SCAFFOLD

Abstract

A scaffold comprising two longitudinal beams (3) and two transverse beams (4, 4') forming a support frame (5; 5'), at least one work platform (10) comprising a walkable surface (11) and hooks (13) configured to engage with the support frame (5; 5'), said work platform (10) forming a work surface (S), and an access hatch (20) comprising a frame (22) defining an opening (23), and a hinged door (21) attached to the frame (22) which, in a closed position, closes the opening (23) and is aligned with the work surface (S) and, in an open position, allows an operator to access the work surface (S), characterized in that the support frame (5; 5') has a certain width (A; A'), and the access hatch (20) is configured to engage by means of lateral hooks (24) with a longitudinal beams (101) of a support frame (103) having a width (B) smaller, the work platform (10) being arranged adjacent to one side of the access hatch (20) in a transverse direction, the access hatch (20) being coupled to said work platform (10) by means of at least one side hook (24), said side hook (24) being housed in a respective coupling slot (16) comprising the work platform (10).

Description

Scaffold TECHNICAL SECTOR The present invention relates to a scaffold, and in particular to a scaffold comprising at least one access hatch. PRIOR STATE OF THE ART Scaffolding comprises a plurality of columns and a plurality of beams interconnected to create a support frame for work platforms at different heights. To allow a worker to move between the work platforms at different heights, the scaffolding includes access hatches at each level. The access hatches comprise a hinged door that opens or closes the passage to or from the level where the access hatch is located, and the surface is walkable when the door is closed. US3837427A discloses a scaffold comprising work platforms at different levels, and a vertical ladder that attaches between two horizontal beams of the scaffold arranged at different levels. At least one of the work platforms at each level includes a hinged door that allows the user to access the work platform from inside the scaffold via the ladder from a lower height, or to descend from the work platform to a lower height. US20210108426A1, US20050077107A1 and JP2003105968A are other examples of patent applications that disclose work platforms with hinged access hatches integrated into the work platform itself. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The object of the invention is to provide a scaffold as defined in the claims. The scaffolding according to the invention comprises two longitudinal beams and two horizontal transverse beams forming a support frame, at least one work platform comprising a walkable surface and hooks configured to attach to the support frame, said work platform forming a work surface, and an access hatch comprising a frame defining an opening, and a hinged door attached to the frame which, in a closed position, closes the opening and is aligned with the work surface and, in an open position, allows an operator to access the work surface. The support frame has a certain width, and the access hatch is configured to be coupled by means of side hooks to longitudinal beams of a support frame that has a smaller width, the work platform being arranged adjacent to one side of the access hatch in a transverse direction, the access hatch being coupled to said work platform by means of at least one side hook, said side hook being housed in a respective coupling slot comprising the work platform. Thus, if the access hatch, as known in the prior art, cannot be fully attached directly to the scaffolding support frame because, for example, the distance between the two horizontal beams of the support frame is greater than the width of the access hatch, the need to add intermediate elements to attach the access hatch to the support frame is eliminated, as is the need to adapt the access hatch to each specific case. This simplifies assembly, allowing the same access hatch to be used for support frames of different widths. These and other advantages and features of the invention will become evident from the figures and the detailed description of the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 shows a top view of a state-of-the-art scaffold with an access hatch in the closed position. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a work platform of the scaffolding shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a first embodiment of a scaffold according to the invention with the access hatch in the closed position. Figure 4 shows a top view of the scaffolding shown in Figure 3. Figure 5 shows a top view of the scaffold shown in Figure 3 with the access hatch in the open position. Figure 6 shows a perspective view of a work platform of the scaffolding shown in Figure 3. Figure 7 shows a perspective view of the access hatch. Figure 8 shows a detail of the coupling of the access hatch to the scaffold work platform shown in Figures 3 and 9. Figure 9 shows a top view of a second embodiment of a scaffold according to the invention. DETAILED EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 shows a prior art scaffold 100 comprising two longitudinal beams 101 and two transverse beams 102 forming a support frame 103 having a width B, and two work platforms 10 as shown in detail in Figure 2, each comprising a walkable surface 11 and hooks 13 through which each work platform 10 is coupled to the transverse beams 102 forming a work surface S. The longitudinal beams 101 and the transverse beams 102 are arranged horizontally. The scaffold 100 further comprises an access hatch 20, shown in detail in Figure 7, comprising a frame 22 defining an opening 23 and a hinged door 21 coupled to the frame 22, which, in a closed position, closes the opening 23 and is aligned with the work surface S and, in an open position, allows an operator to access the work surface S.The width B of the support frame 103 is such that the access hatch 20 is directly coupled to the two longitudinal beams 101 via lateral hooks 24 on the access hatch 20. When the support frame has a width greater than width B, the access hatch 20 cannot be coupled to the longitudinal beams 101, and therefore it is necessary to modify the access hatch 20 and / or use other intermediate connecting elements. The access hatch 20 further comprises a retaining element 28 near one of the lateral hooks 24, extending outward from the access hatch 20 in the direction of the lateral hook 24. The retaining element 28 serves to hold the access hatch 20 against the corresponding longitudinal beam 101 once the lateral hook 24 has been coupled to the longitudinal beam 101.In other embodiments not shown, the access hatch 20 may have a retaining element 28 for each side hook 24. Figures 3 to 5 show a first embodiment of the invention, and Figure 9 shows a second embodiment. In both embodiments, the scaffold 1;1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of columns 2 and a plurality of horizontal beams 3 and 4;4, interconnected with each other. In particular, the scaffold 1;1 comprises, at each level, two horizontal longitudinal beams 3 and two horizontal transverse beams 4;4 defining a rectangular support frame 5;5, and work platforms 10 and 10 attached to the support frame 5;5, creating a work surface S at each height or level. Preferably, the columns 2 and the horizontal beams 3 and 4;4 are tubular profiles. Preferably, they are tubular profiles of circular cross-section. Each work platform 10 and 10, shown in detail in Figures 2 and 6, comprises a walking surface 11 and 11 extending in the longitudinal direction, and hooks 13 and 13 by means of which the work platform 10 and 10 is coupled to the support frame 5 and 5. The work platform 10 and 10 comprises crossbars 12 and 12 extending in a direction transverse to the walking surface 11 and 11 at each end of the walking surface 11 and 11. Each crossbar 12 and 12 is fixed to one end of the walking surface 11 and 11, and includes hooks 13 and 13. The hooks 13 and 13 are arranged downwards during the use of the respective work platform 10 and 10. Each work platform 10 and 10 further comprises flanks 14 and 14 extending longitudinally on each side of the walkable surface 11 and 11. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the walkable surface 11 and 11 and the flanks 14 and 14 form a profile made of sheet metal, preferably profiled, although in other embodiments the flanks 14 and 14 could be extruded pieces welded to the walkable surface 11 and 11. Each work platform 10 and 10 further comprises holes 15 and 15 adapted to lighten the weight of the respective work platform 10 and 10 and to allow the evacuation of liquids, which extend over the walkable surface 11 and 11 of the respective work platform 10 and 10 following a defined pattern. The scaffold 1; 1 according to the invention further comprises, at each level, the access hatch 20, shown in detail in Figure 7. In the closed position, shown in Figures 3, 4, and 9, the hinged door 21 of the access hatch 20 provides continuity to the walkable surface 11 and 11 of the work platform 10 and 10 of the same level. In the open position, shown in Figure 5, the hinged door 21 of the access hatch 20 is arranged vertically, allowing access to the work surface S from a lower level, or descent to a lower level. The access hatch 20 is independent of the corresponding work platform 10 and 10, i.e., it is not integrated into the work platform 10 and 10 itself. The access hatch 20 is coupled to at least one work platform 10 supported on said support frame 5; 5 and arranged adjacent to one side of the access hatch 20 in a transverse direction. One of the side hooks 24 is housed in a coupling slot 16 comprising the work platform 10 arranged adjacent to one side of the access hatch 20 in the transverse direction. Furthermore, the access hatch 20 comprises at least one front hook 25 through which the access hatch 20 is coupled to the corresponding support frame 5; 5. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the access hatch 20 comprises two front hooks 25 extending longitudinally from a shorter side 22a of the frame 22, the access hatch 20 being coupled to the crossbeam 4 by means of the respective front hooks 25. The access hatch 20 comprises two side hooks 24 extending transversely, each from the corresponding longer side 22b of the frame 22 of the access hatch 20. In the first embodiment, shown in Figures 3 to 5, one of the side hooks 24 is inserted into the corresponding coupling slot 16 of the work platform 10 arranged transversely adjacent to the access hatch 20, while the other of said side hooks 24 is coupled to one of the longitudinal beams 3 of the support frame 5. In the second embodiment, shown in Figure 9, the access hatch 20 is arranged coupled on both sides in the transverse direction to the respective adjacent work platform 10 by means of the respective side hook 24, such that one of the side hooks 24 is inserted into the respective coupling slot 16 of one of the adjacent work platforms 10, while the other of the side hooks 24 is inserted into the respective coupling slot 16 of the other adjacent work platform 10. Furthermore, the work platform 10 also comprises slots 17 in its sides 14, one of which is passed through by the corresponding retaining element 28 of the access hatch 20. In this way, the access hatch 20 is held against the work platform 10, thus preventing the access hatch 20 from being accidentally disassembled by gusts of wind or other causes. Furthermore, the access hatch 20 is shorter than the length of the work platform 10. In particular, the frame 22 of the access hatch 20 has a length L1 shorter than the length L2 of the walkable surface 11 of the corresponding work platform 10, such that the gap up to the respective crossbeam 4 is covered by at least one work platform 10 of length L3 shorter than the work platform 10 located adjacent to the access hatch 20 in the transverse direction. The shorter work platform 10 is directly attached to the frame 22 of the access hatch 20 in the longitudinal direction. Specifically, the frame 22 of the access hatch 20 comprises a slot 27 extending transversely at one end of said frame 22, with the shorter work platform 10 being attached to the slot 27 by means of the respective hook 13.The shorter work platform 10 can be any prior art work platform, such as the one shown in Figure 2, that is long enough to be attached to the access hatch 20 and the corresponding horizontal beam 4. In other embodiments not shown, the shorter work platform 10 may differ from the work platform 10 positioned adjacent to the access hatch 20 in the transverse direction only in its length. Furthermore, the scaffold 1;1 may also include other prior art work platforms 10, as shown in Figure 9 for the second embodiment. In the embodiments shown in the figures, the walkable surface 11 of the work platform 10 arranged adjacent to the access hatch 20 comprises a plurality of coupling slots 16 extending in the longitudinal direction of the respective work platform 10, distributed longitudinally along the walkable surface 11. Preferably, the coupling slots 16 are arranged uniformly distributed along the walkable surface 11. Preferably, the coupling slots 16 are arranged close to each longitudinal edge of the walkable surface 11. Finally, the hinged door 21 of the access hatch 20 is attached to the frame 22 of the access hatch 20 by means of a hinge-type mechanism or similar. Furthermore, the access hatch 20 preferably includes a retractable ladder 26, which in the closed position is retracted against the hinged door 21, and in the open position is extended, connecting two levels or heights of the work surfaces S.

Claims

1. A scaffold comprising two longitudinal beams (3) and two transverse beams (4, 4') forming a support frame (5; 5'), at least one work platform (10) comprising a walkable surface (11) and hooks (13) configured to engage with the support frame (5; 5'), said work platform (10) forming a work surface (S), and an access hatch (20) comprising a frame (22) defining an opening (23), and a hinged door (21) attached to the frame (22) which, in a closed position, closes the opening (23) and is aligned with the work surface (S) and, in an open position, allows an operator to access the work surface (S), characterized in that the support frame (5; 5') has a certain width (A; A'), and the access hatch (20) is configured to engage by means of lateral hooks (24) with a longitudinal beams (101) of a support frame (103) having a width (B) smaller,1. A work platform (10) adjacent to one side of the access hatch (20) in a transverse direction, the access hatch (20) being coupled to said work platform (10) by means of at least one side hook (24), said side hook (24) being housed in a respective coupling slot (16) comprising the work platform (10).

2. A scaffold according to claim 1, wherein the access hatch (20) comprises at least one front hook (25), the access hatch (20) being coupled to one of the transverse beams (4, 4') by means of said front hook (25).

3. A scaffold according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least one additional work platform (10') which, by means of respective hooks (13'), is coupled to the frame (22) of the access hatch (20) in a longitudinal direction.

4. A scaffold according to any one of claims 1 to 3,wherein the access hatch (20) is coupled on one side to the adjacent work platform (10), and on the other side to one of the longitudinal beams (3) by means of at least one side hook (24).

5. Scaffolding according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the access hatch (20) is coupled on both sides to a respective work platform (10) by means of respective side hooks (24), both work platforms (10) comprising respective coupling slots (16).

6. Scaffolding according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the walkable surface (11) of the work platform (10) comprises a plurality of coupling slots (16), each coupling slot (16) extending in a longitudinal direction of the work platform (10), and the coupling slots (16) being arranged longitudinally along the walkable surface (11).

7. Scaffolding according to any of the preceding claims,wherein the work platform (10) comprises at least one slot (17) contained in at least one of the flanks (16) extending in the longitudinal direction on each side of the walkable surface (11), and the access hatch (20) further comprises at least one retaining element (28) extending in the direction of the side hook (24), the retaining element (28) passing through the slot (17) in the flank (16) of the work platform (10), so that the access hatch (20) is retained against the work platform (10).