CA1036569A - Conduit clamp - Google Patents

Conduit clamp

Info

Publication number
CA1036569A
CA1036569A CA279,465A CA279465A CA1036569A CA 1036569 A CA1036569 A CA 1036569A CA 279465 A CA279465 A CA 279465A CA 1036569 A CA1036569 A CA 1036569A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
conduit
clamp
straps
bridge portions
channel
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA279,465A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph W. Kowalski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Cooper B Line Inc
Original Assignee
B Line Systems Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by B Line Systems Inc filed Critical B Line Systems Inc
Priority to CA279,465A priority Critical patent/CA1036569A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1036569A publication Critical patent/CA1036569A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Abstract

Abstract of the Disclosure A clamp for clamping a conduit to a support, the clamp accommodating any conduit having an outer diameter within a speci-fied range of diameters. The clamp includes a pair of clamping straps, one for each side of the conduit and each strap has a stem portion having ears engageable with the channel, an intermediate portion having a window or cutout therein with bridge portions on opposite sides of the window, and an outer end portion. The outer ends of the straps are bolted together so that upon the ends of the straps being drawn together, the bridge portions of the straps conform to and grip portions of the outer surface of the conduit.
The window, the bridge portions and the ears of the straps are so structured that the tensile strength of the bridge portion only slightly exceeds the strength of the ears.

Description

~6~3651~P9 CONDUIT CLAMP

sackground of the Invention , .
This invention relates to a clamp for clamping a conduit, a pipe or the like to a support, and more parti-cularly to such a clamp which can accommodate any conduit having an outer diameter which ranges between a specified minimum diameter and a specified maximum diameter.
Generally, electrical conduits, pipes, etc., routed over-head in buildings or through pipe tunnels are supported at spaced ;
intervals by channel-shaped supports. These channeI supports con-ventionally have spaced side flanges with inwardly turned, hook-shaped outer lips forming a slot therebetween. The conduits are ;
supported on the outer edges of these flanges and extend generall~
perpendicularly to the channel. Often, multiple runs oE conduit or pipe are supported by the channel supports with the conduits spaced closely to one another, but not touching one another.
Conventional clamps used to secure the conduits in placeon the support channeIs utilize a pair of clamping straps of solid sheet metal or the like, one for each side of the conduit. Each of these straps is insertabIe into the slot in the channel for en-gagement with the above-mentioned lips of the channel. Generally, known prior art clamping straps are accurately preformed so that they conform to the outer surface of a conduit having a specified `
outer diameter. The outer ends of these prior art clamping straps are typically bolted together so as to hold the conduit on the sup-port channel.
Because these prior art conduit clamps are accurately preformed to match the curvature of a particular size conduit, they are not suited for clamping different sizes of conduit. Generally, conduit and tubin~ come in a variety of nominal sizes and are avail-able with wall thicknesses of thin or intermediate construction or as standard tubing having a somewhat greater wall thickness. With ~.~365~
known prior art clamps, a different clamp must be used for clampin~
thin wall conduit, intermediate wall conduit, or standard tubing, even if the nominal size of these conduits or tubing is the same.
This necessitates stocking a large~number of clamps. Because a different size clamp must be used for each size and type of con-duit or pipe to be'clamped~ a workman on the job may not have the proper size clamp readily available. Thus, either the workman must stop his work to obtain the proper clamp which wastes considerable time or he may attempt to use another size clamp which results in improper clamping of the conduit.
It is conventional that conduit clamps be required to withstand a specified load applied to the conduit which tends to pull it away from its support channel.
Summary of the Invent'ion Among the many objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a conduit clamp which'can accommodate any conduit or other circular cross-section member having an outer diameter within a specified range of diameters; the provision of such a clamp which will greatly lessen the number of sizes of clamps which must be stocked to clamp thin wall conduit, intermediate wall conduit and standard piping in a range'of specified nominal sizes; ' the provision of such a clamp which securely locks any conduit within a specified range of outer diameters to a support channel;
the provision of such a clamp which will withstand a maximum speci-fied load and hold the conduit on its support channel; the provision of such a clamp which'substantially lessens the chances of a work-man clamping a conduit with the wrong size clamp; and the provision of such a clamp which is economical to manufacture and easy to in-stall. Other objects and features of thi's invention will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. ;
Briefly, a clamp of this invention is provided for clamp-ing a member of generally circular cross-section, such as a conduit ~L~3~S69 or the like, to a channel having side flanges. each having an in-wardly airected, hook-shaped lip defining a slot therebetween with the member extending generally perpendicular to the channel -and engaging the outer edges of the lips. The clamp of this in-vention is adapted to clamp any of a plurality of the above- ;
mentioned members having outer diameters ranging from a specified ..;
minimum diameter to a specified maximum diameter. The clamp com- ~.
prises a pair of clamp straps, one for each side of the member, ....
each of which comprises a generally flat stem portion of a width less than the width of the slot, and an ear at each lateral side .
of the stem extending out beyond a respective side o the stem for engagement with one of the lips. An intermediate portion is bent out of the plane of the stem to extend around and grip a por-tion of the surface of the member to be clamp~d, and an out~r end ;
portion extends from the intermediate portion. Means is provided engageable with the outer end portions of the head portion for .
drawing together the straps on opposite sides of the member. The intermediate portion of each strap has a cutout therein and bridge : .
portions on opposite sides of the cutout, these bridge portions .
being adapted to conform to the outer surface of the member upon ~. .the straps being drawn together. The cutout, the bridge portion and the ears are so structured that the tensile strength of the bridge portion only slightly exceeds the strength of the ears so that upon application of a force which tends to pull the member away from the .; .
channel, the ears will fail prior to failure of the bridge portions. ::~
Brief Description of *he Drawings i.
.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of two identical clamps o~
this invention clamping two conduits of different outer diameters `
to a channel-shaped support;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevati.onal view of a clamping :
!`.
strap of the clamp of the present invention; and Fig. 3 is an edge view of the clamp of this invention with portions of the clamping strap broken away. ,~.

~ 36S~i9 Corresponding reference characters indicate correspond-ing parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
Brief Description of a Preferred Embod'iment Referring now to the drawings/ a clamp of this invention, indicated in its entirety at 1, is shown clamping a conduit of cir-cular cross-section to a channel-shaped support. In accordance ;~
with this invention, clamp 1 is adapted to clamp any of a plurality of conduits or pipes having outer diameters ranging from a speci-fied minimum outer diameter (Dl, as indicated on a conduit 3 in Fig. 1) to a specified maximum outer diameter (D2, as indicated on conduit 4). For example, one size of clamp 1 will clamp all con-duits having outer diameters ranging from 1.16" (29.5 mm.) to 1.32"
(33.5 mm.1 thereby to enable the clamp of this in~ention to clamp thin wall conduit, interme~iate wall conduit and standard piping all having a nominal inside diameter of 1" (25.~ mm.). Heretofore, three different clamps were re~uired to clamp the same three con-duits. More particularly, the clamp of this invention is adapted to clamp a conduit to a channel-shaped support 5. This support or channel has a pair of side flanges 7a, 7b, the outer ends of which each have'a respective inwardly directed, hbok-shaped lip 9a, 9b formed thereon. Th se lips are spaced from one another and define ~ -a slot S therebetwee~n which extends the length of the channel. As ;
is best shown in Fig. 1, the conduits bear against the outer edges of flanges 7a, 7b and extend generally perpendic~ularly -to the chan-nel.
Clamp 1 has a pair of identical clamp straps lla, llb, one for each side of conduit 3. Each strap has a generally flat stem portion 13 of a width less than the width of slot S. The stem has an ear 15a, 15b at each'side ther'eo'f extending out beyond the side edge oE the stem portion for engagement with a corresponding lip 9a, 9b of channel' 5. ~s shown in Fig. 2, ears 15a,15b are hook-shaped and are adapted to positively engage lips 9a,9b. The ;

. .

~Q36Si~9 strap further has an intermediate portion r as generally indlcated at 17~ extending from the stem portion. This interme~iate portion is bent out of the plane of the stem portion tsee Fig. 3) and it extends around and grips a portion of the outer surface of conduit 3 to be clamped. Specifically, this intermediate portion is formed to have a radius o curvature which corresponds to a conduit having an outer diameter equal to the above-speci~ied minimum outer diame- ;
ter Dl of the range of conduit diameters that one size clamp of this invention may accommodate. Upon the clamp being applied to a conduit having a diameter ranging between the specified diameters Dl and D2 or that clamp, and upon being drawn together in a manner as will be hereinater speciied, the intermediate portions oE the ~.... .
straps will conorm to the radius o curvature oE the conduit being clamped.
Each strap lla or llb is shown to have a flat outer end portion 19 generally parallel to its stem portion 13 and a bend line 20 constituting a transition between its intermediate and outer end portions. As shown in Fig. 3 r stem portions 13 of straps lla, llb are spaced apart by the outer diameter of the conduit to be clamped and the outer end portions 19 of the straps are spaced close-ly relative to one another. Each outer end portion has an aperture 21 therethrough for reception of a clamping bolt 23, the latter `
threadably receiving a nut 25 which when tightened draws the outer end portions of the straps together. Apertures 21 are spaced from , .~ , .
bend line 20 a suficient distance to enable bolt 23 to be inserted therethrough and to permlt the bolt to be threaded into the nut, with the nut being held against turning by the bend line.
As indicated at 27, each clamp strap lla,llb has a cutout or window through its intermediate portion 17 thus deining bridge ~`
portions 29a, 29b on opposite sides of the cutout. Cutout 27 weakens the intermediate portion and thus enables the bridge por~
tions to bend so as to conform to the outer surface of the conduit ., ''"' .:
S ..

~p365G~
being clamped as straps lla, llb are forcibly drawn together by bolt 23. Pre~erably, the clamp straps are made of reIatively stiff, sheet metal or the like having a uniform thickness. For ' example, the straps may be made of mild commercial steel, stainless steeL or aluminum. It is desirabIe upon applica'tion of a force to the strap or conduit which tends to pull the'conduit away from '' channel 5 that ears 15a, 15b fail prior to the failure of any por- ' ' tion of the strap, and more particularly fail prior to the failure of bridge portions 29a, 29b. In order to insure that intermediate portion 17 of each strap is as flexible as possible so as to enable the strap to readily conform to the outer surface of a conduit 3 to -~
be clamped, and in order to insure'that ears 15a, 15b fail prior to any other portion of the strap, bridge'portions 29a, 29b, cutout 27 and the ears of a clamp of this invention are'so structured relative to one another that the strength oE the bridge portion~ only slight-ly exceeds the strength o~ the ears so as to insure that the ears will fail prior to the bridge portions, and yet that the bridge por-tions will be as bendable as possible so that they may readily be bent around the outer' surface of the conduit.
As shown in Fig. 2, conduit 3 is supported on the outer ~;:
edges of flanges 7a, 7b of channel 5. Cutout 27 of each strap has a first or bottom edge 31 extending between bridge portions 29a, 29b adjacent stem portion 13 and a second or upper edge 33 extending be-tween the bridge portions adjacent bend line 20. With straps lla, llb on opposite sides of conduit 3, the bottom edges 31 of cutout 27 are shown to be substantially aligned with'one another and with the centerline CL of conduit 3 when the conduit being clamped has an outer diameter equal to the minimum specified diameter Dl of the range of diameters which the clamp may accommodate. By positioning the lower' edge 31 of the cutout adjacent the centerline of the smal-ler size'conduit to be'clamped, the entire length of intermediate portion 17 is constituted by the relatively flexible'bridge portions ~36S~9 29a, 29b so that it may readily conform (i.e., bend) to the shape of the conduit.
To install a clamp 1 of this invention, a conduit 3 to -be clamped is brought into engagement with the outer edges of channel flanges 7a, 7b and a clamp strap lla, llb of the proper size for the nominal size of the conduit to be clamped is inserted in slot S on opposite sides o~ the conduit. Ears 15a, 15b of the straps are hooked on channel lips 9a, 9b and intermediate portions 17 of the straps are brought into engagement with a portion of the outer surface of the conduit. ~olt 23 is inserted through aper-tures 21 and is threaded into nut 25 which is held against turning by bend line 20. Upon tightening bolt 23, skraps lla, llb are drawn together causing their intermediate portions to con~orm to the cur-vature o the conduit~ ~g the bolt is tightened the ~traps slide ;~
on the outer surf~ce of the conduit as the outer end portions 19 and bend lines are drawn together. This places the straps under tension and forcibly pulls the conduit into engagement with the sup-port channel thereby frictionally locking the conduit on the support channel. `~
In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results -attained.
As various changes could be made in the above construc- -tions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is in- ;
tended that all matter contained in the above description or shown ;
in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

,~," ' ~ "

Claims (2)

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A clamp for clamping a member of generally circular cross-section, such as a conduit or the like, to a channel having side flanges each having an inwardly directed, hook-shaped lip defining a slot therebetween with said member extending generally perpendicularly to said channel and engaging the outer edges of said lips, said clamp being adapted to clamp any of a plurality of said members having outer diameters ranging from a specified mini-mum diameter to a specified maximum diameter, said clamp comprising a pair of clamp straps, one for each side of the member, each of which comprises a generally flat stem portion of a width less than the width of said slot, and an ear at each lateral side of said stem extending out beyond a respective side of the stem for engage-ment with one of said lips, an intermediate portion bent out of the plane of said stem to extend around and grip a portion of the sur-face of said member to be clamped, an outer end portion, a transition between said intermediate and outer end portions, and means engage-able with said outer end portions for drawing together said straps on opposite sides of said member, said intermediate portion of each strap being formed to be selectively weakened along a part thereof so as to enable said part of said intermediate portion to conform to the curvature of the outer surface of the conduit member being clamped, said intermediate portion including a pair of spaced bridge portions defining a cutout therebetween, said cutout having a first or lower edge and a second or upper edge extending between said bridge portions, said lower edge being positioned at substantially the same level as the longitudinal centerline of the conduit member being clamped when the latter has said specified minimum diameter and said upper edge being positioned adjacent said transition so that said bridge portions extend along said weakened part of said intermediate portion and so that said bridge portions are bendable so as to conform to the curvature of the outer surface of said conduit member upon said straps being drawn together, and said bridge portions having a width such that they have a tensile strength which only slightly exceeds the tensile strength of said ears so that upon application of a force to pull said conduit mem-ber away from said channel said ears will fail prior to failure of said bridge portions.
2. A clamp as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said straps is a one-piece unit made of relatively stiff, but bendable, sheet metal having a uniform thickness, and wherein said means for drawing said straps together comprises a threaded fastener inter-connecting said outer end portions of the straps whereby upon tight-ening said fastener said straps are drawn together causing said bridge portions to bend so as to conform to the curvature of said member.
CA279,465A 1977-05-30 1977-05-30 Conduit clamp Expired CA1036569A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA279,465A CA1036569A (en) 1977-05-30 1977-05-30 Conduit clamp

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA279,465A CA1036569A (en) 1977-05-30 1977-05-30 Conduit clamp

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1036569A true CA1036569A (en) 1978-08-15

Family

ID=4108766

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA279,465A Expired CA1036569A (en) 1977-05-30 1977-05-30 Conduit clamp

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA1036569A (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4408922A (en) * 1981-02-06 1983-10-11 Harsco Corporation Coupler
US4620489A (en) * 1982-09-07 1986-11-04 The Kent Corporation Extendible merchandise shelving display

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4408922A (en) * 1981-02-06 1983-10-11 Harsco Corporation Coupler
US4620489A (en) * 1982-09-07 1986-11-04 The Kent Corporation Extendible merchandise shelving display

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