GB2223792A

GB2223792A - Linear fastening arrangement

Info

Publication number: GB2223792A
Application number: GB8908170A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Francis Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-10-12
Filing date: 1989-04-12
Publication date: 1990-04-18
Also published as: GB8907134D0; GB8823861D0; GB8908170D0; GB2224199A

Abstract

The arrangement involves a fixed, load-bearing member or sleeve 1 onto or into which in the illustrated embodiment are assembled a series of lever mounted bars 2-4 and a release handle 5. A support leg or strut 6 which has a profile 7 is assembled into the sleeve and, with the fastening disengaged, is free to move in either direction. With the fastening engaged, by virtue of the profile 7 the leg is able to move with a ratchet action against the latch bars until the support length required is achieved although with profile 9 leg movement in either direction is prevented. The levers may be mounted on independent pivots or in multiples on common co-axial pivots. An extension to each lever provides a counterweight to apply a continuous movement in the direction of the profile and/or springs may be provided as loading means. The specification refers to fastening being achieved by concentric sleeves and tongue and rebate. <IMAGE>

Description

LINEAR LOCKING SYSTEM This invention relates to a linear locking system for acceptance of compressing or extending loads as applied to a leg, column or beam.

The application of methods to prevent relative movement of loads during installation is widely practised and may consist of the restraint against movement of load by the interposition of beam or strut between the load in which movement may occur and a firm, fixed or relatively immovable surface.

The restraint may be applied through the action of mechanically extended struts which present a restraining member between the critical load and the foundation surface, or by the application of hydraulic pressure to the strut to achieve the same result. Whilst the invention is capable of accepting a load within the designed or predetermined limits, it is not intended as a jacking or load applying device as described above, but as an incrementally adjustable support applied to prevent movement beyond a predetermined limit within the design range.

According to this invention there is provided a load bearing fixed member onto or into which a lock consisting of a number of individually pivoted latch bars are attached, together with a means of lock disengagement. A support leg or strut is provided which engages with the fixed member by a means which allows the leg to move along the plane of adjustment and a profile or indentation is made into or attached onto the leg. With the lock in the disengaged position, the leg is adjusted to the approximate support length required before the lock is engaged. Final adjustment of the relative position of the leg to fixed member results in the appropriate latch bar engaging into the profile, preventing further movement in the direction of the applied load.

The increment of adjustment is varied by the number and spacing of the latch bars when applied to the constant pitch of the profile in the leg.

The profile may be such that movement of the leg is possible in one direction by ratchet action with the lock engaged, reverse movement being prevented by engagement of the latch bar(s) with the profile. The lock comprises a number of pivot mounted levers of varying length with latchbars arranged transversely at the outer end, each lever being independently free to move about the pivot point. The levers and latch-bars are arranged in a cross-bar or stirrup form and may be mounted either on independent pivots or, in multiples on common co-axial, pivot points.

At the inner or pivot end of the levers an extension to the lever in an appropriate direction provides a counterweight which applies a continuous moment to the latch bar in the direction of the profile on or within the support leg. To load the latch bar toward the profile, springs may be applied at any convenient point and these may be used as the sole loading means or in combination with the counterweight system described.

By selection of the linear mounting centre pitch of independently pivoted levers, or by variation in length of co-axially mounted levers, or by any combination thereof the increment of movement permissible in relation to the selected pitch of the profile formed in the leg may be varied.

The profile formed in the leg may be of such a form as to provide a free movement in one direction by "ratchet" displacement of the latch bars with automatic locking against any attempted reverse movement of the support leg by the loading of the latch bars toward the profile or alternatively the profile may be of such a form as to prevent any substantial movement in either direction when any latch bar has engaged into the profile.

To enable disengagement of the latch bars from the profile and allow adjustment of the operating length of the support leg, a means of disengagement of the latch bars and maintenance of the disengaged position to allow adjustment, is provided.

To maintain the necessary "reference" relationship between the profile of the leg and the lock or latching device, a means of positive location and guidance which allows linear movement between the two members is provided.

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described by way of reference to the attached drawings: Fig 1 which illustrates the principle of levers and latch bars, concentrically mounted.

Fig 2 which illustrates a typical application of the locking system when used as an incremental adjustment for access equipment.

Referring to Fig 1, the locking device consists of a load bearing fixed member or sleeve 1 into or onto which is assembled the latch bars and levers 2-4 and a lock release handle 5. The lock release handle is formed in the manner of a cam at the inner end and positioned so that the effective surface of the cam-form contacts all levers, enabling the latch bars to be moved out of contact with the profile 7 and by over-centre action of the cam are held in the open position until the handle-5 is moved to the operating position.

The support leg 6, with one leg cap 8 removed is assembled into the sleeve 1 from above, for the profile 7 illustrated and may be assembled with the lock release handle in the operating position to facilitate erection in increments by ratchet action, to the desired height.

An alternative profile 9 which prevents support leg movement in either direction is illustrated and for insertion of leg to sleeve, the lock release handle 5 must be in the open position.

Fig 2 illustrates a specific embodiment of the invention wherein the invention is applied to a variable height access system to allow individual, incremental adjustment to any support leg of that system. The sleeve and locking device 1 is made into or applied onto a support frame or surface 11 with a lock release handle 5 external to the lock cover 10. The support leg 6 is assembled into the device as previously described.

Claims

1. A linear locking system consisting of a fixed load bearing member containing a locking device to which is assembled a support leg or strut whereby, by virtue of the relative juxtaposition of the two members, is capable of incremental adjustment and locking one to the other.

2. A linear locking system as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the locking of one member to the other is achieved by the interposition of a lock or latch bar attached to either of the assembled components.

3. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-2 wherein the lock or latch bars are attached to levers which are compensated by counterweights to provide a positive moment toward the inter locking or inter-latching surface or surfaces.

4. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-2 wherein the lock or latch bars are attached to levers which are mechanically compensated by springs to provide a positive moment toward the inter-locking or inter-latching surface or surfaces.

5. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-4 wherein locking of one member to the other is achieved by mechanical application of a peg, tongue, bolt or plate between the active members.

6. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-4 wherein the latch bar engages with a uni-directional, ratchet type profile made into or onto either member.

7. A linear locking system as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein positive engagement between locking members is delivered on engagement into or onto a single face or edge profile.

8. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-6 wherein positive engagement between locking members is achieved by engagement into or onto two or more face or edge profiles.

9. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 2-8 wherein locking of the fixed to sliding member is achieved by any combination thereof.

10. A linear locking system substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-2 of the accompanying drawing.

10. A linear locking system as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the location between the fixed and sliding members is achieved by the principle of concentric sleeves.

11. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-8 wherein the location between the fixed and sliding members is achieved by the principle of flange or tongue and rebate.

12. A linear locking system as claimed in Claim 10 and Claim 11 wherein location between the fixed and sliding members is achieved by any combination thereof.

13. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 2-9 wherein disengagement of the lock is achieved by the action of a lever operated cam form acting upon the locking members.

14. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 2-9 wherein disengagement of the lock is achieved by direct manual or spring assisted pull on the locking members.

15. A linear locking system substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1-2 of the accompanying drawing.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A linear locking system wherein a load bearing member or beam incorporating a set of two or more pivotted latch bars is attached by a sleeve or guide onto a fixed length vertical or near vertical leg of nominally rectangular section which has incorporated a regular, generated rack of hook, double hook or semi hook form, at or on any surface so that at any suitable increment of relative movement, any one of the latch bars may engage with the appropriate hook section thus preventing further relative movement of the two major components in the desired direction.

2. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-2 wherein the lock or latch bars are attached to levers which are compensated by counterweights to provide a positive moment toward the inter locking rack section.

3. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-2 wherein the lock or latch bars are attached to levers which are mechanically compensated by springs to provide a positive Foment toward the Inter-locking rack section.

4. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-3 wherein the latch bar engages with a bi-directional rack profile made into or onto the support or leg.

Sr A linear locking-system as claimed tn-any of-the preceding claiius wherein positive engagement between relative members is by engagement into or onto rack formed on a single face or edge profile.

6. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-5 wherein positive engagement between relative members is achieved by engagement into or onto racks formed on two or more face or edge profiles.

7. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 2-6 wherein locking of the fixed to sliding.member is achieved by any combination thereof.

8. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-7 wherein disengagement of the lock is achieved by the action of a lever operated cam form acting upon the locking levers.

9. A linear locking system as claimed in Claims 1-7 wherein disengagement of the lock is achieved by direct manual pull on the locking Members.