US2635014A - Portable scaffolding - Google Patents

Description

APril 14 1953 E J. G51-TY lErm. `2,635,014

PORTABLE: scAFFoLnING Filed Sept. 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 33 @#9068643 4f J zny-WW I 94 lI F 8|; j W/ attorneys mm w 5 G O 3 5 Z9 8 7 6 m A m |404 M7, #owja Jo @wifi m PINI l I hvhnuhh IIYIII 3 a, e 4 5 l 0M H nu.. 3 A. 6 u l, Z .T .\M\\\\. Zw. un o AHI x LIL .TJ n

April 14, 1953 E. .11. GETTY Erm.

PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Filed Sept. 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet I5 April 14, 1953 E. J. GETTY ET AL 2,635,014

PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Filed Sept. 14, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 www5 (Ittorneg Patented Apr. 14, E1953 j UNITED PORTABLE SCAFFOLDING Ellsworth J .Getty and Revere E. Clapp,

' Groton, Conn.

f j 3 Claims.

' l Thisinvention relates to a portable scaffolding and, more particularly, to a structure provided with a' movable base upon which base is supported one or more platforms upon which workmen may stand or sit, the platforms being elevatable to the proper height. Y Y

' In many kinds of Work, `and particularly in connection with painting or decorating work, `it vis necessary to provide scaffolding upon which `the workmen may stand. Suchscaffolding is usually of a temporary character and notonly requires considerable time to vconstruct and dismantle, but also is usually stationary and must be dismantled to betmoved from one place or wall to another and usually cannot bevaried as to height.

It is contemplatedby the present invention to provide'a'portable scaffolding mounted uponl a movable truck or basestructure so that it may readily be moved from one' place to another, and to provide power means'` for moving the device. Uponthe truck are mounted a pair of spaced platforms, 'the-upper platform being positioned va suicient heightv above the lower-iso that workmen caribe accommodated upon the latter in either a sitting or standing position so that workmen may use both upper and rlower platforms 'or-stages. o

Both platforms are arranged so that they may be elevated -or lowered, andrprovision is made for Acontrol of the raising and lowering mechani'sm' from ,thel upper patform so that workmen will not be 'obligedto descend in orderI to change the elevation of the platform. Similarly, a workman'ppon theupper platform may control the movement of the device from place to place and thus can move the scaffolding from one place to another; as well as adjusting the staging vertically, without having to descendfrom the upper platform.tv

One object of the 4inventionis to provide an improved portable scaffolding or staging for decorators and other workmen.

A further object ofthe invention is toprovde a device of thel character described which will be automotive inthe sense that it can be propelled from place to place by Workmen on the platforms.

A' still further object of the invention is to provide a'mcvable staging or scaffolding with two spaced platforms, one being mounted above the other; and to provide means for raising and lowering" the platforms so as to support the workmen thereon at the proper height. o

Still another object of the invention is to provide adevicel of the character described wherein the raising and lowering mechanism of the platv Application September 14, 1949, Serial No. 115,628

2 forms, as well as the propelling mechanism for the supporting truck of the device, will be controllable from a point adjacent the upper platform.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described which will be of proper dimensions so thatrit may pass through a door of ordinary size in order that the device may be used for interior as well as exterior work.

. To these and other ends the invention consists in the novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

In theraccompanying drawings: Y Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a portable scaffolding'embodying vour invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view thereof; Fig. 3 is a rear elevational view of the devi-ce;- Fig. 4 is a top plan view; Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3; j Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section online 6-6 of Fig. 2; f" Fig. 6A is a detail elevational view of the means for supporting the cylinder;

- Fig. 'Tis a sectional view on line `I'I Vof Fig.V 6; Fig. 8 is afragmentary detail view'of a part of the control mechanism; Fig. 9 is a top plan view of a slightly modied form of our device; V Fig. 10 is a sectional view on line Ill- I0 of Fig. 9; Fig. Al1 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 showing a modified form of our invention; 1

' Figs. 12, i3, 14 and 15 are sectional views taken respectively on lines I2-I2, I3 ,I3, I4-I4, and I5-I5 ofFig. ll1; 'j Fig. 16 is a sectional view through the upper portion of the cylinder and ram of a modified form of our invention.

To illustrate a preferred embodiment of our invention, we have shown a supporting truck comprising a supporting frame consisting of longitudinal members Ill and II and transverse members I2 together with forwardly converging members I 3 and I4 at the front end' of the frame Where a steering wheel I5 is carried, as will be described hereinafter. At the rear end of the frame an axle IS is rotatably supported inlorack-V ets I1, and ground wheels or floor wheels I8 and 9 are carried by the axle. The 'wheel I8 is secured to the axle to act as a drive wheel, while the Wheel i9 may rotate freely upon the axle. The axle is designed to be driven by a pulley 20 from a belt 2| to propel the device from place to place, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

A steering wheel l5 is mounted upon the frame to rotate upon a vertical axis, and, as shown more especially in Fig. 5, a plate 22 is secured to the Wheel structure, which plate is provided with arcuate side edges 23 about which are trained the ends of a cable 24, this cable being secured to the plate 22 and at its bight portion being trained about a steering pulley 26.

Referring particularly t Figs. l, 5 and 6, a hollow sleeve 23 is secured to the truck frame substantially centrally thereof, this sleeve being supported by members 29. The lower end of a cylinder 32 is removably received within this sleeve member. To the lower end of the cylinder a pair of rings 30 are secured, the upper of these rings having a projecting peripheral flange 3l which extends over and rests upon the upper edge of the sleeve 23 so that the cylinder is supported by the upper ring. The lower end of the cylinder is closed by a plate 33. Within the cylinder a hollow ram 34 is slidably mounted. The cylinder is prevented from rotating within the sleeve 28 by a. lug or pin 31a (Fig. 6A) projecting downwardly from the flange 3l to be received in a recess 3lb provided in the upper edge of the sleeve 28.

The lower end of the ram is closed by a plug 35 and pressure fluid may be admitted to the cye linder below the ram through a port 36 in the plate 33 and a tube 31 leading to the port 36 from a source of fluid pressure, as will be hereinafter explained.

At the upper end of the cylinder 32 is a collar 39 to which is secured a channel-shaped member 40 forming a guideway for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. The lower end of the member 40 is secured to the upper sleeve 35 which is rigid with the cylinder 32. A clamp device 4E (Fig. '7) embraces the cylinder 32 and is clamped f therearound by the bolts 42. The clamp members 4|,as shown in Fig. 6, are provided with vertically elongated openings 43, one upon each Side of the cylinder, so that properly shaped beams or rods may be passed therethrough to raise the cylinder from the supporting truck when desired. Packing material 44 may be provided about the ram 34 within the collar 39, the packing being held in place by the gland 45. The cylinder may be raised by the angle irons 51, hereinafter described.

Within the upper end of the hollow ram 34 is slidably tted a plug 41 to which is secured a supporting plate 4S which in turn carries the upper platform or stage 49. made of any desired size and of any suitable construction. As shown, it comprises a platform 55 supported upon angle irons I. It will be apparent that with this construction the plug 47, together with the upper stage 49, which is secured thereto, may be removed freely and easily from the hollow ram 34 when it is desired to disassemble the device, as the plug 41 merely rests slidably within the ram.

Secured to the ram 34 is a rectangular plate 53, and secured to and depending from this plate is an elongated hollow shield 54, of rectangular shape in cross section, which covers the cylinder 32 and which is, of course, movable with the hollow ram. Secured to the lower end of the shield 54, as shown more especially in Fig. 6, is a key 55 which ts within the channel-shaped guide member 40 and slides therewithin during raising and lowering movements of the ram. As this guide member 40 is secured to the cylinder This stage can be 32, this engagement of the key within the guideway will prevent turning movements o f the ram within the cylinder. As the plate 53 is of rectangular shape and fits between two of the angle irons 5|, this will prevent the upper stage 49 from turning upon the hollow ram 34.

With the above construction, it will be seen that when iluid pressure is introduced into the cylinder 32 below the ram 34 through the opening 36, the ram will be raised and will raise the upper stage 49 to the desired extent and, at the same time, this stage will be prevented from rotating with respect to the frame of the truck. The guide channel is closed at the top and the key 55 will, when the ram has been raised to its upper limit, abut the closed end of the channel which will act as a stop to limit further raising movement. It is understood that the shield 54 being secured to the plate 53 will be raised with the ram and this will also serve to raise the lower stage or platform, as will be hereinafter explained. The shield also serves to protect the ram and prevent dust or dirt from collecting on it.

Secured to the shield 54 adjacent the lower end thereof are a pair of angle irons 51, and upon these angle irons is supported a lower stage or platform 58, this platform being secured to the angle irons by bolts 59 (Fig. 7) so that by the removal of the bolts the lower platform may be raised upwardly and removed from the shield after the upper platform has been removed as previously described. Thus, the entire machine may be readily disassembled into four parts consisting of the upper platform which with the attached plug 41 may be lifted freely from the ram 34, the lower platform which may be lifted from the shield after the bolts 59 are removed and the upper platform taken 01T, the staff comprising the shield 54, the ram and the cylinder,.and, lastly, the wheeled truck. It is understood that the cylinder may be lifted freely from the sleeve 28 after the connections to the tube 31 have been removed. n

'The lower stage, as shown in the drawings, is slightly wider than the upper stage but of substantially the same length and both are of substantially the same length as the body of the truck. The triangular shape of the truck body brings the center thereof to a position slightly forward of the staff so that if necessary to brace the truck at any time, outriggers may be secured thereto at a point midway between the wheels, which will be forwardly of the staff.

A ladder 60 may be provided at each end of vthe lower platform, the ladder reaching to the upper platform so as to provide means by which the workmen may reach the upper platform. The lower ends of the side members of the lad- I der may rest in sockets 6I in the lower platform,

as shown in Fig. 1, and project through openings 62 in the upper platform.

The means by which the movements of the truck and the raising and lowering movements of the ram may be effected and controlled will now be described.

Mounted upon the truck adjacent its rear end is an electric motor 64, the shaft of which carries a pulley 55 which, through a belt 65, drives a pulley 3'! secured to the shaft of an oil pump 68. The oil pump is provided with an intake line 69 which leads through a filter 'I0 to an oil supply tank Il mounted on the forward portion of the truck frame. Y

The delivery line 12 of the pump 68 leads to a relief valve 13 so constructed that if the pressure is too high the discharge from the pump 68 will be connected with the pipe 14 which is in turn connected with the 'relief line 15 which leads back to the supply tank 1|. If, however, the relief valve 13 is closed, the delivery from the pump 68' leads through .the pipe 12 and the relief lvalve 13 into the pipe 16, which delivers oil into two valve mechanisms 11 and 18.

The valve 11 is so arranged that it may connect the pipe 16 with the duct 31, previously described, which leads into the lower end of the cylinder 32 (Fig. 6), orwhen turned to another position this valve closes the line 16 and connects the duct 31 to the return line 15 so as Ito drain the oil from the cylinder 32 and permit it to ow back into the tank 1|, the ram and platforms carried thereby dropping by gravity to a lower position.

To the valve 11 is connected a square sleeve 80, and telescoped within this sleeve is a square stem 8| (Figs. l and 8), this stem beingsecured at its upper end to a thimble 82 rotatably mounted in a bracket 83 supported'bythe shield 54. One the upper end of the thimble is a control arm 84 which is shown in Fig. 4 in a neutral position in `full lines, and in two other positions in dotted lines. It will be apparent that as the upper platform is raised or lowered the stem 8| may slide Within the hollow square sleeve 80 so that an operator on either of the platforms 49 or 58 may reach the control arm and control the position of the valve 11. In the full-line position of the control arm, the valve is so disposed that the line 15 will be closed and the fluid delivered by the pump 68 will return to the tank 1| by way of the relief valve. When the arm 84 is in one of the dottedline positions,v the fluid pressure will be delivered to the cylinder 32 and the ram will be raised to the extent desired or to the extent permitted by the length of the ram, thus'raising both o-f the platforms. When the control arm 84 is in the other dotted-line position, the lower end of the cylinder' will be connected with the return line 15 to the tank 1| and will allow the oil to drain from the cylinder and the two platforms'to drop gradually under gravity.

Similarly a hollow sleeve 85 is secured to` the valve 18 (Fig. 6) and a square stem 86 slidably received in thissleeve connects the sleeve with the control arm 81 for operation thereby so that this valve may be placed either in a. neutral position, as shown in full lines on'Fg. 4, or in either of the two dotted-line positions shown in this figure. j The valve 18 kis connected by two lines 89 and 90 with a iinid motor 9| which is similar tothe pump S8, but which works in reverse. That is, fluid under pressure isl delivered to the motor 9| and causes the rotor thereof to rotate. The rotation of this rotor drives the shaft 92v which, through changed speed gearing 93, drives the pulley 94 which in turn drives the belt 2:| (Fig. 3, previously described) which in turn drives the axle I6 to propel the truck.

The neutral or full-line position of the control arm 81 shown in Fig. 4 places the valve 18 in position so that both of the lines 89 and 90 will be closed and, if the pump 68 is in operation, the

oil will pass through the return line 15 to the tank1| If, however, the arm 81 is moved to one of thedotted-line positions, oil'will be delivered through the pipe 89 to the motor 9| which will drive the shaft 92 in a direction Vto propel the truck in a forward direction, the oil returning -through the pipe 90, valve 18,'and return line 15 to the tank.` If, however, the control arm 81 is moved to the other dotted-line position, oil will be delivered through the pipe 90 to the motor 9|, and the shaft 92 will be driven in a direction to propel the truck rearwardly, the oil returning through the pipe 89. It will beapparent, therefore, that both the raising and lowering movements of the platforms and the propulsion of the device from place to place'are accomplished by means of fluid pressure generated by the pump B8, which is in turn driven by the motor 64. Moreover, these movements may all be controlled from either platform at a point adjacent the upper platform. It may here be noted that the control arms 84 and 81, as shown in Fig. 4, protrude beyond the upper platform so that they may be readily accessible. As the pump is-one of the positive displacement type, no brake is necessary as the motor will lock when the oil pressure is shut off.

A drain line 96 leads from the pump 68 to the supply tank 1| and, similarly, a drain line 91 leads from the motor 9| to the oil supply tank.

The truck may be steered by means of the steering arm 98 (Fig. 4) which is connected t0' the pulley 26 by the extensible connection 99 similar to the extensible connections described for the control arms 84 and 81. The upper end of this connection is likewise rotatably mounted in a bracket |00 secured to the shield 54 just below the platform 50 in a position conveniently accessible to an operator upon the platform. As will be apparent, turning the pulley 26 in one direction or the other will move the cable 24 and thus turn the steering wheel I5.

A reel l0| is rotatably mounted at the forward end of the truck, this reel having wound there-- about a cord |02 having on the end thereof a.

plug |03 for connection'to a wall socket to enable` current to be supplied to the motor 64 and, at the same time, permit the truck to be moved from place to place. An electric cable |04 leads fro-m the reel |0i to a junction box |05 from which the cable |06 leads to the motor 64. A second cable |01 leads from the junction box to a reel |00 rotatably mounted onthe frame adjacent the stan, and av cable I|0 leads from this reel to a push-button switch mounted on the shield 54 adjacent the upper end thereof, so that this push-button control may be reached .from either of the platforms. It will be understood that this push-button switch connects the wires in the cablev |04 with those of the cable |06 to control the operation of the motor, so that anv operator on either of the platforms can control the movements of the device from place to place.'

as well as the raising and lowering of the platforms. f

The upper platform 50 is provided with an elongated slot 59H which will be found useful in anchoring a chair or seat upon the upper platform and will also be useful in supporting planking or the like which may extend from the platform 5t of one of the devices to the platform of a second device when two are used together. In other words, two of the devices may be placed in parallel relation and planks may extend from them with their ends restingupon the two platforms, thus making a continuous staging therebetween. These planks may be anchored in place by having pins or nails projecting from their ends, which pins or nails will be received in the slots 50a. As shown more especially in Fig. l, the outlet 31 which leads from the lower end of the cylinder 32 is provided with a coupling 312i` which may be quickly disconnected when it is desired to raise the stair comprising the shield 54, cylinder 32 and ram 34, from the truck.

In Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings, we have shown a slightly modified form of our invention in which the truck is arranged to rest upon a track or rails. In this instance, the truck will be provided with forward and rea-r axles i I and H8 upon which are mounted hanged wheels so that they will follow the rails, and, in this case, the forward steering wheel will be raised so that it is no longer in contact with the ground or iioor. In other respects this modification is constructed similarly to that shown in Figs. 1 to 8.

In Figs. ll to of the drawings, we have shown a modified form of our invention in which two movable rams are employed with a cylinder on the base in order to provide :for a greater range of elevation of the platforms. The construction is similar to that previously described except that means must ce provided ior preventing the turning of the platforms, and also to limit the movement of the rams to prevent the ram from being driven from the corresponding cylinder.

As shown in the sectional view of Fig. 11, a cylinder is removably supported upon the base as shown at |29 which is similar to the cylinder 32, shown in Fig. 6, and supported from the base in the same way. Upon each side of this cylinder is provided a guide rib |2l, these ribs extending longitudinally or vertically of the cylinder and being at diametrically opposite points.

Movably mounted within this cylinder is a holn low ram |22, at the upper end of which is a collar |23 to which is secured shield portions |23. As shown in Figs. 13 and 14 these shield portions are of segmental forni and, while they extend longitudinally substantially the full length of the Cyl- 1J inder, their edges do not meet so that a space is left therebetween. Secured to the lower ends oi the shield members, |2li, as shown in Fig. 14, are guide segments V25. The edges of these guide segments are spaced apart so as to cooperate with the ribs |2| and prevent turning movement of the ram |22 in the cylinder HQ. The segments |2 are quite shallow, as shown in Fig. 11.

Slidably mounted within the hollow ram |22 is a second ram |25, and removably mounted in the upper end of this ram is a plug |21 similar to the plug 4l. This plug carries a plate |28 to which is secured the upper stage or platform |29 in the same manner as is described in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 8.

Secured to the upper end of the ram llt` is a plate |30 to which is secured a covering shield |31 of rectangular cross section, as shown in Fig. l2. scope over the members |24, which in turn telescope over the cylinder |29. The lower stage |32 is secured to the shield |3| just as the platiorm 58 is secured to the shield 54.

A guide channel i3d is secured at the inner surface of one side of the shield iBl, as shown in Fig. 12, this guide being closed at the bottom by a projecting lug |35. Within the channel |34 is adapted to slide a key |36 secured to the collar |23 so that the key |36 is nxed to the ram |22. This guides the ram |23 in its movements within the ram |22 and prevents any relative turning movement between the two rams so as to prevent turning movements of the platform. From Figs. 12 and 13, it will be noted that the As will be apparent, this shield will tele-r 8. channel guideway |34 and the key |35, which slides therein, are disposed between the spaced ends of the shield members |24 so that the guide channel can project inwardly between these members to receive the key |36 which projects outwardly from the ram |22.

As also shown in Fig. 11, the controls are arranged in three telescoping sections so that they will follow the movements of the rams |22 and |26. One of these controls is shown in Fig. 1l in the drawings, which comprises the three sections |38, |39, and |40, the upper section telescoping into the section |39 and the latter in turn telescoping into the lower section |38. The upper section |40 is secured to the shield |2li in the same manner as described in connection with the control sections 35 and 85 of Fig. 6.

It may sometimes be desirable to space the platforms and 53 a greater distance apart in order to permit standing room for workmen on the lower platform. We have shown in Fig. l5 a convenient method of raising the upper platform when this is desired. As shown in this gure of the drawings, a spacing post i135 has a reduced lower end |l|6 which may be received in the upper end oi the hollow ram 3i, thus replacing the plug il when the latter is removed, together with the platform Eil. The reduced lower end of this sleeve provides an annular shoulder Ui? which may rest upon the plate 53 so as to support the post |45. The upper end of the post HES is bored out as shown at litt to receive the in [el so as to mount the platform thereon.

In order that the controls may be also ex tended upwardly to a point adjacent the platform Eil when it is raised by the use of a spacing postV |45, the stem ii or each of the control members is extended through the control arm ill, slidably received on this stem is a square sleeve |138, the upper end of which is connected to a control arm Iii@ rotatably carried by a bracket i secured to the spacing post |45. Also secured to the post |f35 is a lug |52 having a pin |53 which is received in an opening in the plate to prevent the post from turning, while the platform iiii is prevented from turning on the post by a pin |55 secured to the plate i8 which is received in an opening in a lug |56 secured to the post. When the platform 5L! is supported as shown in Fig. 6, the overall height is such as to permit the device to pass through the usual door.

While we have shown and described some preferred embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that it is not to be limited to all of the details shown, but is capable of modification and variation within the spirit of the invention and within. the scope of the claims.

= What we claim is:

1. A portable scaffolding comprising a frame, a cylinder supported by said frame and rising vertically therefrom, a ram reciprocally supported in said cylinder, an upper platform supported by said ram, a shield supported at the upper end of the ram and extending downwardly therefrom in external telesooping relation with the cylinder, and a lower platform secured to said shield in spaced relation to the upper platform.

A portable scaffolding comprising a frame, a cylinder supported by said frame and rising vertically therefrom, a ram reciprocally supported in said cylinder, an upper platform supported oy said ram, a shield supported at the upper end of the ram and extending downwardly therefrom in telescoping relation with the cylinder, a lower platform secured to said shield in spaced relation to the upper platform, and means for preventing rotation of the platforms with respect to the cylinder, said means comprising a guide member secured to the cylinder and a key secured to the shield and slidably received in said guide member.

3. A portable scaffolding comprising a Wheeled frame, a stai rising from the frame and comprising an outer cylinder and a ram slidably received Within the cylinder', an upper platform vsupported by said ram at the upper end thereof,

means for supplying uid pressure to said cylinder to raise said ram, duid-pressure operated means to drive the Wheels of said frame to propel the scaffolding from place to place, a shield member secured to the ram adjacent the upper end thereof and extending downwardly to embrace the cylinder, and a lower platform supported by the shield lmember in spaced relation to the upper platform, and controlling means for said supplying means and for said propelling means, both said controlling means being posin tioned between said platforms to be accessible from both thereof.

ELLSWORTI-I J. GETIY.

REVERE E. CLAPP.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

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