CONNECTOR FOR A MODULAR SCAFFOLD, MODULAR SCAFFOLD, METHOD FOR PRODUCING A MODULAR SCAFFOLD, AND USE OF A CONNECTOR

Abstract

A connector for a modular scaffold, having a connector tube having a tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter at least at one end, preferably at both ends, for connection to at least one vertical post, as well as a connector element which has at least one receiving recess for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace, wherein the connector element is fastened to the connector tube either indirectly via an extension arm or directly on the outer circumference.

A modular scaffold, a method of manufacturing a modular scaffold and a use of a connector within a modular scaffold.

Claims

1. A connector for a modular scaffold, comprising: a connector tube which, for connection to at least one vertical post, has at least at one end a tube section with an enlarged external and/or internal diameter; and a connector element which has at least one receiving recess for connection to at least one horizontal beam and/or a diagonal brace, wherein the connector element is fastened to the connector tube either indirectly via an extension arm or directly on the outer circumference.

2. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, the connector element is disc-shaped and oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the connector tube.

3. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, the connector element has a plurality of receiving recesses.

4. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, the connector element is formed as a rosette surrounding the connector tube or is attached at the end to a bracket which is attached at the other end to the outer circumference of the connector tube.

5. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, the extension arm has at least one further receiving recess aligned transversely to the at least one receiving recess of the connector element.

6. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, on the outer circumferential side of the connector tube at least two cantilevers of identical design and each radially aligned are fastened at a defined angular distance from one another.

7. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, the tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter has a plurality of shell-side locking recesses.

8. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, the tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter has at the end a plurality of, for example four, axially extending elongated guide elements, which are arranged at equal angular distance from each other.

9. The connector according to claim 8, wherein, the elongate guide elements are formed at least in regions from the tube section itself and/or are reinforced by additional material in the radial direction.

10. The connector according to claim 1, wherein, a pin is formed inside the tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter, which pin is arranged concentrically with respect to the tube section.

11. The connector according to claim 10, wherein, the pin has a plurality of, for example four, shell-side locking recesses, which are arranged on a circumferential line and/or at equal angular distance from each other.

12. The connector according to claim 10, wherein, the pin protrudes beyond the tube section and/or protrudes into an area of the tube section which has window-like recesses, for example for forming the elongate guide elements, so that the locking recesses are accessible from the outside.

13. A modular scaffolding with at least one connector according to claim 1 and 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 detachable connection to the connector.

14. The modular scaffold according to claim 13, wherein, the connector tube of the connector is detachably connected at the other end to a spindle or to a further vertical post.

15. A method of manufacturing a modular scaffold using a connector according to claim 1 as a scaffold node which, in the case of a system change within the modular scaffold, is used to maintain predetermined grid dimensions and to maintain predetermined clear dimensions which are required for the use of standardized scaffold components including standardized horizontal beams and/or standardized diagonal braces.

16. A use of a connector as a scaffold node within a modular scaffold for maintaining predetermined grid dimensions and for preserving predetermined clear dimensions, wherein two vertical posts or one vertical post and a spindle are connected with the aid of the connector.

17. The connector according to claim 1, wherein the connector tube has the tube section at both ends.

18. The connector according to claim 3, wherein: the plurality of receiving recesses comprises one of: four, six, or eight receiving recesses; and the plurality of receiving recesses are arranged at equal angular distance from one another.

19. The connector according to claim 5, wherein the at least one further receiving recess is in the form of an eyelet or eye.

20. The connector according to claim 7, wherein: the plurality of shell-side locking recesses comprises four recesses; and the plurality of shell-side locking recesses are arranged on a circumferential line and/or at equal angular distance from one another.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in more detail in the following with reference to the enclosed figures. These show:

[0041] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a connector according to the invention,

[0042] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a connector according to the invention,

[0043] FIG. 3 a side view of the connector of FIG. 1 in assembled state,

[0044] FIG. 4 a side view of the connector of FIG. 2 in assembled state,

[0045] FIG. 5 a perspective view of a preferred further modification of the connector of FIG. 2,

[0046] FIG. 6 a side view of the connector of FIG. 5 in assembled state,

[0047] FIG. 7 an exploded view of the connector of FIG. 5 and vertical posts to be connected to the connector,

[0048] FIG. 8 an enlarged view of the lower end of the connector of FIG. 5 in assembled condition,

[0049] FIG. 9 a perspective view of a preferred further development of the connector of FIG. 5,

[0050] FIG. 10 a perspective view of a further preferred embodiment of a connector according to the invention, and

[0051] FIG. 11 an exploded view of the connector of FIG. 10 and vertical posts to be connected to the connector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a first preferred embodiment (basic type 1) of a connector 200 for a modular scaffold 100 according to the invention. The connector 200 shown has a connector tube 210 with a tube section 211 whose outer and inner diameters are enlarged. That is, the connector tube 210 has a diameter step. The connector 200 can thus have its two ends connected to different vertical posts 300 or to a vertical post 300 and a spindle 600 (see FIG. 3). The diameter step compensates for the different tube diameters.

[0053] 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 FIG. 3). The connector elements 220 each have a receiving recess 221. Further receiving recesses 231 are formed in the extension arms 230, which also serve to connect scaffold components. The design and arrangement of the receiving recesses 231 allow in particular the connection of diagonal braces 500 (see FIG. 3).

[0054] As can be seen in FIG. 3, the vertical post 300 and the spindle 600 have different outer diameters. The difference in diameter is compensated by the connector 200. The different outer diameters also mean that the usual distances or clearances between two vertical posts 300 arranged in parallel are no longer maintained. This deviation is compensated for by the extension arms 230, so that the usual distances or clear dimensions are maintained and the use of standardized horizontal beams 400 and diagonal braces 500 is possible while maintaining specified grid dimensions.

[0055] The connector 200 of FIG. 3 has locking recesses 212 in the region of the tube section 211, wherein only one locking recess 212 is visible. Another one is arranged at the rear. A bolt or screw (not shown) can be inserted into these recesses to create a tension-resistant connection between the connector 200 and the vertical post 300. In this respect, corresponding locking recesses are formed in the vertical post 300 (not shown).

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a further preferred embodiment (basic type 2) of a connector 200 according to the invention for a modular scaffold 100. In contrast to the connector 200 of FIG. 1, the connector 200 shown in FIG. 2 has a tube section 211 with enlarged outer and inner diameters at each of its two ends. Furthermore, only one connector element 220 is provided, which is directly connected to the connector tube 210 and is formed as a rosette surrounding the connector tube 210. Accordingly, the connector 200 does not include any extension arms 230. The maintenance of the usual distances or clear dimensions is ensured here via the outer diameter of the connector tube 210 as well as the connector element 220, so that extension arms 230 are dispensable. The connector element 220 has first receiving recesses 221 for connection to horizontal ledgers 400 (see FIG. 4) and second receiving recesses 222 for connection to further scaffold components, for example to diagonal braces 500. The first and second receiving recesses 221, 222 are each arranged at an equal distance from one another, resulting in a cross-shaped arrangement in each case, wherein the first and second receiving recesses 221, 222 alternate.

[0057] It can further be seen from FIG. 2 that the tube sections 211 with enlarged outer and inner diameters each have elongated guide elements 213 at their ends. These are formed from the material of the respective tube section 211, for example by cutting, and are reinforced radially outwardly by additional material.

[0058] As shown by way of example in FIG. 4, the connector of FIG. 2 can be connected to two vertical posts 300, wherein the vertical posts 300 in particular can have an enlarged outer diameter to meet increased load requirements. The difference in diameter from a standard vertical post 300 is compensated for by the tube sections 211 of the connector 200 provided at both ends. In order to achieve a tension-resistant connection between the connector 200 and the vertical posts 300, locking recesses 212 are also provided here in the tube sections 211, into which a bolt or screw can be inserted.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows an advantageous further development of the connector 200 of FIG. 2. The further development consists in the formation of a pin 214, which is arranged within the upper tube section 211. The pin 214 projects beyond the tube section 211 in such a way that the pin 214 comes to lie between the elongated guide elements 213. The pin 214 enables the connector 200 to be connected to a vertical post 300, which is designed for medium or small loads, for example, and consequently has a smaller tube diameter than the tube section 211 (see FIG. 6). Locking recesses 215 are provided in the pin 214 to create a tension-resistant connection between the pin 214 and the vertical post 300. These serve for reception of a bolt or a screw (not shown), wherein corresponding locking recesses are formed in the vertical post 300. The locking recesses 215 are arranged on a circumferential line at the same angular distance from one another, in each case offset by 45 from the guide elements 213, so that the locking recesses 215 each come to lie centrally within a window-like recess 216 between two guide elements 213. Thus, the accessibility of the locking recesses 215 is maintained (see FIG. 6).

[0060] As exemplified in FIGS. 6 and 7, the connector 200 of FIG. 5 can be connected to different vertical posts 300, wherein the pin 214 within the upper tube section 211 provides an additional connection option. Depending on the outer or inner diameter of the vertical post 300 to be connected, it is centered by either the tube section 211 or the pin 214.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the lower vertical post 300 includes a connector element that is substantially the same as the connector element 220 of the connector 200. Thus, a horizontal beam 400 can also be connected to the connector element of the vertical post 300. This is shown by way of example in FIG. 8. The window-like recesses 216 in the lower tube section 211 of the connector 200 are dimensioned in such a way that the connection of the horizontal beam 400 is not obstructed. The spaces between the elongated guide elements 213 may thus have a further utility.

[0062] A further development of the connector 200 of FIG. 5 is shown in FIG. 9. Here, both ends of the connector 200 are identically formed. That is, the lower tube section 211 also has an internal pin 214. Thus, the lower end of the connector 200 also has extended connection possibilities.

[0063] 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 FIG. 10, an adapter tube 310 may alternatively be used between the connector 200 and the vertical post 300.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0064] 100 Modular scaffold [0065] 200 Connector [0066] 210 Connector tube [0067] 211 Tube section with enlarged outer and/or inner diameter [0068] 212 Locking recess [0069] 213 Guide element [0070] 214 Pin [0071] 215 Locking recess [0072] 216 Recess [0073] 220 Connector element [0074] 221 Receiving recess [0075] 222 Receiving recess [0076] 230 Extension arm [0077] 231 Receiving recess [0078] 300 Vertical post [0079] 310 Adapter tube [0080] 400 Horizontal beam [0081] 500 Diagonal brace [0082] 600 Spindle