GB2378999A - Suspending equipment using wedge-type locking device - Google Patents

Suspending equipment using wedge-type locking device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2378999A
GB2378999A GB0130425A GB0130425A GB2378999A GB 2378999 A GB2378999 A GB 2378999A GB 0130425 A GB0130425 A GB 0130425A GB 0130425 A GB0130425 A GB 0130425A GB 2378999 A GB2378999 A GB 2378999A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
equipment
suspension
wedging means
strands
strand
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB0130425A
Other versions
GB0130425D0 (en
Inventor
Hugh David Facey
Brian Edward Shawcross
Derek Boaler
John Makin
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Gripple Ltd
Original Assignee
Gripple Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Gripple Ltd filed Critical Gripple Ltd
Publication of GB0130425D0 publication Critical patent/GB0130425D0/en
Publication of GB2378999A publication Critical patent/GB2378999A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16GBELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G11/00Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
    • F16G11/14Devices or coupling-pieces designed for easy formation of adjustable loops, e.g. choker hooks; Hooks or eyes with integral parts designed to facilitate quick attachment to cables or ropes at any point, e.g. by forming loops
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16GBELTS, CABLES, OR ROPES, PREDOMINANTLY USED FOR DRIVING PURPOSES; CHAINS; FITTINGS PREDOMINANTLY USED THEREFOR
    • F16G11/00Means for fastening cables or ropes to one another or to other objects; Caps or sleeves for fixing on cables or ropes
    • F16G11/10Quick-acting fastenings; Clamps holding in one direction only
    • F16G11/105Clamps holding in one direction only
    • F16G11/106Clamps holding in one direction only using a toothed surface
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16BDEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B13/00Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose
    • F16B13/04Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose with parts gripping in the hole or behind the reverse side of the wall after inserting from the front
    • F16B13/08Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose with parts gripping in the hole or behind the reverse side of the wall after inserting from the front with separate or non-separate gripping parts moved into their final position in relation to the body of the device without further manual operation
    • F16B13/0808Dowels or other devices fastened in walls or the like by inserting them in holes made therein for that purpose with parts gripping in the hole or behind the reverse side of the wall after inserting from the front with separate or non-separate gripping parts moved into their final position in relation to the body of the device without further manual operation by a toggle-mechanism
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F16ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
    • F16BDEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING
    • F16B2/00Friction-grip releasable fastenings
    • F16B2/02Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening
    • F16B2/14Clamps, i.e. with gripping action effected by positive means other than the inherent resistance to deformation of the material of the fastening using wedges
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V21/00Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
    • F21V21/008Suspending from a cable or suspension line
    • FMECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F21LIGHTING
    • F21VFUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F21V21/00Supporting, suspending, or attaching arrangements for lighting devices; Hand grips
    • F21V21/14Adjustable mountings
    • F21V21/16Adjustable mountings using wires or cords

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Clamps And Clips (AREA)

Abstract

A method of suspending equipment 20,32 from an overhead member 21 comprises providing at least two suspension strands 22 with means 23 for securing them to the overhead member 21, passing the free ends 25 of the strands 222 through a pair of eyes 24 on the equipment, or through a hole 30 in an elongate member 31 for supporting the equipment. After passing through the eyes 24 or holes 30, the free ends 25 of the strands 22 are passed through locking devices 26 of the type having a bore 27 associated with wedging means 28 preventing withdrawal of the respective strand in the opposite direction. Kits for use in the method are also disclosed. Wedge release means 39 for adjusting the position of the locking devices 26 are also disclosed (figures 2-4).

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1>
SUSPENDING EQUIPMENT This invention relates to a method of suspending equipment (such as lighting, heating, trunking or ventilation units) from an overhead structural member (such as a roof, ceiling, purlin, beam or girder), more particularly in somewhat similar manner to that described in GBA-2322435 with reference to Figure 16, but affording further advantages.
According to the present invention, a method of suspending equipment from an overhead member comprises providing at least two suspension strands each with means at one end for securing them spaced apart to the overhead member, providing the equipment with a pair of eyes spaced apart, passing the free ends of the suspension strands through respective eyes on the equipment and then through locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means (e. g. a ball, roller or wedge) preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion. This has the advantage that further equipment may be suspended on the same suspension strands by providing the further equipment with a pair of eyes spaced apart, passing the free ends of the suspension strands through those further respective eyes and then through further locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
Preferably, each wedging means is provided with means for withdrawing it from contact with the respective suspension strand to enable initial adjustment of the height position of the suspended equipment. Thus a pin may be attached, permanently (as by screwing into the wedging means and protruding from the locking device) or temporarily (as by providing the pin with a dovetail end for insertion into the locking device and, by rotation, into engagement with a groove of corresponding cross-section in the wedging means).
Each eye on the equipment may be part of a fitting screwed into or bolted or welded to the equipment to be suspended. Alternatively, each eye may be formed by a hole in part of the casing of the suspended equipment. And again, each eye may be formed by a hole in an
<Desc/Clms Page number 2>
elongate member for supporting the suspended equipment.
Also in accordance with the invention, an equipment suspension kit comprises at least two suspension strands each with means at one end for securing them spaced apart to the over head member, and at least two locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion, but four such locking devices may be provided to enable two items of equipment to be suspended one below the other; and a kit with two or four locking devices may also be provided with an elongate member with two holes spaced apart for the suspension strands.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 a shows an item of equipment suspended from an overhead member by means of two suspension strands and two locking devices; Figure 1 b shows another item of equipment suspended below the item of equipment of Figure 1a by means of the same suspension strands, an elongate supporting member and two further locking devices; Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary section corresponding to parts of Figures 1 a and 1 b showing the internal detail of the locking devices ; Figure 3 corresponds to part of Figure 2 but shows an alternative means of release for the locking device; Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the release pin of Figure 3 as viewed from the left hand side; Figure 5 corresponds to part of Figure 2 but shows the locking device in inoperative condition; Figure 6 is an elevation of the upper end of the locking device; Figure 7 is an elevation of the lower end of the locking device;
<Desc/Clms Page number 3>
Figure 8 is a side elevation of a suspension strand showing one form of means for use in securing it to an overhead member; Figure 9 is a side elevation of a drop-in anchor for use with the suspension strand of Figure 8; Figure 10 is a longitudinal section through the drop-in anchor of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a fragmentary part-sectional elevation of the upper end of the suspension strand of Figure 8 secured by a pair of nuts to an overhead member; Figure 12 is a side elevation of another suspension strand showing a further means for use in securing it to an overhead member; Figure 13 is a side elevation of the upper end of the suspension strand of Figure 12 as viewed from the left hand side; Figure 14 corresponds to Figure 13 but shows the securing means being applied to an overhead member; and Figure 15 corresponds to Figure 14 but shows the suspension strand secured to the overhead member.
In Figure 1 a an item of equipment 20 is suspended from an overhead member 21 by providing two suspension strands 22 with means (shown symbolically at 23 and exemplified in Figures 8 to 15) at one end for securing them spaced apart to the overhead member, providing the equipment with a pair of eyes 24 spaced apart, passing the free ends 25 of the suspension strands through respective eyes on the equipment an then through locking devices 26 of the type having a bore 27 associated with wedging means 28 preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
Each eye 24 on the equipment 20 is formed by a hole in part 29 of the casing of the equipment, but it will be readily appreciated that it may be part of a fitting (not shown) screwed into or bolted or welded to the equipment to be suspended. Again, each eye may be formed by a hole 30 in an elongate member 31 (see Figure 1a) for supporting suspended equipment
<Desc/Clms Page number 4>
32, Figure 1b also illustrating an advantage of the method that further equipment may be suspended on the same suspension strands 22 by passing the free ends 25 of the strands through the further respective eyes 30 and then through further locking devices 26 of the type having a bore 27 associated with wedging means 28 preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
As shown in Figures 2 and 5 each wedging means 28 is preferably a wedge, with ribs 33 (or teeth or other surface formation) affording a good grip on the suspension strand 22, sliding in a channel 34 converging with the respective bore 27 towards its flared inlet end 35 (see also Figure 6) and urged towards that end by a coil compression spring 36 between the wedge 28 and an abutment 37, the latter being secured in the outer end of the channel (after insertion of the wedge and spring) as by swaging in pair of wings 38, as shown in Figure 7.
Each wedge 28 is provided with a pin 39 protruding through a hole 40 in the abutment 37 for withdrawing the wedge from contact with the respective suspension strand 22 to enable initial adjustment of the height position of the suspended equipment 20 or 32, and the pin is shown in Figures 2 and 5 as permanently attached to the wedge by having a screwthreaded end 41 screwed into a tapped hole 42 in the wedge. Alternatively, the pin may be temporarily attached to the wedge, as providing a pin 43 (see Figures 3 and 4) with a dovetail end 44 for insertion into the locking device 26 (through the hole in the abutment) and, by rotation, into engagement with a groove 45 of corresponding cross-section in the wedge, the other end of the pin being bent to form a handle 46 to assist rotation.
Each locking device 26 has a flat upper face 47 for abutting against the equipment 20 or the elongate support 31, and an optional secondary bore 48 is shown provided from that face to a flared inlet end 49 at the other end of the device for insertion of the free end 25 of the respective strand 22, as shown in Figure 1 a, if desired to guard against the free end, especially of a wire rope suspension strand, causing injury.
One form of securing means 23 consists basically of a screwthreaded portion 50 at one
<Desc/Clms Page number 5>
end of the suspension strand, shown in Figure 8 as part of a member the other part of which is a socket 51 in which the end of the strand 22 is secured by swaging the socket.
It will be evident that the screwthreaded portion 50 can be screwed into a tapped hole in an overhead member (not shown), but, alternatively, a drop-in anchor 52 (see Figures 9 and 10) can be secured in a plain or blind hole (not shown) by driving in the sling 53 to expand the tongues 54, and the screwthreaded portion 50 on the strand screwed into the tapped hole 55 in the anchor. The swaged socket has a plurality of flats 56, made by a swaging tool (not shown), to which can be applied a wrench or spanner. Again, as shown in Figure 11, a pair of nuts 57 is provided for use in securing the screwthreaded portion 50 in a plain hole 58 in an overhead member.
In the event that the securing means of Figure 8 cannot be used, because a tapped hole cannot be made in an over head member or it cannot take a drop-in anchor or access is not possible to apply an upper nut to the screwthreaded portion, it may be possible to use suspension strands provided with securing means 23 as shown in Figure 12 to 15 which comprises a nipple 59 at one end of the strand 22, a toggle plate 60 having a length appreciably greater than its width, an aperture 61 in the toggle plate elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle plate but of a width preventing passing of the nipple through the aperture, the free end 25 of the suspension strand being able to pass through the aperture until the toggle plate abuts or lies captive adjacent the nipple (as shown in Figures 12 and 13).
A hole 62 (Figures 14 and 15) is provided in an overhead member large enough for the nipple 59 and toggle plate 60 to pass through with the toggle plate angled into close lengthwise alignment with the strand (as shown in Figure 14), and the toggle plate is realigned perpendicularly to the strand and bridging the topside of the hole. The nipple 59 is formed with an enlarged formation 63 to abut a substantial area of the toggle plate 60 on each side of the aperture 61.

Claims (17)

1. A method of suspending equipment from an overhead member comprising at least two suspension strands each with means at one end for securing them spaced apart to the overhead member, providing the equipment with a pair of eyes spaced apart, passing the free ends of the suspension strands through respective eyes on the equipment and then through locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
2. A method of suspending equipment from an overhead member as in Claim 1, wherein further equipment is suspended on the same suspension strands by providing the further equipment with a pair of eyes spaced apart, passing the free ends of the suspension strands through those further respective eyes and then through further locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
3. A method as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein each wedging means is provided with means for withdrawing it from contact with the respective suspension strand to enable initial adjustment of the height position of the suspended equipment.
4. A method as in Claim 3, wherein a pin is attached permanently to the wedging means.
5. A method as in Claim 4, wherein the pin is screwed into the wedging means and protrudes from the locking device.
6. A method as in Claim 3, wherein a pin is attached temporarily to the wedging means.
7. A method as in Claim 6, wherein the pin is provided with a dovetail end for insertion into the locking device and, by rotation, into engagement with a groove of corresponding crosssection in the wedging means.
8. A method as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each eye on the equipment is
<Desc/Clms Page number 7>
part of a fitting screwed into or bolted or welded to the equipment to be suspended.
9. A method as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each eye on the equipment is formed by a hole in part of the casing of the suspended equipment.
10. A method as in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein each eye on the equipment is formed by a hole in an elongate member for supporting the equipment.
11. An equipment suspension kit comprising at least two suspension strands each with means at one end for securing them spaced apart to the overhead member and at least two locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
12. A kit as in Claim 11 provided with four locking devices of the type having a bore associated with wedging means preventing withdrawal of the respective suspension strand in the opposite direction to insertion.
13. A kit as in Claim 11 or Claim 12 provided with an elongate member with two holes spaced apart for the suspension strands.
14. A method of suspending equipment from an overhead member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 a of the accompanying drawings.
15. A method of suspending equipment from an overhead member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 1 b of the accompanying drawings.
16. A method of suspending equipment from an overhead member substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 a and 1 b of the accompanying drawings.
17. A method as in any one of Claims 14 to 16, wherein each locking device is substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 5 to 7 or as modified by Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.
GB0130425A 2001-08-23 2001-12-20 Suspending equipment using wedge-type locking device Withdrawn GB2378999A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB0120524.4A GB0120524D0 (en) 2001-08-23 2001-08-23 Suspending equipment

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB0130425D0 GB0130425D0 (en) 2002-02-06
GB2378999A true GB2378999A (en) 2003-02-26

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0120524.4A Ceased GB0120524D0 (en) 2001-08-23 2001-08-23 Suspending equipment
GB0130425A Withdrawn GB2378999A (en) 2001-08-23 2001-12-20 Suspending equipment using wedge-type locking device

Family Applications Before (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GBGB0120524.4A Ceased GB0120524D0 (en) 2001-08-23 2001-08-23 Suspending equipment

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Country Link
GB (2) GB0120524D0 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2014064403A1 (en) * 2012-10-24 2014-05-01 Gripple Limited Clamping assembly
EP2687732A4 (en) * 2011-03-15 2015-07-08 Pracer Perfiladores S L L Retention element for tensioned cables
WO2018142098A1 (en) * 2017-02-02 2018-08-09 Gripple Limited Securing assembly

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3758922A (en) * 1971-10-29 1973-09-18 Sand R Ass Inc Sliding wedge cleat
GB2322435A (en) * 1997-12-23 1998-08-26 Gripple Ltd Suspending equipment
EP0861994A2 (en) * 1997-02-27 1998-09-02 E.J. Brooks Company Security seal and lock
US6058574A (en) * 1996-03-23 2000-05-09 Gripple Limited Devices for clamping wires, etc.
DE19944135A1 (en) * 1999-09-15 2001-04-19 Spritzgiesstechnik Dieter Wand Clamp support to clamp wire cable, for shelves or frames; has axial passage for wire cable and sleeve-shaped clamp wedge holder with chamber and slits for clamp wedges, spring-biased upwards in holder
WO2001048393A1 (en) * 1999-12-29 2001-07-05 E.J. Brooks Company Security seal and lock

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3758922A (en) * 1971-10-29 1973-09-18 Sand R Ass Inc Sliding wedge cleat
US6058574A (en) * 1996-03-23 2000-05-09 Gripple Limited Devices for clamping wires, etc.
EP0861994A2 (en) * 1997-02-27 1998-09-02 E.J. Brooks Company Security seal and lock
GB2322435A (en) * 1997-12-23 1998-08-26 Gripple Ltd Suspending equipment
DE19944135A1 (en) * 1999-09-15 2001-04-19 Spritzgiesstechnik Dieter Wand Clamp support to clamp wire cable, for shelves or frames; has axial passage for wire cable and sleeve-shaped clamp wedge holder with chamber and slits for clamp wedges, spring-biased upwards in holder
WO2001048393A1 (en) * 1999-12-29 2001-07-05 E.J. Brooks Company Security seal and lock

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2687732A4 (en) * 2011-03-15 2015-07-08 Pracer Perfiladores S L L Retention element for tensioned cables
WO2014064403A1 (en) * 2012-10-24 2014-05-01 Gripple Limited Clamping assembly
GB2509807A (en) * 2012-10-24 2014-07-16 Gripple Ltd Clamping assembly having a spring urging a clamping member, wherein the spring can be deformed to a release configuration
GB2509807B (en) * 2012-10-24 2015-01-21 Gripple Ltd Clamping Assembly
US9695908B2 (en) 2012-10-24 2017-07-04 Gripple Limited Clamping assembly
WO2018142098A1 (en) * 2017-02-02 2018-08-09 Gripple Limited Securing assembly
JP2020509306A (en) * 2017-02-02 2020-03-26 グリップル・リミテッドGripple Limited Fixed assembly
AU2018215376B2 (en) * 2017-02-02 2023-02-09 Gripple Limited Securing assembly
US11732464B2 (en) 2017-02-02 2023-08-22 Gripple Limited Securing assembly

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0120524D0 (en) 2001-10-17
GB0130425D0 (en) 2002-02-06

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)