GB2175341A

GB2175341A - Clamps

Info

Publication number: GB2175341A
Application number: GB08508969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Malcolm Hill
Original assignee: BECORIT
Current assignee: BECORIT
Priority date: 1985-04-04
Filing date: 1985-04-04
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: GB8508969D0; GB2175341B

Abstract

A chain (14) is connected with a flanged beam (10) by a clamp comprising two jaw members (16,17) connected by a single bolt (18). An end link of the chain passes over the bolt but can be clear of the jaw members and clear of the beam, so that the chain can swing relative to the beam in various directions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to connectors From one aspect, the present invention relates to a connector suitable for connecting with a flanged beam a chain or other suspension element. There are known connectors of this kind each comprising a pair of jaw members, a first bolt which clamps the jaw members onto opposite flanges of a beam and a second bolt ground which a bight of the chain or other suspension element extends.

It is an object of the present invention to avoid using two bolts, one for clamping the jaw members to respective flanges of the beam and the other bearing the suspension element.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided, in combination, an elongate member comprising a web and flanges projecting in respective opposite directions from one margin of the web, a suspension element and a connector connecting the suspension element with the elongate member, the connector comprising a pair of jaw members engaged one with each of said flanges and a tie which extends between the jaw members, is spaced from the elongate member and limits mutual separation of the jaw members, wherein a part of the suspension element lies between the tie and the elongate member and the tie is spaced from the elongate member by a distance not exceeding twice the thickness of said part of the suspension element.

Generally, the tie will be spaced from the flanges sufficiently to avoid contact between the suspension element and the flanges but be sufficiently near to the flanges to avoid the presence of a large clearance between the suspension elements and the flanges.

Each jaw member may have a lug defining an aperture through which the tie passes. The lugs may be spaced apart by a distance substantially exceeding the thickness of the suspension element. The lugs may have respective faces which are presented towards each other and are mutally divergent in a direction from the elongate member towards the tie.

These features provide for angular movement of the suspension element relative to the connector towards one or other of the lugs about an axis which lies between the elongate member and a longitudinal centreline of the tie.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a connector for use in a combination according to the first aspect of the invention, the connector comprising a pair of jaw members and a bolt, wherein each jaw member includes a jaw defining a recess in which a flange of the elongate member is received, in use, and a lug defining an aperture through which the bolt passes, in use, and wherein the separation between the aperture and the nearer boundary of the rec- oes not exceed twice the diameter of the aperture.

An example of a combination in accordance with the first aspect of the invention and incorporating a connector in accordance with the second aspect of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 shows a transverse cross-section through a beam with which there is connected a chain, Figure 2 shows a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 shows certain of the parts of Fig.

1 viewed from below.

The beam 10 shown in the drawing comprises a vertical web 11 from a lower margin of which there project in opposite directions flanges 12 and 13, a further pair of flanges being provided at the upper margin of the web. In the drawing, the beam is shown with its length extending horizontally and with each of the flanges projecting horizontally on the web. However, the beam may be arranged with its length inclined to the horizontal. In case where the beam is arranged with its length inclined to the horizontal, the angle of inclination to the horizontal will not generally exceed 25".

A suspension element in the form of a chain 14 is connected with the beam 10 by a connector 15. Whilst a chain has been illustrated, by way of example, it will be understood that other suspension elements, for example a shackle or a rod having an eye at its upper end, may be used. The suspension element may be used to suspend from the beam a rail of a track on which vehicles run, or loadhandling equipment. Typically, the beam 10 is a roof-supporting beam in a mine working and there is suspended from the beam by means of the connector and the suspension element a mono-rail track.

The connector 1 5 comprises a pair of jaw members 16 and 17 and a tie in the form of a bolt 18 connecting the jaw members together. The jaw member 16 comprises a jaw portion 19 defining a recess in which the flange 12 is received. The jaw member further comprises a lug integral with the jaw portion 19 and projecting downwardly therefrom. The lug defines a circular aperture, through which the bolt 18 extends. The jaw member 1 7 is identical with the jaw member 16 and the bolt extends through respective apertures defined by the lugs of the two jaw members.During installation, the bolt and a nut 23 on a threaded end portion of the bolt are tightened to draw the jaw members towards each other into firm engagement with the flanges 12 and A bight of the suspension element 14 extends over a part of the bolt 18 which lies between the lugs 20 and 22. In a case where the suspension element is a chain, this bight is a part of an end link 24 of the chain. It will be noted that the bolt 18 is spaced down wardly from the flanges 12 and 13 by a distance slightly greater than the thickness of the link 24 so that there is between this link and the beam 10 a clearance space which is small, relative to the diameter of the bolt 18 but the link 24 does not engage the beam.

Respective faces 25 and 26 of the lugs 20 and 22 which surround the bolt 18 and extend downwardly therefrom are mutually divergent in the downward direction and, at the uppermost part of the bolt 18, are spaced part by a distance substantially greater than the thickness of the link 24, so that there is clearance for the link to swing relative to the connector about an axis which is parallel to the longitudinal centreline of the beam 10 and which is a tangent to the surface of the bolt 18 where the link 24 bears on the bolt. Typically, such swinging of the link 24 is not inhibited by contact between the link and either of the faces 25 and 26 until the link has swung to an angle of 25 from the position illustrated in fig. 1, in which the link bisects the angle between the faces 25 and 26.Thus, the angle included between the faces 25 and 26 is at least 50". It will be understood that the link 24 can also swing on the bolt 18 in a plane containing the longitudinal axis of the beam 10.

The jaw member 16 further comprises a first abutment portion 27 which projects from the jaw portion at the underside of the flange 12 in a direction towards the jaw member 17.

A further abutment portion 28 of the jaw member 16, which is integral with the jaw portion 19, lug 20, and abutment portion 27, also projects from the jaw portion 19 in a direction towards the jaw member 17 and is spaced from the abutment portion 27 in a direction along the beam 10. The abutment portion 28 projects somewhat further from the jaw portion 19 than does the abutment portion 27. The jaw member 17 similarly has longer and shorter abutment portions, the shorter one of which projects towards the abutment portion 28 and the longer one of which projects towards the abutment portion 27. The abutment portions engage the downwardly facing surfaces of respective ones of the flanges 12 and 13.

The size and shape of the recesses defined by the jaw portion 19 and the corresponding jaw portion of the member 17 are such that each jaw portion can engage both upwardly and downwardly facing surfaces of the corresponding flange received in the recess. Because there is no obstruction to mutual approach of the lugs 20 and 22, tightening of the bolt 18 and subsequent exertion of a downward load on the bolt to rock the jaw members 16 and 17 relative to the flanges, one in a clockwise direction and the other in an anti-clockwise direction, so that the abutment portions are driven against the underside of the beam 10 and the pressure under which the abutment portions engage the beam is increased by an increase in the load supported by the connector.Contact between the jaw portions and the flanges and between the abutment portions and the flanges prevents sliding of the connector along the beam.

The jaw portion 19 has a pair of outwardly projecting ribs 29, 30 which are spaced apart along the beam 10 and extend from respective positions above the flange 12 to respective positions below that flange. However, these ribs do not extend onto the lug 20 and the lug is substantially flat, so that access to the nut 23 and to the head of the bolt 18 is not impeded.

It will be noted that the end link 24 can be set in a position where there are clearance spaces between that link and each adjacent part, with the exception of the bolt 18 and the next adjacent link of the chain. Accordingly, the chains including the link 24, is free to undergo limited swinging relative to the connector 15 in any direction without tending to prise the jaw members 16 and 17 apart.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately or any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

1. In combination, an elongate member comprising a web and flanges projecting in respective opposite directions from one margin of the web, a suspension element and a connector connecting the suspension element with the elongate member, the connector comprising a pair of jaw members engaged one with each of said flanges and a tie which extends between the jaw members, is spaced from the elongate member and limits mutual separation of the jaw members, wherein a part of the suspension element lies between the tie and the elongate member and the tie is spaced from the elongate member by a distance not exceeding twice the thickness of said part of the suspension element.

2. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein each jaw member has a respective lug defining an aperture through which the tie passes and respective faces of the lugs which are presented towards each other are mutually divergent in a direction from the elongate member towards the tie.

3. A combination according to Claim 1 wherein each jaw member has a respective lug defining an aperture through which the tie passes and the lugs are spaced apart by a distance substantially exceeding the thickness of the suspension element.

4. A combination according to Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein each jaw member has at least one abutment portion engaged with a face of a respective one of the flanges presented towards the suspension element, the abutment portion projecting relative to the lug of that jaw member in a direction towards the other jaw member.

5. A combination according to Claim 3 wherein each jaw member has two abutment portions spaced longitudinally of the elongate member, said abutment portions are engaged each with a face of a respective one of the flanges presented towards the suspension element, one of the abutment portions projects relative to the lug of that jaw member in a direction towards the other member and the other abutment portion projects relative to the lug of that jaw member in said direction further than does the one abutment portion.

6. A connector for use in a combination according to any preceding claim and comprising a pair of jaw members and a bolt, wherein each jaw members includes a jaw portion defining a recess in which a flange of the elongate member is received, in use, and a lug defining an aperture through which the bolt passes, in use, and wherein the separation between the aperture and the nearer boundary of the recess does not exceed twice the diameter of the aperture.

7. A connector substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

8. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein or in the accompanying drawing.