Scaffolding pipe of a structural scaffolding system and scaffolding element

Abstract

A scaffolding pipe of a structural scaffolding system extends from a first axial pipe end to an opposing second axial pipe end. A receiving portion is provided on the first axial pipe end and an insertion portion is provided on the second axial pipe end. The insertion portion has a reduced cross-section compared with the receiving portion and terminates with a radial shoulder which forms a support face. The receiving portion inner diameter is greater than the insertion portion outer diameter. The receiving portion at the first axial pipe end has one positioning groove which is interrupted or continuous in a peripheral direction which reduces the inner diameter of the receiving portion and which defines the minimum inner diameter of the receiving portion. A pipe wall of the scaffolding pipe has at the first axial pipe end a maximum wall thickness greater than the otherwise smaller wall thickness.

Claims

1. A scaffolding pipe of a structural scaffolding system, comprising: a pipe axis A which extends from a first axial pipe end to an opposing second axial pipe end; a receiving portion which is provided on the first axial pipe end; an insertion portion which is provided on the opposing second axial pipe end and which has a reduced cross-section compared with the receiving portion where the reduced cross-section terminates with a radial shoulder which forms an annular support face which is perpendicular to the pipe axis A and is directed towards the insertion portion; wherein an inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion is greater than an outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion so that an adjacent scaffolding pipe having an identical insertion portion can be inserted into the receiving portion of the scaffolding pipe wherein the first axial pipe end is configured to abut an identical annular support face of the adjacent scaffolding pipe; wherein a pipe wall of the scaffolding pipe at a furthest end of the first axial pipe end has a maximum wall thickness s.sub.max and otherwise has a smaller wall thickness s moving towards the opposing second axial pipe end; wherein the scaffolding pipe is produced in one piece from a metal pipe, and wherein the various portions are formed by plastic deformation; and wherein the first axial pipe end has an outer diameter d.sub.1,a and wherein the insertion portion has from the second axial pipe end to the radial shoulder an axial insertion length L.sub.E, wherein the axial insertion length L.sub.E is at least two times the length in comparison to the outer diameter d.sub.1,a.

2. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the following applies to the maximum wall thickness s.sub.max at the first axial pipe end: 1.2*ss.sub.max2*s.

3. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 2, wherein the maximal wall thickness s.sub.max is equal to 1.5 times the smaller wall thickness s.

4. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the scaffolding pipe at the first axial pipe end substantially corresponds to the outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the receiving portion.

5. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the scaffolding pipe has at the first axial pipe end a thickened portion in which the pipe wall is thickened in a substantially wedge-like manner from the smaller wall thickness s to the maximum wall thickness s.sub.max.

6. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 5, wherein the thickened portion has an axial dimension L.sub.A, where s<L.sub.A<5*s.

7. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 6, wherein the thickened portion has an axial dimension L.sub.A, where L.sub.A is approximately 2.5*s.

8. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the receiving portion at the first axial pipe end has a positioning groove which is interrupted or continuous in a peripheral direction and which reduces the inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion and defines a minimum inner diameter d.sub.1,i,min of the receiving portion.

9. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 8, wherein the insertion portion has from the second axial pipe end to the radial shoulder the axial insertion length L.sub.E, an axial spacing x.sub.p of the positioning groove from the first axial pipe end being smaller than a third of the axial insertion length L.sub.E.

10. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 8, wherein the insertion portion has from the second axial pipe end to the radial shoulder the axial insertion length L.sub.E, and an axial spacing x.sub.p of the positioning groove from the first axial pipe end being smaller than a fifth of the axial insertion length L.sub.E.

11. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 8, wherein an axial spacing x.sub.p of the positioning groove from the first axial pipe end is smaller than the inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion.

12. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 8, wherein the receiving portion has a second groove which is interrupted or continuous in a peripheral direction, this second groove having a larger axial spacing x.sub.N with respect to the first axial pipe end than the positioning groove, the second groove defining an inner diameter d.sub.1,i,N to which the following applies: d.sub.1,i,min<d.sub.1,i,N<d.sub.1,i.

13. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 12, wherein the insertion portion from the second axial pipe end to the radial shoulder has the axial insertion length L.sub.E, the following applying to an axial spacing x.sub.N of the groove with respect to the first axial pipe end: 0.5*L.sub.E<x.sub.N<L.sub.E.

14. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 13, wherein the insertion portion from the second axial pipe end to the radial shoulder has the axial insertion length L.sub.E, where x.sub.N is approximately equal to 0.8*L.sub.E.

15. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the scaffolding pipe has between the receiving portion and the insertion portion an intermediate region in which the scaffolding pipe has the same outer diameter d.sub.1,a as in the receiving portion.

16. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 15, wherein the intermediate region has adjacent to the radial shoulder an expansion portion, in which the scaffolding pipe expands radially towards the radial shoulder.

17. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the annular support face has an outer diameter d.sub.3,a which is greater than the outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the receiving portion.

18. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion adjacent to the radial shoulder has a contraction which extends in the peripheral direction so that the annular support face has an inner diameter d.sub.3,i which is smaller than the outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion.

19. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion tapers towards the second axial pipe end and forms a tapered introduction portion.

20. The scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, wherein the scaffolding pipe is part of an operational scaffolding system and the wall thickness s of the scaffolding pipe is a maximum of 3.2 mm, or is part of a load-bearing scaffolding system and the wall thickness s of the scaffolding pipe is from 2.7 mm to 3.2 mm.

21. A scaffolding element comprising a scaffolding pipe according to claim 1, the scaffolding element including a transverse carrier which is securely fitted to the scaffolding pipe, the transverse carrier being arranged perpendicularly relative to the scaffolding pipe on the receiving portion or on an intermediate region of the scaffolding pipe.

22. The scaffolding element according to claim 21, wherein there are provided two scaffolding pipes which are connected to each other by means of the at least one transverse carrier in order to form a frame element of the structural scaffolding system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Other features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated from the following description of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through two scaffolding pipes according to the invention which are inserted one inside the other according to a first embodiment;

(3) FIG. 2 is a detailed cut-out of FIG. 1 in the region of a first axial pipe end;

(4) FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section through two scaffolding pipes according to the invention which are inserted one inside the other according to a second embodiment;

(5) FIG. 4 is a detailed cut-out of FIG. 3 in the region of a first axial pipe end;

(6) FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a scaffolding element according to the invention with two scaffolding pipes according to the invention; and

(7) FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a scaffolding pipe according to the invention, in this instance for a modular scaffolding system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIGS. 1 to 4 show scaffolding pipes 10 for a structural scaffolding system, which pipes may be constructed as rods or members of a scaffolding element, for example, a frame element which is shown later. Each scaffolding pipe 10 comprises a pipe axis A which extends from a first axial pipe end 12 to an opposed second axial pipe end 14, a receiving portion 16 which is provided on the first axial pipe end 12 and an insertion portion 18 which is provided on the second axial pipe end 14 and which has a smaller outer cross-section than the remaining portions of the scaffolding pipe 10.

(9) An inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion 16 is larger than an outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion 18 so that an adjacent scaffolding pipe 10 having an identical insertion portion 18 can be inserted into the receiving portion 16.

(10) An intermediate region 20 connects the receiving portion 16 to the insertion portion 18, the intermediate region 20 preferably merging in a stepless manner with the same geometry and the same dimensions into the receiving portion 16.

(11) The intermediate region 20 is connected in an integral manner to the insertion portion 18 by means of a radial shoulder 22. The radial shoulder 22 has a support face 24 which is directed towards the insertion portion 18 and which acts as a stop when two scaffolding pipes 10 are inserted one inside the other.

(12) The entire scaffolding pipe 10 is preferably produced in an integral manner from a metal pipe, and the various portions are simply formed by means of plastic deformation of the scaffolding pipe 10.

(13) According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the receiving portion 16 has at the first axial pipe end 12 precisely one positioning groove 26 which is interrupted or continuous in the peripheral direction and which reduces the inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion 16. A minimum inner diameter d.sub.1,i,min of the receiving portion 16 is defined in this instance only by the precisely one positioning groove 26.

(14) This minimum inner diameter d.sub.1,i,min of the receiving portion 16 defined by the positioning groove 26 is only slightly larger than the outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion 18 so that two scaffolding pipes 10 which have been joined together in the region of the positioning groove 26 are connected in a radial direction in an almost play-free manner. This connection of the scaffolding pipes 10 which are inserted one inside the other with little radial play leads to a high degree of stability and load-bearing capacity of the structural scaffolding system.

(15) Since the receiving portion 16 has only a single positioning groove 26 which defines the minimum inner diameter d.sub.1,i,min, at the beginning of the insertion operation of two scaffolding pipes 10 a very high degree of tilting of the scaffolding pipes 10 is still possible so that, in spite of the small radial play in the region of the positioning groove 26, a simple assembly and disassembly of the structural scaffolding system are produced.

(16) In order to enable a particularly large tilting angle at the beginning of the insertion operation of two scaffolding pipes 10 and to fix to each other the scaffolding pipes 10 which have been inserted one inside the other in the region of the first axial pipe end 12 in the most radially play-free manner possible, it is advantageous for the positioning groove 26 to be arranged as close as possible to the first axial pipe end 12. However, the positioning groove 26 is spaced so far apart from the first axial pipe end 12 that the radial outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the receiving portion 16 is no longer reduced by the positioning groove 26. The diameter of an annular front face that forms the support face at the first axial pipe end 12 is consequently not reduced by the positioning groove 26, which has a positive effect on the stability and load-bearing capacity of the structural scaffolding system.

(17) The insertion portion 18 has from the second axial pipe end 14 to the radial shoulder 22 an axial insertion length L.sub.E, it having been found to be particularly advantageous for an axial spacing x.sub.P of the positioning groove 26 from the first axial pipe end 12 to be smaller than a third, in particular smaller than a fifth, of the axial insertion length L.sub.E. The insertion length L.sub.E is preferably in a range from approximately 150 mm to 250 mm.

(18) With respect to the inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion 16, it has been found to be particularly advantageous for the axial spacing x.sub.P of the positioning groove 26 from the first axial pipe end 12 to be smaller than the inner diameter d.sub.1,i of the receiving portion 16.

(19) As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the receiving portion 16 has another groove 28 which is interrupted or continuous in the peripheral direction, this groove 28 having with respect to the first axial pipe end 12 a larger axial spacing x.sub.N than the positioning groove 26 and further defining an inner diameter d.sub.1,i,N where: d.sub.1,i,min<d.sub.1,i,N<d.sub.1,i. This means in other words that the optional groove 28 has a larger radial play with respect to the insertion portion 18 of an inserted scaffolding pipe 10 than the positioning groove 26. The groove 28 serves only to reduce the tilting angle at the end of the insertion operation and in the joined-together state of two scaffolding pipes 10, which has an advantageous effect on the stability and load-bearing capacity of the structural scaffolding system, but which has hardly any disadvantageous effect on the ease of assembly thereof.

(20) A particularly great tilting angle reduction can be produced when the groove 28 in an axial direction is arranged with the greatest possible spacing from the positioning groove 26. With respect to the axial insertion length L.sub.E of the insertion portion 18, it has been found to be particularly advantageous if the following applies to an axial spacing x.sub.N of the groove 28 from the first axial pipe end 12: 0.5*L.sub.E<x.sub.N<L.sub.E, in particular x.sub.N0.8*L.sub.E.

(21) The insertion portion 18 has a tapering free end. The cross-section of the insertion portion 18 is reduced to such an extent that the outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion 18 is smaller than the inner diameter d.sub.1,i,min of the receiving portion 16 in the region of the positioning groove 26. It is consequently ensured that the insertion portion 18 of a first scaffolding pipe 10 can be inserted into the receiving portion 16 of an identical second scaffolding pipe 10.

(22) According to FIGS. 1 and 3, the insertion portion 18 of the scaffolding pipe 10 tapers in the direction towards the second axial pipe end 14 and forms a tapered introduction portion 30. The tapered introduction portion 30 is adjoined axially by a cylindrical introduction portion 32 having a substantially constant, circular-cylindrical cross-section.

(23) In production variants of the scaffolding pipe 10 having such a tapered introduction portion 30, it should be ensured that the optional groove 28 in the joined-together state of two scaffolding pipes 10 radially adjoins the cylindrical introduction portion 32 and not the tapered introduction portion 30, since otherwise no tilting angle reduction is produced by the groove 28.

(24) Furthermore, the scaffolding pipe 10 has on the insertion portion 18 an opening 33 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) which is provided for a securing pin which additionally secures the connection after two scaffolding pipes 10 have been joined together. The receiving portion 16 has a corresponding opening 35 which is in alignment with the opening 33 so that the securing pin can be inserted through the two openings 33, 35.

(25) In particular with reference to the section details in FIGS. 2 and 4, it can be clearly seen that a pipe wall 34 of the scaffolding pipe 10 on the first axial pipe end 12 has a maximum wall thickness s.sub.max and further has a substantially constant smaller wall thickness s.

(26) In the embodiments illustrated, the thickened portion of the pipe wall 34 at the first axial pipe end 12 was achieved by means of an upsetting deformation of the scaffolding pipe 10 in a radially inward direction so that an outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the scaffolding pipe 10 at the first axial pipe end 12 substantially corresponds to the outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the receiving portion 16. With the exception of the positioning groove 26 and the optionally provided groove 28, the receiving portion 16 consequently retains a constant substantially circular-cylindrical outer cross-section.

(27) According to FIGS. 2 and 4, the scaffolding pipe 10 has at the first axial pipe end 12 a thickened portion 36 in which the pipe wall 34 is thickened in a substantially wedge-like manner from the smaller wall thickness s to the maximum wall thickness s.sub.max, where the following applies to an axial dimension L.sub.A of the thickened portion 36: s<L.sub.A<5*s, in particular L.sub.A2*s, where s designates (with the exception of the thickened portion 36) the substantially constant wall thickness of the scaffolding pipe 10.

(28) With regard to this wall thickness s of the scaffolding pipe 10, the following applies to the maximum wall thickness s.sub.max at the first axial pipe end 12: 1.2*ss.sub.max2*s, in particular s.sub.max1.5*s.

(29) FIGS. 1 and 2 show scaffolding pipes 10 according to a first embodiment, in which the insertion portion 18 adjacent to the radial shoulder 22 has a contraction 38 which extends in a peripheral direction so that the annular support face 24 has an inner diameter d.sub.3,i which is smaller than the outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion 18.

(30) In contrast, FIGS. 3 and 4 show scaffolding pipes 10 according to a second embodiment which is, however, very similar in terms of structure and function to the first embodiment so that only differences will be discussed below.

(31) In a modification of the first embodiment, the scaffolding pipes 10 according to FIGS. 3 and 4 have adjacent to the radial shoulder 22 no contraction 38 which extends in a peripheral direction so that the inner diameter d.sub.3,i of the support face 24 substantially corresponds to the outer diameter d.sub.2,a of the insertion portion 18.

(32) Instead, the annular support face 24 of the scaffolding pipe 10 according to FIGS. 3 and 4, in contrast to the first embodiment, has an outer diameter d.sub.3,a which is greater than the outer diameter d.sub.1,a of the receiving portion 16.

(33) This is achieved by the intermediate region 20 of the scaffolding pipe 10 adjacent to the radial shoulder 22 having a conical expansion portion 40 in which the scaffolding pipe 10 radially expands in the direction towards the radial shoulder 22.

(34) With regard to the wall thickness s, the following applies to an expansion r of the expansion portion 40: 0.2*srs, in particular r0.5*s. Owing to the radial expansion r of the intermediate region 20, it is ensured that, when scaffolding pipes 10 are joined together, an optionally expanded front face of the first axial pipe end 12 is always in abutment with the support face 24 over the complete surface-area. Excessive surface pressure and non-uniform pressure distributions are thereby substantially prevented.

(35) Scaffolding pipes 10 according to FIGS. 1 to 4 may also be provided with scaffolding elements. These scaffolding elements are, for example, frame elements (see FIG. 5) or angled elements which in addition to the scaffolding pipe 10 have a transverse carrier 42 or a carrier which is constructed in another manner. These carriers are welded to the scaffolding pipe(s) 10, in particular to the receiving portion 16 or intermediate portion 20 thereof.

(36) In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, two scaffolding pipes 10 having different lengths are connected to each other by means of a transverse carrier 42 which is welded on in each case, with a scaffolding element being formed. Both scaffolding pipes 10 have in this case insertion portions 18 which are located at the same side and corresponding receiving portions 16 at the opposing ends thereof. An intermediate pipe may optionally be fitted on the shorter scaffolding pipe 10.

(37) Alternatively, the scaffolding pipe 10 may also be used for an angled element according to the invention.

(38) Apart from the thickened portion 36, the wall thickness s of the non-deformed scaffolding pipe 10 for an operational scaffolding system is a maximum of 3.2 mm, in particular approximately 2.7 mm, which is less than the wall thickness of conventional scaffolding pipes. Consequently, the scaffolding pipes 10 according to the invention are lighter and accordingly have advantages in terms of handling.

(39) FIG. 5 illustrates a portion of an operational scaffolding system which is arranged beside a construction site and which is walked on by workers.

(40) Alternatively, the scaffolding pipe 10 may also be part of a modular scaffolding system, as illustrated in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 specifically shows a scaffolding pipe 10 which is constructed as a carrier pipe and which, for example, carries a formwork for a ceiling. This scaffolding pipe 10 is also constructed as described above and illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. Apart from the thickened portion 36, the wall thickness s of such a scaffolding pipe 10 for load-bearing scaffolding systems is preferably between 2.7 mm and 3.2 mm, although this is not intended to be understood to be limiting, and is consequently smaller than the wall thickness of conventional pipes for load-bearing scaffolding systems.

(41) Round securing plates 44 which are optionally provided and fitted to the scaffolding pipe 10 serve to secure adjacent scaffolding components.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(42) 10 Scaffolding pipes

(43) 12 First axial pipe end

(44) 14 Second axial pipe end

(45) 16 Receiving portion

(46) 18 Insertion portion

(47) 20 Intermediate region

(48) 22 Shoulder

(49) 24 Support face

(50) 26 Positioning groove

(51) 28 Groove

(52) 30 Tapered introduction portion

(53) 32 Cylindrical introduction portion

(54) 33 Opening

(55) 34 Pipe wall

(56) 35 Opening

(57) 36 Expansion portion

(58) 38 Contraction

(59) 40 Expansion portion

(60) 42 Transverse carrier

(61) 44 Round securing plates