GB2261014A

GB2261014A - Mounting elongate members

Info

Publication number: GB2261014A
Application number: GB9214147A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roger Smith
Original assignee: EDL CABLE SUPPORTS Ltd
Current assignee: EDL CABLE SUPPORTS Ltd
Priority date: 1991-10-30
Filing date: 1992-07-03
Publication date: 1993-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2012-07-03
Also published as: GB2261014B; GB9214147D0

Abstract

A mounting device for securing one or more cables or pipes on a supporting surface comprises a base member (10) affording a locating surface (12) and a strap assembly (30) whereby pipes or cables are secured to the locating surface. One end of the strap assembly (30) may be secured to the base by means of a pin (19) extending through a loop formed in a strap (31), the two ends of the strap being secured to an end fitting (40) which is movable within a recess defined by the base member by tensioning means such as a bolt (34) which is preferably disposed at the side of the base member opposite to the pin (19) with the bolt extending generally perpendicular to the locating surface. <IMAGE>

Description

Title: "Mounting elongate members" Description of the invention This invention relates to devices, generally referred to as "cleats", for mounting elongate, usually flexible, members on a supporting structure. Such cleats may be employed for example for the installation of cables (such as electric power cables, telephone cables, data transmission cables including fibre optic cables) or of pipes or hoses (such as for air or other gaseous substances or for water, hydraulic fluid, oil or other liquids) in buildings, tunnels, service ducts or the like.

Conventionally such cleats comprise a base member adapted for attachment to a supporting structure and affording a locating surface for reception of one or more cables or pipes or one or more bundles of cables or pipes, and securing means generally in the form of a strap which is passed over the cable(s) or pipe(s) and around a part of the base member to form a loop whereby the cable(s) or pipe(s) are secured to the base member.

Typical examples of such cleats are shown in British Registered Design No. 942585 published 16th September 1969 and British Patent Specification No.

2082242 published 3rd March 1982, in both of which a rectangular base member is formed with a raised mid-portion which is shaped to define a locating surface for the reception of one or more elongate members, such as cables or pipes, and which mid-portion is spaced from the underface of the base member as a whole to enable a securing strap to be passed over the elongate member(s) on the raised mid-portion and beneath the mid-portion, thus forming a loop around the elongate member(s) and the raised mid-portion of the base.

Specifically, the strap utilised with such prior cleats is arranged to encircle the elongate member(s) and the raised mid-portion of the base one or more times so that at least the ends of the strap overlap one another, the strap being tensioned according to the aforesaid patent application by winding surplus length over a rod into a roll.

In practice, such known prior arrangements have a number of disadvantages. For example, when working in spaces with restricted or difficult access, it is often difficult to thread the strap beneath the raised mid-portion of the base, particularly as the strap usually requires to be passed around the assembly more than once. Also, the strap may be difficult to wind when it is made of a material such as steel, as is often necessary to support heavy-duty cables or pipes. Further, such cleats often require to be attached to generally vertical surfaces, so that the locating surface of the cleat is then disposed in a generally vertical orientation and offers little or no support for the cable(s) or pipe(s) prior to or during the tensioning of the strap.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved mounting device for elongate members which reduces or overcomes some or all of the above mentioned disadvantages.

According to the invention we provide a mounting device for securing one or more elongate members to a supporting structure and comprising a base member and an elongate strap assembled therewith, wherein the base member affords a locating surface for the reception of said one or more elongate members extending in a first direction and at least one mounting portion for the reception of fastening means whereby the base member can be attached to said supporting structure, and wherein said elongate strap is arranged to extend in a second direction transverse to said first direction over and in spaced relation to said locating surface with opposite ends of the strap spaced apart in said second direction in non-overlapping relation and secured relative to the base member, tensioning means being provided to draw at least one end of the strap relatively towards the base member and thereby draw the strap towards said locating surface so as to secure one or more elongate members to said base member.

The tensioning means may be arranged to act on one end of the strap between the base member and an end member carried by the strap at said one end. The tensioning means preferably comprises a screw-threaded member which extends through a lug formed or provided on said base member, the screwthreaded member being formed with a head which engages said lug.

The screw-threaded member is preferably in the form of a bolt which is non-rotatable relative to said base member and extends through an aperture in the end member of the strap, the end member being movable along the length of the bolt and secured relative thereto by means of a complementary threaded member engaging said bolt.

Alternatively, the screw-threaded member may comprise a headed screw or bolt which is rotatable relative to said base member and in threaded engagement with the end member of said strap, or a member which is releasably engageable therewith.

In either case, the threaded member preferably extends in a direction generally perpendicular to said locating surface so that the end member of the strap is itself movable in a direction generally perpendicular to said locating surface.

In an alternative arrangement, the threaded member may extend parallel to the plane of the locating surface, spaced therefrom in a direction away from the strap. In particular, the tensioning means may be located within a recess afforded by the base member.

In a further alternative arrangement, both ends of the strap may be adjustably secured relative to the base member.

In accordance with a further preferred feature of the invention, the base member is formed or provided with a side member along at least one edge of said locating surface, conveniently adjacent to the threaded member, and in such a case the threaded member may be located in a recess adjacent to said side member.

The invention further resides in a mounting device for securing one or more elongate members to a supporting structure and comprising a base member and an elongate strap assembled therewith, wherein the base member affords a locating surface for the reception of said one or more elongate members extending in a first direction, at least one mounting portion for the reception of fastening means whereby the base member can be attached to said supporting structure, the mounting portion or portions being offset from said locating surface in said first direction, and a transverse recess extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction and in register with said locating surface, and wherein said elongate strap is arranged to extend in said second direction over and in spaced relation to said locating surface with opposite ends of the strap spaced apart in said second direction and in non-overlapping relation and with at least one end of the strap located within said recess, the recess housing tensioning means which act longitudinally of the recess to draw said ends of the strap relatively towards one another and thereby draw the strap towards said locating surface.

The invention also reside in a mounting device for securing one or more elongate members to a supporting structure and comprising a base member and an elongate strap assembled therewith, wherein the base member affords a locating surface for the reception of said one or more elongate members extending in a first direction, at least one mounting portion for the reception of fastening means whereby the base member can be attached to said supporting structure, and a transverse recess extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction and in register with said locating surface, and wherein said elongate strap is arranged to extend in said second direction over and in spaced relation to said locating surface with opposite ends of the strap spaced apart in said second direction and in non-overlapping relation and with at least one end of the strap located within said recess, the recess housing tensioning means which act longitudinally of the recess to draw said ends of the strap relatively towards one another and thereby draw the strap towards said locating surface.

These and other features of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is an end view of a preferred embodiment of mounting device in accordance with the invention, as mounted on a vertical surface and securing three cables thereto; FIGURE 2 is a vertical section through the embodiment of Figure 1, illustrating the tensioning means; FIGURE 3 is a view of the device (without cables in position) in the direction of arrow III of Figure 2, and with the strap in an open condition; FIGURE 4 is a similar view in the direction of the arrow IV of Figure 2; FIGURE 5 is a view in the direction of arrow V of Figure 2; FIGURE 6 is a view in the direction of the arrow VI of Figure 2 showing only a base member; FIGURE 7 is a view of an alternative embodiment but otherwise similar to Figure 2; and FIGURE 8 is a view of a further embodiment, but otherwise similar to Figure 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the preferred embodiment of cable support device as illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 comprises a base 10 which may be formed as a casting or forging of any suitable metal such as aluminium or stainless steel or as a moulding of any suitable plastics material, and a strap assembly 30.

The base 10 is generally hollow but defines a generally flat underface 11 for engagement with any suitable supporting surface, and spaced from the underface has a generally flat, although preferably slightly concave, locating face 12 for engagement by one more pipes or cables in the manner hereinafter described. The base is formed centrally with a transverse recess 14 which effectively divides the locating face into two portions spaced apart along the length of the pipes or cables to be supported thereon. The recess 14 also affords holes 13 for the reception of bolts or other fastening devices whereby the base may be firmly assembled with said supporting surface, with the heads of said fastening members accommodated within the recess 14. However, the mounting means may alternatively be located at one or more edges of the locating surface 12.The underface 11 of the base is also formed with pairs of grooves 15 and 16 to facilitate optional assembly thereof with channel section members, the ends of the limbs of the channels engaging in such grooves so as to locate the base in either of two positions relative to the length of such a channel section member.

At one side, the base 10 includes a side wall 17 running along one edge of the locating face 12, in this embodiment with a radiused portion between the side wall and the locating face. When the base is installed in a generally vertical position, as shown in Figure 1, the side wall 17 will normally be disposed at the in-situ lower side of the locating face 12 so as to provide support for pipes or cables prior to the tensioning of the strap assembly as hereinafter described.

The strap assembly 30 comprises a flexible strap 31 which may be made of any suitable metal strip material, especially stainless steel. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap 31 comprises a metal strip which is folded double to form a loop 39 at one end which is located in a rebate 20 formed in the base at the edge 27 opposite the side wall 17, and the strip is non-releasably secured to the base 10 by means of a pin 19 extending across the rebate 20 and through the loop 39, the ends of the pin 19 being located in recesses 29 formed in the opposite end walls of the rebate 20.

The rebate 20 affords a curved guide face 28 at the edge 27 of the base, whereby the strap 31 is folded around the edge 27 and when under tension tends to pull the pin 19 towards the closed ends of the recesses 29. However, the pin 19 may be retained in the rebate 20 by means of nibs (not shown) formed in the side walls of the recesses 29 after the introduction of the pin 19 during manufacture. Alternatively, the pin 19 may extend into holes drilled in the base.

At the other end, the strap 31 has secured thereto an end fitting 40 which co-operates with a headed bolt 34 carried by the base 10.

As shown, the end fitting 40 is designed to be secured to the strap 31 without the need for separate fastening devices. The end fitting 40 includes a wall portion 41 which in use is disposed generally parallel to the side wall 17 and a transverse flange 42 which is formed with a hole 43 for the reception of the shank 35 of the bolt 34. The wall portion 41 of the end fitting is formed with a wide slot 44 and the two ends of the strip 31 are passed through the slot 44, as shown in Figure 2, and turned inwardly around the end edge 45 of the wall portion 41. Conveniently, one end 31a of the strip 31 is longer than the other end 31b the latter extending substantially back to the slot 44 and the former extending substantially past the slot. This affords a secure fixing without the need for fasteners.However, if desired, a suitable end fitting could be secured to the strap by means of appropriate fasteners and in such a case the strap may alternatively be made of any suitable plastics material or a fibre material.

The shank 35 of the bolt 34 extends generally perpendicular to the plane of the locating surface 12 and is positioned adjacent to the side wall 17 on the side thereof remote from the locating surface 12. The bolt shank extends through a hole 22 in a lug 21 formed on the base to co-operate with the head 36 of the bolt. The bolt is held against rotation relative to the base 10. For this purpose, the head 36 of the bolt is located between a pair of opposed flat faces 23,24 at the underside of the lug or it may be received within a non-round recess formed in the lug 21.The bolt is preferably held captive, for example by means of a circlip 33.

In use, the base 10 is secured to the supporting structure by means of bolts or the like extending through one or more of the holes 13, the heads of such bolts being accommodated within the recess 14. One or more cables or pipes are then placed against the locating face 12 of the base whilst the end fitting 40 of the strap assembly 30 is disengaged from the bolt 34. As will be evident, the side wall 17 may serve to support such cables or pipes at this stage where the base is installed on a generally vertical surface.

The strap 31 is then drawn around the cables or pipes and the end fitting 40 is engaged with the bolt 34 as shown in Figure 2. A nut 37 (and if required a spacer member) is assembled on the shank 35 and then rotated in order to draw the end fitting 40 along the length of the bolt 34 towards the lug 21, thereby tensioning the strap 31 and securing the cables or pipes to the base 10. The end fitting 40 is guided by flanges 25 at opposite edges of the side wall 17, and the flanges 25 and the side wall 17 in combination form a recess which extends transverse to the length of the pipes or cables supported by the base and houses the tensioning means for the strap.

The illustrated embodiment is so dimensioned as to be suitable for accommodating one or more pipes or cables having diameters within various ranges according to the number of pipes or cables, and it will be appreciated that the size of the base and/or the length of the strap may be varied in order to provide a range of devices suitable for use with a wide range of pipes and cables.

In the illustrated embodiment, a rebate 18 is formed in the central portion of the side wall 17 to allow the strap to engage directly with smaller diameter cables or pipes on the base.

Whilst the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings incorporates a number of preferred features in accordance with the invention, it will be understood that the design of the mounting device in accordance with the invention may be varied in various respects.

For example, the tensioning means may be modified by replacing the non-rotatable bolt 34 by a rotatable screw which may extend freely (i.e. in nonthreaded engagement) through the lug 21 and be captively retained in association therewith in any appropriate manner which does not prevent rotation of the screw such as a circlip. The end fitting 40 of the strap 31 may then be replaced by an end fitting affording an open ended slot to receive the shank of the screw and to engage a thrust member which is in threaded engagement with said screw, whereby rotation of the screw advances the thrust member towards the lug 21 so as to draw the modified end fitting, and hence the strap, towards the locating face 12.

In a further alternative arrangement, the tensioning means may include a screw which is threadably engaged with a lug formed on the base 10 at a position adjacent to the free edge of the side wall 17, the screw directly or indirectly engaging the end fitting of the strap.

Instead of forming the strap 31 as a strip which is folded double to form the loop 39, the strap may be formed as a single length of material which is formed in any suitable manner into a loop at the end opposite the end fitting 32. Alternatively, at said opposite end the strap may carry a further end fitting adapted to be retained by means of the pin 19 or in any other suitable manner.

Indeed, this end of the strap may be secured directly to the base 10 by means of one or more threaded fasteners, rivets or the like.

Referring now to Figure 7, this shows an alternative embodiment which is generally similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 except that the locating surface 12' is substantially flat, the pin 19 is located at its ends in holes drilled in the base 10', and the end fitting of the strap assembly differs. In this case, the end fitting 50 is generally L-shaped and to the strap is secured by means of rivets or other suitable fasteners (not shown) to a wall portion 51 of the end fitting, whilst the shank 35 of the bolt 34 passes through a hole 53 in a transverse flange 52. The nut 37 (if necessary through the intermediary of a tubular spacer member 38) bears on the flange to draw the end fitting 50 towards the lug 21 and tension the strap. In this case, the shank of the bolt is inclined at a small angle relative to the plane of the locating face 12'.

The further embodiment illustrated in Figure 8 differs from the abovedescribed embodiments mainly in that, instead of the tensioning means being located within a recess afforded at one edge of the base member and extending generally perpendicular to the locating surface, the tensioning means is located within a recess formed beneath the locating surface.

The strap assembly 60 comprises a flexible strap 61 which may be made of any suitable metal strip material, plastic strip material or fabric. At one end the strap 61 has secured thereto an end fitting 62 which is so dimensioned as to be slidably received within, and guided by, a recess 70 which extends transversely across the underside of the base. The end fitting 62 is formed with a screw-threaded hole 63 which receives the threaded shank 65 of a headed screw 64. The shank 65 of the screw extends longitudinally of the recess 70 and through a hole 72 in an end wall 79 at one end of the recess 70. Such end wall 79 serves as a lug which co-operates with the head 66 of the screw so as normally to hold the strap assembly 60 in captive association with the base.

At its opposite end, the strap 61 carries an end fitting 67 which is in the form of a generally triangular ring 68 which is adapted to hook over the shank 65 of the screw 64 adjacent to the head 66, at a position between the head 66 and the end wall 79.

In use, the screw 64 is adjusted if necessary so that the end fitting 62 is positioned at or adjacent to the end of the shank 65 remote from the head 66.

One or more cables or pipes are then placed against the locating face of the base whilst the end fitting 67 of the strap assembly is disengaged from the headed end of the screw 64.

The strap 61 is then drawn around the cables or pipes and the end fitting 67 is engaged over the portion of the shank 65 of the screw 64 adjacent to the outer face of the end wall 79. The screw 64 is then turned about its longitudinal axis in order to draw the end fitting 62 along the length of the transverse recess 70 towards the end wall 79, thereby tensioning the strap 61 and securing the cables or pipes to the base.

Whilst it is most convenient for the strap to be secured at one end in an effectively non-adjustable and non-releasable manner, it would alternatively be possible to provide tensioning means to operate at both ends of the strap.

In all cases, however, it will be appreciated that the tensioning means, whatever its form, will be readily accessible either from a position spaced from the base in a direction generally perpendicular to, and somewhat offset from, the locating face 12, in the case of the first two embodiments described or from a position spaced from the base in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the locating face.

Whilst the locating face 12 in the illustrated embodiments is of substantially flat configuration or somewhat concavely curved form, it may instead be formed as two converging inclined faces so as to give the locating surface 12 a generally V-shape configuration.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A mounting device for securing one or more elongate members to a supporting structure and comprising a base member and an elongate strap assembled therewith, wherein the base member affords a locating surface for the reception of said one or more elongate members extending in a first direction and at least one mounting portion for the reception of fastening means whereby the base member can be attached to said supporting structure, and wherein said elongate strap is arranged to extend in a second direction transverse to said first direction over and in spaced relation to said locating surface with opposite ends of the strap spaced apart in said second direction in non-overlapping relation and secured relative to the base member, tensioning means being provided to draw at least one end of the strap relatively towards the base member and thereby draw the strap towards said locating surface so as to secure one or more elongate members to said base member.

2. A mounting device according to Claim 1 wherein the tensioning means is arranged to act on one end of the strap between the base member and an end member carried by the strap at said one end.

3. A mounting device according to Claim 2 wherein the tensioning means comprises a screw-threaded member which extends through a lug formed or provided on said base member.

4. A mounting device according to Claim 3 wherein the screw-threaded member is formed with a head which engages said lug.

5. A mounting device according to Claim 4 wherein the screw-threaded member is in the form of a bolt which is non-rotatable relative to said base member and extends through an aperture in the end member of the strap, the end member being movable along the length of the bolt and secured relative thereto by means of a complementary threaded member engaging said bolt.

6. A mounting device according to Claim 4 wherein the screw-threaded member comprises a headed screw or bolt which is rotatable relative to said base member and in threaded engagement with the end member of said strap, or a member which is releasably engageable therewith.

7. A mounting device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the threaded member extends in a direction generally perpendicular to said locating surface so that the end member of the strap is movable in a direction generally perpendicular to said locating surface.

8. A mounting device according to any one of Claims 4 to 6 whereinihe threaded member extends generally parallel to the plane of the locating surface and is spaced therefrom in a direction away from said strap.

9. A mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the tensioning means located within a recess afforded by the base member.

10. A mounting device according to Claim 1 wherein both ends of the strap are adjustably secured relative to the base member.

11. A mounting device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the base member is formed or provided with a side member along at least one edge of said locating surface.

12. A mounting device according to Claim 11 wherein said tensioning means is located adjacent to said side member.

13. A mounting device according to Claim 12 wherein said tensioning means is located in a recess adjacent to said side member.

14. A mounting device for securing one or more elongate members to a supporting structure and comprising a base member and an elongate strap assembled therewith, wherein the base member affords a locating surface for the reception of said one or more elongate members extending in a first direction, at least one mounting portion for the reception of fastening means whereby the base member can be attached to said supporting structure, the mounting portion or portions being offset from said locating surface in said first direction, and a transverse recess extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction and in register with said locating surface, and wherein said elongate strap is arranged to extend in said second direction over and in spaced relation to said locating surface with opposite ends of the strap spaced apart in said second direction and in non-overlapping relation and with at least one end of the strap located within said recess, the recess housing tensioning means which act longitudinally of the recess to draw said ends of the strap relatively towards one another and thereby draw the strap towards said locating surface.

15. A mounting device for securing one or more elongate members to a supporting structure and comprising a base member and an elongate strap assembled therewith, wherein the base member affords a locating surface for the reception of said one or more elongate members extending in a first direction, at least one mounting portion for the reception of fastening means whereby the base member can be attached to said supporting structure, and a transverse recess extending in a second direction transverse to said first direction and in register with said locating surface, and wherein said elongate strap is arranged to extend in said second direction over and in spaced relation to said locating surface with opposite ends of the strap spaced apart in said second direction and in nonoverlapping relation and with at least one end of the strap located within said recess, the recess housing tensioning means which act longitudinally of the recess to draw said ends of the strap relatively towards one another and thereby draw the strap towards said locating surface.

16. A mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

17. A mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings.

18. A mounting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 8 of the accompanying drawings.

19. A mounting device including any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or shown in the accompanying drawings.