IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED TRESTLE SOCKET AND CLAMP
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I GEORGE WASHINGTON ZEIGLER, residing at 1014 Eighth Street, Washington
in the District of Columbia, and United States of America, gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN COMBINED TRESTLE
SOCKET AND CLAMP," and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
This invention has relation to a combined metal socket and clamp designed for
use in connection with stationary or portable trestles or horses for supporting
scaffolding, roofs, posts, beams and superposed structures of all kinds whether the
same be permanently or temporarily constructed.
In the construction or erection of scaffolding or other superposed structures of
frame-work the principal object is to have the parts as light as possible and at the
same time of the greatest strength attainable from their proportions that they will
be able to withstand the strain imposed upon them. The plan usually followed
therefore is to construct the frame-work comprising a scaffold or other superposed
body of comparatively light material and to support such frame work on trestles
or trusses, in which the entire strength of the structure and its imposed weight is
concentrated.
.
My invention was devised for the purpose of rendering capable the adjustment of
the legs or braces of which the trestle is composed or in other words to adapt them
to be brought to varying angles or degrees of pitch with respect to the structure
which they support by which a structure of very great height and weight may be
safely supported It being essential with each increment of height in a structure
which in the first instance may have been constructed on a predetermined scale or
in any lateral addition thereto that its base be correspondingly increased or
changed, the advantages of my invention will be apparent.
So too will my invention be found equally valuable in the sense of a clamp for
holding together the opposing ends of the braces of the trestle in such rigid and
secure a manner as to absolutely prevent accidental disunion thereof and also does
it possess the feature of a socket for the reception of a tie or cross beam.
The invention is applicable to the support of many and varied forms of structures
and is not to be limited in the extent of its uses, a few forms of its adaptations,
being hereinafter described, which are simply selected for illustrations.

page_text: The invention consists substantially in the combined trestle socket and clamp, as
constructed and in the particular combinations to be hereinafter distinctly described
and claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings Fig 1 is a perspective view of trestle
and tie or cross beam, in connection with which my invention is embodied and
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof partly broken off.
Figs 3 and 4 represent end views of my invention in which the braces or legs
are shown as set at different angles or degrees of pitch.
Figs 5 and 6 are sectional detail views to more clearly indicate the construction
of parts.
Fig 7 is a perspective view of the socket clamp proper.
Fig 8 is a detail view showing the manner in which the ends of the legs or
braces are beveled or chamfered by which the desired inclination is given them
when properly located and clamped within the socket.
Fig. 9, represents a perspective view of another form of arrangement of the legs
or braces by which a vertical beam or post is supported. With reference to the
several parts by the letters marked thereon, I will first proceed to describe the
construction of the socket clamp and then follow in regular order with a description
in detail of the construction of remaining parts together with an explanation as to
the manner in which different inclinations or angles of the legs are obtained. This
socket clamp I propose to form of malleable iron owing to the fact of that metal
possessing the quality of being extremely tenacious and therefore capable of with-
standing enormous strain, and less susceptible to breakage or rupture than ordinary
cast iron. The said socket clamp is represented as a whole at A and is constructed
of two sides a. a inclining toward each other at the top at a suitable angle and
extend inwardly, at a'. forming an angular section a". thence terminating at each
end with extensions or brackets b. b. the upper surface of which constituting a rest
or support for a tie or cross beam.
It will be observed that the sides 61. 6. of the brackets b. b slant downwardly
from their extremity to the point at which they coincide or unite with the angular
sections, a, a¹. thus forming a brace therefor against the sides or edges of the
trestle braces by which any undue strain imposed upon the tie or cross beam in the
direction of the bracket sides will be received by said sides and distributed or
communicated to the remaining portion of the entire socket clamp as well also as
to the supporting legs or posts themselves thereby counteracting the effect of any
inequality of strain that may be imposed from those directions In like manner
the two main sides a. a. by being inclined toward each other at a suitable angle
will serve to receive all lateral strains and act to disperse or distribute them to the
other portions of the socket clamp. Uniting with the two main sides, at a point
just outside of the angle formed at a¹ and between said sides are webs c formed at
their points of intersection therewith with diagonal portions c¹, c¹, These portions
act to strengthen the two main sides in that they compensate for any loss of
strength that may possibly result from the formation of the angle at a¹. In
addition to that however they also assist in receiving a portion of all strains
exerted to the device.
For all practical purposes it will only be necessary to clamp the truss legs within
the sockets as is shown in the several figures and to be hereinafter described but
for the purpose of permitting a vertical adjustment of the supported structure at
any time, or in other words, should it be desired to elevate or lower the cross or
tie-beam before or after the structure has been mounted thereon, I bave formed
each of the sides a a with vertically elongated slots, d, having a chamfered edge
and terminating at the top in a gradually inclined edge or web.
When an adjustment is desired to be effected, a screw is inserted in the side of
the trestle legs through the slot (see Fig. 5) the clamps elevated or the legs tapped
to be forced lower down and the screw then tightened. Also have I formed screw
openings in the top of the brackets b by which the tie beam is secured in place by

page_text: screws as represented in Fig. 6, The slots d in the sides a, as well also as the screw
holes may not be provided but for the purpose of completeness I prefer that they
should.
The brackets b supply an extended bearing for the cross beam, while the
sides a, a¹¹ rise or project above the upper surface of said bracket sufficiently to
form supports for the sides of the cross-beam as shown. It will be obvious from
the foregoing that a trestle embodying my invention in connection therewith
will be capable of supporting a structure of considerable weight with perfect
security..
Having set forth the nature of construction of the socket clamp proper, I will
now proceed to explain several employments of the legs therewith. Directing
attention to Figs 1, 2 and 3 it will be seen that the legs or braces C C are set at
about the ordinary angle and the cross or tie-beam B placed within its supports
To attain the angle shown in said figures the upper opposing sides of the braces C
are beveled, or chamfered as represented at e. Fig 8..and then inserted from beneath
into the pockets formed by the sides a. a. a¹, all and it will be apparent that the
greater the weight imposed upon the trestle the tighter will the braces C become
wedged in A. To obtain an increased pitch or angle of said braces it is simply
necessary to remove them and bevel them off more at e and replace them as before,
By reversing the sides of the braces, they may be brought to a vertical position as
shown in Fig. 9.
It is in this position that they are brought when it is desired to support vertical
standards or beams to which it is intended to secure frame-work of any description.
In converting the trestles into this form the beam or post D¹ is placed vertically
between the sides of braces C C as shown and auxiliary braces 9 g secured thereto
at the desired angle.
When it is desired to place the braces C C at an oblique angle to each other an
edge as well as the side of the said braces is beveled as at i. Fig 8 and they are
inserted into the sockets with the bevels i at opposite positions to each other, thus
providing a greatly increased space by which a structure of increased height is
better supported.
In Fig. 4 is shown the manner of obtaining a vertical support having a brace
inclined thereto this being effected by inserting the braces CC with the beveled
face e of one, opposite to the straight side of the other. By inserting the braces C C
into the sockets with their beveled faces and edges corresponding to each other
they will be caused to tend outwardly or in the direction of the ends of the beam C
as well as away from each other (see Fig 6).
Should the trestle not set level it is simply necessary to tap the brace at the top
of the shortest length whereupon the other one will be correspondingly raised.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with the legs or braces, of a socket clamp formed of two
sides inclining toward each other at the top and having lateral brackets extending
at right angles thereto substantially as described.
2. The combination with the legs or braces, of a socket clamp formed in one
piece and consisting of two tapering sides inclining toward each other at the top
and lateral brackets extending at right angles thereto substantially as described.
3. The combination with the legs or braces of a socket-clamp formed of two
sides inclining toward each other at the top and having lateral brackets extending
therefrom, said sides extending above. the brackets to form lateral supports for a
tie-beam substantially as described. ⚫
4. The combination with the legs or braces, of a socket clamp formed of two
sides inclining toward each other at the top and extending inward at opposite
points as at a¹. and terminating at each end with a bracket for the support of a tie
beam substantially as described,
.

page_text: 5. The combination with the legs or braces, of a socket clamp formed of two sides
inclining toward each other at the top and extending inwardly at opposite points
as at à' and terminating at each end with a lateral extension or bracket for the
support of a tie beam, said sides proper extending above the top of the brackets
for the lateral support of said beam substantially as described.
6. The combination with the legs or braces of a socket clamp formed of two
sides inclining toward each other at the top and terminating with end brackets or
extensions said sides having each an elongated slot whereby the legs may be
ádjusted and secured by a screw substantially as described.
7. The combination with the legs or braces of a socket clamp formed of two
sides inclining toward each other at the top, extending inward as at a¹. to form
sections a¹ and terminating at each end with brackets b said brackets having
sides b' inclining toward their points of intersection with all substantially as and
for the purpose described.
8. The combination with the legs or braces of a socket clamp formed of two
sides inclining toward each other at the top and having brackets b. b. and the
inward extension a¹. a. said sides rising above the brackets and the webs c c.
uniting the sides at a point outside of the inward extension substantially as
described.
9. The combination with the socket clamp, constructed substantially as described,
of legs or braces having beveled sides and edges whereby they may be placed
within the socket at various angles or degrees of pitch as set forth.
10. The combination with the socket clamp formed substantially as shown and
described, of legs having beveled edges or sides whereby they may be secured
within the socket at an angle or incline as set forth.