GB2242722A

GB2242722A - Adjustment means

Info

Publication number: GB2242722A
Application number: GB9007252A
Authority: GB
Inventors: J Phipps
Original assignee: HARRIS AND EDGAR Ltd
Current assignee: HARRIS AND EDGAR Ltd
Priority date: 1990-03-30
Filing date: 1990-03-30
Publication date: 1991-10-09
Also published as: GB9007252D0

Abstract

Adjustment means (10) for adjustably connecting two structures comprise a first element (12) having an aperture (20) therethrough and a second element (14) engageable in the aperture (20). The adjustment means (10) further comprise interlocking means (22, 30) located on the interior wall of the aperture (20) and on the portion (28) of the second element (14) engageable therein and adapted such that the position of the second element (14) relative to the first element (12) can be adjusted by appropriate engagement of the interlocking means (22, 30). The arrangement allows the first and second elements (12, 14) to be manufactured relatively cheaply and provides a firm connection between two structures. <IMAGE>

Description

Adjustment Means The invention relates to adjustment means for adjustably connecting two structures.

In the construction industry, it is often necessary to connect two structures together, eg main structures and facings. Convenient points for fixing the connection are not always level or a fixed vertical distance apart.

Adjustment means have therefore been provided and are known to comprise a plate having a relatively large aperture surrounded by an area of a planar surface of the plate into which are formed serrations which cooperate interlockingly with corresponding serrations on the planar surface of a washer having a relatively small aperture. The position of the smaller aperture can be varied within the confines of the larger aperture merely by bringing the serrated surfaces together at an appropriate position of the washer relative to the plate. However, this arrangement has the disadvantage of being extremely expensive to produce and also allows relative sliding between the plate and washer in a direction parallel to the longitudinal extension of the serrations.The arrangement is not therefore capable of providing an adjustable connector able to withstand forces in directions parallel to the longitudinal extension of the serrations on the serrated mating faces of the plate and washer.

An object of the invention is to provide adjustment means which are easy and relatively cheap to produce and which provide a firm connection between two structures.

The invention provides adjustment means for adjustably connecting two structures, comprising a first element having an aperture therethrough and a second element engagable in the aperture, further comprising interlocking means located on the interior wall of the aperture and on the portion of the second element engageable therein and adapted such that the position of the second element relative to the first element can be adjusted by appropriate engagement of the interlocking means. The first element of such an arrangement can be manufactured relatively cheaply, eg by punching or broaching, and the second element can be cast, which reduces the overall cost of the arrangement. The location of the interlocking means on the interior wall of the aperture means that the interlocking means can be arranged within the thickness of the first element.

This ensures a secure and firm connection in all directions perpendicular to the interior wall of the aperture.

Preferably, the interlocking means comprise elongate serrations, although any other suitable interlocking formations could be used.

The aperture of the adjustment means according to the invention is preferably formed by punching or broaching and the interlocking means are more preferably formed integrally with the aperture. This process is comparatively cost-effective and produces an accurate formation at low cost.

Preferably, the aperture is elongate and the interlocking means are located on the longer opposed parallel walls thereof. The second element is thus locatable at various positions along the length of the aperture by appropriate engagement of the interlocking means.

Advantageously, each of the first and second elements has a substantially planar portion, the aperture being located in the substantially planar portion of the first element and the substantially planar portion of the second element having a protrusion for engagement in the aperture. Preferably, the first element comprises either a bracket plate or angle and, more preferably, the second element comprises a washer for a bolt, e.g an expanding bolt or a T-bolt.

The invention also provides a method of adjustably connecting two structures utilising adjustment means as described above, comprising the step of determining the required position of the second element of the adjustment means relative to the first element and causing interlocking engagement of the interlocking means so as to hold the first and second elements in their desired positions relative to one another.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of adjustment means according to the invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the first element shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plan view of the second element shown in Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a part-sectional schematic diagram illustrating the use of the adjustment means of Figures 1 to 3.

Figures 1 to 3 show adjustment means 10 comprising a first member 12 and a second member 14. The first member 12 is an angle having a first leg 16 and a second leg 18. Located in the first leg 16 is an elongate aperture 20 which extends in the plane of the first leg 16 away from the second leg 18 and perpendicular thereto. On the interior wall of the aperture 20 are elongate serrations 22 which extend perpendicular to the plane of the first leg 16. The serrations 22 cover a substantial proportion of each of the longer parallel interior faces of the aperture 20.

The second member 14 is a square washer for an expanding bolt. An aperture 24 is formed in the washer 14 to allow one end of an expanding bolt to pass therethrough. The washer has a planar portion 26 which carries a rectangular protrusion 28 of substantially the same width as the aperture 20 in the first element 12.

Arranged along opposing sides of the protrusion 28 are serrations 30 which correspond to and cooperate with the serrations 22 on the interior wall of the aperture 20.

By means of the serrations 22, 30, the protrusion 28 can be securely located at any desirable position along the length of the aperture 20. Once the serrations 22, 30 have been brought into engagement, the washer 14 and the angle 12 can only be disengaged under the action of a force parallel to the extension of the serrations 22, 30 and no force parallel to the plane of the first leg 16 will result in relative movement between the washer 14 and the angle 12.

The aperture 20 in the first member 12 is formed by punching. The serrations 22 are formed integrally with the aperture 20 during the punching process. The cost of producing a first member 12 by such a method is very small compared to the cost of producing a similar member by milling.

Figure 4 illustrates an application of the adjustment means described above in relation to Figures 1 to 3. A concrete wall or similar structure 32 has a hole 34 drilled therein for receiving an expanding bolt 36. The bolt 36 has a washer 14 positioned on the shank 38 thereof, adjacent the bolt head 40 or nut. The bolt 36 is introduced into the hole 34 in the direction of arrow 42 after having been passed through the aperture 20 of the angle 12. The position of the angle relative to the washer 14 is then adjusted in the direction of arrow 44 in order to bring the second leg 18 to the same level as a joint 46 in which it is intended to be positioned eg in a brickwork facing structure.When the correct level has been determined, the serrations 22, 30 are brought into interlocking engagement so that further movement between the washer 14 and the angle 12 (other than in the direction of arrow 42) is prevented. The bolt 36 is then located in the hole 34 and expanded and the second leg 18 is positioned in the joint 46 as intended.

This method is not to be regarded as limitative, it would be perfectly possible to locate the second leg 18 initially and to select subsequently a position for the washer 14 without adjusting the angle 12 at all. It would also be possible, and desirable in some cases, to arrange for the first member 12 to be formed as a flat plate (ie without a second leg 18) and to connect the plate to an appropriate structure (eg. the facing structure shown in Figure 4) by alternative suitable means, eg ties. The first and/or second members could also be shaped to correspond with the shaping of a structure to which they are intended to be used to tie another structure rather than being substantially planar.

A further application is also possible: a channel cast into a structure can be made to receive the head of a T-bolt whose threaded shank is arranged to protrude through the aperture in the first member 12. The second member 14 is then located on the end of the shank of the T-bolt and a nut threaded thereon. The rlative positions of the first and second members can then be adjusted before the nut is tightened.

Claims

1. Adjustment means for adjustably connecting two structures, comprising a first element having an aperture therethrough and a second element engagable in the aperture, further comprising interlocking means located on the interior wall of the aperture and on the portion of the second element engageable therein and adapted such that the position of the second element relative to the first element can be adjusted by appropriate engagement of the interlocking means.

2. Adjustment means as claimed in Claim~1, wherein the interlocking means comprise elongate serrations.

3. Adjustment means as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the aperture is formed in the first element by punching or broaching.

4. Adjustment means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interlocking means are formed integrally with the aperture.

5. Adjustment means as claimed in any one of the preceding claimes, wherein the aperture is elongate, the interlocking means being located on the longer opposed parallel walls thereof.

6. Adjustment means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the first and second elements has a substantially planar portion, the aperture being located in the substantially planar portion of the first element and the substantially planar portion of the second element having a protrusion for engagement in the aperture.

7. Adjustment means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first element comprises a bracket plate or an angle.

8. Adjustment means as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second element comprises a washer for a bolt.

9. Adjustment means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of adjustably connecting two structures utilising adjustment means according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of determining the required position of the second element of the adjustment means relative to the first element and causing interlocking engagement of the interlocking means so as to hold the first and second elements in their desired positions relative to one another.

11. A method of adjustably connecting two structures substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.