US2613114A - Scaffold connection - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 7, 1952 R. E. HAGAN SCAFFOLD CONNECTION Filed Oct. 22, 1949 Patented Oct. 7, 1952 Robert E. Hagan; Youngstown, Ohio I Application October 22, 1949, Serial No. 123,061

This invention relates to sectional scaffolding of, th e kindhaving a plurality of transversely extending separable metal' end frames which are assembled in vertical superimposed relation and which are braced longitudinally with separable bracing members, and more particularly to improved and simplified arrangements for securely locking the bracing members to the vend frames and for locking the superimposed end frames together, if desired.

It is common practice in sectional scaffolding of the kind mentioned to provide separable brace members extending longitudinally and diagonally of the assembled scaffold frames or bents and to provide quick detachable interconnections between the frames or bents and the braces, and it is the primary objectof the present invention to provide an improved arrangement for interconnecting the upstanding frames and the diagonal braces whereby all the operative parts are rugged and durable while being permanentlyattached to either the frame members cr the brace members, whereby the brace members may be more efficient and rugged than those heretofore employed while the interconnection itself is of stronger construction than heretofore employed in sectional scaffold equipment. More-specifically, the apparatus of i theinvention is such that maximum use is made of tubular metal parts and sections which possess maximum strength modulae for given weights of material as is well'understood in the structural art;

.Another object of the invention is the provision-of improved sectional scaffolding wherein the component parts for detachably interconnecting the separable frames and braces are of a rugged, blunt nature so as to withstand very severe conditions of service, whether stored or in use, over av long period of time and wherein such parts are permanently carried by the frames andbraces, without any tendency of any part to fall oif, whereby the scaffolding may be erected at all times simply by assembling only the frames and braces.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed specification and the accompanyin drawing wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention.

. i In thedrawing: I

Figure l is a perspective view of an elementary scaffold assembly made up of one pair of spaced frames or bents and a plurality of iongitudinally extending diagonal brace members; Figure- 2; is a perspective vieW, on an enlarged scale, of the upper endportion of one .of the Vertically extending pOsts ofjone of the frames .pifie re a 3 Claims. (oi. soc-4o).

Figure 3 is a fragmentary end view of one of the brace members shown in position about to be assembled toan adjacent frame;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the brace members; and

Figures 5 and 6 are top and sectional views, respectively, of one of the locking pins used to i connect the braces to the frames.

The scaffolding of the invention is,.. in accordance with usual practice, assembled of a plurality of longitudinally spaced and vertically superimposed frames or bents, two of which are shownat ill inFig'ure 1. Each of the frames [0 comprises a pair of spaced vertically extending tubular posts it which are interconnected at their top ends by a tubular strut i 2 and at their bottom ends by a tubular strut i3. Interconnecting the struts l2 and i3 is a pair of obliquely disposed bracing struts i l and i5 and it will be understood that all the parts il through i5 are suitably welded together to form a rigid frame. In practice. the horizontal members I2 ,of the various top frames of the scaffolding structure are utilized tosupportplanking, not shown, to supportworkmen and materials.

.On each sideof each vertical post II and at both the top and bottom ends thereof there is rigidly secured apair of spaced and aligned ,tubular collars Hi. In actual practice the colill) of the'brace members I8.

,lars I6, are secured to the posts II by fillet-type of welds so that rigid and permanent connections are effectedbetween the collars and the jposts. .The collars iii of each pair are spaced sufiiciently to snugly receive between them a tubular fitting H which is Welded to the ends The brace members [8 may be of either tubular or rod construction andas evident from Figure 4f the brace member assemblies i1, it are reversible so that only one style-of brace member is required in the scaffolding assembly.

To releasably secure the brace member fitting i1 betweenthe two collars i6 of the respective pairs thereof each pair of collars is provided with a retractible, pin I9 in the form of a tubular member having a rounded lower or inner end, all as shown in Figure 6. Welded or otherwise suitablysecured to the upper or outer end of each of the pins 19 is a flange 28 having a cut-away portion 2i for being received about theperipheryofthe post It whereby the pin 19 may be slidably received in the collar IS in bridging relation to the two collars of each pair thereof. To complete the-assembly, I provide means permanentlyattached to the post II to ,limit; theretraction of the various pins i9 so that these pins will be-permanently carried by the respective frames of the scaffolding equipment. In the case of the pins [9 which are at the upper ends of the frames the retraction limiting means is in the form of pins 22 which extend diametrically through suitable apertures formed in the upper end portions of the posts I I and also .throughr aperturesviormed .irr-centrally shouldered connecting plugs: 23 t which project into the top ends of the posts II as shown in Figure 2. The means limiting the retractionxof the pins I9 at the lower ends of the frames are the pins 24 which extend diametricallythrough the lower end portions of the posts II. In actual practice, the pins 22 and 24 are driven into place after the pins I9 are-inserted in the -.col-- lars I 6 so that the pins 22 and 24 will stay in place permanently while the pins I9 will have limited retraction butiwill always be carried on the" frames; By referring to -Figure-2i t will .be obvious that-the relativefilocation of the "various parts is such thatthepins I9-may-be retracted "sufliciently to enablethe'fitting I'I-"of the;braces l8 .to be inserted between the ,twoecollarszIE-of "the respective-pairsof'coHars:

*In' assembling scaffolding from "tithe parts above described-*thefiames I-aresuperimposed on each:other-*with the lower-open-endsof the tubular-'posts-I I fitting overtthe upwardly Projecting-n-ibs of'the connecting;plugs-23-'soas to avoid any side ways slipplng'ofthe-vertically aligned frames. For most installations" this simple slidingconnection-is -eflicient but in case it"is"desirable to more rigidly" lock the frames together, the lower-end of the-extremities "of the posts I I are provided' with" diametric apertures- 25 to register withdiametric apertures '26 in" the plugs 23 "whereby connecting pins-"not shown; may be drive'nthrough theselined aper- "turesiaswill be understood. The braceslaare added to-"the-assembly-by retractingthepins I9 *toenable the fittingsII-tobe received between the two-collars I6 ---of' the respective pairs 1 of colla s after'which thepins 4 I 9 are moved down- "wardly to'bridge-the' collars I 6*with the fittings i I1 -locked='therebetween; emalained above, an important=-featureof the' invention is the manner of connecting the *d-iagonal'braces" IB- tothe uprightposts '01 the scaffold frames and it should now be ap- -parent that I have' provided an operative ;-con- ;said,'.p. osts near bothrtlie top .and' bottom ends thereof; jthe space;between saidl'coHarslbeing 4 The above specifically described embodiment of the invention should be considered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be madestherein" without departing 'from ::the spirit .or::scope-:.of; the invention... Reference should therefore be had to the appended claims in determining the scope of the invention.

I claim:

'1.-"In--a tubular sectional scaffolding of the type comprising spaced vertically disposed frames having spaced pairs of rigidly conneeted-upstariding posts, diagonal brace membersdor connecting the top portions of certain of said frames to the bottom portions of certain others of said. frames, and detachablemeans "for" releasably connecting said brace: members 1 to said frames; the jmprovementimsaid :detachable means comprising space'd "vertically raligned pairs, of "tubular collars. rigidly secured to and directly, in contact with r the, outer, surface, of

substantially greatenthan the; internal diameter thereof, vertically, alisnedgelongatedrtubu- .lar', fittings s of. the same cross:section has said collars.rigidlxsecurediatreach end,oi-said diagonal .bra-cermemb ers and. adapted to. be. received between the collars,.oi..each pair, said.- fittings being substantiallyequalin length; to ,the Jength 132.1 Apparatusaaccordmgn to:..claim;; 1:; further characterized-sin ithatr; theameans :linriting:.the 1SIidiEEKRQYGmBHE'LOfZSaj-GTP11153111) onezdirection comprises wide:flanges:on ithesuppemendssof-zsaid nection for these-two parts' which accomplishes the objectsinitiallyset out; "The stubby closecoupled nature of the-fittings I I 'provide'brace members" of maximum strength and by positloning' the endsof these brace-members in close proximity to or in contactwith the outer surfaces of the posts I I a maximum of rigidity is obtained in the assembled --sca'ffolding. Any pushing force exerted by a brace 1s opposed, notalone-by the associated pin I9, but also by the -direct contact of the associ-ated' fitting- I1 "with the outer surfaceofl thepost" I I and with "the: inner endsurfaces of theadjacent collars I6; Forces off-tension "are-=oppose'd by the pins I9; 1 which in themselves are-very efiicientbecause of their: largediameters," lield in two of the collars I6; each of which is sufilciently securedto'the post- II as explained' labovee The large diameter of the pins L I9 is further'advantageous :inreclucing wear: and im-minimizing the effectsof 'corrosionand other-deteriorating actions.-=. Since -it"is' impossible for the fittings- I1 to: have any infiuence-onth'e longitudinal- 01* retractingmovement' of the pins IS -"the latterare L- effectivelyxheld un -operative positions bya':c0mbinationof gravity J and 1 frictionwhich 1 simplifies the design and operation of-jtlie complete apparatus; a

pins adaptedato; engaseaand:v rest 0n:.lthe:.upper ones of: thesspacedzpairssof collarsnsaidzflanges extending radially: outward ofzsaid; collars whereby to be readily grasped and axiallyzwith'drawn to; release; saidifittinga; and, said.:flanges being recessed. onpthesside ;.there0fi adjacent: said;.posts. 3.-eAppa-ratus -zzaccordingwr to. claimrj 2"urther .-characterized-;.;in :thatzithe: means limiting the slidingzimoyementuof:1said'rpins in" the opposite directiongcomprisesnretaining pins-extending into .thersliding paths of itravel of said pins whereby to limit: theaextenttzoiz withdrawal 0f said pins 3 .fromtheirrrespective pairs of collars.v

ROBER'IQEL'HAGAN.

REFERENCES "CITED' The .following reierences-iareof recorcLin th 'fileaofrthis, patent: 1

' LUNI'IEDIJSTATESJ PA'I'ENTS 'Name- Date 1,200,303. Bowers Qct."' 3;"1916 1,448,503 Palmer-Jones Mar;'13, 1923 I 1 ,6273177' Henningsen May-3, 192! l;9-l7,3'14 Moir- -'July11,' 1933 1=,9l8,116 Mans'fleld "'July 11; 1933 "1, 9431871 Landberg' 'Jan. 16; 1934 "2,136,698" "Lamb Nov. 15; 1938 2,303,428 Black: "Dec; 1; 1942 112,435,171 Weisa 'Jan;--27',"1948 2,559,469 Scheidemantle July 3, "1951

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