NZ764313B2 - Support bracket for a racking system - Google Patents

Abstract

support bracket (10) for fixing an end of a C-shaped elongate member (not shown) of a racking system in a building. The support bracket comprises a base plate (11) for fixing to a building surface, and two spaced apart arms (12) extending orthogonally from the base plate. The arms are sized to be slidingly received within and captured by opposing flanges of the C-shaped member. Each arm comprises a plurality of holes (13) to receive fasteners to secure the C-shaped member to the support bracket, and at least one tubular member (15) extending between the two spaced apart arms. The support bracket provides for easy installation of racking systems in a building while complying with structural and seismic building standards. slidingly received within and captured by opposing flanges of the C-shaped member. Each arm comprises a plurality of holes (13) to receive fasteners to secure the C-shaped member to the support bracket, and at least one tubular member (15) extending between the two spaced apart arms. The support bracket provides for easy installation of racking systems in a building while complying with structural and seismic building standards.

Description

SUPPORT BRACKET FOR A RACKING SYSTEM Field of Invention The invention relates to a racking system for supporting services such as electrical cables, plumping pipes and conduits in a building, and more particularly to a support t for fixing an elongate member of a racking system to a building surface.

Background to the Invention Racking systems for supporting services to be routed throughout a building are well known.

Such racking systems are lly used in commercial buildings and are led by a provider of such systems. A racking system consists of vertical elongate members fixed to an elevated ng surface within a building space, such as a ceiling. Horizontal members span between the spaced apart vertical members to support cables and the like. Once installed, many different /contractors use the racking system to lay pipes, electrical cables and conduits, and ducting for air conditioning and the like.

Racking systems are lly custom made to fit within a particular building. It would be ble to provide a racking system that is easy to install while also complying with structural and c building standards.

Object of the Invention It is an object of the invention to provide a racking system and/or a support bracket for a racking system that achieves one or more of the above-mentioned benefits, or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of the Invention According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a support bracket for fixing an end of an elongate member of a racking system to a building surface in a ng space, the elongate member sing a C-shaped cross section including edge regions of the C-shaped cross section extending inwardly to t two spaced apart inwardly facing channels at an open side of the C-shaped cross section, the bracket comprising: a base plate for fixing the support t to a building surface; two spaced apart arms attached to and extending orthogonally from the base plate; the arms sized to be slidingly received within the C-shaped cross section and with a longitudinal edge portion of each arm received in a respective one of the two spaced apart inwardly facing channels of the elongate member and captured between the channel and an opposing side of the elongate member; each arm comprising a plurality of holes to receive fasteners to secure the elongate member to the bracket when ed within the elongate member, and at least one tubular member attached to and extending between the two spaced apart arms to hold the arms spaced apart to be received in the inwardly facing channels.

Preferably, the bracket is a welded assembly with the arms welded to the base plate and the tubular member(s) welded to the two arms.

Preferably, the t comprises at least two spaced apart tubular members ed to and extending between the two spaced apart arms.

Preferably, the r member(s) have a circular cross section.

Preferably, the tubular member(s) is/are centred on a udinal axis of the arms.

Preferably, the tubular member(s) is/are attached between the arms and positioned so that a bore of the r member is aligned with a corresponding hole in each arm.

Preferably, the tubular member(s) has/have a circular cross section and the tubular member is concentric with the corresponding hole in each arm.

Preferably, the bracket comprises four holes in each arm and two tubular members, each tubular member positioned so that a bore of the tubular member is aligned with a tive hole in each arm.

Preferably, the four holes in each arm are arranged in two spaced apart pairs, and wherein each tubular member extends between a hole in one of the two pairs of holes in each arm.

Preferably, the tubular (s) is/are sized to receive a fastener ing though the holes and the tubular member. ably, the arms have tapered free ends to be easily inserted into the C-shaped section of the elongate member.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a t and elongate member for a racking system, the elongate member sing a C-shaped cross section including edge regions of the C-shaped cross section extending inwardly to present two spaced apart inwardly facing channels at an open side of the C-shaped cross section, and the bracket as described in any one or more of the above statements, wherein the elongate member comprises holes in opposing sides of the elongate member to receive bolts through the elongate member and the arms to clamp the elongate member to the arms.

Preferably, the te member deforms when clamped to the arms of the bracket without significant deformation of the t.

Preferably, the material thickness of the C section elongate member is substantially less than the thickness of the material of the bracket.

Preferably, the material thickness of the C-shaped section member is approximately half the thickness of the material of the bracket.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a racking system comprising a plurality of brackets and elongate members as described in any one or more of the above ents. The brackets and corresponding elongate members are spaced apart, and the racking system further comprises a horizontal member or members extending between the te members to receive and/or support one or more service lines within a ng space.

Further aspects of the invention, which should be ered in all its novel aspects, will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading of the following description which provides at least one example of a practical application of the invention.

Brief Description of the gs One or more embodiments of the invention will be described below by way of example only, and without intending to be limiting, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figure 1 illustrates a racking system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 illustrates a support bracket for a g system according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 3 plan, side and end views of the bracket of Figure 2; Figure 4 illustrates the support bracket of Figure 2 securing a portion of an elongate member to an elevated building surface; Figure 5 provides an end view of the assembly shown in Figure 5; Figure 6 illustrates an te member with a C-shaped section for a racking system; Figure 7 illustrates the C-shaped cross section of the member of Figure 6; Figure 8 provides a cross section of the bracket of Figure 2 received in the te member of Figure 6; Figure 9 provides a plan, side and end view of a support bracket for a racking system ing to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 10 shows the bracket of Figure 8 in an exploded view; Figure 11 illustrates the support bracket of Figure 8 securing a n of an te member to an elevated building surface; and Figure 12 illustrates prior art support brackets.

Brief Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention A racking system according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. The racking system 1 includes vertical elongate members 2 spaced apart and horizontal member(s) 3 extending between the vertical s 2. The horizontal member 3 may comprise an elongate tray or other form of member to receive and/or support cables, pipes and the like (service lines). The horizontal member may be ted by brackets attached to the vertical elongate s, such as cantilever ts 4, as known in the art.

The vertical members 2 are fixed to a building surface elevated above a floor surface in a building space by a support bracket. A support t according to the t invention as described below is ed to fix an upper end of the vertical member 2 to an elevated surface such as a ceiling surface or other surface above the floor of the building space (herein an elevated surface). In some embodiments, a bottom end of each vertical member may also be attached to the floor surface. For example, a welded plate or a bracket may be provided to the bottom end of the elongate member so that the elongate member 2 is fixed at both ends. In embodiments where a racking system 1 is hung or suspended above a floor surface, the vertical members 2 are fixed to an elevated building e at the upper end of the elongate member only.

The elongate members 2 of the racking system have a C-shaped or U-shaped cross section (herein a C-shaped cross section) as shown in Figures 6 and 7. Such a C-shaped section member is known and used in racking systems. The C-shaped cross section has three sides 2a, 2b and is open on one side of the member to present an open channel. Two d sides 2a adjacent the open side of the member have edge regions 2c curved or rolled or bent inwards to present two spaced apart inwardly facing channels 2d at the open side 2e of the ed cross section.

Each of the ly facing channels 2d is bounded by a respective edge region 2c of the cross section and a side 2a of the cross section.

A support bracket 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in Figures 2 and 3. The t 10 comprises a base plate 11 for attaching the ent to an elevated building surface such as a ceiling e, a wall or other horizontal or vertical surface d above a floor within a building space. The base plate has holes 16 to fix the base plate to a building surface.

Two spaced apart arms 12 are attached to and extend orthogonally from the base plate 11. In the embodiment of Figures 2 and 3 the arms 12 extend substantially perpendicularly from the base plate 11. Preferably the arms 12 are welded to the base plate 11 as illustrated in the Figures. The arms 12 are sized to slide into the C-shaped cross section of the member 2 with a longitudinal edge portion 12a of each arm 12 received in a respective one of the two spaced apart inwardly facing channels 2d of the elongate . When engaged with the elongate member each arm 12 is captured between the channel 2d and an opposing side 2b of the elongate member 2. Figure 8 provides a cross section showing the arms 12 of the bracket 10 received in the C-shaped cross section of the elongate member 2.

With the arms 12 received in the inwardly facing channels 2d and captured between the channels 2d and the opposing side 2b of the elongate member, the bracket is securely captured against movement in a direction orthogonal to a length direction of the elongate member 2.

Each arm 12 comprises a plurality of holes 13 to receive fasteners (14 in Figure 4) to clamp the t 10 to the elongate member 2 when received within the elongate member 2. The illustrated bracket 2 further comprises two spaced apart tubular members 15 ed to and extending between the two spaced apart arms 12. Preferably the tubular members 15 are welded to the arms 12. In the illustrated ment the tubular members 15 have a ar cross section, however other cross sections are possible. For e, one or more of the tubular members may have an elongated cross section to t a slot for a fastener to pass through and between the arms. In some embodiments, the bracket may comprise only one tubular member 15 extending between the arms. The single r member may have an elongated cross section to span one or more slots/apertures in the arms. In a further alternative the bracket may comprise two or more tubular members.

The tubular member(s) 15 spread load over an area of the arms which assists the bracket to achieve structural requirements. The tubular members are good in compression so that they do not buckle under load. The tubular members also assist in the fabrication of the bracket. A rod may be provided through the holes in the arms and the tubular members to conveniently hold the tubular members in place for welding to the arms. Once the tubular members have been welded to the arms the rod may be removed from the bracket.

In a preferred embodiment the tubular members are centred on a longitudinal axis of the arms, as best shown in Figure 3.

The illustrated embodiment comprises two pairs of holes 13 in each arm. A tubular member is attached between the arms and positioned so that a bore of the tubular member 15 is d with a corresponding hole 13 in each arm 12. In the illustrated embodiment, the tubular member 15 has a circular cross section and the r member is concentric with the corresponding hole 13 in each arm.

Figures 4 and 5 show the support bracket 10 fixed to an elevated building surface and the elongate member (only a portion of the elongate member is shown) to fix the elongate member 2 to the building surface 100. In the illustrated embodiment, two bolts 14 are provided through slots 2f in sides of the elongate member and holes 13 in the arms of the t. To fix the elongate member to the elevated surface 100 the bracket 10 is fixed by bolts 17 to the building e. The C section elongate member 2 is then slid onto the arms 12 of the bracket to align the slots 2f in the sides 2a of the elongate member 2 are aligned with a hole 13 in each arm 12 of the bracket 10. Bolts 14 are then provided h the slots 2f and the holes 13. An amount of vertical height adjustment is ed by the slots 2f in the sides of the elongate member, allowing for longitudinal ment of the member along the arms.

Once a t height has been achieved, nuts are tightened on the bolts 14 to clamp the C- shaped section elongate member to the arms of the bracket. The elongate member may flex or deform by a clamping force provided by the nuts and bolts to clamp the elongate member 2 to the arms 12. Preferably the elongate member deforms (elastically) when clamped to the bracket without any significant ation of the bracket.

Alternatively, the bracket 10 may be assembled to the elongate member 2 before fixing the base plate 11 to the building surface 100. Once fixed to the building surface 100 the member 2 may be adjusted lengthwise/longitudinally on the arms 12 of the bracket by sliding on the arms before the nuts and bolts are tightened to finally clamp the member 2 to the arms 12 are a correct height or position.

The illustrated embodiment has four holes in each arm. The four holes are arranged in two pairs. Two tubular members 15 are provided between the arms 12, each tubular member 15 is aligned with a respective hole 13 in one of the pairs of holes in each arm 12. The tubular members 15 are sized to receive a fastener 14 extending though the holes 13 and the tubular member 15. When clamping the elongate member to the bracket the fasteners may be provided through the arms and the tubular members, or provided through the arms alongside the tubular members, as shown in Figures 4 and 5. In some embodiments, a tubular member may be ed to extend between each hole in the two arms.

The bracket 10 has been particularly designed for fixing to the bottom surface of ComFlor® ite flooring. Comflor® composite flooring is a composite flooring system used in multistorey buildings such as carparks, cial ngs, and residential buildings. The system comprises steel profiles supported on beams. Steel reinforcing is provided above the steel profiles and then concrete is poured in place to complete the flooring system. The profile of the ComFlor® system may not t a level surface such that the surface (100) to which a g system is to be fixed may include some variation in flatness. The bracket provides for vertical adjustment to account for a deviation in flatness in the elevated surface 100, to achieve a g system with a level or horizontal member 3 for ting electrical and lic services. Figure 5 indicates an adjustable height of the elongate member 2 on the arms 12 of the bracket 10 of approximately 16mm.

Furthermore, the bracket 10 provides a robust connection to the elongate member 2. Prior art brackets 20 shown in Figure 12 comprise a section 22 extending orthogonally from a base plate 21 to wrap around an outside of the elongate member, as shown in Figure 12. The wrap around n 22 has a material thickness suitable to e a required structural strength.

However, the material thickness of the wrap around n s in a particularly stiff section meaning a very high bolt clamping force is required to deform the wrap around section 22 to effectively clamp the bracket 20 to the te member 2. The wrap around section 22 is also very difficult to deform near to the base plate end of the wrap around section 22 where the wrap around section 22 is welded to the base plate. Effective clamping may not be achieved to meet structural/seismic building standards.

In contrast to the prior art brackets 20, in a bracket 10 according to the present invention, the arms 12 of the bracket are received inside the C-section elongate member 2, so that the bolts are tightened onto the elongate member 2 to deform the C n of the te member 2 onto the bracket 10. The material (wall) thickness of the C n te member is substantially less than the wall thickness of the material of the bracket 10. For e, the wall thickness of the C-shaped section member 2 is approximately half the thickness of the material of the bracket 10. A lower clamping force is necessary to clamp the C section elongate member 2 to the bracket while achieving structural and seismic building requirements.

Having the arms 12 received internally in the C-shaped section also achieves benefits in terms of ease of installation. The bracket 10 may be loosely secured to the end of the elongate member and receive of the arms in the inwardly facing channels helps to keep the bracket correctly aligned on the end of the elongate member. In some ments the arms have tapered free ends 12b so that the arms 12 are easy to insert into the C-shaped member.

The bracket 10 of Figure 2 comprises a base plate 11 for fixing to a surface orthogonal to the arms 12 and elongate member 2. Figure 9 illustrates an alternative bracket 110 with a base plate 111 configured to attach to a surface parallel to the arms 12 and elongate member 2. The base plate 111 has a portion parallel 111a to the arms 12 and a portion 111b orthogonal to the arms 12. The arms 12 are attached to and extend from the orthogonal plate section 111b.

Apertures 16 are provided in the parallel portion 111a to attach to a vertical building surface, for example a vertical side of a beam of the building. Figure 10 shows an exploded view of the t 110 of Figure 9 and Figure 11 shows the support bracket of Figure 9 ng a n of an elongate member to a vertical elevated building surface 200 being a side of a beam of a building.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, hout the description and the , the words “comprise”, “comprising”, and the like, are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense, that is to say, in the sense of “including, but not limited to”.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications cited above and below, if any, are herein incorporated by reference.

Reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that that prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavour in any country in the world.

The invention may also be said broadly to t in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, in any or all combinations of two or more of said parts, ts or features.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to rs or components having known equivalents thereof, those rs are herein incorporated as if individually set forth.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to the presently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without diminishing its attendant advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be included within the present invention.

Claims (16)

Claims:

1. A support bracket for fixing an end of an elongate member of a racking system to a building surface in a building space, the elongate member comprising a C-shaped cross section including edge s of the ed cross section extending inwardly to present two spaced apart inwardly facing channels at an open side of the ed cross section, the bracket comprising: a base plate for fixing the support bracket to a building surface; two spaced apart arms attached to and extending orthogonally from the base plate; the arms sized to be slidingly received within the C-shaped cross section and with a longitudinal edge portion of each arm ed in a respective one of the two spaced apart inwardly facing channels of the elongate member and captured between the channel and an opposing side of the elongate member; each arm comprising a plurality of holes to receive fasteners to secure the elongate member to the bracket when received within the elongate member, and at least one tubular member attached to and extending between the two spaced apart arms to hold the arms spaced apart to be received in the ly facing channels.

2. The bracket as d in claim 1, wherein the bracket is a welded assembly with the arms welded to the base plate and the tubular member(s) welded to the two arms.

3. The bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket comprises at least two spaced apart r members attached to and extending between the two spaced apart arms.

4. The bracket as d in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular member(s) have a ar cross section.

5. The bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular member(s) is/are centred on a longitudinal axis of the arms.

6. The bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular member(s) is/are attached between the arms and oned so that a bore of the tubular member is aligned with a corresponding hole in each arm.

7. The t as claimed in claim 6, wherein the tubular member(s) has/have a circular cross section and the tubular member is concentric with the corresponding hole in each arm.

8. The bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bracket comprises four holes in each arm and two tubular members, each tubular member positioned so that a bore of the tubular member is aligned with a respective hole in each arm.

9. The bracket as claimed in claim 8, n the four holes in each arm are arranged in two spaced apart pairs, and wherein each tubular member extends between a hole in one of the two pairs of holes in each arm.

10. The t as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the r member(s) is/are sized to receive a fastener extending though the holes and the r member.

11. The bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the arms have tapered free ends to be easily inserted into the C-shaped section of the elongate member.

12. A bracket and elongate member for a racking system, the elongate member comprising a ed cross n including edge regions of the C-shaped cross section extending inwardly to present two spaced apart inwardly facing channels at an open side of the C-shaped cross section, and the bracket as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elongate member comprises holes in opposing sides of the elongate member to e bolts through the elongate member and the arms to clamp the elongate member to the arms.

13. The bracket and elongate member for a racking system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the elongate member deforms when clamped to the arms of the bracket without significant deformation of the bracket.

14. The bracket and elongate member for a racking system as claimed in claim 12 or 13, wherein the material thickness of the C n elongate member is substantially less than the thickness of the material of the t.

15. The t and elongate member for a racking system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the material thickness of the C-shaped section member is approximately half the thickness of the material of the bracket.

16. A racking system sing a plurality of brackets and elongate members as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 15, the brackets and ponding elongate members spaced apart, and a horizontal member extending between the elongate members to receive and/or support one or more service lines within a building space.