Connecting metal fitting for assembling temporary structure

Abstract

To provide a connecting metal fitting which can be utilized for assembling a temporary structure such as a suspended scaffold or a protective body temporarily installed at a site of construction or inspection / maintenance work of an elevated building such as a bridge.SOLUTION: In a connecting metal fitting, two pipe clamps 2A, 2B have the same structure and are provided with a receiving member 4 having a base portion 4a attached to a base member 3, a pressing member 5 pivotally supported by a support shaft 5a at a distal end of a rising portion 4b of the receiving member 4 in a freely openable / closable manner, and a fastening bolt 6 freely engaging and detaching from a distal end bifurcated portion 5b of the pressing member 5. When the pressing members 5 of both pipe clamps are in a state of covering the receiving member 4, the two pipe clamps 2A, 2B are mounted on the base member 3 in such a state that the pressing members 5 of the two pipe clamps are parallel to each other and the distal end bifurcated portion 5b of the pressing member 5 of one pipe clamp 2A and the shaft branch formed by the support shaft 5a of the pressing member 5 of the other pipe clamp 2B are adjacent to each other in a lateral direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting fitting used in assembling temporary structures such as suspended scaffolding and protective structures that are temporarily installed at construction sites for elevated structures such as bridges and at inspection and maintenance work sites. [Background technology]

[0002] At construction, inspection, and maintenance work sites for elevated structures such as bridges and elevated roads, temporary structures such as suspended scaffolding and protective bodies temporarily installed below the elevated structures are assembled by connecting horizontal walking panels, horizontal protective plates with stretched nets to catch objects falling from the work space, or vertical protective plates with stretched nets or plates that form the sides of the work space. Plate-like bodies such as the walking panels and various protective plates have round pipes (hereinafter referred to as steel pipes) arranged at their connection points with other plate-like bodies, and connecting fittings are used to connect the steel pipes of both plate-like bodies. As disclosed in Patent Document 1, this connecting fitting is made up of two pipe clamps connected together. Specifically, the pipe clamp is composed of an L-shaped receiving member, a presser member that can be opened and closed and is journaled at the tip of the rising part of the receiving member, and a fastening bolt journaled at the free end of the base part of the receiving member.With a steel pipe sandwiched between the receiving member and the presser member, the fastening bolt is fitted into the bifurcated part at the tip of the presser member and a nut threaded onto the fastening bolt is tightened, pressing the bifurcated part at the tip of the presser member toward the receiving member, and fastening the steel pipe between the receiving member and the presser member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-46665 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The connecting fitting shown in Figure 12 of Patent Document 1 is configured by arranging two pipe clamps side by side so that the upstanding portions of the receiving members of each pipe clamp are adjacent back to back, and then attaching the bottom portions of the receiving members of both pipe clamps to a single base member to connect them together. In a conventional connecting fitting configured in this manner, the fastening bolts of both pipe clamps are in a V-shaped open position when viewed from a side parallel to the longitudinal direction of the steel pipes to be fastened. As shown in Figure 12 of Patent Document 1, when two plate-like objects to be connected are located on a horizontal plane, for example, by using both pipe clamps with their fastening bolts facing upward, it is possible to easily operate the holding members and fastening bolts of both pipe clamps and the nuts threaded onto the upper ends of the fastening bolts from the working space above the plate-like objects. However, as shown in Figure 9 of the present application, when the vertical plate-like body 15 for side protection is arranged so that it rises from the side edge of the lower horizontal plate-like body (such as a walking panel) 14, the two steel pipes (14c, 15c in Figure 9) fastened by the two pipe clamps will be parallel to each other in the vertical direction, and even if connecting fittings are used so that the tips of the two fastening bolts face toward the work space sandwiched between these two plate-like bodies 14, 15, the fastening bolt of the pipe clamp on the lower horizontal plate-like body (such as a walking panel) 14 side is located below the connecting steel pipe 14c provided on the horizontal plate-like body 14, making it very difficult to work on the fastening bolts or the nuts threaded into their tips from the work space above the horizontal plate-like body 14. 13 of Patent Document 1 directly connects the bottom edges of the receiving members of two pipe clamps together with a bolt, but with this conventional connecting fitting, as shown in Figure 10 of the present application, the fastening bolt of the lower pipe clamp that clamps and fastens the connecting steel pipe 14c provided on the lower horizontal plate 14 faces almost vertically, with the nut located at the bottom end, making it even more difficult to fasten the steel pipe with the lower pipe clamp. The configuration shown in Figures 9 and 10 will be explained again after describing one embodiment of the present invention. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The present invention proposes a connecting fitting that can solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. To facilitate understanding of the relationship with the embodiments described below, the connecting fitting of the present invention is shown with the reference numerals used in the description of the embodiments in parentheses. The connecting fitting comprises a base member (3) and two pipe clamps (2A, 2B) attached to the base member (3). The two pipe clamps (2A, 2B) comprise a receiving member (4) that is L-shaped in side view and has a bottom portion (4a) attached to the base member (3) and a rising portion (4b) rising from one end of the bottom portion (4a), a pressing member (5) journaled to the tip of the rising portion (4b) of the receiving member (4) so ​​as to be able to open and close, and a fastening member journaled to the free end of the bottom portion (4a) of the receiving member (4) so ​​as to be able to swing freely. In the connecting fitting (1), which consists of a fastening bolt (6) and a nut (7) is threadedly fitted onto the fastening bolt (6) when the fastening bolt (6) is fitted into the forked tip portion (5b) of the pressing member (5) and presses the pressing member (5) toward the receiving member (4), the two pipe clamps (2A, 2B) are configured so that when the pressing member (5) covers each receiving member (4), the pressing members (5) of both pipe clamps (2A, 2B) are aligned parallel to each other and the forked tip portion (5b) of the pressing member (5) of one pipe clamp (2A) and the support portion (support shaft (5a)) of the pressing member (5) of the other pipe clamp (2B) are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction, with the bottom portion (4a) of each receiving member (4) fixed on the base member (3). [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] According to the configuration of the present invention, when a second plate-like body (e.g., a protective plate) is connected so that it rises from the side of a first plate-like body (e.g., a walking panel) that is temporarily installed horizontally, as shown in Figure 8 of the present application, the connecting steel pipes on the adjacent sides of the two plates are arranged almost vertically side by side rather than horizontally. When using a connector of the present invention configured as described above in such a location, the receiving members of both pipe clamps are placed against the two upper and lower steel pipes from the outside so that the fastening bolt of the lower pipe clamp is inserted between the two steel pipes, the holding members of both pipe clamps are rotated upward to cover the inside of each steel pipe, and finally the fastening bolts of both pipe clamps are fitted into the forked tip portions of the receiving members covering the two upper and lower steel pipes. Then, the nuts that were retracted toward the tips of each fastening bolt are tightened, pressing the forked tip portions of each holding member toward the receiving member with the nuts, thereby fastening and fixing the steel pipes between the holding member and the receiving member. By the above operation, the lower steel pipe attached to the first plate-like body is fixed to the lower pipe clamp, and the upper steel pipe attached to the second plate-like body is fixed to the upper pipe clamp, and since both pipe clamps are fixed to a common base member, the second plate-like body is raised at a predetermined angle from the side edge of the first plate-like body and the two plate-like bodies are connected and fixed together.

[0007] The connecting fittings of the present invention are used as described above, and as shown in Figure 8, when in use the pressure members on each of the two pipe clamps are located in front of the two steel pipes that are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, and the fastening bolts on each of the two pipe clamps are positioned above the two steel pipes that are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, from the outside to the inside.This means that not only can the pressure members and fastening bolts of both pipe clamps be operated, but the nuts threaded onto each fastening bolt can also be tightened and loosened during disassembly more easily than within the inner work space surrounded by the first and second plate-like bodies, and the efficiency of temporary structure assembly work can be significantly improved.

[0008] Specifically, when implementing the present invention, the base member (3) is composed of a top plate portion (3a) whose length is along the diagonal direction connecting the receiving members (4) of the two pipe clamps (2A, 2B), and a pair of side plate portions (3b) that are bent and connected to the back side from both sides parallel to the length of the top plate portion (3a). The top plate portion (3a) has both end protrusions (3c) at both ends in the length direction that protrude in the length extension direction from between the pair of side plate portions (3b), and the bottom portion of the receiving member of each pipe clamp (2A, 2B) can be attached to the area spanning the upper portions of both length direction ends of the top plate portion (3a) located between the pair of side plate portions (3b) and the upper portions of the both end protrusions (3c). With this configuration, it is possible to stably support the two pipe clamps by using a base member of the minimum necessary width at an angle, without using a large rectangular base member with both sides parallel to the length direction of the pressing members of the two pipe clamps, thereby reducing costs.

[0009] The receiving members 4 of the two pipe clamps 2A, 2B can be attached to the base member 3 by receiving member mounting bolts 7 that pass through the bottom portions 4a of the receiving members 4 and the base member 3 from the inside of the receiving members 4, and nuts 8 that are threadedly fastened to the tips of the receiving member mounting bolts 7 from the back side of the base member 3. In this case, the bottom portions 4a of the receiving members 4 can be provided with protrusions 10 that protrude toward the base member 3, and the base member 3 can be provided with receiving member anti-rotation openings 11 that fit into the protrusions 10 when the receiving members 4 are attached in a predetermined orientation by the receiving member mounting bolts 7 and nuts 8. With this configuration, even though the receiving member of each pipe clamp is attached using a single bolt and nut, it is possible to avoid the inconvenience of the pipe clamp (receiving member) rotating around the bolt and nut due to unexpected loosening of the bolt and nut, causing the orientation of the pipe clamp to change.

[0010] Of course, when the configuration described in paragraph 0008 above is adopted as a measure to prevent accidental rotation of the receiving member as described above, the projecting portions 3c at both ends of the base member 3 can be formed with adjacent raised plate portions 17a, 17b along the sides of the bottom portion 4a of the receiving member 4 of the pipe clamps 2A, 2B supported on the projecting portions 3c at both ends. This configuration reliably prevents accidental rotation of the pipe clamp (receiving member) with the raised plate portions, and can be implemented at a lower cost than a configuration that requires machining of both the pipe clamp and the base member. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a connecting fitting according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the connecting fitting. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a right side view of the connecting fitting. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the base member used in the connecting fitting. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a partial vertical cross-sectional side view showing the pipe clamp of the connecting fitting in an open state and explaining how to attach the pipe clamp to the base member. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional side view illustrating an example of a location where the same connecting fitting is used. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating the details of an example of a location where the same connecting fitting is used. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the state in which the same connecting fitting is actually used in the location shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the structure and usage of a conventionally known connecting fitting. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional side view showing the structure and usage of another conventionally known connecting fitting. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a connecting fitting 1 according to the present invention comprises two pipe clamps 2A, 2B of the same structure and size and a base member 3. Both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are conventionally known and comprise an L-shaped receiving member 4, an arc-shaped presser member 5, and a fastening bolt 6. The L-shaped receiving member 4 comprises a base portion 4a with a flat bottom in a side view as shown in FIG. 3 and a rising portion 4b rising obliquely from one end of the base portion 4a, and has a grooved cross-section with an open L-shaped interior. One end of the presser member 5 is pivotally supported around a support shaft 5a so as to be freely opened and closed, fitting into a groove at the tip of the rising portion 4a of the receiving member 4. The pressing member 5 has a grooved cross-section with an open interior that covers the receiving member 4, and the other end is formed into a bifurcated tip portion 5b into which the fastening bolt 6 fits. The fastening bolt 6 is pivotally supported by a support shaft 6a parallel to the support shaft 5a, with one end fitted into the groove of the free end of the bottom portion 4a of the receiving member 4, and a nut 6b is threaded onto the fastening bolt 6, and a retaining portion 6c of this nut 6b is formed on the free end of the fastening bolt 6.

[0013] The base member 3 is composed of a top plate portion 3a with a flat surface and a pair of side plate portions 3b that are bent at right angles to the back side from both sides parallel to the longitudinal direction of the top plate portion 3a, and triangular end protrusion portions 3c are provided at both ends of the top plate portion 3a, protruding from the pair of side plate portions 3b in the longitudinal extension direction of the top plate portion 3a. As shown in Figure 1, when the two pipe clamps 2A, 2B having the above configuration have the pressure members 5 covering their respective receiving members 4, the pressure members 5 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are arranged parallel to each other, and the forked portion 5b at the tip of the pressure member 5 of one pipe clamp 2A and the support portion (support shaft 5a) between the pressure member 5 and receiving member 4 of the other pipe clamp 2B are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction. However, the base member 3 is arranged diagonally so that the length direction of its top plate portion 3a is along the direction connecting the receiving members 4 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B, and the bottom portion 4a of each receiving member 4 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B arranged as described above is attached in an area spanning both longitudinal ends of the top plate portion 3a of the base member 3 arranged as described above and both end protrusions 3c.

[0014] The receiving member 4 of each pipe clamp 2A, 2B is attached to the base member 3 with bolts 7 and nuts 8. The bolts 7 penetrate the bottom surface of the bottom edge 4a from the inside of the receiving member 4 and also pass through bolt holes 9 provided in the receiving member support area of ​​the top plate 3a of the base member 3. The receiving member 4 is fixed to the top plate 3a by tightening nuts 8 threaded onto the bolts 7 that penetrate the back side of the top plate 3a. To fix the pipe clamps 2A, 2B in a predetermined mounting orientation, two circular protrusions 10 that protrude outward are integrally formed on the bottom plate of each receiving member 4 at two locations on the bottom edge 4a, and the receiving member support area of ​​the top plate 3a of the base member 3 has circular openings 11 into which the two protrusions 10 fit. By fastening the receiving member 4 with the bolts 7 and nuts 8 with the protrusions 10 fitted in the openings 11, both pipe clamps 2A, 2B can be reliably fixed to the base member 3 in the orientation and position shown in FIG. 1. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the connecting fitting assembled in the manner described above has the tip of the bolt 7 and the top of the nut 8 protruding from the pair of side plate portions 3b of the base member 3. However, it is also possible to configure the pair of side plate portions 3b to a height that can hide the tip of the bolt 7, so that the pair of side plate portions 3b allows the base member 3, and in turn the entire connecting fitting 1, to be stably placed on a flat surface.

[0015] The location and method of use of connecting fitting 1 configured as described above will be explained with reference to Figures 6 to 8. In Figure 6, 12 is an elevated structure such as a bridge or an elevated road, and a temporary structure 13 such as a suspended scaffolding or protective body is erected below elevated structure 12 for construction, inspection, and maintenance work of this elevated structure 12. This temporary structure 13 is assembled by connecting horizontally oriented plate-like bodies 14 such as protective plates on which walking panels or nets to catch objects falling from the work space are stretched, and vertically oriented plate-like bodies 15 such as protective plates on which nets are stretched that form the sides of the work space, and all of these plate-like bodies 14, 15 are suspended from elevated structure 12 by hanging members 16 such as slings or steel pipes. All plate-like bodies 14, 15 are rectangular and of standard dimensions, with walking panels and protective nets etc. stretched between the surrounding frame members. The frame members 14a, 14b and 15a, 15b on both sides, which are parallel to the lengthwise direction, extend in the lengthwise direction and support connecting steel pipes 14c, 15c which are installed parallel to the width direction of these plate-like bodies 14, 15.

[0016] The connecting fitting 1 configured as described above is used to connect a connecting steel pipe 14c at the outer end of a horizontally oriented plate 14 located on the outer edge of the temporary structure 13, among the horizontally oriented plate members 14, to a connecting steel pipe 15c at the lower end of a vertically oriented plate member 15. That is, as shown in Figure 8, the receiving members 4 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are placed against the two upper and lower steel pipes 14c, 15c from the outside so that the fastening bolt 6 of the lower pipe clamp 2A is inserted between the two upper and lower steel pipes 14c, 15c, the pressing members 5 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are rotated upward to cover the inside of each steel pipe 14c, 15c, and finally the fastening bolt 6 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B is fitted into the forked tip portions 5b of the receiving members 4 that cover the two upper and lower steel pipes 14c, 15c. Thereafter, the nuts 6b that had been retracted toward the tip of each fastening bolt 6 are tightened, and the nuts 6b press the bifurcated tip portions 5b of each pressing member 5 toward the receiving member 4, thereby fastening and fixing the steel pipes 14c, 15c between the pressing member 5 and the receiving member 4. Through the above operations, the lower steel pipe 14c fixed to the horizontally oriented plate body 14 is fixed to the lower pipe clamp 2A, and the upper steel pipe 15c fixed to the vertically oriented plate body 15 is fixed to the upper pipe clamp 2B, and because both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are fixed to the common base member 3, the vertically oriented plate body 15 rises at a predetermined angle from the side edge of the horizontally oriented plate body 14, and both plate bodies 14, 15 are connected and fixed.

[0017] Incidentally, the conventional example described in paragraph 0004 will be briefly explained again using the reference symbols of the above-mentioned embodiment of the present invention. The connecting fitting X of the conventional example shown in Figure 9 is formed by connecting two pipe clamps 2A, 2B together with the rising portions 4b of each receiving member 4 adjacent to each other back to back, and the bottom portions 4a of each receiving member 4 being connected to a base member 3 that is bent in a V-shape by bolts 7 (the base member 3 has female threaded holes corresponding to nuts), and the fastening bolts 6 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are positioned on the outside of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B in an inverted V-shape. 10 shows a conventional connecting fitting Y in which two pipe clamps 2A, 2B are connected together with bolts and nuts (the bolt heads and nuts are contained within the bottom sides 4a of the receiving members 4) with the bottom sides 4a of the respective receiving members 4 directly adjacent to each other back to back, and the fastening bolts 6 of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B are arranged in a substantially straight line on one side of both pipe clamps 2A, 2B. The problems that arise when these conventional connecting fittings X, Y are used to connect the connecting steel pipe 14c on the outer edge of the horizontally oriented plate-like body 14 and the connecting steel pipe 15c at the lower end of the vertically oriented plate-like body 15 are as already explained in paragraph 0004.

[0018] In the previous embodiment of the present invention, a problem that occurs when each pipe clamp 2A, 2B is attached to the base member 3 with a single bolt 7 and nut 8, i.e., loosening of the bolt 7, 8 causes each pipe clamp 2A, 2B to rotate around the bolt 7, resulting in a change in orientation, is solved by fitting a protrusion 10 integrally molded on the bottom edge 4a of the receiving member 4 of each pipe clamp 2A, 2B into a circular opening 11 provided in the base member 3. However, it is also possible to configure the pipe clamps 2A, 2B so that, for example, rising plates adjacent to the sides of the bottom edge 4a of the receiving member 4 are connected to the sides of the overhanging portions 3c at both ends of the base member 3, and these rising plates restrict the orientation of the pipe clamps 2A, 2B to a predetermined orientation. With this configuration, no special processing is required on the pipe clamps 2A, 2B; simply by forming rising plates at predetermined locations on the base member 3, the risk of the pipe clamps 2A, 2B rotating freely around the bolt 7 is eliminated. [Industrial Applicability]

[0019] The connecting fittings of the present invention can be used at construction, inspection and maintenance work sites for elevated structures such as bridges and elevated roads to assemble temporary structures such as suspended scaffolding and protective bodies that are temporarily set up below elevated structures, in particular as a means of connecting a connecting steel pipe installed on the outer edge of a horizontally oriented plate-like body with a connecting steel pipe installed at the lower end of a vertically oriented plate-like body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0020] 1 Connecting fittings 2A, 2B pipe clamp 3 Base material 3a Top plate 3b Pair of side plates 3c Overhanging parts at both ends 4 Receiving member 4a Bottom 4b Rising section 5 Presser member 5a spindle 5b Forked tip 6 Fastening bolts 6a Support shaft 6b Nut 6c Retaining part 7 volts 8 nuts 9 bolt holes 10 Protrusion 11 Circular opening 12 Elevated buildings 13 Temporary Structures 14 Horizontally oriented plate 14a, 14b, 15a, 15b Frame material on both sides 14c,15c connecting steel pipe 15 Up-down plate 16 Lifting rope X, Y Conventional connecting fittings

Claims

1. A connecting fitting comprising a base member and two pipe clamps attached to the base member, the two pipe clamps each comprising a receiving member which is L-shaped in side view and has a bottom portion attached to the base member and a rising portion rising from one end of the bottom portion, a pressing member journalled to the tip of the rising portion of the receiving member so as to be able to open and close, and a fastening bolt journalled to the free end of the bottom portion of the receiving member so as to be able to swing, the fastening bolt having a nut threadedly fitted onto it which presses the pressing member towards the receiving member when the fastening bolt is fitted into the forked portion at the tip of the pressing member, When the two pipe clamps are in a state where the pressure members cover the respective receiving members, the pressure members of both pipe clamps are arranged parallel to each other and the bottom portions of the receiving members are fixed to the base member so that the forked tip portion of the pressure member of one pipe clamp and the axial support portion of the pressure member of the other pipe clamp are adjacent to each other in the horizontal direction.

2. 2. A connecting fitting for assembling a temporary structure as described in claim 1, wherein the base member comprises a top plate portion whose length runs along the diagonal direction connecting the receiving members of the two pipe clamps, and a pair of side plate portions which are bent and connected to the back side from both side edges parallel to the length direction of the top plate portion, and the top plate portion has both end protrusions at both ends in the length direction that protrude in the length extension direction from between the pair of side plate portions, and the bottom portions of the receiving members of each pipe clamp are attached to an area spanning above both length direction ends of the top plate portion located between the pair of side plate portions and above the both end protrusions.

3. 3. A connecting fitting for assembling temporary structures as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom portions of the receiving members of the two pipe clamps are attached to the base member by a receiving member mounting bolt that passes through the bottom portion of the receiving member and the base member from the inside of the receiving member, and a nut that is screwed onto the tip of the receiving member mounting bolt from the back side of the base member, the bottom portions of the receiving members are provided with a protrusion that protrudes outward from the bottom surface of the base portion, and the base member is provided with an opening for preventing the receiving member from rotating, into which the protrusion fits.

4. 3. A connecting fitting for assembling a temporary structure as described in claim 2, wherein the protruding portions at both ends of the base member have adjacent raised plate portions formed along the side edges of the bottom portions of the receiving members of the pipe clamps supported on the protruding portions at both ends.

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