GB2295193A - A clamp that allows the downward orientation of an opening in a support - Google Patents

Abstract

A clamp fixes a support 1, eg for pipe hangers, to a beam 2 or a purlin of a sloping roof and comprises a pair of jaws 3a, 3b having a recess 6 which encircles and clamps the support 1 by means of bolt/nut assemblies 13. Each jaw 3a, 3b has a groove 8 which seats the curved section 4a of a U-bolt 4. The U-bolt 4 has threaded legs 4b that pass through flange plate 14, having a seat 19 for the jaws, thereby clamping, via clamp flanges 15, conical washers 16 and nuts 17, the laws 3a, 3b and flange plate 14 to a flange of the beam. Larger sizes of flange may be accommodated by bending threaded legs 4b outwards (see fig 3). The bolt/nut assemblies 13 and flange plate 14 may be discarded (see figs 4 and 5) and the jaws (20, 21 fig 5) clamped directly between the U-bolt curved section (30, fig 5) and the flange of the beam. <IMAGE>

Description

STRUT HANGER The invention relates to a strut hanger and more particularly to a device for fixing a hanging section of strut or the like on inclined bearing faces, such as the bearing faces of the purlins, beams or trusses of a sloping roof.

BACKGROUND OF THE-tNAlElsmON It is well known to use strut sections, made of metal or synthetic material, having a channel shape cross-section in the general shape of a "U" or a "C", or the like, to hang or support electrical wiring, pipework for various fluid systems, wiring conduit, light fixtures, vents, or many other items. The struts are used with hangers, brackets, collars, T-pieces or other similar elements which fit within the strut opening and are used to secure the wiring, pipework or the like to be fixed or hung on the strut sections.

Many such utilities or other items as outlined above are hung or suspended from sloping roofs such as in an attic or loft. Although the fixing of strut sections to horizontal supports does not present a problem, fixing the strut to inclined supports, such as the purlins of a sloping roof, usually requires making use of an intermediate clip or hanger for the opening of the strut section to face vertically downwardly. The pitch of sloping roofs varies from one roof to another, and there are no known multi-purpose or multi-angle intermediate clips or hangers. The strut sections are very frequently fixed and fastened using makeshift clips or hangers produced or jury rigged on the spot. This increases the time required and the cost of laying the wiring or pipework.

To this end, the present invention include two jaws which can be assembled around the strut section, encircling it substantially in its entirety and forming all or part of a ring. A rigid U-bolt has a central curved part of which is curved with a curvature equal to that of the ring of the jaws and for which it forms a cradle. The legs of the U-bolt are threaded. Nuts on the legs of the U-bolt may be tightened on several different types of clamps to secure the U-bolt to the bottom of a beam or purlin. With this arrangement, the strut section is surrounded by two jaws forming a ring with the strut extending axially through the ring. Before the U-bolt is tightened, the jaws may be pivoted on the axis of the strut with respect to the support or purlin such that the opening of the strut section is directed vertically down.By virtue of its design, the hanger makes it possible to fix the strut section both against a support having an inclined bearing face and against supports having horizontal or even vertical bearing faces.

Embodiments of the present invention overcome the above-identified disedvantages by providing a fixing device or hanger which allows correct positioning of a strut section whatever the pitch or slope of the bearing faces of the support against which it is to be secured.

In one embodiment of the invention, the means for fixing the U-bolt to the support comprises a mating flange plate, which is provided with perforations suitable for allowing the passage of the legs of the U-bolt and which itself bears against the support. Two gripping clamp flanges are provided through which the screw-threaded ends of the legs of the U-bolt pass. Each clamp flange is designed to bear, at one end, on the sill of the support or purlin and, at the other end, on the mating flange plate, as the nuts are tightened on the threaded ends of the legs of the U-bolt.

In other embodiments, the threaded legs of the U-bolt extend through two slightly elongated slots in a pivoting clamp plate and when nuts are tightened the plate bears against the assembled jaws at one end, and against the sill or lower flange of the purlin at the other end. The clamp plate is designed to clear any upturned or flanged edge of the lower flange of a purlin and bear against the purlin as close to the vertical web as possible.

The present invention makes it possible to secure struts or strut sections with the clip or fastener receiving opening properly vertically oriented regardless of the slope encountered, even to 900. The present invention can be used with many different types and kinds of purlins or supports regardless of whether they run from the eaves to the ridge or parallel to the ridge.

Advantageously, each of the jaws has on its back a semicircular groove for accommodating and seating the central circular part of the U bolt.

There now follows a description of preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a partial, cross-sectional view showing an embodiment of the hanger; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the two jaws making up the positioning ring illustrated in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional side view showing an alternative embodiment of the hanger; Figure 4 is a side elevation of another form of hanger in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a section of the hanger of Figure 4 taken on the line 5-5 thereof; and Figure 6 is a view like Figure 4 but using a slightly modified clamp plate for a different type of sheet metal purlin.

In Figures 1 and 3, the strut is shown in section at 1 illustrating its profile and downwardly extending opening 1a. The sill of a purlin comprising a metal section of "I" cross-section is shown at 2. Two jaws which form the ring part of the hanger according to the invention are shown at 3a and 3b. U-bolt 4 and clamp 5 are used for fixing the U-bolt to the sill 2.

As shown in more detail in Figure 2, each of the jaws 3a-3b has, in cross-section, the general shape of a "C", that is to say is made up of a semi-cylindrical disc having an axial opening 6 which is in the face 7 which clamps against the opposite jaw. The shapes and dimensions of said opening are determined as a function of the shapes and dimensions of half of the outer contour of the cross-section of the strut profile 1 which is to be hung or fixed to the purlin.

On its outer part, each jaw is provided with a peripheral groove 8 able to accommodate and seat all or part of the central circular part 4a of the rigid U-bolt 4.

Finally, each jaw has lateral undercuts 9, each defining a lateral wing 10 with a bore 12 running through such wing. The axis of each bore is perpendicular to the face 7. The jaws can be made of metal or of insulating or non-insulating synthetic material such as plastics.

The U-bolt, in the embodiments shown is formed by a "U"-shaped rod with screw-threaded ends. It, however, may be formed by any other curved section or by a hoop made of synthetic material or metal.

For a rigid U-bolt, the radius of curvature of the inside of its central part 4a has a value equal to the radius of curvature of the base of the grooves 8 in the jaws.

In each zone for fixing of the strut section 1 to the sill 2 of the purlin, as shown in Figure 1, the two jaws 3a-3b are joined to one another by means of bolts 1 3 passing through the bores 12 and clamping the strut section 1 between them. They thus form a ring at the grooves 8 which is seated the bight or the central part 4a of the U-bolt 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the means 5 for fixing the Ubolt 4 to the sill 2 comprises a mating flange plate 14, two clamp flanges 15, bearing shoes or conical thrust washers 16, and nuts 17. The mating flange plate 1 4 comprises a metal section through which there are at least two holes 18 for passage of each of the legs 4b of the U-bolt. The flange plate is arranged between the bearing sill 2 of the purlin and the ring formed by the two jaws 3a-3b. As shown in Figure 1, the flange plate includes a positioning seat recess 1 9 for the ring.

Each of the clamp flanges 1 5 has a bore 20 for the passage of the corresponding leg 4b of the U-bolt and is shaped in such a way that one of its ends 1 5a is able to come to bear on the upper face of the sill 2 when its other end 15b comes to bear on the mating flange plate 14.

A hanger of this type may fit on the sill 2 of an inclined purlin, whatever the inclination of the purlin. Before final tightening of the nuts 17, the ring formed by the jaws 3a and 3b is pivoted about its axis within the U-bolt in such a way that the longitudinal median plane of the strut section 1 is arranged in a vertical plane and that the mouth of the opening 1 a in the strut section points vertically down.

If the size of the sill 2 is less than the distance between the legs 4b of the U-bolt 4, clamping is obtained by turning the clamp flanges 1 5 through 1800 (end-for-end) or by replacing the clamp flanges by longer clamp flanges. In contrast, as shown in Figure 3, if the width of the sill is greater than the distance between the legs 4b, the U-bolt is replaced by a U-bolt 4', the ends of which are bent outwards to deviate and then bent back again.

Figure 3 also shows jaws 3'a and 3'b which includes recesses or seats 6' which differ from those seats 6 shown in Figure 2. The seats 6' are each suitable for accommodating half of a strut section 11 having, in cross-section, the shape of a double "C" in juxtaposition.

If the purlin or the support having the inclined face against which the strut profile 1 has to be fixed, already has transverse holes through it, the legs of the U-bolt may be engaged directly in the holes. Under such conditions, the U-bolt therefore need not have clamp flanges 1 5 and mating flange plate 14.

Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, the strut 1 with downwardly facing opening 1 a is externally surrounded by semi-circular jaws 20 and 21, each of which has a rectangular recess as seen at 22 and 23, respectively, in the almost diametral planes 24 and 25. The cylindrical exterior of each jaw at the axial midpoint is provided with a groove as seen at 26 and 27.

After the jaws are assembled on a strut, such jaws are fitted into the circular center 30 of the U-bolt 31. The circular center 30 has the same center of curvature as the ring groove formed by the sections 26 and 27.

The threaded legs 34 and 35 of the U-bolt are inserted through slightly elongated slots 36 and 37 in clamp plate 40. Nut and washer assemblies 41 and 42 are used to clamp the plate down.

One end or edge of the plate bears against the jaw 20 as seen at 44 while the other end bears on top of the sill 45 as close to the web 46 of the I-beam 47 as seen at 48. When the strut is properly oriented, with the opening facing down, the nuts are tightened securing the strut to the beam or purlin in the proper vertical orientation. It is noted that the jaws 20 and 21 do not quite come together at the almost diametral planes of the laws.

Accordingly, as the nuts are tightened, the jaws are clamped on the strut. The jaw 21 is engaged for about 1350 by the circular center of the bolt while the jaw 20 is gripped for about 450 on one side and at the 450 mark on the other side by engagement with the clamp plate end at 44 and the underside of the sill. Accordingly, separate fasteners and wings are not needed for the jaws illustrated in this embodiment. It will, however, be appreciated that the extents and gripping points described above with change depending on the slope or angle of the beam or purlin.

In Figure 6, there is illustrated a hanger similar to that shown in Figure 4, but being supported from what is known as a Z purlin. The semicircular jaws 50 and 51 enclosed and embrace the strut 1 in the same way as in Figure 5. The U-bolt 31 embraces the ring recess or groove in the exterior in the same way and the threaded legs 34 and 35 extend through slightly elongated slots in clamp plate 52. Nut assemblies 53 clamp the plate 52 which includes one end 54 bearing against jaw 50.

The opposite end 55 bears against the bottom flange 56 of the Z purlin 57 as close to the web 58 as possible. The end 55 may be slightly rounded to fit in the corner between the web and flange. As seen in Figure 6, the purlin may include in addition a top flange 59 and both flanges have inturned edge flanges as seen at 60 and 61, respectively. The Z purlin illustrated is simply an example of one type of purlin. They may be Cshape or Z-shape and have many different configurations, but each usually includes a bottom flange and top flange with a web extending between such flanges. The flange edge may be themselves flanged, inturned, or even folded, but the clamp plate is arched as seen at 62 and clears such edge treatment and puts no load on the outer portion of the flange.

It is obvious that any other device for fixing to the support may be used without going beyond the scope of the present invention, provided that the fixing device has a U-bolt interacting with two jaws 3a-3b substantially surrounding the strut section to be supported.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments, it is obvious that equivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification. The present invention includes all such equivalent alterations and modifications

Claims (1)

1. A device for fixing a hanging section of a strut to an inclined support and the like, characterised in that it comprises for each zone in which the strut section is fixed to the support, two jaws which can be assembled around the strut section, encircling it substantially in its entirety and forming a ring, and a rigid U-shape bolt, having a central part which is curved with a curvature equal to that of the exterior of the ring and of which the legs a cradle for the ring, and said U-shape bolt including legs and means for fixing the legs to the support.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the jaws forming the ring and supporting the strut section are pivotable within the curvature of the U-bolt to align the strut before fixing the legs to the support.

3. A device according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that the opening in each of the jaws accommodating the strut has a shape and dimension corresponding to half of the outer contour of the cross-section of the strut section.

4. A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that the jaws each have wings and each of the wings has a bore for the passage of a connecting bolt, the axis of which is perpendicular to the mating plane of assembly with the other jaw, whereby the jaws may be secured together about the strut section.

5. A device according to claim 3 characterised in that the means for fixing the legs of the U-bolt to the support comprise a plate which is provided with perforations for allowing the passage of the legs of the Ubolt and adapted to bear against the support, and two clamp flanges, through which ends of the legs of the U-bolt pass, each clamp flange bearing at one end on the support and, at the other end, on the nuts threaded on the legs of the U-bolt to fix the U-bolt to the support.

6. A device according to claim 5 characterised in that the legs of the U-bolt are straight and are separated by a distance at least equal to the width of the support.

7. A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that each of the jaws has a semicircular groove for seating the central part of the U bolt.

8. A device according to any preceding claim characterised in that the legs of the U-bolt deviate to accommodate the width of the support.

9. A device according to any preceding claim, including a clamping plate through which the legs of the U-bolt extend, the plate bearing at one end on the jaws and at the other end on the support.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said clamping plate extends over a bottom flange of the support and clears the projecting edge of the flange while clamping the jaws beneath the flange.

11. A device according to claim 10 wherein said plate is arched to clear the edge of the bottom flange.

1 2. A device according to claim 11 including clamp nut assemblies on the legs of the U-boit to clamp said plate.

19. A device generally as herein described with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.