Disk-shaped scaffold connector

Abstract

The present disclosure generally relates to a disk-shaped scaffold connector (2) for connection of scaffold members (1,50). The scaffold connector (2) has a central hole (3) for a vertical scaffold member (1), a pair of first holes (10), a pair of larger arc- shaped second holes (20,21), and projections (12,16) in each second hole (20,21) extending radially inwards. The first and second holes (10,20,21) are for connection with horizontal scaffold members (50), and the projections (12,16) in each second hole (20,21) defines alignment notches (13,17,18) for angular positioning of the horizontal scaffold members (50) around the central hole (3).

Description

[0001] DISK-SHAPED SCAFFOLD CONNECTOR

[0002] Cross Reference to Related Application(s)

[0003] The present disclosure claims the benefit of United States Provisional Application No.

[0004] 63 / 756,154 filed on 9 February 2025, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

[0005] Technical Field

[0006] The present disclosure generally relates to scaffolding used for fagade and industrial access applications. More particularly, the present disclosure describes various embodiments of a disk-shaped scaffold connector for connection of scaffold members.

[0007] Background

[0008] In the field of construction, scaffolding is used for a variety of tasks. Fagade scaffolding is designed to be used on the fagade of a building, for example for painting. In civil engineering, scaffolding is used as shoring to support and locate various structural components. In industrial applications, scaffolding is used to build and repair structures used in oil refining and the manufacture of chemicals. In general, the basic requirement for scaffolding is that it must be easy to transport and assemble. When assembling scaffolding, scaffold members are connected to each other to form a loadbearing structure.

[0009] Fagade scaffolding systems usually have vertical and horizontal scaffold members connected to each other. The construction and maintenance of industrial facilities such as oil and chemical refineries often require scaffolds to be applied to circular buildings and structures such as storage tanks. However, existing scaffolding systems may not have the capability of being assembled with horizontal scaffold members that can be connected to the vertical scaffold members at a variety of angles to follow the perimeter of the circular buildings and structures.Therefore, in order to address or alleviate at least one of the aforementioned problems and / or disadvantages, there is a need to improve connections of scaffold members.

[0010] Summary

[0011] According to an aspect of the present disclosure, there is disk-shaped scaffold connector for connection of scaffold members. The scaffold connector comprises: a circular central hole for connection with a vertical scaffold member therethrough; a pair of first holes diametrically opposite each other; a pair of second holes diametrically opposite each other, the second holes being arc-shaped and larger than the first holes, each first hole centred between respective end edges of the second holes; and a plurality of projections in each second hole extending radially inwards from an outer edge of the respective second hole. The first and second holes are configured for connection with horizontal scaffold members. The plurality of projections in each second hole defines a plurality of alignment notches for angular positioning of the horizontal scaffold members around the central hole.

[0012] A disk-shaped scaffold connector according to the present disclosure is thus disclosed herein. Various features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present disclosure, by way of non-limiting examples only, along with the accompanying drawings.

[0013] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014] FIG. 1 A to FIG. 1 E are illustrations of a disk-shaped scaffold connector, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B are illustrations of a vertical scaffold member for connection with the scaffold connector, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B are illustrations of a horizontal scaffold member for connection with the scaffold connector, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B are illustrations of the scaffold members connected with the scaffold connector, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C are further illustrations of the scaffold members connected with the scaffold connector, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B are illustrations of rotational orientations of the scaffold connector around the vertical scaffold member, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 7A and FIG. 7B are illustrations of a scaffold structure constructed along a curved wall, according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] Detailed Description

[0021] For purposes of brevity and clarity, descriptions of embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a disk-shaped scaffold connector in accordance with the drawings. While parts of the present disclosure will be described in conjunction with the embodiments provided herein, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the present disclosure to these embodiments. On the contrary, the present disclosure is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents to the embodiments described herein, which are included within the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description, specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be recognized by an individual having ordinary skill in the art, i.e. a skilled person, that the present disclosure may be practiced without specific details, and / or with multiple details arising from combinations of features of particular embodiments. In a number of instances, well-known systems, methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as to not unnecessarily obscure features of the embodiments of the present disclosure.In embodiments of the present disclosure, depiction of a given element or consideration or use of a particular element number in a particular figure or a reference thereto in corresponding descriptive material can encompass the same, an equivalent, or an analogous element or element number identified in another figure or descriptive material associated therewith.

[0022] References to “an embodiment I example”, “another embodiment I example”, “some embodiments I examples”, “some other embodiments / examples”, and so on, indicate that the embodiment(s) / example(s) so described may include a particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element, or limitation, but that not every embodiment / example necessarily includes that particular feature, structure, characteristic, property, element or limitation. Furthermore, repeated use of the phrase “in an embodiment / example” or “in another embodiment / example” does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment / example.

[0023] The terms “comprising”, “including”, “having”, and the like do not exclude the presence of other features / elements I steps than those listed in an embodiment. Recitation of certain features / elements / steps in mutually different embodiments does not indicate that a combination of these features / elements / steps cannot be used in an embodiment. As used herein, the terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more than one. The use of 7” in a figure or associated text is understood to mean “and / or” unless otherwise indicated. The term “set” is defined as a non-empty finite organization of elements that mathematically exhibits a cardinality of at least one (e.g. a set as defined herein can correspond to a unit, singlet, or single-element set, or a multiple-element set), in accordance with known mathematical definitions. The terms “first”, “second”, etc. are used merely as labels or identifiers and are not intended to impose numerical requirements on their associated terms.

[0024] Scaffold Connector

[0025] Representative or exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure describe a scaffold connector 2 for connection of scaffold members. As shown in FIG. 1 A to FIG.

[0026] 1D, the scaffold connector 2 is disk-shaped, i.e. substantially circular and flat with asubstantially uniform thickness, such as at least 12 mm. The scaffold connector 2 includes a circular central hole 3 for connection with a vertical scaffold member 1 therethrough.

[0027] The scaffold connector 2 includes a pair of first holes 10 diametrically opposite each other, and a pair of second holes 20,21 diametrically opposite each other. The second holes 20,21 are arc-shaped and larger than the first holes 10. Further, each first hole 10 is centred between respective end edges 22 of the second holes 20,21 .

[0028] The first holes 10 and second holes 20,21 are configured for connection with horizontal scaffold members 50. For example, the first holes 10 are oval-shaped and have an end edge 15 that provides the angular positioning of the horizontal scaffold members 50 at 180° angles around the scaffold connector 2.

[0029] The scaffold connector 2 further includes a plurality of projections in each second hole 20,21 extending radially inwards from an outer edge 14 of the respective second hole 20,21. The plurality of projections in each second hole 20,21 defines a plurality of alignment notches for angular positioning of the horizontal scaffold members 50 around the central hole 3.

[0030] In some embodiments, in each second hole 20,21 , the plurality of projections includes a pair of first projections 12. Each first projection 12 is adjacent to the respective end edge 22 of the respective second hole 20,21, such that a first alignment notch 13 is defined between the respective first projection 12 and the respective end edge 22. Preferably, the first alignment notches 13 of one second hole 20 are diametrically opposite the first alignment notches 13 of the other second hole 21. More preferably, the first alignment notches 13 of each second hole 20,21 are angularly separated by 90°.

[0031] In some embodiments, in at least one second hole 20,21, the plurality of projections includes a pair of second projections 16, such as shown in the second hole 21. Each second projection 16 is adjacent to the respective first projection 12, such that a second alignment notch 17 is defined between the respective first projection 12 andrespective second projection 16. Preferably, the adjacent first alignment notch 13 and second alignment notch 17 are angularly separated by 15°.

[0032] In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1 E, the plurality of projections further includes a pair of third projections 23. Each third projection 23 is adjacent to the respective second projection 16, such that a third alignment notch 24 is defined between the respective second projection 16 and respective third projection 23. Preferably, the adjacent second alignment notch 17 and third alignment notch 24 are angularly separated by 15°.

[0033] Optionally, a central alignment notch 18 is centred in the respective second hole 20,21 . For example as shown in FIG. 1 B, the central alignment notch 18 is centred between the second projections 16 of the second hole 21. For example as shown in FIG. 1 E, the central alignment notch 18 is centred between the third projections 23 of the second hole 21.

[0034] In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1 B, only the second hole 21 has the second projections 16 and the intermediate alignment notches 17,18. The central region of the second hole 20, i.e. between the first projections 12, does not have any intermediate alignment notches. The absence of intermediate locating notches in the second hole 20 enables the horizontal scaffold member 50 to be assembled at any angle within an arc of up to 60° around the central hole 3. In some other embodiments, both of the second holes 20,21 may include the second projections 16 and the intermediate alignment notches 17,18. In some other embodiments, one or both of the second holes 20,21 may further include the third projections 23 and third alignment notches 24.

[0035] FIG. 1C and FIG. 1 D show exemplary angular dimensions of the first holes 10 and second holes 20,21 of the scaffold connector 2 as shown in FIG. 1 B, including the alignment notches 13,17,18 of the second holes 20,21. The holes 10,20,21 and alignment notches 13,17,18 are located at specific angles, preferably in multiples of 15°, relative to the central hole 3, thereby allowing the horizontal scaffold members 50 to be connected at specific angles relative to the vertical scaffold member 1 connected through the central hole 3 of the scaffold connector 2. For example, seven horizontalscaffold members 50 can be connected to the scaffold connector 2 as shown in FIG.

[0036] 1 B - two in the first holes 10, four in the first alignment notches 13 of the second holes 20,21 , and one in the central alignment notch 18 of the second hole 21.

[0037] In some embodiments, the scaffold connector 2 further includes guidance notches 19 in an outer circumferential edge 4 of the scaffold connector 2 for locating the first holes 10 and / or the second holes 20,21. Preferably, the guidance notches 19 include four sets of notches 19 angularly separated by 90°. More preferably, each set of notches 19 is proximate to each respective end edge 22 of each respective second hole 20,21 . For example, proximate to each respective end edge 22 is a set of one or two notches 19. For example, the notches 19 may be semi-circular or V-shaped. These notches 19 mark the end edges 22 of the second holes 20,21 and guide scaffold workers to easily identify locations around the scaffold connector 2, specifically the first alignment notches 13, where horizontal scaffold members 50 can be connected at radial angles of 90° relative to each other.

[0038] Fapade scaffolding systems usually has a combination of vertical scaffold members 1 and horizontal scaffold members 50 connected to each other. As shown in FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B, a series of scaffold connectors 2 are fixedly connected to a vertical scaffold member 1 by inserting the vertical scaffold member 1 through the central holes 3 of the scaffold connectors 2. For example, the scaffold connectors 2 are connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 at predefined linear intervals, such as at 500 mm intervals, along the vertical scaffold member 1. For example, the scaffold connectors 2 are fixedly connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 by welding or mechanical fasteners. For example, the scaffold connectors 2 are made of steel or aluminium.

[0039] The scaffold connectors 2 may be connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 such that the respective first holes 10 and second holes 20,21 are aligned along the vertical. Alternatively, to further broaden the angular range of the connections of the horizontal scaffold members 50 to the scaffold connectors 2, the scaffold connectors 2 may be connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 at predefined angular intervals, such as at 45° intervals, around the vertical scaffold member 1. The vertical scaffold member1 having the scaffold connectors 2 connected thereto may be rotatable during construction of the scaffolding system, thereby also rotating the scaffold connectors 2 in unison with the vertical scaffold member 1.

[0040] FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show an exemplary horizontal scaffold member 50 for connection with the scaffold connector 2. The horizontal scaffold member 50 includes an elongated tube 53 and connection heads 51 fixedly attached to the ends of the elongated tube 53. Each connection head 51 includes a movable wedge connection plate 52 attached by a fastener 54, e.g. a rivet or screw, located through the lower region of the wedge connection plate 52.

[0041] The wedge connection plate 52 passes through a slot 55 in the connection head 51 and is configured to connect to the scaffold connector 2 by passing through the first hole 10 or second hole 20,21 in the scaffold connector 2. For example, two wedge connection plates 52 may be positioned at the first alignment notches 17 of the second hole 21, thereby connecting the two horizontal scaffold members 50 to the scaffold connector 2 at 90° from each other.

[0042] The widths of the end edges 15 of the first holes 10 and the widths of the alignment notches 13,17,18 of the second holes 20,21 are preferably slightly narrower than the thickness of the wedge connection plates 52, such that the wedge connection plates 52 are held firmly in place and are prevented from moving sideways in the first holes 10 and second holes 20,21. Further, the projections 12,16 of the second holes 20,21 prevent sideways movement of the wedge connection plates 52 and also prevent the wedge connection plates 52 from being unintentionally positioned at angular positions other than those defined by the respective alignment notches 13,17,18 of the second holes 20,21.

[0043] FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B show an exemplary connection of a horizonal scaffold member 50 to a scaffold connector 2 fixedly connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 . Before connecting the horizonal scaffold member 50, the wedge connection plate 52 is pivoted away from the end of the horizonal scaffold member 50 and rests in a substantially horizontal orientation on top of the horizonal scaffold member 50. Thehorizonal scaffold member 50 is then moved towards the scaffold connector 2 and the wedge connection plate 52 is rotated upwards towards the vertical scaffold member 1 . When the wedge connection plate 52 is in a substantially vertical orientation, the wedge connection plate 52 is passed downward through the slot 55 of the connection head 51, through one of the first holes 10 or one of the second holes 20,21 in the scaffold connector 2, and through the lower region of the connection head 51. The horizontal scaffold member 50 is now rigidly connected to the vertical scaffold member 1.

[0044] FIG. 5A to FIG. 5C show exemplary connections of two horizonal scaffold members 50 to a scaffold connector 2 fixedly connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 . The wedge connection plates 52 are a vertical orientation within the connection heads 51 and the scaffold connector 2. Due to the dimensional tolerance between the wedge connector plates and the holes 10,20,21, the wedge connector plates 52 may be forced downwards through the holes 10,20,21 with a series of hammer blows, thereby rigidly attaching the horizontal scaffold members 50 to the vertical scaffold member 1 .

[0045] FIG. 5A shows a top view of the upper region of the connection heads 51 and the wedge connection plates 52. FIG. 5B shows a cross-sectional view Section A-A cut through the upper region. The scaffold connection heads 51 are located diametrically opposite each other on the scaffold connector 2 and in the same horizontal axis. One wedge connection plate 52 is located in the central alignment notch 18 in the second hole 21 and one wedge connection plate 52 is located in the middle of the second hole 20.

[0046] FIG. 5C shows another configuration of the horizonal scaffold members 50 connected to the scaffold connector 2 at 90° from each other. Specifically, FIG. 5C is horizontal sectional view through the ends of the horizontal scaffold members 50 and the wedge connection plates 52. Notably, dimension A is substantially smaller than dimension B which is the width of the wedge connection plate 52. This dimensional tolerance prevents the wedge connection plate 52 from passing through the regions in the second holes 20,21 where the projections 12,16 are located.As mentioned above, the scaffold connectors 2 fixedly connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 are rotatable in unison with the vertical scaffold member 1 . FIG. 6A and FIG. 6B show various rotational orientations of the scaffold connector 2 and the wedge connection plates 52 connected thereto as the vertical scaffold member 1 progressively rotates in a clockwise direction. Each progressive orientation of the second hole 20 in the scaffold connector 2 permits the angle of the wedge connection plate 52 to increase with each progressive rotation. The resulting range of angles made possible with each rotational step is marked under each plan view of the scaffold connector 2 as the vertical scaffold member 1 is being rotated.

[0047] Scaffolds can be built around circular buildings and structures. FIG. 7A shows a top view of a scaffold structure 32 constructed along a curved wall 60. The rectangular sections 30 of the scaffold structure 32 are separated by trapezoidal sections 31 that allow the scaffold structure 32 to form a curve that is substantially parallel to the curved wall 60. FIG. 7B shows an enlarged view of a vertical scaffold member 1 of the curved scaffold structure 32 in FIG. 7A. A scaffold connector 2 is fixedly connected to the vertical scaffold member 1 and three horizontal scaffold members 50a, 50b, 50c are connected to the scaffold connector 2.

[0048] The horizontal scaffold member 50a is connected to and angularly positioned in one of the first holes 10 in the scaffold connector 2. The horizontal scaffold member 50b is connected to and angularly positioned in the central alignment notch 18 of the second hole 21 in the scaffold connector 2. The horizontal scaffold member 50b is thus arranged at a radial angle of 90° from the horizontal scaffold member 50a. The horizontal scaffold member 50c is connected to the central region of the second hole 20 in the scaffold connector 2. As the central region of the second hole 20 may not have any intermediate alignment notches, the horizontal scaffold member 50c may be arranged at a radial angle of less than 90° from the horizontal scaffold member 50a.

[0049] The disk-shaped scaffold connectors 2 improve connections of the scaffold members 1,50 in construction of modular scaffold structures 32. Specifically, the scaffold connectors 2 enable straight fapade scaffolds to be assembled and enable angled connections of the horizontal scaffold members 50 to the vertical scaffold members 1at various angles. This is advantageous in the modular construction of curved scaffold structures 32 to closely follow the perimeter of curved walls 60 of circular buildings and structures. Such scaffold structures 32 would also ensure that the rectangular sections 30 have connections that are fixed at 90° at the corners and the 90° angle of such connections cannot change during or after assembly of the scaffold structure 32 is completed.

[0050] Additive Manufacturing

[0051] The scaffold connector 2 may be manufactured using an additive manufacturing process. A common example of additive manufacturing is three-dimensional (3D) printing; however, other methods of additive manufacturing are available. Rapid prototyping or rapid manufacturing are also terms which may be used to describe additive manufacturing processes.

[0052] As used herein, “additive manufacturing” refers generally to manufacturing processes wherein successive layers of material(s) are provided on each other to “build-up" layer-by-layer or “additively fabricate”, a 3D component. This is compared to some subtractive manufacturing methods (such as cutting, milling, or drilling), wherein material is successively removed to fabricate the part. The successive layers generally fuse together to form a monolithic component which may have a variety of integral sub-components. In particular, the manufacturing process may allow an example of the disclosure to be integrally formed and include a variety of features not possible when using prior manufacturing methods.

[0053] Additive manufacturing methods described herein enable manufacture to any suitable size and shape with various features which may not have been possible using prior manufacturing methods. Additive manufacturing can create complex geometries without the use of any sort of tools, moulds, or fixtures, and with little or no waste material. Instead of machining components from solid billets of plastic or metal, much of which is cut away and discarded, the only material used in additive manufacturing is what is required to shape the part.Suitable additive manufacturing techniques in accordance with the present disclosure include, for example, Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), Selective Laser Sintering (SLS), 3D printing such as by inkjets and laserjets, Stereolithography (SLA), Direct Selective Laser Sintering (DSLS), Electron Beam Sintering (EBS), Electron Beam Melting (EBM), Laser Engineered Net Shaping (LENS), Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM), Laser Net Shape Manufacturing (LNSM), Direct Metal Deposition (DMD), Digital Light Processing (DLP), Continuous Digital Light Processing (CDLP), Direct Selective Laser Melting (DSLM), Selective Laser Melting (SLM), Direct Metal Laser Melting (DMLM), Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS), Material Jetting (MJ), NanoParticle Jetting (NPJ), Drop On Demand (DOD), Binder Jetting (BJ), Multi Jet Fusion (MJF), Laminated Object Manufacturing (LOM), and other known processes.

[0054] The additive manufacturing processes described herein may be used for forming components using any suitable material. For example, the material may be metal, plastic, polymer, composite, or any other suitable material that may be in solid, liquid, powder, sheet material, wire, or any other suitable form or combinations thereof. More specifically, according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, the additively manufactured components described herein may be formed in part, in whole, or in some combination of materials suitable for use in additive manufacturing processes and which may be suitable for the fabrication of examples described herein.

[0055] As noted above, the additive manufacturing process disclosed herein allows a single component to be formed from multiple materials. Thus, the examples described herein may be formed from any suitable mixtures of the above materials. For example, a component may include multiple layers, segments, or parts that are formed using different materials, processes, and / or on different additive manufacturing machines. In this manner, components may be constructed which have different materials and material properties for meeting the demands of any particular application. In addition, although the components described herein are constructed entirely by additive manufacturing processes, it should be appreciated that in alternate embodiments, all or a portion of these components may be formed via casting, machining, and / or anyother suitable manufacturing process. Indeed, any suitable combination of materials and manufacturing methods may be used to form these components.

[0056] Additive manufacturing processes typically fabricate components based on 3D information, for example a 3D computer model (or design file), of the component. Accordingly, examples described herein not only include products or components as described herein, but also methods of manufacturing such products or components via additive manufacturing and computer software, firmware or hardware for controlling the manufacture of such products via additive manufacturing.

[0057] The structure of the product may be represented digitally in the form of a design file. A design file, or computer aided design (CAD) file, is a configuration file that encodes one or more of the surface or volumetric configuration of the shape of the product. That is, a design file represents the geometrical arrangement or shape of the product.

[0058] Design files can take any now known or later developed file format. For example, design files may be in the Stereolithography or “Standard Tessellation Language” (. stl) format which was created for Stereolithography CAD programs of 3D Systems, or the Additive Manufacturing File (.amf) format, which is an American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) standard that is an extensible markup-language (XML) based format designed to allow any CAD software to describe the shape and composition of any 3D object to be fabricated on any additive manufacturing printer. Further examples of design file formats include AutoCAD (.dwg) files, Blender (.blend) files, Parasolid (,x_t) files, 3D Manufacturing Format (.3mf) files, Autodesk (3ds) files, Collada (.dae) files and Wavefront (.obj) files, although many other file formats exist.

[0059] Design files can be produced using modelling (e.g. CAD modelling) software and / or through scanning the surface of a product to measure the surface configuration of the product. Once obtained, a design file may be converted into a set of computer executable instructions that, once executed by a processer, cause the processor to control an additive manufacturing apparatus to produce a product according to the geometrical arrangement specified in the design file. The conversion may convert the design file into slices or layers that are to be formed sequentially by the additivemanufacturing apparatus. The instructions (otherwise known as geometric code or “G-code”) may be calibrated to the specific additive manufacturing apparatus and may specify the precise location and amount of material that is to be formed at each stage in the manufacturing process. As discussed above, the formation may be through deposition, through sintering, or through any other form of additive manufacturing method.

[0060] The code or instructions may be translated between different formats, converted into a set of data signals and transmitted, received as a set of data signals and converted to code, stored, etc., as necessary. The instructions may be an input to the additive manufacturing system and may come from a part designer, an intellectual property (IP) provider, a design company, the operator or owner of the additive manufacturing system, or from other sources. An additive manufacturing system may execute the instructions to fabricate the product using any of the technologies or methods disclosed herein.

[0061] Design files or computer executable instructions may be stored in a (transitory or non-transitory) computer readable storage medium (e.g., memory, storage system, etc.) storing code, or computer readable instructions, representative of the product to be produced. As noted, the code or computer readable instructions defining the product that can be used to physically generate the object, upon execution of the code or instructions by an additive manufacturing system. For example, the instructions may include a precisely defined 3D model of the product and can be generated from any of a large variety of well-known CAD software systems such as AutoCAD®, TurboCAD®, DesignCAD 3D Max, etc. Alternatively, a model or prototype of the product may be scanned to determine the 3D information of the product. Accordingly, by controlling an additive manufacturing apparatus according to the computer executable instructions, the additive manufacturing apparatus can be instructed to print out the product.

[0062] In light of the above, embodiments include methods of manufacture via additive manufacturing. This includes the steps of obtaining a design file representing the product and instructing an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture theproduct according to the design file. The additive manufacturing apparatus may include a processor that is configured to automatically convert the design file into computer executable instructions for controlling the manufacture of the product. In these embodiments, the design file itself can automatically cause the production of the product once input into the additive manufacturing apparatus. Accordingly, in this embodiment, the design file itself may be considered computer executable instructions that cause the additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture the product. Alternatively, the design file may be converted into instructions by an external computing system, with the resulting computer executable instructions being provided to the additive manufacturing apparatus.

[0063] Given the above, the design and manufacture of implementations of the subject matter and the operations described in this specification can be realized using digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. For instance, hardware may include processors, microprocessors, electronic circuitry, electronic components, integrated circuits, etc. Implementations of the subject matter described in this specification can be realized using one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively or in addition, the program instructions can be encoded on an artificially generated propagated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus for execution by a data processing apparatus. A computer storage medium can be, or be included in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).Although additive manufacturing technology is described herein as enabling fabrication of complex objects by building objects point-by-point, layer-by-layer, typically in a vertical direction, other methods of fabrication are possible and within the scope of the present subject matter. For example, although the discussion herein refers to the addition of material to form successive layers, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the methods and structures disclosed herein may be practiced with any additive manufacturing technique or other manufacturing technology.

[0064] In the foregoing detailed description, embodiments of the present disclosure in relation to a disk-shaped scaffold connector are described with reference to the provided figures. The description of the various embodiments herein is not intended to call out or be limited only to specific or particular representations of the present disclosure, but merely to illustrate non-limiting examples of the present disclosure. The present disclosure serves to address at least one of the mentioned problems and issues associated with the prior art. Although only some embodiments of the present disclosure are disclosed herein, it will be apparent to a person having ordinary skill in the art in view of this disclosure that a variety of changes and / or modifications can be made to the disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the disclosure as well as the scope of the following claims is not limited to embodiments described herein.

Claims

Claims1. A disk-shaped scaffold connector for connection of scaffold members, the scaffold connector comprising:a circular central hole for connection with a vertical scaffold member therethrough;a pair of first holes diametrically opposite each other;a pair of second holes diametrically opposite each other, the second holes being arc-shaped and larger than the first holes, each first hole centred between respective end edges of the second holes; anda plurality of projections in each second hole extending radially inwards from an outer edge of the respective second hole;wherein the first and second holes are configured for connection with horizontal scaffold members; andwherein the plurality of projections in each second hole defines a plurality of alignment notches for angular positioning of the horizontal scaffold members around the central hole.

2. The scaffold connector according to claim 1 , wherein in each second hole, the plurality of projections comprises a pair of first projections, each first projection being adjacent to the respective end edge of the respective second hole, such that a first alignment notch is defined between the respective first projection and the respective end edge.

3. The scaffold connector according to claim 2, wherein the first alignment notches of one second hole are diametrically opposite the first alignment notches of the other second hole.

4. The scaffold connector according to claim 3, wherein the first alignment notches of each second hole are angularly separated by 90°.

5. The scaffold connector according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein in at least one second hole, the plurality of projections comprises a pair of second projections,each second projection being adjacent to the respective first projection, such that a second alignment notch is defined between the respective first and second projections.

6. The scaffold connector according to claim 5, wherein adjacent first and second alignment notches are angularly separated by 15°.

7. The scaffold connector according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the plurality of projections comprises a pair of third projections, each third projection being adjacent to the respective second projection, such that a third alignment notch is defined between the respective second and third projections.

8. The scaffold connector according to claim 7, wherein adjacent second and third alignment notches are angularly separated by 15°.

9. The scaffold connector according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein a central alignment notch is centred in the respective second hole.

10. The scaffold connector according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising guidance notches in an outer circumferential edge of the scaffold connector for locating the first holes and / or the second holes.

11. The scaffold connector according to claim 10, wherein the guidance notches comprise four sets of notches angularly separated by 90°.

12. The scaffold connector according to claim 11, wherein each set of notches is proximate to each respective end edge of each respective second hole.

13. The scaffold connector according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the scaffold connector is made of steel or aluminium.

14. The scaffold connector according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the scaffold connector has a thickness of at least 12 mm.

15. A computer program comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to control an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture a product comprising the scaffold connector according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

16. A method of manufacturing a product via additive manufacturing, the method comprising:obtaining an electronic file representing a geometry of the product wherein the product comprises the scaffold connector according to any one of claims 1 to 14; andcontrolling an additive manufacturing apparatus to manufacture, over one or more additive manufacturing steps, the product according to the geometry specified in the electronic file.

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