PROTECTION SYSTEM WITH A CALIBRATED TIGHTENING SYSTEM

Abstract

PROTECTION SYSTEM WITH A CALIBRATED CLAMPING SYSTEM The invention a rail (100) comprising a barrel (102) carrying a first shoe (104) and having a passage (106), a slide (108) with a first end slidably mounted in the barrel (102) through the passage (106) and a second end (108a) having a bore (110), a locking means (112) of the slide (108) relative to the barrel (102), a threaded rod (114) inserted in the bore (110) and carrying a second shoe (116), and a nut (118) screwed onto the threaded rod (114), where the rail (100) further comprises a spring (150) fitted around the threaded rod (114) between the nut (118) and the slide (108), and a secondary barrel (152) arranged around the spring (150) between the nut (118) and the slide. Fig. 1

Description

Title of the invention: PROTECTION SYSTEM WITH A CALIBRATED TIGHTENING SYSTEM Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a protection system, such as a rail or a post, more particularly a protection system implemented temporarily within the framework of a construction site, with a calibrated tightening system. STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0002] In a building under construction, it is known to use temporary protection systems which are fixed in such a way as to prevent a worker from falling.

[0003] Such a protection system takes, for example, the form of an extendable rail which is arranged horizontally across an opening or the form of a post which is fixed vertically along a floor or a staircase to fix a handrail there.

[0004] Such an extendable rail conventionally comprises a barrel with, at a first end, a first shoe which is intended to come to bear against a wall of a building and which comprises, for example, a stud which fits into a recess made in the wall.

[0005] The rail also comprises a slide which is slidably mounted in the barrel at the second end of the barrel. A first end of the slide is thus inside the barrel and the second end of the slide has a bore.

[0006] The rail also includes a locking means which locks the position of the slide relative to the barrel.

[0007] The rail also comprises a threaded rod, a first end of which is inserted into the bore and a second end of which carries a second shoe which is intended to come to bear against another wall of the building and which comprises, for example, a stud which fits into a recess made in the wall.

[0008] The rail also has a nut screwed onto the threaded rod.

[0009] Installing the rail consists of placing the rail between the two walls, adjusting the slide to ensure the placement of the pins in the reservations, to lock the slide with the locking means. The installation continues by tightening the nut against the second end of the slide so that the threaded rod comes out of the bore and the second shoe moves away from the second end of the slide, which tends to separate the two shoes from each other and ensures the clamping of the rail between the two walls.

[0010] Such a post conventionally comprises a shaft with, at a first end, a first shoe which is intended to bear against an upper surface of a floor. The post also comprises a slide which is slidably mounted in the shaft at the first end of the shaft. A first end of the slide is thus outside the shaft on the side of the first end of the shaft. The first end of the slide carries a second shoe which is intended to bear against a lower surface of a floor.

[0011] The post also includes a threaded rod, a first end of which is inserted into the bore through the second end of the shaft.

[0012] The post also includes a nut screwed onto the threaded rod and secured to the second end of the slide.

[0013] Setting up the post involves placing the shoes on either side of the floor, rotating the threaded rod to tighten the shoes against the floor.

[0014] Although such protection systems are satisfactory, the tightening forces of the nuts can have repercussions on the proper holding of the rail and / or the post in the event of insufficient tightening or on the degradation of the walls, the floor, or the protection systems in the event of excessive tightening.

[0015] It is therefore necessary to find a system which ensures appropriate tightening of the nut. Statement of the invention

[0016] An object of the present invention is to provide a protection system such as an extendable rail or a clamping post with a calibrated clamping system.

[0017] For this purpose, a rail is proposed comprising:

[0018] - a barrel carrying at a first end, a first shoe and at a second end, a passage,

[0019] - a slide having a first end slidably mounted in the barrel at through the passage and a second end having a bore,

[0020] - a locking means arranged to alternately lock the slide relative to to the barrel or leave the slide free in relation to the barrel,

[0021] - a threaded rod, a first end of which is inserted into the bore and a second end carries a second shoe, and

[0022] - a nut screwed onto the threaded rod,

[0023] the rail being characterized in that it further comprises:

[0024] - a spring fitted around the threaded rod between the nut and the second end from the wings, and

[0025] - a secondary barrel arranged around the spring between the nut and the second end from behind the scenes.

[0026] Thanks to such an installation, the clamping force is guaranteed.

[0027] Advantageously, the first shoe is fixed to the barrel by means of a ball joint.

[0028] Advantageously, the second shoe is fixed to the threaded rod by means of a ball joint.

[0029] Advantageously, the nut takes the form of a wing nut.

[0030] The invention also provides a post comprising:

[0031] - a barrel carrying at a first end, a first shoe and a passage, and at a second end, a bore,

[0032] - a slide having a first end carrying a second shoe, and a second end slidably mounted in the barrel through the passage and carrying a nut,

[0033] - a threaded rod, one end of which protrudes through the bore, and one end of which second end is screwed into the nut,

[0034] - a tightening-loosening means secured to the first end of the threaded rod,

[0035] the post being characterized in that it further comprises:

[0036] - a spring fitted around the threaded rod between the second end of the barrel and the tightening-loosening means, and

[0037] - a secondary barrel arranged around the spring between the second end of the barrel and the tightening-loosening means.

[0038] Thanks to such an installation, the clamping force is guaranteed.

[0039] Advantageously, the spring is a compression spring and the length of the spring at rest is greater than the length of the secondary barrel. Brief description of the drawings

[0040] The above-mentioned features of the invention, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in relation to the attached drawings, among which:

[0041] [Fig-1] is a perspective view of an extendable rail according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0042] [Fig.2] is an enlargement of one end of the extendable rail according to the first embodiment of the invention,

[0043] [Fig.3] is a sectional view along an axial plane of the end shown in [Fig.2],

[0044] [Fig.4] is a side view of a post according to a first embodiment of the invention,

[0045] [Fig.5] is a sectional view along an axial plane of the post of [Fig.4], and

[0046] [Fig.6] is an enlargement of one end of the pole of [Fig.5].

[0047] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0048] Figs. 1 to 3 show a protection system according to a first mode of rea embodiment of the invention and Figs. 4 to 6 show a protection system according to a second embodiment of the invention. The first embodiment relates to an extendable rail 100 and the second embodiment relates to a post 200.

[0049] [Fig.l] shows a rail 100 according to the invention which can be used horizontally or vertically and then takes the form of a vertical prop. In the horizontal position, the rail 100 is arranged between two walls and in the vertical position, the rail 100 is arranged between a floor and a ceiling. Generally speaking, the rail 100 is positioned between two surfaces.

[0050] The rail 100 comprises a barrel 102 which carries at a first end 102a, a first shoe 104 and at a second end 102b, a passage 106 coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the barrel 102. The first shoe 104 is intended to come to bear against a surface and it comprises attachment means 104a ensuring attachment to the surface.

[0051] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the attachment means 104a take the form of lugs 104a which grip the surface. The attachment means 104a can also take the form of a stud as in the prior art.

[0052] The rail 100 also comprises a slide 108 with a first end slidably mounted in the barrel 102 through the passage 106 and a second end 108a having a bore 110 coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the barrel 102. The slide 108 is thus free to move in translation in the barrel 102 to adapt the length of the rail 100 to the gap between the two surfaces.

[0053] [Fig.2] and [Fig.3] show an enlargement at the second end 108a of the slide 108.

[0054] To block the slide 108, the rail 100 also comprises a blocking means 112 which comprises a blocking position in which the blocking means 112 blocks the slide 108 relative to the barrel 102 and a free position in which the blocking means 112 leaves the slide 108 free relative to the barrel 102.

[0055] The rail 100 comprises a threaded rod 114, a first end of which is inserted into the bore 110 and a second end of which carries a second shoe 116 which is intended to come to bear against another surface and which also comprises attachment means 116a ensuring attachment to the surface. The attachment means 116a of the second shoe 116 may take the same form as those of the first shoe 104.

[0056] The rail 100 also comprises a nut 118 screwed onto the threaded rod 114. The nut 118 is arranged between the bore 110 and the second shoe 116 and the rotation of the nut 118 makes it possible to adjust the positioning of the second shoe 116 by ensuring the movement of the threaded rod 114 relative to the second end 108a of the slide. 108.

[0057] To allow optimized clamping of the rail 100 between the two surfaces, the rail 100 also comprises a spring 150 which is fitted around the threaded rod 114 between the nut 118 and the second end 108a of the slide 108. The spring 150 is here a compression spring which is arranged to move the nut 118 away from the second end 108a of the slide 108.

[0058] The rail also comprises a secondary barrel 152 which is arranged around the spring 150 between the nut 118 and the second end 108a of the slide 108.

[0059] The length of the spring 150 at rest, that is to say when no external force compresses it, is greater than the length of the secondary barrel 152.

[0060] The operation of the rail 100 according to the invention is then as follows:

[0061] The nut 118 is loosened so as to leave a free space 154 between the barrel secondary 152 and the second end 108a of the slide 108.

[0062] The locking means 112 is placed in the free position so as to extend the slide 108 so that the shoes 104 and 116 come to bear against the surfaces and the hooking means 104a and 116a cooperate with the surfaces to hook onto them. The locking means 112 is then placed in the locking position to lock the position of the slide 108.

[0063] The nut 118 is then tightened so as to cause the threaded rod 114 to come out.

[0064] When the pressure exerted against the surfaces becomes greater than that generated by the spring 150, the continued tightening of the nut 118 tends to bring the nut 118 closer to the second end 108a of the slide 108 by crushing the spring 150 and bringing the secondary barrel 152 closer to the second end 108a of the slide 108, the free space 154 gradually disappears.

[0065] When the free space 154 has completely disappeared, the desired clamping force is reached.

[0066] The spring 150 is calibrated according to the desired clamping force.

[0067] As [Fig.3] shows more precisely, the secondary barrel 152 is here integral of a washer 152a which bears against the nut 118 and which can also be secured to the nut 118. The free space 154 is then between the secondary barrel 152 and the second end 108a of the slide 108.

[0068] But a different arrangement is possible.

[0069] For example, it is possible to secure the secondary barrel 152 with the second end 108a of the slide 108 and to leave it free with respect to the nut 118. The free space will then be between the secondary barrel 152 and the nut 118.

[0070] For example, it is possible to leave the secondary barrel 152 free, and the free space can be distributed, on the one hand, between the secondary barrel 152 and the nut 118, and, on the other hand, between the secondary barrel 152 and the second end 108a of the slide 108.

[0071] As shown in [Fig.3], the threaded rod 114 is held in the bore 110 by a retaining nut 114a screwed onto the threaded rod 114 inside the slide 108.

[0072] In an embodiment not shown, the locking means takes the form of a pin mounted movable in translation on the barrel 102 and which is inserted into a bore passing through the slide 108 to lock the latter.

[0073] In the embodiment of the invention shown in [Fig. 1], the locking means 112 takes the form of a clamping vice comprising two jaws which are mounted to slide transversely relative to the barrel 102 and which are actuated by a handle 112a between a clamped position in which the jaws clamp the slide 108 through the barrel 102 and block it and a loosened position in which the jaws do not clamp the slide 108 and leave it free.

[0074] In the embodiment of the invention presented here, the nut 118 takes the form of a wing nut with two ears 118a integral with the nut 118, which aids in the manipulation of the nut 118.

[0075] To absorb parallelism defects, the first shoe 104 is fixed to the barrel 102 by means of a ball joint and / or the second shoe 116 is fixed to the threaded rod 114 by means of a ball joint.

[0076] [Fig.4] and [Fig.5] show a post 200 according to the invention which can be used vertically or horizontally. In the vertical position, the post 200 is arranged along a floor or a staircase and in the horizontal position, the post 200 is arranged along a wall. Generally, the post 200 is positioned between two surfaces of the same frame element. When several posts 200 are fixed, a handrail can be fixed between them.

[0077] The post 200 comprises a barrel 202 which carries at a first end 202a, a first shoe 204 and a passage 206, and at a second end 202b, a bore 210. The passage 206 and the bore 210 are coaxial with a longitudinal axis of the barrel 202. The first shoe 204 is intended to come to bear against a surface, in particular an upper surface of an element such as a floor.

[0078] The post 200 also comprises a slide 208 with a first end 208b carrying a second shoe 216 which is intended to come into abutment against another surface, in particular a lower surface of an element such as a floor.

[0079] The slide 208 also has a second end 208a which is slidably mounted in the barrel 202 through the passage 206 and which carries a nut 218.

[0080] The post 200 also includes a threaded rod 214 which is arranged in the barrel 202 and the slide 208 such that a first end of the threaded rod 214 extends through the bore 210, and a second end of the threaded rod 214 is screwed into the nut 218.

[0081] The post 200 also comprises a tightening-loosening means 212 integral with the first end of the threaded rod 214, that is to say the one which is outside the barrel 202 at the level of the second end 202b. The tightening-loosening means 212 here takes the form of a crank secured to the threaded rod 214.

[0082] Thus, when the tightening-loosening means 212 is moved in rotation, the threaded rod 214 rotates around its axis and meshes with the nut 218. As the slide 208 is locked in rotation in the barrel 202, the rotation of the threaded rod 214 causes a translational movement of the slide 208 and therefore of the second shoe 216. Depending on the direction of rotation, the second shoe 216 will move closer to the first shoe 204 so that the shoes 204 and 216 tighten against the surfaces to ensure the positioning of the post 200, or the second shoe 216 will move away from the first shoe 204 so that the shoes 204 and 216 loosen from the surfaces to dismantle the post 200. The rotational locking of the slide 208 relative to the barrel 202 is carried out by any appropriate means such as, for example, shapes prismatic.

[0083] [Fig.6] shows an enlargement at the second end 202b of the barrel 202.

[0084] To enable optimized tightening of the two shoes 204 and 216, the post 200 also comprises a spring 250 which is fitted around the threaded rod 214 between the second end 202b of the barrel 202 and the tightening-loosening means 212, i.e. here outside the barrel 202 at the first end of the threaded rod 214. The spring 250 is here a compression spring which is arranged to separate the second end 202b of the barrel 202 and the tightening-loosening means 212.

[0085] The post 200 also comprises a secondary barrel 252 which is arranged around the spring 250 between the second end 202b of the barrel 202 and the tightening-loosening means 212.

[0086] The length of the spring 250 at rest, that is to say when no external force compresses it, is greater than the length of the secondary barrel 252.

[0087] The operation of the post 200 according to the invention is then as follows:

[0088] The shoes 204 and 216 are arranged on either side of the element to be tightened, and the tightening-loosening means 212 is actuated to rotate the threaded rod 214 in the direction of tightening the shoes 204 and 216.

[0089] As long as the desired clamping force is not reached, there remains a free space 254 between the secondary barrel 252 and the second end 202b of the barrel 202 or the clamping-loosening means 212.

[0090] The more the tightening-loosening means 212 is actuated, the more the shoes 204 and 216 tighten and when the pressure exerted on the surfaces becomes greater than that generated by the spring 250, the continuation of the tightening tends to bring the tightening-loosening means 212 closer to the second end 202b of the barrel 202 by crushing the spring 250 and the free space 254 gradually disappears.

[0091] When the free space 254 has completely disappeared, the desired clamping force is reached.

[0092] The spring 250 is calibrated according to the desired clamping force.

[0093] As [Fig.6] shows more precisely, the secondary barrel 252 is here integral of a washer 252a which bears against the second end 202b of the barrel 202 and which can also be secured to the second end 202b of the barrel 202. The free space 254 is then between the secondary barrel 252 and the tightening-loosening means 212.

[0094] But a different arrangement is possible.

[0095] For example, it is possible to secure the secondary barrel 252 with the tightening-loosening means 212 and to leave it free with respect to the barrel 202. The free space will then be between the secondary barrel 152 and the barrel 202.

[0096] For example, it is possible to leave the secondary barrel 252 free, and the free space can be distributed, on the one hand, between the secondary barrel 252 and the second end 202b of the barrel 202, and, on the other hand, between the secondary barrel 252 and the tightening-loosening means 212.

Claims

Claims

1. A rail (100) comprising: - a barrel (102) carrying at a first end (102a), a first shoe (104) and at a second end (102b), a passage (106), - a slide (108) having a first end slidably mounted in the barrel (102) through the passage (106) and a second end (108a) having a bore (110), - a locking means (112) arranged to alternately lock the slide (108) relative to the barrel (102) or leave the slide (108) free relative to the barrel (102), - a threaded rod (114) of which a first end is inserted into the bore (110) and of which a second end carries a second shoe (116), and - a nut (118) screwed onto the threaded rod (114), the rail (100) being characterized in that that it further comprises: - a spring (150) fitted around the threaded rod (114) between the nut (118) and the second end (108a) of the slide (108),and - a secondary barrel (152) arranged around the spring (150) between the nut (118) and the second end (108a) of the slide (108).,

2. Smooth (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first shoe (104) is fixed to the barrel (102) by means of a ball joint.

3. Smooth (100) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second shoe (116) is fixed to the threaded rod (114) by means of a ball joint.

4. Smooth (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the nut (118) takes the form of a wing nut.

5. Post (200) comprising: - a barrel (202) carrying at a first end (202a), a first shoe (204) and a passage (206), and at a second end (202b), a bore (210), - a slide (208) having a first end carrying a second shoe (216), and a second end (208a) slidably mounted in the barrel (202) through the passage (206) and carrying a nut (218), - a threaded rod (214) of which a first end comes out through the bore (210), and of which a second end is screwed into the nut (218), - a tightening-loosening means (212) secured to the first end of the threaded rod (214), the post (200) being characterized in that it further comprises: - a spring (250) fitted around the threaded rod (214) between the second end (202b) of the barrel (202) and the tightening-loosening means (212), and - a secondary barrel (252) arranged around the spring (250) between the second end (202b) of the barrel (202) and the tightening-loosening means (212).

6. Rail (100) or post (200) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the spring (150, 250) is a compression spring and in that the length of the spring (150, 250) at rest is greater than the length of the secondary barrel (152, 252).

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