Suspended Chain Scaffolding Employing Adjustable Posts With Chain Threaded Therethrough

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to scaffolding and more particularly to a chain-supported scaffolding for use inside of a building or vessel or in working under a bridge.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Scaffolding is often required in the interior of a building or vessel. It is desirable that the scaffolding utilized be flexible, and easily assembled and moved in the vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,943 teaches scaffolding arrangement for finishing the inside of an LNG vessel. U.S. Pat. No. 3,307,529 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,068,738 teach collapsable chain-supported scaffolding for use on a building or vessel.

The present invention is directed to a chain-supported scaffolding arrangement which is particularly suitable for use inside of a building or vessel or in working under a bridge. A plurality of spaced apart hanging vertical chains are utilized for providing support for vertical scaffolding posts. The vertical hanging chain can be attached to the roof or top of the vessel or pass through an opening formed in the top of the structure. A chain-engaging plate is fastened around a link of the chain at a desired location to engage and provide support for the associated vertical post. The chain-engaging plate has a recess formed in the top thereof for receiving and positioning the bottom of the associated vertical post. The spaced apart posts provided on the chains are interconnected by horizontal extending members which define horizontal levels. Each vertical post has a plurality of receptacles formed integral therewith. The ends of the horizontal members are provided with connectors which mate with or engage the receptacles on the vertical posts. The connectors and receptacle members are formed to prevent movement around their connection axes after engagement. When the various vertical posts and horizontal interconnecting members are assembled, a relatively stiff hanging scaffolding structure is provided. Planks can be provided between the various horizontal support members to provide a work surface.

A scaffolding arrangement according to the disclosed invention provides a relatively large and open horizontal work area without cross bracing or tie rods between the various horizontal levels. The work area provided on the horizontal levels is obstructed only by the vertical support posts. This scaffolding arrangement facilitates movement within the work area.

The desired locational positioning of the scaffolding can easily be changed by varying the location which the vertical posts are supported from the hanging chains. When not in use, the chains can be easily stored in a container. The various horizontal and vertical members are also easily disengaged and stored.

For a better understanding of this invention, reference may be had to the preferred embodiment exemplary of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view according to the teaching of the present invention of a chain-supported scaffolding arrangement;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a corner of the scaffolding arrangement shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the chain-engaging plate utilized for supporting vertical posts from the chain;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the chain-engaging plate shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the chain-supporting plate and a portion of a vertical post; and

FIG. 6 is a view taken in FIG. 5 along the line VI-VI.

Referring now to the drawings and FIG. 1 in particular, there is shown a partially assembled scaffolding arrangement 10 constructed according to the teaching of the present invention. A plurality of vertically hanging chains 12 are provided within the area where scaffolding is desired. Vertical hanging chains 12 are spaced apart within the scaffolding area. A plurality of vertical posts 14 are supported from chain 12 by a slotted chain-engaging plate 16. Each vertical post 14 is supported from chain 12 by chain-engaging plate 16. Chain engaging plate 16 is fastened to chain 12. A plurality of horizontal members 18 extend between various vertical posts 14. Horizontal members 18 define various horizontal levels.

Suitable flooring, such as wooden planks, can be provided between horizontal members to define work areas. An additional plurality of horizontal members 18 can be positioned above and around the work areas to function as a safety guardrail. Several safety guardrail levels of horizontal members 18 can be provided above each work area if desired. Various vertically or horizontally spaced-apart work areas can be provided as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an enlarged view of a corner of the scaffolding arrangement 10 as shown in FIG. 1. Hollow vertical post 14 is disposed around chain 12. Posts 14 provide vertical support for scaffolding 10 from chains 12. Horizontal members 18 are supported only from vertical posts 14. That is, no cross bracing between horizontal members 18 of different horizontal layers is required other than the support provided by vertical posts 14. The ends of each horizontal member 18 are provided with connectors 20 which engage mating receptacles 22 on vertical posts 14. Alternately, the ends of horizontal member 18 can be formed with a square tubular member similar in cross section to receptacle members 22 and can be fastened to receptacles 22 by a square-securing pin. When the scaffolding arrangement is assembled and in place, various other horizontal members such as wooden planks can be used for interconnecting horizontal member 18 which are on the same work level. Preferably, the ends of the horizontal members are connected to the vertical posts by a strong connector which prevents movement around the connection axes such as a SWISS-LOK connection manufactured by Swiss Fabricating, Pittsburgh, Pa. The SWISS-LOK connection prevents movement of the horizontal members 18 about the point of connection to vertical posts 14 and provides for a relatively stiff or rigid structure when assembled. U.S. Pat. No. 4,057,943 assigned to the assignee of the present invention and whose teachings are hereby incorporated by reference discloses in more detail the desired type of connection between vertical members 14 and horizontal members 18.

Each vertical post 14 is supported by a slotted-support plate 16 which engages chain 12. Plate 16, which is shown in more detail in FIGS. 3 through 6, is fastened by a chain 24 to posts 14. This prevents support plate 16 from being separated from post 14 during storage. Plate 16 has a generally U-shaped cross section with slot 26 formed therein. Slot 26 is formed to fit around a link of chain 12. During use when plate 16 is in place, locking pin 28 is positioned through openings 30, 31 to prevent plate 16 from moving off of chain 12. Securing pin 28 is attached to support plate 16 by chain 32. With plate 16 in position, the chain link beneath the link disposed in slot 26 engages and supports the bottom of support plate 16. Support plate 16 has a recess 34 formed therein for receiving the bottom of post 14. Recess 34 maintains vertical posts 14 at a desired engagement position with plate 16. The use of link chain 12 permits the vertical position of post 14 to be adjustable, link by link, to achieve the desired height of the horizontal platform.

Chain 12 can either be fastened to the top of a structure or as shown in FIG. 6, extend through an opening 40 formed therein. Opening 40 can be relatively small, being large enough only to allow chain 12 to pass freely therethrough. A slotted plate 42 or a pin can secure the chain to the outside of structure 44. Vertical chain 16 can be dropped through opening 40 at desired locations and secured at the top. Scaffolding structure 10 can then be installed. When the work is completed, the scaffolding structure 10 is removed and chain 12 can be withdrawn from the top of support 44 and conveniently stored in a container. The disclosed scaffolding is relatively easy to assemble, disassemble and store.