GB2157508A

GB2157508A - Apparatus for mounting lightning conductor assemblies

Info

Publication number: GB2157508A
Application number: GB08502212A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Morby
Original assignee: WJ Furse and Co Ltd
Current assignee: WJ Furse and Co Ltd
Priority date: 1984-02-21
Filing date: 1985-01-29
Publication date: 1985-10-23
Also published as: GB8502212D0; GB8404542D0

Abstract

The apparatus includes a connector of H-form having upper and lower plates (11, 12) each with part- cylindrical limbs (20, 21) for clamping together two pairs of aligned conductor rods (13, 16 and 14, 15) by means o fa nut and bolt (17, 18). The plates can be relatively turned to clamp two pairs of crossing rods (30, 31, 32, 33, Figure 2). In this case, a further conducting member (35) with arcuate formations (37) is located between the two pairs of rods. One plate (11) can be formed to provide a clamping device (Figure 3) for securing the device to a plate (52), so that the number of differently shaped parts required for the apparatus is small. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for mounting lightning conductor assemblies This invention relates to apparatus for mounting lightning conductor assemblies on buildings or other structures.

Lightning conductor assemblies lead from an earthing point to one or more poles on top of a building and have to be clamped to the walls of the roof of the building. A network of conductors is often provided over the roof. A large number of clamps and connectors have to be used and each clamp or connector has to be designed for a particular purpose.

The present invention is concerned with reducing the number of different types of parts required for mounting a lightning conductor system and with providing parts which can be easily and cheaply manufactured.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided apparatus for mounting a lightning conductor assembly on a building or other structure, the apparatus including clamps and connectors wherein each clamp has a portion which is adapted for securing on a part of the building or other structure and includes a first clamping jaw shaped to locate a conductor, each clamp including a second clamping jaw separate from the first clamping jaw and also shaped to locate said conductor, means being provided for tightening the jaws on the conductor; each connector comprising first and second clamping jaws and means for tightening the jaws onto conductors to connect them electrically; the second jaw of each clamp having the same construction as the second jaw of each connector.

Other parts of the apparatus having clamping jaws for clamping conductors may utilise a clamping jaw of the same construction as the second jaw of each clamp.

Each clamp and each connector may be designed to clamp a pair-of spaced parallel conductors and each said second jaw may comprise a member of Hform in which each limb of the H is part-cylindrical for locating a cylindrical conductor and the intermediate portion between the limbs has an aperture for receiving a fastener.

Each connector may comprise a pair of said members of H-form defining the first and second jaws. This means that for the clamps and connectors only two different parts are required to be stocked apart from the means, such as nuts and bolts, for tightening the jaws together.

It is possible for the two members of each connector to be turned relatively, e.g. through 90% so that each member engages a respective pair of conductors, with one pair of conductors crossing the other pair perpendicularly. The apparatus preferably includes conducting elements each of which is insertable between the crossing pairs of conductors and has arcuate formations shaped for receiving each of the conductors, so as to connect them electrically. Without this element, the crossing pairs of conductors would have only point contact.

This invention also resides in a connector for connecting together two pairs of lightning conductors with one pair crossing the other pair, the connector comprising a pair of members each having formations for receiving a respective pair of said conductors, the formations in each member being parallel and spaced and an aperture being provided between the formations for receiving a fastener for clamping the members on the conductors, and a conducting plate element for location between the two pairs of conductors for electrally interconnecting the conductors, the plate element having portions shaped for receiving to the conductors the two members being relatively positionable with the formations of one member in register with the formations of the other member for connecting two pairs of conductors in axial alignment.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:~ Figure 1 is a perspective view of a connector shown in one mode of use; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the connector shown in a second mode of use; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a clamp; and Figure 4 is a perspective view of a pole.

Referring to Figure 1,the connector shown comprises two members 11, clamping together two pairs of conductors 13, 16 and 14, 15 in axial alignment by means of a nzSt 17, bolt 18 and washer 19.

The two members 11 2 2 are of identical form and may be metal castings. Each member is of H-form comprising a pair of parallel elongate, part cylindrical parts 20,21, defining the limbs of the H, and a rectangular plate part 22 joining the limbs.

The plate part 22 has a central aperture 23 in the bottom of a square recess 24.

The two members 11, 12 fit together in register to clamp the conductors between the part-cylindrical parts 20, 21 of the two members. The members can be tightened on the conductors by means of the bolt 18, washer 19 and nut 17, the bolt shank 18a extending through the apertures 23. The head 18b of the nut fits in one of the recesses 24, where is is held against rotation.

As shown in Figure 2, the connector can be used in a different mode for connecting together two pairs of crossing conductors 30,31, and 32,33. The conductors shown cross perpendicularly and the two members 11,12 are relatively turned through 90 in comparison with the configuration shown in Figure 1. The part-cylindrical parts 20,21 of one member 11 engage one pair of conductors 30,31 and the part-cylindrical parts of the other member 12 engage the other pair of conductors 32, 33.

A metal plate 35, having an aperture 36 for the bolt shank 18a, lies between the two pairs of conductors and has arcuate flanges 37 for engaging each of the conductors, so as to provide a good electrical connection between the conductors.

As shown in Figure 3, the member 11 can be used to define a jaw of a clamp. The clamp body 39 comprises a plate 40 having a pair of part-cylindrical recesses, in the position indicated at 41 in the Figure. The member 11 is bolted to the plate 40 to secure a pair of conductors 45, 46 received in the recesses 41.

An arm 50 projects from the plate 40 to support a bar 51 parallel to a portion 40a of the plate for receiving an element 52 of a building between the plate and the bar. Screws 53, extending through the bar, secure the clamp to the element 52. The arm and bar are integrally formed with the plate in a metal casting.

In Figure 4, a base plate 140 supports an upright pole 145 and has screw holes 146 for securing the base on a building. Two pairs of part-cylindrical recesses are provided in the base plate, one pair 141 being perpendicular to the other pair 142. A member 11 can be bolted to the base plate 140 to secure a pair of conductors to the base plate. The partcylindrical parts of the member 11 can be arranged to register with either one of the two pairs 141, 142 of recesses.

The plate 40 of the clamp shown in Figure 3 may have a similar arrangement of recesses to that shown in Figure 4.

To provide the four different configurations illustrated in the drawings, it is necessary to stock only three types of metal casting, the members 11, the clamp bodies 39 and the base plates 140. This permits cheaper manufacture and greatlyfactilitates both keeping of stocks and carrying and selecting the required items during construction of a conductor network.

Claims

1. Apparatus for mounting a lightning conductor assembly on a building or other structure, apparatus including clamps and connectors wherein each clamp has a portion which is adapted for securing on a part of the building or other structure and includes a first clamping jaw shaped to locate a conductor, each clamp including a second clamping jaw separate from the first clamping jaw and also shaped to locate said conductor, means being provided for tightening the jaws on the conductor; each connector comprising first and second clamping jaws and means for tightening the jaws onto conductors to connect them electrically; the second jaw of each clamp having the same construction as the second jaw of each connector.

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein each clamp and each connector has jaws shaped to clamp a pair of spaced parallel conductors.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein each second jaw comprises a member of H-form in which each limb of the H is part-cylindrical, for locating a cylindrical conductor, and the intermediate portion between the limbs has an aperture for receiving a fastener.

4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, wherein each connector includes a first jaw of the same construction as the second jaw.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the second jaw is rotatable through 900 relative to the first jaw in each connector, for engagement with two pairs of crossing conductors, and conducting elements are provided, each locatable between the crossing conductors and having arcuate surfaces for receiving the conductors.

6. Apparatus for mounting a lightning conductor assembly on a building or other structure including a clamp substantially as herein described and illustrated in Figure 3 andlor Figure 4.

7. A connector for connecting together two pairs of lightning conductors with one pair crossing the other pair, the connector comprising a pair of members each having formations for receiving a respective pair of said conductors, the formations in each member being parallel and spaced and an aperture being provided between the formations for receiving a fastener for clamping the members on the conductors, and a conducting plate element for location between the two pairs of conductors for electrically interconnecting the conductors, the plate element having portions shaped for receiving to the conductors, the two members being relatively positionable with the formations of one member in register with the formations of the other member for connecting two pairs of conductors in axial alignment.

8. A connector according to Claim 7, wherein each member is of H-form, the limbs of the H being of part-cylindrical form, for receiving cylindrical conductors, and the intermediate cross-piece of the H being provided with the aperture.

9. A connector according to Claim 8, wherein the plate element is generally rectangular with arcuate formations along the edges each for engaging with a respective one of the conductors.

10. A connector constructed substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.