EP0311491B1 - Scaffold with triangulated elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a scaffolding formed by the assembly of triangulate elements, each of them having a vertical tube (1) and a locking device (13-18) for interlocking the vertical tube of one triangulate element with the vertical tube of another triangulate element. According to the invention, a) the male connector (2) of the vertical tube (1) of a triangulate element (A) is hollow and has an internal diameter (D1) not less than that of the vertical tube; and, b) the locking device is formed by a "bayonet" connection of two locking device elements, one (13) emerging in the external surface of the male connector (2), the other (18) in the internal surface of the female connector (3) of each vertical tube (1), such that a tube (23) of external diameter (D23) slightly less than the internal diameter (D1) of the vertical tubes (1) of the triangulate elements can freely slide inside two adjacent vertical tubes. One application is the simple and efficient construction of support scaffolding. <IMAGE>

Description

FR-A-1315671 describes a triangulated scaffolding element allowing, by fitting the male fitting fittings into the female fittings, the production of robust and stable scaffolding, in particular in the industrialized form in which a pin locks the fitting of each pair of two male-female fittings.

FR-A-2306318 further describes a scaffolding comprising a latch constituted by a "bayonet" mounting of two latch elements opening one in the external surface of the male fitting fitting, the other in the internal surface of the fitting vertical tube nesting female.

It is also often asked to ensure that upper complementary tubes can be adapted to the vertical tubes of the highest triangular elements, in order, in particular in retaining scaffolding, to adjust the total height of the scaffolding according to the height of the structure to be supported. The screw jacks located at the upper ends of the scaffolding having a maximum clearance much lower than that necessary to achieve the above adjustment, it is therefore necessary to have recourse to said additional tubes, the length of which must be significantly greater than the height of a vertical tube triangulated element (for example 1.7 times this height) to obtain both satisfactory guidance of the complementary tube along the vertical tube of the triangulated element and a sufficient adjustment length.

It is also essential, and this is essential in retaining scaffolding, that the complementary tubes have sufficient sections to support the loads to be supported. However, in the production of the aforementioned French patent, the male end pieces have a narrowed lower section, and in any case have a normal section smaller than that of the vertical tubes of the triangulated elements into which they are introduced, so that it becomes impossible, without modifications, to use the corresponding scaffolding. In addition, the locking pins of the Sockets, practically used and passing through fitting fittings, also constitute obstacles to the adaptation of complementary adjustment tubes.

Finally, it turns out that the above triangulated elements are very interesting for making scaffolding, because they are robust and reduce the number of parts appreciably.

The object of the invention is to propose a modification of these triangulated elements in order, while retaining the principle of construction of a scaffold by means of such triangulated elements, substantially all of the same model for a determined scaffold, allowing adaptation of the aforementioned upper complementary tubes and thus obtain the desired adjustment.

The invention therefore relates to a scaffolding constituted by the assembly of a plurality of triangulated elements, each of them comprising a vertical hollow tube having two ends, a first of these two ends being provided with a male connector d 'fitting and the second of these ends being provided with a female fitting fitting; a substantially horizontal tube having two ends, a first of these two ends of the substantially horizontal tube being fixed on the vertical tube in the vicinity of one of the two said ends of this vertical tube and the second of the two ends of the substantially horizontal tube being provided with '' a female immobilization fitting, and, an oblique tube for connecting said vertical and substantially horizontal tubes, fixed on these said tubes, while the male fitting fitting the vertical tube of a first triangulated element is capable of being introduced concomitantly, first in the female fitting for immobilizing the substantially horizontal tube of a second triangulated element, then in the female fitting fitting the vertical tube of a third triangulated element, in order, on the one hand, to produce the mounting in alignment of the vertical tubes of said first and third triangulated elements, on the other hand realizing the immobilization of the second end of the substantially horizontal tube of the second triangulated element.

According to the invention, a) the male fitting fitting of the tube vertical of a triangulated element is hollow and has an inside diameter at least equal to the inside diameter of the vertical tube; b) the female fitting fitting the vertical tube of a triangulated element is constituted by a sleeve which has an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter of the second end of said vertical tube and which is fixed to this second end of the vertical tube; c) a latch is formed by a "bayonet" mounting of two latch elements opening one into the external surface of the male interlocking fitting, the other into the internal surface of the female interlocking fitting of each vertical tube , and, maintains the introduction of the male fitting fitting of the vertical tube of the first triangulated member into the female fitting fitting of the vertical tube of the third triangulated member; so that the minimum diameter of a column of vertical tubes belonging to several of said triangulated elements after their assembly is at least equal to the internal diameter of a vertical tube and that then a complementary tube of external diameter slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the vertical tubes of triangulated elements is capable of sliding freely inside two adjacent vertical tubes assembled of triangulated elements without being hindered either by said male interlocking fitting or by said latch and to be adapted to one of the lower and upper ends of said column of vertical tubes, in an adjustable position by means of an immobilizing device such as a plurality of holes spaced along said complementary tube and capable of cooperating with a pin made integral with the vertical tube of said end of said column of vertical tubes.

• ― le raccord mâle d'emboîtement du tube vertical d'un élément triangulé est constitué par la première extrémité elle-même dudit tube vertical;
• ― la première extrémité d'un tube vertical, qui est munie du raccord mâle d'emboîtement, est constituée par l'extrémité inférieure dudit tube vertical;
• ― l'élément du verrou à "baîonnette" solidaire du raccord mâle d'emboîtement est constitué par l'élément mâle de ce verrou à "baîonnette" et coopère avec l'élément femelle dudit verrou, qui est constitué par une rainure ménagée dans l'épaisseur dudit manchon, la partie du manchon délimitée par deux sections transversales entre lesquelles est située ladite rainure étant de préférence renforcée par une bague externe;
• ― la position relative de deux éléments triangulés superposés, dans laquelle le raccord mâle d'emboîtement du tube vertical de l'un desdits éléments triangulés est susceptible de pénétrer dans le raccord femelle d'emboîtement du tube vertical de l'autre de ces deux éléments triangulés, correspond à un premier décalage angulaire, rapport à l'axe commun de leurs tubes verticaux, cependant que, d'une part, la rotation relative des deux dits éléments triangulés annulant ce premier décalage angulaire permet l'obtention du verrouillage de maintien de l'introduction du raccord mâle d'emboîtement du tube vertical d'un des deux dits éléments triangulés dans le raccord femelle d'emboîtement du tube vertical de l'autre des deux éléments triangulés, d'autre part, une rotation complémentaire au-delà de ladite rotation d'annulation du premier décalage angulaire, dans le sens opposé à ce premier décalage angulaire, est permise par ledit montage à "baîonnette", réalisant un deuxième décalage angulaire maximal, lesdits premier et deuxième décalages angulaires ayant des amplitudes limitées à des valeurs permettant à un monteur d'échafaudage de trouver un appui sur l'élément triangulé supérieur dans les positions relatives extrêmes correspondant au premier et deuxième décalages angulaires;
• ― le raccord femelle d'emboîtement du tube vertical d'un élément triangulé est situé à l'extrémité supérieure dudit tube vertical, et, de préférence, la première extrémité du tube sensiblement horizontal d'un élément triangulé est disposée au voisinage de l'extrémité supérieure du tube vertical dudit élément triangulé, les tranches supérieure du raccord femelle d'emboîtement du tube vertical et inférieure du raccord femelle d'immobilisation du tube sensiblement horizontal étant contenues dans un même plan perpendiculaire à l'axe du tube vertical;
• ― la profondeur axiale du raccord femelle du tube vertical d'un élément triangulé, comprise entre la tranche transversale externe dudit raccord et la tranche transversale de la deuxième extrémité dudit tube vertical, est au plus égale à la longueur du raccord mâle d'emboîtement, de manière que, dans la configuration d'assemblage de deux éléments triangulés superposés, après introduction complète du raccord mâle d'emboîtement du tube vertical d'un de ces deux éléments triangulés dans le raccord femelle d'emboîtement du tube vertical de l'autre élément triangulé, les tranches extrêmes adjacentes des tubes verticaux des deux éléments triangulés soient en appui l'une sur l'autre.

The following advantageous arrangements are, moreover, preferably adopted:

• - The male fitting fitting of the vertical tube of a triangulated element is constituted by the first end itself of said vertical tube;
• - The first end of a vertical tube, which is provided with the male fitting connector, is constituted by the lower end of said vertical tube;
• The element of the "bayonet" lock secured to the male interlocking connector is constituted by the male element of this "bayonet" lock and cooperates with the female element of said lock, which is constituted by a groove made in the thickness of said sleeve, the part of the sleeve delimited by two cross sections between which said groove is located being preferably reinforced by an outer ring;
• - The relative position of two superimposed triangulated elements, in which the male fitting fitting of the vertical tube of one of said triangulated elements is likely to penetrate into the female fitting fitting of the vertical tube of the other of these two elements triangulated, corresponds to a first angular offset, relative to the common axis of their vertical tubes, while, on the one hand, the relative rotation of the two said triangulated elements canceling this first angular offset allows the locking of maintenance of the introduction of the male fitting fitting of the vertical tube from one of the two said triangulated elements into the female fitting fitting of the vertical tube of the other of the two triangulated elements, on the other hand, a complementary rotation beyond said cancellation rotation of the first angular offset, in the opposite direction to this first angular offset, is permitted by said "bayonet" mounting, achieving a second maximum angular offset, said first and second angular offsets having amplitudes limited to values allowing a scaffold erector to find support on the upper triangular element in the extreme relative positions corresponding to the first and second angular offsets;
• - The female fitting fitting the vertical tube of a triangulated element is located at the upper end of said vertical tube, and, preferably, the first end of the substantially horizontal tube of a triangulated element is disposed in the vicinity of the upper end of the vertical tube of said triangulated element, the upper edges of the female fitting fitting of the vertical tube and the lower of the female fitting of immobilizing the substantially horizontal tube being contained in the same plane perpendicular to the axis of the vertical tube;
• The axial depth of the female connector of the vertical tube of a triangulated element, lying between the external transverse section of said connector and the transverse section of the second end of said vertical tube, is at most equal to the length of the male fitting connector, so that, in the configuration of assembly of two superimposed triangulated elements, after complete insertion of the male fitting fitting of the vertical tube of one of these two triangulated elements into the female fitting fitting of the vertical tube of the other triangulated element, the adjacent extreme edges of the vertical tubes of the two triangulated elements are in contact with one another.

The main advantage of the invention is functional: while retaining the principle of using triangulated elements, appreciated for their robustness and the simplicity of the assemblies, it has become possible, with the new triangulated elements, to carry out all of the desired size settings.

The invention will be better understood, and secondary characteristics and their advantages will appear during the description of embodiments given below by way of example.

It is understood that the description and the drawings are given for information only and are not limiting.

• ― la figure 1 est une vue en élévation d'un élément triangulé conforme à l'invention;
• ― les figures 2A, 3A et 4A sont des vues de dessus de deux éléments triangulés, en trois configurations d'assemblage distinctes, respectivement;
• ― les figures 2B, 3B et 4B sont des vues simplifiées montrant les positions du verrou des deux éléments triangulés des figures 2A, 3A et 4A, respectivement;
• ― la figure 5 est une vue perspective de la partie inférieure d'un échafaudage conforme à l'invention, les divers éléments étant prêts à être assemblés, mais non encore assemblés;
• ― la figure 6 est une vue perspective du même ensemble que celui de la figure 5, mais dans la configuration assemblée des divers éléments;
• ― la figure 7 est une vue perspective de la partie supérieure d'un échafaudage conforme à l'invention, les divers éléments étant présentés en vue de leur assemblage, mais n'étant pas encore assemblés;
• ― la figure 8 est une vue perspective d'une partie de l'ensemble de la figure 7, les divers éléments étant dans leur configuration d'assemblage;
• ― la figure 9 est une vue partielle en coupe axiale de trois éléments triangulés conformes à l'invention dans leur configuration d'assemblage;
• ― la figure 10 est une vue perspective d'un élément utilisé dans la réalisation de l'échafaudage des figures 7 et 8; et,
• ― la figure 11 est une vue perspective représentant les détails permettant l'assemblage d'une variante d'éléments triangulés, également conformes à l'invention.

Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• - Figure 1 is an elevational view of a triangulated element according to the invention;
• - Figures 2A, 3A and 4A are top views of two triangulated elements, in three separate assembly configurations, respectively;
• - Figures 2B, 3B and 4B are simplified views showing the positions of the latch of the two triangulated elements of Figures 2A, 3A and 4A, respectively;
• - Figure 5 is a perspective view of the lower part of a scaffolding according to the invention, the various elements being ready to be assembled, but not yet assembled;
• - Figure 6 is a perspective view of the same assembly as that of FIG. 5, but in the assembled configuration of the various elements;
• - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the upper part of a scaffolding according to the invention, the various elements being presented for assembly, but not yet assembled;
• - Figure 8 is a perspective view of part of the assembly of Figure 7, the various elements being in their assembly configuration;
• - Figure 9 is a partial view in axial section of three triangulated elements according to the invention in their assembly configuration;
• - Figure 10 is a perspective view of an element used in the production of the scaffolding of Figures 7 and 8; and,
• - Figure 11 is a perspective view showing the details allowing the assembly of a variant of triangulated elements, also according to the invention.

• ― un tube creux vertical 1, dont la section interne a un diamètre D1 sensiblement constant, et qui possède une première extrémité 2, constituant un raccord mâle d'emboîtement, et une deuxième extrémité 3, constituant un raccord femelle d'emboîtement;
• ― un tube sensiblement horizontal 4, dont une première extrémité 5 est fixée sur la partie externe de la deuxième extrémité 3 (raccord femelle) du tube vertical, et dont la deuxième extrémité 6 est constituée par un fer plat coudé, ayant une aile horizontale 7, munie d'un orifice 8 formant raccord d'immobilisation;
• ― un tube oblique 9, de liaison desdits tubes vertical 1 et sensiblement horizontal 4, fixé, d'une part, à proximité de la première extrémité 2 (raccord mâle d'emboîtement) du tube vertical, d'autre part, sur une aile verticale 10 que comporte la deuxième extrémité 6 du tube sensiblement horizontal 4.

The invention intends to retain the use of triangulated elements for the construction of scaffolding. According to this invention, such an element, represented in FIGS. 1 and 9, comprises:

• - A vertical hollow tube 1, whose internal section has a substantially constant diameter D1, and which has a first end 2, constituting a male fitting connector, and a second end 3, constituting a female fitting connector;
• - a substantially horizontal tube 4, a first end 5 of which is fixed to the external part of the second end 3 (female connector) of the vertical tube, and the second end of which 6 is constituted by a bent flat iron, having a horizontal wing 7 , provided with an orifice 8 forming immobilization fitting;
• - an oblique tube 9, for connecting said vertical 1 and substantially horizontal tubes 4, fixed, on the one hand, near the first end 2 (male interlocking connector) of the vertical tube, on the other hand, on a wing vertical 10 which comprises the second end 6 of the substantially horizontal tube 4.

The male fitting connector 2 of a vertical tube 1 is constituted by the section of the lower end of said vertical tube 1, delimited by the lower extreme cross section 11 of the tube. This section is surrounded from a D12 of said cross-section distance 11, by a first sleeve 12 fitted to the outer face 1a of this part of the tube 1 in the lower part of which has been cut the male member 13 a bayonet type locking bolt. This first sheath 12 has its upper part (above the male element 13 which remains free) surrounded by a second sheath 14, delimited by its lower extreme cross section 15.

• ― la section transversale inférieure 11 du tube vertical 1 de l'élément triangulé A repose, et est en appui de transmission d'effort, sur la section transversale supérieure 16 du tube vertical 1 de l'élément triangulé C;
• ― la section transversale inférieure du fourreau 14 est disposée au-dessus de la face supérieure 7a de l'aile horizontale 7, éventuellement avec un petit jeu J, interdisant à cette aile horizontale 7 et à l'élément triangulé B dont elle fait partie, de se soulever vers le haut, après mise en place de l'élément triangulé A et verrouillage des éléments de verrou 13 et 18;
• ― le fourreau 12 de l'élément triangulé A, ainsi que l'élément mâle 13 du verrou "à baïonnette", ont traversé l'orifice 8 de ladite aile horizontale 7, interdisant cette fois tout déplacement de ladite aile par rapport à l'axe commun 22 des deux tubes verticaux 1, dès lors que, par ailleurs, la partie inférieure du tube vertical 1 de l'élément triangulé intermédiaire 8 a été immobilisé (voir figure 6);
• ― l'alignement des tubes verticaux 1 des deux éléments triangulés supérieur A et inférieur C (axe commun 22) et l'absence de de proéminence à l'intérieur desdits tubes (notamment absence de goupille de verrouillage) rend possible le libre passage d'un tube 23 de diamètre extérieur D23 légèrement inférieur au diamètre intérieur D1 des tubes verticaux 1;
• ― les sections transversales supérieures 19 et 21 des premier et deuxième fourreaux situés à la partie supérieure d'un tube vertical 1 sont situées sensiblement dans un même plan P (perpendiculaire à l'axe 22) des tubes verticaux 1);
• ― comme représenté sur la figure 1, le plan P des sections transversales supérieures 19 et 21 de l'extrémité supérieure du tube vertical 1 d'un élément triangulé contient sensiblement aussi la face inférieure 7b de la deuxième extrémité 6 du tube sensiblement horizontal 4 du même élément triangulé;
• ― la face inférieure 7b de l'aile 7 de l'élément triangulé intermédiaire B repose sur la section transversale supérieure 21 du fourreau 20 (figure 9);
• ― les diamètres internes des manchons 17 et 20 sont légèrement supérieurs aux diamètres externes des manchons 12 et 14, respectivement, afin de permettre la réception de ces derniers à l'intérieur des premiers cités;
• ― la profondeur axiale P17 du fourreau 17 est légèrement inférieure à la longueur L1 du tronçon de l'extrémité inférieure d'un tube vertical 1, de manière à assurer le contact de sections extrêmes 11 et 16 de l'assemblage de la figure 9.

The female fitting connector 3 of a vertical tube 1 is constituted by the section of the upper end of said vertical tube 1, delimited by the upper extreme cross section 16 of said vertical tube. This section is surrounded by a first sheath 17, which exceeds said cross section 16, which is notched with a notch 18 constituting the female element of said nesting lock of the "bayonet" type and which is finally delimited by a cross section upper 19. Finally, the upper part of this first sheath 17 is surrounded, from a cross section 24 located below the notch 18, and in the region of this notch 18, by a second sheath 20, intended to mask said notch and to reinforce the first sheath 17 in the region of the notch, and delimited by an upper cross section 21. FIG. 9 represents the assembly of the vertical tube 1 of a first upper triangulated element A, with the immobilization fitting 8 (constituted by an orifice) of a second intermediate triangulated element B and with the vertical tube 1 of a third lower triangulated element C. These triangulated elements are shown sented just before and after assembly in figures 5 and 6. The following points can be noted, with reference to Figure 9:

• - The lower cross section 11 of the vertical tube 1 of the triangulated element A rests, and is in force transmission support, on the upper cross section 16 of the vertical tube 1 of the triangulated element C;
• - The lower cross section of the sheath 14 is disposed above the upper face 7 a of the horizontal wing 7, possibly with a small clearance J, preventing this horizontal wing 7 and the triangulated element B of which it is part , to lift upwards, after the triangulated element A has been put in place and the lock elements 13 and 18 have been locked;
• - The sheath 12 of the triangulated element A, as well as the male element 13 of the "bayonet" bolt, have passed through the orifice 8 of said horizontal wing 7, this time preventing any movement of said wing relative to the common axis 22 of the two vertical tubes 1, since, moreover, the lower part of the vertical tube 1 of the triangulated intermediate element 8 has been immobilized (see FIG. 6);
• - The alignment of the vertical tubes 1 of the two triangulated upper A and lower C elements (common axis 22) and the absence of prominence inside said tubes (in particular the absence of a locking pin) makes possible the free passage of a tube 23 of outside diameter D23 slightly smaller than the inside diameter D1 of the vertical tubes 1;
• - The upper cross sections 19 and 21 of the first and second sleeves located at the upper part of a vertical tube 1 are located substantially in the same plane P (perpendicular to the axis 22) of the vertical tubes 1);
• - As shown in Figure 1, the plane P of the upper cross sections 19 and 21 of the upper end of the vertical tube 1 of a triangulated element contains also substantially the lower face 7b of the second end 6 of the substantially horizontal tube 4 of the same triangulated element;
• - The underside 7b of the wing 7 of the triangulated intermediate element B rests on the upper cross section 21 of the sheath 20 (Figure 9);
• The internal diameters of the sleeves 17 and 20 are slightly greater than the external diameters of the sleeves 12 and 14, respectively, in order to allow reception of the latter inside the first cities;
• - the axial depth P17 of the sleeve 17 is slightly less than the length L1 of the section of the lower end of a vertical tube 1, so as to ensure the contact of end sections 11 and 16 of the assembly of FIG. 9.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B and 4A, 4B show three configurations that the substantially horizontal tubes 4 of the upper A and lower C triangular elements can take, the male fitting fitting of the vertical tube of one being introduced into the female fitting of the vertical tube on the other, the axes 22 of the two vertical tubes being combined.

FIGS. 2A, 2B, first show the configuration for introducing the male element 13 of the lock into the female groove 18 of said lock, the substantially horizontal tube 4 of the upper triangulated element A being offset by a rotation R1 in a first direction S1 with respect to the substantially horizontal tube of the lower triangulated element C. In this configuration, there is obviously no locking and the upper triangulated element A can also be mounted on the lower triangulated element C , that being separated from this lower triangulated element C.

Figures 3A, 3B show the configuration of the final assembly, as illustrated in Figure 6. The angular offset P1 has been removed, compared to the previous configuration of Figure 2A, by a rotation R1 of the upper triangulated element A in the opposite direction to the direction S1. The two substantially horizontal arms are superimposed (seen from above), and the male element 13 of the latch of the upper triangulated element A cooperates with the lower part of the notch 18 of the lower triangulated element C to prevent any disengagement of the vertical tube of one relative to the vertical tube of the other triangulated element.

FIGS. 4A, 4B represent a configuration in which, beyond that of FIGS. 3A, 3B, the upper triangulated element A has undergone a new rotation R2, in the direction S2 opposite to S1. This rotation allows the mounting of a triangulated element according to the upper triangulated element A considered, next element located at the same height as the element A (at the upper end of the rightmost vertical tube of Figures 5 and 6) .

It is important to note that the rotations in one direction S1 or in the other direction S2 are limited to the extreme rotations R1 and R2, which have values such that an assembler can still rest on the upper triangulated element A, even in the extreme configurations of FIGS. 2A and 4A, without falling.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the completely conventional presence of foot screw cylinders 24 for supporting the columns of vertical tubes 1 superimposed. Note that, in these figures, the scaffolding shown has a square or a diamond as its base, but that the provisions of the invention apply to all other types of scaffolding with a polygonal base (with five, six sides, or more, or even three-sided).

Figures 7 and 8 show the upper part of a scaffolding according to the invention.

The presence of last isolated vertical tubes 23, not included in non-deformable triangles should be noted, associated of course with other horizontal tubes 25 and oblique 26 (of adjustable lengths) allowing to complete the various triangulations. These vertical tubes 23 are capable of sliding inside the one or two last vertical tubes 1 of the columns of such superposed tubes, in the manner shown in FIG. 9. These tubes 23 are provided with several tansversal holes 27, regularly spaced, which allow its height adjustment by means of pins 28 introduced concomitantly into the orifices of a particular mounting element 29, described with reference to FIG. 10, and of a pair of said holes 27 of each tube 23. Conventionally , screw jacks 30 are adapted to the upper part of each vertical tube 23 to adjust the total support height of the scaffolding with precision. In a similar manner to FIGS. 5 and 6, FIGS. 7 and 8 show the same part of scaffolding before assembly, the various elements being presented for assembly, and, after assembly.

The mounting element 29 is shown in FIG. 10. It consists of two half-shells 31, of generally cylindrical shape, articulated by an axis 32, around adjacent edges 33, and which, once closed, are capable of ensuring the same function as that of the male interlocking connector 2 of a vertical tube 1. This mounting element 29 can be fixed at any desired height along a tube 23, since each of its shells is provided with a hole 34, which in cooperation with a pair of holes 27 in the tube 23 and the pin 28, effectively allows said fixing of the mounting element 29 on the tube 23.

A male latch element 13A, similar to element 13, equips at least one of the shells 31 and allows the tube 23 to be locked on the upper end of the last vertical tube 1 of one-piece triangulated element. The advantage of this particular mounting element 29 is that it can be dismantled independently of the tube 23 on which it is mounted, by simple removal of the pin 28, unlocking of the lock 13A, sliding along the tube 23 and opening of the shells 31, and, after this dismantling of the element 29, the sliding of the tube 23 inside the vertical tube or tubes 1 of the triangulated elements.

Figure 11, finally, shows an alternative assembly of two vertical tubes 1 of triangulated elements. Note that the upper end of the lower tube widens into a collar 35, in the internal face of which two grooves 36 are formed. The end of the substantially horizontal tube 4 is shaped like a U, the upper branch 37 of which is provided with the orifice 8 forming an immobilizing connector, and adapts to the upper end face of the collar 35, while the lower leg 38 of the U has an opening 39 allowing it to pass a vertical tube 1, but to be blocked under the lower face 40 of collar 35. Finally, two pins 41 (only one visible in the figure) secured to the end lower of the vertical tube 1 upper extend transversely, towards the outside, from the external face of said tube 1, and can cooperate with the grooves 36 to ensure the mounting, and the locking in the mounted position of the three parts: the two vertical tubes 1 and the substantially horizontal tube 4.

As has just been seen, the arrangements in accordance with the invention allow free sliding, inside tubes vertical 1 of triangulated elements, of complementary vertical tubes 23 of external diameters very little less than their internal diameter, therefore without excessive weakening of the support structure, and of length as large as necessary to obtain a desired height adjustment and good guidance in the tubes 1.

Furthermore, the definition of the locks used makes it possible to obtain extreme configurations which are safety configurations, since the pivoting deflections of the upper triangulated element are limited there, this upper triangulated element also providing support for an edifying fitter. scaffolding.

All this is finally obtained while retaining the principle of using triangulated elements, appreciated for their robustness.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described, but on the contrary covers all the variants which could be made to them without departing from their scope, defined by the content of the claims.

Claims (9)

1. Scaffolding consisting of the assembly of a plurality of triangular elements (A, B, C), each of them comprising:

― a vertical hollow tube (1) having two ends, a first one (2) of these two ends comprising a male or spigot end and the second one (3) of these ends comprising a female or socket end,

― an approximately horizontal tube (4) having two ends, a first one (5) of these two ends of the approximately horizontal tube being fixed to the vertical tube (1) in the vicinity of one of the two said ends of this vertical tube and the second one (1) of the two ends of the approximately horizontal tube being provided with a female locking connector (8), and

― an oblique tube (9) for the connection of said vertical (1) and approximately horizontal (4) tubes, fixed to these said tubes, while the spigot end (2) of the vertical tube (1) of a first triangular element (A) is capable of being introduced concomitantly, first into the female locking connector (8) of the approximately horizontal tube (4) of a second triangular element (B), then into the socket end (3) of the vertical tube (1) of a third triangular element (C), in order on the one hand to achieve assembly in alignment (22) of tire vertical tubes (1) of said first (A) and third (C) triangular elements, and on the other hand to achieve locking of the second end (7) of the approximately horizontal tube (4) of the second triangular element,

characterised in that

a) the spigot end (2) of the vertical tube (1) of a triangular element is hollow (1) and has an inside diameter (D1) at least equal to the inside diameter of said vertical tube (1);

b) the socket end of tire vertical tube of a triangular element consists of a sleeve (17, 20) which has an inside diameter greater than the outside diameter (D1) of the second end of said vertical tube (1) and which is fixed (20, 17) to this second end of the vertical tube (1);

c) a lock (13, 18) consists, in a manner known in the art, of a "bayonet" assembly of two lock elements opening one (13) into tie outer surface (1a) of the spigot end (2), the other (18) into the inner surface (17, 20) of the socket end (3) of each vertical tube (1), and maintains introduction of the spigot end of the vertical tube of the first triangular element into the socket end of the vertical tube of the third triangular element;

so that the minimum diameter of a column of vertical tubes (1) belonging to several of said triangular elements after assembly thereof is at least equal to the inside diameter of a vertical tube (1) and so that then a complementary tube (23) of outside diameter (D23) slightly smaller than the inside diameter (D1) of the vertical tubes (1) of the triangular elements is capable of sliding freely inside two adjacent assembled vertical tubes of triangular elements without being encumbered either by said spigot end or by said lock (13, 18) and of being adapted to one of the lower and upper ends of said column of vertical tubes (1), in a position adjustable by means of a locking device such as a plurality of holes spaced apart along said complementary tube and capable of cooperating with a pin made integral with tie vertical tube (1) of said end of said column of vertical tubes.

2. Scaffolding according to claim 1, characterised in that tie spigot end of the vertical tube of a triangular element consists of the first end itself of said vertical tube (1).

3. Scaffolding according to either of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the first end (2) of a vertical tube (1), which comprises the spigot end, consists of the lower end of said vertical tube.

4. Scaffolding according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the "bayonet" lock element integral with the spigot end consists of the male element (13) of this "bayonet" loci and cooperates with the female element (18) of said lock, which consists of a groove formed in the thickness of said sleeve (17, 20).

5. Scaffolding according to claim 4, characterised in that the portion of the sleeve (17) bounded by two cross-sections between which is situated said groove is reinforced by an outer ring (20).

6. Scaffolding according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the relative position (Fig. 2A) of two superimposed triangular elements (A, C) in which the spigot end of the vertical tube of one of said triangular elements is capable of entering the socket end of the vertical tube of the other of these two triangular elements corresponds to a first angular displacement (R1), in a first direction (S1), of the planes of the two triangular elements relative to the common axis (22) of their vertical tubes (1), while on the one hand relative rotation (R1) of the two said triangular elements, cancelling this first angular displacement (Fig. 3A), makes it possible to obtain maintaining locking of the introduction of the spigot end of the vertical tube of one of the two said triangular elements into the socket end of the vertical tube of the other of the two triangular elements, and on the other hand complementary rotation (R2) beyond said rotation which cancels the first angular displacement, in the opposite direction (S2) to this first angular displacement, is allowed by said "bayonet" assembly (Fig. 4A), achieving a second maximum angular displacement, said first and second angular displacements having quantities limited to values allowing a scaffolding erector to find support on the upper triangular element in the extreme relative positions corresponding to the first and second angular displacements.

7. Scaffolding according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the socket end (3) of the vertical tube of a triangular element is situated at the upper end of said vertical tube (1).

8. Scaffolding according to claim 7, characterised in that the first end (5) of the approximately horizontal tube (4) of a triangular element is arranged in the vicinity of the upper end (3) of the vertical tube (1) of said triangular element, the upper edge (21) of the socket end of the vertical tube and lower edge (7b) of the female locking connector (8) of the approximately horizontal tube (14) being contained in the same plane (P) perpendicular to the axis (22), of the vertical tube (1).

9. Scaffolding according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the axial depth (P17) of the socket end (3) of the vertical tube (1) of a triangular element, between the outer transverse edge (21) of said socket end and the transverse edge (16) of the second end of said vertical tube (1), is at most equal to the length (L1) of the spigot end, in such a way that, in the assembled configuration of two superimposed triangular elements, after complete introduction of the spigot end of the vertical tube of one of these two triangular elements into the socket end of the vertical tube of the other triangular element, the adjacent end edges (11 and 16) of the vertical tubes of the two triangular elements bear on each other.

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