# US 8,550,213 B2 · Scaffold element, arrangement and method of use

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- Number: US 8,550,213 B2
- Document ID: US8550213B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/934,014
- Filed: 2009-04-09
- Published: 2011-03-24
- Granted: 2013-10-08
- Earliest claimed: 2008-04-11
- Assignees: Moldtech Oy
- Applicants: Tomas Alberto Jorkama-Lopez; Hannu Ojantausta
- Inventors: Tomas Alberto Jorkama-Lopez; Hannu Ojantausta
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8550213B2

## CPC

- E04G 13/06: for stairs, steps, cornices, balconies, or other parts corbelled out of the wall {(moulds for making prefabricated stair units B28B7/225; stairways with permanent forms E04F11/02)}
- E01D 22/00: Methods or apparatus for repairing or strengthening existing bridges {(electrochemical desalination or re-alkalisation C04B41/00); Methods or apparatus for dismantling bridges}
- E04G 3/24: specially adapted for particular parts of buildings or for buildings of particular shape, e.g. chimney stacks or pylons (E04G3/28 takes precedence; {E04G1/362, E04G3/305 take precedence; scaffolding usable on slipways and in dry docks B63C5/02})
- E04G 13/066: {for overhangs}
- E01D 19/10: Railings; Protectors against smoke or gases, e.g. of locomotives; Maintenance travellers; Fastening of pipes or cables to bridges ({pipe-line bridges E01D18/00}; supports for pipes, cables or protective tubing, e.g. hangers, holders, clamps, cleats, clips, brackets, F16L3/00)
- E04G: SCAFFOLDING; FORMS; SHUTTERING; BUILDING IMPLEMENTS OR AIDS, OR THEIR USE; HANDLING BUILDING MATERIALS ON THE SITE; REPAIRING, BREAKING-UP OR OTHER WORK ON EXISTING BUILDINGS
- E01D: CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, {ELEVATED ROADWAYS} OR VIADUCTS; ASSEMBLY OF BRIDGES (bridges extending between terminal buildings and aircraft for embarking or disembarking passengers B64F1/305; {tracks for special kinds of railways E01B25/00; culverts E01F5/005})

## Abstract

The invention concerns a scaffold element adapted to be removably attachable to a bridge, the scaffold element comprising support member for supporting the scaffold element onto an upper surface of the bridge and a support structure which is secured to the support members and which extends to a distance outside the edge of the bridge and to a distance below the bridge. The invention is characterized in that the scaffold element further comprises a longitudinally adjustable support bar pivotally connected to the support structure and being supportable against a lower surface of the bridge and adjustment means for adjustably attaching a vertical mold wall onto the support structure of the scaffold element at a distance outside the edge of the bridge for forming a mold between the wall and the bridge. Also a scaffold arrangement and method of use are disclosed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A scaffold element adapted to be removably attachable to a bridge, the scaffold element comprising:
a support member for supporting the scaffold element onto an upper surface of the bridge and
a support structure which is secured to the support member and which extends to a distance outside the edge of the bridge and to a distance below the edge of the bridge,
wherein the scaffold element further comprises:
a longitudinally adjustable support bar pivotally connected to the support structure and being supportable against a lower surface of the bridge and
adjustment means for adjustably attaching a vertical mould wall onto the support structure of the scaffold element at a distance outside the edge of the bridge for forming a mould between the wall and the bridge.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A scaffold element according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a column comprising a vertical component and the column extending to a distance below the edge of the bridge.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A scaffold element according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a beam having a horizontal component and secured rigidly to the column.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

A scaffold element according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment means are adapted to push the vertical mould wall towards the bridge or pull the mould wall away from the bridge.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

A scaffold element according to claim 4, wherein the adjustment means comprises at least one adjustment screw that is supported onto the column.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The scaffold element according to claim 1, further comprising a holder, the level of which can be vertically adjusted, and a horizontal mould wall which can be supported onto the holder.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The scaffold element according to claim 1, wherein the scaffold element comprises a suspension member which can be grabbed by a grabbing member of a lifting device, such as a lifting hook, and wherein the suspension member is arranged to be offset from the mass center of the scaffold element, so that when lifted by the suspension member, the scaffold element is tilted wherein during mounting of the support structure, the mounting flange is first supported at the edge to the upper surface of the bridge at a contact point, and as the scaffold element is lowered further, the mounting flange turns about said contact point until it is in alignment with the upper surface and rests against it.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The scaffold element according to claim 1, wherein the scaffold element comprises a vertical support connected to the support structure.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The scaffold element according to claim 8, wherein the vertical support is adapted to operate as a supporting foot for the scaffold element during mounting.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The scaffold element according to claim 8, wherein the vertical support is adapted to move horizontally in the guidance of the support structure, and it comprises locking means for detachably locking it to its position.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The scaffold element according to claim 10, wherein a second vertical mould wall is connected to the vertical support.

### Claim 12

A scaffold arrangement comprising:
at least two scaffold elements at a distance from each other, wherein each of the at least two scaffold elements are adapted to be removably attachable to a bridge;
further wherein each of the at least two scaffold elements comprise:
a support member for supporting each of the at least two scaffold elements onto an upper surface of the bridge and
a support structure which is secured to the support member and which extends to a distance outside the edge of the bridge and to a distance below the edge of the bridge,
further comprising a longitudinally adjustable support bar pivotally connected to the support structure and being supportable against a lower surface of the bridge and
adjustment means for adjustably attaching a vertical mould wall onto the support structure of each of the at least two scaffold elements at a distance outside the edge of the bridge for forming a mould between the wall and the bridge.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

A scaffold arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the arrangement comprises a longitudinally adjustable horizontal shoring that is detachably supportable onto the adjustment means of a horizontal mould wall of two scaffold elements that reside at a distance from each other.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

A scaffold arrangement according to claim 12, wherein the arrangement comprises a working platform supported onto at least one scaffold element underneath the bridge.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

A scaffold arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the working platform is supported between two scaffold elements so that a worker is able to operate the longitudinally adjustable support bar from the working platform.

### Claim 16

A method of installing a scaffold element, wherein the scaffold element comprises:
a support member for supporting the scaffold element onto an upper surface of the bridge and
a support structure which is secured to the support member and which extends to a distance outside the edge of the bridge and to a distance below the edge of the bridge,
wherein a longitudinally adjustable support bar pivotally connected to the support structure and being supportable against a lower surface of the bridge and adjustment means for adjustably attaching a vertical mould wall onto the support structure of the scaffold element at a distance outside the edge of the bridge for forming a mould between the wall and the bridge, wherein the scaffold element is moved to its position to the edge of the bridge by lifting it in a tilted position by suspension members further wherein
the edge of the bridge is set between mounting flanges and holders,
the tilted scaffold element is lowered so that the mounting flange comes into contact with the upper surface of the bridge,
the scaffold element is lowered further so that the mounting flange becomes aligned with the upper surface of the bridge,
the mounting flange is secured by anchor bolts to the upper surface of the bridge, and
the scaffold element is supported onto the lower surface of the bridge by turning the longitudinally adjustable support bar into a support position.
