GB2399611A

GB2399611A - An I-section beam bracket assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2399611A
Application number: GB0305965A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Richard Molesworth
Original assignee: Glazing System Profiles Ltd
Current assignee: Glazing System Profiles Ltd
Priority date: 2003-03-15
Filing date: 2003-03-15
Publication date: 2004-09-22
Anticipated expiration: 2023-03-15
Also published as: GB2399611B; GB0305965D0

Abstract

A structural building assembly comprises an upright I-section beam 10 having a pair of parallel longitudinal side flanges 12a and 12b, interconnected by a perpendicular longitudinal web 13, and support brackets 11 mounted at the base of the upright I-section beam 10. The brackets 11, which anchor the beam 10 to the ground, extend axially of the beam 10, have one surface in registration with one side of the interconnecting web 13, and a second surface in registration with one of the flanges 12a, 12b. The bracket 11 is connected to the respective surfaces with fastening members, and further comprises a passageway 17 extending axially with respect to the beam 10 such that a fastening member can be passed therethrough for anchoring the beam 10 to the ground. Each bracket 11 is connected to two surfaces of the I-section beam 10 and thus twisting of the beam 10 is alleviated. The relative vertical position of the brackets may be adjusted to enrole secure attachment to an uneven surface.

Description

239961 1 Structural Building Assembly This invention relates to a

structural building assembly.

Large conservatories generally comprise a prefabricated metal framework or so-called portal, around which the external structure of the conservatory is erected. Such portals comprise a framework of metal beams which are welded or bolted together on site.

The framework of the roof portion itself is supported above the ground by vertical upright beams, which are anchored at their lower ends to the ground or to a dwarf wall erected on the ground.

Hitherto the lower ends of the beams have been secured to the ground or wall as appropriate by L-shaped metal brackets having one arm bolted to beam and a perpendicular arm bolted to the ground or the wall.

The vertical I-section beams are subjected to substantial forces, which often include a twisting force that can distort the foot of an I-section beam because only the web of the beam and not the side flanges are anchored by the L shaped brackets.

Another disadvantage of conventional brackets is that they look unsightly.

We have now devised a structural building assembly which alleviates the above mentioned problems.

In accordance with this invention as seen from a first aspect, there is provided a structural building assembly comprising an upright I-section beam having a pair of parallel longitudinal side flanges interconnected by a perpendicular longitudinal web, the assembly further comprising a bracket at the lower end of the beam for anchoring the beam to a support surface, the bracket comprising an elongate body extending axially of the beam and having a first surface in face-to-face registration with the surface of one side of the web of the beam and a second surface in faceto-face registration with one arm of one of said flanges, the bracket further comprising a passageway extending axially with respect to the beam, through which a fastening member may be passed for anchoring the beam to a support surface, the body of the bracket being fastened I to said web and said arm of the flange by respective fastening members.

The bracket is fastened to the web and to an arm of one of the flanges and thus there is less tendency for the foot of the beam to distort.

Also, the configuration of the bracket means that it is less unsightly than conventional L-shaped brackets.

Preferably a second bracket is disposed on the opposite side of the web.

In one embodiment, the body of the or each bracket is fastened to said web and to respective arms of both flanges by respective fastening members.

The beams are sometimes anchored to an uneven surface and in order to overcome this problem, the brackets on opposite sides of the web may be positioned at slightly different positions with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam.

However, in a preferred alternative embodiment, a pair of brackets are provided on the or each side of the web, each bracket being fastened to the web and to a respective arm of the flange.

Ideally, four brackets are provided, with two being provided each opposite sides of the web. It will be appreciated that this provides an extremely strong way of anchoring the foot of the beam to the support surface, which will not allow the foot of the beam to distort or twist, since all four arms of the flanges are fastened to the web by respective brackets, and since each bracket is anchored to the support surface.

Preferably the pair of brackets on the or each side of the web extend transverse the web and abut or engage each other.

The position of each of the four brackets with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam can be independently adjusted to suit the level or incline of the support surface to which they are to be attached.

A disadvantage of conventional L-shaped brackets is that the width of the brackets is limits the space in which to provide apertures, through which the fastening members are be passed for anchoring the beam to a support surface. If the apertures are provided too close together, this significantly weakens the bracket.

Thus, the passageways provided in the or each bracket on one side of the web are preferably located in respective portions of the bracket(s) which extend away from each other at a point located outwardly of the web, such that the width between the passageways is maximised.

Preferably the body of each bracket comprises a first arm for attaching to the web and a second arm for attaching to the arm of the respective flange of the beam.

Preferably the passageway is provided at the outer end of said first arm.

Preferably the passageway is provided on a formation disposed at the lower end of the said first arm of the bracket.

Another disadvantage of convention L-shaped brackets is that they have to be cut very accurately to fit against the beam.

Another disadvantage is that the metal used in the brackets is relatively thin and is often insufficent to withstand the forces to which it is subjected.

Thus, in accordance with this invention as seen from a second aspect, there is provided a bracket for anchoring an upright beam to a support surface, the bracket comprising an elongate body arranged to secure axially to the beam and a passageway extending axially of the body, through which a fastening member may be passed for anchoring the beam to a support surface, the bracket being formed of metal by extrusion.

The bracket is formed by extrusion and therefore the tolerance of the width of the bracket is high so that it fits against accrately against the beam.

The extrusion is a solid mass of metal and is thus stronger than a bracket formed of sheet material.

An embodiment of this invention will now be described by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a transverse sectional view through the foot of a vertical support assembly in accordance with this invention of a conservatory roof portal; and FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of a bracket of the assembly of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, a conservatory roof portal comprises a plurality of conventional I-section metal vertical support beams 10, which are each anchored to a support surface by brackets 11.

The I-section beam 10 comprises inner and outer parallel longitudinal flanges 12a, 12b and a longitudinal central web 13 extending perpendicularly from a point located intermediate opposite side edges of the outer surface of the inner flange 12a to a point located intermediate opposite side edges of the inner surface of the outer flange 12b.

As will be explained hereinafter, four brackets 11 are provided for anchoring the beam 10 to the support surface.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawings, each bracket 11 comprises an elongate body which is L-shaped in section and which comprises a short first arm 14 and a longer second arm extending perpendicular thereto. An enlarged formation 16 is formed on the outer end of the first arm 14 at one end of the elongate body. An aperture 17 extends through the formation 16, axially of the body.

The brackets 11 are preferably formed from extruded aluminium or the like, with portions of the extrusion then being removed, for example by milling, so that the formation 16 is only provided at one end of the bracket.

Referring again to Figure 1, two pairs of brackets 11 are positioned on respective sides of the web 13 at the lower end of the beam 10, with the first arms 14 of the brackets 11 being positioned in face-to-face registration with respective arms of the flanges 12a, 12b and with the second arms 15 of the brackets 11 being positioned in face-to-face registration with the webl3 of the beam 10.

The outer ends of the second arms 15 of each pair of brackets 11 abut each other along the centre of the web 13.

The brackets 11 of each pair are mirror images of each and are arranged on the beam 20 such that their apertured formations 16 lie at the lower end of the beam lo, at positions which are located outwardly of respective arms of the flanges 12a, 12b.

The first arms 14 of the brackets 11 are secured to respective arms of the flanges 12a, 12b by bolts (not shown), which are passed through apertures (not shown) formed in the flanges 12a, 12b into internally- threaded bores (not shown) formed in the first arms 14 of the brackets 11.

Preferably, a longitudinal channel 18 extends along the outer surface of each arm of the flanges 12a, 12b. The apertures through which the bolts are passed are formed in the floor of the channels and in this manner, the heads of the bolts are recessed in the channels.

The second arms 15 of the brackets 11 are secured to the web 13 by passing bolts (not shown) through apertures which extend through the web 13 and through respective brackets 11 on opposite sides of the web 13.

It will be appreciated that the axial position of the four brackets 11 on the beam 11 can be independently adjusted prior to fastening, so that the underside of their apertured formation 16 can be fully abutted against the support surface to which the beam 10 is being anchored.

The brackets are then anchored to the support surface by passing fastening members through the respective apertured formations 16.

The brackets are simple in construction and inexpensive to manufacture, yet provide a secure and attractive way of anchoring a vertical beam to a support surface.

Claims

Claims 1. A structural building assembly comprising an upright I- section

beam having a pair of parallel longitudinal side flanges interconnected by a perpendicular longitudinal web, said assembly further comprising at least one bracket at the lower end of said beam for anchoring said beam to a support surface, said bracket comprising an elongate body extending axially of said beam and having a first surface in face-to-face registration with the surface of one side of said web of said beam and a second surface in face-to-face registration with one arm of one of said flanges, said bracket further comprising a passageway extending axially with respect to said beam, through which a fastening member may be passed for anchoring said beam to a support surface, the body of said bracket being fastened to said web and said arm of said flange by respective fastening members.
2. A structural building assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which a second bracket is disposed on the opposite side of said web and fastened to said web and to respective arm of said flange by respective fastening members.
3. A structural building assembly as claimed in claims 1 or 2, in which a pair of brackets are provided on one or both sides of said web, each bracket being fastened to said web and to a respective arm of said flange.
4. A structural building assembly as claimed in claim 3, in which the pair of brackets on the or each side of said web extend transverse the web and abut or engage each other.
5. A structural building assembly as claimed in claims 3 or 4, in which the position of each of the brackets with respect to the longitudinal axis of the beam is independently

adjustable.
6. A structural building assembly as claimed in any of claims 3 to 5, in which the passageways provided in the or each bracket on one side of said web are located in respective portions of said bracket(s) which extend away from each other at a point located outwardly of said web.
7. A structural building assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said passageway is provided at the outer end of said an arm of the bracket.
9. A structural building assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said passageway is provided on a formation disposed at the lower end of the said first arm of the bracket.
9. A structural building assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each bracket is formed of metal by extrusion.
10. A structural building assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
11. A bracket for anchoring an upright beam to a support surface, the bracket comprising an elongate body arranged to secure axially to the beam and a passageway extending axially of the body, through which a fastening member may be passed for anchoring the beam to a support surface, the bracket being formed of metal by extrusion.
12. A bracket as claimed in claim 11, in which said passageway is provided in a formation disposed at one end of the bracket.
13. A bracket substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.