Suspended scaffold

Abstract

To provide a suspended scaffold that can easily connect a chain to a scaffolding member.SOLUTION: A suspended scaffold comprises: a scaffolding member 10 that has a work floor 3; a chain 4 that is formed by connecting together a plurality of annular chain elements 4a, and suspends the scaffolding member 10; and a chain connecting device A that is installed on the scaffolding member 10, and connects the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10. When defining a side directly facing a hole in the chain element 4a as the front side, a width of the chain element 4a as seen from the front side is taken to be a horizontal width and a width of the chain element 4a as seen from the side surface side is taken to be a vertical width, and the chain connecting device A comprises: a cylindrical body 60 that has an axis line aligned vertically and through which the chain 4 is inserted inside; and a stopper 8 that has a notch 80a having a width narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element, and abuts against a lower end of the cylindrical body 60.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a suspended scaffold. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional suspended scaffolding includes, for example, those suspended from buildings or structures by chains and used in the construction and maintenance of buildings or structures.

[0003] For example, the suspended scaffolding disclosed in Patent Document 1 comprises a scaffolding member having a plurality of beam members arranged in parallel in the depth and width directions, joints connecting the ends of the beam members, and a work platform installed between the beam members, and the lower end of a chain suspended from a building or structure is connected to the joint.

[0004] Specifically, the joint has a cylindrical body whose axis is aligned vertically and through which a chain can be inserted, and the cylindrical body has a pair of through-holes that face each other in the radial direction. The chain is inserted into the cylindrical body, and pins are inserted into the through-holes of the cylindrical body and into the chain elements that make up the chain, thereby connecting the chain to the cylindrical body of the joint and suspending the scaffolding member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2023-117755 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, as mentioned above, when connecting a chain to a cylindrical body by inserting a pin into the chain element of the chain and through the through hole of the cylindrical body, it is necessary to adjust the vertical position and circumferential orientation of the chain element so that the inside of the chain element faces directly toward the through hole of the cylindrical body, making the task of connecting the chain to the scaffolding member cumbersome.

[0007] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a suspended scaffolding that allows chains to be easily connected to scaffolding members. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a suspended scaffolding system comprising a scaffolding member having a work platform, a chain formed of a plurality of annular chain elements strung together to suspend the scaffolding member, and a chain connecting device attached to the scaffolding member and connecting the chain to the scaffolding member. The chain connecting device comprises a cylindrical body having a vertical axis and through which the chain is inserted, and a stopper having a notch narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element but wider than the vertical width of the chain element and abutting the lower end of the cylindrical body. This configuration allows the chain to be connected to the cylindrical body without adjusting the orientation of the chain element or the position of the hole. Simply slide the stopper laterally toward the chain, insert the chain element located below the lower end of the cylindrical body into the notch, and then pull up the chain. This allows the chain to be easily connected to the scaffolding member. In addition, in the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the upper surface of the stopper of the chain connecting device abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body to support the cylindrical body, so the stopper can ensure sufficient strength without being limited by the size of the hole in the chain element, and therefore the strength required for the load required for the suspended scaffolding can be ensured. Therefore, with the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding can be increased and the number of chains can be reduced.

[0009] Another invention provides a suspended scaffolding system comprising a scaffolding member having a work platform, a chain formed by stringing together a plurality of annular chain elements to suspend the scaffolding member, and a chain connecting device attached to the scaffolding member and connecting the chain to the scaffolding member. The chain connecting device comprises a cylindrical body having a vertical axis and through which the chain is inserted, a restricting part having a notch narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element but wider than the vertical width of the chain element, and a connecting means for connecting the restricting part to the upper end of the cylindrical body in a manner that allows lateral movement while restricting vertical movement. This configuration allows the chain to be connected to the cylindrical body without adjusting the orientation of the chain element or the position of the hole. The chain connecting device can be connected to the cylindrical body by simply sliding the stopper laterally toward the cylindrical body, connecting the restricting part to the upper end of the cylindrical body with the connecting means, and inserting the chain element located near the upper end of the cylindrical body into the notch. Therefore, the chain can be easily connected to the scaffolding member.

[0010] In the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the stopper may have a fitting portion that fits vertically with the lower end of the cylindrical body. With this configuration, when the fitting portion fits with the lower end of the cylindrical body, lateral movement of the stopper relative to the cylindrical body is restricted, thereby preventing the stopper from falling off the chain.

[0011] In addition, in the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the outer periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical body is fitted inside the fitting portion, and the chain connecting device may have a pressing means provided at the upper end of the fitting portion and capable of moving toward and away from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body. With this configuration, when the pressing means is brought close to the outer periphery of the cylindrical body and presses the outer periphery of the cylindrical body from the side, even if the inner diameter of the fitting portion is slightly larger than designed and there is a gap between the inner periphery of the fitting portion and the outer periphery of the cylindrical body, the outer periphery of the cylindrical body is pressed against the inner periphery of the fitting portion, preventing the stopper from moving laterally. Therefore, lateral rattle of the stopper can be prevented without strict dimensional control of the fitting portion.

[0012] In addition, in the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the stopper has a restricting portion that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body, and the restricting portion may be disk-shaped and have a notch opening from the side of the upper end and a semicircular recess that opens from the side of the lower end, leads to the notch, and can accommodate the upper part of the chain element. With this configuration, even if the overall thickness of the restricting portion is set to be equal to or greater than the size of the gap between adjacent chain elements that are oriented in the same direction, the thickness of the portion around the notch in the restricting portion can be made thin. Therefore, the portion around the notch in the restricting portion can be inserted between two adjacent chain elements that are oriented in the same direction in the chain, while the thickness of the other portions of the restricting portion can be ensured, thereby achieving sufficient strength for the stopper.

[0013] In another aspect of the suspended scaffolding, the connecting means may include a protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body and a hook provided on the lower end of the restricting member that can be hooked onto the lower end of the protrusion. With this configuration, the chain can be connected to the cylindrical body simply by sliding the stopper laterally toward the cylindrical body, inserting a chain element located near the upper end of the cylindrical body into the notch, and hooking the hook onto the protrusion. This makes it easier to connect the chain to the scaffolding member. Furthermore, with this configuration, the load of the scaffolding member and the load carried by the scaffolding member is received by the abutment portion of the hook that abuts the lower end of the protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body. However, since the hook is positioned on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body and supports the protrusion of the cylindrical body, the thickness and dimensions of the hook are not limited. Therefore, the strength of the hook can be ensured by increasing the thickness and dimensions of the hook. This allows the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding to be increased while reducing the number of chains.

[0014] In another aspect of the invention, the protruding portion may be annular, and the hook portion may have a peripheral wall portion with a U-shaped cross section that protrudes downward from the lower end of the restricting portion, and a U-shaped abutment portion that protrudes inward from the lower end of the peripheral wall and abuts against the lower end of the protruding portion. This configuration ensures the strength of the hook portion by increasing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion and the abutment portion. Therefore, a suspended scaffolding configured in this manner can increase the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding and reduce the number of chains.

[0015] In another aspect of the suspended scaffolding, the chain connecting device may be J- or U-shaped and include a locking pin, one end of which is inserted into a through-hole in the restricting section and the other end of which is inserted into the cylindrical body via a notch. With this configuration, when a stopper is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical body and each end of the locking pin is inserted into the through-hole and the cylindrical body, even if the stopper is moved laterally to remove it from the cylindrical body, the chain inserted into the cylindrical body abuts against the locking pin and cannot come out of the notch. Therefore, the locking pin restricts the lateral movement of the stopper. This prevents the stopper from falling off the cylindrical body.

[0016] In addition, in the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the scaffolding members may have a plurality of beam members arranged in parallel, joints connected to the ends of the beam members, and a work platform installed between the beam members, and the chain connecting device may be provided at the joint. With this configuration, the chain connecting device is provided at the joint connected to the ends of the beam members of the scaffolding members, so the number of parts of the suspended scaffolding can be reduced. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] According to the suspended scaffolding of the present invention, the chain can be easily connected to the scaffolding members. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a suspended scaffolding according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a side view of a beam member in the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a front view of a beam member in the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, viewed from one end side. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a joint in the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment. [Figure 5] This is an enlarged side view showing the connection portion between the joint and the beam member in the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment. [Figure 6]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connecting pin in the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing a chain connecting device in the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment. [Figure 8] 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a stopper of a chain connecting device in a suspended scaffolding according to a first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 9] This is a diagram explaining the method of assembling the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, and shows the process of inserting one end of the upper beam member of the beam member into the recess of the joint plate in an orientation aligned in the vertical direction. [Figure 10] This is a diagram explaining the method of assembling the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, and shows the process of rotating the other end of the upper beam member of the beam member toward the back and tilting it down. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the method of assembling the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, showing the process of arranging two beam members extending in the depth direction in parallel. [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the method of assembling the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, showing the process of installing a work platform between two beam members arranged in parallel. [Figure 13] This figure explains the method of assembling the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, and shows the process of bridging a beam member along the width direction between joints attached to the other ends of two beam members arranged in parallel. [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the method of assembling the suspended scaffolding of the first embodiment, showing the process of bridging a beam member between the joints of two suspended scaffoldings. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is an enlarged side view showing a chain connecting device in a suspended scaffolding according to a second embodiment. [Figure 16] 10 is an enlarged perspective view showing a stopper of a chain connecting device in a suspended scaffolding according to a second embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] The present embodiment will now be described with reference to the drawings, in which like reference numerals are used throughout the several views to denote like parts.

[0020] The suspended scaffolding 1 of the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a scaffolding member 10 having a working platform 3, a chain 4 formed by stringing together a plurality of annular chain elements 4a to suspend the scaffolding member 10, and a chain connecting device A installed on the scaffolding member 10 to connect the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10.

[0021] The scaffolding member 10 of this embodiment has a plurality of beam members 5,5 arranged in parallel, joints 6 connected to the ends of the beam members 5, and a work platform 3 installed between the beam members 5,5.

[0022] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 1, the scaffolding member 10 includes a plurality of frame bodies 2 formed by connecting a plurality of beam members 5 to each joint 6, and a work platform 3 made up of a plurality of scaffolding planks 3a spanning between the beam members 5, 5 of each frame body 2, with each frame body 2 being connected and arranged in the depth direction and width direction, respectively. Note that Fig. 1 omits the work platforms 3 installed on some of the frame bodies 2 to make it easier to understand the structure of the scaffolding member 10. Furthermore, the suspended scaffolding 1 shown in Fig. 1 includes four frame bodies 2 arranged in two rows in the width direction and two rows in the depth direction, but the number of frame bodies 2 may be determined arbitrarily depending on the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10, and the number of frame bodies 2 may be one.

[0023] More specifically, the frame body 2 is formed in a quadrangular shape in plan view by two beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel along the depth direction, two beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel along the width direction, and four joints 6 connected to the ends of each beam member 5 by connecting pins 7 as connecting members described below, connecting the ends of each beam member 5. Adjacent frame bodies 2 in the depth direction and width direction share a central beam member 5 and the joints 6 connected to both ends of the beam member 5. Note that in this embodiment, the frame body 2 includes two beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel along the depth direction and two beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel along the width direction. However, if the two beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel along the depth direction are connected by the work platform 3 to function as a structure, the two beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel along the width direction may be omitted. Furthermore, the shape of the frame body 2 may be other than a square in plan view, such as a rectangle or a parallelogram.

[0024] 2 and 3, the beam member 5 comprises a pair of upper and lower beam members 50, 51, a plurality of beam members 52 spanning between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51 and connecting the beam members 50, 51, and a pair of flat mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 extending vertically from the lower part of each end of the upper beam member 50 and on the left and right as viewed from the axial direction. As such, the beam member 5 of this embodiment does not have a structure in which the beam members are arranged side by side, and therefore has a compact structure in the width direction.

[0025] 2, the lower beam member 51 is provided with pin-shaped fixing portions 51a, 51a that protrude upward from the upper portion at two locations on the left and right in the axial direction. Although not shown, the strength of the frame body 2 can be increased by diagonally spanning the fixing portions 51a, 51a between the lower beam members 51, 51 that face each other in the depth direction or width direction in the frame body 2 with brace materials (not shown). However, if the strength of the frame body 2 is sufficient without the brace materials, the fixing portions 51a for installing the brace materials may be omitted.

[0026] Furthermore, the mounting pieces 53 and 54 have the same structure except for some parts. Specifically, each mounting piece 53, 54 has two pin holes 53a, 53a, 54a, 54a arranged side by side in the vertical direction as viewed from the axial direction of the beam member 5. In this embodiment, the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51 are formed in a cylindrical shape, but they may have a shape other than a cylindrical shape, such as a rectangular tube shape.

[0027] 2 and 3, in this embodiment, an attachment piece 53 (hereinafter referred to as the "one-end attachment piece 53") provided on the right side in FIG. 2, which is one end of the beam member 5, spans between the lower part of the upper beam member 50 and the upper part of the lower beam member 51, and has its upper and lower ends connected to the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51, respectively, so that the lower part of the gap between the one-end attachment pieces 53, 53 is blocked by the lower beam member 51. On the other hand, an attachment piece 54 (hereinafter referred to as the "other-end attachment piece 54") provided on the left side in FIG. 2, which is the other end of the beam member 5, has its lower end connected to the left end face in FIG. 2 of the lower beam member 51, so that the lower part of the gap between the other-end attachment pieces 54, 54 is open. However, the lower part of the gap between the one-end attachment pieces 53, 53 may be open, and the lower part of the gap between the other-end attachment pieces 54, 54 may be blocked by the lower beam member 51. Alternatively, the lower portions of both the gap between the mounting pieces 53, 53 on one end side and the gap between the mounting pieces 54, 54 on the other end side may be open or closed.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 1, the work floor 3 is made up of a plurality of rectangular scaffolding boards 3a that are bridged between upper beam members 50, 50 of beam members 5, 5 that face each other in the width direction of the frame body 2.

[0029] A hook 3b is provided at each of the four corners of each longitudinal end of each scaffolding board 3a, and by hooking these hooks 3b onto the upper beam members 50 of the beam members 5, the scaffolding board 3a is spanned between the upper beam members 50, 50 of the beam members 5, 5 facing each other in the width direction. Although not shown, the hook 3b provided at one longitudinal end of the scaffolding board 3a and the hook 3b provided at the other end are arranged so as to be offset from each other in the short direction of the scaffolding board 3a. Therefore, when the scaffolding boards 3a are installed on the frames 2, 2 adjacent to each other in the width direction, the hooks 3b of the scaffolding boards 3a of the adjacent frames 2, 2 are hooked onto the central beam member 5, but the hooks 3b, 3b of each work platform 3 are arranged so as to be staggered on the central beam member 5 shared by the frames 2, 2 adjacent to each other in the width direction, so that the hooks 3b, 3b do not interfere with each other.

[0030] The above-described configuration of the work floor 3 is just one example, and the work floor 3 may be composed of a single scaffolding board 3a, or the scaffolding board 3a may be connected to the beam member 5 via mounting fittings other than hooks, and the scaffolding board 3a may be spanned between beam members 5, 5 facing each other in the width direction.

[0031] In this way, since multiple scaffolding boards 3a are hooked onto the upper beam 50, the load of the work floor 3 acts more heavily on the upper beam 50 than on the lower beam 51. Therefore, the upper beam 50 is required to have a higher bending strength than the lower beam 51, and so the diameter of the upper beam 50 is larger than the diameter of the lower beam 51, as shown in Figure 3. However, as long as the strength of the beam member 5 is not insufficient, the diameter of the lower beam 51 may be the same as the diameter of the upper beam 50, or the diameter of the lower beam 51 may be larger than the diameter of the upper beam 50.

[0032] 4, the joint 6 includes a cylindrical body 60 whose axis is aligned in the vertical direction, and four plates 61 that are arranged at 90-degree intervals in the circumferential direction on the outer periphery of the body 60 and aligned in the axial direction of the body 60. Note that the shape of the body 60 is not limited to a cylindrical shape as long as it is cylindrical.

[0033] The plate 61 has a plate main body 61a that protrudes from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 in the radial direction of the cylindrical body 60 and is oriented vertically along the axial direction of the cylindrical body 60, a protruding portion 61b that protrudes upward from the upper portion on the tip side of the plate main body 61a, and a recessed portion 61c that is formed between the protruding portion 61b and the cylindrical body 60. In this embodiment, the recessed portion 61c is formed between the protruding portion 61b and the cylindrical body 60 at the upper end of the plate 61, but the position of the recessed portion 61c is not particularly limited, and for example, the recessed portion 61c may be formed at a position spaced apart from the cylindrical body 60 at the upper end of the plate 61.

[0034] 5, the upper end of the protrusion 61b, which is the upper end of the plate 61, is located lower than the upper end of the cylindrical body 60. Furthermore, the width of the recess 61c in the extension direction of the plate 61 (hereinafter simply referred to as the "width of the recess 61c") is set to be wider than the height of the upper beam member in the vertical direction.

[0035] Furthermore, the vertical length of the plate 61 is slightly shorter than the vertical distance between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51 of the beam member 5, and the thickness of the plate 61 is slightly thinner than the size of the gaps between the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 of the beam member 5, so that the plate 61 can be fitted between the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 as shown in Fig. 5. Furthermore, the upper and lower ends of the one-end mounting piece 53 are connected to the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51, respectively. Therefore, when the plate 61 is fitted between the one-end mounting pieces 53, 53, the plate 61 is sandwiched between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51, unlike when the plate 61 is fitted between the other-end mounting pieces 54, 54, so that the relative movement between the beam member 5 and the joint 6 in the vertical direction is restricted.

[0036] Furthermore, the plate main body 61a is formed with two insertion holes 61a1, 61a1 that are arranged side by side in the up-down direction and that face the pin holes 53a, 54a of the mounting pieces 53, 54 when the plate 61 is fitted between the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54. Also, the plate main body 61a is provided with a relief portion 61a2 that is formed by cutting out the lower side, away from the cylinder, at an angle, as shown in Fig. 4.

[0037] Then, as shown in Figure 5, with the plate 61 of the joint 6 fitted between the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 of the beam member 5, the beam member 5 is connected to the plate 61 of the joint 6 by inserting the pin portion 70 of the connecting pin 7, which serves as a connecting member and will be described later, into the two opposing pin holes 53a, 53a, 54a, 54a and the insertion holes 61a1, 61a1, respectively.

[0038] In addition, in this embodiment, the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 of the beam member 5 are pin-joined to the plate 61 of the joint 6 at two points, so that the vertical rotation of the beam member 5 relative to the plate 61 is restricted compared to when the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 of the beam member 5 are pin-joined to the plate 61 of the joint 6 at one point, thereby suppressing vertical rattle of the beam member 5.

[0039] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the shape of the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 is set to be substantially the same as that of the plate 61 when the plate 61 is fitted between the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54, but the shape of the mounting pieces 53, 53, 54, 54 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a rectangular plate shape.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the connecting pin 7 of this embodiment includes a pair of pin portions 70, 70 that can be inserted into the pin hole 53a and the insertion hole 61a1 and are arranged parallel to each other at the same intervals as the pair of pin holes 53a, 53a, 54a, 54a and the pair of insertion holes 61a1, 61a1, a cylindrical holding portion 71 as a connecting portion that connects the base ends of the pair of pin portions 70, 70, and a rectangular plate-shaped regulating portion 72 as a connecting portion that connects the centers of the pair of pin portions 70, 70.

[0041] When the connecting pin 7 is configured in this manner, a worker can hold the gripping portion 71 and insert the two pin portions 70 into two opposing pin holes 53a, 53a, 54a, 54a and insertion holes 61a1, 61a1 (hereinafter referred to as "holes 53a, 54a, 61a1") formed in the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the plate 61. In this way, since the two pin portions 70 can be inserted at once into the two holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 of the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the plate 61, the efficiency of the work of connecting the beam member 5 to the joint 6 is improved compared to when inserting one pin each into the two holes 53a, 54a, 61a1.

[0042] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the restricting portions 72 are provided at positions in the axial direction of the pin portions 70 where they come into contact with the mounting pieces 53, 54 when the pin portions 70 are inserted to appropriate positions relative to the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 of the plate 61. Therefore, if the worker inserts the pin portions 70 into the holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 until the restricting portions 72 come into contact with the mounting pieces 53, 54, the insertion amount of the pin portions 70 is always constant, and therefore, it is possible to prevent variations in the connection strength between the mounting pieces 53, 54 of the beam member 5 and the plate 61 of the joint 6.

[0043] The restricting portion 72 may be, for example, a protrusion that protrudes from the outer periphery of the pin portion 70. Even in this case, the insertion amount of the pin portion 70 can be kept constant. However, if the restricting portion 72 is bridged between the pin portions 70, 70 as in this embodiment, the pair of pin portions 70, 70 can be supported by the gripping portion 71 and the restricting portion 72, and therefore the strength of the pin portion 70 against forces acting in the radial direction is increased.

[0044] In this embodiment, a through-hole 70a that penetrates radially is formed in the tip portion of one of the pin portions 70 (upper side in FIG. 6 ). This through-hole 70a is positioned so that it protrudes from the mounting pieces 53, 54 when the pin portion 70 is inserted into the holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 of the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the plate 61. Although not shown, by inserting a non-detachment pin (not shown) into the through-hole 70a while the pin portion 70 is inserted into the holes 53a, 54a, 61a1, the connecting pin 7 can be prevented from coming off the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 of the plate 61.

[0045] The above-described configuration of the connecting pin 7 is one example, and for example, the connecting pin 7 may be configured by omitting either the gripping portion 71 or the restricting portion 72. Alternatively, the connecting pin 7 may be a plurality of independent pins, and the beam member 5 may be joined to the plate 61 of the joint 6 by inserting one pin into each of the holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 of the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the plate 61.

[0046] In addition, the number of holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 in the mounting pieces 53, 54 and plate 61 and the number of pin portions 70 of the connecting pin may be three or more, and even in this case, since the mounting pieces 53, 54 and plate 61 are connected at multiple points, vertical rattle of the beam member 5 can be suppressed, and multiple pin portions 70, 70 can be inserted into multiple holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 in the mounting pieces 53, 54 and plate 61 at one time, improving workability.

[0047] However, the number of holes 53a, 54a, 61a1 in the mounting pieces 53, 54 and the plate 61 may be one. In that case, the connecting pin may be one independent pin.

[0048] In addition, in this embodiment, the holes 53a, 54a, and 61a1 of the mounting pieces 53 and 54 and the plate 61 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction, but the direction in which the holes 53a, 54a, and 61a1 are arranged is not particularly limited, and they may be arranged side by side, for example, in the horizontal direction. However, when the holes 53a, 54a, and 61a1 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction relative to the mounting pieces 53 and 54 and the plate 61, the horizontal width (width in the left-right direction in FIG. 2 ) of the mounting pieces 53 and 54 and the plate 61 can be made shorter than when the holes 53a, 54a, and 61a1 are arranged side by side in the horizontal direction.

[0049] As described above, beam members 5 can be connected to each plate 61 of the joints 6 via connecting pins 7. The frame body 2 is configured to have a square shape in plan view by connecting each end of the beam members 5 to the opposing plates 61 of the four joints 6 via connecting pins 7. Furthermore, when the suspended scaffolding 1 has multiple frame bodies 2 as shown in FIG. 1, adjacent frame bodies 2, 2 in the depth direction or width direction share one beam member 5 located in the center of the frame bodies 2, 2 and joints 6 connected to both ends of this beam member 5 via connecting pins 7.

[0050] Next, the chain connecting device A that connects the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10 will be described in detail. The chain 4 is formed by stringing together multiple annular chain elements 4a. In the following description, the inside of the chain element 4a will be referred to as the hole of the chain element 4a, and the side directly opposite the hole of the chain element 4a will be referred to as the front side. The orientation of the chain element 4a as seen from the front side will be referred to as horizontal, and the orientation of the chain element 4a as seen from the side side will be referred to as vertical, with the width of the horizontally oriented chain element 4a being referred to as the horizontal width and the width of the vertically oriented chain element 4a being referred to as the vertical width.

[0051] As shown in Fig. 7, the chain connecting device A includes a cylindrical body 60 of a joint 6 through which the chain 4 is inserted, and a stopper 8 that has a notch 80a that is narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a and abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. Note that in Fig. 7, the beam member 5 is not shown to make the configuration of the chain connecting device A easier to understand.

[0052] More specifically, the stopper 8 of this embodiment has a restricting portion 80 that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the restricting portion 80 is disk-shaped and has a notch 80a that opens from the side of the upper end and a semicircular recess 80b that opens from the side of the lower end, communicates with the notch 80a, and is capable of accommodating the upper part of the chain element 4a. The notch 80a is formed by cutting out the upper end of the restricting portion 80 in a rounded rectangular shape from the side, with a length equal to or greater than the radius of the restricting portion 80. Furthermore, the horizontal width of the notch 80a when the stopper 8 is viewed from the side (hereinafter simply referred to as the "width of the notch 80a") is set to be narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a.

[0053] 7, when the restricting portion 80 is viewed from the side, the center of the restricting portion 80 is aligned with an axis passing vertically through the center of the notch 80a in the left-right direction in FIG. 7, and the recess 80b in this embodiment is formed by cutting out the lower end of the disk-shaped restricting portion 80 from the side to a point slightly past the center of the restricting portion 80 in a semi-cylindrical shape, and the upper part of the recess 80b is connected to the notch 80a. Note that in this embodiment, the recess 80b is formed by cutting out the lower end of the restricting portion 80 from the side to a point slightly past the center of the restricting portion 80 in the radial direction, but it may also be formed by radially penetrating the restricting portion 80. The recess 80b is formed to a size corresponding to the upper part of the chain element 4a of the chain 4.

[0054] In the stopper 8 configured in this manner, the width of the notch 80a is wider than the width of the vertically oriented chain element 4a. Therefore, when the stopper 8 is slid laterally toward the chain 4 with the notch 80a and the vertically oriented chain element 4a facing each other horizontally, the vertically oriented chain element 4a can be inserted into the notch 80a. Furthermore, because the width of the notch 80a is narrower than the width of the horizontally oriented chain element 4a, the notch 80a does not allow the two horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a connected above and below the vertically oriented chain element 4a inserted inside it to pass through in the vertical direction. In other words, the notch 80a allows the chain 4 to be inserted laterally, but does not allow the chain 4 inserted inside it to move vertically. Therefore, when the vertically oriented chain element 4a is inserted into the notch 80a of the restricting portion 80, the stopper 8 is connected to the chain 4 in a state where its vertical movement is restricted.

[0055] Therefore, when the vertical chain element 4a, which is positioned below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 of the chain 4, is inserted into the notch 80a of the regulating part 80 and the stopper 8 is hung by the chain 4, the upper surface of the regulating part 80 abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, and the cylindrical body 60 is supported from below by the stopper 8, so that the scaffolding member 10 is hung and supported by the chain 4 together with the stopper 8.

[0056] In this way, with the chain connecting device A of this embodiment, the stopper 8 is slid laterally toward the chain 4, the vertically oriented chain element 4a located below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 is inserted into the notch 80a of the restricting part 80, and the chain 4 is pulled upward, thereby attaching the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60. Therefore, compared to the conventional method of connecting the chain to the cylindrical body by adjusting the position and orientation of the hole of the chain element of the chain inserted into the cylindrical body so that it faces directly with the through-hole provided in the cylindrical body and then inserting a pin into the hole of the chain element and the through-hole, with the chain connecting device A of this embodiment, it is not necessary to adjust the orientation of the chain element 4a or the position of the hole to be the same height and orientation as the position of the through-hole in the cylindrical body, so the chain 4 can be easily connected to the scaffolding member 10.

[0057] Furthermore, in conventional suspended scaffolding, the load of the scaffolding members and the load carried by the scaffolding members acts on the pins connecting the chain and the cylindrical body. In this case, the load is concentrated on the portion of the pin that passes through the through-hole provided in the cylindrical body, so as the load increases, the strength of the pin must be increased. However, the diameter of the pin is limited to the size that can pass through the hole in the chain element, and increasing the diameter of the pin requires increasing the diameter of the cylindrical body, so there is a limit to how much the strength of the pin can be increased. Therefore, it has been difficult to increase the maximum load capacity of conventional suspended scaffolding.

[0058] In contrast to this, in the chain connecting device A of this embodiment, the stopper 8 supports the cylindrical body 60 by abutting the upper surface of the restricting part 80 against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, so the restricting part 80 can ensure sufficient strength without being restricted by the size of the hole in the chain element 4a, and therefore the strength required can be ensured according to the load required for the suspended scaffolding 1. Therefore, with the suspended scaffolding 1 equipped with the chain connecting device A, the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding 1 can be increased and the number of chains 4 can be reduced.

[0059] In this embodiment, the notch 80a is formed in a rounded rectangular shape with a constant width. As described above, the width of the notch 80a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the entire width of the notch 80a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a. However, as long as at least a portion of the width of the notch 80a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a, the width of the other portion of the notch 80a may be wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a. However, if the entire width of the notch 80a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a, as in this embodiment, the stopper 8 will not fall off the chain 4 even if the chain 4 shifts slightly laterally relative to the stopper 8.

[0060] Typically, when the stopper 8 is slid laterally to insert vertically oriented chain elements 4a into the notches 80a of the restricting portion 80, the thickness of the restricting portion 80 must be thinner than the gap between the horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a, so that the restricting portion 80 does not interfere with the horizontally oriented chain elements 4a. However, the restricting portion 80 of this embodiment has a semicircular recess 80b that opens from the side of the lower end of the restricting portion 80, communicates with the notches 80a, and can accommodate the upper part of the chain element 4a. This allows the thickness of the portion of the restricting portion 80 around the notches 80a to be thinner even if the overall thickness of the restricting portion 80 is set to be equal to or greater than the gap between the horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a. This allows the portion of the restricting portion 80 around the notches 80a to be inserted between the horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a, while still ensuring the thickness of the other portions of the restricting portion 80, thereby achieving sufficient strength for the stopper 8.

[0061] In addition, the recess 80b in this embodiment is formed in a semicircular shape with a size that corresponds to the upper part of the chain element 4a of the chain 4. Therefore, as shown in Figure 7, when the vertically oriented chain element 4a is inserted into the notch 80a, the upper end of the horizontally oriented chain element 4a connected to the lower end of the vertically oriented chain element 4a inserted into the notch 80a fits into the recess 80b. This improves the fit of the chain element 4a within the recess 80b, suppressing wear on the upper end of the chain element 4a and allowing the chain 4 to stably suspend the scaffolding member 10. However, the size of the recess 80b does not have to correspond to the upper part of the chain element 4a, as long as it is large enough to accommodate the upper part of the chain element 4a.

[0062] If the strength of the stopper 8 is sufficient, the overall thickness of the restricting portion 80 may be less than the size of the gap between the horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a adjacent to each other in the vertical direction. In this case, the recess 80b is omitted.

[0063] In the stopper 8 of this embodiment, the regulating portion 80 that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 has a notch 80a that regulates the vertical movement of the chain 4, but this structure of the stopper 8 is just one example, and for example, the stopper 8 may have a structure that separately includes a regulating portion that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 and a chain mounting portion that has a notch that is narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a and wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a.

[0064] However, as in this embodiment, when the regulating portion 80 that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 is provided with a notch 80a, the stopper 8 does not need to have a chain attachment portion with a notch separate from the regulating portion 80, so the stopper 8 can be made smaller and the amount of material can be reduced.

[0065] 7 and 8, the stopper 8 has a fitting portion 81 that is provided at the upper end of the restricting portion 80 and fits onto the outer periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. Specifically, the fitting portion 81 is a C-shaped cylinder whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 60 and that fits onto the outer periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. The fitting portion 81 protrudes upward from the outer periphery of the restricting portion 80, with its opening aligned with the opening of the notch 80a of the restricting portion 80, to allow the chain element 4a to be inserted into the notch 80a.

[0066] In the stopper 8 configured in this manner, the vertically oriented chain element 4a of the chain 4 located below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 is inserted into the notch 80a of the restricting part 80, and then the upper end of the restricting part 80 and the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 are brought closer together until the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 abuts against the upper surface of the restricting part 80, as shown in Figure 7, and the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 enters and fits inside the fitting part 81. In this way, when the outer periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 is fitted into the fitting part 81, lateral movement of the stopper 8 relative to the cylindrical body 60 is restricted, thereby preventing the stopper 8 from falling off the chain 4.

[0067] In this embodiment, a C-shaped cylindrical fitting portion 81 having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical body 60 is provided along the periphery of the regulating portion 80, and the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 is inserted into and fitted into the inside of the fitting portion 81; however, a C-shaped cylindrical fitting portion 81 having an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical body 60 and fitted into the inner periphery of the cylindrical body 60 may be provided inside the periphery of the regulating portion 80 so that the fitting portion 81 fits into the inside of the cylindrical body 60, or an annular groove may be provided at the upper end of the regulating portion 80 to allow the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 to fit into it, and this may be fitted into.

[0068] Furthermore, the shape of fitting portion 81 is not particularly limited as long as it can restrict lateral movement of stopper 8 relative to cylindrical body 60 when fitted to the lower end of cylindrical body 60, and for example, fitting portion 81 may be configured with multiple arc-shaped protrusions that protrude intermittently along the circumferential direction from the outer periphery of the upper end of restricting portion 80. Furthermore, if the cross-sectional shape of cylindrical body 60 is other than circular, the shape of fitting portion 81 may be changed appropriately to match the cross-sectional shape of cylindrical body 60. However, fitting portion 81 may be omitted.

[0069] Further, a pressing means 82 is provided at the upper end of the fitting portion 81, which is capable of moving towards and away from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 and presses the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60. Specifically, the pressing means 82 includes a nut 82a attached to the upper end of the fitting portion 81 with a screw hole (not shown) facing the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60, and a bolt 82b threaded into the nut 82a, and when the bolt 82b is rotated in the circumferential direction, the bolt 82b moves towards and away from the cylindrical body 60 in the manner of a feed screw.

[0070] 7, when the fitting portion 81 is fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 and the upper surface of the restricting portion 80 is in contact with the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, the bolt 82b is rotated relative to the nut 82a to move closer to the cylindrical body 60, and the tip of the bolt 82b comes into contact with the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 and presses the cylindrical body 60 laterally. When the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 is pressed by the bolt 82b in this manner, even if the inner diameter of the fitting portion 81 is slightly larger than designed due to a dimensional error or the like, creating a gap between the inner periphery of the fitting portion 81 and the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60, the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 is pressed against the inner periphery of the fitting portion 81, preventing the stopper 8 from moving laterally. Therefore, even if the dimensional control of the fitting portion 81 is not strict, the occurrence of lateral rattle of the stopper 8 can be prevented. In this embodiment, bolt 82b is a butterfly bolt with a pair of arc-shaped handles 82b1, 82b1 at its base end, making it easy to rotate bolt 82b without using a tool. However, bolt 82b may be other than a butterfly bolt, and may be rotated using a tool.

[0071] The configuration of the pressing means 82 described above is merely an example, and the configuration of the pressing means 82 is not particularly limited as long as it can move toward and away from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 and press the cylindrical body 60 against the fitting portion 81. For example, the pressing means may include a pressing pin having a flange provided on the outer periphery, a spring receiving plate provided at the upper end of the fitting portion and having a hole through which the pressing pin is slidably inserted, and a coil spring interposed between the spring receiving plate and the flange and biasing the pressing pin toward the cylindrical body 60. With the pressing means configured in this manner, the biasing force of the coil spring can move the pressing pin toward the cylindrical body 60 to press the cylindrical body 60, and the pressing pin can be moved away from the cylindrical body 60 by pulling the pressing pin against the biasing force of the coil spring. However, if some lateral play of the stopper 8 is acceptable, the pressing means 82 may be omitted.

[0072] The number of chains 4 in the suspended scaffolding 1 in this embodiment can be any number depending on the size and supporting load of the scaffolding member 10, and it is not necessary to connect chains 4 to the cylindrical bodies 60 of all joints 6. Also, in this embodiment, the chain 4 is connected to the joints 6 by providing a chain connecting device A at the joints 6, but the chain connecting device A may also be provided on a part of the scaffolding member 10 other than the joints 6, for example, by providing a cylindrical body 60 on the beam member 5, and connecting the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 via the stopper 8.

[0073] Next, a method for assembling the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment will be described in detail. First, multiple frames 2 are assembled by connecting beam members 5 and joints 6 with connecting pins 7 as described above. Then, a work platform 3 is placed on each frame 2, and scaffolding members 10 are assembled on the ground. Then, a chain 4 is connected to the scaffolding members 10 assembled on the ground (hereinafter referred to as "existing scaffolding members 10") using a chain connecting device A. Specifically, as described above, the chain 4 is inserted into the cylindrical body 60 of each joint 6 of the scaffolding member 10, and the stopper 8 is slid laterally relative to the chain element 4a of the chain 4 located below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 to insert the chain element 4a into the notch 80a of the stopper 8. The chain 4 is then pulled upward so that the upper surface of the restricting portion 80 of the stopper 8 abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, thereby connecting the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 of the joint 6. In this way, the chain 4 can be easily connected to the cylindrical body 60 simply by inserting the chain element 4a located below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 into the notch 80a of the restricting part 80, thereby shortening the work time. Then, by lifting the chain 4 with heavy machinery or a chain block and fixing the chain 4 to the building or structure, the existing scaffolding member 10 can be suspended from the building or structure, as shown in Figure 1.

[0074] Next, a method for expanding the floor area of ​​a scaffolding member 10 suspended from a building or structure will be described. Hereinafter, components attached to an existing scaffolding member 10 will be described with the prefix "expansion." First, as shown in FIG. 9 , one end of the upper beam 50 of the expansion beam member 5 is inserted vertically into a recess 61c formed at the upper end of a plate 61 of a joint 6 located at the rear side of the existing scaffolding member 10, which is the side where the floor area is to be expanded in the depth direction. Then, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 10 , a worker supports the expansion beam member 5 via a support such as a rope (not shown) attached to the other end of the expansion beam member 5, and gradually tilts the expansion beam member 5 by rotating the other end of the upper beam 50 toward the rear using one end of the upper beam 50 as a fulcrum. The support used by the worker to support the expansion beam member 5 may be something other than a rope, such as a belt, chain, or a small crane.

[0075] Here, because the width of the recess 61c is wider than the vertical height of the upper beam 50, one end of the upper beam 50 can be inserted into the recess 61c in a vertical orientation, and a gap is formed between the one end of the upper beam 50 and the side wall of the recess 61c (the protrusion 61b and the cylindrical body 60), as shown in Fig. 9. Then, by allowing the upper beam 50 to be oriented in the vertical direction, the orientation of the upper beam 50 is stabilized within the recess 61c, and the formation of a gap between the one end of the upper beam 50 and the side wall of the recess 61c (the protrusion 61b and the cylindrical body 60) allows the upper beam 50 to rotate toward the rear, so that the operation of tilting the expansion beam member 5 in a vertical orientation toward the rear can be performed safely and easily.

[0076] Note that the "vertical orientation" of the upper beam member 50 when inserting one end of the upper beam member 50 into the recess 61c described above includes not only an orientation along the vertical direction but also an orientation tilted toward the rear. Therefore, the upper beam member 50 may be initially tilted toward the rear, and a corner of one end of the upper beam member 50 may be inserted into the recess 61c. In this way, when a corner of one end of the upper beam member 50 that is initially tilted toward the rear is inserted into the recess 61c, the width of the recess 61c may be narrower than the vertical height of the upper beam member 50, as long as the width of the recess 61c allows for the insertion of the corner of one end of the upper beam member 50.

[0077] 10, when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the rear, one end of the upper beam member 50 abuts against the upper corner of the protrusion 61b, which is the rear side wall of the recess 61c. In other words, the expansion beam member 5 tilts toward the rear while the upper beam member 50 is supported by the upper end of the plate 61. Therefore, when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the rear, the expansion beam member 5 can be prevented from tilting all at once, allowing the expansion beam member 5 to be safely tilted toward the rear. Furthermore, since one end of the upper beam member 50 inserted into the recess 61c is sandwiched in the depth direction by the side wall of the recess 61c (the protrusion 61b and the cylindrical body 60), the one end of the upper beam member 50 can be prevented from sliding along the top surface of the plate 61 when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the rear.

[0078] Then, when the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 is tilted until its axial direction is horizontal (sideways), as shown by the dashed line in Figure 10, the lower end of the upper beam member 50 is supported by the upper end of the protrusion 61b, and the plate 61 is fitted between the one-end side mounting pieces 53, 53, so that the pin hole 53a of the one-end side mounting piece 53 faces the insertion hole 61a1 of the plate 61.

[0079] Here, the upper end of the protrusion 61b, which is the upper end of the plate 61, is located lower than the upper end of the cylindrical body 60. Therefore, when the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 is in a horizontal position, as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 10 , the end face of one end side (right side in the figure) of the upper beam member 50 faces directly against the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60. Therefore, by abutting the end face of the upper beam member 50 against the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60, the expansion beam member 5 can be positioned in the extension direction of the plate 61 (left-right direction in the figure). Note that the height difference between the upper end of the protrusion 61b and the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 only needs to be such that the end face of the upper beam member 50 can be hooked onto the cylindrical body 60, and may be equal to or less than the vertical height of the upper beam member 50. However, if it is not necessary to position the expansion beam member 5 in the extension direction of the plate 61, the upper end of the protrusion 61b may be located higher than the upper end of the cylindrical body 60.

[0080] As described above, the pair of one-end mounting pieces 53, 53 are bridged vertically between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51, and the lower part of the gap between the one-end mounting pieces 53, 53 is blocked by the lower beam member 51. Therefore, when the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 is in a horizontal position, the lower beam member 51 abuts against the lower end of the plate 61, preventing the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 from falling any further. Therefore, the expansion beam member 5 can be positioned at a position where the pin hole 53a of the one-end mounting piece 53 and the insertion hole 61a1 of the plate 61 face each other.

[0081] Furthermore, when a pair of one-end mounting pieces 53, 53 are spanned between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51 in this manner, when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the back and the plate 61 is fitted between the one-end mounting pieces 53, 53, the rotational trajectory drawn by one end of the lower beam member 51 will pass through the plate 61 side.

[0082] In contrast, the plate 61 of this embodiment is provided with a relief portion 61a2 formed by cutting out the lower side of the plate body 61a on the opposite side to the cylindrical body side so that the plate 61 is not positioned on the rotation trajectory of one end of the lower beam member 51 when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted backward to fit the plate 61 between the one-end mounting pieces 53. Therefore, even if the pair of one-end mounting pieces 53 is bridged across the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51, it is possible to avoid the lower beam member 51 of the expansion beam member 5 interfering with the plate 61 when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted backward to fit the plate 61 between the one-end mounting pieces 53.

[0083] In the present embodiment, the relief portion 61a2 is formed by cutting the plate main body 61a obliquely, but the shape of the cutout is not particularly limited, and for example, the relief portion 61a2 may be formed by cutting the plate main body 61a in an arc-like or L-shaped manner. However, when the relief portion 61a2 is formed by cutting the plate main body 61a obliquely, the processing is easier than when the relief portion 61a is formed by cutting the plate main body 61a in an arc-like shape, and the area of ​​the cutout in the plate main body 61a is smaller than when the relief portion 61a is formed by cutting the plate main body 61a in an L-shaped shape, so a decrease in the strength of the plate 61 can be suppressed.

[0084] Furthermore, when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the rear and the plate 61 is fitted between the one-end mounting pieces 53, 53, the means for preventing the lower beam member 51 from interfering with the plate 61 is not limited to the method of providing the relief portion 61a2 on the opposite side of the plate body 61a from the cylindrical body. For example, the vertical length of the plate 61 may be shortened to a degree that prevents the lower beam member 51 from interfering, or the vertical distance between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51 may be increased to a degree that prevents the lower beam member 51 from interfering. However, shortening the vertical length of the plate 61 results in a decrease in the strength of the plate 61, and increasing the vertical distance between the upper beam member 50 and the lower beam member 51 increases the vertical height of the beam member 5, resulting in an increase in the size and weight of the beam member 5.

[0085] In contrast, in the present embodiment, when a recess 61a2 is provided on the opposite side of the plate body 61a to prevent the lower beam material 51 from interfering with the plate 61, there is no need to change the vertical length of the plate 61 or the vertical spacing between the upper beam material 50 and the lower beam material 51, so it is possible to avoid an increase in the weight of the beam material 5 while preventing a decrease in the strength of the plate 61.

[0086] Furthermore, although not shown, the other end of the expansion beam member 5 may be inserted into the recess 61c of the plate 61 in a vertical orientation, and then the expansion beam member 5 may be tilted toward the rear to fit the plate 61 between the other-end mounting pieces 54. In this case, the lower ends of the pair of other-end mounting pieces 54 are connected to the other end surface of the lower beam member 51, so that even if the plate 61 does not have the relief portion 61a2, the lower beam member 51 will not interfere with the plate 61 when the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the rear to fit the plate 61 between the other-end mounting pieces 54.

[0087] Furthermore, the above-mentioned process of inserting one end of the upper beam 50 into the recess 61c of the plate 61 in an aligned vertical position, and the process of rotating the other end of the upper beam 50 toward the back and tilting it down while one end of the upper beam 50 is inserted into the recess 61c, and fitting the plate 61 between the mounting pieces 53, 53 on one end of the upper beam 50, can all be performed without the worker leaning out from the work platform 3 of the existing scaffolding member 10.

[0088] Thereafter, with the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 in a horizontal position, the connecting pin 7 is inserted into the pin hole 53a of the one-end mounting piece 53 facing each other and the insertion hole 61a1 of the plate 61, thereby connecting the beam member 5 to the plate 61 of the joint 6. Here, since the plate 61 of the joint 6 is located very close to the work platform 3 of the existing scaffolding member 10, the worker can insert the connecting pin 7 into the pin hole 53a of the one-end mounting piece 53 and the insertion hole 61a1 of the plate 61 without leaning over from the work platform 3.

[0089] As described above, according to the above method, when connecting an expansion beam member 5 to a joint 6 located at the far end in the depth direction of an existing scaffolding member 10, the worker does not need to lean out from the work floor 3 of the existing scaffolding member 10, so the work of expanding the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10 can be carried out safely.

[0090] Next, the same procedure is used to connect the expansion beam member 5 to the joint 6 adjacent in the width direction to the joint 6 to which the expansion beam member 5 is connected. As a result, as shown in Fig. 11, the two expansion beam members 5, 5 extending in the depth direction are arranged in parallel.

[0091] Next, as shown in Figure 12, multiple expansion scaffolding boards 3a are hung between two expansion beam members 5, 5 arranged in parallel, and the work platform 3 is installed. After that, as shown in Figure 13, an expansion joint 6 is attached to each of the attachment pieces 54, 54 at the other end of the two expansion beam members 5. Specifically, the expansion joint 6 is connected via a stopper 8 to a chain 4 that has been hung in advance from a building or structure, and then the expansion joint 6 is attached to the attachment piece 54 at the other end of the expansion beam member 5 via a connecting pin 7. This means that the worker does not need to lean over from the work platform 3 to attach the chain 4 to the expansion joint 6. Furthermore, the work of connecting the expansion joint 6 to the chain 4 is carried out in the air, but as described above, the chain 4 is inserted into the cylindrical body 60 of the expansion joint 6, and the stopper 8 is slid laterally relative to the chain element 4a of the chain 4 located below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, and the chain 4 can be connected to the cylindrical body 60 of the joint 6 simply by inserting the chain element 4a into the notch 80a of the stopper 8 and abutting the upper surface of the regulating part 80 of the stopper 8 against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. This reduces the time spent working in the air, and since work can be done on the work platform 3 after it has been installed, there is no need for the worker to lean out from the work platform 3, making it possible to safely and easily perform work to expand the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10.

[0092] It is also possible to attach an expansion joint 6 to the other end of the expansion beam member 5, and then attach the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 of the expansion joint 6 via the stopper 8. Even in this case, since the cylindrical body 60 is located very close to the work platform 3, the worker can attach the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 without leaning out from the work platform 3. Therefore, even in this case, the work of expanding the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10 can be carried out safely and easily.

[0093] Finally, each end of the expansion beam member 5 extending along the width direction is connected via a connecting pin 7 to the expansion joints 6, 6 attached to the mounting pieces 54, 54 on the other end side of the two expansion beam members 5 arranged in parallel. Even during these operations, the worker does not need to lean out from the work platform 3, so the work of expanding the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10 can be carried out safely.

[0094] By repeating the above procedure in the depth direction or width direction, the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment is capable of expanding the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10 to any position while suspended and supported on a building, structure, etc. Note that the above-described method of assembling the suspended scaffolding 1 is one example, and is not limited to the above-described method.

[0095] Alternatively, two existing scaffolding members 10 may be assembled simultaneously in mid-air, and an expansion beam member 5 may be hung between the opposing joints 6 of the two existing scaffolding members 10, 10 to connect the two existing scaffolding members 10 in mid-air to assemble a single suspended scaffolding 1. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 14 , one end of the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 is inserted into the recess 61c of the plate 61 of the joint 6 of one of the two existing scaffolding members 10 on the right side of the figure in a vertically upright position, and then the upper beam member 50 is tilted down toward the joint 6 of the other scaffolding member 10 on the left side of the figure. Here, as described above, the lower ends of the pair of other-end mounting pieces 54, 54 provided on the other end of the beam member 5 in this embodiment are connected to the other end surface of the lower beam member 51, so that the lower part of the gap between the other-end mounting pieces 54, 54 is open. Therefore, when the upper beam 50 of the expansion beam member 5 is tilted toward the other scaffolding member 10, the upper beam member 50 of the expansion beam member 5 covers and abuts against the upper end of the plate 61 of the joint 6 of the other scaffolding member 10 from above, and the plate 61 is fitted between the other end mounting pieces 54, 54. Thereafter, by connecting the ends of the expansion beam member 5 to each joint 6 from above the work floors 3 of both scaffolding members 10, 10 via the connecting pins 7, the expansion beam member 5 can be hung and connected between the joint 6 of one scaffolding member 10 and the joint 6 of the other scaffolding member 10.

[0096] Then, although not shown, the two scaffolding members 10 can be connected in midair by suspending an expansion beam member 5 between each of the two parallel joints 6, 6 of one scaffolding member 10 and each of the two parallel joints 6, 6 of the other scaffolding member 10 in the above-described procedure, and suspending multiple scaffolding boards 3a between the two expansion beam members 5, 5 to install the work platform 3. In this way, by connecting two scaffolding members 10, 10 in midair to assemble one suspended scaffolding 1, a suspended scaffolding 1 with a large floor board area can be assembled in a short time.

[0097] In this embodiment, the gap between the other-end mounting pieces 54, 54 provided on the other end of the beam member 5 is open at the bottom so that an expansion beam member 5 can be hung between the joints 6, 6 of two scaffolding members 10, 10, but if use for such an application is not anticipated, the gap between the other-end mounting pieces 54, 54 may be closed by the lower beam member 51, just like the gap between the one-end mounting pieces 53, 53. In this way, the structure of one end and the other end of the beam member 5 will be the same, preventing assembly errors from occurring.

[0098] As described above, the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment comprises a scaffolding member 10 having a work platform 3, a chain 4 formed by stringing together a plurality of annular chain elements 4a to suspend the scaffolding member 10, and a chain connecting device A that is installed on the scaffolding member 10 and connects the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10.When the side directly opposite the hole in the chain element 4a is considered the front side, the width of the chain element 4a as seen from the front side is the horizontal width, and the width of the chain element 4a as seen from the side side is the vertical width.The chain connecting device A comprises a cylindrical body 60 whose axis is aligned vertically and through which the chain 4 is inserted, and a stopper 8 that abuts the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 and has a notch 80a that is narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a.

[0099] In the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the chain 4 can be connected to the cylindrical body 60 simply by sliding the stopper 8 laterally toward the chain 4, inserting the chain element 4a located below the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 into the notch 80a of the stopper 8, and pulling up the chain 4. Therefore, compared to the conventional method of connecting the chain to the cylindrical body by adjusting the position and orientation of the hole of the chain element of the chain inserted into the cylindrical body so that it faces directly with the through-hole provided in the cylindrical body and then inserting a pin into the hole of the chain element and the through-hole, there is no need to adjust the orientation of the chain element 4a or the position of the hole to be the same height and in the same direction as the position of the through-hole in the cylindrical body, so the chain 4 can be easily connected to the scaffolding member 10.

[0100] Furthermore, in conventional suspended scaffolding, the load of the scaffolding members and the load carried by the scaffolding members acts on the pins connecting the chain and the cylindrical body. In this case, the load is concentrated on the part of the pin that passes through the through-hole provided in the cylindrical body, so as the load increases, the strength of the pin needs to be increased. However, the diameter of the pin is limited to the size that can pass through the hole in the chain element, and increasing the diameter of the pin also requires increasing the diameter of the cylindrical body, so there is a limit to how much the strength of the pin can be increased. Therefore, it has been difficult to increase the maximum load capacity of conventional suspended scaffolding.

[0101] In contrast to this, in the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment, the upper surface of the stopper 8 of the chain connecting device A is abutted against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60 to support the cylindrical body 60, so the stopper 8 can ensure sufficient strength without being limited by the size of the hole in the chain element 4a, and therefore the strength required can be ensured according to the load required for the suspended scaffolding 1. Therefore, according to the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment, the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding 1 can be increased and the number of chains 4 can be reduced.

[0102] Furthermore, in the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment, the stopper 8 has a fitting portion 81 that fits vertically with the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. In the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, when the fitting portion 81 fits with the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, the lateral movement of the stopper 8 relative to the cylindrical body 60 is restricted, thereby preventing the stopper 8 from falling off the chain 4. However, the fitting portion 81 may be omitted.

[0103] In addition, in the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment, the lower outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 is fitted inside the fitting portion 81, and the chain connecting device A has a pressing means 82 provided at the upper end of the fitting portion 81 and capable of moving toward and away from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60. With the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, when the pressing means 82 is brought close to the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 and pressed laterally against the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60, even if the inner diameter of the fitting portion 81 is slightly larger than designed and there is a gap between the inner periphery of the fitting portion 81 and the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60, the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 is pressed against the inner periphery of the fitting portion 81, preventing the stopper 8 from moving laterally. Therefore, lateral rattle of the stopper 8 can be prevented without strict dimensional control of the fitting portion 81. However, if some lateral rattle of the stopper 8 is acceptable, the pressing means 82 may be omitted.

[0104] Furthermore, in the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment, the stopper 8 has a restricting portion 80 that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. The restricting portion 80 is disk-shaped and has a notch 80a that opens from the side of the upper end and a semicircular recess 80b that opens from the side of the lower end, communicates with the notch 80a, and can accommodate the upper part of the chain element 4a. With the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, even if the overall thickness of the restricting portion 80 is set to be equal to or greater than the size of the gap between adjacent horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a, the thickness of the portion surrounding the notch 80a in the restricting portion 80 can be made thin. Therefore, in the stopper 8 of this embodiment, the portion surrounding the notch 80a in the restricting portion 80 can be inserted between the horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a, while the thickness of the other portions of the restricting portion 80 can be ensured, so that the stopper 8 can obtain sufficient strength.

[0105] In addition, the recess 80b in this embodiment is formed in a semicircular shape with a size that corresponds to the upper part of the chain element 4a of the chain 4. Therefore, when the chain element 4a is inserted into the notch 80a, the upper end of the lower chain element 4a connected to the lower end of the vertically oriented chain element 4a inserted into the notch 80a fits into the recess 80b. This improves the fit of the chain element 4a within the recess 80b, suppressing wear on the upper end of the chain element 4a and allowing the chain 4 to stably suspend the scaffolding member 10. However, the size of the recess 80b does not have to correspond to the upper part of the chain element 4a, as long as it is large enough to accommodate the upper part of the chain element 4a.

[0106] Furthermore, as long as the strength of the stopper 8 is sufficient, the overall thickness of the restricting portion 80 may be less than the size of the gap between adjacent horizontal chain elements 4a, 4a. In this case, the recess 80b is omitted.

[0107] In this embodiment, the restricting portion 80 is formed in a disk shape, but the shape of the restricting portion 80 is not particularly limited as long as the upper surface can abut against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60.

[0108] In addition, in the suspended scaffolding 1 of this embodiment, the scaffolding member 10 has a plurality of beam members 5 arranged in parallel, a joint 6 connected to the end of the beam members 5, and a work platform 3 installed between the beam members 5, 5, and the chain connecting device A is provided at the joint 6.

[0109] According to the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the chain connecting device A is provided at the joint 6 connected to the end of the beam member 5 of the scaffolding member 10, thereby reducing the number of parts of the suspended scaffolding 1. However, the chain connecting device A may also be provided at a part other than the joint 6 of the scaffolding member 10, for example, by providing a cylindrical body 60 on the beam member 5 and connecting the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 via the stopper 8.

[0110] Next, a description will be given of a suspended scaffolding 1 according to a second embodiment. The only difference between the configuration of the suspended scaffolding 1 according to the second embodiment and the configuration of the suspended scaffolding 1 according to the first embodiment is that instead of the chain connecting device A, a separate chain connecting device A1 is used to connect the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10. The same reference numerals are used for common components, and detailed explanations will be omitted.

[0111] In the chain connecting device A of the first embodiment, the stopper 8 supports the cylindrical body 60 by abutting the upper surface of the regulating portion 80 of the stopper 8 against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, whereas in the chain connecting device A1 of the second embodiment, the stopper 9 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 so that the chain 4 can be connected to the joint 6 of the scaffolding member 10.

[0112] Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16 , the chain connection device A1 of the second embodiment includes a cylindrical body 60 through which the chain 4 is inserted, a restricting portion 90 having a notch 90a narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a, and a connecting means for connecting the restricting portion 90 to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 in a manner that allows lateral movement while restricting vertical movement. As shown in FIG. 15 , the connecting means includes an annular protrusion 60a provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 and a hook portion 91 provided on the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and that can be hooked onto the lower end of the protrusion 60a. To facilitate understanding of the configuration of the chain connection device A1, FIG. 15 does not illustrate the beam member 5. In the chain connection device A of the first embodiment, the chain 4 is connected to the cylindrical body 60 by abutting the upper surface of the restricting portion 80 of the stopper 8 against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60, so that the protrusion 60a can be omitted.

[0113] Each component of the chain connecting device A1 will be described in detail below. The stopper 9 of this embodiment includes a restricting portion 90 and a hook portion 91 attached to the lower end of the restricting portion 90. As shown in FIG. 16, the restricting portion 90 is D-shaped and has a rectangular notch 90a extending from the center of the straight portion 90b toward the center of the restricting portion 90 to a position slightly past the center. The horizontal width of the notch 90a (hereinafter simply referred to as the "width of the notch 90a") when the stopper 9 is viewed from the side is set to be narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a. An insertion hole 90c is provided near the straight portion 90b of the restricting portion 90, penetrating the restricting portion 90 in the vertical direction (thickness direction).

[0114] The hook portion 91 has a peripheral wall portion 91a with a U-shaped cross section that protrudes downward from the portion of the periphery of the restricting portion 90 other than the linear portion 90b, and a U-shaped abutment portion 91b that protrudes inward from the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 91a. The distance between the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and the upper end of the abutment portion 91b is equal to or greater than the vertical thickness of the annular protrusion 60a provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body 60.

[0115] In the stopper 9 configured in this manner, with the gap between the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and the abutting portion 91b of the hook portion 91 facing the protrusion 60a of the cylindrical body 60 in the horizontal direction, the stopper 9 can be slid laterally to insert the protrusion 60a into the gap between the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and the abutting portion 91b of the hook portion 91. When the protrusion 60a is inserted into the gap between the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and the abutting portion 91b of the hook portion 91 in this manner, the protrusion 60a is sandwiched between the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and the abutting portion 91b of the hook portion 91, so that the stopper 9 is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 with its movement in the up and down direction restricted.

[0116] Furthermore, because the width of the notch 90a is wider than the width of the vertically oriented chain element 4a, when the stopper 9 is slid laterally to connect the stopper 9 to the protrusion 60a of the cylindrical body 60, the vertically oriented chain element 4a of the chain 4 inserted inside the cylindrical body 60 and located near the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 can be inserted into the notch 90a. Furthermore, because the width of the notch 90a is narrower than the width of the horizontally oriented chain element 4a, when the vertically oriented chain element 4a is inserted into the notch 90a, the two horizontally oriented chain elements 4a, 4a connected above and below the vertically oriented chain element 4a inserted into the notch 90a cannot pass through in the vertical direction. In other words, the notch 90a allows the chain 4 to be inserted laterally, but does not allow the chain 4 inserted inside to move in the vertical direction. Therefore, when the vertically oriented chain element 4a is inserted into the notch 90a of the restricting portion 90, the stopper 9 is connected to the chain 4 in a state where its vertical movement is restricted.

[0117] 15 and 16, the chain connecting device A1 is J-shaped and includes a retaining pin 11 having one shorter end inserted into an insertion hole 90c formed in the restricting portion 90 and the other longer end inserted into the cylindrical body 60 via a notch 90a. As shown in FIG. 15, when a stopper 9 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 and a chain 4 is inserted into the notch 90a of the restricting portion 90, and each end of the retaining pin 11 is inserted into the insertion hole 90c and the cylindrical body 60, even if the stopper 9 is moved laterally to remove it from the cylindrical body 60, the chain 4 inserted into the cylindrical body 60 abuts against the retaining pin 11 and cannot come out of the notch 90a. Therefore, the retaining pin 11 restricts the lateral movement of the stopper 9, preventing the stopper 9 from falling off the cylindrical body 60.

[0118] Furthermore, the length of one end of the retaining pin 11, which is the shorter one, is set to a length that does not interfere with the upper end of the protruding portion 60a of the cylindrical body 60 when inserted into the insertion hole 90c, so that one end of the retaining pin 11 does not interfere with the upper end of the protruding portion 60a and cause the retaining pin 11 to float up. However, as long as one end of the retaining pin 11 does not come out of the insertion hole 90c, the length of one end of the retaining pin 11 may be a length that causes one end of the retaining pin 11 to interfere with the upper end of the protruding portion 60a.

[0119] Furthermore, because the retaining pin 11 is formed into a J-shape by bending a straight metal rod, the bent portion of the retaining pin 11 is curved in an arc. Therefore, the inside of the bent portion of the retaining pin 11 is shaped to indent more inward than if the bent portion of the retaining pin 11 were formed so that all of its bent portions were bent at right angles. In contrast, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 16 , the upper corners of the notch 90a are chamfered so that the arc-shaped bent portion of the retaining pin 11 interferes with the upper corners of the notch 90a, preventing the retaining pin 11 from lifting up. However, the upper corners of the notch 90a do not need to be chamfered as long as the retaining pin 11 has a shape that does not interfere with the upper corners of the notch 90a.

[0120] Although the retaining pin 11 is shown in the figure as being J-shaped, the retaining pin 11 may be U-shaped as long as one end of the retaining pin 11 can be inserted into the cylindrical body 60 via the notch 90a with the other end of the retaining pin 11 inserted into the insertion hole 90c. However, the retaining pin 11 may be omitted.

[0121] Next, the procedure for connecting the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 using the chain connecting device A1 will be described. First, the chain 4 is inserted into the cylindrical body 60. Then, the stopper 9 is slid laterally to insert the protruding portion 60a of the cylindrical body 60 into the peripheral wall portion 91a of the hook portion 91, and the vertically oriented chain element 4a located near the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 into the notch 90a of the restricting portion 90. When the stopper 9 is suspended by the chain 4, the stopper 9 is lifted upward by the chain 4, and the lower end of the protruding portion 60a abuts against the abutting portion 91b of the hook portion 91, causing the hook portion 91 to hook onto the protruding portion 60a. Then, the cylindrical body 60 is supported by the stopper 9, and the scaffolding member 10 is suspended and supported by the chain 4.

[0122] Finally, when each end of the anti-slip pin 11 is inserted into the cylindrical body 60 through the insertion hole 90c and the notch 90a provided in the restricting portion 90, the anti-slip pin 11 restricts the lateral movement of the stopper 9, thereby preventing the stopper 9 from falling off the cylindrical body 60.

[0123] In this embodiment, the restricting portion 90 is formed in a D-shaped plate shape, but the shape of the restricting portion 90 is not particularly limited and may be, for example, a disk shape. In this embodiment, the notch 90a is formed in a rectangular shape and has a constant width. As described above, the width of the notch 90a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a. Therefore, in this embodiment, the width of the entire notch 90a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a. However, as long as the width of at least a portion of the notch 90a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a but narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a, the width of the other portion of the notch 90a may be wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a. However, as in this embodiment, if the width of the entire notch 90a is wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a and narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a, the stopper 9 will not fall off the chain 4 even if the chain 4 shifts slightly laterally relative to the stopper 9.

[0124] Furthermore, with the chain connection device A1 of the second embodiment, the chain 4 is inserted into the cylindrical body 60, and then the stopper 9 is slid laterally toward the cylindrical body 60. The protrusion 60a on the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 is inserted into the gap between the lower end of the restricting portion 90 and the abutting portion 91b of the hook portion 91. The vertically oriented chain element 4a located near the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 is then inserted into the notch 90a of the restricting portion 90, and the hook portion 91 is hooked onto the protrusion 60a. This allows the chain 4 to be connected to the cylindrical body 60. Compared to the conventional method of connecting the chain to the cylindrical body by adjusting the position and orientation of the holes of the chain elements of the chain inserted into the cylindrical body so that they directly face the through-holes in the cylindrical body, and then inserting pins into the holes of the chain elements and the through-holes, the chain connection device A1 of the present embodiment eliminates the need to adjust the orientation of the chain elements 4a and the positions of the holes so that they are at the same height and in the same direction as the through-holes in the cylindrical body, making it easier to connect the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10.

[0125] Furthermore, in the chain connection device A of the suspended scaffolding 1 of the first embodiment, when connecting the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 of the joint 6, the upper surface of the regulating part 80 of the stopper 8 needs to abut against the lower end of the cylindrical body 60. Therefore, when working to expand the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10, if an expansion joint 6 is attached to the other end of the expansion beam member 5 and then the chain 4 is to be attached to the expansion joint 6, the work position for attaching the stopper 8 to the cylindrical body 60 will be lower than the lower end of the cylindrical body 60.

[0126] In contrast, in the chain connection device A1 of the suspended scaffolding 1 of the second embodiment, the stopper 9 is attached to the protrusion 60a provided at the upper end of the cylindrical body 60. Therefore, when attempting to attach the expansion joint 6 to the other end of the expansion beam member 5 and then attach the chain 4 to the expansion joint 6 during work to expand the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10, the work position for attaching the stopper 9 to the cylindrical body 60 is the upper end of the cylindrical body 60, so the work position for the chain connection device A1 of the second embodiment is closer to the work platform 3 than the chain connection device A of the first embodiment, in which the work position for attaching the stopper 8 to the cylindrical body 60 is below the cylindrical body 60. Therefore, with the chain connection device A1 of the second embodiment, the work of attaching the expansion joint 6 to the other end of the expansion beam member 5 and then attaching the chain 4 to the expansion joint 6 can be performed more safely and easily than with the chain connection device A of the first embodiment.

[0127] Furthermore, as mentioned above, in conventional suspended scaffolding, the load of the scaffolding members and the load carried by the scaffolding members acts on the pins connecting the chain and the cylindrical body. In this case, the load is concentrated on the portion of the pin that passes through the through-hole provided in the cylindrical body, so as the load increases, the strength of the pin must be increased. However, the diameter of the pin is limited to the size that can pass through the hole in the chain element, and increasing the diameter of the pin also requires increasing the diameter of the cylindrical body, so there is a limit to how much the strength of the pin can be increased. Therefore, it has been difficult to increase the maximum load capacity of conventional suspended scaffolding.

[0128] In contrast, with the chain connecting device A1 of the second embodiment, the weight of the scaffolding member 10 and the load placed on the scaffolding member 10 is received by the abutment portion 91b of the hook portion 91, which abuts against the lower end of the annular protrusion 60a provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body 60. Because the hook portion 91 is disposed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 and supports the protrusion 60a of the cylindrical body 60, there are no restrictions on the thickness or dimensions of the hook portion 91. Therefore, the strength of the hook portion 91 can be ensured by increasing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion 81a and the abutment portion 91b. Therefore, with the suspended scaffolding 1 of the second embodiment, the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding 1 can be increased and the number of chains 4 can be reduced.

[0129] Furthermore, in this embodiment, protrusion 60a is formed so that the outer diameter of the outer periphery of the upper end of cylindrical body 60 is larger than that of the other portions, but a small diameter portion having an outer diameter smaller than that of the other portions may be provided in a part of cylindrical body 60, and protrusion 60a may be formed above the small diameter portion of cylindrical body 60. Furthermore, in this embodiment, protrusion 60a is formed in an annular shape, but as long as protrusion 60a can hook hook portion 91, it may be formed in a shape other than annular.

[0130] As described above, the suspended scaffolding 1 of the second embodiment comprises a scaffolding member 10 having a work platform 3, a chain 4 formed by stringing together a plurality of annular chain elements 4a to suspend the scaffolding member 10, and a chain connecting device A1 installed on the scaffolding member 10 and connecting the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10. When the side directly facing the hole in the chain element 4a is defined as the front side, the width of the chain element 4a as seen from the front side is defined as the horizontal width, and the width of the chain element 4a as seen from the side side is defined as the vertical width. The chain connecting device A1 comprises a cylindrical body 60 whose axis is aligned vertically and through which the chain 4 is inserted, a regulating part 90 having a notch 90a that is narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element 4a but wider than the vertical width of the chain element 4a, and connecting means that connects the regulating part 90 to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 in a state that allows lateral movement while restricting vertical movement.

[0131] In the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the notch 90a allows the chain 4 to be inserted laterally but does not allow the chain 4 inserted inside to move vertically. Therefore, when the chain element 4a is inserted into the notch 90a, the stopper 9 is connected to the chain 4. Therefore, the chain 4 can be connected to the cylindrical body 60 simply by sliding the stopper 9 laterally toward the cylindrical body 60, connecting the restricting portion 90 to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 using the connecting means, and inserting the chain element 4a located near the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 into the notch 90a. Therefore, compared to conventional methods of connecting the chain to the cylindrical body by adjusting the position and orientation of the hole of the chain element of the chain inserted into the cylindrical body so that it faces directly with the through-hole provided in the cylindrical body, the chain connecting device A1 does not require adjusting the orientation of the chain element 4a or the position of the hole to be the same height and orientation as the position of the through-hole in the cylindrical body, and therefore the chain 4 can be easily connected to the scaffolding member 10.

[0132] In addition, in the chain connecting device A1 of the second embodiment, the regulating part 90 is connected to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 by a connecting means, so when expanding the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10, the work position for attaching the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 is close to the work floor 3, so the work of expanding the floor area of ​​the scaffolding member 10 can be carried out safely and easily.

[0133] In addition, in the second embodiment of the suspended scaffolding 1, the connecting means has a protrusion 60a provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body, and a hook portion 60b provided at the lower end of the regulating portion 90 and capable of being hooked onto the lower end of the protrusion 60a.

[0134] In the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the chain 4 can be connected to the cylindrical body 60 simply by sliding the stopper 9 laterally toward the cylindrical body 60, inserting the chain element 4a located near the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 into the notch 90a, and hooking the hook portion 91 onto the protrusion 60a. This makes it easier to connect the chain 4 to the scaffolding member 10.

[0135] Furthermore, with the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the load of the scaffolding member 10 and the load placed on the scaffolding member 10 is received by the abutment portion 91b of the hook portion 91, which abuts against the lower end of the protrusion 60a provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body 60. However, because the hook portion 91 is positioned on the outer periphery of the cylindrical body 60 and supports the protrusion 60a of the cylindrical body 60, there are no restrictions on the thickness or dimensions of the hook portion 91. Therefore, the strength of the hook portion 91 can be ensured by increasing the thickness and dimensions of the hook portion 91. Therefore, with the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding 1 can be increased and the number of chains 4 can be reduced.

[0136] In addition, in the second embodiment of the suspended scaffolding 1, the protrusion 60a is annular, and the hook portion 91 has a peripheral wall portion 91a with a U-shaped cross section that protrudes downward from the lower end of the regulating portion 90, and a U-shaped abutment portion 91b that protrudes inward from the lower end of the peripheral wall portion 91a and abuts against the lower end of the protrusion 60a.

[0137] With the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the strength of the hook portion 91 can be ensured by increasing the thickness of the peripheral wall portion 81a and the abutment portion 91b. Therefore, the maximum load capacity of the suspended scaffolding 1 can be increased and the number of chains 4 can be reduced.

[0138] However, protruding portion 60a may have a shape other than a ring, as long as it protrudes from the outer periphery of the upper end of cylindrical body 60 so as to be able to hook hook portion 91. Furthermore, the shape of hook portion 91 is not particularly limited as long as it can be hooked onto the lower end of protruding portion 60a. For example, hook portion 91 may be configured as a pair of hooks facing each other on the outer periphery of restricting portion 90.

[0139] In the second embodiment of the chain connecting device A1, the connecting means for connecting the stopper 9 to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 is configured to have a ring-shaped protrusion 60a provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body 60, and a hook portion 91 provided at the lower end of the regulating portion 90 and capable of being hooked onto the lower end of the protrusion 60a. However, this configuration of the connecting means is one example, and the connecting means is not particularly limited as long as it can slide the stopper 9 laterally and connect it to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60.

[0140] In addition, in the second embodiment of the suspended scaffolding 1, the chain connecting device A1 is J-shaped or U-shaped and is equipped with a locking pin 11 whose one end is inserted into the insertion hole 90c provided in the regulating section 90 and whose other end is inserted into the cylindrical body 60 through the notch 90a.

[0141] In the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, when the stopper 9 is attached to the upper end of the cylindrical body 60 and each end of the anti-slip pin 11 is inserted into the insertion hole 90c and into the cylindrical body 60, even if the stopper 9 is moved laterally to remove it from the cylindrical body 60, the chain 4 inserted into the cylindrical body 60 will come into contact with the anti-slip pin 11 and will not come out of the notch 90a. Therefore, the anti-slip pin 11 restricts the lateral movement of the stopper 9, preventing the stopper 9 from falling off the cylindrical body 60. However, the anti-slip pin 11 may be omitted.

[0142] In addition, in the second embodiment of the suspended scaffolding 1, the scaffolding member 10 has a plurality of beam members 5 arranged in parallel, a joint 6 connected to the end of the beam members 5, and a work platform 3 installed between the beam members 5, 5, and the chain connecting device A is provided at the joint 6.

[0143] According to the suspended scaffolding 1 configured in this manner, the chain connecting device A1 is provided at the joint 6 connected to the end of the beam member 5 of the scaffolding member 10, thereby reducing the number of parts of the suspended scaffolding 1. However, the chain connecting device A1 may also be provided at a part other than the joint 6 of the scaffolding member 10, for example, by providing a cylindrical body 60 on the beam member 5 and connecting the chain 4 to the cylindrical body 60 via the stopper 8.

[0144] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail above, it will be appreciated that modifications, variations and changes can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0145] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 suspended scaffolding, 3 working platform, 4 chain (suspending member), 4a chain element, 5 beam member, 6 joint, 8, 9 stopper, 10 scaffolding member, 11 retaining pin, 60 cylindrical body, 60a protrusion, 80, 90 restricting portion, 80a, 90a notch, 80b recess, 81 engaging portion, 82 pressing means, 91 hook portion, 91b contact portion, A, A1 chain connecting device

Claims

1. a scaffolding member having a working floor; A chain formed by stringing together a plurality of circular chain elements to suspend the scaffolding member; a chain connecting device that is installed on the scaffolding member and connects the chain to the scaffolding member, When the side of the chain element directly facing the hole is the front side, the width of the chain element as seen from the front side is the horizontal width, and the width of the chain element as seen from the side side is the vertical width, The chain connecting device is a cylindrical body whose axis is aligned vertically and through which the chain is inserted; a stopper having a notch with a width narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element and wider than the vertical width of the chain element, the stopper abutting against the lower end of the cylindrical body; A suspended scaffold characterized by:

2. a scaffolding member having a working floor; A chain formed by stringing together a plurality of circular chain elements to suspend the scaffolding member; a chain connecting device that is installed on the scaffolding member and connects the chain to the scaffolding member, When the side of the chain element directly facing the hole is the front side, the width of the chain element as seen from the front side is the horizontal width, and the width of the chain element as seen from the side side is the vertical width, The chain connecting device is a cylindrical body whose axis is aligned vertically and through which the chain is inserted; a restricting portion having a notch with a width narrower than the horizontal width of the chain element and wider than the vertical width of the chain element; a connecting means for connecting the restricting portion to the upper end of the cylindrical body in a state in which the restricting portion is permitted to move laterally while restricting the movement in the up-down direction. A suspended scaffold characterized by:

3. The stopper has a fitting portion that fits vertically with the lower end of the cylindrical body.

2. The suspended scaffolding according to claim 1 .

4. The outer periphery of the lower end of the cylindrical body is fitted into the inside of the fitting portion, The chain connecting device has a pressing means provided at the upper end of the fitting portion and movable toward and away from the outer periphery of the cylindrical body. The suspended scaffolding according to claim 3.

5. the stopper has a restricting portion that abuts against the lower end of the cylindrical body, The restricting portion is disk-shaped and has the notch that opens from the side of the upper end, and a semicircular recess that opens from the side of the lower end, communicates with the notch, and is capable of accommodating the upper portion of the chain element.

2. The suspended scaffolding according to claim 1 .

6. The connecting means a protrusion provided on the outer periphery of the upper end of the cylindrical body; a hook portion provided at a lower end of the restricting portion and capable of being hooked onto the lower end of the protruding portion; The suspended scaffolding according to claim 2.

7. The protrusion is annular, The hook portion has a peripheral wall portion having a U-shaped cross section that protrudes downward from the lower end of the restricting portion, and a U-shaped abutment portion that protrudes inward from the lower end of the peripheral wall portion and abuts against the lower end of the protrusion. The suspended scaffolding according to claim 6.

8. The chain connecting device is J-shaped or U-shaped, and includes a retaining pin having one end inserted into an insertion hole provided in the restricting portion and the other end inserted into the cylindrical body via the notch. The suspended scaffolding according to claim 2.

9. The scaffolding member includes a plurality of beam members arranged in parallel, joints connected to ends of the beam members, and the work platform installed between the beam members, The chain connecting device is provided at the joint. A suspended scaffolding according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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