U.S. patent application number 11/068473 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for suspended cable scaffold assembly.
This patent application is currently assigned to STRUCTURE D'ACIER ORLEANS INC.. Invention is credited to Francois Duguay.
Application Number | 20060131107 11/068473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34886393 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060131107 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duguay; Francois |
June 22, 2006 |
Suspended cable scaffold assembly
Abstract
A versatile suspended scaffold assembly is provided. The
scaffold assembly includes a plurality of suspended cables, each
having a plurality of support elements pressed or clamped thereon
at regular intervals, the distance between consecutive support
elements being selected between 250 mm and 1000 mm, preferably
about 500 mm. Beams are supported by the support elements on which
platforms, guardrails and stairways may be mounted.
Inventors: |
Duguay; Francois;
(Ste-Genevieve-Batiscan, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P. O. BOX 5257
NEW YORK
NY
10150-5257
US
|
Assignee: |
STRUCTURE D'ACIER ORLEANS
INC.
Beauport
CA
|
Family ID: |
34886393 |
Appl. No.: |
11/068473 |
Filed: |
February 28, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60636522 |
Dec 17, 2004 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
182/150 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04G 5/10 20130101; E04G
3/30 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
182/150 |
International
Class: |
E04G 3/30 20060101
E04G003/30 |
Claims
1. A suspended scaffold assembly for allowing access to a
structure, said assembly comprising: a plurality of cables
suspended from an elevated portion of said structure, each cable
having a plurality of support members rigidly affixed thereon at
regular intervals therealong with a distance between consecutive
support members being selected between 250 mm and 1000 mm, the
support members of neighbouring cables being in alignment with each
other; a plurality of beams, each mounted horizontally between a
pair of said cables, each beam having opposite extremities each
provided with a fastening assembly for fastening said extremity to
a respective cable of said pair of cables, said fastening assembly
being supported by one of the support members affixed to said
respective cable; and a plurality of scaffold elements mounted to
said beams and positioned so as to allow access to the
structure.
2. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, further
comprising anchoring means for anchoring said cables to said
elevated portion of the structure.
3. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
anchoring means comprise a plurality of outriggers.
4. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 3, wherein at
least one of said outriggers is attached directly to said
structure.
5. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 3, wherein said
anchoring means further comprise a counterweight supporting at
least one of said outriggers.
6. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
cables are made of a material selected from the group comprising
threaded steel, nylon, aluminum and stainless steel.
7. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein each
of said support members has a cylindrical shape.
8. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein each
of said support members is affixed to a corresponding one of said
cables by pressing.
9. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein each
of said support members is affixed to a corresponding one of said
cables by clamping.
10. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, further
comprising a plurality of adjustable support members removably
affixed to at least a portion of said cables at intermediate
positions between said support members rigidly affixed thereon,
said adjustable support members comprising two complementary halves
positioned on opposite sides of a corresponding one of said cables,
and fastening means for fastening said complementary halves
together and to said corresponding cable.
11. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 10, further
comprising a plurality of cable clamps each mounted beneath one of
said adjustable support members.
12. A suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said distance between consecutive support members is of about 500
mm.
13. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
each of said support members is made of steel.
14. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said beams are made of steel.
15. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said fastening assembly provided at each extremity of said beams
comprises: a pair of arms projecting longitudinally away from said
extremity, each arms of said pair having a proximate end affixed to
said extremity of the corresponding beam and a distal end opposite
the proximate end, said arms further defining a space therebetween
adapted to receive the corresponding cable therein; and a stopper
bridging said space at the distal end of the arms to prevent the
corresponding cable from slipping out of said space.
16. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 15, wherein
the proximate end of said arms is affixed to the extremity of the
corresponding beam by means selected from the group comprising
bolts and welding.
17. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 15, wherein
said stopper comprises a bolt.
18. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 15, wherein
said arms rest on a top surface of a corresponding support member
so as to be supported thereby.
19. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise at least one scaffold platform.
20. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise at least one stairway.
21. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise at least one guardrail.
22. The suspended scaffold assembly according to claim 1, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise a plurality of scaffold platforms
and a plurality of stairways providing communication between said
scaffold platforms.
23. A suspended scaffolding kit mountable to allow access to a
structure, said kit comprising: a plurality of cables suspendable
from an elevated portion of said structure, each cable having a
plurality of support members rigidly affixed thereon, said support
members being disposed along said cables at regular intervals with
a distance between consecutive support members being selected
between 250 mm and 1000 mm; a plurality of beams, each mountable
horizontally between a pair of said cables, each beam having
opposite extremities each provided with a fastening assembly for
fastening said extremity to a respective cable of said pair of
cables in a supported relationship with any one of the support
members affixed to said respective cable; and a plurality of
scaffold elements mountable to said beams so as to allow access to
the structure.
24. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein said
cables are made of a material selected from the group comprising
threaded steel, nylon, aluminum and stainless steel.
25. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein each
of said support members has a cylindrical shape.
26. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein each
of said support members is affixed to a corresponding one of said
cables by pressing.
27. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein each
of said support members is affixed to a corresponding one of said
cables by clamping.
28. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, further
comprising a plurality of adjustable support members removably
affixed to at least a portion of said cables at intermediate
positions between said support members rigidly affixed thereon,
said adjustable support members comprising two complementary halves
positioned on opposite sides of a corresponding one of said cables,
and fastening means for fastening said complementary halves
together and to said corresponding cable.
29. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 28, further
comprising a plurality of cable clamps each mounted beneath one of
said adjustable support members.
30. A suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein said
distance between consecutive support members is of about 500
mm.
31. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
each of said support members is made of steel.
32. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
said beams are made of steel.
33. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
said fastening assembly provided at each extremity of said beams
comprises: a pair of arms projecting longitudinally away from said
extremity, each arms of said pair having a proximate end affixed to
said extremity of the corresponding beam and a distal end opposite
the proximate end, said arms further defining a space therebetween
adapted to receive the corresponding cable therein; and a stopper
for bridging said space at the distal end of the arms to prevent
the corresponding cable from slipping out of said space.
34. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 33, wherein
the proximate end of said arms is affixed to the extremity of the
corresponding beam by means selected from the group comprising
bolts and welding.
35. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 33, wherein
said stopper comprises a bolt.
36. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 33, wherein
said arms are adapted to rest on a top surface of a corresponding
support member so as to be supported thereby.
37. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise a plurality of scaffold
platforms.
38. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise a plurality of stairways.
39. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise a plurality of guardrails.
40. The suspended scaffolding kit according to claim 23, wherein
said scaffold elements comprise a plurality of scaffold platforms
and a plurality of stairways for providing communication between
said scaffold platforms.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the field of scaffoldings
and more particularly concerns a versatile suspended cable scaffold
assembly for use inside a building or a vessel, for working on the
side of or under a bridge, at the construction field of a
multi-storied building or the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Conventional scaffoldings are erected by successively
assembling pipes and related components vertically from the ground
level up, along the exterior of a structure such as a building.
With this method, the maximum height of the scaffolding is limited
by physical factors such as weight, installation and stability,
making any attempt to go beyond a reasonable height too costly to
be realized in practice. Another disadvantage of the conventional
bottom/up method of setting up a scaffold is that the resulting
structure occupies a lot of space to provide proper balance and
support to the whole scaffold system, obstructing access to the
building at locations where the scaffold serves no purpose.
[0003] A solution to the above-mentioned issues is to suspend
scaffoldings from the top of the building or structure it allows
access to. Various hanging scaffolds designs are known is the art.
For example, FOSTER (U.S. Pat. Nos. 763,274 and 763,275, both dated
Jun. 21, 1904) discloses a scaffold comprising a set of outriggers,
steel cables carried by the outriggers and platforms suitably
supported by the suspending cables. Adjustment possibilities are
mentioned, but no specific teaching is made in that regard or as to
the means to clamp a scaffold to a building. The possibility of
adding levels to the scaffolding is discussed, but not the
modification of the already mounted scaffold levels. Generally, the
structure taught by FOSTER seems rudimentary in terms of size and
no communication is provided between the different stories.
[0004] Other designs of suspended scaffolds are for example known
from U.S. Pat. No. 1,750,269 (JOHNSTON); U.S. Pat. No. 3,700,071
(KIKUCHI); U.S. Pat. No. 4,413,707 (LIENHARD Sr.); and U.S. Pat.
No. 4,815,563 (PUCCINELLI et al.).
[0005] Despite the teachings of prior art, there is still a need
for a stable, inexpensive, semi-permanent, interconnected,
multi-levelled, adjustable, light suspended scaffold assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the present invention provides a suspended
scaffold assembly for allowing access to a structure. The assembly
first includes a plurality of cables suspended from an elevated
portion of the structure. Each cable has a plurality of support
members rigidly affixed thereon at regular intervals therealong
with a distance between consecutive support members being selected
between 250 mm and 1000 mm, the support members of neighbouring
cables being in alignment with each other.
[0007] The assembly further includes a plurality of beams, each
mounted horizontally between a pair of cables. Each beam has
opposite extremities, each provided with a fastening assembly for
fastening this extremity to a respective cable of the pair of
cables. The fastening assembly is supported by one of the support
members affixed to this respective cable.
[0008] The assembly finally includes a plurality of scaffold
elements mounted to the beams and positioned so as to allow access
to the structure.
[0009] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is
also provided a suspended scaffolding kit mountable to allow access
to a structure. The kit includes a plurality of cables suspendable
from an elevated portion of the structure, each cable having a
plurality of support members rigidly affixed thereon. The support
members are disposed along the cables at regular intervals with a
distance between consecutive support members being selected between
250 mm and 1000 mm. A plurality of beams are further provided, each
mountable horizontally between a pair of cables. Each beam has
opposite extremities, each provided with a fastening assembly for
fastening this extremity to a respective cable of the pair of
cables, in a supported relationship with any one of the support
members affixed to this respective cable. A plurality of scaffold
elements, mountable to the beams so as to allow access to the
structure, is also provided.
[0010] Advantageously, the suspended scaffold of the present
invention may be mounted in a limitless number of configurations to
allow proper access to a structure. The positioning of the support
members further allows to easily design and modify these
configurations before and after installation so that at all time
access to the structure can be optimized.
[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
be better understood upon reading of preferred embodiments thereof
with reference to the appended drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-level scaffold
installed on a structure according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0013] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a multi-level
scaffolding according to a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
[0014] FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the top of a
scaffold according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a partial side view of the top of a scaffold
according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a detailed side view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a sectional top view of an adjustable ring of the
invention.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation view of an adjustable ring
of the invention.
[0020] FIG. 9 is a partial elevation view of an embodiment of the
invention.
[0021] FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of
the invention.
[0022] FIG. 11 is a partial side view of an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0023] FIG. 12 is a partial side view of a cable of the present
invention.
[0024] FIG. 13 is a partial front view of a cable of the present
invention.
[0025] FIG. 14A is a front view of a part of a scaffold assembly
according to another preferred embodiment of the invention; FIG.
14B is a partial side view of the scaffold of FIG. 14A; and FIG.
14C is a top view of a cable clamp used in the embodiment of FIG.
14A.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a suspended
scaffold assembly 20 according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention. It is understood throughout the present
description that the scaffold of the invention is intended to
provide access to any appropriate structure, may it be a building
or a vessel, for working on the side of or under a bridge, at the
construction field of a multi-storied building or any other
structure which needs to be accessed by a scaffold system, indoors
or outdoors. It is a particularly advantageous feature of the
present invention that it provides great flexibility of design so
that it may be adapted to structures of a wide variety of shapes
and heights.
[0027] The scaffold 20 includes a plurality of supporting cables
22. The number of cables in a given assembly may vary and is
preferably sufficient to provide the necessary access to the
structure. The cables are preferably made of threaded steel of
5/8'' of diameter, but could have different dimensions or be made
of any sufficiently strong material, such as for example nylon,
aluminum, stainless steel or even be chains of such materials.
[0028] The cables 22 are solidly suspended from an elevated portion
of the structure. By "elevated portion", it is meant that the
fastening point of the scaffold to the structure is sufficiently
high to ensure that the scaffold provides access to the areas of
the structure which need accessing, and it is understood that this
does not necessarily need to be at the actual top of the structure.
Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, in the preferred embodiment,
outriggers 24 are affixed to a counterweight 25 or directly to the
structure by any appropriate means such as bolts, and project
horizontally therefrom. The outriggers could for example be
embodied by any I-Beam or beams of rectangular or round hollow
sections, etc. The cables 22 are suspended from the outriggers by
solid attachment means such as eyebolts. In cases where the portion
of the structure to which the outriggers are mounted is uneven,
means may be provided to adjust the length of the cables to
compensate, such as a turnbuckle 23 (see FIG. 4). It is of course
understood that any other suspension system able to suspend cables
from an elevated structure would still fall within the scope of the
present invention.
[0029] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the
spacing between the cables varies from 7' to 10' apart, and the
length of the cables is either 50' or 100'. Referring to FIGS. 12
and 13, according to another preferred feature of the present
invention, a typical connection between two cables 22 and 22' is
shown attached end to end by a loop formed at one of their
respective extremities, and then joined together by a bolt 21
inserted in the loop of each cable, typically of 11/4'' in diameter
and 41/2'' in length.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 5, each cable 22 is provided with a
plurality of support members 26, rigidly affixed thereon and
disposed at regular intervals along the cable 22. By "rigidly
affixed", it is understood that the support members 26 are solidly
pre-installed on the cables 22, before installation of the scaffold
assembly, and are not removable therefrom. In the preferred
embodiment, the support members 26 are made of steel, have a 2''
diameter and are pressed or clamped on the cables 22. Although the
support members are herein shown to be cylindrical, they could have
a different cross-section, such as rectangular, or be variable
along the cable length.
[0031] The distance between consecutive support members 26 is a
fixed value selected between 250 mm and 1000 mm, and is preferably
of about 500 mm. When the cables 22 are suspended, the support
members 26 on a given cable 22 are in horizontal alignment with the
support members 26 of the neighbouring cables 22, so that it is
possible to affix a platform, stairway, guardrail, etc., at every
support member height. In this manner, all of the support members
form a "grid" which serves as the basis for the scaffold design and
configuration. This feature is particularly advantageous in that it
allows the scaffolding to be very versatile and adaptable to the
needs of a particular job or to structures of various configuration
or geometry. It also facilitates modifications to these
configurations after installation of the scaffold.
[0032] The scaffolding further includes a plurality of beams 36
mounted horizontally between pairs of neighbouring cables 22. The
beams 36 are preferably made of steel but may be made of any other
appropriate rigid material. They may also be of a telescopic
construction. The opposite extremities of each beam 36 are provided
with fastening assemblies 37 for fastening the corresponding
extremity of the beam 36 to a given cable 22, supported by one of
the support members 26 on this cable 22.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 11, a fastening assembly 37
according to a preferred embodiment is illustrated, the fastening
assembly 37 at each extremity of a given beam 36 being provided
with a pair of parallel transversally projecting arms 38 disposed
so as to be supported by the top surface 39 of the corresponding
support member. The arms 38 may be embodied by any appropriate
members such as, for example, a clip, an H-clip, or an L-shaped
metallic pin. The arms 38 are preferably affixed to the
corresponding beam by bolts 40. A further bolt 40 is used to bridge
the space between the arms 38 on the other side of the cable 22 to
prevent the cable 22 from slipping out of the space between the
parallel arms. In alternative embodiments, the arms 38 may be
welded to the beam 36 or affixed thereto by any other appropriate
means. It is understood that the above description of a fastening
assembly is given by way of example and that the beams may be
retained to the cables in any way without departing from the scope
of the present invention.
[0034] The suspended scaffold assembly of the present invention
further includes a plurality of scaffold elements mounted to the
beams and positioned so as to allow access to the structure. The
scaffold elements may be embodied by aluminum platforms, as is well
known in the art, or guard ramps or stairways, further adding to
the versatility of the design. Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2,
there are shown two examples of different simple configurations
which could be obtained with the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a
series of platforms 42 installed so as to surround a bridge pillar
at four different levels. Guardrails 44 are also provided. In the
embodiment of FIG. 2, four cables 22 are disposed to form a
stairwell in which stairways 46 are mounted, allowing workers to
travel conveniently from one platform to another.
[0035] Typically, the guardrails 44 are made of pipes of 1/2'' or
3/4'' in diameter but could also be made of wire rope, nylon, wood,
aluminum, pvc or any other appropriate material. The guardrails 44
may be embodied by the same beams 46 used to support the platforms
and stairways, or may be of a different construction. The support
of each platform is preferably made of hollow structural steel
(HSS) of 2''.times.2'' and of a length of 42'' along the width of
the platform. The platforms may be made of metal, wood or plywood,
steel, duckboard, aluminum, etc. The platform attachment means that
allow the attachment of the platform to the beams preferably
include 1/2'' bolts with jam nuts. The stairways may be of any
appropriate construction and material and be provided or not with
guardrails. Of course, these characteristics are given by way of
example and are not limitative to the scope of the present
invention.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 6 to 8 and 14A to 14C, in accordance with
another embodiment of the present invention the scaffold assembly
may be further provided with adjustable support members 48
removably affixed to cables 22 at intermediate positions between
the rigidly affixed support members 26 (see FIG. 14A). Contrary to
the rigidly affixed support members 26, the adjustable support
members may be added after installation of the scaffolding are
preferably used to support guardrails only. Preferably, the
adjustable support members 48 are made of two halves 28 and 30
attached together and around the cable by bolts 32, typically 1/2''
in diameter for a steel cable of 5/8'' in diameter. The adjustable
support members 48 may be provided with a cable clamp 34 supporting
it from underneath, as shown in FIGS. 6, 14B and 14C. In yet
another embodiment, the adjustable support members could be
embodied by wire clips or disks such as typically found in standard
scaffoldings for fastening components together.
[0037] The present invention therefore provides a versatile
scaffold assembly which is easy to install for one skilled in the
art and may provide convenient access to an elevated structure. In
a previous realisation of an embodiment of the invention, it was
surprisingly possible to mount a forty-five-level suspended
scaffold without difficulty, the overall structure being very
stable, and relatively inexpensive. Conveniently, the overall
structure may be covered with a hood (not shown) attached thereto,
made for example out of plastic or strong cloth, that would allow
workers to stay on the structure independently of bad weather or
the period of the year.
[0038] Advantageously, the cables with the pre-affixed support
members, beams, and scaffold elements of the present invention may
be sold in the form of a kit, which the user may install according
to his particular needs. The accompanying mounting components may
or may not be included as part of the kit.
[0039] Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the
embodiments described above without departing from the scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *