrouillage de la figure 1A en vue de dessus;
• la figure 2 à 4 représente les étapes d'assemblage de deux cadres d'une tour échelle et d'un garde-corps à l'aide d'un dispositif de verrouillage selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description, given in an illustrative and nonlimiting manner, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1A shows the locking device of the invention in a preferred embodiment in side view;
• Figure 1B shows the locking device of Figure 1A in top view;
• FIGS. 2 to 4 show the steps of assembling two frames of a ladder tower and a railing with the aid of a locking device according to the invention.

Referring firstly to Figures 1A, 1B, the locking device 1 according to the invention, named in the following description "locking pin", has two pins 11, 12 parallel and connected one to the another by a cord giving the pin 1 a shape "U". The cord connecting said pins 11, 12 is welded to the outer surface of a tubular parallelepipedal section 14 constituting a connecting ring for threading the pin 1 on a complementary shape guide such as a railing rail as shown in Figures 2 to 4.

Alternatively, the ring 14 can be made by two halves of tube connected to each other by a hinge along one of their longitudinal edge, thus constituting a reversible connection and sliding means of the pin 1, said ring 14 can be kept closed after placing the pin by any suitable means such as collars, bolts or other. A tilting latch 13, consisting of a plate of preferably slightly bent as shown in Figure 1A, is pivotally mounted on the upper wall of the ring 14 via for example a bolt or pin 9 inserted through a bore drilled at a first end of latch and blocked on both sides of the bore by fasteners not shown in the figures.

Complementarily, it is conceivable to machine the free end of the rocking latch 13 so that it has the shape of a hook, which is likely to improve the locking effect of the latch.

The locking device of the invention is particularly suitable for securing assemblies of shoring tower and scaffolding elements such as frames and guardrails. As represented in FIGS. 2 to 4, the pin 1 of the invention may in particular be slidably mounted via its ring 14 on the rail 32 of a guard rail 3 between the end connectors 33 of said rail 32 and the reservation 31 of said guardrail.

To do this, it is possible, according to a first embodiment, to thread the pin 1 by its ring 14 on the rail 32 before welding on the ends of the rail of the connectors 33, or, according to a second embodiment, to use a pin 1 comprising a reversible connection ring as described above, allowing the establishment of the pin on a rail 32 rail already equipped with connectors 33.

Said connectors 33 comprise orifices 8 pierced right through in the axis of the pins 11, 12 of the pin when it is mounted on the rail 32 of the railing 3, said pins being thus insertable into said orifices 8 by sliding the pin 1 to the connectors 33. When said pins 11, 12 are not inserted into said orifices 8, the latch 13 is in a raised position of release of the pin, are free end bearing against the reservation 31 guardrail 3 and the elastic return means 5 of the latch being in tension.

The assembly of elements of frames 2a, 2b and guardrail 3 for the construction of a ladder tower or scaffolding is done by simply interlocking the upper and lower ends respectively of the amounts of the frames 2a, 2b on the connectors 33 at the ends of the railing rail 3. Said guard 3 being strictly identical to the ends of its rail 32, it is shown only partially in the figures for the sake of clarity.

Said uprights of the frames 2a, 2b also have at their upper and lower ends respectively orifices 7 pierced right through so that they correspond exactly in alignment with the orifices 8 pierced in the connectors 33 of the guardrail. Once said frames nested on said connectors 33, simply lock the assembly with the pin 1 by sliding it on the rail 32 of the railing 3 in the direction of the arrow F in the figure 3 to insert the pins 11, 12 in the orifices 7, 8 of the frames 2a, 2b and connectors 33 respectively.

The sliding of the pin causes a sliding and tilting of the latch 13 of the pin against the reservation 31 of the railing under the effect of the weight of the latch 13. This tilting of the latch 13 of the pin continues until it reaches its locking position when the pins 11, 12 are fully inserted into the orifices 7, 8 of the frames 2a, 2b and railing connectors 33 (Figure 4). In said locking position, the free end of said latch 13 then engages against the connection of the reservation 31 of the railing 3 on the rail 32, thus preventing the retraction of the pin 1 and the withdrawal of the pins 11, 12 of the latter out of orifices 7, 8.

Of course, the length of the latch 13 will be determined according to the distance between the reservation 31 of the railing 3 of the connectors 33 at the ends of the rail 32 and the length of the ring 14 on which the latch 13 is fixed.

Thus, the locking pin according to the invention allows an automatic locking of the pins 11, 12 in the openings of the frames 2a, 2b to lock, the particular folded shape of the latch 13 and the return means 5 thereof ensuring the maintaining said latch in the locked position, even in case of blows on the ends of the pins 11, 12 or vibrations. In addition, the pin 1 being fixed by its ring 14 on the rail 32 of the railing 3, it is completely captive, even in case of regular assembly and disassembly of said railing and / or transport thereof.

The locking pin 1 of the invention being captive, it further allows when the latch 13 and in its locking position abuts against the reservation 31 of the railing to transport the shoring towers and scaffolds whose elements are locked. using cranes without risk of dismemberment of the elements constituting said tower or said scaffolding.

Once the site is finished and it is desired to dismantle the tower or the scaffolding, it is sufficient, to unlock the frames 2a, 2b and the guardrails 3 to fully push the pins of the pin 1 into the holes 7 , 8 frames and connectors 33 so as to then manually raise the latch 13 of said pin to a substantially vertical position of release and then slide said pin 1 on the rail 32 of the railing 3 towards the reservation 31 of the latter until the pins 11, 12 are out of said orifices 7, 8, thus allowing the dismantling of the frames 2a, 2b and the railing 3.

Claims (7)

Locking device (1) for frames (2a, 2b), and guardrail (3) for shoring or scaffolding towers, comprising at least one pin (11, 12) capable of being inserted through orifices (7, 8) pierced transversely from one side to the assembly ends of said frames and guardrails (2a, 2b, 3), characterized in that it comprises a non-return latch (13), said latch having a predetermined length allowing it to tilt from a raised position of disengagement of the device to a tilted position of locking as said pin is inserted into said orifices (7, 8) of said frames and railings to lock, the length of said latch being such that the free end of said latch is adapted to engage in abutment against at least one fixed part (31) of a said railing after tilting in said locking position, and that it further comprises a connecting and sliding means (14) secured to one end of said pin and allowing the attachment of said device on the rail (32) of a said guardrail (3). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said means for connecting and sliding (14) of the device is a reversible connection means. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said latch nonreturn (13) is integral with said means for connecting and sliding the device. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least two pins (11, 12) forming a "U" integral with said connecting means and sliding (14) of the device. Railing (3) for the construction of shoring tower or scaffolding, comprising a rail (32) integral with the reservations (31) of said railing and provided at its ends with fixing means (33) said railing at the ends of frames (2a, 2b) of a said shoring tower or scaffold, characterized in that it comprises at least one locking device (1) as defined in one of claims 1 to 4, integral and slidable on said rail between one end thereof and a said reservation railing to allow the insertion of at least one said pin (11, 12) of said device locking in said orifices (7, 8) of said two successive frame members to be locked of said shoring tower or scaffold, said latch (13) of the locking device engaging abutting said reservation ( 31) of said railing when it is tilted in its said locking position. A method of assembling construction elements of shoring towers or scaffolds such as frames (2a, 2b) and guardrail (3), in which, initially, is positioned between the respective upper ends at least two first frames (2a) at least one railing (3), the ends of the rails (32) of said railings resting and / or fitting on the upper ends of said first frames, and positioning then two second frames (2b) at their lower ends on said first frames (2a) and the ends of the rails (32) of said railings, said lower ends of said second frames (2b) interlocking with said ends of the rails (32). ) of said guardrails or said upper ends of said first frames, characterized in that in a third step, the assembly of said first (2a) and second frames (2b) with said guardrails (3) using of devices locking device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that guardrails according to claim 5 are used, the assembly of said first and second frames with said guardrails being effected by means of the locking devices (1) integral with said guardrails.

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