Conduit Mounting Apparatus

This invention relates to improvements in conduit mounting apparatus.

The invention relates to supports, brackets and the like for mounting conduits such as ducts, pipes and cables for supply and outflow of water or process fluids, cable ducting for electrical conductors, in buildings and other constructions generally.

Such conduits, for example gas pipes, water supply pipes, ventilation and heating ducts, sanitary outflow pipes and so on are provided in a range of sizes, and the clearances by which such conduits require to be held from a support surface or structure differ considerably. It is often necessary to stock a range of sizes of brackets differing in for example the dimension of the socket or loop required to embrace the outside diameter of the conduit, or the length of any connecting part of a bracket or support strut.

Because a restricted range of lengths and diameters is likely to be stocked, it is also difficult to install special features such as a built-in fall or downslope in a soil or effluent conduit.

An object of the invention is to provide an all-in-one conduit mounting apparatus which can enable a standard item to be used to provide for a wide range of conduit diameters, and suspension heights.

According to the invention conduit mounting apparatus comprises at least one strip of suitable material, divided into a plurality of sections separated by means defining lines of weakness.

The material of the strip may be a metal such as galvanised steel, or other suitable alloy, or a plastics material having suitable properties of strength and flexibility.

The lines of weakness preferably define fold lines and/or severance lines, so that the strip may be bent by folding along one or more lines of weakness, or a desired length broken off from the strip.

The strip may be provided at one or both ends with connection means, which may for example be one or more deformable lugs extending from the endmost section.

The sections may be provided with suitable apertures for the passage of fasteners such as bolts or screws. The centre line of the strip may be marked by a rib extending there along, and the apertures for fasteners may be in the centre of domes located along the rib. Alternatively, ribs may extend along or adjacent to the longitudinal edges of the strip.

The lines of weakness may be each provided by a line of slots or perforations extending laterally across the strip. In a preferred embodiment these may comprise one or more aligned slots, separated by narrow connecting webs.

Alternatively, within the scope of the invention, the lines of weakness may be formed by a reduced thickness feature, such as a groove or score line, a line of small pin holes or the like.

The strip may be provided in convenient lengths, and strips may be manufactured as a panel comprising an array of such strips disposed side by side, and connected by spaced apart webs, referred to as 'micro-tabs'. These may typically be in the order of 0.5mm wide, and be spaced at convenient intervals.

Individual strips can be separated by the breaking the 'micro-tabs'.

More preferably however, the strips may be manufactured separately in standard lengths.

The sections of the strip may be of any convenient length, in a range typically from 18-35mm, say 20-30mm, and the strips may for example be from 25-50mm in width, say about 30mm. The strips may be provided in lengths from 0.4 to up to 1.0 metres in length, by way of non-limiting example. In a typical strip, each section is separated from adjacent sections by a line of weakness comprising a pair of aligned slots of the order of 10mm in length, separated by connecting webs of 3 -4mm length, and each section is also provided with a central circular aperture in the order of 10mm diameter, which is suitable for passage of a fastener such as a bolt or a screw. These dimensions are by way of non-limiting example only.

In use, part of the strip may be bent into a loop, around a conduit such as a pipe, by bending successive sections along weakness lines to subtend an angle between successive sections of a fraction of a full circle until the loop is complete, and the free end of the strip is able to engage with the straight part of the strip, and be fastened thereto, e.g. by engagement of its end with slots in the strip such as those defining a weakness line, with the conduit firmly grasped by the loop.

The remainder of the strip then forms a shank or bracket which can be engaged by means of a fastener through one of the apertures provided, with a support member such as a beam, wall, strut or the like, and excess length of the strip can be removed by breaking of the strip, using one of the lines of weakness between sections of the strip.

This enables conduits of a range of diameters to be mounted, at a range of distances from support structures, using a single model of mounting apparatus.

A preferred embodiment of mounting apparatus will now be described in more detail, by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: -

Figure 1 is a plan view of a length of a preferred mounting strip according to the invention; Figure 2 is a section on line II-II of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 is a section on line III-III of Figure 1 ;

Figure 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of mounting strip;

Figure 5 is a view showing a strip of the kind shown on Figure 4, mounting a pipe; Figure 6 is a detail showing how the strip is fastened about the pipe;

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing a strip of either design mounting an open trough duct;

Figure 8 shows another way of mounting an open duct;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a third embodiment of mounting strip according to the invention; and

Figure 10 is a sectional view on line X-X of Figure 9.

Figures 1 , 2 and 3 show a first preferred embodiment of mounting strip 1 according to the invention. The end region of the strip 1 is shown, the other end region being a mirror image. Each end region is formed with a pair of tabs 2, with rounded corners. The longitudinal centre line of the strip 1 is marked by a pressed semi circular cross sectioned ridge 3 extending the full length of the strip. The strip is divided into sections 4 by transverse slots 5 stamped through the strip 1 on each side of the ridge 3, and each section 4 provides an aperture 6 for fastening screws, bolts or

rivets to pass through the strip. Each aperture 6 forms the centre and apex of a respective dome 7 which is continuously formed with the ridge 3.

The ridge 3 serves to strengthen the strip, and the slots 5 provide lines of weakness which can be used to bend the strip 1 into a variety of configurations, for example to form brackets, or pipe holding strips of any required diameter, as will be described below.

Figure 4 shows a fragmentary view of mounting strip 10 constituting apparatus according to invention, as manufactured and supplied for use.

The second strip 10 comprises a plurality of sections 12, each of which is separated from the next adjacent section 12 by a weakness line defined by a pair of aligned slots 13. The sections are connected by residual webs 14. Each section 12 is also provided with a central circular aperture 15 which may be used to pass a bolt or screw or other fastener for securement to a support member.

The lines of weakness formed by the slots 13 enable the sections of the strip to be set at an angle to each other, or even if required separated.

An example of the use of one of the mounting strips 10 is shown in Figure 5. Here a strip 10 is bent about a circular conduit, such as a pipe 16, so that the sections 12 of the strip firmly grasp the outer surface of the pipe 16. The free end section 17 of the strip engages at the top of the loop with the body of the strip as shown on Figure 6. The angles of deflection of the strip sections 12 to each other around the pipe have a mean value of 360° divided by the number of sections — e.g. if there are 10 sections about the pipe the mean angle will be 36°

The end section 17 is, as shown in Figure 3 provided with two tabs 18, which can be passed through the slots 13 separating two adjacent sections 12a, 12b and then

twisted using pliers to the position shown wherein they cannot be pulled back through the slots 13, thus providing a firm connection which however can be undone using pliers to twist the tabs 18 back.

The remainder of the sections of the strip 10 form a tail 19, comprising however many sections are required to reach a support member, and may be secured by one or more bolts or screws 20 (Figure 5) passed through the central apertures 15 of one or more of the sections 12. Surplus length may be discarded by separating along a line of weakness defined by a pair of slots 13.

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 5, wherein the strip 10 is used to mount an open topped trough-shaped duct 25. The sections 12 of the strip 10 are configured to provide a flat support below the duct 25, a right-angle bend at each end, and one or two sections 12 alongside sidewalls 26, 27 of the duct, then inclined parts 22, to a junction formed by the twisted end lugs 18, as in Figure 5. Another possible modification, as shown in Figure 7, is that the second, free end of the strip 10 is also provided with twistable lugs 18, and these are used to connect to the end of a further strip 10a, to provide for an extended length of suspension for the duct 25.

Figure 8 shows another possible use, for attaching a duct, such as an open topped trough-shaped duct 30, directly to the underside of a support surface such as a ceiling, or to a series of spaced apart overhead supports such as beams. Here the strip 1 or 10 is bent to accommodate the profile of the duct 30, and one or more sections 4 or 12 at each end are provided in contact with the overhead support, and secured thereto by screws 31, or other fasteners such as bolts, nails, or rivets.

This arrangement can of course be adapted to support a duct on a vertical surface.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a further embodiment of mounting strip 40 according to the invention. The strip 40 comprises a plurality of sections 41 separated from each other by slots 44 which extend laterally across the strip. Each section has a central aperture 42 for use with fasteners as in the previously described embodiments, and a ridge 45, 46 extends down each longitudinal side of the strip, to act as a stiffener. These strips may have slight variations from what is shown, for example, the ridges 56, 46 may be spaced from the edge by narrow flat margins, and/or the slots 44 may extend through the ridges 56,46 or have further slots through them aligned with the slots 44, and separated thereform by connecting tongues. Each end of the strip is provided a single central tongue 43 which may be passed through one of the slots 44, after for example bending of the strip about a pipe or conduit, to grasp the pipe or conduit.

The apparatus according to the invention allows mounting of conduits such as pipes, ducts, cable guides and even open troughs of various diameters or other dimensions to be mounted, at a range of distances from, usually below, a support member such as a beam. The member may be used to form a bracket of any shape including rectangular, to support an open trough type conduit, and accommodate circular, rectangular, elliptical or other non-circular sectioned conduits.

The use of mounting apparatus according to the invention can permit the provision of a slope or fall for effluent conduits for example, by using incrementally longer 'tails' 19 for successive mountings of a conduit.

As noted, the strips may be made of any suitable material, metallic or synthetic plastics, and the dimensions of the strips and individual sections thereof may be varied within wide limits.