Scaffold coupling element

Abstract

A scaffold coupling element comprises at least two coupling parts (14, 18) that are to be positioned so as to engage around a scaffold element, wherein a coupling part connecting screw element (26) of elongate extent in the direction of a connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L) is carried on a first coupling part (14) of the at least two coupling parts (14, 18), and an abutment region (50) for a coupling part connecting nut element (42) is provided on a second coupling part (18) of the at least two coupling parts (14, 18), wherein the coupling part connecting screw element (26) has an external thread (30), and the coupling part connecting nut element (42) has an internal thread (44) which is in, or can be brought into, threaded engagement with the external thread (30), wherein the external thread has a first thread portion (32) and has a second thread portion (34) which is spaced apart from the first thread portion (32) by a thread interruption portion (36) in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L), wherein the thread interruption portion (36) has, in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L), an extension length (EU) which is such that the internal thread (44) cannot simultaneously be in threaded engagement with the first thread portion (32) and the second thread portion (34).

Description

[0001] Scaffold coupling element

[0002] Description

[0003] The present invention relates to a scaffold coupling element comprising at least two coupling parts to be positioned so as to encompass a scaffold element. A coupling part connecting screw element elongated in the direction of a connecting screw element longitudinal axis is supported on a first coupling part of the at least two coupling parts, and an abutment area for a coupling part connecting nut element that is or can be threadably engaged with the coupling part connecting screw element is provided on a second coupling part of the at least two coupling parts.

[0004] Such scaffold coupling elements or scaffold couplings comprising two such scaffold coupling elements are used in the construction of scaffolding, grandstand scaffolding or the like in order to connect, for example, tubular scaffold elements in a stable yet detachable manner.

[0005] It is the object of the present invention to provide a scaffold coupling element in which an unintentional detachment of the coupling part connecting nut element from the coupling part connecting screw element is reliably prevented, but an intentional detachment of the coupling part connecting nut element from the coupling part connecting screw element is possible in a simple manner.

[0006] According to the invention, this object is achieved by a scaffold coupling element comprising at least two coupling parts to be positioned so as to encompass a scaffold element, wherein a coupling part connecting screw element elongated in the direction of a connecting screw element longitudinal axis is carried on a first coupling part of the at least two coupling parts, and an abutment area for a coupling part connecting nut element is provided on a second coupling part of the at least two coupling parts, wherein the coupling part connecting screw element has an external thread and the coupling part connecting nut element has an internal thread that is in threaded engagement with the external thread or can be brought into thread engagement with the external thread, wherein the external thread has a first threaded portion and a second threaded portion spaced apart from the first threaded portion by a thread interruption portion in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis,wherein the thread interruption section has an extension length in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis such that the internal thread cannot be in threaded engagement with the first threaded section and the second threaded section at the same time.

[0007] The thread interruption section acts as a retainer for the coupling part connecting nut element when it is unscrewed from the coupling part connecting screw element far enough to reach the thread interruption section. To move the coupling part connecting nut element further along the external thread and completely unscrew it from the coupling part connecting screw element, it must be screwed onto the external thread section closest to a free end of the coupling part connecting screw element and then moved over this section until it can be completely removed from the coupling part connecting screw element. This prevents unintentional loosening of the coupling part connecting nut element. Intentional loosening, however, is easily achieved without the need to remove components or deformations used for securing it.

[0008] In order to be able to screw the coupling part connecting nut element onto each of the two external thread sections without constraints, it is proposed that an extension length of the internal thread in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis is smaller than the extension length of the thread interruption section in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis.

[0009] Easy handling of the coupling part connecting nut element positioned in the thread interruption section can be supported by an outer diameter of the coupling part connecting screw element in the thread interruption section being smaller than a minimum inner diameter of the coupling part connecting nut element in the region of radially inner thread crest areas of the internal thread.

[0010] In order to enable a substantially free movement of the coupling part connecting nut element when positioning the same in the thread interruption region, it is proposed that the coupling part connecting screw element has a substantially unstructured, i.e. substantially smooth, surface in the thread interruption region.

[0011] In order to be able to move the coupling part connecting screw element in a simple manner for coupling the two coupling parts to one another, the coupling part connecting screw element can be pivotally supported on the first coupling part about a pivot axis that is substantially orthogonal to the connecting screw element longitudinal axis.

[0012] The coupling parts can be easily positioned to encompass a scaffold element if the first coupling part is pivotally coupled to the second coupling part.

[0013] For stable interaction of the coupling part connecting nut element with the second coupling part, it is proposed that the abutment area in the second coupling part comprises a connecting screw element receiving recess open for receiving the coupling part connecting screw element and, transversely to the connecting screw element longitudinal axis of the coupling part connecting screw element received in the connecting screw element receiving recess, an abutment surface on at least one side of the connecting screw element receiving recess for contacting the coupling part connecting nut element.

[0014] In order to be able to use the securing effect introduced by the thread interruption section efficiently, it is proposed that the coupling part connecting screw element is carried in a first axial end region on the first coupling part, that the second threaded section is positioned closer to a second axial end region of the coupling part connecting screw element than the first threaded section, and that when the scaffold coupling element is fixed to a scaffold element by interaction of the coupling part connecting screw element with the coupling part connecting nut element, the coupling part connecting nut element is in threaded engagement with the first threaded section.

[0015] In order to ensure that during normal use of the scaffold coupling element, the coupling part connecting nut element does not have to be moved into the area of ​​the second threaded section positioned closer to an axially free end of the coupling part connecting screw element, whereby the subsequent tightening of the coupling part connecting nut element when fixing the scaffold coupling element to a scaffold element is easier, it is proposed that when the coupling part connecting nut element is positioned in the thread interruption section and / or when the coupling part connecting nut element is screwed onto the first threaded section, the coupling part connecting screw element can be moved into and out of the connecting element receiving recess.

[0016] The invention further relates to a scaffold coupling with at least one scaffold coupling element constructed according to the invention.

[0017] In particular, if a scaffolding coupler is to be used for the stable connection of two similar scaffolding elements, it is advantageous if the scaffolding coupler comprises two scaffolding coupling elements which are connected to one another in the region of their first coupling parts.

[0018] For flexible use, the first coupling parts of the two scaffold coupling elements can be connected to each other so that they can rotate relative to each other about a scaffold coupling element rotation axis. If very high stability is required in a scaffold, it is advantageous if the first coupling parts of the two scaffold coupling elements are rigidly connected to each other, preferably by welding or as a one-piece construction.

[0019] Furthermore, the invention relates to a scaffold comprising at least two scaffold elements connected to one another by at least one scaffold coupling element constructed according to the invention and / or at least two scaffold elements connected to one another by at least one scaffold coupling constructed according to the invention.

[0020] The invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a scaffold coupling element encompassing a tubular scaffold element;

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a cross section through the scaffold coupling element and the scaffold element encompassed by it in Fig. 1;

[0023] Fig. 3 shows the detail of the threaded engagement of a coupling part connecting screw element with a coupling part connecting nut element of the scaffold coupling element of Fig. 1;

[0024] Fig. 4 a scaffolding coupler with two scaffolding coupling elements.

[0025] 1 and 2 show a tubular scaffolding element 10, for example, providing a vertical post or a horizontal bar or the like, which is encompassed by a scaffolding coupling element, generally designated 12. The scaffolding coupling element 12 comprises a first coupling part 14 and a second coupling part 18 pivotally connected to the first coupling part 14 by means of a pivot pin 16. Each of the two coupling parts 14, 18 provides a contact surface 20, 22 adapted to the outer peripheral geometry of the scaffolding element 10, with which they rest against an outer peripheral surface 24 of the scaffolding element 10 when the scaffolding coupling element 12 encompasses the scaffolding element 10 and is fixed thereto, and are acted upon by said contact surface.

[0026] On the first coupling part 14, a coupling part connecting screw element 26 is pivotally supported about a pivot axis S by means of a pivot pin 28. The two coupling pins 16, 28 can be positioned or oriented such that the pivot axis L is substantially parallel to a pivot axis defined by the coupling pin 16, about which the two coupling parts 14, 18 can pivot relative to each other.As an alternative to using the pivot pin 28 designed as a separate component, the coupling part connecting screw element 26 can be designed in the manner of a hammer head screw in its first axial end region 38 coupled to the first coupling part 14 and can have pivot coupling projections projecting transversely to the connecting screw element longitudinal axis L in opposite directions, which are supported on associated abutment sections of the first coupling part 14 so as to allow a pivoting movement of the coupling part connecting screw element 26.

[0027] An external thread, generally designated 30, is formed on the coupling part connecting screw element 26. The external thread 30 comprises a first threaded portion 32 and a second threaded portion 34. A thread interruption portion 36, which is designed without an external thread or with a substantially smooth, unstructured surface, is positioned between the two threaded portions 30, 34 in the direction of a connecting screw element longitudinal axis L, so that the two threaded portions 32, 34 are axially spaced from one another. The first threaded portion 32 is positioned closer to a first axial end region 38 of the coupling part connecting screw element 26 than the second threaded portion 36 and extends close to the first axial end region 38, in which the coupling part connecting screw element 26 is pivotally supported on the first coupling part 14.The second threaded portion 34 is positioned closer to a second axial end region 40 of the coupling part connecting screw element 26 or extends into this second axial end region 40, which essentially forms the free axial end of the coupling part connecting screw element 26.

[0028] A coupling part connecting nut element 42 is screwed onto the coupling part connecting screw element 26. The coupling part connecting nut element 42 has an internal thread 44 complementary to the external thread 30 and can be screwed first onto the second threaded section 34 and then onto the first threaded section 32 for attachment to the coupling part connecting screw element 26.

[0029] The internal thread 44 provided on the coupling part connecting nut element 42 is dimensioned such that its extension length Ei in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis L is smaller than an extension length Eu of the thread interruption region 36 in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis L. Furthermore, the coupling part connecting nut element 42 is dimensioned in the region of an opening 46 formed therein and surrounded by the internal thread 44 such that a minimum internal diameter Di in the region of thread crest regions 48 of the internal thread 44 is larger than an external diameter DA of the coupling part connecting screw element 26 in the region of the thread interruption section 36.

[0030] For interaction with the coupling part connecting nut element 42, an abutment area, generally designated 50, is formed on the second coupling part 18. The abutment area 50 comprises a laterally open connecting screw element receiving recess 52, into which the coupling part connecting screw element 26 can be pivoted when pivoted about the pivot axis S, so that, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it extends through the connecting screw element receiving recess 52 and the coupling part connecting nut element 42 covers an abutment surface 54 surrounding the connecting screw element receiving recess 52, preferably in a U-shape, or can come into contact with it.1 and 2, in which the scaffold coupling element 12 is fixed to the scaffolding element 10 encompassed by it by a clamping action, the coupling part connecting nut element 42 is screwed with its internal thread 44 onto the first threaded portion 32 of the external thread 30 and presses against the abutment surface 54 of the abutment area 52 on the second coupling part 18. As a result, the two coupling parts 14, 18 are urged towards one another and pressed against the outer peripheral surface 24 of the coupling element 10.

[0031] To detach the scaffold coupling element 12 from the scaffold element 10, the coupling part connecting nut element 42, which is designed, for example, as an external hexagon, is rotated using a suitable tool and moved along the first threaded portion 32 in the direction of the thread interruption portion 36 or the second threaded portion 34. The contact pressure of the coupling part connecting nut element 42 against the abutment surface 54 is thereby canceled, and after sufficient further axial movement of the coupling part connecting nut element 42 toward the second axial end region 40, the coupling part connecting screw element 26 can be pivoted out of the connecting screw element receiving recess 42, so that the two coupling parts 14, 18 can subsequently be pivoted relative to one another and moved away from the scaffold element 10.

[0032] In this state, in which the coupling part connecting screw element 26 can be pivoted into and out of the connecting screw element receiving recess 52 with the coupling part connecting nut element 42 positioned thereon, it can be provided, for example, that the coupling part connecting nut element 42 continues to be in threaded engagement with the first threaded portion 32 of the external thread 30 via its internal thread 44. This enables particularly simple handling during the subsequent reattachment of the scaffold coupling element 12 to a scaffold element 10, since it is not necessary to first ensure that this threaded engagement between the internal thread 44 and the first threaded portion 32 of the external thread 30 is established.Alternatively, the dimensioning of the coupling part connecting screw element 26 can be selected such that, in order to enable pivoting of the coupling part connecting screw element 26 out of the connecting screw element receiving recess 52, the coupling part connecting nut element 42 must be completely released from the first threaded section 32 of the external thread 30 and moved into the thread interruption section 36.

[0033] However, in the scaffold coupling element 12, it is fundamentally provided that, for attaching it to a scaffold element 10 or for detaching it from a scaffold element 10, the coupling part connecting nut element 42 does not have to be moved beyond the thread interruption section 36 into the area of ​​the second threaded section 34 or screwed onto it. This is only necessary if the coupling part connecting nut element 42 is to be intentionally detached from and removed from the coupling part connecting screw element 26, for example, in order to replace the coupling part connecting nut element 42 with a new coupling part connecting nut element if it is damaged. The thread interruption section 36 thus forms a loss prevention device, beyond which the coupling part connecting nut element 42 can only be moved by targeted manipulation.An unintentional detachment of the coupling part connecting nut element 42 from the first threaded section 32 of the external thread 30 cannot therefore lead to the coupling part.

[0034] Connecting nut element 42 is completely separated from the coupling part-

[0035] Connecting screw element 26 is released.

[0036] Since the thread interruption section 36 has the dimensions mentioned above, which ensure that the coupling part connecting nut element 42 is not in threaded engagement with both threaded sections 32, 34 at the same time and thus cannot be inadvertently unscrewed completely from the coupling part connecting screw element 26, and since, in addition, the coupling part connecting nut element 42 positioned in the thread interruption section 36 can be moved radially with respect to the coupling part connecting screw element 26, the coupling part connecting nut element 42, when positioned in the thread interruption section 36, can be screwed in a simple manner onto each of the two threaded sections 32, 34 positioned axially on either side thereof.

[0037] Such a scaffold coupling element 12 can be used, for example, by being secured to the front end of a tubular scaffold element or to a different type of scaffold element, for example by welding. A scaffold element constructed in this way or combined with a scaffold coupling element 12 can then be securely connected to another tubular scaffold element by this scaffold coupling element 12, for example, at an angle of 90°. With a scaffold element with a correspondingly angled end, any angle can be achieved for such a coupling of two tubular scaffold elements.

[0038] In an alternative embodiment, as illustrated in Fig. 3, two such scaffold coupling elements 12, 12', for example identically constructed, can be connected to one another. For this purpose, as also shown in Fig. 3, the two first coupling parts 14, 14' can be connected to one another by means of a coupling bolt 56 so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation A relative to one another, for example, within an angular range of 360°. In this way, two tubular scaffold elements 10, 10' extending at any angle to one another can be coupled to one another.

[0039] In a further alternative embodiment of a scaffold coupling 58 comprising two such scaffold coupling elements 12, 12', the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12' can be rigidly connected to one another by their two first coupling parts 14, 14', for example by welding or screwing or the like. Depending on the intended use, the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12' can be connected to one another, as indicated in Fig. 3, in such a way that the two scaffold elements 10, 10' to be coupled together by them run essentially parallel to one another. Alternatively, the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12' could also be connected to one another in such a way that the two scaffold elements 10, 10' to be coupled together by them run at an angle to one another, for example, they are oriented essentially orthogonally to one another, depending on the intended use.

[0040] The rigid connection of the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12' can also be achieved by manufacturing their first coupling parts 14, 14' in one piece, i.e., as an integral block of material. For example, a component comprising the two first coupling parts 14, 14' can be provided as a forged part or as a metal casting.

[0041] Even if the first coupling parts 14, 14' of the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12' are designed to be separate from one another and rigid or rotatable with respect to one another, the first coupling parts 14, 14' as well as the second coupling parts 18, 18' thereof can be provided as forged parts or metal castings.

[0042] In a scaffold coupling 58 comprising two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12', the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12', as previously mentioned, can be constructed essentially identically to one another, so that the scaffold elements 10, 10' to be coupled together by them are essentially identical to one another, at least in the area in which they are to be coupled together by the scaffold coupling elements 12, 12', in particular with regard to their cross-sectional geometry and cross-sectional dimensions. If the two scaffold coupling elements 12, 12' are designed differently from one another, it is also possible to couple scaffold elements with different cross-sectional geometries and / or different cross-sectional dimensions.

Claims

Claims 1. Scaffold coupling element, comprising at least two coupling parts (14, 18) to be positioned so as to encompass a scaffold element, wherein a coupling part connecting screw element (26) elongated in the direction of a connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L) is carried on a first coupling part (14) of the at least two coupling parts (14, 18), and an abutment area (50) for a coupling part connecting nut element (42) is provided on a second coupling part (18) of the at least two coupling parts (14, 18), wherein the coupling part connecting screw element (26) has an external thread (30) and the coupling part connecting nut element (42) has an internal thread (44) that is or can be threadably engaged with the external thread (30),wherein the external thread has a first threaded portion (32) and a second threaded portion (34) spaced apart from the first threaded portion (32) by a thread interruption portion (36) in the direction of the connecting screw element's longitudinal axis (L), wherein the thread interruption portion (36) has an extension length (Eu) in the direction of the connecting screw element's longitudinal axis (L) such that the internal thread (44) cannot be in threaded engagement with the first threaded portion (32) and the second threaded portion (34) simultaneously.

2. Scaffold coupling element according to claim 1, characterized in that an extension length (Ei) of the internal thread (44) in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L) is smaller than the extension length (Eu) of the thread interruption section (36) in the direction of the connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L).

3. Scaffold coupling element according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an outer diameter (DA) of the coupling part connecting screw element (26) in the thread interruption section (36) is smaller than a minimum inner diameter (Di) of the coupling part connecting nut element (42) in the region of radially inner thread crest area. area (48) of the internal thread (44), or / and that the coupling part connecting screw element (26) has a substantially unstructured surface in the thread interruption area (36).

4. Scaffold coupling element according to one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the coupling part connecting screw element (26) is pivotally supported on the first coupling part (14), preferably about a pivot axis (S) substantially orthogonal to the connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L).

5. Scaffold coupling element according to one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the first coupling part (14) is pivotally coupled to the second coupling part (18).

6. Scaffold coupling element according to one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the abutment area (50) in the second coupling part (19) comprises a connecting screw element receiving recess (52) open for receiving the coupling part connecting screw element (26) and, transversely to the connecting screw element longitudinal axis (L) of the coupling part connecting screw element (26) received in the connecting screw element receiving recess (52), on at least one side of the connecting screw element receiving recess (52), an abutment surface (54) for the coupling part connecting nut element (42) to bear against.

7. Scaffold coupling element according to one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the coupling part connecting screw element (26) is carried in a first axial end region (38) on the first coupling part (14), that the second threaded portion (34) is positioned closer to a second axial end region (40) of the coupling part connecting screw element (26) than the first threaded portion (32), and that by interaction of the coupling part connecting screw element (26) with the coupling part- Connecting nut element (42) on a scaffold coupling element (12) fixed to a scaffold element (10), the coupling part connecting nut element (42) is in threaded engagement with the first threaded portion (32).

8. Scaffold coupling element according to claim 6 and claim 7, characterized in that when the coupling part connecting nut element (42) is positioned in the thread interruption section (36) and / or when the coupling part connecting nut element (42) is screwed onto the first threaded section (32), the coupling part- Connecting screw element (26) is movable into and out of the connecting element receiving recess (52).

9. Scaffold coupling comprising at least one scaffold coupling element (12) according to one of claims 1-8.

10. Scaffold coupling according to claim 9, characterized in that two scaffold coupling elements (12, 12') are connected to one another in the region of their first coupling parts (14, 14').

11. Scaffold coupling according to claim 10, characterized in that the first coupling parts (14, 14') of the two scaffold coupling elements (12, 12') are connected to one another so as to be rotatable relative to one another about a scaffold coupling element rotation axis (A).

12. Scaffold coupling according to claim 10, characterized in that the first coupling parts (14, 14') of the two scaffold coupling elements (12, 12') are rigidly connected to one another, preferably by welding or one-piece construction.

13. Scaffolding comprising at least two scaffolding elements connected to one another by at least one scaffold coupling element (12) according to one of claims 1 - 8 and / or at least two scaffolding elements connected to one another by at least one scaffold coupling lung (58) according to one of claims 9-11 interconnected scaffold elements (10, 10').

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