GB2164242A

GB2164242A - Angle-iron or channel-iron suspension device

Info

Publication number: GB2164242A
Application number: GB08423159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Alfred Forbes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1984-09-13
Filing date: 1984-09-13
Publication date: 1986-03-19
Also published as: GB8423159D0

Abstract

A method and system for supporting building services such as pipes, cables and air ducting, employing at least one angle-iron or channel-section member (11) on which said services can rest, and at least one attachment device (10) adapted to engage around at least a portion of said angle-iron or channel-section member and being able to be positioned along that member for alignment with any desired fixing location in an overhead structure. The attachment device (10) has protruding flange portions which are formed with apertures to enable the device to cooperate with a drop rod (12) depending from said overhead structure for suspending the device and the aforesaid member located thereby, from the overhead structure. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Angle-iron or channel-iron suspension device The present invention relates to devices and systems for suspending one or more angle-iron or channel-iron section members generally in a horizontal disposition for supporting air ducting and/or pipes and/or cable trays.

It is common practice to suspend air ducting, pipework and cable trays associated with various building services of multi-storey buildings, using drop rods from the ceilings of the building compartments through which they extend to allow them to be concealed within false ceilings. These services are supported on horizontal cross members which are generally fabricated from standard cold rolled angle or channel-iron sections which provide the most economic means of support of the required strength. These standard length sections are cut to the required piece lengths and are then drilled at positions to correspond with positions where anchor fixings for the suspension drop rods can be made in the concrete ceiling.If any such fixing location in the ceiling is obstructed by an iron reinforcement element in the concrete, the repositioning of the fixing location of the associated drop rod will cause it to be out of alignment with the corresponding hole drilled in the angle-iron support.

Moreover the tolerances for permitted lateral movement of the angle-iron supports will be restricted by the holes drilled therein to receive the drop rods. To minimize these drawbacks, the supports, either made of angle-iron or channel-iron, have been provided with extra perforations which tend to weaken the supports. The possible alternative solution of drilling the supports on site is an expensive operation.

In order to reduce some of these disadvantages, there is available a support system utilizing specially formed channel-shaped cross members with connector elements which can be retained therein to receive drop rods or attachment elements for engaging and locating pipework or ducting on the cross members. The cross members are heavy cold rolled channel-section elements formed with inwardly projecting flanges at the free edges of the parallel limbs of the channel-section. The connector elements comprise heavy metal castings which can be introduced into the channel section and then rotated to engage the inward flanges on the channel member in grooves in the connector elements to locate them therein.The connector elements are spring loaded to maintain their engagement with those flanges and have threaded bores to receive threaded elements such as drop rods or attachment elements for pipework or ducting. The connector elements are movable along the cross-members to desired positions for receiving supporting drop rods.

Moreover a modified version of this system allows cross members to be supported at different vertical heights. This necessitates using a cross member having a series of slots in the base portion of the channel section to allow lower threaded ends of drop rods to pass therethrough to mate with respective connector elements located therein to support that section from an overhead section, while allowing upper threaded ends of further drop rods to be engaged with further connector elements thereon to support another, but unslotted, channelmember at a lower level.

This system however requires special types of channel members and relatively heavy and bulky spring-loaded connector elements, and is therefore relatively expensive and cumbersome.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved, simplified system for supporting building services which overcomes or minimizes the disadvantages of the above-described prior systems.

The invention provides a system for supporting building services, comprising at least one angle-iron or channel-section member on which said services can rest, at least one attachment device adapted to engage around at least a portion of said angle-iron or channel-section member and being able to be positioned along that member for alignment with any desired fixing location in an overhead structure, said device having means enabling it to cooperate with a drop rod depending from said overhead structure for suspending the device and said member located thereby from said overhead structure.

According to a feature of the invention, said members may be located at a plurality of vertically spaced levels and suspended from said overhead structure by at least one common drop rod having attachment devices as aforesaid cooperating therewith at respective vertically spaced positions along the length of the drop rod.

The invention also provides an attachment device for a system according to the invention, which device is adapted to engage around at least a portion of an angle-iron or channel-section member and to be positioned at any desired located along such section, the device having means enabling it to be connected to a drop rod depending from an overhead structure.

The attachment device may comprise a clip having two separate elements which can be engaged with an angle-iron section at an intermediate location therealong, the elements each having portions adapted to cooperate with a droprod for connection thereto such that the two elements then fixedly cooperate with one another so as to hold the angle-iron section and locate it with respect to the drop rod.

In one embodiment, one of said elements of the clip may comprise a strip for extending across the upper surface of the horizontal limb of an angle-iron and having adjacent one end of the strip an aperture for receiving said drop rod and at the other end thereof a flange adapted to engage around the free edge of said limb of the angle-iron, the other element comprising a strip for extending across the outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron and having at one end of that strip an outwardly projecting flange with an aperture therein to receive said drop rod and at the other end thereof a further flange adapted to engage around the free edge of said vertical limb of the angle-iron.

In another embodiment, one of said elements may comprise a strip having a first portion for extending across the upper surface of the horizontal limb of an angle-iron and having adjacent one end an aperture to receive said drop rod, a second portion extending from the other end of the first portion around the free edge of said limb and obliquely downwardly to the free edge of the vertical limb of the angle-iron, and a third portion projecting from the second portion laterally of said vertical limb of the angle-iron and having an aperture to receive said drop rod; the other element comprising a strip for extending across the outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron and having at each end thereof an outwardly direct flange having an aperture to receive said drop rod.

In a preferred embodiment, the clip may comprise said one element only with the aperture therein so located that said drop rod lies in abutment with or immediately adjacent said outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron.

In a further embodiment, the attachment device may comprise a clip in the form of a strip extending generally horizontally across the top of a channelsection support member and then generally vertically downwards along a side surface of the support member and then generally horizontally beneath the bottom surface of the support member, the strip having apertures at or adjacent respective free ends thereof to receive a drop rod which is positioned in abutment with or immediately adjacent the vertical side surface of the support member opposite to the aforesaid side surface thereof.

The invention further provides a method for supporting building surfaces, comprising suspending an angle-iron or channel-section support member from an overhead structure by means of at least one drop rod fixed secured to depend from said structure, wherein an attachment device adapted to engage around at least a portion of said support section is engaged therewith and positioned along said support section such that the attachment element is at a location at which it can readily be engaged with the, or a respective, drop rod, and wherein the attachment device is then fastened to the drop rod.

An advantage of support systems in accordance with the invention is that the attachment devices can be laterally adjusted with respect to the angle-iron or channel-section support members to allow them to receive drop rods depending from the ceiling at any preferred locations thereon. Moreover a plurality of the devices can be located at discrete spaced vertical positions along each drop rod to provide a means of support for a multiplicity of building services extending at different levels through a false ceiling space. The positions of the devices are readily adjustable vertically up and the drop rods and horizontally along the support members as required.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:~ Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side view of a suspension clip in accordance with the invention shown supporting a horizontal section of angleiron; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a suspension system supporting building services at two different levels and using clips as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side view of a second embodiment; and Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view of a third embodiment.

Figure 1 illustrates a suspension clip 10 in accordance with the invention which engages and locates a horizontally extending angle-iron section 11 and is suspended from an overlying structure, e.g., a ceiling of a building compartment, by a screw-threaded drop rod 12. The suspension clip 10 comprises two parts 13 and 14. The clip part 13 comprises a sheet metal strip having an aperture at one end through which a drop rod may extend and a flange 15 at its other end which is generally hookshaped to engage around the free edge of the horizontal limb of the angle-iron section 11.The other part 14 of the clip comprises a sheet metal part which extends generally vertically along the outer face of the vertical limb of the angle-iron section 11, and has at its upper end a horizontally extending flange 16 provided with an aperture to receive the drop rod 12, and at its lower end a generally hookshaped flange 17 to engage around and locate the lower edge of the vertical limb of the angle-iron section.

The two parts of the clip 10, when correctly positioned along the angle-iron section 11, are clamped together by tightening lock-nuts 18 and 19 provided on the threaded drop rod 12. The angleiron section 11 is supported in a generally horizontal disposition by a plurality of clips 10 suspended from an overlying ceiling by a corresponding set of drop rods fixed at their upper ends in the ceiling. Each clip 10, before the lock-nuts 18 and 19 are tightened, can be readily slid laterally along the angle-iron member to any desired positions in accordance with the fixing locations of the drop rods in the ceiling as determined by on-site requirements.

As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, a plurality of sets of angle-iron members 11, 11A can be supported at different vertical levels by providing sets of clips 10, 10A at corresponding vertical positions along the drop rods 12.

In Figure 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated another embodiment of a support clip according to the invention. This clip consists of a first part 21 comprising a sheet metal strip extending along the entire length of the outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron section 11, and having a pair of outwardly directed flanges 22 and 23 at each end thereof. The part 21 lies against the vertical limb of section 11 to resist twisting of the section in use. The flanges 22 and 23 are provided with apertures through which the corresponding drop rod 12 extends. The second part 24 of the clip comprises a sheet metal section having an upper horizontal portion which overlies the horizontal limb of the angle-iron section 11 and the upper surface of the flange 22 of the first part 21 of the clip.This upper portion of clip section 24 extends around the free edge of the horizontal limb of angle-iron section 11 and then obliquely downwardly towards the freeedge of the vertical limb of section 11 and then horizontally along the lower surface of flange 23 of clip section 21. Apertures are provided in portions of clip section 24 which overlie the flanges 22 and 23 of clip section 21 and in alignment with the apertures in those flanges. The clip 21 is clamped with respect to the angle-iron section 11, when correctly positioned therealong, by tightening lock-nuts 25 and 26. As with the embodiment of Figure 2, it is possible to provide a number of clips at different vertical positions along each drop rod 12 to support building services which extend at different vertical Ievelsthrough a false ceiling area.

In another preferred embodiment, a clip similar to part 24 is used with the part 21 omitted. The apertures in the extreme ends of the part 24 are then positioned so that the drop rod 12 lies in abutment with or immediately adjacent the outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron section 11 and thereby service a dual function of suspending the section 11 and resisting twisting thereof.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment adapted to support a channel-section cross member 30. The support clip 31 is similar to that shown in Figure 3 but is formed to contain the channel-section member 30 which is thereby enclosed between the clip 31 and a drop 32 which supports the clip and also acts to resist twisting of the cross-member 30.

Claims

1. A system for supporting building services, comprising at least one angle-iron or channelsection member on which said services can rest, and at least one attachment device adapted to engage around at least a portion of said angle-iron or channel-section member and being able to be positioned along that member for alignment with any desired fixing location in an overhead structure, said device having means enabling it to cooperate with a drop rod depending from said overhead structure for suspending the device and said member located thereby, from said overhead structure.

2. A system according to Claim 1 wherein said members are located at a plurality of vertically spaced levels and suspended from said overhead structure by at least one common drop rod having attachment devices as aforesaid cooperating therewith at respective vertically spaced positions along the length of the drop rod.

3. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the attachment device comprises a clip having two separate elements which can be engaged with an angle-iron section at an intermediate location therealong, the elements each having portions adapted to cooperate with a droprod for connection thereto such that the two elements then fixedly cooperate with one another so as to hold the angle-iron section and locate it with respect to the drop rod.

4. A system according to Claim 3 wherein one of said elements of the clip comprises a strip for extending across the upper surface of the horizontal limb of an angle-iron and having adjacent one end of the strip an aperture for receiving said drop rod and at the other end thereof a flange adapted to engage around the free edge of said limb of the angle-iron, and the other element comprises a strip for extending across the outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron and having at one end of that strip an outwardly projecting flange with an aperture therein to receive said drop rod and at the other end thereof a further flange adapted to engage around the free edge of said vertical limb of the angle-iron.

5. A system according to Claim 3 wherein one of said elements comprises a strip; and the other element comprises a strip for extending across the outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron and having at each end thereof an outwardly direct flange having an aperture to receive said drop rod.

6. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein said attachment device comprises a strip having a first portion for extending across the upper surface of the horizontal limb of an angle-iron and having adjacent one end an aperture to receive said drop rod, a second portion extending from the other end of the first portion around the free edge of said limb and obliquely downwardly to the free edge of the vertical limb of the angle-iron, and a third portion projecting from the second portion laterally of said vertical limb of the angle-iron and having an aperture to receive said drop rod, said apertures being so located that said drop rod lies in abutment with or immediately adjacent said outer surface of the vertical limb of the angle-iron.

7. A system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the attachment device comprises a clip in the form of a strip extending generally horizontally across the top of a channel-section support member and then generally vertically downwards along a side surface of the support member and then generally horizontally beneath the bottom surface of the support member, the strip having apertures at or adjacent respective free ends thereof to receive a drop rod which is positioned in abutment with or immediately adjacent the vertical side surface of the support member opposite to the aforesaid side surface thereof.

8. A method for supporting building services, comprising suspending an angle-iron or channelsection support member from an overhead structure by means of at least one drop rod fixed secured to depend from said structure, wherein an attachment device adapted to engage around at least a portion of said support section is engaged therewith and positioned along said support section such that the attachment element is at a location at which it can readily be engaged with the, or a respective, drop rod, and wherein the attachment device is then fastened to the drop rod.

9. A system for supporting building services, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figures 1 and 2 or Figure 3, or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method for supporting building services substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.