Patent Application
20200400321
None.
The present disclosure relates to the field of mounting hardware. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a clamp for mounting a bracket at an offset from a wall, a method for mounting a bracket on a wall and a method for mounting a compressor on a wall.
Residential heat pumps and air conditioning units are increasingly popular, at least in part owing to global warming and to the high cost of electricity required for home heating in many locations.
In virtually all air-source heat pumps and air conditioning units, a compressor is installed externally and is connected via conduits to an internal condenser, which is usually installed in a furnace having a ventilating motor for distributing heated or cooled air through air ducks. The compressor is thus exposed to elements, including rain, snow and sometimes ice. In areas where snow and ice may accumulate on the ground, the usual practice when installing heat pumps and air conditioning units for residential use is to mount the compressor on angular brackets that are fixed on a wall so that the compressor is in an elevated position above the ground.
Other angular bracket models are commonly used. For example,
Mounting the angular brackets 10 or 24 on a concrete foundation forms a very rigid structure for receiving a compressor. This arrangement greatly diminishes the transmission of harmonic vibrations and of noise that could be transmitted if the compressor was instead mounted to the wall of a house.
On many houses, external walls are covered with a layer of bricks, or with other finishing material, such as vinyl siding, aluminum siding, wood panels, engineered panels such as for example CanExel® panels, and the like, that extends to a low level of the walls, providing little clearance above the concrete foundation. These finishes have a profile that usually overhangs above the front edge of the concrete foundation. When it is desired to position a compressor so that its lower end is positioned above a lower edge of the finishing material, the angular brackets 10 or 24 cannot be easily mounted on the wall. Although a bottom end of the vertical members of the angular brackets may be sufficiently low to be directly anchored to the concrete foundation, a top end of the vertical members may reach a level where the finishing material is present. One solution to this problem may be to cut into the finishing material to provide some clearance for installing the angular brackets. This is generally not perceived as a good solution at least because it is time consuming, the result may be unsightly and also because installers may be concerned about damaging electrical wiring or insulation material present behind the finishing material.
An angled brace 70 is welded to the top horizontal member 62, the second vertical member 66, the offset horizontal member 68 and the first vertical member 64. The length, angle and welding points on the angled brace 70 will vary in view of the respective lengths of the various members 64, 66 and 68.
A plate 72 is folded along and welded to both the first vertical member 64 and the horizontal offset member 68. Anchors 74 are inserted in apertures (not shown) of the plate 72 to further solidify the special bracket 60 on the concrete foundation 52.
Comparing the angular bracket 10 and 24 with the special bracket 60, the latter is obviously much more complicated than the former. The special bracket 60 comprises many more components that must be welded together and is therefore much more expensive. Different configurations of the special bracket 60 may be required to cater for distinct applications because an amount of clearance required by the thickness of the finishing material present above the concrete foundation 52 may vary. The special bracket 60 is therefore not readily suitable for mass production.
Therefore, there is a need for improved solutions for mounting compressors on walls covered by various types of finishing materials.
According to the present disclosure, there is provided a clamp, comprising a lower section and an upper section. The lower section has a generally U-shaped cross-section forming a channel extending along a first axis. The channel has a generally flat bottom and two sides extending from the bottom along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. A plurality of openings is formed in the bottom of the channel. The upper section comprises two elongate plates extending from the two sides of the channel along the first axis. The two elongate plates are offset along the second axis from the bottom of the channel. A plurality of apertures pierced along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axes is distributed along the first axis on each of the two elongate plates. The apertures formed in one of the two elongate plates are coaxial with corresponding apertures formed in the other one of the two elongate plates.
According to the present disclosure, there is also provided a method for mounting a compressor on a wall covered by a finishing material overhanging above a flat, solid, and vertical surface. Two of the clamps are mounted on the vertical surface so that the first axis of each channel is oriented vertically and so that a junction between the lower and upper sections of each clamp is proximate to a lower edge of the finishing material, the two clamps being at a substantially equal height on the vertical surface and at a lateral distance corresponding to a width of the compressor. A plurality of lateral apertures is pierced in vertical members of two brackets, a position of the lateral apertures being selected to match a pair of corresponding apertures on the elongate plates of the two clamps and being selected so that a horizontal member of each bracket extends away from the wall at a selected installed height of the compressor. The two brackets are attached to the two clamps by inserting a bolt through each of the lateral apertures of the vertical members of the two brackets and through each pair of corresponding apertures of the two clamps.
The present disclosure further relates to a method for mounting a bracket on a wall covered by a finishing material overhanging above a flat, solid, and vertical surface. The clamp is mounted on the vertical surface so that the first axis of the channel is oriented vertically, a junction between the lower and upper sections of the clamp being proximate to a lower edge of the finishing material. A plurality of lateral apertures is pierced in a vertical member of the bracket, a position of the lateral apertures being selected to match a pair of corresponding apertures on the elongate plates of the clamp and being selected so that a horizontal member of the bracket is at a selected height and at a selected orientation in front of the wall. The bracket is attached to the clamp by inserting a bolt through each of the lateral apertures of the vertical member of the bracket and through each pair of corresponding apertures of the clamp.
The foregoing and other features will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of the disclosure will be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like numerals represent like features on the various drawings.
Various aspects of the present disclosure generally address one or more of the problems of mounting compressors on walls covered by various types of finishing materials.
Generally speaking a clamp (or shoe) is configured for mounting on a flat, solid and vertical surface, for example the concrete foundation of a house. The clamp has a lower section having a limited length so that its bottom can be anchored to a limited exposed height of the concrete foundation. The clamp has an upper section that extends at an offset from the bottom of the lower section to provide clearance from the finishing material covering the wall. A conventional bracket designed for supporting a compressor, for example the angular brackets 10 or 24, may be attached to the upper section of the clamp. A pair clamps and a pair of conventional brackets are installed in pairs for supporting a compressor. This does not limit the generality of the present disclosure, as a single clamp and a single bracket may be used for other applications.
In the present disclosure, the expression “along a given axis” is to be understood as synonymous with “in a direction of the given axis” and “substantially parallel to the given axis”. Where an axis is characterized as being perpendicular to another axis, a variation of a few degrees from absolute perpendicularity may be accepted, inasmuch as the clamp of the present disclosure can achieve its intended purpose. The term “generally” as applied to a qualifier, for example in “generally flat”, is intended to incorporate minor and inconsequential variations from the qualifier. Dimensions shown on some of the drawings are in inches. All dimensions shown and described are for illustration purposes and do not limit the present disclosure.
Referring now to the drawings,
The upper section 130 comprises two elongate plates 132 and 134 that respectively extend from the two sides 118 and 120 of the channel 112. The two elongate plates 132 and 134 extend along the first axis 150. The two elongate plates 132 and 134 are offset along the second axis 152 from the bottom 116 of the channel 112. An extent 156 of the offset between the bottom 116 of the channel 112 and the two elongate plates 132 and 134 may vary between various implementations of the clamp 100, depending on their intended uses, as will be explained in details below. A plurality of apertures 138, for example circular apertures, is pierced in each of the elongate plates 132 and 134, the apertures 138 are pierced along a third axis 154 perpendicular to the first axis 150 and perpendicular to the second axis 152. The apertures 138 are distributed along the first axis 150 on each of the two elongate plates 132 and 134. The apertures 138 in the elongate plate 132 are coaxial with corresponding apertures 148 formed in the elongate plate 144.
In the illustrated embodiment of
The clamp 100 has a bottom 140 of the upper section 130. The bottom 140 extends along the first axis 150 between the two elongate plates 132 and 134. The bottom 140 is also offset along the second axis 140 from the bottom 116 of the channel 112.
The clamp 100 may be formed of a unitary piece of metal, for example and without limitation from aluminum, stainless steel, galvanized steel, and the like.
As shown, two openings 122 are formed in the bottom 116, the two openings 122 having an obround shape. It is contemplated that other opening shapes and other numbers of openings 122 may be formed in the bottom 116.
Ridges 212 and 214 are pre-formed within the lower section 110 to facilitate folding of the precut sheet 210. Folding the precut sheet 210 about the ridges 212 and 214 to bring the sides 118 and 120 in parallel allows to create of the channel 112 (
Two angular brackets 10 or 24 are attached on the clamps 100 or 200. The angular brackets 10 or 24 are clear of the bricks 40 or siding 50 given that their vertical members 12 or 66 are inserted between the elongated plates 132 and 134 of each clamp 100 or 200, the elongated plates 132 and 134 being themselves clear of the bricks 40 or siding 50.
Mounting a compressor on a wall covered by a finishing material overhanging above a flat, solid, and vertical surface may be performed using the following operations.
The clamps 100 or 200 may be available as a plurality of sets of clamps 100 or 200, the clamps 100 or 200 of each set having a specific offset 156 between their elongate plates 132 and 134 and the bottoms 116 of their channels 112. If several sets of clamps 100 or 200 are available, two clamps 100 or 200 may be selected so that the offset 156 between their two elongate plates 132 and 134 and the bottom 116 of the channel 112 of each clamp 100 or 200 is sufficient to clear the two elongate plates 132 and 134 from the finishing material, for example the bricks 40 or the siding 50.
Various sets of clamps 100 or 200 may also have various lateral distances between the elongate plates 132 and 134. The two clamps 100 or 200 may be selected so that a lateral distance between their elongate plates 132 and 134 matches an external width of the vertical members 12 or 28 of a selected pair of brackets 10 or 24.
The two clamps 100 or 200 are mounted on the vertical surface, for example the concrete foundation 36 or 52, so that the first axis 150 of each channel 112 is oriented vertically. The two clamps 100 or 200 may be mounted on the vertical surface by inserting anchors (not shown) through at least two openings 122 formed in the bottom 116 of each channel 112 and through bores provided in the vertical surface. The junction 220 between the lower sections 110 and the upper sections 130 of each clamp 100 or 200 should be placed proximate to a lower edge of the finishing material such as the bricks 40 or the siding 50. The two clamps 100 or 200 are positioned on the vertical surface at a substantially equal height on the vertical surface and at a lateral distance corresponding to a width of the compressor 38 or 54. This lateral distance is not necessarily the overall width of the compressor 38 or 54, but is selected to correspond to mounting holes (not shown) that are usually preformed on a base of the compressor 38 or 54.
Two brackets 10 or 24 are selected. Several lateral apertures are pierced in the vertical members 12 or 28 of two brackets 10 or 24. A position of the lateral apertures are selected to match a pair of corresponding apertures 138 on the elongate plates 132 and 134 of the two clamps 100 or 200. The position of the lateral apertures pierced in the vertical members 12 or 28 is also selected so that the horizontal member 16 or 26 of each bracket 10 or 24 extends away from the wall, at a selected installed height of the compressor 38 or 54. The two brackets 10 or 24 are then attached to the two clamps 10 or 24 by inserting a bolt (not shown) through each of the lateral apertures of the vertical members 12 or 28 of the two brackets 10 or 24 and through each pair of corresponding apertures 138 of the two clamps 100 or 200. In the particular case of the clamps 100 in which the upper sections 130 include the bottoms 140 extending between the two elongate plates 132 and 134, a rear face of the vertical member 12 or 28 of each bracket 10 or 24 may be positioned against the bottom 140.
The compressor 38 or 54 may then be placed on top of the horizontal members 16 or 26 of the two brackets 10 or 24. The compressor 38 or 54 may be attached to the horizontal members 16 or 26 of the two brackets 10 or 24 using screws (not shown).
Other uses of the clamps 100 or 200 are also contemplated. For example, a single bracket 10 or 24 or a differently shaped bracket may be mounted on a wall covered by a finishing material overhanging above a flat, solid, and vertical surface. The clamp 100 or 200 may be mounted on the vertical surface so that the first axis 150 of the channel 112 is oriented vertically and so that the junction 220 between the lower section 110 and the upper section 130 of the clamp 100 or 200 is proximate to a lower edge of the finishing material. Lateral apertures (not shown) are pierced in a vertical member 10 or 28 of the bracket 10 or 24, a position of the lateral apertures being selected to match a pair of corresponding apertures 138 on the elongate plates 132 and 134 of the clamp 100 or 200 and being selected so that a horizontal member 16 or 26 of the bracket 10 or 24 is at a selected height and at a selected orientation in front of the wall. It may be desired to place the horizontal member 16 or 26 parallel to the finishing material of the wall; this is possible when a single clamp 100 or 200 and a single bracket 10 or 24 are mounted on a wall for other applications.
The bracket 10 or 24 is attached to the clamp 100 or 200 by inserting a bolt (not shown) through each of the lateral apertures of the vertical member 12 or 28 of the bracket 10 or 24 and through each pair of corresponding apertures 138 of the clamp 100 or 200.
Some of the above described operations may possibly be executed in a different order or executed concurrently, and some of the operations may be optional.
Those of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the description of the clamp and method of using the clamp for mounting a compressor on a wall are illustrative only and are not intended to be in any way limiting. Other embodiments will readily suggest themselves to such persons with ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the disclosed clamp and method may be customized to offer valuable solutions to existing needs and problems related to mounting compressors on walls. In the interest of clarity, not all of the routine features of the implementations of the clamp and method are shown and described. In particular, combinations of features are not limited to those presented in the foregoing description as combinations of elements listed in the appended claims form an integral part of the present disclosure. It will, of course, be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation of the clamp and method, numerous implementation-specific decisions may need to be made in order to achieve the developer's specific goals, such as compliance with application-related and business-related constraints, and that these specific goals will vary from one implementation to another and from one developer to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated that a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking of engineering for those of ordinary skill in the field of mounting hardware having the benefit of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure has been described in the foregoing specification by means of non-restrictive illustrative embodiments provided as examples. These illustrative embodiments may be modified at will. The scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
