GB2282428A - Wedging device - Google Patents

Abstract

A pair of wedges have interlocking faces providing a high wedging force, firm location and resistance to easing. One wedge 10 is designed to be static; held in position by means, for example, of a removable hinged tab 14, while the other wedge 12 is tapped home with light hammer blows until tight. The moving wedge 12 may be cut to length before tapping home, and the hinged tab 14 of the static wedge 10 may be removed after tightening is completed. The static wedge 10 contains a notch for the location of a bar 13 designed to restrict any subsequent mortar filling from being pushed right through the joint into any cavity beyond. Additional parallel packing pieces 15 may be incorporated to either side of the joint to reduce the gap to within the effective range of the size of wedges being used. <IMAGE>

Description

WEDGING DEVICE This invention relates to a range of interlocking pairs of parallel wedges. One wedge of each pair can be held in place by means of, for exaple, a removable hinged tab while the other may be cut to length to suit the particular application.

Parallel wedges are a simple device for wedging apart,(and therefore fixing), the parallel faces of two unyielding rigid components, for example a post in an oversize socket or new supporting structure to an existing masonry wall.

The wedges are used in pairs with mating faces which ride over one another. The angle of the wedge section is such that the faces of the wedges in contact with the two components being wedged remain parallel as the wedges are tightened.

Traditionally, wedges used in, for example, the building, construction and civil engineering industries, have been individually made of wood, suited to relatively large gaps and relatively crude.

Smaller gaps between, for example, existing masonry structures and new or replacement supporting structure, are generally wedged with broken slate being hammered into the joint before pointing with cement mortar.

These traditicnal methods of wedging (particularly slate wedging) are very dependent on the skill and conscientious application of the craftsman carrying out the work, and are in any case laborious and time consuming.

According to this present invention, there is provided pairs of wedges which locate accurately together with interlocking faces providing a high wedging force, firm location and resistance to easing. One wedge is designed to be static; held in position by means of, for example, a removable hinged tab, while the other wedge is tapped home with light hammer blows until tight. The moving wedge may be cut to length before tapping home, and the holding device, in this example the hinged tab, of the static wedge may be removed after tightening is completed. As a further refinement, the static wedge contains a notch for the location of a bar designed to restrict any subsequent mortar filling from being pushed right through the joint into any cavity beyond; in this example the comb-like upstand on the bar can be broken away to fit the notch in the wedge as appropriate.Additional parallel packing pieces may be incorporated to either side of the joint to reduce the gap to within the effective range of the size of wedges being used.

The wedge, mortar retaining bar and packing components may be made of plastic or any other suitable material of sufficient strength and flexibility, and may be solid, hollow, cellular or ribbed.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described bv way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig.l Shows the individual omponent parts of the wedging device; static wedge 10 incorporating hinged tab 14; moving wedge 12, and mortar retaining bar 13, in perspective.

Fig.2 shows a section through a brick wall where existing brickwork has been removed and new supporting masonry inserted.

A static wedge 10 incorporating tab 14 and optional mortar retaining bar 13 are in position in the gap between existing structure and new supporting structure.

Fig.3 shows wedge 12 placed lightly and temporarily in position. It is marked, withdrawn and cut to the required length.

Fig.4 shows, the now cut, wedge 12 tapped home until tight and the tab 14 on wedge 10 trimmed off.

Fig.5 shows an additional parallel packing piece 15 added to the joint to reduce the gap to within the effective range of the size of wedges being used.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment. For example a similar wedging device could be used to fix a post in a socket or any two adjacent, rigid components or structures.

Claims (6)

1 Pairs of wedges which locate accurately together with interacting faces providing a high wedging force, firm location and resistance to easing. One wedge is designed to be static; held in position by means of, for example, a removable hinged tab, while the other, moving, wedge is tapped home with light hammer blows until tight.

2 Pairs of wedges as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the moving wedge can be cut to length before tapping home, and the hinged tab of the static wedge can be removed after tightening is completed.

3 Pairs of wedges as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the static wedge contains a notch for the location of a bar designed to restrict any subsequent mortar filling from being pushed right through the joint into any cavity beyond, any upstand on the bar being broken or cut away to fit the notch in the wedge as appropriate; together with such a mortar retaining bar.

4 Pairs of wedges as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3 wherein additional parallel packing pieces may be incorporated to either side of the joint to reduce the gap to within the effective range of the size of wedges being used.

5 Pairs of wedges as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2, Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein wedges, mortar retaining bars and packing components may be made of pvc , polypropylene or any other suitable material of sufficient strength and flexibility, and may be solid, hollow or ribbed.

6 Pairs of wedges constructed and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.