GB2057547A - Clamping apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamp which secures a beam 24 against the underside of a joist 11 at an angle - for example a right angle - to the length of the joist, grips the beam and the joist simultaneously. In Fig. 1, the beam 24 is gripped between holes 22, 23 in the jaws 12, 13 and arms 25, 26 thereon, as the jaws are tilted by the tension of bolt 21. In Fig. 3, the beam and joist are gripped between plate 34 and jaws 12, 13 as bolts 21 are tightened. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamping apparatus The invention relates to clamping apparatus.

The invention is particularly concerned with clamping apparatus for securing a beam against or adjacent to the underside of a joist so that the beam projects at an angle-for example a right angle - to the length of the joist. Such apparatus will be referred to throughout this Specification as "clamping apparatus of the kind defined".

In its broadest aspect, the invention provides clamping apparatus of the kind defined, the apparatus comprising: two clips each of which, in use, hooks over a respective opposite flange of the joist; means to grip the beam, in use, between the clips and locate it adjustably in position beneath the joist; and means operable to draw the gripping and locating means progressively more tightly against the beam and so fix the amount by which the beam projects from the joist; characterised in that the clips, in addition to bearing against the joist flanges, are also drawn (in use) against the beam as the last-mentioned means are operated; and characterised in that (in use) the full depth of the beam is held between the gripping and locating means and the underside of the joist.

The gripping and locating means may comprise respective extensions of the clips, and the means to draw them progressively more tightly against the beam would then comprise a pair of cooperating screw-threaded components whose common longitudinal axis extends in the same general direction as the length of the beam.

Alternatively the gripping and locating means may comprise pairs of cooperating screwthreaded components associated respectively with each clip; the common longitudinal axis of each such pair of components extending at an angle - for example a right angle - to the length of the beam; one end of each said pair of components being secured to the associated clip; and the other end holding the beam.

Two forms of clamping apparatus each embodying the invention will now be described, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows in side elevation a first form of clamping apparatus; Figure 2 shows the apparatus of Figure 1 with certain parts removed; Figure 3 shows in side elevation a second form of clamping apparatus; Figure 4 shows the apparatus of Figure 3 in end elevation, again with certain parts removed; and Figure 5 shows in side elevation a pipesupporting hanger and clip suitable for use with either of the apparatus shown in the previous Figures.

Referring first to Figure 1 , the apparatus shown is intended to support a pipe (shown only in Figure 5) beneath a rolled steel beam or joist referenced 11. Two clips respectively 12, 13 hook over the respective opposite flanges 14, 1 5 of the joist so as to hang downwardly from the joist and face one another. The downwardly-hanging extensions referenced generally 1 6, 1 7 of each clip 12, 1 3 are each drilled at (respectively) 1 8, 1 9 to accept a screw-threaded elongate screw-and-nut assembly referenced generally 21.

The downwardly hanging extension 16, 17 of each clip are also each formed with a square aperture, respectively 22, 23 as best indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings. The square apertures 22, 23 are in alignment with one another, as are the holes. 18, 19, and are so sized that they accept a hollow tubular square-section beam 24 which, when inserted into the apertures 22, 23 projects at right angles to the length of the main joist 11 as shown in Figure 1.

The lower end portions respectively 25, 26 of the clips 12, 1 3 are bent over as shown in Figure 1; so that the downward extremities of each clip are at the same horizontal level as the bottom of each aperture 22, 23. When the cooperating screw-threaded nut-and-screw assembly 21 is tightened, the clips 12, 13 will be drawn inwardly towards one another and will grip the beam 24 securely beneath the joist 11.The extensions 1 6, 17 of the clips 12, 13 thus effectively constitute a means to grip the beam between the clips and locate it adjustably in position beneath the joist 11, and, when the assembly 21 is tightened to draw the clips towards one another, the extremities 25,26 of the clips 14, 1 5 will be drawn against the beam 24 and will fix the amount by which the beam projects from the joist 11.

A hanger, indicated generally at 27 in Figure 1, can then be secured to the projecting end of the beam 24 and (as shown in detail in Figure 5) pipe clips 28, 29 can be securely fastened by nut-andbolt assemblies 31,32 around a circularcylindrical pipe 33.

A succession of clamping apparatus of the kind described and illustrated can be secured along the run of a joist such as the joist 11, so that continuous lengths of pipe-work 33 can be supported firmly along the run of the joist.

The clamping apparatus shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 serves the same purpose as the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2. Components which correspond, in Figures 3 and 4, to the components shown in Figures 1 and 2 have therefore been given the same reference numbers. The apparatus of Figures 3 and 4 exhibits the following differences from the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2.

Firstiy the clips 1 2, 1 3 do not hang downwardly from the flanges 14, 1 5 against which they bear.

Instead, their respective extremities 25, 26 bear against the top surface, not the bottom surface, of the beam 24. The beam itself, as Figure 4 shows, is an inverted U-section beam instead of a tubular hollow section; although this is not an essential feature of this particular embodiment and a hollow box section could, if desired, be used.

Each clip 12, 13 of this second embodiment is drilled at two longitudinally-spaced positions, as shown in Figure 4. Nut-and-bolt assemblies 21, of which there are four in all, secure a single plate 34 beneath the two clips 12, 13. The plate 34 is drilled at a total of four spaced points, each pair of which is aligned with the two holes drilled in the respective clip 1 2, 13. The four nut-and-bolt assemblies 21 together with the plate 34 and the clips 12, 13 constitute the required means to grip the beam 24 between the clips and locate it adjustably in position beneath the joist flanges 14, 15; and the nut-and-bolt assemblies 21 themselves constitute the means operable to draw the gripping and locating means progressively more tightly against the beam 24.

As the nut and bolts 21 are tightened, the extremities 25, 26 of the clips bear against the beam 24 as well as bearing against the flanges 14, 1 5. In this particular embodiment, the beam 24 is sandwiched hard against the underside of the joist flanges 14, 1 5, whereas in the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 the beam is located adjacent the underside of the joist but is not brought hard up against it.

The hanger and pipe-supporting clip assembly of Figure 5 is again suitable for use with the apparatus of Figures 3 and 4, and the top end of the assembly is accordingly referenced 27 in Figure 3.

In both described and illustrated embodiments, it will be noted that the full depth of the beam 24 is held between the gripping and locating means and the underside of the joist.

The invention is applicable generally to clamping apparatus for securing a beam against or adjacent the underside of "a joist"; but it will be appreciated that the required "respective opposite flanges" of the joist could be constituted by the single top surface of, say, a hollow box-section joist as distinct from the I-section beam described and illustrated.

In the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2, the clips 12, 13 could be made of steel plate, steel forgings, or castings of for example maleable iron. It is currently expected that the simpler clips 12, 13 of the embodiment of Figures 3 and 4 would not normally be cast.

Claims (5)

1. Clamping apparatus of the kind defined herein, the apparatus comprising: two clips each of which, in use, hooks over a respective opposite flange of the joist; means to grip the beam, in use, between the clips and locate it adjustably in position beneath the joist; and means operable to draw the gripping and locating means progressively more tightly against the beam and so fix the amount by which the beam projects from the joist; characterised in that the clips, in addition to bearing against the joist flanges, are also drawn (in use) against the beam as the last-mentioned means are operated; and characterised in that (in use) the full depth of the beam is held between the gripping and locating means and the underside of the joist.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the gripping and locating means comprise respective extensions of the clips; and the means to draw them progressively more tightly against the beam comprises a pair of cooperating screw-threaded components whose common longitudinal axis extends in the same general direction as the length of the beam.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, in which the gripping and locating means comprises pairs of cooperating screw-threaded components associated respectively with each clip; the common longitudinal axis of each such pair of components extend, in use, at an angle - for example a right angle - to the length of the beam; one end of each said pair of components is secured to the associated clip; and the other end, in use, holds the beam.

4. Apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

5. Apparatus as substantially described herein with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.