TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an attachment device for a tubular member having an inside, such as a support pipe for telecommunications equipment, comprising a base structure and a pipe support base supported by the base structure.

BACKGROUND

When mounting telecommunications equipment such as radio boxes and antennas, these structures are today often mounted on house roofs. The telecommunications equipment is then usually mounted on a supporting pipe and since house roofs -are usually sloping, the supporting pipe is adjusted, so that it is arranged vertically. A frequently used solution, is an attachment solution for pipes consisting of a shorter pipe that is welded to a plate. The supporting pipe is brought down into the shorter pipe, where it is attached by screwing. Threaded rods and nuts, among other things, are used to adjust the plate so that the supporting pipe is vertical. It is cumbersome and takes a lot of time to use threaded rods and nuts, since there are usually many nuts. There is also a risk that installers forget to tighten some nuts properly, since there are many of them to keep track of. When using the above-mentioned attachment solution for pipes, the shorter pipe should have an inner diameter corresponding as much as possible to the outer diameter of the main pipe to avoid play between them.

DE 1294503 discloses a holder for a mast pipe for a. tile roof The holder comprises a planar, central portion, which at one end comprises a plate extending in a plane perpendicular to the centra! portion. The plate is used for attaching the holder to a roof ratter, At its other end, the centra^ planar portion comprises a support plate, said plate also extending in a plane perpendicular to the plane in which the central portion extends. The plate constitutes an attachment for a mast pipe and comprises: an arched slit for adjustment of the mast pipe.

DE 202012010424 discloses a mast holder for inclined surfaces such as a roof, wherein the mast holder comprises a base structure with a plurality of openings. A pivotable member is arranged in one of the openings, which enables the mast to be moved relative to the base structure.

DE 10202567 discloses a roof attachment device comprising a base body, which is provided with a support and fixing structure. The underside of the base body is angled and is secured to a pitched roof, and the top side of the base body is horizontal and comprises fixing elements for an antenna.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at least minimize the

disadvantages of the above-described problems in a simple and weight effective manner. This can be achieved by means of an attachment device according to claim 1.

Thanks to the invention, an attachment device is provided which enables a tubular member to be arranged vertically on a sloping support: surface in a simple manner,

According to one aspect of the in vention, the attachment device comprises at least three contact areas located around a height axis of a pipe support base and mutually separated from each other, said contact areas being intended to be in contact with the inside of a tubular member during the mounting/attachment of said tubular member. The contact areas are located in a horizontal plane when the attachment device is fixed to a support surface, which oilers the advantage that translational forces in the horizontal plane are efficiently absorbed without play. According to another aspect of the invention, the attachment device compri ses a pipe support base in the shape of a truncated, three-sided pyramid, the side edges of which constituting said contact areas. Furthermore, these side edges are rounded, which offers the: advantage that they do not cause as much wear on the inside of the tubular member. According to a further aspect of the invention, the pipe support base has: a conicity, which offers the advantage ^' that the tubular member can be inclined in all directions without discrete steps.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, the pipe support base comprises a height and an inclination of its side edges/side surfaces, which offers the advantage that the pipe support base, does not lock the tubular member to a specifi c pipe size, but it is possible to select pipe size within a certain range.

According to another aspect of the invention, the attachment device comprises a base structure, which in its turn comprises two L shaped plates arranged in parallel, which have a gap between them adapted to the support surface/platform to which they are to be fixed, which makes it simple to attach the different components to one another. According to yet another aspect of the invention, the base structure comprises a shelf, upon which the pipe support base is arranged, so that a support pipe easily can be arranged vertically on top of the pipe support base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

in the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to accompanying figures, in which: Fig. 1 shows an attachment device: according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig, 2 shows an attachment device according to the invention seen from above;

Fig, 3 shows an attachment device according to the invention seen from a short side;

Fig. 4 shows an attachment device according to the invention seen from the side;

Fig. 5 shows an alternative attachment device according to the invention in a perspective view;

Fig. 6 shows an alternative attachment device according to the invention seen from above;

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an attachment device according to. the invention arranged on a platform and with a support pipe arranged on the attachment device; Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of a support pipe arranged on the attachment device according to the invention, and wherein the attachment device is arranged on a platform, which in its turn is arranged on a sloping roof;

Fig. 9 shows an attachment device according to the invention seen from the side, with a support pipe arranged thereon; and

Fig, 10 shows a perspective view of an attachment device according to the invention with a support pipe arranged thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following detailed description and the examples therein merely have the purpose of describing and illustrating certain embodiments of the invention and are not intended to: limit the scope of the invention In any way.

Figure 1 shows an attachment device 1 according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. The attachment device 1 is seen in a perspeetive view and coraprises a base structure 4 and pipe support base 2 supported by the base structure: 4. The attachment device 1 is primarily intended to be used when mounting a tubular member 3 having an inside, such as a support pipe for telecommunications equipment, advertising signs, or the like, on a sloping roof/support surface/platform . Preferably, the base structure 4 of the attachment device is the part that is arranged at. the root/support surface/platform, whereas the pipe support base 2 is in contact with the support. pipe S, The base structure 4 comprises a first 40 L shaped plate and a second 41 L shaped plate, which are preferably arranged in. parallel. A. longer portion 400, 410 of the plate 40, 41 is intended to extend substantially horizontally, whereas a shorter portion 401, 41 1 of the plate 40, 41 is intended to extend substantially vertically downward from the longer portion 400, 410. Accordingly, as shown in Figure 4, the plates 40, 41, when seen: from the side, have the shape of a horizontal L, in which there is arranged a protuberance 48, 49 in the area where the longer 400, 410 and the shorter portion 401 , 401 meet.

The plates 40, 41 are arranged in parallel with a spacing X between, each other (see Figure 2), so that a gap M is formed between the plates. The spacing X is in. the range of 5-50 mm, more preferably in the range of 8-40 mm, and most preferably in the range of 10-30 mm.

Along the top side of the longer portion 400, 410 of the respective plate 40, 41, a shelf 42, 43 extends perpendicularly outward from the plate 40, 41 and away from said gap M between the two plates 40, 41. The shelves 42, 43 extend in one and the same plane, and the pipe support base 2 is: arranged on top of the shelves 42, 43. The shelves 42, 43 preferably constitute an integrated part of the plates 40, 41 and are manufactured, for example, by bending, The pipe support base 2 preferably has the shape of a truncated, three-sided pyramid, which is preferably manufactured by bending, but it is also possible to: manufacture the pipe support base 2 by _. joining several parts together. The pipe support base 2 has a height H (see Figure S) in the range of 20-300 mm, more preferably in the range of 50- 200 mm, and most preferably in the range of 80-150 mm. Furthermore, the pipe support base 2 has a length L (see Figure 2) in the range of 20-300 mm, more preferably in the range of 50-200 mm. and most preferably in the range of 80- 150 mm. The pipe support, base 2 also has a width B, said width 8 being in the range of 10-280 mm, more preferably 40-180 mm, and most preferably in the range of 60-120 mm. The exact dimensions of the pipe support base 2 shown in Figs. 1 -4 are: height H - 100 ram; width B= 88 mm.; and length L=102 mm . The pipe support base 2 comprises a first side edge 21 , a second side edge 23 and a third side edge 22, The pipe support base 2 further comprises a first side surface 20, arranged between the first side edge 21 and the second side edge 23, and a second: side surface 25, which is arranged between the second side edge 23 and the third side edge 22.

The conicity of the pipe support base 2 is preferably in the range of 1 : 1-1 :11 , which describes how much the pipe support base 2 tapers in relation to the height

The side edges 21, 22, 23 of the pipe support base constitute points on the periphery of an: imaginary circle, and the eoniciiy describes how the diameter of the imaginary circle decreases when moving upwards on the pipe support base 2. The above-mentioned range would then correspond to an angle of 45-85° between the base and the envelope. if supposing that the pipe support base 2 would have the shape of a cone with the radius r and the height h. It is more preferable if the conicity r:h of the pipe support base 2 is in the range of 4:7-1 :4 (corresponding to 60-75° between base and envelope), and even more preferable in the range of 4:9-1 :4 (corresponding to 65-75° between base and envelope),

In this case, no side surface is arranged between the first side edge 21 and the third side edge 22, but consists of an empty space 27, since the pipe support base 2 is preferably manufactured by bending. If the pipe support base 2 would be made in a different way, for example by joining separate parts, it is of course also possible to have a third side surface. The side edges 21 , 22, 23 of the pipe support base are preferably slightly rounded so as to not cause as much chafing on the inside of the support pipe 3, but the skilled person will appreciate that it is also possible that the side edges may be sharp, without taking a way from the function, of the invention. The pipe support base 2 is fixedly arranged on top of the shelves 42, 43 of the plates, preferably by welding, so that the underside 24 of the pipe support base partially abuts against the shelves 42, 43. The pipe support base 2 is arranged on the shelves 43, 43, so that the underside of the first 21 and the third side edge 22 abut against a top side 42A,43 A of said shelves. The underside of the second side edge 23 is arranged so that it is on a level with said shelves 42, 43 and above the gap M between the two plates. In the described example, the bases of the side surfaces are equally long, 90 mm, which of course can be varied.

In Figure 2, the attachment device 1 according to the invention is seen from above and it is clearly evident how the plates 40, 41 are arranged in parallel in such a way that a gap M is formed between them. It is also visible how the pipe support base 2 is arranged on top of the shelves 42, 43. In Figure 4, the attachment device 1 according to the invention is seen from the side. The first plate 40 comprises three: through-openings, a first 44, a second 45, and a third opening 40, intended for fixing means (not shown). Also the second plate 41 comprises similar openings, which are visible in Figure 1 , In Figure 7 and 8. it is shown how an attachment device 1, described in connection with Figs. 1-4. is arranged on a .platform P, which is placed on a sloping roof In this case, the slope of the roof is approx. 6°, but this merely constitutes an example of how large the slope can be, and is therefore not any limitation of the invention. The pipe support base 2 is used to enable a support pipe 3 to be arranged vertically. The first and second plate 40, 41 of the base; structure 4 are arranged at a corner of the platform P. Conveniently,, the gap M is adapted to how the comers/fixing plates 100.of the platform look, so that the fixing devices 100: of the platform are accommodated in the gap M. The plates 40, 41 have a tight fit against the fixing devices 100 of the platform. The attachment device 1 is then fixed to the platform P, for example by being fixed by screwing via the second 45 and the third opening 46 in the plates 40, 41. The openings of the plates are preferably positioned according to how the fixing devices 100 of the platform look; so that the attachment device 1, for example, is fixed to the platform by means of screws passing through openings in both the plates 40, 41 of the attachment device and the fixing devices 100 of the platform.

When the attachment device 1 has been fixed to, for example, a platform P, as shown in Figure 7 and 8, the support pipe 3 can be arranged thereon. The support pipe 3 is slid over the pipe support base 2 until the inside of the support pipe 3 comes in contact with the three side edges 21, 22, .23 of the pipe support base, in other words, _. , so that the inside of the pipe is in contact with three contact areas 21 , 22, 23 located around a height axis of the pipe support base 2 and mutually separated from each other, said contact areas 21, 22, 23 preferably being located in a horizontal plane when the base structure 4 is fixed to the support surface. The pipe support base 2 functions as a ball and socket joint for the support pipe 3 , so that the pipe 3 can be inclined in all directions without discrete steps, at the same time as translational forces in the horizontal plane are efficiently absorbed without play, thanks to the three contact areas 21 , 22, 23 between the inside of the pipe 3 and the pipe support base 2, Thanks to the design of the pipe support base 2, the pipe support base 2 does not fit just a single pipe size, but a pipe support base 2 will fit support pipes 3 with a pipe size within a certain range.

Accordingly, the support pipe 3 is arranged on the pipe support base 2 and is adjusted until it stands vertically. The support pipe 3 is then fixed e.g. by means of telescopic support poles 6, which at one of their ends are arranged at the platform P and at their other end are arranged at the support pipe 3. In this way, the support pipe 3 is locked, in the horizontal plane. The verti cal translation of the support pipe 3 is locked by means of, for example, a pull rod D (see Figure 8), which at one of its ends is arranged in the first, opening 44 of the two plates 40, 41 arid at its other end is arranged at the support pipe 3. m: this way, all the degrees of freedom of the support pipe 3 are locked. Thanks to the system described above, the number of bolts and nuts can be redrrced

considerably, which results in shorter mounting times and thereby reduced costs. A reduced number of bolts and nuts also reduces the risk of non-tightened bolt

connections, and considerably less steel is needed.

In Figure 9, it is shown how an attachment device 1 with a support pipe 3 would look; from the side when the base staierure 4 is arranged on .a platform P, which in its turn is arranged on a support surface/roof, which in this case slopes approx. 15° (the platform and the roof/support surface are not shown in the Figure). The support pipe 3 is arranged on the pipe support base 2 and, thanks to the desi gn of the pipe support base 2. the support, pipe 3 can: be arranged vertically in a simple and smooth manner. Figure 10 shows a perspective view of the attachment device 1 and the support pipe 3 in the same imagined scenario as in Figure 9, in other words, that: a platform P is arranged on a roof/support surface sloping approx. 15°. In Figure 10, it is seen how the inside 3 of the support pipe is in contact -with the side edges 21 , 22, 23 of the pipe support base 2 and there forms contact, areas 21, .22, 23 between the support pipe 3 and the pipe support base 2. In the example shown in Figure 9 and 10, the pipe support base 2 has a conieity of approx. 1 :2.5. If the pipe support base 2 would have the shape of for example, a five- sided pyramid, there would in that case be five contact areas between support pipe 3 and pipe support base 2.

An alternative attacliment device 1 according to the invention is shown in Figure 5 and 6, where it is seen in a perspective view in Figure 5 and from above in Figure 6. The pipe support: base 2 Is designed like the one described in conneeiion with Figs. 1.-4, but the base structure 4 is different.. In this case, the base structure 4 comprises a substantially square plate, said plate comprising fixing means 400' in the form of through holes. In this embodiment, the attachment device 1 can be fixed directly against a roof'support surtace/platform. The skilled person will appreciate that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but that there may be variations, without taking away from the inventive concept for that reason. For instance, the pipe support base can comprise a third side surface, even if that alternative is not described above. The pipe support base can. also assume the shape of other multi-sided pyramids, such as a four-sided, five- sided, six-sided pyramid, etc. The pipe support base can also be cone-shaped, which would offer the ad vantage that pipe contact is achieved along: a closed circle around the entire inside of the support pipe. The pipe support base can also be constituted of a non- truncated pyramid . The skilled person will also appreciate that the conicity of the pipe support base and the slope of the support surface/roof can be varied, and that the examples described above are merely examples and should not be regarded as limiting the invention in any way. It is also appreciated that the base structure of the attachment device may be designed differently than the two variations described above. The base structure is designed according to the actual, roof/support surface/platform. upon which the attachment device is to be arranged, and also the dimensions of the different components described above are adapted according to actual conditions.