GB2264991A

GB2264991A - Tensioning devices for elongate, flexible connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2264991A
Application number: GB9203397A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Slattery
Original assignee: MCDOWALL WALLACE Ltd
Current assignee: MCDOWALL WALLACE Ltd
Priority date: 1992-02-18
Filing date: 1992-02-18
Publication date: 1993-09-15
Also published as: GB9203397D0

Abstract

A tensioning device for tensioning an elongate, flexible connector comprises means 3 to receive a portion of a connector 4, rotational means 1 to tension the connector and means (7, Fig 3) to lock the connector in a tensioned condition. In a second device (Fig. 4 and 5) the connector is received in and tensioned by an apertured bolt (19) and locked in tension by a pin (18) passing through holes (17, 21) in the support (9) for bolt (19) and in a plate (20) welded to the head of bolt (19). In a third device (Fig 6) the connector (4) is clamped in a hollow screw (23), tensioned by a nut (24) acting on screw (23) and clamped by a screw (7). <IMAGE>

Description

TENSIONING DEVICES This invention relates to tensioning devices and, more particularly, to tensioning devices for applying to connection rods of window or door security panel arrangements.

Security panel arrangements are to be found in UK patent no 2208171 which shows a panel positioned over a window aperture in a wall and fixedly held in position by a plurality of connecting means which either pass through the window aperture or, in the event that a window is in place, the connection means pass between the window and the frame. The connection means are fixedly held by several metal support members which span the window aperture on the inside of the wall.

In order to provide a secure means of covering the window aperture, the connectors must be securely tensioned so that the panel cannot be prised from the window aperture and access gained to the building.

The present invention aims to provide a tensioning device to improve the security of the above systems.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a tensioning device for tensioning an elongate, flexible connector, the tensioning device comprising means to receive a portion of a connector, rotational means to tension the connector and means to lock the connector in a tensioned condition.

Embodiments of a tensioning device according to the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a side view of a window security system; FIGURE la is a side view of an arrangement of a holding bolt of the system of Figure 1; FIGURE Ib is a side view of an alternative arrangement of the holding bolt of Figure la; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of a tensioning device according to one aspect of the present invention; FIGURE 3 is a side view of the tensioning device according to Figure 2; FIGURE 4 is a side view of a tensioning device according to a further aspect of the present invention; FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the tensioning device of Figure 4, and FIGURE 6 is a side view of a tensioning device according to a further aspect of the present invention.

Referring firstly to Figs 1-3 there is shown a tensioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

The tensioning device includes an over eccentric tensioning tool 1 in the form of a shaped bar and a locking device 2.

The end of the bar 1 is provided with an aperture 3 for receiving an end of a window panel connector 4 therethrough.

The window panel connector is attached to a hook bolt assembly which is located within an aperture in a holding bar on the inside of the window panel. The holding bar may have several different forms as shown in figures la and lb.

The connector 4 is to be held in tension by a cylindrical locking barrel 5 with an axial blind bore 6 provided therein.

The bore 6 is threaded to allow a locking screw 7 having a corresponding thread to be located therein. A transverse through bore 8 is provided at a distance approximately half way along the length of the barrel 5. As the locking screw 7 is tightened into the bore 6, it extends into the transverse through bore 8.

In use, the end of a connector 4 is passed through an aperture in a metal support member 9 of a security panel system and fed through the transverse bore 8 in the barrel 5 and the aperture 3 in the tensioning tool 1. The connector 4 is pulled tight by levering of the tensioning tool 1 against the support member 9 and the locking screw 7 is tightened in the blind bore 6 until the screw tightly clamps the connector 4 within the barrel 2, thus holding the connector in the tensioned condition.

Figures 4 and 5 show a tensioning device according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The tensioning device includes a substantially C-shaped top-hat section 10 which is provided for abutment with the metal support member 9 of the security system described above. Each wall 11,12,13 of the C-shaped top-hat section is provided with an aperture 14.

The apertures in the parallel walls of the section are aligned. One of the parallel walls includes an extension portion 15 which extends beyond the base wall 12 of the Cshaped section 10 and has an inturned lip 16 to enable the tensioning device to be attached to the support member 9 of the security system. That wall of the C-shaped section also has a plurality of apertures 17 radially surrounding the central aperture 14 and substantially smaller in diameter than the central aperture. A locking pin 18 is provided for selective engagement with the apertures 17.

The tensioning device also includes a bolt 19 which passes through the apertures 14 in the parallel walls of the C-shaped top-hat section. The bolt 19 carries against the head a fixed plate 20 welded to the head. The plate 20 is provided with a plurality of apertures 21 which, upon rotation of the bolt 19, are selectively aligned with one of the apertures 17 in the adjacent wall of the section.

The bolt 19 is partially threaded to receive a holding nut (not shown) at one end and has a through bore 22 which alines with the aperture 14 in the base wall of the C-shaped top hat section.

In use, the tensioning device is attached to the metal support member 9 of the security system via the lip 16 and a connector 4 is fed through an aperture in the support member 9, the base wall 12 of the C-shaped section and the bolt 19.

The bolt 19 is then rotated in order to tension the connector 4 and the locking pin 18 is inserted in the appropriate aperture 21 in the plate and the corresponding aperture 17 in the wall of the top hat section plate thereby tensioning the connector 4 and locking the bolt 19 against further rotation.

A further alternative device is shown in Figure 6 which shows a cylindrical locking barrel 5 as described above. The tensioning device comprises a tensioning screw 23 and nut 24 which is fed onto the connector 4 behind the locking barrel 5.

The head of the screw 23 is tapped to accommodate a locking screw 25 therein. In use, the tensioning nut 24 is tightened to tension the connector 4, locking screw 7 of the barrel 5 and locking screw 25 of tensioning screw 23 are tightened into the barrel 5 and tensioning screw 23 respectively to hold the connector 4 in the tensioned condition.

Claims

1. A tensioning device for tensioning an elongate, flexible connector, the tensioning device comprising means to receive a portion of a connector, rotational means to tension the connector and means to lock the connector in a tensioned condition.

2. A tensioning device according to claim 1 wherein the means to receive a portion of the connector is an aperture provided in the rotational means.

3. A tensioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotational means comprises an over eccentric tensioning bar.

4. A tensioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotational means comprises a screw and nut fed onto the connector such that rotation of the nut pulls the connector through an axial bore in the screw and thereby tensions the connector.

5. A tensioning device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the means to lock the connector in a tensioned condition comprises a barrel having a through bore for receiving the end of the connector and a threaded bore for receiving a screw which impinges on the end of the connector.

6. A tensioning device according to claim 5, wherein the through bore is a transverse bore and the bore for receiving the screw is an axial bore.

7. A tensioning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the rotational means comprises a bolt which carries against the head a fixed plate welded to the head.

8. A tensioning device according to claim 7, wherein the means to lock the connector in a tensioned condition comprises a locking pin engageable in one of a plurality of holes in the tensioning device.

9. A tensioning device for tensioning an elongate, flexible connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A tensioning device for tensioning an elongate, flexible connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.

11. A tensioning device for tensioning an elongate, flexible connector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.