AU776687B2 - Cantilever arm attachment - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT CANTILEVER ARM

SYSTEM

o o *o e o oo ooo The invention statement: is described in the following ullu/:MU 11:14 b1-d-'qbb-J~t1 I UL bLUK+AU1J M4L4

I-

SYSTEM OF MANUFACTURING

DETACHABLE

CANTILEVER ARMS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A POST OR COLUMN This invention is a new method of manufacturing cantilever arms for attachment to a column or post which has at least one flat side (or web), involving the use of new, to specially manufactured components. The invention involves an inventive step and is useful, in that it can be commercially applied in manufacturing racking and shelving, other storage systems, and other structures.

Currently used methods of attaching a cantilever arm to a column or post have the following disadvantages: welding cantilever arms directly to columns or posts results in sections which are large and awkward to handle and difficult to transport; attaching cantilever arms to steel H sections involves a complex method of manufacture, requiring two sections per arm for each arm unit therefore making each arm unit costly to produce; cantilever arms attached to steel H sections tend to slip over time, therefore reducing the performance of the cantilever rack due to non-uniform slip on adjacent trees which results in additional and unequal loads on arms; cantilever arms attached to columns or posts using only bolts and nuts tend to wobble due to clearance between the bolt and the internal edge of the hole 30 which the bolt passes through, again reducing the performance of the cantilever arm.

These problems are overcome by this invention, which is a means of manufacturing cantilever arms for attachment to a column or post which has at least one flat side (or web) utilising new, specially manufactured components and fasteners or preformed hook and eye type means of attachment. The specially manufactured components consist primarily of a connector and a stop attached to the cantilever arm, along with additional components as described in more detail below. 'he connector is affixed to the cantilever arm and attaches to the web of the column or post using fasteners passing through aligned holes in the connector and column web, or by hook and eye type means 40 of attachment. The stop is affixed to the cantilcver arm along its length at an appropriate distance from the connector such that the stop rests against the flange of the post or column (the side which is at right angles to the web). The connector is attached to the web of the post or column at a level that is higher than the level at which the stop engages the flange of the post or column The point or points of connection of the connector to the web of the column are also closer to the longitudinal axis of the post or column than the stop. The face of the connector that rests against the web of the column or post is perpendicular to the face of the stop that rests against the flange of .he column or post, thus preventing rotation of the cantilever arm about its centre of 01/08 2004 SUN 16:15 [TX/RX NO 5706] 1a003 I ubt ZU154 1j: 14 b1-d-'Jqqb-.J2(( I U~ mt44M~L tlAut U4 -2rotation. If a single load bearing fastener is used it,s centre will be the centre of rotation.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show several examples of the invention.

In the drawings: FIG.'s 1, 2 and 3 are respectively isometric, top and front views of one example of the invention. In FIG. 1, anid 2 the stop, cantilever arm and connector are labelled 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The stop comprises a right angle section affixed to the web of a cantilever arm, at a suitable distance from the connector of the arm such that one leg (I a) of the stop protrudes at right angles from the web of the cantilever arm. The connector comprises a second angle which is attached to the back end of the cantilever arm such that one leg of the connector (3a) is at right angles to the web of the cantilever arm and is affixed to the end of the cantilever arm. The connector has at least one hole Method of attachment: the web of the arm is placed against the web of the column or post in such a manner that a hole in the connector is substantially in alignment wkith a hole in the web of the column or post, so that the stop engages the flange of the column or post. A fastener is passed through the connector hole and web of the column or post to attach the arm to the column or post and a nut may be attached.

Thle face of the connector that rests against the web of the column or post is perpendicular to the face of the stop that rests against the flange of the column or post (Ila), thus preventing rotation of the cantilever arm about its centre of rotation.

In a further part of the invention, the fastener may be passed through a hole in a third :30 angle which is placed between the inside of the web of the post or column and the -nut. If required, that angle would serve as a column web stiffener and may provide additional support to the flanges of the column or post.

:9 Lateral movement or twisting of the arm may be prevented in a number of ways 35 depending on the forces involved for example, a hook bolt may be fitted around the flange toe or lip of the post or column and through a hole in the stop or gusset.

As a further example of the invention, if the post or column is a hot rolled channel section with sharp corners, a stiffener plate can be affixed to the leg of the stop (I a) which protrudes at right angles from the cantilever arm web. The stiffener plate serves 40 to create a sharp corner of engagement between the flange of the post or column and the stop. Loose clip form packing plates of various thicknesses may be fitted between the stop and the flange of the post or column to fill any gaps which exist as a result of variations in post or column depths due to tolerances in manufacture. The stop may be reinforced with a plate (10) fixed between the two legs of the stop angle.

9 9 FIG.'s 4, 5 and 6 are respectively side, top and front views of another example of the invention. A gusset plate may be attached to the bottom flange of the cantilever arm so tat one end abutts the outside face of the stop. The gusset plate serves to reduce the -deflection of the cantilever arm under load, or to increase the load carrying capacity of 01/08 2004 SUN 16:15 [TX/RX NO 5706] (M004 Ul lid/Youq 1.1; 14 b1-b-'J44b-i:Zt I I I U UK+ALU(.bb MLL IMtL tlAut Un -3the cantilever arm. The gusset plate may take the formn of an angle with one leg oriented parallel to the web of the cantilever ann and affixed to the web of the cantilever arm or the junction between the web and bottom flange of the cantilever arm.

It may also provide a point of attachment for a lateral restraint such as a hook bolt The other leg of the gusset angle (I Ia) is located horizontally and substantially lower than the first leg so as to present a flat surface to goods being loaded onto the cantilever arm or base below, which otherwise may have been damaged if there was a sharp edge. An additional benefit of the angle gusset plate is that a synergy may be achieved by affixing the tower flange of the angle gusset plate (I I a) to the stop (I thereby l0 providing additional rigidity and strength to the stop.

A further example of the invention relates to a situation Where it is desired to have a cantilever arm extending from a post or column in opposite directions, to thereby create a double-sided cantilever tree. To achieve this, the flange of each connector may be lapped one over the other (12) such that the holes in each connector and the hole in the web of the post or column are substantially in alignment with each other. The flange of one of the connectors is attached appropriately offset from the web of the cantilever arm it is attached to so that the flange of the connector and the web of the cantilever arm are not flush This is done to accommodate the thickness of the connector flange on the other cantilever arm.

FIG 7 is a view of another example of the invention. As an alternative to offsetting the flange of one of thc connectors as described in the previous paragraph, the stop on one cantilever arm may be reversed in orientation (14) so that the flange of that stop (which is attached to the web of the cantilever arm) is located adjacent to the web of the post or column and acts as a packer. If the second option is preferred, a hole at a suitable location in the vertical leg of the gusset plate or angle previously referred to could provid aixing point for the means of lateral restraint..

FIG. 8 is a side view of another example of the invention. In this example the cantilever 30 arm is made to slope upwards, thereby preventing stored goods such as cylindrical steel *or copper rods from rolling off the cantilever arm. This is achieved by ensuring that the flanges of the stop and connector which are transverse to the web of the arm are substantially parallel with each other, but are not at right angles to the flanges of the cantilever arm, being offset the required number of degrees from 90 degrees to the 35 longitudinal axis of the cantilever arm and by reducing the diagonal distance from the centre of rotation to the lowest point of the stop.

In another form of the invention, flat plates affixed to the web or webs of the cantilever arm are substituted for the angle connector or the angle connector is affixed to the top 40 flange of the cantilever arm with a packing angle if required beneath one connector to permit lapping of the flanges of the connectors.

FIG. 9 is a side view of another example of the invention, for use in double sided cantilever trees where the cantilever arms are required to be on the same level on both 45 sides of the tree. The cantilever arm is continuous across the web of the post or column and a connector is affixed to the top flange of the cantilever arm. An additional connector may be attached to the bottom flange of the cantilever arm or a continuous flat plate connector affixed both below and above the arm may be used. The connector or connectors together with the arm are then attached to the web of the column.

01/08 2004 SUN 16:'15 [TX/RX NO 5706) i 00O5 I 13til ZU194 I 1: 14 bi :14b-.J~ (1 1UbLHAUK±UULbb MEZZ L 2 F'AUL Ub -4- FIG. 10 is a top view of another example of the invention, for use when very heavy loads are contemplated. If individual cantilever arms on one or both sides of the rack are required, in one form of the invention the connectors are replaced with nesting U sections (15) to facilitate attachment to the web of a post or column on each side of the arm. Alternatively, if continuous cantilever arms are required, in one form of the invention the horizontally oriented connector is again replaced with a U section or flat plates affixed to the webs of the arm to facilitate attachm~ent to the web of a post or column on each side of the cantilever arm. Angle stops may be reversed in orientation as shown.

FIG 11 is a further form of the invention in which the stop is attached to the bottom flange of the cantilever arm such that its longitudinal axis is oriented in a horizontal plane and may protrude from both sides of the cantilever arm to engage the flange of one or both posts or columns. The flanges of the stop may be reinforced with plates as shown or angle gussets previously described above.

FIG 12 is a side view of another form of the invention far use where cantilever arms carrying heavy loads are required on one side only of a t ree, or when it is acceptable for cantilever arms to be at different levels or) each side of a tree. Two stops and a connector can be utilised instead of only one stop and a connector. The first stop and the connector are utilised as described above. The second stop (16) is inverted and attached to the cantilever arm at a point which is on the side of the column or post which is opposite to the flange which the first stop engages. The cantilever arm thus extends at least across the full width of the web of the post. or column, and so the second stop engages the flange of the post or column which is furthest from the tip of the cantilever arm, but at a point which is horizontally higher than the first stop. The connector would be oriented parallel with the longitudinal axis of the armn and either two hook bolts or similar could be utilised or an additional connector (17) could be 30 affixed to the bottom flange of the arm. A synergy may be achieved by making the connector extend across the full width of the column web so as to reinforce the flanges of the arm between the two stops.

FIG.'s 13, 14 and 15 are top, side and top views respectively of another form of the 35 invention for use on posts or columns with radiused corners or having more than one web. A cantilever arm, either single sided or continuous across the web of the post or column, is attached to each side of the post or column by one of the methods described above some examples of which are shown in FIG.'s 7, 9 and 13. As shown in FIG.'s 14 and 15 the arms may consist of flat plates (18) for example and may have a common stop (19) affixed between them at the appropriate point along the longitudinal axis of the anrn.

It will be understood that modifications to the system that wouid be apparent to the skilled addressee are within the scope of the present invention.

6 IVAN GLENFIELD QUAIL 6 th. JULY 200)4 01/08 2004 SUN 16:.15 CTX/RX NO 5706) I1a006

Claims (1)

1. 2./l(/l~eU4 11:28 61-8-9446-3277 TUBERACK+ACCESS MEZZ PAGE 04 CLAIMS The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1) A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post which has at least one flat side or web utilising at least one connector with releasable load bearing fastener, one rotational stop with packer plate if required which is affixed to the cantilever arm and engages a flange of the column, tree or post in such a manner as to prevent the arm from rotating under gravity loads about its centre of rotation or the load bearing fastener and one releasable means of lateral restraint to prevent the arm from rotating in the horizontal plane about the point of attachment. 2) A pair of detachable cantilever arms for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in claim 1 wherein the arms extend from opposite sides of the same column or tree or post utilising at least one load bearing fastener and one lateral restraint for each arm in which one connector may be offset to permit lapping of the connector flanges if required. A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims I and 2 in which a gusset reinforcing the arm also reinforces the rotational stop and may provide a point of attachment -for the lateral restraint. 4) A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims I to 3 wherein the cantilever arms are on opposite sides of the same tree in which the tree comprises two upright sections on either side of the arms utilising U shaped connectors and at least one load bearing fastener. 5) A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims I to 4 in which the arm is continuous and provides support on both sides of the tree wherein the horizontally oriented connector is affixed to the flange of the arm and in which the rotational forces are substantially carried in either direction by a stop engaging each flange of the column and in which the axial forces are substantially carried by the fastener or fasteners. A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 in which arms are attached to each side or web of a cantilever tree having one or more webs wherein the stop or stops are reversed such that the flange which is affixed to the arms is adjacent to the web or the column and in which a packing plate may be affixed to the internal face of the stop create a sharp corner if required. 23/07 2004 FRI 14:29 [TX/RX NO 5688] 1a004 Zjl U tr ZU 11 It bl-0-344b-2// IUbLKAUK+AUUtLD ML44 AUtL Ub 1) A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the connectors and stops are manufactured as one monolithic piece prior to affixation to the arm. 2) A detachable cantilever arm for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 in which a multiplicity of load bearing fasteners are utilised and in which components of differing cross sectional shapes may be utilised to perform the same function. 9) Detachable cantilever arms for attachment to a column or tree or post as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 in which dual arms are attached to either side of a cantilever tree having more than one web and which may have a common rotational stop between them held in place by a fastener which would also prevent lateral movement of the arm. Detachable cantilever arms for attachment to a column or tree or post substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 'VAN GLENFIELD QUAIL 2 3 rd JULY 2004 5* S 0* 00 S 4 .6 0 S S S *555 S .5 6 65 Sb 23/07 2004 FRI 14:29 [TX/RX NO 5688] 1005