CONNECTING DEVICE FOR SECURING A GIRDER TO A COLUMN AT A CHOSEN LEVEL

Abstract: A snap clamp for fastening a beam (3) to a pillar (2), comprising a sleeve (4) which is to be secured onto the pillar and has a resilient clamping leg (5) bent out from it and having a latch slot for the beam to be snapped therein and thus be firmly clamped onto the pillar, and comprising oppressing means to provide a strong clamping force.

Description: This invention relates to a tying device for fastening a beam to a pillar at a selected height. It is thus far usual to fasten in each instance a tying means to a pillar by welding or screws so that a beam which is to be connected to the pillar can be clamped on this secured tying device. This known tying method, however, has the disadvantage that in each instance when a height adjustment is to be performed a thus secured tying device is not readily releasable and displacable so that it is required to arrange each time again another tying means at the newly selected location on the pillar. The aim is to obviate said disadvantage by providing a more ra­ tional tying method, based on a new form of fastening device, and for this purpose the present invention is characterized in that the tying device comprises a substantially tubular member which is slidable over the length of the pillar and adapted to clamp the beam onto the pillar, and furthermore oppressing means for pres­ sing the beam on the pillar under a substantial stress. Due to this new measure the beam is particularly rigidly clamped on the pillar but by removing the oppression or bias the tying device is in each instance readily to be released and displaced along the pillar. In its preferred embodiment the here proposed device is characterized in that it comprises one or more clamping members, with a slight taper or unroundness for rigidly oppressing these by axial displacement and/or rotation thereof, and furthermore by the use of a friction producing plastic material, such as teflon, par­ ticularly on the parts which are to be oppressed for fastening it under friction. According to a further aspect thereof, the new device is charac­ terized by a snap clamp which is secured to said tubular member and has a clamping member at the bottom side of said tubular member and extending upwards wedgewise and forming a receiving slot which is constructed so that the beam assumes an oppressed position with respect to its location of repose under the work load imposed thereon. Under the load carried by it the oppressed beam will clamp the tu­ bular member ever more firmly onto the pillar. A secure locking is furthermore provided by a clamping piece of substantially an L-shape, in an embodiment of a friction producing material, in which the roundset upper part of the long leg of the L is to be forced over the snap clamp for a close interference fit in cooperation with an oppressing face formed on the short leg of the L, while at the end of the short leg of the L an abutment is provided, acting as a hook-on leg and arresting the snap clamp in the operation of the clamping piece. In view of its form-recovery and so as to provide a proper grip­ ping possibility, the clamping piece is furthermore characterized by a handle portion projecting outwardly at the corner between the legs of the L; and according to an additional aspect it features abutments, preferably in the form of ribs or an upset edge, on the snap clamp as a seat for the clamping piece to be secured thereto, which, due to this, cannot slide downwards or get loose from the downwardly tapered clamping member. Said features provide a particularly efficient tying device which is adapted to exert a strong clamping force and, due to its rigid character, may be of use when erecting a scaffold in the building industry. The invention is described in more detail in view of the illus­ trative embodiments thereof as represented in the drawing. Figure 1 is a lateral view of one embodiment of the here proposed tying device for fastening a beam on a pillar; figure 2 shows a clamping piece to be mounted on the tying device of figure 1; figure 3 is a top view of the clamping device; figure 4 shows yet another embodiment in which the sleeve and a locking band which is mounted thereon have a slight taper and/or unroundness so as to provide by means of their oppression or bias a strong oppressing force for securing it on the pillar; figure 5 shows in top view a slight unroundness of the sleeve and locking band as represented in figure 4; and figure 6 shows a further embodiment variation, with tapered inner and outer sleeves and locking band. The tying device as represented in figure 1 preferably consists of a stainless material such as plastic and is slid onto a pillar 2, whereupon a beam 3 is forced in the snap clamp 5 which is con­ nected to a sleeve 4. In the illustrative embodiment of figure 1 the snap clamp 5 has a receiving slot in which the beam 3 as represented, while oppressing it, is clamped onto the pillar 2. For performing a height adjustment one simply grabs the sleeve 4 and slides it upwards, unclamping the beam 3 then and sliding it along with the sleeve 4 along the pillar 2 so as to adjust the height position anew at the desired level. Figure 2 furthermore shows in lateral view a clamping piece 6 mounted on the snap clamp 5 so as to exert a strong clamping force thereon, which is so strong that the tying device is suitable for scaffolding on building sites as well. Figure 3 shows the substantially L-shaped clamping piece 6 in top view. The long leg of the L is indicated at 7 and the short leg at 8. The long leg 7 is roundset at the top and adapted to be forced over the snap clamp 5 with the beam 3 clamped therein for a close interference fit in cooperation with an oppressing face 9 provided on the inside on the short leg 8 of the L. On the end of the short leg 8 of the L an abutment 10 is formed, acting as a hook-on leg when applying the clamping piece 6 on the snap clamp 5 and arresting said snap clamp 5 in the operation of the clamping piece 6. At 11 is indicated a handle-piece at the corner 12 between the two legs 7 and 8 of the L, which also lends more form recovery to the clamping piece 6 which in its preferred embodiment is manufactured from a plastic material that adheres under friction, such as teflon, and is adapted to exert a firm grip on the snap clamp 5 by friction. In figure 2 it is observed that the snap clamp 5 is provided with the necessary abutments such as the ribs 13 as shown in the drawing, which are adapted to function as a seat for the clamping piece 6 to be secured thereon so that it cannot slide downwards and get loose. It is remarked that the invention is in no way restricted to the uses which are represented and is subject to modifications in its configuration within the scope of the invention. Two of the here proposed clamping pieces may, mounted on a pillar in mated opposed relationship, in combination with a spreading clip which is arranged between the grip legs of the clamping pieces, which for that purpose are provided with hook-in eyes, form a pair of jaw shears on which a substantial load can be supported. Figures 4 to 6 show yet two other possible embodiments. In the tying device 1 as represented in figure 4 the sleeve 4 and locking band 14 have a slight taper 15 and/or unroundness 16 for prestressing and firmly pressing it on the pillar 2. The non-circular locking band or sleeve 14 which may consist of a rotary sleeve or a helical sleeve as well, provides a stress on the clamping leg of the snap clamp 5. In this respect it can be remarked that, as schematically shown at 16 in figure 5, unround­ ness actually is a form of taper peripherally instead of axially, which unroundness in figure 5 is respresented to a highly exagger­ ated extent for the sake of illustration. It can be seen that the locking band 14 is arrested against an upset edge 13 in its lowermost terminal position. Under the workload supported by the beam 3, as schematically indi­ cated by arrow 17, the beam will be located in a prestressed condition in the receiving slot 18 of the snap clamp 5. The tying device as represented in figure 6 has a sleeve 4 com­ prising an inner sleeve 4a and an outer sleeve 4b which, just like the locking band 14, are to be prestressed due to their taper 15. Finally it is remarked that in order to visualize the bias, the extent of unroundness and taper and the prestressed position of the beam in the receiving slot of the snap clamp had to be repre­ sented in the drawing in a very much exaggerated manner but it should be clear that in this connection quite narrow tolerances and fits are provided which practically do not even have to be perceivable with the eye to perform their action as desired.

Claims: 1. A tying device for fastening a beam to a pillar at a selected height, comprising a substantially tubular member (4) which is slidable over the length of the pillar (2) and adapted to clamp the beam (3) onto the pillar, and furthermore oppressing means for pressing the beam on the pillar under a substantial stress. 2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it com­ prises one or more clamping members, with a slight taper or un­ roundness for rigidly oppressing these by axial displacement and/or rotation thereof. 3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the use of a friction producing plastic material, such as teflon, par­ ticularly on the parts which are to be oppressed for fastening it under friction. 4. A device according to any of the preceding claims, charac­ terized by a snap clamp (5) which is secured to said tubular member (4) and has a clamping member secured at the bottom side of said tubular member and extending upwards wedgewise and forming a receiving slot (18) which is constructed so that the beam (3) assumes an oppressed position with respect to its location of repose under the work load imposed thereon. 5. A device according to claim 4, characterized by a clamping piece (6) of substantially an L-shape, in an embodiment of a fric­ tion producing material, in which the roundset upper part of the long leg of the L is to be forced over the snap clamp (5) for a close interference fit in cooperation with an oppressing face formed on the inside of the short leg of the L, while at the end of the short leg of the L an abutment is provided, acting as a hook-on leg and arresting the snap clamp in operation of the clamping piece. 6. A device according to claim 5, characterized by a handle por­ tion projecting outwardly at the corner between the legs of the L. 7. A device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by abutments, preferably in the form of ribs or an upset edge (13) on the snap clamp (5) as a seat for the clamping piece to be secured thereon. 8. A device, substantially as represented in the specification and/or drawing.

Inventors: MIDDENDORP, CORNELIS JOHANNES JACOBUS
Applicants: MIDDENDORP, CORNELIS JOHANNES JACOBUS
Application year: 1987
Main classification: F16B7
IPC codes: E04H17, E04G7, F16B7