Harsco Corporation

Patent Construction Systems, Harsco Corporation

Michael S D'Alessio

Robert S Safier

Stanley A Sandler

Richard C Mocny

Charles Matcovich

Geoffrey Mules

Gerald Herman

Gary Smith

A steel plank for scaffolding which comprises a thin sheet metal bendment with a top surface and a bottom surface. The steel plank also comprises an elongated bottom plate attached to the thin sheet metal bendment. The steel plank further comprises a non-slip material attached to the bottom side of the bottom plate.

Steel plank for scaffolding

A cross member which joins two support columns to form an improved scaffold support assembly. The cross member includes an elongated tubular arm having a plate member fixedly attached thereto. The plate member has opposed ends which are slotted such that a joint plate, which is attached at one end to a support column, passes through each slot and is attached at the other end to the cross member.

Scaffold cross member and modular support assembly

A combination scaffold plank comprised of a metal platform having a rectangular base, side flanges extending downwardly from each side of said rectangular base and return flanges extending inwardly from the end of each side flange. At each end of said metal platform said return flanges are cut away or bent upwards, and a pair of slip resistant blocks is secured to the lower or inner surface of said metal platform. A slip resistant board is then secured to the base of each pair of slip resistant blocks such that the slip resistant board extends below the side flanges and return flanges, thereby providing the surface upon which the combination scaffold plank can rest. This surface provides sufficient friction to prevent slipping of the combination scaffold plank off of the metal scaffold frame, or the upper metal surface of another scaffold plank, on which it rests.

Combination scaffold plank

A scaffolding support assembly particularly useful as a base for modularized post-and-runner type scaffolding used on the interior of boilers or similar large interior spaces having sloping bottom walls when employed for inspection, repair, maintenance, etc. Such scaffolding support assembly preferably comprising a scaffolding post swivel base having pivotably attached thereto longitudinally adjustable stabilizing diagonals having a connector assembly at the free end of said diagonal for securing to a connector, preferably lower, on an adjacent scaffolding post. The resulting scaffolding system has unique versatility and ease in rapidity of assembly because the swivel bases rest on the sloping sides without attachment thereto, being stabilized in position by the adjustable diagonals.

Scaffolding system for sloped surfaces

A right-angled triangular shoring or scaffolding frame unit having its acute apices blunted at right angles to the adjacent side and having multiple holes therein adapted for bolt assembly in a plurality of positions. Said triangular units preferably are made from aluminum and used in identical pairs assembled symmetrically to brace a pair of vertical load-bearing aluminum legs, said triangular units having adjacent legs of different lengths whereby the widths of the assembled frames can be varied by bolting the pair(s) of triangular units to each other edge-to-edge between the vertical legs with either the shorter, or alternatively the longer, of the adjacent legs oriented horizontally.

Shoring frame

A drive pinion disengaging device for use in rack and pinion hoists includes an outer section of rack having toothed portions above and below, an at least potentially toothless portion, and a bridging rack section adapted to be removed at the toothless portion by the drive pinion when under a predetermined load to permit the latter to disengage the rack in case of malfunction. This permits the large rotational inertia to be dissipated without injury to the drive mechanism. The point of disengagement is such as to occur preferably only when the hoist is engaged by the safety landing buffers (since the drive pinion is normally the only effective support for the hoist). The bridging rack section may be in the form of a narrow sliding rack maintained in a longitudinal slot in the main rack (extending along the entire toothless portion and slightly up into the toothed portion above) and normally secured in place across such actually toothless portion by a shear pin, detent, and the like; or may be a rack having shearable teeth (preferrably thinner than the main rack, or optionally of a softer material).

Safety device

In post and runner type scaffolding, a uniquely formed integral connector is created from the end of the runner or other similar cross-member. The integral connector secures to a scaffolding post bracket (preferably in the form of a ring flange concentrically affixed to said post and having a circular array of identical cutouts) and abuts forcefully against the convex surface of said post by means of a wedge acting through one of said cutouts. The connector has a longitudinally extending cross-slot in its end of a width and depth to accommodate the bracket therein, dividing the connector end into upper and lower limbs. The free end of each limb terminates with the tubular walls thereof reformed from the tubular shape of said cross-member to a shape (preferably more flattened) effective to strengthen and stiffen said limbs for their intended use of supporting scaffolding loads and connection stresses. A hole is formed in each limb so as to be adapted to align generally with any one of the cutouts in said bracket to accommodate said wedge.

Scaffolding connector and system

A shoring system having base frames with legs preferably of extruded aluminum in oval cross-section (for optimal support with minimal use of materials) and optionally having three T-slots formed integrally therewith and extending the length thereof (for versatility in bracing), and preferably in combination with telescoping extension frames formed of extruded aluminum and adjustably inter-connected with respective uppermost base frames by U-pins (or channeled load collars) fastened through pairs of locating holes (or dual slots) spaced along each extension frame leg. The locating holes (or slots) are formed in thickened walls on either side of a central hollow core in each extension frame leg (to accommodate retraction of a jack screw mounted on the leg).

Shoring system and parts thereof

A shoring system having base frames with legs preferably of extruded aluminum in oval cross-section (for optimal support with minimal use of materials) and optionally having three T-slots formed integrally therewith and extending the length thereof (for versatility in bracing), and preferably in combination with telescoping extension frames formed of extruded aluminum and adjustably inter-connected with respective uppermost base frames by U-pins fastened through dual locating holes spaced in pairs along each extension frame leg. The dual locating holes are formed in thickened walls on either side of a central hollow core in each extension frame leg (to accommodate retraction of a jack screw mounted on the leg).

A wedge-and-bolt connector assembly for adjustably fixing a stud to a slotted thin-walled structure or the like, and especially for use in a scaffolding or shoring system to connect braces to vertical support elements or stanchions when the latter have outwardly opening T-slotted channels formed therein, which assembly includes a stud (advantageously having a T-shaped head adapted to be received in the channel) and a shank extending through the channel slot away from the head. The shank has a bearing surface thereon facing the stud head; and a tapered wedge is slidably mounted on the shank for engaging the bearing surface, thereby to urge the bolt head against the shoulders of the channel and firmly secure the stud to the support element. The wedge preferably has a longitudinal slot through which said T-bolt is loosely mounted. The free end of the stud may include an extension having a toggle thereon or other illustrated modifications for securing the brace to the stud shank. For saftey, the shank of the T-bolt advantageously has at least a flattened portion (e.g. a squared portion) to engage the sides of the wedge-slot or the channel slot for positive orientation; the wedge having a nub on its underside to fit in the channel slot to orient the wedge parallel to the channel slot.

Connector assembly

A coupler (for joining tubing to a shoring leg or the like, having a T-shaped bolt slot extending along the length of such leg) is formed of a sickle-shaped metal strap or extrusion, having a C-shaped central portion, a radial extension portion at one end, and a tangential T-portion at the other end, said T-portion being formed of a head and a relatively narrow neck with adjacent opposing shoulders; and a T-bolt secured through a hole in the extension portion. The head and shoulders defining the neck of the T-portion are spaced and shaped so as readily to accommodate therebetween the lips forming the T-slot when the T-portion is inserted generally perpendicularly into the T-slot and yet grippingly bite into said lips when the coupler falls into the cocked open position. This permits the coupler provisionally to cradle and hold the tubing in place before the T-bolt is fastened. Advantageously, the coupler is hinged between the C-portion and the T-portion, thereby assuring that the T-portion continuously grips against vertical movement in the vertically disposed T-slot, even during fastening of the T-bolt.

Coupler

An improved shoring frame adapted by a unique design to utilize relatively thin-walled aluminum tubing with a reasonable load-rating, be easily manufactured, and be compatible with existing steel accessories; where the extruded aluminum legs are each generally circular with a longitudinally-extending flattened portion for attaching struts and studs, and preferably having at least two internal ribs, circumferentially symmetrically-spaced relative to said flattened portion axially to contain accessories such as existing jack screws, extension legs, U-head fixtures, and the like.

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Flushing, NY, United States of America

Michael S D'Alessio