Suspending equipment

Abstract

Means for suspending equipment (21) from an overhead structural member (16) comprises a suspension strand (10), e.g. a length of wire rope, with a nipple (11) at one end, a toggle plate (12) with an aperture (13) through which the strand can pass but not the nipple, together with a locking device (18) having twin bores (17A, 17B) associated with wedging means (19A, 19B), the toggle plate (12) and nipple (11) being pushed through a hole (15 or 34) in the overhead structural member (16) or the equipment (21), for the toggle plate to overlie or underlie the hole, while the free end (14) of the strand (10) is passed through one bore (17A) of the locking device (18), through an eye (20) on the equipment (21) or round the equipment or through an eye (35) on the overhead structural member (16) or round the overhead structural member, and finally through the other bore (17B) of the locking device (18).

Description

[0001] This invention relates to means for and methods of suspending equipment (such as lighting, heating, trunking or ventilation units) from an overhead structural member (such as a roof, ceiling, beam or girder).

[0002] According to one aspect of the present invention, means for suspending equipment from an overhead structural member comprises a suspension strand and a locking device having twin bores at least one of which is associated with wedging means (e.g. a ball, roller or wedge) preventing withdrawal of the free end of the suspension strand; (i.e. the end remote from the nipple) in the opposite direction to insertion, both known per se from EP-A-0 926 393, characterized in that there is provided a nipple at one end of the suspension strand, a toggle plate having a length appreciably greater than its width, an aperture in the toggle plate elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle plate but of a width preventing passing of the nipple through the aperture, the free end of the suspension strand being able to pass through the aperture until the toggle plate abuts or lies captive adjacent the nipple.

[0003] Thus, in one method of suspending equipment from an overhead structural member in accordance with the invention a hole is provided through the overhead member, the toggle plate is angled into dose lengthwise alignment with the suspension strand adjacent the nipple, the toggle plate is passed with the nipple through the hole in the overhead member, and the toggle plate is realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspension strand and bridging the topside of the hole, whereafter the free end of the strand is passed through one bore of the locking device, then through an eye provided on the equipment or passed round the equipment, and through the other bore of the locking device wherein the strand is secured by the wedging means.

[0004] In another method in accordance with the invention, a hole is provided in the equipment to be suspended, or a supporting member therefor, the angled toggle plate is passed with the nipple through the hole and realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspension strand and bridging the underside of the hole, whereafter the free end of the strand is passed through one bore of the locking device, then through an eye provided on the overhead structural member or passed over the member, and through the other bore of the locking device wherein the strand is secured by the wedging means

[0005] With either method, the level at which the equipment is suspended can be adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device upwards or downwards, as the case may be, or by pulling the free end of the suspension strand further through the locking device, which may be provided with temporary release means for its wedging means to enable the level at which the equipment is suspended to be adjusted downwards.

[0006] The suspension strand may be a length of wire or wire rope, or of any other suitable material, with the nipple formed by a separate member with a hole in which the end of the strand is secured by swaging the whole or part of the separate member, which may be formed with an enlarged formation to abut a substantial area of the toggle plate on each side of the aperture.

[0007] Each bore of the locking device may be associated with wedging means, so that the locking device can be used either way up.

[0008] An equipment suspension kit in accordance with the invention comprising a suspension strand with a nipple, a toggle plate with an aperture, and a locking device, as aforesaid, may also include plastics sleeving for slipping over part of the suspension strand expected to contact the equipment to be suspended, e.g. to minimise vibration or noise; and a tensioning tool, such as a blind rivetting tool, may be included for tensioning the suspension strand by application of the tool to the free end of the suspension strand after it has passed through the second bore of the locking device.

[0009] Embodiments of the invention will now be desribed, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a suspension strand with a nipple and toggle plate in accordance with the invention;

[0011] FIG. 2 is an elevation of the upper end of the strand of FIG. 1 as seen from the left hand side thereof;

[0012] FIG. 3 corresponds to FIG. 2 but shows the nipple and toggle plate being passed through a hole in an overhead structural member;

[0013] FIG. 4 corresponds to FIG. 3 but shows the toggle plate orientated to prevent withdrawal of the nipple through the hole;

[0014] FIG. 5 is a downward extension of FIG. 4 showing one method in accordance with the invention by which the strand can be used with a locking device to suspend equipment from the overhead structural member,

[0015] FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section through the locking device;

[0016] FIG. 7 is a small scale elevation showing a pair of suspension strands as in FIGS. 1 to 4 and a pair of locking devices as in FIGS. 5 and 6 being used in another method in accordance with the invention; and

[0017] FIGS. 8 and 9 are further small scale elevations illustrating two further methods of suspending equipment from overhead structural members in accordance with the invention.

[0018] In FIGS. 1 to 4, a suspension strand 10 formed by a length of wire rope has a nipple 11 at one end, and a toggle plate 12 having a length appreciably greater than its width has an aperture 13 elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle plate but of a width preventing passing of the nipple 11 through the aperture, the free end 14 of the strand being passed through the aperture until the toggle plate lies captive adjacent the nipple.

[0019] In FIGS. 1 to 3, the toggle plate 12 is shown angled into close lengthwise alignment with the strand 10 adjacent the nipple 11, to enable the nipple and the toggle plate to be passed through a hole 15 in an overhead structural member 16, as illustrated by FIG. 3, and then the toggle plate is realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the strand and bridging the topside of the hole, as shown in FIG. 4, whereafter the free end 14 of the strand is passed through one bore 17A of a locking device 18 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) having twin bores 17A, 17B associated with wedging means 19A, 19B preventing withdrawal of the free end of the strand in the opposite direction to insertion. Further, as illustrated by FIG. 5, the free end of the strand can be passed through an eye 20 provided on equipment 21 to be suspended and through the other bore 17B of the locking device 18, to secure the equipment suspended from the overhead structural member.

[0020] The nipple 11 is formed by a separate member with a hole 22 in which the end of the strand 10 is secured by swaging part of the separate member, the remainder of which is an enlarged formation 23 to abut a substantial area of the toggle plate 12 on each side of the aperture 13.

[0021] Although the wedging means 19B in the bore 17B of the device in the disposition shown in FIG. 5 would suffice to secure the equipment 21 suspended from the overhead structural member 16, the provision of wedging means in both bores 17A, 17B is preferred so that the locking device 18 can be used either way up. The level at which the equipment is suspended can be adjusted upwards by pulling the connector upwards or by pulling the free end 14 of the strand further through the locking device, e.g. by means of a tensioning tool (not shown but, for example, a blind rivetting tool). To enable the level to be adjusted downwards the locking device may be provided with temporary release means for its wedging means, as will be exemplified in the following detailed description of the locking device.

[0022] As can be seen in FIG. 6 the wedging means 19A, 19B comprise wedges slidable along respective channels 24A, 24B in the body 25 of the locking device 18, each channel converging at an acute angle to and into communication with a respective one of the twin bores 17A, 17B (which are separated by a thin wall 26) towards an inlet end 27A or 27B of that respective bore, the wedges 19A, 19B being provided with transverse ribs 28 (or teeth or other surface formations) for gripping engagement with the strand 10 (when inserted) under the urge of compression springs 29A, 29B between the wedges and recessed abutments 30A, 30B adjacent outlet ends 31A, 31B of the respective bores 17A, 17B. Apertures 32A, 32B in the body 25 of the locking device 18 each have an inner end opening into a respective channel 24A or 24B and is available as a guide for a separate tool(not shown) pushed into the channel to move the respective wedge against its spring urge to enable the strand to be freed temporarily for adjustment of the position of the locking device with respect to the strand and thereby also the level of the suspended equipment 21.

[0023] In FIG. 7, an item of equipment 21 or a support for an item of equipment is shown suspended by a pair of strands 10 and a pair of locking devices 18 but, instead of providing eyes on the equipment, the free ends 14 of the strands are passed round the equipment after passing through the bores 17A in the devices 18 and before passing through the bores 17B, lengths of plastics sleeving 33 being slipped over parts of the suspension strands where they would otherwise contact the equipment, e.g. to minimise vibration or noise.

[0024] In each of FIGS. 8 and 9 a hole 34 is provided in the item of equipment 21, the angled toggle plate 12 on the strand 10 is passed with the nipple 11 through the hole and realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the strand and bridging the underside of the hole, whereafter, in FIG. 8 the free end 14 of the strand is passed through one bore 17A of the device 18, then through an eye 35 provided on the overhead structural member 16 and through the other bore 17B of the locking device wherein the strand is secured by the wedging means, while in FIG. 9 the strand is passed over the member 16 after passing through the bore 17A in the device 18 and before passing through the other bore 17B of the locking device.

[0025] The level at which the equipment is suspended in the manner of FIG. 8 or FIG. 9 can be adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device 18 downwards or by pulling the free end 14 of the suspension strand 10 further through the locking device. Again, temporary release means for the wedging means may be provided as described in relation to FIG. 6 to enable the level at which the equipment is suspended to be adjusted downwards.

Claims

1-17. (Canceled).

18. Means for suspending equipment (21) from an overhead structural member (16) comprising a suspension strand (10) and a locking device (18) having twin bores (17A, 17B) at least one of which is associated with wedging means (19A or 19B) preventing withdrawal of the free end (14) of the suspension strand (10) in the opposite direction to insertion, characterized in that there is provided a nipple (11) at one end of the suspension strand, a toggle plate (12) having a length appreciably greater than its width, an aperture (13) in the toggle plate elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle plate but of a width preventing passing of the nipple through the aperture, the free end (14) of the suspension strand (10) being able to pass through the aperture (13) until the toggle plate (12) abuts or lies captive adjacent the nipple (11).

19. Equipment suspending means as in claim 18, characterized in that the suspension strand (10) is a length of wire or wire rope.

20. Equipment suspending means as in claim 18 characterized in that the nipple (11) is formed by a separate member with a hole (22) in which the end of the strand (10) is secured by swaging the whole or part of the separate member.

21. Equipment suspending means as in claim 20, characterized in that the separate member is formed with an enlarged formation (23) to abut a substantial area of the toggle plate (12) on each side of the aperture (13).

22. Equipment suspending means as in claim 18, characterized in that each bore (17A, 17B) of the locking device (18) is associated with wedging means (19A, 19B), so that the locking device (18) can be used either way up.

23. A method of suspending equipment (21) from an overhead structural member (16) using means as in claim 18, characterized in that a hole (15) is provided through the overhead member (16), the toggle plate (12) is angled into close lengthwise alignment with the suspension strand (10) adjacent the nipple (11), the toggle plate (12) is passed with the nipple (11) through the hole (15) in the overhead member (16), and the toggle plate (12) is realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspension strand (10) and bridging the topside of the hole (15), whereafter the free end (14) of the strand (10) is passed through one bore (17A) of the locking device (18), then through an eye (20) provided on the equipment (21) or passed round the equipment, and through the other bore (17B) of the locking device (18) wherein the strand (10) is secured by the wedging means (19B).

24. A method of suspending equipment (21) from an overhead structural member (16) using means as in claim 18, characterized in that a hole (34) is provided in the equipment (21) to be suspended, the angled toggle plate (12) is passed with the nipple (13) through the hole (34) and realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspension strand (10) and bridging the underside of the hole (34), whereafter the free end (14) of the strand (10) is passed through one bore (17A) of the locking device (18), then through an eye (35) provided on the overhead structural member (16) or passed over the member, and through the other bore (17B) of the locking device (18) wherein the strand (10) is secured by the wedging means (19B).

25. An equipment suspending method as in claim 23 or claim 24, characterized in that the level at which the equipment (21) is suspended is adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device (18) upwards or downwards, as the case may be.

26. An equipment suspending method as in claim 23 or 24, characterized in that the level at which the equipment (21) is suspended is adjusted upwards by pulling the free end (14) of the suspension strand (10) further through the locking device (18).

27. A method as in claim 23, characterized in that temporary release means (32A, 32B) is provided for the wedging means (19A, 19B) of the locking device (18) to enable the level at which the equipment (21) is suspended to be adjusted downwards.

28. A method as in claim 23, with the suspension strand (10) passing round the equipment (21), characterized in that plastics sleeving (33) is slipped over part of the suspension strand (10) otherwise expected to contact the equipment.

29. An equipment suspension kit characterized by a suspension strand (10) with a nipple, (11) a toggle plate (12) with an aperture (13), and a locking device (18) as in claim 18, together with plastics sleeving (33) for slipping over part of the suspension strand (10) expected to contact the equipment (21) to be suspended.

30-34. (Canceled)