GB2137684A

GB2137684A - Pivot jaw clamp

Info

Publication number: GB2137684A
Application number: GB08307676A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Keith Riley; Kenneth Alan Riley
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-03-19
Filing date: 1983-03-19
Publication date: 1984-10-10
Also published as: GB8307676D0

Abstract

A clamping device comprises a pair of jaws 10, 11, movable towards one another to clamp a support (e.g. an overhead beam) between the jaws and hence attach the clamping device to the support, each jaw comprising a flat plate, the plates being pivotally connected together at 12 and having locking means 16 to lock the jaws in a clamped position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Clamping devices The invention relates to clamping devices.

The invention provides a clamping device comprising a pair of jaws movable towards one another to clamp a support (e.g. an overhead beam) between the jaws and hence attach the clamping device to the support, each jaw comprising a flat plate, the plates being pivotally connected together and having locking means to lock the jaws in a clamped position.

Locking means may comprise a screwthreaded member.

The screw-threaded member may be pivotally connected at one end to one jaw, pass through an aperture in a projection on the other jaw, and have a nut on the other end which, when rotated, urges the jaws together.

The said one end may be pivotally con-.

nected to the said one jaw by passing through an aperture in a projection on the said one jaw and carrying a nut or other projection.

Preferably a side face of one place abuts a side face of the other plate.

Each plate may have a recess to receive the flange of an I-section beam.

Each plate may have a channel-like member attached thereto and extending proud of the plate in the direction opposite to the adjacent plate, to increase the contact area which is available to grip one of the flanges of an Isection beam.

Preferably at least one plate has an aperture therethrough for attaching a load, e.g. by means of a shackle, rope, cable, chain or similar device.

Preferably the aperture lies on the opposite side of the pivotal connection between the plates from the gripping portions of the jaws.

Preferably each plate has an aperture and the aperture of one plate is at least in part register with the aperture of the other plate during the full range of pivotal movement of the jaws.

By way of example, specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end view of an embodiment of clamping device according to the invention, shown permanently secured to an overhead beam; Figure 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1; Figures 3 to 7 are views similar to Fig. 1 but illustrating other embodiments of clamping device according to the invention; Figure 8 is a view illustrating an alternative suspension device for use with the embodi- ments of Figs. 6 and 7; Figure 9 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing yet another embodiment of the invention; Figure 10 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 9; and Figure 11 is a more detail view of the locking means of the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and 10.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a pair of jaws 10 and 11 each in the form of a flat plate, the plates being connected together for pivotal movement by means of a bolt 1 2 and nut 1 3. Each plate has a generally hook-shaped upper end and the recess of each hook-like upper end and the recess of each hook-like upper end houses a channel member 14. As can be seen from Fig. 2, the channel member of each jaw projects proud of the jaw but in the direction facing away from the adjacent jaw so that the jaws can slide smoothly over one another.

The channel portions 14 may be provided by welding separate parts into position, or by pressing over portions of the plates.

The channel members 14 are arranged to provided means whereby the jaws can be securely located over the flanges of an overhead I-section beam, part of which is shown in Fig. 1 at 1 5. Once the clamping device has been arranged in the position shown in Fig. 1, it can permanently be locked in position by means of a locking device which is illustrated generally at 16. Each jaw has a projection in the form of a metal block 1 7. Each block 1 7 has a cylindrical projection which passes with slight clearance through a round hole in the associated plate. The free end of the projection is screw-threaded as shown at 1 8 in Fig.

2 to take a nut 1 9. Each block 1 7 is thus pivotally connected to the associated jaw.

Each block 1 7 has an aperture therethrough and a screw-threaded rod 20 passes through each of the apertures. Each end of the rod 20 carries a nut 21 and tightening of one or both of these nuts will lock the clamping device in the position shown in Fig. 1.

Each jaw has a lower portion 22 which projects below the pivot bolt 1 2. Each projection 22 has an aperture 23 therein and in the position shown in Fig. 1 the two apertures are in perfect register.

The apertures 22 provide a means by which any desired item may be suspended from the beam 15, for example by means of attaching a shackle, rope, cable, chain or the like.

Because the apertures 23 are of elongate arcuate shape, they remain at least partially in register even if the jaws 10 and 11 are pivoted to other positions, for example for attachment to beams or other supports having different dimensions from that shown in Fig.

1.

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 illustrate other embodiments which operate in an identical manner but which have differing shapes of jaws 10 and 11 and/or aperture 23.

Fig. 6 illustrates an alternative embodiment in which the jaws 10 and 11 can be permanently clamped around a beam in an identical manner. However instead of having portions which project below the pivot bolt 12, an attachment is provided by attaching a shackle 24 to the bolt 1 2. The shackle may have any desired shape.

Fig. 7 illustrates an embodiment which is substantially identical to that shown in Fig. 6, having a shackle 24, except that the jaws 10 and 11 are formed by straight plates with recess formed therein to receive the channel members 14.

Fig. 8 illustrates a ring arrangement which may be used to provide an attachment point instead of the shackle 24, and is suitable for use with the embodiment shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The device shown in Fig. 8 comprises a ring 25 having a screw-threaded portion 26 which provides the pivot for the jaws 10 and 11. Nuts 27 and 28 are provided to secure the jaws therebetween.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate an embodiment which is substantially identical to that shown in Figs. 1 and 2, except for the form of locking device.

The locking device comprises a bar 29 but it is screw-threaded at one end only. This end is secured in an identical manner to the ends of the rod shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In other words the rod passes through a hole in a block 30 and is secured by a nut 31. The block has a round portion 32 (see Fig. 11) which passes through a hole in the jaw 11 and is secured by nut 33.

However the other end of the rod 29 is cranked at 34 and this cranked end is passed through a hole in the jaw 10 so that the end is secured to the jaw 10 but can pivot with respect to the jaw 10.

Each of the embodiments comprises a clamping device which can be manufactured extremely quickly and cheaply but will still provide a very secure mounting point on a support such as an overhead beam.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiments. For instance other forms of locking device may be used.

The screw-threaded rod 20 may engage in screw-threaded holes in the blocks, one end of the rod having a right-hand thread and the other end of the rod having a left-hand thread. Alternatively the rod may have one threaded end, left-hand or right-hand, engaging with an appropriately threaded block, the other end passing through a plain hole in another block and bearing a nut.

The shapes of the holes 23 may have any desired shape and may for example be round, although it is desirable that the holes always remain at least partially in register during the entire range of pivotal movement of the jaws.

It is not essential for the device to be manufactured in metal e.g. steel. It may for example be manufactured from synthetic material such as plastics, nylon, or a combination of materials.

Claims

1. A clamping device comprising a pair of jaws movable towards one another to clamp a support (e.g. an overhead beam) between the jaws and hence attach the clamping device to the support, each jaw comprising a flat plate, the plates being pivotally connected together and having locking means to lock the jaws in a clamped position.

2. A clamping device as claimed in claim 1, in which the locking means comprises a screw-threaded member.

3. A clamping device as claimed in claim 2, in which the screw-threaded member is pivotally connected at one end to one jaw, passes through an aperture in a projection on the other jaw, and has a nut on the other end which, when rotated, urges the jaws together.

4. A clamping device as claimed in claim 3, in which the said one end is pivotally connected to the said one jaw by passing through an aperture in a projection on the said one jaw and carrying a nut or other projection.

5. A clamping device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which a side face of one plate abuts a side face of the other plate.

6. A clamping device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which each plate has a recess to receive the flange of an I-section beam.

7. A clamping device as claimed in claim 6, in which each plate has a channel-like member attached thereto and extending proud of the plate in the direction opposite to the adjacent plate, to increase the contact area which is available to grip one of the flanges of an I-section beam.

8. A clamping device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which at least one plate has an aperture therethrough for attaching a load, e.g. by means of a shackle, rope, cable, chain or similar device.

9. A clamping device as claimed in claim 8, in which the aperture lies on the opposite side of the pivotal connection between the plates from the gripping portions of the jaws.

10. A clamping device as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, in which each plate has an aperture and the aperture of one plate is at least in part register with the aperture of the other plate during the full range of pivotal movement of the jaws.

11. A clamping device constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, or Fig. 3, or Fig. 4, or Fig. 5, or Fig. 6, or Fig. 7, or Figs.

6 or 7 when modified by Fig. 8, or Figs. 9 to 11, of the accompanying drawings.