GB2128708A - Supporting ventilation ducting - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for supporting ventilation ducting in which lengths (13) of ducting have their ends connected together by frame members (17). Brackets (20) are secured, in a non swivelling manner to the frame members, preferably at their upper corners. The brackets (20) define channels (21) which receive the lower ends of rods (16), the upper ends of which are connected to an overhead support (15). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Method and apparatus for supporting ventilation ducting This invention relates to supporting ventilation ducting. When a run of ducting is to be supported from an overhead support, the lengths of ducting are first connectedtogetherendto end on the ground by frame members which are boltedtogethertoform a substantially airtight seal between adjacent lengths.

Angled section support members or other clamping type support members are then secured to the ducting to engage the bottom surface thereof at intervals along its length at positions intermediate the connecting frame members. Rods then have their lower ends connected to the support members and fixing means are formed at spaced intervals in the overhead support. Finally the ducting is lifted and the upper ends of the rods are connected to the fixing means.

Sincetheducting is normally made of metal and may be up to 4feet (1.22 metres) in width and 60 feet (14.6 metres) in length it is very heavy to handle and even minor variations in the alignment ofthe support brackets and the fixing means causes difficulties in erection thus requiring skilled labourto erect the ducting properly.

An object of the present invention is to provide a method a n d and apparatusforsupporting ducting more simply and cheaply.

In one aspectthe invention provides a system for supporting ventilation ducting in which the ducting is supported from an overhead support by rods secured to brackets themselves secured to the frame members which connectthelengthsofducting end to end.

In a preferred form ofthe invention provides a method of erecting ventilation ducting which comprises assembling equal lengths ofthe ducting on the ground, connecting the substantially horizontally extending lengths end to end by means of frame members secured to the ducting ends and bolted together by bolts, connecting bracket members to the frame members using said bolts which are bolting the frame members together, each bracket member having a substantially planar portion containing a bolt hole and having two edges substantially at right angles to one another and a channel portion whose axis lies substantially in the plane ofthe planar portion, each bracket being connected so that its said two edges engagetheframe members to prevent swivelling movement of the bracket and ensure that the axes of all the channel members are substantially parallel and equally spaced along the length of the ducting, locating upright support rods in the channels of the brackets, and securing the upper ends of the support rods to an overhead supportto suspend the ducting therefrom.

By connecting the rods to the frame members by simple brackets, one eliminates the use of separate angle support members which reduces the cost. The brackets may be connected tothetop corners ofthe frame members, thus shortening the length of the rod required and further reducing cost.

In addition by using the preferred brackets with abutting edges one ensures that the rods secured thereto are all accurately parallel to one another and are accurately equally spaced allowing the ducting to be properly erected even by relatively unskilled labour.

In another aspect the invention provides a one piece bracket for supporting ventilation ducting according to the above method having a substantially rectangu lay plantar portion, one end of which is integral with a channel portion having its axis substantially in the plane of the planar portion and a corner of the other end of which is cut out, the planar portion being provided with a hole preferably at a position having its axis on a line bisecting the cut out corner.

One embodiment of a support system for ducting will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:~ofwhich :- Figure lisa diagrammatic elevational view of part of a length of erected ducting, Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of one portion ofthe ducting of Figure 1, Figure 3 is an elevational view of one corner of one end of one ducting section showing the connecting frame member and bracket, Figure 4 is a plan view of two ducting corners bolted together and connected to a bracket.

Part runofrectangularsectionedducting 12 formed from a plurality of equal lengths 13 of the ducting is supported from an overhead support 15, for example a ceiling by rods 16. The lengths 13 are normally 8 feet (2.44 metres) and are secured end to end in an airtight manner by known frame members 17, one secured to each end of each length and then bolted together by bolts at each corner as indicated at 18.

According to the invention support brackets 20 having channel defining portions 21 are secured to frame members atat least two corners, the channel defining portions 21 each receiving a rod 16 which has its lower end secured in the channel by a bolt 23. The upper ends ofthe rods are secured to the overhead support 15 by fixing means 24. The brackets 20 may be connected to the two lower corners orto the two upper corners as shown at the righthand side of Figure 1, which latter arrangement allows the use of shorter rods.

Theframe members 17 mayforexample be those sold underthe trade mark "Maz Frames" and each has a first channel portion 25 into which is received the end of the ducting 13 and a second channel portion 26 into which is received an arm of a corner piece 27. The ducting has one channelled frame member along each side of each end and corner pieces 27 at each corner where it may additionally be sealed by some plastic material or putty. Adjacent corner pieces 27 of the frame members are bolted together at each corner by bolts 28.

Each bracket member 20 is formed from bright steel of 16.7 m.m. thickness and hasasubstantiallysquare planar part 30 integral with the channel forming part The drawing(s) originally filed was/were informal and the print here reproduced is taken from a later filed formal copy.

21.The planar part has abutment edges 32 and 33 at right angles to one another and a rectangularsectioned corner 34 cut out between these abutment edges. The opposite corner 35 is rounded and a bolt hole 36 is formed so that its axis 37 is on the diagonel between corners 34 and 35 but nearerthe corner 35.

The portion 21 is formed of the same thickness metal bent over to form a channel 38 having an axis 40 lying in the plane ofthe planar portion 30. Portion 21 is swaged at41 to give added strength. Portion 21 has less depth than the portion 30 to merge with an abutment edge atthe rounded corner 35.

In use each bracket 20 is located at a corner of the ducting where two frame members are bolted together so that the bolt 28 additionally passes through bolt hole 36 and secures the bracket to the frame members. The abutment edges 32 and 33 abut against end faces 44 of the frame members and ensure that the bracket cannot swivel and thusthe axes 40 of all the channels 38 are accurately vertical and parallel and equally spaced.

A plastics bush may be located in each channel 38.

CLAIMS (filed on 13-10-83) 1. A system for supporting ventilation ducting in which the ducting is supported from an overhead support by rods secured to brackets themselves secured to the frame members which connect the lengths of ducting end to end.

2. A system according to Claim 1 in which the brackets are secured to the frame members by the fixing means which secure the frame members together.

3. A system according to Claim 1 in which each bracket is secured to a frame member by a single fixing member.

4. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the brackets are connected to the upper portions of the frame members.

5. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which each bracket has two surfaces angled to one another, which surfaces engage surfaces oftheframe memberto substantially prevent swivelling ofthe bracket.

6. A system according to any of Claims 1 to Sin which each bracket is secured by a singlefixing memberto an associated rod.

7. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 6 in which each bracket is secured to a frame member by a fixing member having its axis substantially perpendicularto the axis of the rod to which that bracket is secured.

8. A method of erecting ventilation ducting which comprises assembling lengths of the ducting on the ground, connecting the substantially horizontally extending lengths end to end by means of frame members secured to the ducting ends and secured to one another by fixing members, connecting bracket members to the frame members using said fixing members which are fixing the frame members together, each bracket having two edges substantially at rightanglesto oneanotherwhich edges engage edges of the frame to substantially prevent swivel ling movementofthe brackets, and ensurethatthe axis of the fixing channels of the brackets are substantially parallel, connecting upright support rods to the brackets and supporting the upper ends of the support rods from an overhead supportto suspend the ducting therefrom.

9. A method according to Claim 8 in which the brackets are connected to the upper portions of the frame members.

10. A one piece bracketforsupportingventilation ducting having a substantially rectangular planar portion, one end of which is integral with a channel portion having its axis substantially in the plane of the planar portion and a corner of the other end of which is cut out, the planar portion being provided with a fixing hole, preferably at a position having its axis on a line bisecting the cut out corner.

11. A system for supporting a ventilation ducting substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of erecting ventilation ducting substantially as described herein.

13. A bracket for use in supporting ventilation ducting substantially as described herein with referenceto Figures 3 and 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (13)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. 21.The planar part has abutment edges 32 and 33 at right angles to one another and a rectangularsectioned corner 34 cut out between these abutment edges. The opposite corner 35 is rounded and a bolt hole 36 is formed so that its axis 37 is on the diagonel between corners 34 and 35 but nearerthe corner 35. The portion 21 is formed of the same thickness metal bent over to form a channel 38 having an axis 40 lying in the plane ofthe planar portion 30. Portion 21 is swaged at41 to give added strength. Portion 21 has less depth than the portion 30 to merge with an abutment edge atthe rounded corner 35. In use each bracket 20 is located at a corner of the ducting where two frame members are bolted together so that the bolt 28 additionally passes through bolt hole 36 and secures the bracket to the frame members. The abutment edges 32 and 33 abut against end faces 44 of the frame members and ensure that the bracket cannot swivel and thusthe axes 40 of all the channels 38 are accurately vertical and parallel and equally spaced. A plastics bush may be located in each channel 38. CLAIMS (filed on 13-10-83)

1. A system for supporting ventilation ducting in which the ducting is supported from an overhead support by rods secured to brackets themselves secured to the frame members which connect the lengths of ducting end to end.

2. A system according to Claim 1 in which the brackets are secured to the frame members by the fixing means which secure the frame members together.

3. A system according to Claim 1 in which each bracket is secured to a frame member by a single fixing member.

4. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 3 in which the brackets are connected to the upper portions of the frame members.

5. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4 in which each bracket has two surfaces angled to one another, which surfaces engage surfaces oftheframe memberto substantially prevent swivelling ofthe bracket.

6. A system according to any of Claims 1 to Sin which each bracket is secured by a singlefixing memberto an associated rod.

7. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 6 in which each bracket is secured to a frame member by a fixing member having its axis substantially perpendicularto the axis of the rod to which that bracket is secured.

8. A method of erecting ventilation ducting which comprises assembling lengths of the ducting on the ground, connecting the substantially horizontally extending lengths end to end by means of frame members secured to the ducting ends and secured to one another by fixing members, connecting bracket members to the frame members using said fixing members which are fixing the frame members together, each bracket having two edges substantially at rightanglesto oneanotherwhich edges engage edges of the frame to substantially prevent swivel ling movementofthe brackets, and ensurethatthe axis of the fixing channels of the brackets are substantially parallel, connecting upright support rods to the brackets and supporting the upper ends of the support rods from an overhead supportto suspend the ducting therefrom.

9. A method according to Claim 8 in which the brackets are connected to the upper portions of the frame members.

10. A one piece bracketforsupportingventilation ducting having a substantially rectangular planar portion, one end of which is integral with a channel portion having its axis substantially in the plane of the planar portion and a corner of the other end of which is cut out, the planar portion being provided with a fixing hole, preferably at a position having its axis on a line bisecting the cut out corner.

11. A system for supporting a ventilation ducting substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of erecting ventilation ducting substantially as described herein.

13. A bracket for use in supporting ventilation ducting substantially as described herein with referenceto Figures 3 and 4 ofthe accompanying drawings.