US3288504A

US3288504A - Structural brace

Info

Publication number: US3288504A
Application number: US305431A
Authority: US
Inventors: William D Briggs
Original assignee: Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co
Current assignee: Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Co
Priority date: 1963-08-29
Filing date: 1963-08-29
Publication date: 1966-11-29
Anticipated expiration: 1983-11-29

Description

Nov. 29, 1966 w. D. BRIGGS 3,288,504

STRUCTURAL amos Filed Aug. 29, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 29, 1966 w. D. BRIGGS STRUCTURAL BRACE I 9 l Je um. m.

.w u 4 F 6 INVENTOR.

United States nPatent 3,288,504 STRUCTURAL BRACE William D. Briggs, Dolton, Ill., assignor to Joslyn Mfg. and Supply Co., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Aug. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 305,431 4 Claims. (Cl. 287-189.36)

The present invention relates to structural braces, and more particularly, to structural braces for connecting a pair of parallel elongated supports such as poles utilized for supporting electrical transmission lines.

The present invention has for an object the provision of a new and improved structural brace of the type described which is highly eicient in maintaining the supports in parallel relation to one another as the supports are loaded with transverse loads in varying amounts and directions such as those imposed by high winds or' other weather phenomena.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structural brace for structurally connecting parallel supports such as common wooden telephone poles having non-uniform cross-sections and uneven surfaces thereon.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved structural brace for Iuse as described in the preceding paragraph wherein there are provided means for properly attaching the brace structure to the poles without the necessity for shaving or slicing olf portions of the pole in order to provide an even surface for receiving the brace structure.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structural brace of the type described which is positioned entirely between the supports and is centered on a plane intersecting the longitudinal axes of the supports.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structural brace of the type described wherein there are provided a pair of diagonally crossing cross-members between the supports having their ends secured to the supports and each of said members having a face abutting the face on the other member along the area of crossing between the members and lying generally in a plane extending through the longitudinal axes of the supports.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structural brace of the type described wherein said cross-members are constructed of wood and means are provided for securing the members in close abutting relation along the area of crossing and for securing the ends of the members to the supports, whereby the stress developed Iby a transverse loading on the supports and structure is more uniformly distributed through the cross-members of the supports.

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved structural brace of the type described wherein the means attaching the ends of the cross-members to the supports are positioned to transmit the loading stress to the supports in a manner minimizing the torsional stresses in the latter.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved structural brace of the type described wherein the means securing the cross-members in abutting relation to one another along the area of crossing more uniformly distributes the stress between the members.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved brace structure of the type described which can be rapidly and simply connected to the supports and which is simple and economical to construct and pre-assemble.

These and other objects of the present invention are ICC accomplished by the provision of a new and improved brace for structurally connecting a pair of elongated parallel supports such as poles and comprising a pair of diagonal cross-members adapted to be positioned between the supports. Each of the cross-members is provided with a face and is positioned relative to the other so that the Vfaces closely abut each other along an area where the members cross with the `faces lying generally in a plane which intersects the longitudinal axes of the poles. Clamping means are provided for securing the cross-members in close abutting relation along the area of crossing to distribute the stress between the members. Bracket means are secured to the poles adjacent the ends of the -cross-members and are provided with webs which extend inwardly between the poles and lie generally in the aforementioned plane, in order effectively to distribute the stresses from the cross-members in a manner reducing the torsional stresses upon the poles. Additionally, means secured to ends of the ends of said crossmembers including straps adapted to abut both sides of the webs are provided for securing the cross-members to the bracket means and for providing uniform distribution of stress within the cross-members.

The invention, both as to organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages, will be best understood by reference to the following detailed description and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. l is a broken, side elevational view of a brace structure constructed in accordance with the features of the present invention and illustrated as it is utilized to connect elongated parallel supports or poles;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 0f FIG. l; a

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the edge of a crossmernber utilized in the structure of FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the cross-member of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially along line 5 5 of FIG. 6 and illustrating the connection between the cross-members and the web of the bracket means;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detailed side elevational view of a bracket used for connecting the cross-members to the poles;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the bracket of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows 8 8; and

FIG. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the pole illustrating the bracket of FIG. 7 as secured thereon.

Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated a brace structure, identied generally 4by the numeral 10, for structurally connecting a pair of elongated supports such as the poles 12 which are supported vertically in the ground for carrying electrical transmission lines. Poles of this type are generally circular in cross-section and are generally larger in diameter at the base than at the top. Because of this fact, it has heretofore been difficult to provide effective bracing between poles of this typel because of irregularities in the surfaces and dimensions, a difliculty which the -present invention alleviates. It is to ybe understood, however, that poles or supports other than vertical and'those having other than circular cross-sections can be effectively braced with the structure of the present invention.

The brace `structure 10 includes a pair of diagonal cross-members 14 interposed between the poles 12 and arranged to cross one another along an area adjacent the central portion of the members. Each cross-member 14 is provided with a face 16 and thel members are positioned and arranged with the faces 16 thereof abutting one another along the central crossing area and lying in a plane 18 which intersects the longitudinal axes of the poles 12. The cross-members are preferably constructed of standard size timbers such as 2 X 4s, 4 x 6s or the like, but can be constructed of other material if desired.

In order to secure the cross-members tightly together adjacent the crossing area with their faces 16 in close abutting relation to one another, there is provided a clamp means 2t). The clamp means 20 includes a pair of straps 22 positioned to lie diagonally of the cross-members as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The ends of the straps are provided with holes through which bolts 24 are passed for clamping the straps in place to secure the cross-members tightly together as previoulsy described. This means for securing the cross-members together is advantageous in that no holes are required in the members themselves which would weaken them and, moreover, this type of clamping means can be rapidly and easily installed to clamp members which cross at various different angles of intersection. By utilizing clamp means of this type, the stress in each member is more uniformly distributed between both members because of the large area of contact between the faces 16 of the members.

In order to secure the cross-members 14 to the poles 12, bracket means 25 are bolted to the poles at positions adjacent the ends of the cross-members. The bracket means 25 are illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings and are preferably formed of a piece of steel plate that is punched and bent into the proper shape. Thus, each bracket means includes `a web 26 having a hole 28 therein for use in connecting the end of one of the cross-members thereto. Integrally formed with the web 26 are a `pair of oppositely directed, vertically displaced

flanges

30 and 32 which are adapted to abut the external surface of the pole 12 as shown in FIG. 9. The

flanges

30 and 32 are bent in opposite directions from each other slightly less than 90 from the plane of the web 26 so that when they are seated against a pole having a circular cross-section, two areas 34 and 36 of tangential contact with the surface of the pole are established. The flange 30 is provided with a slotted hole 38 and the flange 32 with a slotted hole 40 in order to accommodate mounting

bolts

48 and 50, respectively, which extend diametrically through the pole and receive nuts 48a to secure the bracket to the pole. It should be noted that vertical planes extending along the axes of the bolts intersect one another at a common point 52 which lies on the common vertical plane 18 passing through the longitudinal axes of the poles.

When the bracket is loaded in a transverse direction indicated by the arrow 54 (FIG. 9), the bolt 48 is under tension. This tension stress is transmitted through the bolt through the nuts 48a and through a washer plate 48h underlying the nuts and seated against the pole so that the tension force tends to subject the surface of the pole diametrically opposite the flange 30 to a compressive stress, the resultant of which acts along the bolt center line as indicated by the arrow pointed line 56. At thel same time, the flange 32 subjects the pole to a compressive stress, the resul-tant of which acts substantially along the center line of the bolt S as represented by the -arrow pointed line 58. These resultants substantially cancel each other tout in the direction parallel to the center plane 18 leaving only a small resultant force 60 acting perpendicular to the line 18 through the point 52 and, as ya result, only a very low torsion stress is developed. The bracket means 25 accommodate poles of varying diameters and with-out necessitating shaving or cutting of the pole surface in order to obtain a good fit between the flanges and the pole.

In order to secure the ends of the cross-members 14 to the bracket means 25, both ends of each cross-member are provided with connecting means 62 which are connected to the webs 26 of the brackets with bolts 64 which pass through the holes 28 in the webs. Each connecting means includes a strap 66 which is attached in abutting relation to the face 16 of one of the members and extends beyond the ends thereof with holes 66a provided in the extending portions for accommodating the bolts 64. Each connecting means 62 further includes a Z-shaped strap 68 lying against the side 69 of the cross-member which side is Iopposite to the face 16. The

straps

68 and 66 are secured to the members by means of a pair of spaced bolts 70 running transversely through the cross-member adjacent its end portion. Each yof the straps 68 is provided with an intermediate leg 68a abutting the end of the cross-member and with an outwardly extending leg 68h lying parallel to the outwardly extending portion of the strap 66 and spaced Itherefrom by a distance substantially equal to the thickness of the web 26 of the bracket. The leg 68b `of each strap 68 is provided with a hole 68C aligned with the hole 66a in the strap 66 to accommodate the bolts 64 which, when tightened, tightly secure the web 26 between the two straps.

Each -connecting means 62 further comprises a U-shaped strap 72 having legs 72a positioned to abut opposite sides 73 land 75 of the cross-member 14 and an intermediate leg 72b joined to the legs 72a and positioned adjacent the end of the cross-member to overlie the leg 68a of the strap 68. The legs 72a are secured in abutting relation to the

sides

73 and 75 of the cross-member by means of a pair of spaced bolts 76 extending through the member and lying in a plane parallel to the faces 16 Aand 69 of the members. The leg 72b in overlying the leg 68a of the strap aids in preventing the leg 68a from bending outwardly from the end of the cross-member when stress is applied tending to pull the `straps 66 and 68 outwardly from the end of the cross-member. When stress of this type is applied to the cross-member, part of it is transmitted to the cross-member through the bolts 70 and the

straps

66 and 68. The remaining stress is transmitted to the leg 72b of the strap 72 by the leg 68a and through the portions 72a of the strap and bolts 76 to the cross-member. In this manner, the stress is uniformly distributed to the cross-member.

When the brace structure and the poles are subject to a resultan-t side transverse force in the direction of the arrow pointed line 78 in FIG. l the stress in uniformly distributed to both poles 12 through the crossmembers, one cross-member being in tension land the other in compression. Since the faces 16 of these members land the webs 26 of the brackets lie in the central plane 18 no torsional stress will result in the poles from loading of this type.

When the stress is applied in the direction of the arrow pointed line 54 in FIG. 2, the :resulting torsional stresses in the poles 12 will be minimized as before described in connection with the bracket 24 and its mounting on the pole. Thus, the present invention provides a much stronger structure than the offset type braces commonly used. Moreover, th'e brackets 24 can be positioned at various heights on the poles and do not have to be level with one another since the cross-members can be cut to the desired length on the job site. The

straps

66, 68 and 72 are simple in construction and can be easily secured to the cross-members and the clamping means 20 is likewise simp-le in construction and can be easily installed on the members to clamp them together. The brackets 24 can be quickly and inexpensively manufactured and can be easily installed on the poles even though the pole surfaces are rough and uneven.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to a single embodiment thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this invention.

What is claimed as new land desired to be `secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A brace `structure adapted t-o structurally interconnect a pair of parallel elongated supports such as utility poles and the like, said structure comprising a pair of cross-members arranged to cross one another between said supports, each of said members having a face, said faces abutting each other along an .area where said members cross and lying in a plane generally coincident with the longitudinal axes of the supports; a pai-r of straps positioned diagonally of said cross-members on opposite sides thereof adjacent the crossing larea of said crossmember and each strap having opposite ends extending outwardly of a respective adjacent cross-member; means for interconnecting the opposite ends of said straps outwardly of said cross-members to hold said faces of said cross members together; a plurali-ty of bracket members, each being adapted to interconnect one end of one of a respective cross-member with a respective one of said supports, each bracket member being formed from sheet material tand including a pair of oppositely directed offset flanges adapted to abut .and be secured to the external `surface of said support and including a web structure extending inwardly toward an opposite support; and a plurality of connectors, each mounted adjacent an end of a respective cross-member each connector including a first strap abutting a face of ysaid cross-member and having an outer portion extending beyond the end thereof, each connector including a Z-shaped strap having a lirst leg abutting a side of said cross-member opposite said face thereof, an intermediate leg abutting the end of said cross-member, and an outer leg extending beyond the end of said cross-member in spaced parallel relation to the outer portion of said first str-ap, said outer portion of said rst strap and said outer yleg of said Z- shaped strap positioned on opposite sides of the web structure of a res-pective bracket member, means for connecting respective web structures and said outer portions and outer legs of respective connectors, each said connector including ta U-shaped strap having a pair of legs and a bight portion, each leg abutting a respective one of the opposite sides of said cross-member normal to said face and the first-mentioned side thereof, said bight portion overlying an intermediate leg of a respective Z-shaped member.

2. A brace structural .adapted to structurally interconnect a pair of parallel elongated supports, said structure comprising a pair of cross-members arranged to cross one another between said supports, each of said members having a face, said faces abutting each other along an area where said members cross and lying in a plane `which intersects the longitudinal axis of the supports; a clamp means adjacent said crossing area for securing said mem-bers in abutting relation; at least one bracket means for interconnecting the end of one of said cross-members to -said support, said bracket means including a web structure extending outwardly from said support toward the end of said cross-member, and a pair of mounting flanges extending in opposite directions angularly transversely of said web structure adapted to bear against the surface of said pole, connector means mounted adjacent the end of said cross-member for connection with said web structure including a first strap abutting a face of said cross-member and including an outer portion extending outwardly from the end thereof,

said connector means including a Z-shaped strap having one leg labutting the side of said cross-member opposite said face, an intermediate leg abutting the end of said cross-member, and van outer leg extending outwardly from the end of said cross-member in spaced parallel relation to the outer portion of the first strap to accommodate said web structure therebetween; and a U- shaped strap having a pair of legs each abutting a respective one of the opposite sides of said cross-members lying between said face and the first-mentioned side thereof, and a bight portion overlying said intermediate leg of said Z-shaped strap, and fastening means passing through said web structure, said outer leg of said Z- shaped member and said outer portion of said lirst strap.

3. A cross-member of the type adapted to structurally interconnect a pair of parallel elongated supports such as utility poles and the like, said cross-member comprising a structural, elongated member of generally rectangular cross section, and :a pair of connectors mounted 4adjacent opposite ends of said member for interconnecting said member with a support, each conneet-0r including a first strap abutting one face of said member and including an outer portion extending beyond the end of said member, each said connector including a Z-shaped str-ap having one leg abutting a side of said member opposite said face thereof, an intermediate leg abutting the end of said member, and an outer leg extending beyond the end of said member in spaced parallel relation to the outer portion of said first strap, each of said connectors including a U-shaped strap having a pair of legs, each abutting a respective one of the sides of said member nor-mal to said face and a bight portion overlying an intermediate leg of said Z-shaped strap.

4. A connecting assembly for interconnecting a pair of structural members, said connecting assembly including a bracket having la pair of flanges adapted to be secured to one of said structural members and abut the surface thereof and a web structure extending outwardly thereof away from said member; and connector means mounted adjacent an end of the other structural member for connection to said bracket web structure, s-aidI connector means including a pair of straps extending outwardly from the end of said structural 4member and adapted to lie on opposite faces of said web structure for connection therewith, one of said straps comprising a Z-shaped member having an intermediate leg overlying the end of said other structural member, said connector means including a U- shaped strap having Ia pair of legs secured to said other structural member and a bight portion overlying said intermediate leg -of said Z-shaped strap.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,714,814 5/ 1929 Plimpton 248-221 X 2,844,643 7/ 1958 Cofer et al. 248-221 X 2,855,640 10/1958 Rolen 52-714 X 3,190,406 t6/1965 Usher 'et al 52-695 X HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primaly Examiner.

I. K. BELL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

4. A CONNECTING ASSEMBLY FOR INTERCONNECTING A PAIR OF STRUCTURAL MEMBERS, SAID CONNECTING ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A BRACKET HAVING A PAIR OF FLANGES ADAPTED TO BE SECURED TO ONE OF SAID STRUCTUREL MEMBERS AND ABUT THE SURFACE THEREOF AND A WEB STRUCTURE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREOF AWAY FROM SAID MEMBER; AND CONNECTOR MEANS MOUNTED ADJACENT AN END OF THE OTHER STRUCTURAL MEMBER FOR CONNECTION TO SAID BRACKET WEB STRUCTURE, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS INCLUDING A PAIR OF STRAPS EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE END OF SAID STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND ADAPTED TO LIE ON OPPOSITE FACES OF SAID WEB STRUCTURE FOR CONNECTION THEREWITH, ONE OF SAID STRAPS COMPRISING A Z-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING AN INTERMEDIATE LEG OVERLYING THE END OF SAID OTHER STRUCTURAL MEMBER, SAID CONNECTOR MEANS INCLUDING A USHAPED STRAP HAVING A PAIR OF LEGS SECURED TO SAID OTHER STRUCTURAL MEMBER AND A BIGHT PORTION OVERLYING SAID INTERMEDIATE LEG OF SAID Z-SHAPED STRAP.