WO2002075078A1

WO2002075078A1 - An apparatus for aligning structural members

Info

Publication number: WO2002075078A1
Application number: PCT/AU2002/000293
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas Long
Original assignee: Douglas Long
Priority date: 2001-03-16
Filing date: 2002-03-15
Publication date: 2002-09-26
Also published as: AUPR377201A0

Abstract

An apparatus for (10) aligning structural members during a construction process, the apparatus comprising a first attachment means (11) for attachment to a first member of a building structure, a second attachment means (12) for attachment to a second member, and indicating means (19) for indicating the position of the first attachment means (11) relative to the second attachment means (12). The apparatus (10) includes means (24, 25, 30) to adjust the position of the second attachment means (12) relative to the first attachment means (11).

Description

AN APPARATUS FOR ALIGNING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates mainly to the building industry, but also covers other fields of construction.

The present invention has a particular application to building construction and restu ping of pole houses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In a typical restumping operation it is important that new poles are positioned so that structural beams supporting the rest of the house are maintained in a horizontal disposition.

Correct alignment of poles relative to support beams is therefore crucial and requires accurate measurement of the distance from a structural beam to each position where a pole is to be located.

Typically jacks or pallets are used to support a house while the old posts are removed and then accurate measurements must be taken so that holes can be dug for each pole and poles can be moved to their supporting position and are accurately sized to maintain a constant level across the length of each structural beam.

The above procedure can be time consuming as well as physically demanding, especially if heavy poles are constantly being moved.

In its preferred form the present invention is aimed at providing an alternative method of restumping a house which minimises time associated with accurately aligning and erecting new poles.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for aligning structural members during a construction process, the apparatus comprising a first attachment means for attachment to a first member of a building structure, a second attachment means for attachment to a second member, and indicating means for indicating the position of the first attachment means relative to the second attachment means.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for aligning structural members during a construction process, the apparatus comprising a first attachment means for attachment to a first member, a second attachment means for attachment to a second member, control means for controlling movement of the second attachment means along a first axis relative to the first attachment means, wherein the first and second attachment means are removably attachable to the first and second members respectively.

Preferably the second attachment means is adapted for attachment of the second member which is to be attached to the building structure.

The second member may be a supporting beam or post .

Preferably the first attachment means comprises a clamp.

The second attachment means may comprise a clamp. Preferably the apparatus includes adjustment means which is adapted to adjust the position of the second attachment means relative to the first attachment means.

The adjustment means preferably controls movement of the second attachment means relative to the first attachment means .

The adjustment means may control slewing movement of the second attachment means relative to the first attachment means .

The first attachment means is preferably adapted to attach to a beam which is oriented in a different plane to the beam to which the second attachment means is to be attached.

It is preferred that the first attachment means is arranged to attach to a beam which is at right angles to a further beam to which the second attachment means is to be attached.

Preferably the first attachment means comprises first clamping means which is adapted to clamp the first member .

Preferably the second attachment means comprises a second clamping device which is adapted to clamp the second member.

The first clamping device may comprise first and second jaw members with at least one of the jaw members movable with respect to the other.

The first clamping device may include a first control means for moving one of the first or second jaw members along a clamping shaft to engage the first member. The first clamping device is preferably adapted to move the lower jaw towards the upper jaw.

It is preferred that the indicator means is adapted to indicate the position of one of the first or second jaw members relative to the second attachment means .

The indicator means may indicate the position of the movable jaw relative to the second attachment means.

Alternatively the indicator means is adapted to indicate the position of the lower jaw relative to the second attachment.

The indicator means may include a movable indicator or marker which is able to move in the direction of movement of the movable jaw.

The indicator means is preferably located adjacent a shaft on which the movable jaw moves.

The indicator means may include an adjuster mechanism for adjusting the movable indicator or marker.

It is preferred that the first attachment means comprises upper and lower jaws with the lower jaw being movable along a shaft towards or away from the upper jaw.

Preferably the movable indicator is movable along a threaded shaft aligned with the direction of movement of the lower j aw .

It is preferred that the adjustment mechanism comprises a rotatable knob.

Preferably the apparatus includes a connection means for interconnecting the first and second attachment means .

It is preferred that the connection means fixes the position of the second attachment means relative to the axial position of the upper and lower jaws of the first attachment means.

The connection means preferably allows the second attachment means to swivel or slew with respect to the first attachment means .

Preferably the second attachment means is able to rotate about the clamping shaft of the first attachment means .

The connection means preferably includes an adjustment for adjusting the angular position of the second adjustment with respect to an axis passing through both jaws of the first clamping means.

Preferably the second attachment means comprises a second clamping means.

Preferably the second clamping means is adapted to support a post or beam between first and second clamping members thereof.

The second clamping means may also include a locater means for adjusting the position of a pole or beam located between clamping members of the second clamping means . The words "comprising, having, including" should be interpreted in an inclusive sense, meaning that additional features may also be added. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a front view of an apparatus according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a first side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows an opposite side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 5 shows an end view of a vertical adjuster mechanism according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 shows an angled view of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows a front view of an apparatus for aligning structural members in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 8 shows a side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 shows an opposite side view of the apparatus shown in Figure 8; and Figure 10 shows a top view of the apparatus shown in Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For convenience the apparatus will be described having regard to an application where it is used to align a support post with a horizontal support beam.

As shown in figures 1 to 6 the apparatus 10 consists of a vertical clamp 11 and horizontal clamp 12.

The vertical clamp 11 consists of upper and lower clamp jaws 13, 14. The lower jaw 14 is able to move along a threaded vertical shaft 15 by rotation of knob 16 which is able to urge an interconnecting sleeve member 17.

A measurement bar 18 is aligned parallel to an adjacent bar 15 and is provided with graduated markings 19 and a marker 20.

An adjuster mechanism 30 is connected to a threaded rod 31 located through the centre of a vertical support member 32. At the lower end the vertical support member 32 is connected to the horizontal clamp 12.

A collar 33 having an internal thread is located over the threaded rod 31 and is connected directly to the vertical member 32.

Movement of the adjuster mechanism 30 allows movement of the vertical member 32 up and down the rod. As the vertical member 32 is connected to clamp 12 this adjuster mechanism 30 allows the vertical position of the clamp 12 to be adjusted.

The horizontal clamp 12 shown more clearly in Figure 4 consists of a fixed wall 21 and an opposite clamping member 22 which is adjustable by rotation of a control knob 23. A positioner 24 oriented at right angles between surface 21 and clamping member 22 is able to move perpendicular to clamping member 22.

The vertical clamping mechanism 11 is connected to the horizontal clamping mechanism 12 through a slewing mechanism 25 located at the bottom of the lower jaw 14.

The slewing or twisting mechanism 25 includes a knob 26 and a collar member 27 located around the lower end of the vertical bar 15 and sleeve member 17.

In a typical application it is intended that the vertical clamp 11 is connected to a horizontal support beam of a house which is being restumped. By turning knob 16 the lower jaw 14 is raised until the clamp 11 is firmly attached to the support beam. The slewing mechanism is then moved by operation of knob 25 to rotate clamp 12 to an angular orientation where the new pole is supposed to be positioned. A pole may then be lifted and positioned between the clamping components 21, 22 of the horizontal clamp 12 and is then held firmly by turning knob 23 so that clamping member 22 holds it firmly against clamping surface 21.

Lateral positioning of the pole may also be achieved by turning knob 24 so that the pole is able to be pushed outwardly from between clamping components 21, 22.

Prior to connecting the apparatus 10 to a horizontal support beam, the adjuster mechanism 30 is adjusted so that the horizontal clamping mechanism 12 is raised or lowered to a position relative to the vertical clamp 11. The markings 20 indicate the exact position of the vertical member 32 relative to the measurement markings 19 on measurement bar 18. Alternatively the pole may be connected to the horizontal clamp 12 first and the adjuster mechanism may be operated to move the horizontal clamp 12 and pole up or down to the appropriate position.

The pole may then be permanently fixed in position by appropriate connection to the support beam and at its opposite end by providing appropriate footings . The apparatus may then be disengaged from the support beam and the pole by adjusting the first and second clamps 11, 12, but maintaining the position of the markings 20 relative to the measurement bar 19.

The apparatus may then be fixed to a support beam at another position where a pole is to be replaced.

Because the vertical distance between the marker and the second clamp 12 is now fixed, restumping can be accurately achieved by simply placing another pole between the clamping components 21, 22 and fixing the new pole to the horizontal support beam at one end and to appropriate footings at the opposite end. No separate realignment or measurement is necessary because the apparatus ensures that the vertical distance between the horizontal support beam and the post which is to support it is constant across the entire length of the support beam and for that matter each support beam of the house.

It is envisaged that the apparatus has wider applications for other alignment applications such as building fences or locating beams relative to each other at a fixed distance.

Although for convenience the invention has been described with clamping devices oriented at 90° with respect to each other, in vertical and horizontal planes respectively, the invention is equally applicable to clamping devices being oriented at different angles with respect to each other as long as they are able to maintain a fixed distance between components they are to support while they are being connected together.

An apparatus according to the second embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 7 to 10 and incorporates similar features to those shown in the first embodiment. Modifications have been made however to provide additional features .

The apparatus 40 shown in Figure 7 incorporates a knob 41 similar to knob 25 to control twisting of the pole clamping sleeve member 42. In addition a second knob 43 is provided for controlling tilting of the pole clamping sleeve 42. A knob 44 on the pole clamp sleeve 42 provides clamping of a pole such as a wooden pole in a similar fashion to that described in the previous embodiment .

In contrast to the previous embodiment the vertical clamp is replaced by a spring loaded horizontal clamp 45 which allows the apparatus to be connected to a horizontal support beam such as that of a house being lifted. A ratchet mechanism 46 with knobs 47 can be operated to clamp jaws 48 and 49 of the clamp 45. Each of the jaws 48, 49 are preferably provided with rims or lips which are angled inwardly at 90° so as to help retain the individual jaws over the horizontal beam. Without these rims/lips the clamps would be more likely to slip off the beam when the rest of the device 40 is subject to a large load.

The ratchet mechanism 46 and horizontal clamp 45 is supported on a vertical support shaft 50 similar to vertical shaft 15 of the first embodiment. However the shaft 50 is much longer to enable a greater range of vertical movement for the pole clamp 42. Control knob 51 controls rotation of the pole clamp 42 with respect to the shaft 50 and at the bottom end of the shaft 50 a control knob is provided to control up and down movement of the pole clamp 42 with respect to the shaft 50, in conjunction with measurement bar 53 which is similar to that shown in Figure 1 of the first embodiment . As shown in Figure 7 the apparatus also includes locating lugs 54 which allow the apparatus to be quickly dropped over a horizontal support beam so as to be clamped by horizontal clamp 45 and then slid along to a cross-beam where the locating lugs 54 abut thereagainst . It is also noted that the vertical shaft 50 may also have a base which is adapted to sit on a ground surface . Therefore according to one embodiment the shaft includes an adjustment mechanism to allow the base of the shaft to be moved so that it contacts a ground surface. This operation may be achieved by a knob which controls up and down movement of the base 54.

Fine tuning adjustment of the pole clamp 42 along the vertical shaft 30 may be achieved by turning the knob 55 located at the top of the vertical shaft 50. As shown in Figure 8 the apparatus 40 is connected to a rectangular horizontal support beam 60 (coming out of the page) and a cross-beam 61.

It can be seen from above that the apparatus provides control of movement in any direction in a three- dimensional coordinate system. Thus the apparatus provides tilting, twisting, slewing as well as vertical and horizontal adjustment of clamp 45 relative to clamp 42.

It should be noted that the apparatus of the present invention is equally applicable to any type of structural beam including rectangular and round wooden poles or beams, steel beams or poles or any other structural components in any type of construction.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or in any other country.

Claims

1. An apparatus for aligning structural members during a construction process, the apparatus comprising a first attachment means for attachment to a first member of a building structure, a second attachment means for attachment to a second member, and indicating means for indicating the position of the first attachment means relative to the second attachment means.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second attachment means comprises a clamp for clamping a second member.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the first attachment means is adapted to clamp the first member.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including adjustment means which is adapted to adjust the position of the second attachment means relative to the first attachment means.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the adjustment means controls movement of the second attachment means along a first axis towards or away from the first attachment means.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the adjustment means controls movement of the second attachment means along a vertical axis when the apparatus is in use.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the adjustment means controls slewing movement of the second attachment means relative to the first attachment means.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7 wherein the adjustment means controls tilting of the second attachment means .

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, 7 or 8 wherein the adjustment means controls twisting movement of the second attachment means .

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first attachment is adapted to attach to a beam which is oriented in a different plane relative to the beam to which the second attachment means is to be attached.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first attachment means comprises first and second jaw members with at least one of the jaw members being moveable horizontally when the first attachment means is attached to a horizontal beam.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first attachment means is connected to a vertical shaft.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12 wherein the indicator means is adapted to indicate the position of one of the first or second jaw members relative to the second attachment means.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein the indicator means is adapted to indicate the position of the lower jaw relative to the second attachment means .

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14 wherein the indicator means is located adjacent to the vertical shaft.

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 wherein the second attachment means extends at right angles to the vertical shaft.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein the first attachment means extends at right angles from a top end of the vertical shaft .

18. The apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims when the vertical shaft includes a base which is adapted to be moveable to rest on a ground surface when the apparatus is in use.

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 18 including a connection means for connecting the second attachment to the vertical shaft.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 19 wherein the connection means allows the second attachment means to slew with respect to the first attachment means