Apparatus and kit for mounting scaffold hoists

Abstract

Apparatus comprising a winch (8) configured with respective members for its fastening to a support structure (7P; 7S) and provided with a cable (81) attachable to a frame on which a scaffold hoist is mounted, the cable passing through a guide part (7E) formed on the support structure (7P; 7S).

Description

[0001] TITLE

[0002] Apparatus and kit for mounting scaffold hoists.

[0003] DESCRIPTION

[0004] The present invention relates to an apparatus and a kit for mounting scaffold hoists.

[0005] It is known that scaffold hoists comprise a motorized winch, in which the drum on which the wire rope is wound is connected to an electric gear motor, supported by a metal frame; the frame generally comprises an upright, a horizontal arm on which the drumgearmotor assembly is positioned, and a strut arranged between the upright and the arm. On one side of the upright there are two coaxial bushings which allow the said frame to be rotatably positioned on two corresponding pins of a support structure prepared on site. For example, the support structure can consist of a prop placed in an area of a building under construction or maintenance, or a pole suitably secured to an external scaffolding. Generally, the hoist is placed at a height of approximately 1.80 m from the floor of the site or scaffolding on which work the personnel operating the hoist. Since such a hoist has a weight that is generally comprised between 35kg and 45kg, its installation requires the intervention of two operators who must appropriately coordinate with each other to first lift the machine and then position it on the pins of the support structure.

[0006] The main aim of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which allows to simplify the mounting and removal of scaffold hoists and, at the same time, contribute to increasing the safety of these operations.

[0007] This result is achieved, in accordance with the present invention, by adopting the idea of realizing an apparatus having the characteristics indicated in the independent claims. Other characteristics of the present invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0008] Among the advantages offered by the present invention, the following can be mentioned: the installation and removal of hoists used in building sites, in particular scaffold hoists, are simplified, both on indoor props and on scaffolding, contributing, at the same time, to increase safety and to improve the working conditions of operators on construction sites; furthermore, an apparatus in accordance with the present invention has a low cost in relation to the advantages it offers.

[0009] These and further advantages and features of the present invention will be more and better understood by every person skilled in the art thanks to the following description and the attached drawings, provided by way of example but not to be considered in a limiting sense, in which:

[0010] - Figs. 1-3 illustrate the installation of a scaffold hoist on an indoor prop using an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[0011] - Figs.4-7 illustrate the installation of a scaffold hoist on scaffolding using an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

[0012] The following description refers by way of example to the installation of scaffold hoists (E) of the type comprising a drum (1) on which the wire rope (2) is wound and which is connected to an electric gearmotor (3) that, in turn, is fixed to a metal frame. The frame comprises a vertical upright (4), a horizontal arm (5) on which the drum-gearmotor assembly is positioned, and a strut (4B) positioned between the vertical upright (4) and the arm (5). On a rear side of said frame there are two coaxial bushings (6) which allow the frame to be rotatably positioned on two corresponding pins (7) of a support structure prepared on site. In the example of Figs. 1-3 said support structure is made up of a prop (7P) fixed between two floors (not visible in the drawings) through the respective upper (70) and lower (71) bases in a known way. In the example shown in Figs.4-7 said support structure consists of a scaffolding (7S), and, in particular, tubular elements (7 A, 7B) on one side of the scaffolding set up for the movement of loads using the hoist (E). In the drawings, the reference "PE" indicates a known operator control panel. The aforementioned prop can also be an outdoor ballasted or weighted down prop.

[0013] An apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a winch (8) equipped with an attachment (80), for example a screw attachment, which allows the winch to be fixed to the support structure (7P; 7S) at a pre-established height with respect to a surface on which the scaffold hoist (E) is positioned before its installation. The winch (8) has a cable (81) whose free end is intended to be hooked in a barycentric position, for example via a carabiner (82), to the arm (5) of the frame which for this purpose can be provided with a hooking eyelet (5E). The cable (81) passes through an eyelet (7E) formed on a crosspiece (7C) provided on an upper side of the support (7 A; 7S). In practice, the cable (81) of the winch (8) passes through the eyelet (7E) of the crosspiece (7C) and is fixed to the eyelet (5E) which is provided on the arm (5) in a barycentric position, i.e. a position that determines an equilibrium configuration for the assembly formed by the scaffold hoist (E) and the frame that supports it.

[0014] Starting from the condition shown in Figs. 1 and 4, in which the hoist (E) is not yet installed, an operator, after having hooked the cable (81) to the arm (5), lifts the hoist (E) using the winch (8), as schematically represented in Fig.2, Fig.3 and Fig.4. When the hoist reaches a useful height for inserting the bushings (6) onto the pins (7), i.e. such a height that the bushings (6) are each slightly above the respective pin (7), the operator controls with one hand the descent of the hoist using the winch (8) and, with the other hand, guides the insertion of the bushings (6) onto the pins (7). The arrows “M” in Fig.2 and Fig.7 represent the insertion of the bushings (6) on the pins (7). At this point, the scaffold hoist is positioned on the support structure. To remove the scaffold hoist from the support structure, the operator carries out operations opposite to those described above.

[0015] In general terms, as is evident from the description of the previously illustrated examples, the present invention consists of an apparatus comprising a winch (8) configured with respective members for its fastening to a support structure (7P; 7S) and provided with a cable (81) attachable to a frame on which a scaffold hoist is mounted, the cable passing through a guide part (7E) formed on the support structure (7P; 7S).

[0016] From the previous description it is also clear that an apparatus in accordance with the present invention can have one or more of the following characteristics, even combined with each other:

[0017] - the support structure (7P; 7S) comprises a prop or a scaffolding with a crosspiece (7C) on which a passage (7E) is formed for said cable (81);

[0018] - the apparatus is configured for the movement, using the winch (8) and the cable (81), of a scaffold hoist comprising a frame provided with a side on which two coaxial bushings (6) are formed which can be inserted on two respective pins (7) presented by the support structure (7P; 7S);

[0019] - the apparatus is configured for the movement, using the winch (8) and the rope (81), of a scaffold hoist comprising a frame provided with a side (5) on which a barycentric coupling is formed for the cable (81);

[0020] - on the cable (81) is mounted a carabiner (82) which can be connected to said barycentric coupling.

[0021] The present invention also concerns a kit comprising the elements constituting the apparatus described above.

[0022] In general terms, as is evident from the description of the previously illustrated examples, the kit for mounting scaffold hoist comprises a winch (8) configured with respective members for its fastening to a support structure (7P; 7S) and provided with a cable (81) attachable to a frame on which a scaffold hoist is mounted, the cable passing through a guide part (7E) formed on the support structure (7P; 7S).

[0023] From the previous description it is also clear that a mounting kit in accordance with the present invention can have one or more of the following characteristics, even combined with each other:

[0024] - the kit also comprises said frame;

[0025] - the frame is provided with a side (5) on which a barycentric hook for the cable (81) is formed; - the frame is provided with one side on which are formed two coaxial bushings (6) which can be inserted on two respective pins (7) exhibited by the support structure (7P; 7S);

[0026] - the kit according to claim 6 also comprises said support structure;

[0027] - said support structure comprises a prop or a scaffolding with a crosspiece (7C) on which a passage (7E) is formed for the said cable (81).

[0028] In practice, the execution details can however vary in an equivalent way as regards the individual elements described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the solution adopted and therefore remaining within the limits of the protection granted by this patent in accordance with the attached claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus comprising a winch (8) configured with respective members for its fastening to a support structure (7P; 7S) and provided with a cable (81) attachable to a frame on which a scaffold hoist is mounted, the cable passing through a guide part (7E) formed on the support structure (7P; 7S).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the support structure (7P; 7S) comprises a prop or a scaffolding with a crosspiece (7C) on which a passage (7E) is formed for said cable (81).

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 configured for the movement, by means of the winch (8) and the cable (81), of a scaffold hoist comprising a frame provided with a side on which are formed two coaxial bushings (6) which can be inserted on two respective pins(7) exhibited by the support structure (7P; 7S).

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 configured for the movement, by means of the winch(8) and the cable (81), of a scaffold hoist comprising a frame provided with a side (5) on which a barycentric coupling is formed for the cable (81).

5. Apparatus according to claim 4 characterized by the fact that on the cable (81) is mounted a carabiner which can be connected to said barycentric coupling.

6. Mounting kit for scaffold hoists comprising a winch (8) configured with respective members for its fastening to a support structure (7P; 7S) and provided with a cable (81) attachable to a frame on which a scaffold hoist is mounted, the cable passing through a guide part (7E) formed on the support structure (7P; 7S).

7. Kit according to claim 6 also comprising said frame.

8. Kit according to claims 6-7 wherein said frame is provided with a side (5) on which a barycentric coupling for the cable (81) is formed.

9. Kit according to claims 6-8 in which the frame is provided with a side on which are formed two coaxial bushings (6) which can be inserted on two respective pins (7) exhibited by the support structure (7P; 7S).

10. Kit according to claim 6 also comprising the said support structure.

11. Kit according to claims 1 and 10 in which the said support structure comprises a prop or a scaffolding with a crosspiece (7C) on which a passage (7E) is formed for said cable

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