GB2075587A - Clamp for structural members - Google Patents

Abstract

A scaffold tube (3) is secured to a flanged joist or beam (2) with a fitting (1) having a first clamp (14) which fits around the tube and a second clamp (8, 9, 30) which fits over an edge of a flange (5, 6) of the joist or beam. The second clamp of the fitting includes a projection (30) which fits between the joist or beam (2) and the tube (3) so that the fitting can be attached to the joist or beam before the scaffold tube is brought into position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fittings for interconnecting structural mem tubers This invention relates to a fitting for intercon ;necking structural members and is particularly although not exclusively concerned with a scaffold fitting for securing a scaffold tube relative to a flanged joist or beam.

When erecting scaffolding it is known to secure a scaffold tube to a flanged joist or beam with a fitting which clamps such structural members directly against each other.

With this arrangement, however, the problem arises that the two members have to be arranged in the desired positions against each other before the fitting can be fixed in place whereby complicated and inconvenient ma noeuvring of the members and fitting may be required. Further, with the known arrange ment, in certain cases it may be difficult to ensure secure interconnection of the structural members where the joist or beam has a relatively thick flange thereto.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fitting with which the above mentioned problem and difficulty can be overcome or at least appreciably reduced.

According to one aspect of the present invention therefore there is provided a fitting, for securing an elongate first structural mem ber relative to a flanged second structural member, said fitting comprising first and sec ond fixing devices, the first fixing device be ing adapted to be clamped around the periph ery of the first structural member, and the second fixing device being adapted to be clamped over an edge of a flange of the second structural member, characterised in that said second fixing device is adapted to be clamped as aforesaid independently of the said clamping of said first fixing device.

With this arrangement, it will be appreci ated that the fitting can be held in place on the flanged structural member before the other structural member is manoeuvred into position. Assembly of the structural members and the fitting can therefore be much facili tated. Further, since an independent fixing device is used for clamping against the flanged structural member, it is possible to construct the fitting such as to ensure secure attachment even in the case where the flanged member has a relatively thick flange thereto.

Preferably, said fitting has a rigid said sup port which in use extends alongside said flange edge, and said second fixing device comprises a part which projects rigidly from said side support and pressure applying means mounted relative to said side support and adapted to press said flange onto said projecting part.

With this arrangement a particularly secure grip can be achieved especially if said projecting part has a flat surface thereto for face-toface engagement with said flange. The projecting part may extend at right angles to said side support.

Said pressure applying means preferably acts close to and in a direction parallel to said side support. Such pressure applying means may comprise at least one screw, and preferably said pressure applying means is mounted on an element which projects rigidly from said side support on the same side thereof as said projecting part and in spaced disposition relative to said projecting part, which element may extend parallel to said projecting part and may be formed by a bent-over top end of said side support. With this arrangement, a high pressure can be applied to the flange, and the fitting can withstand high loadings even with a relatively small compact and inexpensively fabricated construction.

Most preferably said projecting part is adapted to be clamped against that side of said flange of said second structural member which in use faces towards said first structural member. Also said projecting part may extend between said first and second fixing devices so as to be interposed in use between said structural members.

In one embodiment of the invention, said projecting element projects from said side support at a position spaced from a bottom end thereof and said bottom end forms part of said first fixing device. Said first fixing device may take any suitable form dependent on the nature and cross-sectional shape of the first structural member although preferably such device comprises a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws and locking means for locking said jaws together, and said bottom end forms at least part of one such jaw. Where the first structural member is a round-section tube, said jaws may be part-circular.

The fitting of the invention is not restricted to any particular field of use but it is visualised that it will find particular application in the erection of scaffolding to interconnect Hsection or I-section members or angle irons or other flanged joists or beams with scaffold tubes.

In the case where a scaffold tube is to be secured to an I-section member, two fittings may be used, one for each of the two aligned flanges which project away from one longitudinal edge of the centre web of the flanged member. In this way, sideways movement of the flanged member, said as to move same out of the second fixing devices of the fittings, can be resisted not only by the clamping pressure at the first fixing devices but also by the clamping pressure between the second fixing devices and the scaffold tube.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic end view of an I-beam secured to a scaffold tube with fittings according to one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a diagrammatic side view of the arrangement of Fig. 1; and Figures 3 and 4 views similar to the views of Figs. 1 and 2 of an alternative embodi-ment.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a rigid metal I-beam 2 secured to a rigid metal round-section scaffold tube 3 by scaffold fittings 1, such I-beam 2 having a central elongate planar web 4 and at each longitudinal edge of such web 4 a pair of planar flanges 5, 6 which are aligned with each other and project at right angles to the web 4 on opposite sides thereof.

Each scaffold fitting 1 comprises a rigid upstanding flat metal plate 8 which is bent over to one side at its upper end 9 and which is secured on the same side at its opposite end to a pressed metal channel piece 7. The channel piece 7 has a flat plate-shaped top wall 30 which is parallel to the bent-over end 9 and perpendicular to the adjacent part of the plate 8, and two downwardly projecting side walls 10, 11 each having a part-circular cut-out therein aligned with a corresponding cut-out 1 2 in the bottom end of the plate 8.

The channel piece 7 is fixed to the plate 8, with one side wall 11 in facetoface contact with the plate 8, by welding and also by means of rivets 16, 31 passed through the plate 8 and also both side walls 10, 11.

A threaded hole is provided in the centre of the bent end 9, and an eye bolt 1 3 is engaged therewith.

A curved metal clamping lug 14 has a projection 1 5 at one end which fits between the side walls 10, 11 at one end of the channel piece 7 and is pivotally connected thereto on the rivet 1 6. The head 1 7 of an eye bolt 1 8 is pivotally mounted on the rivet 31 between the side walls 10, 11 at the other end of the channel piece 7, and such bolt 1 8 is passed through a hole in the free end of the clamping lug 14 and engages a fixing nut 19 on the outer side of such lug 14. The inner side of the clamping lug 14 is provided with a part-circular cut-out 20 thereat.

In use, two fittings 1 of the kind so far described, are engaged respectively with the flanges 5, 6 at one edge of the web 4 of the beam 2, such engagement being effected by insertion of the free longitudinal edges 21 of the flanges 5, 6 between the pieces 7 and bent ends 9 of the respective fittings 1 into abutment with the upstanding plates 8 thereof, the fittings 1 being clamped in place on the flanges 5, 6 by tightening the bolts 13.

The scaffold tube 3 is located between the clamping lugs 14 and pieces 7 of the fittings 1 (the nuts 1 9 first being unscrewed to their limit and the clamping lugs 14 pivoted away from the parts 7 to permit insertion of the tube) and the scaffold tube 3 is then clamped in place by tightening the nuts 1 9 on the bolts 18.

The scaffold tube 3 fits against the partcircular cut-outs 1 2, 20 in the side walls 10, 11 of the pieces 7, in the bottom ends of the plates 8, and in the clamping lugs 14, and it will be noted that the arrangement is such that the tube 3 when clamped in place extends at right angles to the I-section beam 2.

With this arrangement, the scaffold tube 3 is held securely in position relative to the beam 2. Displacement of the tube relative to the beam axially of the bolt 1 3 is strongly resisted by the action of the bolt 1 3 and by the structural rigidity of the plate 8 and attached piece 7. In this respect it will be noted that the fitting has great strength axially of the bolt due to the fact that the main body part of the plate 8 extends parallel and close to the bolt 1 3 such that a high proportion of the loading acts in the plane of the plate 8. This construction also gives a particularly convenient and compact arrangement.Displacement of the tube relative to the beam 2 longitudinally of such tube is strongly resisted by the clamping action of the bolts 1 3 and also by abutment of the flanges 5, 6 with the plates 8, such plates 8 being securely fixed relative to the tube 3 by the clamping action of the bolts 1 8. That is, the fittings are prevented from slipping off the flanges 5, 6 due to the interconnection thereof by the tube 3. Displacement of the fittings along the beam 2 is strongly resisted by the face-to-face contact between the flat top walls 30 of the pieces 7 with the flat bottom faces of the flanges 5,6.

Moreover it will be noted that the fittings can be relatively inexpensively fabricated; complicated and expensive castings or forgings are not necessarily required.

Further, having regard to the presence of the intermediate parts, defined by the top walls 30 of the pieces 7, between the flanges 5, 6 and the tube 3, it will be seen that the flanges 5, 6 are not directly clamped against the tube 3 and the flanges 5, 6 and the tube 3 are independently fixed to the fittings 1.

Thus the fittings 1 can be held in place on the beam 2 before the tube is manoeuvred into the final position thereof whereby assembly of the beam 2, tube 3 and fittings 1 can be' much facilitated. In particular it will be appre ciated that the fittings can hang relatively loosely on the beam whilst the tube is brought into position.

Still further, the dimension of the plate 8 and is particular the spacing of the piece 7 and the end 9 can be readily selected as desired to suit the thickness of the flanges 5, 6 whereby, for example, the fittings can be conveniently formed to suit even relatively thick flanges.

The arrangement of Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 2 and like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts. However, channel piece 7 is omitted 'and the movable clamping lug 14 and the bolt 1 8 are pivotably mounted on the bottom end 22 of the plate 8, the pertaining ends 23, 24 of the clamping lug 14 and bolt 1 8 being appropriately constructed with spaced parts which straddle the end 22. A flat plateshaped part 31 projects at right angles to the plate 8 adjacent the bottom end 22 and defined the intermediate part for interposition between the beam 2 and the tube 3.

It is of course to be understood that the invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above embodiments which are described by way of example only. Thus, for example, instead of the single bolt 13, two side-by-side bolts may be provided. Also, bolts other than eye bolts can be used.

Claims (25)

1. A fitting, for securing an elongate first structural member relative to a flanged second structural member, said fitting comprising first and second fixing devices, the first fixing device being adapted to be clamped around the periphery of the first structural member and the second fixing device being adapted to be clamped over an edge of a flange of the second structural member, characterised in that said second fixing device is adapted to be clamped as aforesaid independently of the said clamping of said first fixing device.

2. A fitting according to claim 1, having a rigid side support which in use extends along side said flange edge, characterised in that said second fixing device comprises a part which projects rigidly from said side support and pressure applying means mounted rela tive to said side support and adapted to press said flange onto said projecting part.

3. A fitting according to claim 2, charac terised in that said projecting part has a flat surface thereto for face-to-face engagement with said flange.

4. A fitting according to claim 3, charac terised in that said projecting part extends at right angles to said side support.

5. A fitting according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that said projecting part com prises a flat plate.

6. A fitting according to claim 5, charac terised in that said flat plate is formed in one piece with said side support.

7. A fitting according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that said projecting part com prises a top wall of a channel piece which is fixed at one side to a side surface of said side support.

8. A fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 7, characterised in that said pressure applying means acts close to and in a direction parallel to said side support.

9. A fitting according to claim 8, characterised in that said pressure applying means comprises at least one screw.

10. A fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterised in that said side support comprises a plate.

11. A fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that said pressure applying means is mounted on an element which projects rapidly from said side support on the same side thereof as said projecting part and in spaced disposition relative to said projecting part.

1 2. A fitting according to claim 11, characterised in that said projecting element extends parallel to said side support.

1 3. A fitting according to claim 11 or 12, characterised in that said projecting element is formed by a bent-over top end of said side support.

14. A fitting according to any one of claims 2 to 13, characterised in that said projecting part is adapted to be clamped against that side of said flange of said second structural member which in use faces towards said first structural member.

1 5. A fitting according to claim 14, characterised in that said projecting part extends between said first and second fixing devices so as to be interposed in use between said structural members.

1 6. A fitting according to claim 14 or 15, characterised in that said projecting element projects from said side support at a position spaced from a bottom end thereof and said bottom end forms part of said first fixing device.

1 7. A fitting according to claim 16, characterised in that said first fixing device comprises a pair of pivotally interconnected jaws and locking means for locking said jaws together and said bottom end forms at least part of one such jaw.

1 8. A fitting according to claim 17, characterised in that the jaws are part-circular.

1 9. A fitting according to claim 1 7 or 18, when dependent on claim 7 or any claim dependent on claim 7, characterised in that the side walls of the channel piece also form part of said one jaw.

20. A fitting according to claim 19, characterised in that rivets are passed through said side walls and also said bottom end of the side support, said rivets acting to hold the channel piece to the said end as well as providing pivots for the jaws and for the said locking means.

21. A fitting according to claim 1, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

22. An elongate first structural member when secured to flanged second structural member with a fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 21.

23. A scaffold tube when secured to an I section member with two fittings each according to any one of claims 1 to 21 one said fitting for each of two aligned flanges which project away from one longitudinal edge of the centre web of the flanged member.

24. A method of securing an elongate first structural member to a flanged second structural member with one or more fittings according to any one of claims 1 to 21 characterised in that said second fixing device of the or each fitting is clamped to the pertaining flange of the second structural member prior to clamping of the associated first fixing device around the first structural member prior to clamping of the associated first fixing device around the first structural member.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the first structural member is a scaffold tube and the second structural member is an I-section beam.