US2961270A

US2961270A - L-beam clamp

Info

Publication number: US2961270A
Application number: US679351A
Authority: US
Inventors: Charles J Renfroe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-08-21
Filing date: 1957-08-21
Publication date: 1960-11-22
Anticipated expiration: 1977-11-22

Description

Nov. 22, 1960 C. J. RENFROE L-BEAM CLAMP Filed Aug. 21, 1957 INVENTOR.

C bar/es d. Hanf/'0a.

United States Patent'D,

2,961,270 L-BEAM CLAMP I Charles J. Renfroe, P.O. Box 4279, Jacksonville, Fla. I Filed Aug. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 679,351

7 Claims. (Cl. 294-85) This invention relates to a beam clamp which is particularly constructed for use with L-beams or other angled beams that are provided with single flanges as Yet another object is to provide a beam clamp having a plurality of locks, one of which is automatic inits operation and the other of which must be manually locked and released. As soon as the manual lock is released, and upon removal of the load, the automatic lock will immediately release the beam clamp fromA thev beam. A further object is the provision of a highly efficient and safe locking means for locking-a beam clamp alongthe length of an angled beam.

- Other objects will appear hereinafter throughout the speciication.

In the drawings: Figure l is a transverse vertical section partly broken away, taken on the line 1 1 of Figure 2; v

AFigure 2 is a side elevation of the device, and showing the clamping means in non-lockingposition in full lines, andin clamping position in dotted lines. l

Figure is a modied form of,V the shackle plate in side elevation; and v Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shackle bolt. Referring now to the drawings, A shows a structural beam which is L-shaped in cross section, the ange being indicated at A1. The beam clamp consists of a pair o f body portions and 11 of dissimilar shape, body portion 10 having flat sides, as shown in Figure l, while body portion 11 is provided with a` U-shaped clampinga portion for clampingly engaging the flange A1 of an L .shaped beam. The flat body portion 10, as shown, will engage the side of the beam clamp.

The

body portions

10 and 11 are provided with

upper apertures

14 and 15, respectively.

The body portion 11 is provided with a lower aperture 16 for the reception of a pivot bolt 18. This bo-lt is provided with screw threads 22 which engage the threads 24 of a nut 21, and the bolt is also provided with a head 26 and handle portions 27 extending through `the bolt head, as seen in Figure 4.

Bolt 18 is further provided with a bearing sleeve 25 sov as to allow the body members to be adjusted toward and from each other to accommodate different sized beams A having longer or shorterlianges A1. This bolt supports bearing sleeve. 25 .which i s located in theaper 'will automatically lock itself to the beam as the load is tin-e 42 of shackle p1ate`38.'

The locking bolt is shown at 36. This bolt is provided with threads 32 which engage threads 33 on plate I0, and the bolt is provided with a head 36. It will be noted that the rotation of the bolt 'head 36 so as to tighten the same will move the

plates

10 and 11 toward each other so as to tightly grip the shackle plate 38 whichl is located between these plates. This shackle plate is shown in Figurefl and provided with a grooved slot 44 for the reception of the locking` bolt 36. As shown in Figure 2, the shackle plate is provided with

offset openings

43 and 45 either of which may accommodate the load connecting' means. `Thisy load connecting means may comprise any suitable struc` ture such as a chain fall 46, a connector 48 and a link or hook 50 that may be engaged with either of the

apertures

43 or 45. v

The shackle plate is provided with

teeth

52 and 54, in order that the shackle plate may engage the under side of the flange A1 when the load is supported in thev aperture 45, and the under side of said flange A1 is engaged by tooth 54 when the load is supported by engagement with aperture 43.

In Figure 3 is illustrated a slightly modied form of the invention wherein the shackle plate 56 is provided With an arcuate slot 58, a pivot opening 60, and

teeth

52 and 54.

In place of the

openings

43 and 45 of the structure shown in Figure 2, there is provided a second arcuate slot 62 whose ends have enlarged

portions

65 and 66. With the construction shown in Figure 3, the load mayv be quickly shifted from the enlarged portion 66 to the with the shackle plate 38 'and it may be used interechangeably in the construction shown in the several' figures.

When the load is applied to either of the

openings

43 and 45, the plate will swing on the pivot bolt 18 so thatv the teeth will engage the under side of the beam flange y' A1. Assuming the loadis applied as shown in Figure 2,@

this will cause the plate to rotate in a clockwise direction to cause its tooth 52- to engage the under side ofi the flange A1, or ,the tooth 52. of. plate 56,. shouldthis'- plate be substitutedfor plat'e38. After this engagement'.

., gripping engagement of the body portions on the side faces of the shackle plate, the latter being accomplished by the rotation of the bolt head 36. The bolt head may be rotated to cause the clamping engagement between the body portions and the shackle plate by means of ar 1 socket Wrench. With the body portions in firm clamp,

' ing engagement with the shackle plate, the tooth can not become disengaged from the flange A1 even though' the load would shift from time to time.

` It willbe understood that the present invention, while;l

3 applied. In othenwords,z the invention is adapted to use the beam as the load, in place of supporting a load beneath the stationary beam, forming part of a load transportation system in shipyards, aboard ships, or industrial-plants? i Theabove description andirdravyings disclose*severalI embodiments of the invention; andfspecic language hastbe'en employed in 'describing the several"iig'u'resaf Itwillgl nevertheless, to `understood that(not'lirnitationsf'of` the seo'pe of` thel invention are therebyI contemplated; andi thatvarious alterations and niodiiicatio'ns'may be nl'adesuch-as would occurto foneskilled inthe-art to which the invention'I relates'.

l; A self-'locking be'anfcla'rnp{ comprising apair 'of-body portions," one* of isaidibody portionsv having straight' sides and the other" of*saidfbodyportionsifhaving' a U-shaped clampingiportion'at oneend thereof adapted forembracing? the ange ofa structural b'eam, the saidU-sliape'd clamping portion adapted to extend longitudinally'along the an'ge ofi'said beam, each 'ofsaidii`b'ody portions'having4 a= pivot-receiving* opening# af shackle plate' having sides'located i" between said body 'portions havinga pivotrecivingS-topening, pivot' meansfextending through the pivot-'receivingopening's ofsaid body portions and shackle plate, said shackle plate having an upper surface and Sidesdenin'glcorners'lwith said upper surface 'located below'said` U-shaped clamping portion of said U-shaped bddyl` portioniand below said beam, said upper surface having teeth means located adjacent at least one of said corners fand :adapted to engagetheunder side of a beam upon rotation of said shackle plate on said pivotmeans, load 'attaching means on said shackle' plate laterally offset from a lin'e' extending substantially medially and longitudinallyof'sid'pivot'meanswhereby when saidload is attached to said load attachingmeans said plate will pivot" until its tooth meansengagessaid be'arnj and means for clamping'lyt engaging said body portions with-the sidesofsaidsh'akle plate,4 said clamping means including. means for guidingfsaidfshackle'plate` in it's'pivotal movement, said-means being located between fsaid'teeth meansv and said pivot means.

2; A' self-locking beam clamp comprisingA af pair of body portions, one-of saidfbody portions having straight sidesandthe other of said bodyiportions having a U- shaped'clampingiportion atA one e'nd thereof adapted for embracing theilange'ofL astructural beam, the said U- shaped clamping portionadapte'd to extend longitudinally alongtheflange ofsaidbeam,leach of said bo'dy portions having'` a pivot-receiving opening, a shackle'pl'ate locatedV between said body portions having a piVot-receivinglopening; pivot mea'ns extendingy through the pivot-receiving openings of-said body portions' and shackleplate; teeth means on' said shackleplate'having an upper surface and sides formingcornerswith said upper surface, said teeth means being located adjacent to said corners andibeing adapted to engage th'eunder side of said beam-upon rotation` of sidshackle plate on said pivot means, load-attaehingmeanson said shacklefplate= laterally otfsetffrom a line `extending substantially medially" and longitudinally of' said pivot'means whereby when said: load is1 attached to said load attaching means' said plate will pivot-until its toothmeans engages said'beam, and means for clampingly engagingsaid body portions with said shackle" plate; said last named means including screw-threaded means for causing said bodyportions to move toward eachother into clamping engagement with saidshackle plate, said shackle plate havin'g ai arcuate"V slot surrounding said' sc're'wtlireadedmeans', said clamping means including riieans't'or guiding'saidshackle plate'in-itspivotal movement, said means being located between said-'teeth means'- and said pivot means. j

3. A self-locking beam clamp comprising' a pair of body portionsfone of said body portionsfhaving straight sides* and theIl other of: said bodypor'tions having?. a" U- shaped clamping portion at one end ythereof adapted for embracing the ange ofa-.structuralbeam, the-said- U-shaped clamping portion `adapted to extend longitudinally along the flange of said beam, each of said body portions having a pivot-receiving opening, a shackle plate located between said body portions having a pivot-receiving opening, pivot means extending through the pivotreceiving openings of said` body portions and shackle plate, teeth means on said shackle plate having an upper surface and sides formingcorners'with said upper surface, said teeth means beinglocated adjacent to said-corners and being adapted to engage the under side of a beam upon rotationaof :said shackle .plate on t said fpivot means, load attaching means AOnsail shackle 4plate laterally olset from a line extendingisubstantiallymedially and longitudinally of said pivot means whereby when said load is attached to said load attaching means said plate will pivot until its tooth means engages said beam, and means for clampirigly" engagng-'said body portions withhsaid shackle l plate, said pivot means` including a" sleeveilfor pivotallymontingfsaid shac'kleplat'e bolt, said`clampingl means incl'di'ng-'meansiifo guiding i 'said shackle plate in its Apivotal?lrriov'ernent; lsaid-limeansi being located 1 between said teeth means and said pivot means.

4. A self-locking-beaml clamp comprising a pairf of bodyportio'ns,-one of` said bodyiportions having straight sides and the other 0f said body portions having a U- shapedclamping'portion at oneend thereof adapted for embracing theange `of* a structural beam, the said U- shapedclampin'g portion adapted to extend longitudinallyu along `thellange'of said beam, each of said body portions havin'ga"pivot-receiving opening, a shackle plateJ located between saidbody` portions having a pivot-receivingiope'ning; pivot`means extending through the pivot` receivingl openings ofi said b'ody portions and shaeklel platgteeth means-'on saidshackle plate havingan upper surfaceV and l' sde`s=-frning i corners with said upper sur face', sai'dteethi means beinglocated adjacent to said cor2 ners and being adapted to engage the under sideffofia beam fu'poiif rotation? ofi-said f shackle plate on` said? pivot means, load-l a'ttachingfmeans'on said shackleplate` latf' erally oiset from a line extending substantially mediallyi and longitudinally of? said pivot means whereby when said load is attached to said load attaching-meanssaidi plate will pivot until its tooth means e'ngagessaid beam, and" means forclampin'gly'engaging saidbo'dy portions with said shackleplate, said'loadattacl'ling` means com-4 prisingfa pair of lapertures in said shackle plategeach aperturefbeinglocatedTin offset relation Iwth a line'ipass ing through the Yc'ehterof saidshackle-plate, said? clamp ing meansincludingimeansfor guidingfsaid shackleplate in its pivotal movement, said means being located be'-` tween said teethr means i and` said` pivot meansl 5. AA self-locking beam clamp comprising? a` pair of body` portions, one of said body portions having straight sides:` and the other of said body portions havinga U- sh'ap'ed clamping" portion atfone endthereof adaptedfor-i embracingtherangeofaf structural beann-the said Uw sh'aped clampin'g portion adapted to extendy longitudinallyl alongithefaix'ge of said beam, each of said body portions'` having'- a i pivot-receiving opening, a shackle i plate located? between said bodyportionslhaving a Vpivot-receivingopening, pivot means extendingthroughthe pivot-receiving openings of said body portions"` and shackle plate,1\teetl1" means-on vsaidsh'aclcle plate having an upper surfa'ceand sides forming corners with said? upper surface, sadteeth means beingi located* adjacent to `said corners andV being adapted tri-engage theunderside o'f said beamupon rota"-` tio'n` o'f-'sai'c'lshackle''plateton1 said-pivot means,` loadiattaching means on said shackleplatelaterallyoffsetfrorn' a liri'ey extending `substantiallyl medially and longitudinally of saidlpivotfrnea'ns whereby whensa'id load is attached.;l to'said loadV attachingmeanssaidplate'will pivot until its"` tooth means engages said beam, and mearis'for.clatnpl` ingly engging'saidbody portions with saidsha'ckle platef;

said last named means including screw-threaded means for causing said body portions to move toward each other into clamping engagement with said shackle plate, said load attaching means comprising a pair of apertures in said shackle plate, each aperture being located in oiset relation with a line passing through the center of said shackle plate, said clamping means including means for guiding said shackle plate in its pivotal movement, said means being located between said teeth means and said pivot means.

6. A self-locking beam clamp comprising a pair of body portions, one of said body portions having straight sides and the other of said body portions having a U- shaped clamping portion at one end thereof adapted fo-r embracing the ange of a structural beam, the said U- shaped clamping portion adapted to extend lo-ngitudinally along the tiange of said beam, each of said body portions having a pivot-receiving opening, a shackle plate located between said body portions having a pivot-receiving opening, pivot means extending through the pivot-receiving openings of said body portions and shackle plate, teeth means on said shackle plate having an upper surface and sides forming corners with said supper surface, said teeth means being located adjacent to said corners and being adapted to engage the under side of a beam upon rotation of said shackle plate on said pivot means, load attaching means on said shackle plate laterally offset from a line extending substantially medially and longitudinally of said pivot means whereby when said load is attached to said load attaching means said plate will pivot until its tooth means engages said beam, and means including screwthreaded means on said pivot means and further including a bolt located above said pivot means and extending through an aperture in saild cam shackle plate, and screwthreaded means on said bolt for clampingly engaging said body portions with said shackle plate, said load attaching means comprising a slot, and enlarged openings forming the ends of said slot, said enlarged openings being located on opposite sides of a line passing through the longitudinal center of said shackle plate, said clamping means including means for guiding said shackle p-late in its pivotal movement, said means being located between said teeth means and said pivot means.

7. A self-locking beam clamp comprising a pair of body portions, one of said body portions having straight sides and the other of said body portions having a U- shaped clamping portion at one end thereof adapted for embracing the ange of a structural beam, the said U- shaped clamping portion adapted to extend longitudinally along the Harige of said beam, each of said body portions having a pivot-receiving opening, a shackle plate located between said body portions having a pivot-receiving opening, pivot means extending through the pivot-receiving openings of said body portions and shackle plate, teeth means on said shackle plate having an upper surface and sides forming corners with said upper surface, said teeth means being located adjacent to said corners and being adapted to engage the under side of said beam upon rotation of said shackle plate on said pivot means, load attaching means on said shackle plate laterally offset from a line extending substantially medially and longitudinally of said pivot means whereby when said load is attached to said load attaching means said plate will pivot until its tooth means engages said beam, and means for clampingly engaging said body portions with said shackle plate, said means for clampingly engaging said body portions with said shackle plate including screw-threaded means located above said pivot means, and further including screw-threaded means on said pivot means for causing said body portions to move toward each other into clamping engagement with said shackle plate, said load attaching means comprising a slot, and enlarged openings forming the ends of said slot, said enlarged openings being located on opposite sides of a line passing through the longitudinal center of said shackle plate, said clamping means including means for guiding said shackle plate in its pivotal movement, said means being located between said teeth means and said pivot means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 368,408 McCoy Aug. 16, 1887 493,216 Louden Mar. 7, 1893 862,840 Nelson et al Aug. 6, 1907 1,768,543 Clausing July 1, 1930 1,959,722 Lackner May 22, 1934 2,244,038 Zapotosky June 3, 1941 2,568,263 Wiseman Sept. 18, 1951 2,671,625 Buckley Mar. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 841,894 Germany June 19, 1952 403,013 Italy Apr. 1, 1943