AU2008207593B2

AU2008207593B2 - A clamp assembly

Info

Publication number: AU2008207593B2
Application number: AU2008207593A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Hamid Pourbozorgi; Hubertus Jacobus Petronella Van De Linden
Original assignee: Acrow Formwork and Scaffolding Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Acrow Formwork and Scaffolding Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2007-11-02
Filing date: 2008-08-28
Publication date: 2015-04-16
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-28
Also published as: AU2008207593A1

Abstract

A CLAMP ASSEMBLY Abstract A clamp assembly (10) to secure a tubular member (11) to a second tubular member (13). The clamp assembly (10) includes a recess (19) within which the member (13) is 5 located, with the member (11) being secured to part of the assembly (10). The assembly (10) further includes a clamp member (25) that is moved into clamping engagement with the member (13) by use of a wedge (28).

Description

S&F Ref: 874666 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT Name and Address Boral Formwork and Scaffolding Pty Limited, of Applicant: an Australian company, ACN 004 284 806, of 2a Mavis Street, Revesby, New South Wales, 2212, Australia Actual Inventor(s): Hamid Pourbozorgi Hubertus Jacobus Petronella van de Linden Address for Service: Spruson & Ferguson St Martins Tower Level 35 31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 (CCN 3710000177) Invention Title: A clamp assembly Associated Provisional Application Details: [33] Country: [31] Appl'n No(s): [32] Application Date: AU 2007906030 02 Nov 2007 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: 5845c(1 381758_1) 1 A CLAMP ASSEMBLY Technical Field The present invention relates to clamp assemblies and more particularly but not exclusively to clamp assemblies employed in formwork supports and scaffolding. Background of the Invention Tubular members in formwork supports and scaffolding are secured together by clamp assemblies that employ a wedge. These known clamp assemblies can be unreliable in that it is known for them not to provide sufficient security in attaching various tubular members of the scaffolding together. Object of the Invention It is the object of the present invention to overcome or substantially ameliorate at least the above disadvantage or to provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention There is disclosed herein a clamp assembly to engage an object to secure the object to the clamp assembly, said assembly including: a base having a clamp surface at least partly defining a recess within which the object is to be located, and a wedge engaging surface spaced from the clamp surface so that the recess is located therebetween; a clamp member located adjacent the recess and spaced from the clamp surface so that the object can be located between the clamp member and clamp surface; a wedge located between the clamp member and the wedge engaging surface and movable relative thereto to urge the clamp member towards the clamp surface so that the object can be secured between the clamp member and clamp surface; and wherein said clamp member is supported by said base so as to be movable relative thereto, wherein said base includes a pair of generally parallel flanges with said recess including a recess portion in each flange, wherein said flanges are connected by a transverse bridge, said bridge having a slot through which said wedge passes to be located between the wedge engaging surface and the clamp member. Preferably, the recess portions are aligned to provide for the object to be located therein.

2 Preferably, said clamp member passes through said slot to be movably supported by said base. Preferably, said bridge includes a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion, with said first bridge portion having said slot, and said second bridge portion 5 being generally normal to said first bridge portion and providing said clamp surface. Preferably, said flanges include arcuate surfaces at least partly defining said recess. Preferably, said clamp includes a concave portion within which the object is to be located. 10 There is further disclosed herein a formwork support or a scaffolding assembly including said clamp assembly, and a first tubular member fixed to said base. Preferably, said support or scaffolding assembly includes a second tubular member, said second tubular member providing said object, with said clamp assembly securing the tubular members together. is Preferably, said first tubular member is fixed to said base. Preferably, said first tubular member includes an end extremity, with a recess extending inwardly of said end extremity, with said second base portion being located in the first tubular member recess. Preferably, the first tubular member recess is located between first tubular 20 portions. Preferably, said wedge passes through the recess of said first tubular member. Preferably, said wedge is captively located with respect to said base. Preferably, said clamp member is captively located with respect to said base. Preferably, said first tubular member has a longitudinal axis, and said clamp 25 member is moved towards said clamp surface by said wedge in a direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis. Preferably, said recess has a longitudinal axis generally transverse of the first tubular member longitudinal axis. Brief Description of the Drawings 30 A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic isometric view of a clamp assembly to secure a pair of tubular scaffolding members together; Figure 2 is a schematic side elevation of the clamp assembly of Figure 1; 3 Figure 3 is a schematic top plan view of the base of the clamp assembly as seen in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a schematic elevation of a clamp member employed in the clamp assembly of Figure 1; 5 Figure 5 is a schematic side elevation of a wedge member employed in the clamp assembly of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a schematic end elevation of the wedge member of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a schematic isometric view of a modification of the clamp assembly of Figure 1; and 10 Figure 8 is a schematic isometric view of a telescopic brace with the clamps of Figures 1 and 7 applied to a telescopic brace; Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments In the accompanying drawings there is schematically depicted a clamp assembly 10. Preferably the clamp assembly 10 is part of an adjustable brace including an 15 elongated tubular member I1 that is preferably adjustable in longitudinal length. Typically the tubular member 11 would have a clamp assembly 10 at the longitudinal end 12. The clamp assembly 10 engages a second tubular member 13 to secure the members 11 and 13 together, with their longitudinal axes 14 and 15 generally perpendicular. The clamp assembly 10 includes a base 16 that has a recess 17 in which the 20 tubular member 13 is located. The base 16 includes a pair of generally parallel co-extensive flanges 18, each flange 18 having a recess portion 19 through which the tubular member 13 passes. The recess portions 19 being aligned to provide the recess 17. Integral with (or attached to) and extending between the flanges 18 is a bridge 25 20, the bridge 20 including a first bridge portion 21 and a second bridge portion 22. The bridge portions 21 and 22 are generally perpendicular and are provided with a slot 23. The tubular member 1 is fixed to the bridge portion 22 (and/or flanges 18), with the end 19 having a recess 24 in which the bridge portion 22 is located. Supported by the bridge portion 21 is a clamp member (plate) 25 that is located 30 adjacent the recess 17. More particularly the clamp member 25 passes through the slot 23 so as to extend downwardly from the bridge portion 21. Each recess portion 19 is at least partly defined by a clamp surface 26, with the clamp member 25 being spaced from the surfaces 26 so that the tubular member 13 can be located therebetween.

4 The bridge portion 22 provides a wedge engaging surface 27 that is spaced from the clamp member 25 so that a wedge 28 can be located between the surface 27 and the member 25. The wedge 28 has an upper extremity 29 and a lower extremity 30 between which wedge surfaces 31 and 32 extend, with the surfaces 31 and 32 converging toward 5 the lower extremity 30. The clamp member 25 has a concave portion 33 within which the tubular member 13 is to be located. Extending between the flanges 18 is a pin 34 that engages the member 25 to limit its movement toward the surfaces 26 and therefore provide ease of placement of the 10 tubular member 13 in the recess 17. Preferably each recess portion 19 is at least partly defined by a curved surface 35. Preferably the clamp member 25 includes a head 36 and a body 37 between which there is located recesses 38 that receive flanges 39 of bridge portion 22 to aid in mounting the member 25. When the wedge 28 is located in the slot 23, the member 25 is captively is located with respect to the base 16. Preferably the wedge 28 is captively located with respect to the base 16 by means of projection pins or rivets 40 and 41, the projections 40 and 41 preventing the wedge 28 passing downwardly or upwardly through the slot 23. The clamp member 25 has a concave surface. 20 In operation of the above described clamp assembly 10, the tubular member 13 would be located in the recess 17. Thereafter an impact force would be applied to the end surface 41 of the wedge 28 so as to drive it in a direction (downward) 42. The surfaces 31 and 32, by engagement with the member 25 and surface 27, urge the member 25 in the direction 43, that is a direction towards the surfaces 26 to thereby clamp the member 13 25 within the recess 17. In this regard it should be appreciated the direction 43 is parallel to the axis 14 but normal to the axis 15, while the direction 42 is normal to both axes 14 and 15. The wedge 28, when inoperative can be located so as to be generally horizontally oriented and located so as to extend adjacent the member 11. 30 In Figures 7 and 8 there is schematically depicted a modification of the clamp assembly 10. In this embodiment a tubular member 51 is provided with an in flange 45 that is directly fixed to the surfaces of the flanges 29, that is the bridge portion 22. Preferably the flange 45 has a slot 46 in which the wedge 28 rests when extending in a horizontal orientation, that is spaced from the member 25.

5 In Figure 8 there is schematically depicted a brace 50. The brace 50 includes the tubular members 11 and 51, with the tubular member 11 telescopically located within the tubular member 51. The tubular member 51 has apertures 52 that receive a pin 53. The apertures 52 are aligned with apertures 54 of the tubular member 11, so that the pin 53 5 secures to the members 11 and 51 in a desired relative position so that the brace 50 has a desired length. The member 11 has a plurality of the apertures 54 at longitudinally spaced locations so that the length of the brace 50 may be altered. As best seen in Figure 8, the clamp assembly 10 at the left hand end of the brace 50 is the clamp assembly 10 from Figure 7, while the clamp assembly 10 at the right hand 1o end is the clamp assembly 10 from Figure 1. Also as best seen in Figure 8, the wedge 28 at the left hand end is in the inoperative horizontally extending position.

Claims

1. A clamp assembly to engage an object to secure the object to the clamp assembly, said assembly including: a base having a clamp surface at least partly defining a recess within which the object is to be located, and a wedge engaging surface spaced from the clamp surface so that the recess is located therebetween; a clamp member located adjacent the recess and spaced from the clamp surface so that the object can be located between the clamp member and clamp surface; a wedge located between the clamp member and the wedge engaging surface and movable relative thereto to urge the clamp member towards the clamp surface so that the object can be secured between the clamp member and clamp surface; and wherein said clamp member is supported by said base so as to be movable relative thereto, wherein said base includes a pair of generally parallel flanges with said recess including a recess portion in each flange, wherein said flanges are connected by a transverse bridge, said bridge having a slot through which said wedge passes to be located between the wedge engaging surface and the clamp member.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the recess portions are aligned to provide for the object to be located therein.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said clamp member passes through said slot to be movably supported by said base.

4. The assembly of claim 2 or 3, wherein said bridge includes a first bridge portion and a second bridge portion, with said first bridge portion having said slot, and said second bridge portion being generally normal to said first bridge portion and providing said clamp surface.

5. The assembly of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein said flanges include arcuate surfaces at least partly defining said recess.

6. The assembly of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said clamp includes a concave portion within which the object is to be located.

7. A formwork support or a scaffolding assembly including said clamp assembly of any one of claims 1 to 6, and a first tubular member fixed to said base.

8. The support or scaffolding assembly of claim 7, further including a second tubular member, said second tubular member providing said object, with said clamp assembly securing the tubular members together. 7

9. The support or scaffold assembly of claim 8, wherein said first tubular member includes an end extremity, with a recess extending inwardly of said end extremity, with said second base portion being located in the first tubular member recess.

10. The support or scaffold assembly of claim 9, wherein said wedge passes through the recess of said first tubular member.

11. The support or scaffold assembly of claim 10, wherein said wedge is captively located with respect to said base.

12. The support or scaffold assembly of claim 11, wherein said clamp member is captively located with respect to said base.

13. The support or scaffold assembly of claim 12, wherein said first tubular member has a longitudinal axis, and said clamp member is moved towards said clamp surface by said wedge in a direction generally parallel to said longitudinal axis.

14. The support or scaffold assembly of claim 13, wherein said recess has a longitudinal axis generally transverse of the first tubular member longitudinal axis. Acrow Formwork and Scaffolding Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON