GB2225361A

GB2225361A - Soldier connections for structural joints

Info

Publication number: GB2225361A
Application number: GB8823785A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony John Thomas
Original assignee: LEADA ACROW
Current assignee: LEADA ACROW
Priority date: 1988-10-11
Filing date: 1988-10-11
Publication date: 1990-05-30
Anticipated expiration: 2008-10-11
Also published as: GB2225361B; GB8823785D0

Abstract

An apparatus for connecting two or more soldiers together with their axes at right-angles to each other includes a clamp formed from two L-shaped members (8a, 8b) which are locked together around a soldier (4). Another soldier is mounted on the clamp by way of mounting plate (6) which is bolted to the clamp and has a pair of flanges (30) which can be secured to the beams of a soldier. Soldiers can therefore be used in support frames for which their high strength to weight ratio makes them particularly suitable. <IMAGE>

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SOLDIER CONNECTIONS This invention relates to soldiers and, in particular, to the connection of soldiers.

'Soldier' is used herein to refer to a component comprising a pair of spaced parallel beams which may be connected at top and bottom by tie plates, having a number of aligned openings in the beams. These components are also known as 'shoring components', 'framework elements' and 'propping components'.

Soldiers are employed as support beams, for example, in shoring systems. However, it would be very desirable to be able to interconnect soldiers, in particular connect horizontal and vertical soldiers to form a support frame since this would be both strong and light due to the high strength to weight ratio of soldiers. It is the object of this invention to provide suitable connecting means to allow the construction of support frame from soldiers.

In accordance with the invention, apparatus for connecting at least two soldiers together with their axes at right angles to each other comprises a clamp which can be secured to one of the soldiers by way of one of the pairs of aligned openings on the soldier, the apparatus including means for mounting the other soldier(s) on the clamp.

The apparatus permits interconnection of two or more soldiers, via the clamp which is secured to one of the soldiers the other soldier(s) being mounted on the clamp. The clamp is secured to the soldier by way of one of the pairs of aligned openings in the soldier, which means that the other soldier(s) can be connected in as many different positions relative to the soldier to which the clamp is secured as there are openings in the soldier. The apparatus is therefore very versatile and the support frame can be constructed in a large number of configurations.

Preferably the clamp is so arranged that four soldiers can be mounted thereon. The apparatus is therefore particularly suitably employed in situations where four horizontal soldiers are to be connected to a vertical soldier, the clamp being, in this case, secured to the vertical soldier.

Suitably the clamp has two tubular members so dimensioned and arranged that when the clamp is secured to the soldier the tubular members pass through the pair of aligned openings in the soldier.

The clamp may be provided with two aligned apertures, the axes which are preferably conincident with those of the tube members and can be secured to the soldier by a bolt which passes through the aligned apertures in the clamp and the aligned openings in the soldier. The tube members provide a passage for the bolt and strengthen the connection between the soldiers.

Conveniently, means are provided for supporting the mounting means with a soldier attached thereto on the clamp while the mounting means is secured to the clamp. The support means may comprise either a hook portion of the mounting means which latches on part of the clamp or a slot on the clamp into which part of the mounting means locates. The mounting means and soldier are therefore supported by the clamp while the mounting means is secured to the clamp, for example by bolting them together, which makes the connection operation simpler.

The invention will now be further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded view of an apparatus in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side view of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a view taken in the direction of arrow IV of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 5 and Figure 7 is a view along VII - VII of the apparatus of Figure 6.

The exploded view of Figure 1 shows a horizontal soldier (2) being connected to a vertical soldier (4).

Each soldier comprises a pair of spaced parallel beams 2a, 2b or 4a, 4b, the beams having a plurality of aligned openings only one of which (5) can be seen.

Figures 2 to 4 show the arrangement of Figure 1 as connected but with certain parts omitted for clarity.

The connecting apparatus comprises a clamp and mounting means (6).

The clamp has two L-shaped members, 8a and 8b, each of which has a central opening (10) at the end of its long arm and a corresponding shaped tongue (12) at the end of its short arm. The two parts of the clamp Ba and Sb lock together by means of the tongues (12) and openings (10) to form a closely fitting tube around the vertical soldier (4).

The clamp also includes tubular members welded (see 15) on a plate (16) and supported by flanges (18), the plates (16) being (14) welded (see 19) between the two arms of the clamp members. These tubular members are positioned so that when the two parts of the clamp are joined around the soldier (4), they pass through the aligned openings in the soldier so that their ends almost abut each other (see figure 4).

Alternatively the tubular members may be welded to U-shaped channels (not shown), the arms of which are welded to the L-shaped members. The U-shaped channels whose length is equal to the height of the L-shaped members are provided with holes which are aligned with those of the tubular-members.

The clamp is connected to the soldier by a bolt which passes through apertures (20) in the L-shaped members 8a and 8b, apertures (22) in the plates (16) to which the tubular members 14 are welded, and the tubular members (14) which are located in the openings in the The mounting means (6) each have a flat plate (28) with two spaced wings (30) welded thereto. The wings (30) have holes (32) whereby the mounting means (6) can be secured to the horizontal soldier (2) which has corresponding holes (not shown) adjacent its end using, for example, bolts.

Once the mounting means (6) are attached to the horizontal soldier (2), the combination is moved into position relative to the clamp. The clamp includes a U-shaped member (36) between which and the wall of the clamp a spacer is welded. The spacer may either be a metal strip (38) bent as shown in Figure 4 or a solid T-shaped block (39). The lower end of the plate (28) of the mounting means (6) is suitably cut away so that it can be inserted between the spacer and U-shaped member (36) which then hold the mounting means , with the horizontal soldier secured thereto, in position against the clamp. A bolt (40) is tightened up through a nut (42), secured to the U-shaped member (36) and centred on a hole therethrough, against the plate (28).

The top of the plate (28) is also secured to the clamp. A second bolt (44), which although shown separately in Figure 1 for clarity, is actually held captive by U-shaped member (46), passes through a hole in the top of the plate (28) and is tightened up into a tapped opening extending through a block (48) which is welded (see 50) to the clamp and the clamp itself.

As can be seen, the clamp is provided with the mounting means attachment points described above on all four sides so that four horizontal soldiers can be connected to a vertical soldier. The only difference between the attachment points is that the blocs (48) are tlicl < er and U-shaped members (36) are larger on the sides of the clamp through which the bolt (24), (26) passes to provide space for the bolt heads between the mounting plate (28) and the clamp.

The alternative embodiment shown in Figures 5 to 7 is similar in many ways to that described above and identical parts have been given the same reference numerals.

The clamp and vertical soldier (4) are shown in Figures 5 and 6 and, as can be seen, instead of having tongues and opening to connect the two L-shaped members 8a und 8b, a top rebate (52) and lap (54) are provided on each L-shaped member 8a and 8b. The tubular members (14) are welded directly to the L-shaped members without either a plate or flanges (see 56).

Each side of the clamp is provided with attachment means in the form of a lower block (58) with a central threaded hole (59) and an upper U-shaped member (60), that is, the reverse of the attachment means of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 4. No spacer is provided.

The mounting means (see Figure 7) again has a flat plate (28) with two wings (30) whereby it is attached to the horizontal soldier (2). The mounting means with the soldier (2) attached thereto is supported on the clamp by the upper portion of the plate (28) which is in the form of a hook (62) which engages the U-shaped member (60). The mounting means is secured against the clamp by a bolt (64) which'passes through the plate (28) and has a threaded end which engages with the threaded hole in the block 58.

The clamp in both embodiments can be secured to a soldier in a plurality of different positions, the number being dictated by the number of aligned openings in the soldiers. Normally the aligned openings are provided 300 mm apart so the clamp attachment positions are also spaced by this amount. The connecting apparatus is therefore extremely versatile.

In both the embodiments, provision is made for supporting the mounting means with a soldier attached thereto on the clamp while the mounting means is secured to the clamp. This makes the connection of the two soldiers a simple and speedy operation since the mounting means are automatically held in position white the bolts are being tightened up.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. Apparatus for connecting at least two soldiers together with their axes at right angles to each other comprising a clamp which can be secured to one of the soldiers by way of one of the pairs of aligned openings in the soldier, the apparatus including means for mounting the other soldier(s) on the clamp.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein four soldiers may be mounted on the clamp.

3. Apparatus as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the clamp encircles the soldier to which it is secured.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the clamp comprises two L-shaped members which can be locked together around a soldier to form a rectangular collar.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clamp has two aligned apertures and is arranged so that the apertures can be aligned with one of the pairs of aligned openings in a soldier, the clamp being secured to a soldier by bolting it thereto through the aligned apertures in the clamp and aligned openings in the soldier.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the clamp has two tubular members one of each end of which is secured to the clamp, the tubular members being so dimensioned and arranged that when the clamp is secured to a soldier the free end of each tubular member passes through a respective one of the pair of aligned openings in the soldier.

7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the free ends of the tubular members are closely adjacent or abut each other when the clamp is secured to soldier.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein means are provided for supporting the mounting means, with a soldier attached thereto, on the clamp while the mounting means is secured to the clamp.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support means comprises a hook connected to or integral with the mounting means which latches on part of the clamp.

10. Apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein the support means comprises a slot provided on the clamp into which part of the mounting means can be inserted.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the mounting means comprises a plate which has a pair of spaced flanges welded thereto, the plate being connected to a soldier by bolting each flange to a respective one of the soldier beams, the plate including apertures whereby it may be bolted to the clamp.