Patent Application
20240052649
The present application claims priority of the German patent application No. 10 2020 133 810.4, filed on 16 Dec. 2020, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The invention relates to a connector for a modular scaffold and to a modular scaffold comprising such a connector. A method of manufacturing a modular scaffold using a connector according to the invention and the use of a connector according to the invention in a modular scaffold are also proposed.
A modular scaffold/framework comprises prefabricated, standardized scaffold components that enable the scaffold to be erected and dismantled quickly, for example for scaffolding a building facade. The scaffold components are connected via standardized connector elements and/or connection nodes that allow connections from different spatial directions. The scaffold components can thus be assembled to form complex surface or room scaffolds.
The German utility model DE 20 2018 106 709 U1 provides an example of a scaffold node for connecting scaffold elements extending in different spatial directions, which comprises a connector tube for connection to at least one vertical post and a connecting disc for connection to further scaffold elements, such as horizontal braces or diagonal braces. The connector tube of the scaffold node has a circular cross-section, the outer diameter of which is adapted to the inner diameter of the vertical post, so that the vertical post can be fitted onto the connector tube.
Depending on the load case or requirements for the load-bearing capacity of a modular scaffold, the tube inner and/or tube outer diameters of the scaffold components, in particular of the vertical posts, may differ. The vertical posts of heavy load scaffolds usually have larger diameters than the vertical posts of scaffolds for medium or light loads. If vertical posts with different tube diameters are to be combined in a modular scaffold or in a system, this is only possible with increased effort, for example by using special standards that mediate between the different tube diameters. However, this means increased material input as well as assembly effort, which in each case has a negative impact on costs.
In addition, the use of vertical posts with different outside diameters no longer ensures compatibility with other scaffold components, in particular with standardized horizontal braces and/or with standardized diagonal braces. This is because a change in the tube outside diameters changes the distances or clear dimensions between two vertical posts arranged in parallel. The compatibility of the scaffold components with each other requires that the distances or clear dimensions are maintained, which is only possible with the aid of special components when the tube outer diameter of one or more vertical posts is changed, unless a change in the grid dimensions inherent in the modular scaffold is accepted.
A similar problem can arise in the head and/or foot area of a modular scaffold, especially if a vertical post and a spindle are connected instead of two vertical posts. The spindle is used for height compensation, for example, to level out an uneven base. Since the diameters of the spindle and vertical post usually differ, the connection is made—according to the place of use of the spindle—via so-called head or foot parts. These represent separate scaffold components that have to be kept in stock additionally.
The present invention attempts to remedy this situation. In particular, the invention is intended to improve the compatibility of scaffold components with one another so that the number of scaffold components can be reduced.
Furthermore, the integration of non-system or cross-system scaffold components is to be simplified, for example in order to meet increased load requirements, preferably without the aid of special components and without changing the specified grid dimensions.
To solve the objects, the connector and the modular scaffold are proposed. Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are to be taken from the respective dependent claims. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing or erecting a modular scaffold as well as a use of a connector within a modular scaffold are disclosed.
The connector proposed for a modular scaffold comprises:
The connector element is fastened/attached to the connector tube indirectly via an extension arm or directly on the outer circumference.
Accordingly, the connector tube of the proposed connector has at least one diameter step. That is, the connector tube has different outer and/or inner diameters in at least two sections. In this way, the connector tube enables the connection of two vertical posts with different tube diameters or a vertical post and a spindle. Due to the further provided connector element, the proposed connector can be used as a scaffold node at the same time. This means that several functions are integrated into one scaffolding component, so that the number of scaffolding components can be reduced. In particular, the use of additional special components for integrating non-system or cross-system scaffold components can be dispensed with while maintaining specified grid dimensions. With the aid of the proposed connector, effort and costs can thus be reduced.
Preferably, a vertical post is connected to the at least one tube section with an enlarged outer and/or inner diameter by means of a simple plug-in connection. Further preferably, the vertical post is inserted into the pipe section. The tube section therefore has at least one enlarged inner diameter. This is preferably adapted to the outer diameter of a vertical post for heavy loads, so that such a vertical post can be integrated into the modular scaffold. Furthermore, preferably, the outer diameter of the tube section is also enlarged to ensure sufficient wall thickness.
The tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter is preferably adjoined by a tube section in the region of which the connector element for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace is arranged. The outer diameter of this tube section is preferably selected in such a way that, in conjunction with the connector element and possibly in conjunction with the extension arm, distances or clearances are realized which permit the use of standardized horizontal beams and/or diagonal braces. In this case, the use of special components can be dispensed with. At the same time, the specified grid dimensions can be maintained.
Advantageously, the scaffold components of a modular scaffold comprise two different basic types of a connector according to the invention. The two basic types differ in particular with respect to the number of tube sections with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter.
In basic type 1, the connector tube has a tube section with an enlarged outer and/or inner diameter at only one end. This serves for the reception of a vertical post. At the other end, the connector tube is designed for connection to a spindle. The preferred place of use of this connector is therefore the head or foot area of a modular scaffold. The proposed connector allows a vertical post to be connected to a spindle without the use of a separate head or foot section. This function is integrated into the connector, eliminating the need for a separate head or foot section. The connector element of the connector, which serves to connect with at least one horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace, is preferably fastened indirectly to the outer circumference of the connector tube via an extension arm. The extension arm allows the use of standardized horizontal beams and/or diagonal braces while maintaining the specified grid dimensions.
In basic type 2, the connector tube has a tube section with an enlarged outer and/or inner diameter at each of its two ends. This connector is therefore used to connect two vertical posts. These can have the same or different tube diameters, so that non-system vertical posts can also be integrated, for example to meet increased load requirements. The connector element for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace is preferably arranged in the region of a central tube section of the connector tube. Furthermore, preferably, the connector element for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace is fastened directly to the outer circumference of the connector tube. This is because indirect fastening via an extension arm is not required for basic type 2, since compliance with specified grid dimensions is already ensured via the outer diameter of the central tube section and the connector element when using standardized horizontal beams and/or diagonal braces.
The two basic types of a connector according to the invention represent a useful addition to the available scaffold components. They can be combined with a large number of different scaffold components according to the modular principle. Although they add two further components to the modular system, the result is that they help to save components because they eliminate the need for special components.
In further development of the invention, it is proposed that the connector element for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or diagonal brace is disc-shaped and aligned perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector tube. According to the basic type, the fastening of the disc-shaped connector element to the connector tube is carried out directly or indirectly via an extension arm. The respective vertical alignment of the disc-shaped connector element facilitates the connection of the at least one horizontal beam and/or the at least one diagonal brace, since the connection angle can be freely selected.
It is further proposed that the connector element has a plurality of receiving recesses, for example four, six or eight, for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or diagonal brace. The multiple receiving recesses allow connection of multiple horizontal beams and/or diagonal braces to a node. This is particularly true when multiple horizontal beams and/or diagonal braces are to be received from different spatial directions. Preferably, the multiple receiving recesses are arranged at the same angular distance from each other. This applies in particular if the connector element having the receiving recesses surrounds the connector tube of the connector. This is because it creates further connection options for connecting scaffold components from different spatial directions. For example, the plurality of receiving recesses can be arranged in a cross or star shape. Furthermore, preferably, the connector element has at least two different types of receiving recesses. With respect to their shape and size, these can then be optimally matched to a framework component to be connected.
The connector element of the proposed connector is—in particular in the case of basic type 2—preferably designed as a rosette surrounding the connector tube. Furthermore, the rosette preferably has several receiving recesses that allow connections of scaffold components from all spatial directions.
Alternatively, the connector element of the proposed connector can be attached at the end to an extension arm, which is attached at the other end to the outer circumference of the connector tube of the connector. This is particularly the case with basic type 1. By fastening the connector element to the extension arm at the end face, the extension arm can be made shorter, which helps to save material. In addition, the connection of a horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace is not impeded by the extension arm.
Preferably, the extension arm has a greater height than width in cross section. This measure increases the load-bearing capacity of the extension arm. For example, the extension arm can be made of a box section that is attached on edge to the outer circumference of the connector tube.
Furthermore, preferably, the extension arm has at least one further receiving recess which allows the connection of a scaffold component, in particular a diagonal brace. The at least one further receiving recess of the extension arm can be designed, for example, as an eye or eyelet. Alternatively, or additionally, it is proposed that the at least one further receiving recess of the extension arm is aligned transversely to the at least one receiving recess of the connector element. This results in versatile connection options for different scaffold components.
Advantageously, on the outer circumference of the connector tube, at least two extension arms of identical design and each radially aligned are fastened at a defined angular distance from one another. The angular spacing is preferably 90° so that the extension arms run perpendicular to one another. The alignment of the extension arms thus corresponds to the standard rectangular grid of a modular scaffold. Since the extension arms are of identical design, a connector element with at least one receiving recess for connection to a horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace is arranged on each extension arm. Advantageously, the receiving recesses of the connector elements serve exclusively for connecting horizontal ledgers, while the at least one further receiving recess of each extension arm serves for connecting a diagonal brace. In this way, the connection situation is equalized.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tube section provided at least one end of the connector tube with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter has a plurality of shell-side locking recesses. These serve for the reception of a bolt or a screw for producing a tension-resistant connection between the connector and a vertical post. In this respect, the vertical post has corresponding locking recesses which can be brought into overlap with the locking recesses of the connector tube. The tension-resistant connection enables the modular scaffold to be moved with the aid of a crane, for example.
The locking recesses are preferably arranged on a circumferential line and/or at the same angular distance from one another. Preferably, two locking recesses are located opposite each other so that they are aligned. The bolt or screw can thus be inserted through both locking recesses, so that the load-bearing capacity of the tension-resistant connection increases. The number of locking recesses may be four, for example.
In addition, it is proposed that the tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter has a plurality of elongated guide elements extending in the axial direction at the end. These serve to guide a vertical post to be connected to the tube section, so that the connection of the vertical post is facilitated. Furthermore, the guide elements increase the stiffness in the area of the connection. The number of guide elements can be four, for example. Preferably, the guide elements are arranged at the same angular distance from each other, so that there are equal-sized window-like spaces between the guide elements. The utility of these spaces will be described further below.
Preferably, the elongated guide elements are formed at least in regions from the tube section itself, for example by subsequent cutting of the tube section. The guide elements can thus be manufactured comparatively simply and inexpensively. In addition, the outer and inner diameters of the tube section remain unchanged, so that the connection of a vertical post is still ensured. To increase the load-bearing capacity of the guide elements, it is proposed that they be reinforced by additional material in the radial direction. Since preferably the inside diameter of the tube section is adapted to the outside diameter of a vertical post to be accommodated, the additional material serving the reinforcement is preferably applied on the outside so that the inside diameter of the tube section remains unchanged.
According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, a pin is formed inside the pipe section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter, which pin is arranged concentrically with respect to the pipe section. The pin extends the connection options. In particular, different vertical posts can be connected to one end of the connector. Depending on the tube diameter of the vertical post to be connected, it is received and preferably centered via the outer tube section or the inner pin. The centering is realized either via the inner diameter of the tube section or the outer diameter of the pin.
Preferably, the pin has a plurality of shell-side locking recesses. These serve for the reception of a bolt or a screw to produce a tension-resistant connection with a vertical post. In this respect, the vertical post has corresponding locking recesses which can be brought into overlap with the locking recesses of the pin. The locking recesses of the pin are preferably arranged on a circumferential line and/or at the same angular distance from one another. Preferably, two locking recesses are located opposite each other so that they are aligned and the bolt or screw can be inserted into both locking recesses. The number of locking recesses may be four, for example.
It is further proposed that the pin protrudes beyond the tube section with an enlarged outer and/or inner diameter and/or protrudes into an area of the tube section that has window-like recesses, so that the locking recesses are accessible from the outside. The window-like recesses of the tube section are preferably laterally bounded by the aforementioned elongated guide elements. That is, the window-like recesses may in particular be the already mentioned intermediate spaces between the elongated guide elements. Accordingly, the benefit of the intermediate spaces is that access to the locking recesses of the pin is ensured.
To solve the object mentioned at the beginning, it is further proposed a modular scaffold with at least one connector according to the invention as well as at least one vertical post, which is inserted at the end into the tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter of the connector tube for releasable connection with the connector. Thanks to the enlarged outer and/or inner diameter of the tube section accommodating the vertical post, the connector can be connected to different vertical posts. In particular, the vertical posts can have different tube diameters so that they differ with respect to their load-bearing capacity. In this way, for example, areas subject to high static loads can be designed with vertical posts that have a higher load-bearing capacity. The load-bearing capacity of the modular scaffold can thus be scaled according to load requirements, without the use of special components. Existing diameter differences are bridged or compensated for by the connector according to the invention. As a result, the connector enables the use of standardized scaffold components while complying with specified grid dimensions.
Depending on whether the connector is designed according to basic type 1 or basic type 2, the other end of the connector tube of the connector, i.e. the end facing away from the tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter, is detachably connected to a spindle or to a further vertical post. The proposed connector can thus be used as a scaffold node that simultaneously assumes the function of a head or foot part (basic type 1) or a special component (basic type 2). The number of scaffold components required to manufacture or erect a modular scaffold can be reduced in this way.
Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a modular scaffold using a connector according to the invention as a scaffold node is proposed. In the present context, “production” is understood to mean the erection of a modular scaffold. In the process, the connector is used—in particular in the case of a system change within the modular scaffold—to comply with specified grid dimensions and to maintain specified clear dimensions required for the use of standardized scaffold components, in particular standardized horizontal beams and/or standardized diagonal braces. When integrating a non-system vertical post and/or a spindle that can be used across systems, the connector can be used to compensate for deviations in the tube diameters so that the use of special components to maintain specified grid dimensions is unnecessary.
In addition, the use of a connector according to the invention as a scaffold node within a modular scaffold is proposed for maintaining predetermined grid dimensions and for preserving predetermined clear dimensions, wherein two vertical posts or one vertical post and one spindle are preferably connected with the aid of the connector. The two vertical posts can be of identical or different design, in particular having different tube diameters. The difference in diameter is compensated by the connector, so that the use of special components can be dispensed with. The use of a connector according to the invention in a modular scaffold facilitates in particular the integration of vertical posts for heavy loads into a modular scaffold for medium or light loads, for example to meet increased load requirements.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the enclosed figures. These show:
Attached to the outer circumference of the connector tube 210 are two extension arms 230, which are arranged radially with respect to the connector tube 210 and at an angular distance of 90° from each other. On the end face, each extension arm 230 has a connector element 220 which serves to connect a further scaffold component, in particular a horizontal beam 400 (see
As can be seen in
The connector 200 of
It can further be seen from
As shown by way of example in
As exemplified in
In the embodiment shown in
A further development of the connector 200 of
However, a connector 200 according to the invention does not necessarily have to be provided with a pin 214 in order to accommodate a vertical post 300 whose outer diameter is not adapted to the inner diameter of a tube section 211 formed at the end. As exemplified in
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 133 810.4 | Dec 2020 | DE | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/085500 | 12/13/2021 | WO |
