GB2227514A

GB2227514A - A device for securing together two elongate members end-to-end

Info

Publication number: GB2227514A
Application number: GB8827811A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Marinus Albertus Lucia Smits
Original assignee: Pandrol Ltd
Current assignee: Pandrol Ltd
Priority date: 1988-11-29
Filing date: 1988-11-29
Publication date: 1990-08-01
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-29
Also published as: GB2227514B; GB8827811D0

Abstract

A device A for securing together two elongate members, for example scaffolding tubes, has a portion 1 like a circular cylinder with a slot 11 extending along it. Portions 2 and 3 extend from the portion 1 on opposite sides of the slot 11 and lead to inwardly-directed portions 4 and 5. Two bolts 7, each with a shank having a square portion 8, pass through square holes in the portion 2 and round holes in the portion 3 and carry nuts 12 which can be tightened so that portion 1 grips two elongate members inserted in opposite ends of the portion 1. Ridges 14 and 15 formed in the device A increase the area of contact with the elongate members <IMAGE>

Description

A DEVICE FOR SECURING TOGETHER TWO ELONGATE MEMBERS END-TO-END This invention relates to a device for securing together two elongate members end-to-end and is particularly, although not exclusively, applicable to the case where the two elongate members are scaffolding tubes.

According to the invention, there is provided a device for securing together two elongate members end-to-end, the device comprising a piece of sheet material which has a first portion which is shaped like a circular cylinder with a slot extending over its entire length, second and third portions extending from opposite sides of the slot in the same general direction as one another away from the interior of the first portion and fourth and fifth portions extending towards one another from the extremities of the second and third portions which are remote from the first portion, the fourth and fifth portions stopping short of one another, there being holes through the second and third portions to receive tightening means which draw the second and third portions together so that the first portion may grip the two elongate members when they are inserted in opposite ends of the first portion.

The fourth and fifth portions serve to strengthen the device against bending, particularly if, in accordance with a preferred feature, at least at the centre of its length, the region of the junction between the first and second portions and/or the region of the junction between the first and third portions has been pressed inwardly, towards the other such junction, so as to increase the area of contact between said device and said members. The presence of the fourth and fifth portions serve to make the device appear to be more robust in that the observer gains the impression that it is made of sheet material thicker than that of which it is in fact made, which is particularly advantageous if, in accordance with another preferred feature, it is made of sheet material having a thickness less than 4 mm., which is unusual, if not unknown, in couplers for scaffolding tubes.

Preferably, the second and third portions are drawn together by tightening a nut on each of two bolts which pass through the holes in the second and third portions. Each bolt preferably has near its head a portion of square cross-section which lies in a hole of square cross-section through one of the second and third portions.

An example in accordance with the invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a front elevation of a device for securing together two elongate members end-to-end and means for tightening the device on to the members, Figure 2 to . 4 show, respectively, a rear elevation, an underneath plan view and an end view of the same device and tightening means, and Figure 5 shows a cross-section of the device, taken as indicated by the arrows V in Figure 1, in its unstressed state, i.e. before fitting to it the tightening means, which are shown in chain lines.

The drawings show a coupling device A made by bending a substantially rectangular piece of sheet steel 3mm. thick so that it has a first portion 1 which is shaped like a circular cylinder with a slot 11 extending over its entire length, second and third portions 2 and 3 extending from opposite sides of the slot 11 in the same general direction as one another, i.e. downwardly, considering Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, away from the interior of the first portion, and fourth and fifth portions 4 and 5 extending towards one another from the extremities of the second and third portions which are remote from the first portion, i.e. from the lower extremities of the portions 2 and 3. The fourth and fifth portions are nearly co-planar in the state shown in Figure 5 and they stop short of one another so that a gap 6 is left between them.The portion 2 has two holes of square cross-section through it and the portion 3 is formed with two holes of circular cross-section through it. A bolt 7 passes through each of these holes, each bolt being of circular cross-section except in a portion 8 near its head 9, the portion 8 having a square cross-section and lying within one of the holes through the portion 2 so that the bolt cannot turn. The head 9 of each bolt is like a circular rivet-head and at its other end each bolt carries a washer 10 and a nut 12 which can be tightened to draw the portions 2 and 3 closer together so that the portion 1 tightens on and grips opposite ends of two scaffolding tubes (not shown) inserted in opposite ends of the device A.

In order to increase the area of contact between the device A and the scaffolding tubes, the region of the junction between the first and second portions 1 and 2 and the region of the junction between the first and third portions 1 and 3 is pressed inwardly, in each case towards the other such junction, so that ridges 14 and 15 are formed, the thickness of the sheet material here necessarily being reduced.

A stop plate 13, initially folded about a vertical centre-line (considering Figure 5), is -inserted in the portion 1 and then distorted so that lugs 14 and 15 on it enter holes 16 and 17, respectively, through the portion 1. The distortion of the plate 13 is effected by tools inserted in opposite ends of the portion 1, one of which tools projects into a hole 18 through the plate 13. When distorted, the plate 13 lies in a radial plane in the portion 1 and prevents the scaffolding tubes being inserted too far into the device A.

The ends of the device as seen in the views shown in Figures 1 and 2, are inclined by a few degrees to the vertical so that at its top the portion 1 has a length greater by about 9 mm. than have the portions 4 and 5.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A device for securing together two elongate members end-to-end, the device comprising a piece of sheet material which has a first portion which is shaped like a circular cylinder with a slot extending over its entire length, second and third portions extending from opposite sides of the slot in the same general direction as one another away from the interior of the first portion and fourth and fifth portions extending towards one another, from the extremities of the second and third portions which are remote from the first portion, the fourth and fifth portions stopping short of one another, there being holes through the second and third portions to receive tightening means which draw the second and third portions together so that the first portion may grip the two elongate members when they are inserted in opposite ends of the first portion.

2. A device according to claim 1 made by bending sheet steel with a thickness less than 4 mm.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2 in which, at least at the centre of its length, the region of the junction between the first and second portions and/or the region of the junction between the first and third portions has been pressed inwardly, towards the other such junction, so as to increase the area of contact between said device and said members.

4. A device according to any preceding claim in which there are two holes of square cross-section through the second portion and two holes of circular cross-section through the third portion.

5. A device according to any preceding claim having a stop member lying within the first portion in a radial plane, in order to prevent said elongate members being inserted too far into said device.

6. A combination of a device according to any preceding claim, two bolts passing through said holes and a nut on each bolt such that tightening of the nuts on the bolts forces one of the second and third portions towards the other.

7. A combination according to claim 6 in which said device is in accordance with claim 4 and the shank of each bolt has a portion of square cross-section near the bolt head and lying within one of the holes of square cross-section.

8. A device for securing together two elongate members, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

9. An assembly of a device or a combination according to any preceding claim and two elongate members end-to-end, with their ends inserted in opposite ends of said device.