JP2010529392A - Clamp and seismic sway reinforcement - Google Patents

Abstract

Seismic vibration reinforcement is a clamp for engaging a circular object, a rocking reinforcement member, a pair of connection mechanisms for coupling the circular object to the rocking reinforcement member and coupling the rocking reinforcement member to the building Including. The swing reinforcement member may be a swing resistant reinforcement pipe or a rod. Each connection mechanism may include a pair of strap clamps held together by a retainer. The strap clamp and / or circular object clamp may include one or more longitudinal slots. The longitudinal slot improves the winding of the clamp that engages the rocking reinforcement member or the circular object, and the clamp is engaged by the rocking reinforcement member or the circular object.

Description

(Cross-reference of related applications)
This application is a continuation-in-part of US Application No. 11 / 636,134 (filed on December 8, 2006), and is a US patent of US Provisional Application No. 60 / 749,197 (filed on December 9, 2005). Claiming the benefit of priority in section 119 (e) of the Act, this application is also filed in US Provisional Patent Section 119 of US Provisional Application No. 60 / 943,105 (filed June 11, 2007). Insist on the benefit of the priority of paragraph (e). All of the prior applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

(Field of Invention)
The present invention generally relates to clamps for circular objects, as shown, and to such clamps that are part of seismic rocking reinforcement.

  Clamps for holding circular objects, such as pipes or conduits, generally secure objects to structures, secure other objects or fixtures to circular objects, or otherwise limit movement of circular objects Used in a wide range of situations.

  One example of a clamp used to hold a circular object is a riser clamp used to secure a vertical pipe path in a plumbing stack or the like. An exhaust stack is a vertical path of a pipe that passes through a building, for example, used to ventilate a distribution pipe for piping. The vertical path may be several stories high and penetrates a circular floor opening that is a diameter that exceeds the diameter of the pipe path.

  These vertical paths of the pipe are secured by riser clamps. An exemplary prior art riser clamp 1 is shown in FIG. The riser clamps 1 each have a pair of bar portions 2 of a rectangular cross-section bar having a pair of straight ends 3 and a circular portion 4 between the straight ends 3. The bar part 2 is clamped on a pipe or conduit 5 and both sides of the pipe 5 are engaged by the surface of the circular part 4. The bar portion 2 is fixed on the pipe 5 by a pair of bolts 6 that pass through the holes 7 in the straight ends 3 on both sides of the circular portion 4 and nuts 8 that are screwed into the bolts 6. The nut 8 is tightened so that the pipe 5 is fixed and clamped between the circular portions 4. When the riser clamp 1 is installed, the circular portion 4 is not in contact with the straight end 3 of the portion 2 and is between the straight end 3 of one of the bar portions and the corresponding straight end 3 of the other bar portion. Is configured to have space.

  A riser clamp such as the riser clamp 1 is fixed to a vertical path of a pipe immediately above a circular floor opening through which the pipe path passes. The riser clamp 1 normally rests on the floor, and its straight end 3 is long enough to extend beyond the circular floor opening. Thus, since the riser clamp 1 is too large to penetrate a circular floor opening, one function of the riser clamp 1 is to prevent vertical movement of the pipe.

  In addition, the riser clamp 1 prevents the rotation or tilting of the pipeline. The space between the corresponding straight ends 3 of the part 2 provides a stable base that resists twisting or rotation of the pipe, otherwise the clamp 1 rolls over from the edge of one straight end 3 of the part 2. It will be. In other words, the bases that engage the floor around the circular floor opening by preventing the corresponding straight ends 3 of the part 2 from each other and prevent unwanted twisting, tilting, and / or rotation of the pipeline. I will provide a.

  Nevertheless, there is room for improvement in that the riser clamp 1 has a large number (six) of separate parts and two different screwing operations. In addition, some care must be taken to provide at least approximately symmetry between the tightening of the nuts 7 on both sides of the pipe 5 and to have a proper installation of the riser clamp 1.

  From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that generally improvements for pipe or conduit clamps, particularly riser clamps, are desirable.

  One motivation for securing objects such as pipes is to prevent damage during seismic events such as earthquakes. Seismic reinforcement is often installed in piping systems, fire sprinklers, electrical systems, heating conduits, ventilation conduits, air conditioning conduits, other structural and non-structural components of buildings, and buildings Required for some equipment. Previously, the installation of pipe clamps and seismic reinforcements involved the steps of disassembling the retractor clamp and then reassembling it around the retractor. This is time consuming and gives the opportunity to lose nuts and bolts during the installation process. In many cases, installation is an aerial work near the ceiling, so dropping nuts and bolts during installation is a significant waste of time and more expensive to install. Become. From this it will be appreciated that improvements in reinforcement for pipes and conduits are desirable.

  According to one aspect of the invention, the clamp has one or more longitudinal slots in a section that engages a circular object.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the seismic oscillating reinforcement comprises a clamp comprising two parts for engaging a circular object to be reinforced, an oscillating reinforcing member, and the circular object connected to the oscillating reinforcing member. And a pair of connecting members for connecting the swing reinforcing member to a bracket attached to the building. The connecting member may include a strap clamp that is held together by a retainer member.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of seismic reinforcement includes placing a clamp around a circular object to be reinforced, and using additional clamps to oscillate the clamp around the circular object. Affixing to the member.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the seismic vibration reinforcement includes a circular object clamp, a rocking reinforcement member, the rocking reinforcement member coupled to the circular object clamp, and the rocking reinforcement member coupled to the building. Additional clamps to

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, the clamp has an object engaging section having at least one longitudinal slot therein.

  According to one aspect of the invention, the clamp includes a pair of clamp parts, at least one of which has an open slot therein for receiving a bolt in the hole in the other section.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, the clamp includes a pair of clamp parts, one of which has an open slot therein for receiving a bolt in the hole of the other section.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the clamp has a bolt that is permanently secured within one hole of the part, and the bolt is not permanently rotatable with respect to the part.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, the clamp has a first bar portion having a first curved central section and a pair of first extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section. A second bar portion having a second curved central section and a pair of second extensions extending from both ends of the first curved central section; and a pair of fasteners for joining the bar portions together ,including. The first bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the first extensions. The second bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the second extensions. At least one of the holes in the second extension is an open hole.

  According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for placing a clamp around an object to be clamped places the respective central curved sections of the first and second bar portions on both sides of the object to be clamped. The curved section of the bar portion is between each pair of extensions connected to both sides of the curved section and connects the bar section with the object sandwiched between the central curved sections. A step of connecting a shaft of a fixture coupled to one of the extensions of the first bar portion through the slot and into one of the extensions in the second bar portion. Including a step of penetrating through the open hole.

  According to a further aspect of the invention, the clamp bar portion includes a central curved section, a pair of extensions connected to opposite ends of the central curved section, and a pair of bolts penetrating holes in each of the expanded sections, The bolt is fixedly attached to the extended portion.

  According to still further aspects of the invention, the clamp has a first bar portion having a first curved central section and a pair of first extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section; A second bar portion having a second curved central section and a pair of second extensions extending from both ends of the first curved central section; and a pair of fasteners for coupling the bar portions together including. The first bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the first extensions. The second bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the second extensions. At least one of the holes in the second extension includes means for receiving a bolt shaft of one of the bolts, while the bolt shaft is screwed onto the bolt head and the bolt shaft. Between the nuts.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a method of seismic reinforcement includes placing a clamp around a circular object to be reinforced and using one or more additional clamps to clamp the clamp around the circular object. Adhering to the swing reinforcement member.

  According to still another aspect of the present invention, the seismic vibration reinforcement includes a circular object clamp, a rocking reinforcement member, the rocking reinforcement member coupled to the circular object clamp, and the rocking reinforcement member coupled to the building. Additional clamps to

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, the clamp has an object engagement section having a longitudinal slot therein.

  To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the present invention will be fully described below, and in particular will include the features presented in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention. These embodiments, however, are indicative of various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed, some of which are. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

The accompanying drawings are not necessarily to scale.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art riser clamp secured to a pipeline. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a riser clamp according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the riser clamp of FIG. FIG. 4 is a side view of the second bar portion of the clamp of FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a stake that may be used in attaching a bolt to the first bar portion of the clamp of FIG. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative configuration of a clamp according to the present invention. 7 is an end view of the clamp of FIG. 8 is a side view of the second bar portion of the clamp of FIG. FIG. 9 is a side view of an alternative embodiment second bar portion that can be used as part of a clamp of the present invention having a pair of L-shaped slots. FIG. 10 is a side view of a second bar portion of another alternative embodiment that can be used as part of a clamp of the present invention having one L-shaped slot and one vertical slot. FIG. 11 is a side view of a second bar portion of yet another alternative embodiment that can be used as part of a clamp of the present invention having one oblique slot and one vertical slot. FIG. 12 is an exploded view of an alternative embodiment clamp according to the present invention. FIG. 13 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment clamp according to the present invention. 14 is a side view of the second bar portion of the clamp of FIG. FIG. 15 shows yet another alternative embodiment usable as part of a clamp of the present invention having a keyhole-shaped closure slot arranged in a horizontal orientation (along the length of the extension of the second bar portion). It is a perspective view of the 2nd bar part. 16 is a side view of the second bar portion of FIG. FIG. 17 shows yet another alternative embodiment usable as part of a clamp of the present invention having a keyhole-shaped closure slot arranged in a vertical orientation (along the width of the extension of the second bar portion). It is a perspective view of the 2nd bar part. FIG. 18 is a side view of the second bar portion of FIG. FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of a clamp according to the present invention. FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a modification of the clamp of FIG. FIG. 21 is a perspective view of another variation of the clamp of FIG. FIG. 22 is a perspective view of seismic rocking reinforcement according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 23 is a perspective view of a connecting member of the strap clamp of the seismic rocking reinforcement of FIG. 24 is a disassembled view of the connection member of FIG. FIG. 25 is a perspective view of another alternative clamp according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 26 is an exploded view of a seismic rocking reinforcement component according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 27 is a perspective view of a pipe clamp which is a part of the seismic rocking reinforcement of FIG. FIG. 28 is a perspective view of the seismic rock reinforcement component of FIG. 26 in a nested configuration. 29 is an end view of the seismic rock reinforcement component of FIG. 26 installed on a circular object such as a pipe or conduit.

  Seismic vibration reinforcement is a clamp for engaging a circular object, a rocking reinforcement member, a pair of connection mechanisms for coupling the circular object to the rocking reinforcement member and coupling the rocking reinforcement member to the building Including. The swing reinforcement member may be a swing resistant reinforcement pipe or a rod. Each connection mechanism may include a pair of strap clamps held together by a retainer. The strap clamp and / or circular object clamp may include one or more longitudinal slots. The longitudinal slot improves the winding of the clamp that engages the rocking reinforcement member or the circular object, and the clamp is engaged by the rocking reinforcement member or the circular object.

  The clamp includes first and second parts, each part having a circular central section and a pair of linear extensions extending in both directions away from the circular central section. Both parts have holes in the linear extensions on either side of the circular central section. In the first part, the hole is a closed hole, whereas in the second part, the hole is an open hole and is connected to the upper edge of the part by a slot. The bolt may be pre-placed through the closure hole by a nut threaded on the bolt, but is not tightened. The pre-mounted bolt may be received through the slot and into the open hole of the second part. The nut may then be clamped against the second part and sandwich the circular central section on both sides of a circular object such as a vertical pipe path between the parts. The use of open holes and pre-mounted bolts facilitates the installation of the riser clamp by reducing the number of installation steps that the part and process have. The slot for the open hole may have any of a variety of suitable shapes, including straight vertical, straight slant, and L-shape. Both slots in the second part may have the same shape, or the slots may have different shapes.

  According to a variant, the bolt is permanently fixed to the first part in order to prevent rotation of the bolt. This further simplifies installation in that the bolt does not need to be gripped by a wrench or other tool when the nut is tightened against the second part. Bolts that are permanently fixed may be used in combination with components having open holes. Alternatively, a part having a permanently secured bolt may be used in combination with a second part having a closure hole, the bolt passing through the closure hole before the nut is screwed onto the bolt. To do.

  Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the clamp 10 includes a pair of bar portions 12 and 14 for securing a circular object 16 such as a pipe or conduit in a circular space 18 between the bar portions 12 and 14 therebetween. . The first bar portion 12 includes a central circular section 20 having radial bends 22 and 24 that are curved in the opposite direction from the circular section 20. More broadly, the central section 20 is a curved section. Radial bends 22 and 24 warp into linear extensions 26 and 28 that extend away from circular section 20. The circular section 20 has an inner surface 29 that is configured to contact the object 16 when the clamp 10 is installed. The extensions 26 and 28 may be substantially straight with respect to each other and are configured to extend outwardly away from the circular object 16 in opposite directions, i.e., radially and diametrically opposite. Also good. In this configuration, the circular section 20 may be substantially semi-circular. Alternatively, the extensions 26 and 28 may have other configurations, such as being angled at a non-zero angle with respect to each other.

  The second bar portion 14 is similar to the first bar portion 12, ie, extends from both sides of the central circular (or curved) section 30 and the central circular section 30 and extends away from the circular section 20. It has a pair of radial bends 32 and 34 that warp to the respective linear extensions 36 and 38. The central circular section has an inner surface 39 for engaging a part of the circular object 16. The circular section inner surfaces 29 and 39 integrally define a round object receiving space 18 between the bar portions 12 and 14.

  The extensions 26 and 28 are each longer than the distance between the curves 22 and 24, and the extensions 36 and 38 are each longer than the distance between the curves 32 and 34. More broadly, each of the extensions 26 and 28 may be at least half the distance between the curves 22 and 24, and each of the extensions 36 and 38 is at least a distance between the curves 32 and 34, respectively. It may be half. The extensions 26, 28, 36, and 38 are each planar, substantially flat and straight, and extend therefrom perpendicular to the plane of the extensions 26, 28, 36, and 38. Does not have protrusions.

  The first bar portion 12 has closure holes 42 and 44 in the respective extensions 26 and 28. The second bar portion 14 has open holes 46 and 48 in the respective extensions 36 and 38. The holes 42, 44, 46, and 48 are used to receive a pair of bolts 52 and 54 and secure the bar portions 12 and 14 together around the circular object 16. Each shaft 56 and 58 of bolts 52 and 54 passes through a pair of holes 42/46 and 44/48. Nuts 62 and 64 are threaded on shafts 56 and 58. The nuts 62 and 64 may be tightened so as to pull the bar portions 12 and 14 together, and may be clamped to the object 16 to which the bar portions 12 and 14 are clamped.

  As used herein, the terms “bolts” and “nuts” broadly refer to fasteners that are threadably engageable. The term “bolt” encompasses a fixture that is externally threaded, such as a type of screw. The term “nut”, by way of example, includes a hex nut, a square nut, a wing nut, and the like, which are a part thereof and include parts that are screwed from various insides. The term “fixture” is used more broadly to include non-threaded parts in addition to threaded parts.

  The holes 42 and 44 are closed holes in that they are completely surrounded by the material of the first bar portion 12. The term “closed hole” as used herein refers to a hole that is sufficiently surrounded by the material of the bar portion into which the bolt can be inserted only by moving the bolt shaft substantially longitudinally through the hole. Used as a pointer. As illustrated, the closure holes 42 and 44 may have an elongated shape that allows some positioning of the bolt shafts 56 and 58 within the closure holes 42 and 44. Alternatively, the closure holes 42 and 44 may have different suitable shapes, such as a circular shape.

  In addition, referring now to FIG. 4, the holes 46 and 48, along the upper edges 72 and 74 of the extensions 36 and 38, have respective slots 66 and that provide openings through the open portions to the holes. 68 is an open hole communicating with 68. The term “open hole” is used herein to refer to a hole having an open side of sufficient width that allows a bolt shaft to be inserted into the hole through the open side. Open holes 46 and 48 may be generally circular or have an elongated shape. Slots 66 and 68 may have a smaller width than open holes 46 and 48, and slots 66 and 68 connect with open holes 46 and 48. Alternatively, slots 66 and 68 may have a width that is the same as or greater than open holes 46 and 48.

  Open holes 46 and 48 do not require bolt shafts 56 and 58 to be inserted through holes 42/46 and 44/48, but bar portions 12 and 14 are such that bar portions 12 and 14 are around circular object 16. Can be connected together. Bolts 52 and 54 may be pre-placed within first bar portion 12 prior to the installation process of pinching bar portions 12 and 14 around circular object 16. Bolt shafts 56 and 58 may be inserted into closure holes 42 and 44 by nuts 62 and 64 threaded on bolt shafts 56 and 58. The nuts 62 and 64 are not tightened at this point. Instead, gaps 76 and 78 are left along the bolt shafts 56 and 58 between the first bar portion 12 and the nuts 62 and 64. These gaps 76 and 78 are left so that these open portions of the bolt shafts 56 and 58 can later be inserted into the slots 66 and 68 and from there into the open holes 46 and 48. The clamp 10 may be shipped with bolts 52 and 54 pre-mounted within the first bar portion 12 and nuts 62 and 64 threaded on the bolt shafts 56 and 58.

  In the installation process, first, the first bar portion 12 is placed against a circular object 16 to be sandwiched. The circular section inner surface 29 may be placed in contact with the outer side of the circular object 16.

  The second bar portion 14 is then engaged with the first bar portion 12. The second bar portion 14 is placed on the opposite side of the circular object 16 from the first bar portion 12. The second bar portion 14 is mounted on the circular object 16 below the horizontal plane of the first bar portion 12 with the upper edges 72 and 74 and the open ends of the slots 66 and 68 facing upward. Also good. One or both of the bar portions 12 and 14 are then moved through slots 66 and 68 to provide bolt shafts 56 and 58 in the open holes 46 and 48. This may be achieved by a simple relative vertical movement of the bar portions 12 and 14. Alternatively, depending on the shape and / or configuration of slots 66 and 68, rotation and / or rotation of bar portions 12 and 14 may occur to engage bolts 52 and 54 with open holes 46 and 48. Bolt shafts 56 and 58 may engage corresponding slots 66 and 68 substantially simultaneously. Alternatively, one of the bolt shafts 56 and 58 may engage its slot before the other bolt shaft.

  When the bolts 52 and 54 are engaged with the open holes 46 and 48, the nuts 62 and 64 are tightened along the bolt shafts 56 and 58. This secures the bar portions 12 and 14 with the circular object 16 sandwiched therebetween in the circular space 18 between the circular sections 20 and 30.

  The second bar portion 14 is oriented with the slots 66 and 68 facing upward to provide an improved load path for carrying the load on the clamp 10. Alternatively, the second bar portion 14 may be oriented with the slots 66 and 68 facing downwards, the bolts 52 and 52 being engaged with the open holes 46 and 48 during and after installation of the clamp 10. May assist in retaining 54.

  Bolts 52 and 54 may initially be loose in closure holes 42 and 44. That is, the bolts 52 and 54 may be freely rotatable within the closure holes 42 and 44.

  Alternatively, the bolts 52 and 54 may be fixedly attached to the first bar portion 12 such that the bolts 52 and 54 are not rotatable relative to the first bar portion 12. Bolts 52 and 54 may be inserted into closure holes 42 and 44 and secured within holes 42 and 44 relative to first bar portion 12. Fixing bolts 52 and 54 in holes 42 and 44 may be accomplished by any of a variety of suitable methods.

  One method of attaching the bolts 52 and 54 to the first bar portion 12 is to stake the bolts 52 and 54 into the closure holes 42 and 44. To strike, the closure holes 42 and 44 may have an initial diameter that is slightly larger than the diameter of the bolt shafts 56 and 58. After the bolt shafts 56 and 58 have been inserted into the closure holes 42 and 44, a tapping operation is used to deform the material of the first body portion 12 in the vicinity of the holes 42 and 44. Referring now to FIG. 5, a metal stake 80 is used to accomplish the step of driving. Stake 80 is used to simultaneously connect bolts 52 and 54 to first bar portion 12 simultaneously. Stake 80 has a central hole 82 for receiving bolt shafts 56 and 58 when stake 80 is struck down against first body portion 12 in the vicinity of closure holes 42 and 44. The stake 80 has a sharp edge 84 that is slightly larger than the diameter of the closure holes 42 and 44 and surrounds the central hole 82. When the stake 80 comes into contact with the first bar portion 12 by force, the sharp edges 84 are pressed into the material of the first bar portion 12 and deformed locally. The material of the first bar portion 12 that is radially inward of the sharp edge 84 is pressed radially inward. This shrinks the closure holes 42 and 44 and clamps the bolt shafts 56 and 58 within the shrinked holes. The deformable material of the first bar portion 12 may enter into the bolt shafts 56 and 58 and engage the threads thereon. Bolt shafts 56 and 58 are permanently secured within closure holes 42 and 44 and cannot be rotated or removed from them within closure holes 42 and 44. Accordingly, the bolts 52 and 54 are fixedly attached to the first bar portion 12.

  Alternatively, closure holes 42 and 44 may be holes that are threaded inwardly by threads that engage threads on bolt shafts 56 and 58. Bolts 52 and 54 may be threaded into holes 42 and 44. Thereafter, as described above, the step of driving may be performed by the stake. Striking the bolts 52 and 54 into the holes threaded inward can result in a more secure attachment of the bolts 52 and 54 to the first bar portion 12. However, it should be understood that the step of threading inside the hole adds another step in the manufacturing process for the first bar portion 12.

  Many alternative methods for attaching the bolts 52 and 54 to the first body portion 12 are available. The end portions of the bolt shafts 56 and 58 that are closest to the heads of the bolts 52 and 54 may be knotted by straight or helical knots to engage the inner surfaces of the holes 42 and 44. Knotting may be performed in addition to the step of tapping. Alternatively, the knotting may be performed as an alternative to the tapping step, and the knurled parts of the bolt shafts 52 and 54 are press fit within the closure holes 42 and 44. The bolts 52 and 54 are harder than the material of the first body portion 12 so that the knotted portion is embedded and engaged within the first body portion 12 for the press-fit step. It is advantageous to consist of materials.

  As a further alternative, bolt shafts 56 and 58 may have non-threaded portions near their bolt heads. These non-threaded shoulder portions may be fixedly engaged by the tapping process described above.

  Other alternatives include the use of weld studs under the bolt heads of bolts 52 and 54. The weld stud is resistance welded in place and has a protrusion that is crimped onto the first bar portion 12. A further alternative that uses a tapping step would be the use of a square hole in the first bar portion 12 that receives the root bolt. The root bolt will be secured in the square hole by striking.

  Installing the bolts 52 and 54 to the first bar portion 12 may advantageously reduce the number of tools used in installing the clamp 10. The bolts 52 and 54 attached to the first bar portion 12 eliminate the need to grip the bolts 52 and 54 with a wrench or pliers, etc., while preventing the bolts 52 and 54 from rotating while the nuts 62 and 64. Are tightened along the bolt shafts 56 and 58.

  The clamp 10 is intended for use as a riser clamp, such as to secure a vertical path of a pipe or conduit. Thus, a riser clamp, such as clamp 10, functions to support vertical loads along the axis of such vertical path of the pipe or conduit. One side of the clamp 10 in use is that the extensions 26 and 28 of the bar portion 12 do not contact the extensions 36 and 38 of the bar portion 14. Accordingly, the clamping force of the bolts 52 and 54 is transmitted to the pipe or conduit 16 by contacting the circular sections 20 and 30. This clamping force must be sufficient to accommodate any load in the axis of the pipe or conduit path without shifting the clamp 10 relative to the pipe or conduit path. Extensions 26, 28, 36, and 38 are carried on a horizontal surface such as a floor and provide support for vertical pipes or conduit paths. This is in contrast to clamps for horizontal pipes and is configured to support the weight of the pipe in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. Pipe clamps for such roads generally do not impart a clamping force to the pipe, and therefore cannot support the axial load of a horizontal pipe.

  Another advantage of the clamp 10 is that it can be shipped in an efficient space saving configuration. The bar portions 12 and 14 may be “nested” together with the circular section 30 resting within the circular section 20. As described above, bolts 52 and 54 may be pre-installed in holes 42 and 44. Bar portions 12 and 14 are joined together in a nested storage configuration by inverting bar portion 14 from the configuration shown in FIG. 3 and engaging bolts 52 and 54 within open holes 46 and 48. Also good. The nuts 62 and 64 may be tightened by hand or the like to keep the bar portions 12 and 14 nested together in such a compact configuration. Such a nested configuration facilitates storage, shipping and handling of the clamp 10 prior to installation. The bar portions 12 and 14 are easy to separate from each other for installation due to the presence of the open holes 46 and 48. The nuts 62 and 64 need only be slightly relaxed and then the bar portions may be disengaged from each other. Bolts 52 and 54 may be left pre-installed in holes 42 and 44 during the present detachment or nesting process.

  6-8 show a variation of the clamp 10 wherein the second bar portion 114 has protruding tips 116/118 and 120/122 at the ends of its open slots 126 and 128. FIG. The protruding tips 116/118 and 120/122 protrude perpendicular to the extensions 136 and 138 in the same direction as the ridges of the central circular section 140. This is toward the second bar portion 114 that contacts the nuts 62 and 64. The protruding tips 116/118 and 120/122 may be the downward bend angle of the ends of the slots 126 and 128. Alternatively, the protruding tips 116/118 and 120/122 may include additional materials such as welding or soldering materials. The protruding tips 116/118 and 120/122 assist in keeping the bar portions 12 and 114 connected together so that the nuts 62 and 64 do not pass through the tip unless the nut is relaxed.

  The slots 66/68 and 126/128 described above are straight slots that are substantially perpendicular to the upper edges 72 and 74. Thus, when clamp 10 is installed on a vertical pipeline or conduit, slots 66/68 and 126/128 are oriented vertically.

  FIGS. 9-11 show alternative slot configurations. FIG. 9 shows a second bar portion 164 having L-shaped slots 166 and 168. Slots 166 and 168 have respective vertical sections 172 and 174 and respective horizontal sections 176 and 178. Vertical sections 172 and 174 have open ends along upper edges 182 and 184 of extensions 186 and 188. Horizontal sections 176 and 178 connect vertical sections 172 and 174 to open holes 196 and 198. In connecting the second bar portion 164 to the first bar portion 12 (FIG. 2), the vertical sections 172 and 174 are initially engaged on the bolt shafts 56 and 58 (FIG. 2). The second bar portion 114 is then shifted so that the bolt shafts 56 and 58 pass through the horizontal sections 176 and 178 and into the open holes 196 and 198. Use of L-shaped slots 166 and 168 may assist in retaining bolts 52 and 54 (FIG. 2) within open holes 196 and 198.

  FIG. 10 shows a second bar portion 214 having an L-shaped slot 216 and a vertical straight slot 218 that communicate with respective open holes 226 and 228. The second bar portion 214 is engaged with the first bar portion by first engaging one of the bolts with an L-shaped slot 216 and then engaging the other of the bolts with a straight slot 218. May be. The L-shaped slot 216 provides an advantage in keeping the second bar portion 214 connected to the first body portion, while avoiding the need to engage two L-shaped slots simultaneously. Good.

  FIG. 11 shows a second bar portion 264 having a vertical straight slot 266 and a slanted slot 268 that communicate with the respective open holes 276 and 278. Oblique slot 268 is oriented at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to vertical (between the vertical and horizontal directions), while oblique slot 268 is more broadly an angle oriented in different directions. It should be understood that it may be an attached slot. Oblique slot 268 may initially engage one of the bolts with second bar portion 264 that is inclined to penetrate the bolt shaft through open slot 278 through oblong slot 268. The second bar portion 264 may then be tilted rearward and moved to engage the second bolt by the vertical straight slot 266 and the open hole 276.

  It should be understood that many other slot configurations are possible. For example, another possible configuration would be a pair of oblique slots oriented in the same direction.

  Further variations are possible. The bar portions can be substantially equal to each other, each bar portion having one closing hole and one opening hole, and perhaps the bolt is installed in the closing hole. I want you to understand.

  FIG. 12 shows an alternative clamp 310 where the bar portions 312 and 314 have respective pairs of closure holes 316/318 and 322/324. Bolts 332 and 334 are attached to first bar portion 312 using any of the various suitable attachment mechanisms described above. Clamp 310 still requires that nuts 342 and 344 be screwed onto bolts 332 and 334 during installation, rather than pre-screwing the nut onto the bolt. However, clamp 310 requires fewer parts and / or installation tools than conventional currently used riser clamps.

  FIGS. 13 and 14 illustrate another alternative embodiment clamp 410 that is similar in many respects to clamp 10 (FIG. 2). Like the clamp 10, the clamp 410 has a pair of bar portions 412 and 414. The bar portion 412 has a pair of linear extensions 426 and 428 that extend outward from both sides of the circular section 420, and the bar portion 414 has a pair of linear extensions 436 that extend outward from both sides of the circular section 430. And 438. The clamp 410 differs from the clamp 10 in that the extensions 426, 428, 436, and 438 are shorter than the extensions 26, 28, 36, and 38 (FIG. 2) of the clamp 10. In other respects, the clamp 410 is similar to the clamp 10 or the alternative embodiment described above.

  FIGS. 15 and 16 show an alternative embodiment second bar portion 514 that may be used with the first bar portion 12 (FIG. 2) or variations thereof. Bar portion 514 has extensions 536 and 538 that extend outwardly from opposite sides of circular section 530. Extensions 536 and 538 have closed keyhole slots 546 and 548, respectively. The slot 546 has a large diameter portion 549 and a small diameter portion 550 that are connected to each other by a slot channel 551. Large diameter portion 549 is large enough to allow penetration of nuts such as nuts 62 and 64 (FIG. 2). Slot channel 551 and small diameter portion 550 are wide enough to allow bolt shafts such as bolt shafts 56 and 58 (FIG. 2) to enter. However, the slot channel 551 and the small diameter portion 550 are too narrow to allow a nut threaded on the bolt shaft to pass therethrough.

  The slot 548 has similar parts: a large diameter portion 559, a small diameter portion 560, and a slot channel 561. Slots 546 and 548 are similarly oriented so that the position of large diameter portion 549 relative to small diameter portion 550 is the same as the position of large diameter portion 559 relative to small diameter portion 560. As illustrated in FIGS. 15 and 16, the large diameter portions 549 and 559 are to the left of the respective small diameter portions 551 and 561 of the slot. Large diameter portion 549 is relatively distal and farther from central circular section 530 than small diameter portion 551. In contrast, the large diameter portion 559 is relatively proximal and closer to the central circular section 530 than the small diameter portion 561. Small diameter portions 551 and 561 may be located along their respective extensions 536 and 538 at substantially the same distance from the central circular section 530.

  Bar portion 514 may be used in conjunction with a first bar portion having a nut pre-installed on the bolt, whether or not the bolt is fixedly attached to the first bar portion. The first bar portion such as the first bar portion 12 (FIG. 2) is placed on an object to be sandwiched such as a circular object. The bar portion 514 then engages the first bar portion. Pre-installed nuts are passed through the large diameter ends 549 and 559 of the slots 546 and 548. The bar portions are then connected to each other so that the bolt shaft is now within the small diameter ends 551 and 561 of the slots 546 and 548 with the second bar portion 514 between the nut and the first bar portion. It is translated with respect to it. This relative translation is in a direction along the length of the extensions 536 and 538 and may be achieved by moving one bar portion or both bar portions. Next, after the parallel movement, the nut is tightened, and the circular object between the first and second bar portions is fixed and clamped. The installation process advantageously requires only two separate parts that are handled in the vicinity of the object to be clamped.

  Figures 17 and 18 show a variation on the keyhole slot concept described above. The second bar portion 614 includes a pair of keyhole-shaped closure slots 646 and 648 within the extensions 636 and 638 at the ends of the central circular section 630. Slots 646 and 648 have a shape similar to closing keyhole slots 546 and 548 (FIG. 15) of bar portion 514 (FIG. 15). However, slots 546 and 548 are horizontally oriented with large diameter portions 549 and 559 parallel to small diameter portions 551 and 561 along the length of extensions 536 and 538 (FIG. 15). , Slots 646 and 648 are oriented vertically. That is, the large diameter portions 649 and 659 are parallel to the small diameter portions 651 and 661 along the width of the extensions 636 and 638. This makes the bar portion 614 wider than the bar portion 514. However, the relative translation of the bar portion in the vertical direction (in the axial direction of the circular object, along the width of the extensions 636 and 638) is relative to the horizontal direction (perpendicular to the axis of the sandwiched object). Changing the orientation of the slot may make it easier to install the clamp, as it may be easier than a typical translation. Clamps that require horizontal relative translation require a greater initial clearance between the bar part and the object being clamped to avoid interference from the object when connecting the bar parts. There is a case.

  FIGS. 19-21 illustrate additional clamp variations 710, 710 ′, and 710 ″. Clamps 710 (FIG. 19) are paired in circular object receiving sections 720 and 730 of their bar portions 712 and 714, respectively. With longitudinal slots 721a / 721b and 731a / 731b In other aspects, the clamp 710 may be similar to various clamp embodiments described herein, for example, the bar portions 712 and 714 may be Each having a pair of linear extensions 726/728 and 736/738 extending away from the central sections 720 and 730. For each of the bar portions 712 and 714, the longitudinal slots 721a / 721b and 731a / 731b are One of the linear expansion portions 726/736 to the other linear expansion portion Extends across central sections 720 and 730 in the direction of 28/738. Pairs of slots 721a / 721b and 731a / 731b include pairs of linear extensions 726/728 and 736/738 of bar portions 712 and 714; The longitudinal slots 721a / 721b and 731a / 731b are arranged in a circular center so that they fit more into the circular object 716 held by the clamp 710. More easily deform sections 720 and 730. This improvement in the winding of circular sections 720 and 730 onto object 716 provides better holding or gripping force on object 716 and more secure object 716. Also, the slotted bar portions 712 and 714 are more than the bar portions without slots. And it requires no material, to reduce the weight and material costs.

  Clamp 710 ′ (FIG. 20) is similar to clamp 710, but has linear extensions (short ears) 726 ′ / 728 ′ and 736 ′ / 738 ′ as compared to clamp 410 shown in FIGS. short. Clamp 710 ″ (FIG. 21) has bar portions 712 ″ and 714 ″ with respective curved central sections 720 ″ and 730 ″. The curved central sections 720 ″ and 730 ″ each have a single slot 721 ″ and 731 ". A single slot clamp may be used for small diameter objects and a multiple slot clamp may be used for large diameter objects.

  It is understood that the concept of a clamp having a slotted circular central portion may be combined with many of the features of the various embodiments described herein, such as various configurations of the open holes described herein. I want. It should also be understood that many variations are possible in the number and configuration of slots in the circular central portion. For example, to name only two examples, the central portion slot may have a non-uniform width and / or may be mounted in a side-by-side configuration.

  FIGS. 22-24 illustrate an anti-seismic rock reinforcement 800 used to reinforce a circular object 816, such as a pipe or conduit. The clamp 810 is fixed to the object 816. The clamp 810 incorporates various features for easily securing the clamp to a circular object, with a reduced number of parts and / or steps, as well as a pair of clamps having other advantages described herein. It may be a clamp as described herein, including bar portions 812 and 814. Alternatively, the clamp 810 may be a prior art clamp having separate bolts that pass through a pair of closure holes, such as the prior art clamp 1 shown in FIG.

  The clamp 810 is connected to an anti-swing reinforcement pipe 820 and in turn connected to a bracket 822 mounted on a building. A pair of connection mechanisms 824 and 826 connect the anti-swing reinforcement pipe 820 to the clamp 810 and the bracket 822, respectively.

  The connection mechanism 824 includes a pair of strap clamps 830 and 832 and a holder 836 for connecting the strap clamps 830 and 832 together. Strap clamps 830 and 832 each have a pair of end tabs 840 and 842 between curved portions 838 that form a substantially complete circle about central opening 839. Tabs 840 and 842 overlap each other and have respective holes 844 and 846 therein. When tabs 840 and 842 are pressed together, central curved portion 838 is tightened, reducing the size of its opening and pressing curved portion 838 against any object therein. The curved portion 838 has a pair of longitudinal slots 848 and 849. Longitudinal slots 848 and 849 are along the center of the width of curved portion 838. Longitudinal slots 848 and 849 provide similar advantages as longitudinal slots 721a / 721b and 731a / 731b in clamp 710 (FIG. 19).

  The holder 836 includes a pair of bars 850 and 854. The first bar 850 is a flat bar with a hole 853 therein. The second bar 854 has a flat central portion 855 having upward ends 856 and 858. Upward ends 856 and 858 hold strap clamps 830 and 832 together. The hole 860 in the central portion 855 is positioned to correspond to the position of the strap clamps 830 and 832 relative to the respective holes 844 and 846 when the strap clamps 830 and 832 are between the upward ends 856 and 858. Also, the hole 853 in the first bar 850 corresponds to the position of the holes 844 and 846 in the strap clamp tabs 840 and 842. Strap clamp tabs 840 and 842 are pressed against bars 850 and 854 and retainer 836.

  Bolts 864 and 866 pass through holes 844 and 846 in strap clamps 830 and 832 and holes 860 and 862 in retainer 836. Also, one of the bolts 864 passes through a closing or opening hole on one side of the clamp 810. Bolts 864 and 866 may be separate pieces. Alternatively, the bolt 864 may be part of the clamp 810 and is secured to one of the bar portions 812 and 814 of the clamp 810. The nuts 870 and 872 are screwed onto the bolts 864 and 866 and tightened so as to be secured to the connection mechanism 824. The step of tightening the nuts 870 and 872 causes the curved portion 838 of the strap clamps 830 and 832 to grip and hold the anti-vibration reinforced pipe bar 820 within the opening 839 in the strap clamps 830 and 832. Further, in the step of tightening the nuts 870 and 872, the holder 836 is fixed to the clamp 810.

  The connection mechanism 826 may have all the same parts as the connection mechanism 824. The connection mechanism 826 grips the strap clamps 880 and 882 to the anti-swing reinforcement pipe 820, tightens the bolts and nuts, and tightens the holder 886 to secure the strap clamps 880 and 882 to the bracket. Held at 822.

  It should be understood that many variations are possible for the seismic rocking reinforcement 800 described above. Some or all of the clamps 810, 830, 832, 880, and 882 have a patterned gripping surface, such as a knurled or serrated surface, and may assist in gripping. Clamp 810 may be replaced by any of a variety of clamps for circular objects, with or without an open slot for receiving a bolt shaft. The rock proof reinforcement pipe 820 may be replaced by a bar or other circular object. In a preferred modification, other types of rigid swing reinforcement members such as struts, channels, angle irons, etc. As another alternative, it should be understood that a single strap clamp may be used in place of one or both of the multi-part connection mechanisms 824 and 826. Also, many types of connection mechanisms such as a mechanism for clamping the rigid wall of the reinforcing member, such as the inner and outer surfaces of the pipe wall, may be used. The alternative connection mechanism may also involve a threaded connection to a threaded reinforcement member, such as a threaded pipe. Many other types of attachments to the rocking reinforcement member are well known and can be used as part of the seismic rocking reinforcement 800.

  Seismic rock reinforcement 800 facilitates the installation of pipes, conduits, clamps, rock rock reinforcements, and other structural and non-structural components. In addition, the fact that there are few loose fitting parts provides the advantage of reducing the delay due to falling parts. Slotted pipe or conduit clamps and / or strap clamps improve grip strength and force on pipes, conduits, or other structural and non-structural components or equipment compared to non-slotted clamps To do.

  A method of seismic reinforcement of a circular object, such as a pipe or conduit, includes the steps of placing a clamp, such as the clamp described herein, around a circular object, and using a strap clamp to secure the clamp around the circular object. Adhering to a rocking reinforcing member such as a pipe or a rod. Circular object clamps and / or strap clamps may have a single slot or multiple slots therein to facilitate securing the clamp to the circular object and / or the rocking reinforcement member.

  The method of seismic reinforcement of a non-circular object such as a trapezoid of a rigid conduit uses a step of placing a clamp as described herein or other clamping method around the non-circular object and a strap clamp And fixing a clamp around the non-circular object to a rocking reinforcing member such as a pipe, a rod, or the like. Non-circular object clamps and / or strap clamps may have a single slot or multiple slots therein to facilitate anchoring of the clamp to the non-circular object and / or rocking reinforcement member.

  FIG. 25 shows a clamp 810 ′, which is an alternative embodiment that may be used in place of the clamp 810 in the seismic rock reinforcement 800. The clamp 810 ′ may use the same first bar portion 812 as the clamp 810. The second bar portion 814 'of the clamp 810' has a pair of extensions 836 'and 838'. The extension 836 'has an open hole 846' that may be similar in construction to the various open holes described above. An open hole 846 ′ may be used to receive a bolt 864 that may be pre-installed in the extension 826 in the first bar portion 812.

  The other extension 838 ′ has a proximal portion 876 opposite the extension 828 of the first bar portion 812 and a slot 874 that extends on both the distal portion 878. Distal portion 878 is angled away from both proximal portion 876 and extension 828. Bolt 866 extends through both closure hole 846 ′ and slot 874 in extension 828.

  Clamp 810 ′ is placed around a circular object such as a sprinkler pipe or other pipe or conduit by tilting the second bar portion 814 ′ relative to the first bar portion 812 in a hinged manner. May be opened. The butterfly slides the second bar portion 814 ′ relative to the second bar portion 812 to move the bolt 866 into a portion of the slot 874 in the distal portion 878 of the extension 828. May be achieved. This pivots the second bar portion 814 ′ relative to the first bar portion 812. This opens the space between the extensions 826 and 836 'and places the clamp 810' around an object, such as a circular object 816 (FIG. 22).

  After the bar portions 812 and 814 'are placed around the object, the hinge operation is reversed to close the clamp 810'. That is, the bar portion 814 ′ pivots and moves relative to the bar portion 812. This moves the shaft of bolt 866 into a portion of slot 874 in proximal portion 876. This closes the space between the extensions 826 and 836 '. Bolt 868 may then be engaged within open hole 846 'to couple bar portions 812 and 814' together on both sides of the object.

  FIGS. 26-29 show a portion of another embodiment seismic clamp 900. Clamp 900 includes bar portions 912 and 914 that are held together by bolts 966 and 968 and nuts 972 and 974. The bar portions 912 and 914 may be substantially the same as the bar portions 812 and 814 (FIG. 22) described above, so further details regarding the bar portions 912 and 914 and their connection will be omitted in the following description. The Bar portions 912 and 914 surround and engage (clamp) a circular object 916, such as a pipe or conduit, for example, the horizontal path of a sprinkler system.

  A rock-resistant reinforcing pipe clamp 924 is used to engage the rock-resistant reinforcing pipe 920. The rock resistant reinforcement pipe 920 may be similar to the pipe 820 (FIG. 22). By grasping the pipe wall of the pipe 920, a pipe clamp 924 is used to connect to one end of the pipe 920. A clamp similar to clamp 924 may be used to connect the opposite end of pipe 920 to a structure, such as a ceiling or wall, for example by mechanically connecting the opposite end of pipe 920 to a suitable bracket. Such a bracket may include a member that passes through a hole in the clamp body.

  The clamp 924 is a cast clamp, and sandwiches the pipe 920 between the lower member 980 and the clamp screw 982. Lower member 980 and upper member 984 protrude from clamp body 986. The clamp body 986 has a hole 988 through which the shaft of the bolt 966 passes.

  Pipe 920 is received in a pipe receiving space 990 between members 980 and 984. Lower member 980 has an upper surface 992 having a step 994 with corners 998. The inclined surface 1002 slopes away from step 994 toward the opening 1004 at the mouth of the pipe receiving space 990. Upper member 984 has an internal threaded hole 1010 for receiving clamp screw 982. The hole 1010 is angled relative to its axis that is substantially perpendicular to the clamp body 986, eg, the inclined surface 1002. Accordingly, the clamp screw 982 may move substantially vertically toward the inclined surface 1002 when the clamp screw 982 is tightened.

  Pipe clamp 924 initially engages pipe 920 by inserting lower member 980 into pipe 920. Thus, the clamp screw 982 is clamped against the outer surface of the pipe 920 by the end of the pipe wall in the pipe receiving space 990. This clamps the inner surface of the pipe wall to the lower member 980. The pipe wall is clamped by being engaged on both its outer and inner surfaces. The tip of the clamp screw 982 is pressed against the outer surface, and the corner 998 is pressed against the inner surface.

  The seismic clamp 900 includes a pair of plastic holders 1020 and 1022. Retainers 1020 and 1022 are located around the shafts of bolts 966 and 968. Retainers 1020 and 1022 have tabs along their inner surface that engage threads on the shafts of bolts 966 and 968. The retainers 1020 and 1022 maintain the extensions 926 and 928 against the bolt heads of the bolts 966 and 968 and assist in retaining the pipe clamp 924 against the extension 928. The retainers 1020 and 1022 advantageously maintain the parts in place during assembly of the seismic clamp 900 into its nested configuration (FIG. 28). The holders 1020 and 1022 also keep the parts in place when the clamp 900 is in its installed configuration around the circular object 916.

  In the nested configuration, the second bar portion 914 is inverted so that the central circular section of the bar portion 914 is nested within the central circular section of the first bar portion 912. This creates a space saving arrangement for shipping and handling as described above with respect to another embodiment, while still allowing easy separation of the bar portions 912 and 914 for installation. Bar portions 912 and 914 may be separated from each other without having to disengage bolts 966 and 968 from first bar portion 912. The retainers 1020 and 1022 maintain the first bar portion 912 and the pipe clamp 924 in place as the second bar portion 914 is disengaged from the nested configuration.

  Seismic clamps 800 and 900 and variations thereof disclosed herein may be used to protect the horizontal pipeline against excessive movement from seismic forces. In particular, clamps 800 and 900 for securing and gripping such pipeways are desirable. This is in contrast to standard clamps for horizontal pipes and may be configured primarily to support the weight of the pipe in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the pipe. Pipe clamps for such roads generally do not impart a clamping force to the pipe and are therefore unable to support the axial load of a horizontal pipe, an advantageous feature of seismic clamps. .

  Although the invention has been illustrated and described with respect to certain preferred embodiments or embodiments, equivalent alternatives and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art upon careful reading and understanding of the specification and the accompanying drawings. It will be obvious. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the above-described elements (components, assemblies, devices, compositions, etc.), the terms used to describe such elements (including references to “means”) are explicitly indicated. Unless otherwise stated, the elements (ie, functional equivalents) described, even if not structurally equivalent to the disclosed embodiments or functions disclosed in the embodiments illustrated herein that perform the functions in the embodiments. It is intended to correspond to any element that performs a designated function. In addition, although particular features of the invention may have been described above with respect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, such features may be used for any given or specific application. It may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments as may be desirable and advantageous.

Claims (19)

A method of seismic reinforcement,
Placing a clamp around a circular object to be reinforced,
Securing the clamp around the circular object to a rocking reinforcement member using one or more additional clamps. The clamp for the circular object is
A first bar portion having a first curved central section and a pair of first extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section;
A second bar portion having a second curved central section and a pair of second extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section;
A pair of fasteners for joining the bar portions together,
The first bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the first extensions,
The second bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the second extensions,
At least one of the holes in the second extension is an open hole;
The method of claim 1. It is
Placing respective central curved sections of the first and second bar portions on opposite sides of the curved portion;
Connecting the bar portion integrally with the object sandwiched between the central curved sections, the connection being connected to one of the extensions of the first bar portion. And passing the fastener shaft through the slot and into an open hole in one of the extensions in the second bar portion. . It is
Opening a space between the respective first extensions of the bar portion, wherein the second extension of the bar portion is hinged together by a bolt;
Moving the bar portion around the circular object after the opening;
4. The method of claim 3, comprising, after the moving, closing the space and mechanically connecting the first extension of the bar portion together.   5. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least one of the fixtures is pre-connected to the first bar portion prior to placing. The at least one fixture is a bolt;
The method of claim 5, wherein the connecting further comprises tightening a nut that is threadably engaged with a threaded bolt shaft of the bolt.   7. The method of any one of claims 1-6, wherein using the one or more additional clamps includes using one or more strap clamps as the additional clamp.   8. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the clamps has at least one longitudinal slot therein.   9. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the one or more additional clamps include a pair of strap clamps and a retainer for holding the strap clamps together.   The one or more additional clamps are cast clamps that engage the swing reinforcement member by sandwiching the swing reinforcement member between a clamp screw and a lower member. A method according to any one of the above.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the rocking reinforcing member includes a pipe. Seismic rocking reinforcement,
A circular object clamp;
A swing reinforcement member;
An additional clamp for connecting the swing reinforcing member to the circular object clamp and connecting the swing reinforcing member to a building.   The stiffener of claim 12, wherein at least one of the clamps has a longitudinal slot. The circular object clamp is:
A first bar portion having a first curved central section and a pair of first extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section;
A second bar portion having a second curved central section and a pair of second extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section;
A pair of fasteners for joining the bar portions together,
The first bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the first extensions,
The second bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the second extensions,
At least one of the holes in the second extension is an open hole;
The reinforcing material according to claim 12 or 13.   The stiffener according to claim 14, wherein both of the holes in the second extension are open holes.   16. The stiffener according to any one of claims 12-15, wherein the one or more additional clamps include a pair of strap clamps and a retainer for holding the strap clamps together.   16. The one or more additional clamps are cast clamps that engage the swing reinforcement member by sandwiching the swing reinforcement member between a clamp screw and a lower member. The reinforcement material as described in any one of these. A riser clamp,
A first bar portion having a first curved central section and a pair of first extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section;
A second bar portion having a second curved central section and a pair of second extensions extending from opposite ends of the first curved central section;
A pair of fasteners for joining the bar portions together,
The first bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the first extensions,
The second bar portion has a pair of holes in each of the second extensions,
At least one of the holes in the second extension is an open hole;
The clamp, wherein at least one of the circular sections has at least one longitudinal slot therein.   The riser clamp of claim 18, wherein both of the holes in the second extension are open holes.

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