UNIVERSAL MOUNTING

Abstract: A first member (1) has a bore to accommodate a fixing bolt (11) for attachment to the roof (8) of a tunnel. A second member (2) is hinged to the first member using a nut and bolt (31, 32) and a tubular sleeve (3). A threaded rod (5) and nuts (6, 61) are coupled to the second member via a spring (4). A number of universal mountings are used to attach a fan to the roof of a tunnel having a non-planar surface. The nut and bolt (31, 32) and threaded rod (5) and nuts (6, 61) allow the fan to be mounted level using a single type of bracket.

Description: UNIVERSAL MOUNTING This invention relates to a mounting for air movement equipment. It particularly relates to a universal mounting for mounting a fan on a surface of arbitrary form. Fans are commonly employed in road tunnels to provide ventilation by promoting air movement through the tunnel . As shown in Fig 1, while mounting can be fairly straightforward where the tunnel surface is flat, tunnels often have non-planar interior surfaces. As shown in Fig 2 in such cases the structural framework used to support the fan has had to be specially designed on a case-by- case basis to fit the tunnel profile at the exact point where the fan was to be installed. This is a particular problem where the fan location is offset from the central line of the tunnel. Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non- limiting example to the drawings in which Fig 1 and 2 show prior art fan mountings. Fig 3 shows a front view of a first embodiment of the invention. Fig 4 shows a side view of Fig 3. Fig 5 illustrates different orientations which can be achieved in accordance with the invention. Fig 6 shows of a second embodiment of the invention. Fig 7 and 8 shows a third embodiment of the invention. Fig 9 shows a modification of the first embodiment. Fig 10 shows the arrangement of Fig 8 in use. Referring to Fig 3 and 4, a universal mounting comprises an anchor bracket 1, a hanger bracket 2, a sleeve 3, a bolt 31, a nut 32 , a compliant element 4 comprising a helical spring, a threaded drop rod 5 and adjusting nuts 6, 61. A bolt 11 secures anchor bracket 1 to a wall 8. As shown in Fig 5 the nut bolt and sleeve mechanically couple the anchor bracket 1 to the hanger bracket 3 in such a way that the angular orientation of the anchor bracket relative to the hanger bracket 3 can be varied. Fig 6 shows a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention. The view shows two brackets in according with Figs 3-5 coupled to a generally L-section mounting flange 40. In practice four brackets are employed, one on each corner of the fan. The drop rods 5, 5' of the mountings extend through suitable holes in the mounting bracket 40. The mounting flange supports the fan, not shown. In use, the anchor brackets 1, 1' are first attached to the roof of the tunnel by respective fixing bolts 11. The hanger bracket and drop rods are assembled to the mounting flange 40 which is attached to the fan. The fan and mounting flange are then offered up to the anchor brackets 2 to align the bores in the hanger brackets with the bores in the anchor brackets. The sleeves 3 are then positioned in alignment with the bores in the anchor brackets and the bolts 31 assembled through the bores and the sleeve and secured in position by the nuts 32. The fan is then levelled using nuts 6, 61 and when adjustment is complete, nuts 6,61 and 32 are tightened. It can be seen that the invention allows the curvature of the tunnel wall to be accommodated while keeping the top surface of the mounting flange perpendicular to the axis of the drop rod. Fig 7 and 8 show an arrangement which is particularly advantageous when limited headroom exists. The mounting flange 50 has vertical end walls 52,54, each having a plurality of holes 82, 84, 86, 88 by which respective end brackets 56, 58 can be positioned at different heights on the end walls 52, 54. This allows a greater range of adjustment than is possible using the drop rods alone. In this embodiment the drop rods are attached to the brackets 56, 58 rather than directly to the flange 50. Installation is otherwise as described for Fig 4. The modification shown in Fig 8 may be advantageous where the surface to which the anchor bracket is to be secured is inclined at an appreciable angle to the horizontal. The anchor bracket 60 shown in Fig 6 differs from that shown in Fig 1 in that it has a plurality of holes 62, 64, 66 instead of the single hole of the Fig 1 and 2 embodiment. As shown in Fig 7, the provision of further holes offsets from the geometric centre of the bracket allow the bracket to be secured to the wall in such a way that the fixing bolt 11 lies above the bolt 31. A number of modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. The compliant element need not be a helical spring but may be other types of spring. The compliant element may comprise a rubber or rubber-like member. The compliant member may be omitted entirely in situations where it is not required. The hole or holes in the base of the anchor member for accommodating the fixing member need not be circular. They may for example be elongate to facilitate adjustment. The end brackets may be permanently secured to the vertical end walls .

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A mounting arrangement for mounting a fan to the underside of a surface of arbitrary profile comprising an anchor bracket comprising a base member and a generally orthogonally extending side member, the base memPer having a first aperture arranged to accommodate fixing means, the side member having a second aperture, a hanger pracket comprising a second base memPer and a generally orthogonally extending seconα side member, the second siαe emper having a tnird aperture, a fixing means extending through the second and third apertures and arranged to couple the anchor bracket to the hanger bracket in sαch a way as to allow the angular orientation therebetween to be adjusted, a drop rod coupled to the hanger bracket and arranged to be coupled to a mounting bracket for a fan so as to permit the spatial relationship between the hanger bracket and the mounting bracket to be adjusted. 2. A ro nting arrangement as claimed in claim 1 further comprisiπc compliant means arranged between the drop rod and the hanger pracket. 3. A nesting arrangement as claimed in claim 2 in which tne compliant ~eans comprises a spring. 4. A ren ing arrangement as claimed in claim 3 m whicn the complia n t -eεns comprises a rubber-like member. 5. A mounting arrangement as claimed m any preceding claim m which the drop rod comprises a threaded portion arranged to cooperate with an adjusting nut. 6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim m which the base member comprises a plurality of said first apertures. 7. An arrangement as claimed m any preceding claim m which the anchor bracket comprises a further side member spaced apart from and generally parallel to said side member. 8. An arrangement as claimed m any preceding claim m which the hanger bracket comprises a further second siαe wail spaced apart from and generally parallel to said seconα side wall. 9. An assembly for mounting a fan to the underside of a surface of arbitrary profile comprising a fan mounting bracket having a vertical end face, an end bracket, means to secure the end bracket to the vertical end face, and a mounting arrangement as claimed in my preceding claim coupled to said mounting bracket via said end bracket. 10. An assembly as claimed m Claim 9 m which the end bracket is arranged to be capable of being secured to the end bracket m a number of different locations. 11. Amounting arrangement for mounting a fan substantially as descπbeα with reference to, or as shown m, Fig 3, 4 and 5; Fig 6; Fig 7 and 8; or Fig 9 and 10 of the drawings. 12. A metnod of mounting a fan to the underside of a surface of arbitrary profile using a mounting arrangement as claimed in any preceαirc claim comprising tne steps of (a) attacn..nσ the ancnor bracket to the underside of the surface; (b) attaching the hanger bracket to the mounting bracket via the dropper rod; and (c) attaching the hanger bracket to the anchor bracket using the fixing means.

Inventors: COWLIN PHILLIP SYDNEY, GOWER DOUGLAS LINDSAY, COWLIN, PHILLIP, SYDNEY, GOWER, DOUGLAS, LINDSAY
Applicants: COLCHESTER WOODS, COWLIN PHILLIP SYDNEY, GOWER DOUGLAS LINDSAY, COWLIN, PHILLIP, SYDNEY, GOWER, DOUGLAS, LINDSAY, WOODS OF COLCHESTER LIMITED
Application year: 1997
Main classification: F04D29
IPC codes: F04D29, F16M11