U.S. patent application number 10/231688 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-04 for mounting of tubular steel columns on concrete base.
Invention is credited to Dayton, David S..
Application Number | 20040040224 10/231688 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31976783 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040040224 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dayton, David S. |
March 4, 2004 |
Mounting of tubular steel columns on concrete base
Abstract
Plural mounting bolts disposed in a concrete footing are each
inserted through a respective aperture in the base plate of a
tubular steel column and are connected thereto by means of
respective nuts for securely attaching the column in a generally
vertical orientation to the footing. A first access aperture with a
removal cover plate is disposed in the tubular steel column to
facilitate positioning and tightening of the connecting nuts. The
column's base plate includes a second access aperture to allow for
positioning electrical needs within the column for lighting,
grounding, etc. An apertured template oriented with respect to a
reference point of a structure which the tubular steel column forms
a portion of, e.g., the center of the structure, is used for proper
positioning of the bolts in the concrete footing in a designated
pattern, i.e. square-, rectangular-, diamond-shaped, etc.
Inventors: |
Dayton, David S.; (Holland,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Thomas E. Hill
Emrich & Dithmar
Suite 3000
300 S. Wacker Drive
Chicago
IL
60606
US
|
Family ID: |
31976783 |
Appl. No.: |
10/231688 |
Filed: |
August 30, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/93.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D 27/42 20130101;
E04C 3/32 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/093.1 ;
052/736.1 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/04; E02D
005/74; E04C 003/30 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An arrangement for mounting a tubular steel column on a concrete
base, said tubular steel column having upper and lower ends and a
lateral wall portion disposed therebetween, said mounting
arrangement comprising: a base plate attached to the lower end of
the tubular steel column and including plural spaced first
apertures disposed within the lateral wall portion of the tubular
steel column; plural nut and bolt combinations attached to the
concrete base and arranged in a predetermined pattern in the
concrete base, wherein each bolt is inserted through a respective
first aperture for mounting the tubular steel column to the
concrete base; and a second aperture in the tubular steel column
providing access to said nut and bolt combinations within the
tubular steel column for securing said nut and bolt combinations to
said base plate.
2. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a removable cover
plate disposed over said second aperture for concealing said nut
and bolt combinations within the tubular steel column.
3. The arrangement of claim 2 further comprising plural connectors
coupling said cover plate to the tubular steel column over the
second aperture therein.
4. The arrangement of claim 2 further comprising a flange disposed
on an outer surface of the tubular steel column adjacent said
second aperture therein for receiving and maintaining said cover
plate in position over said second aperture.
5. The arrangement of claim 2 wherein said second aperture is
disposed adjacent the lower end of the tubular steel column.
6. The arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a template having
plural spaced apertures each adapted to receive a respective nut
and bolt combination for arranging said nut and bolt combinations
in said predetermined pattern relative to a structure in which the
tubular steel column is disposed.
7. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein said template includes first
indicia for positioning said template with respect to a part of the
structure.
8. The arrangement of claim 7 wherein said template includes an
electrical access aperture for passing an electric lead.
9. The arrangement of claim 8 wherein said template further
includes second indicia located at a center of said template to
facilitate positioning of said template on the concrete base.
10. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said base plate further
includes an electrical access aperture for passing an electrical
lead.
11. The arrangement of claim 6 wherein the plural spaced apertures
in said template are arranged in a square-,rectangular- or
diamond-shape.
12. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein said base plate and the
lower end of the tubular steel column are generally square.
13. The arrangement of claim 1 wherein the predetermined pattern of
said nut and bolt combinations in the concrete base is square-,
rectangular- or diamond-shaped.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates general of the erection of tubular
steel structures and is particularly directed to the mounting of a
tubular steel column on a concrete base or footing.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The construction of a steel structure incorporating tubular
steel members typically involves securing a lower end of a tubular
steel column to a support member such as a concrete footing, floor
or foundation. A bolt, or bolts, disposed within the concrete
support member are typically connected to a lower end of the
tubular steel column by nuts in a conventional manner. One or more
bolts are typically connected to an outer portion of the lower end
of the tubular steel column, or a single bolt is inserted through
an aperture in the column's base plate and secured thereto by means
of a nut. The former approach leaves the mounting bolts visible
after construction of the structure and is thus aesthetically
undesirable, and also presents a tripping hazard to those in the
vicinity of the tubular steel column. The latter approach involving
a single bolt inserted through the column's base plate does not
provide stable column mounting during erection of the structure and
has resulted in construction accidents frequently involving
injuries to workers.
[0003] The present invention addresses the aforementioned problems
encountered in the past by providing for the safe and secure
mounting of a tubular steel column on a concrete support base
employing plural anchor bolts inserted through spaced apertures in
the column's base plate. The nut and bolt combinations are
precisely arranged in predetermined patterns, are hidden from view
and do not present a safety risk.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide for the stable, secure mounting of a tubular steel column
on a support base such as a concrete footing.
[0005] It is another object of the present invention to attach a
tubular steel column to a support base using plural anchor bolts
extending from the support base and disposed within the column for
increased safety and improved aesthetics.
[0006] A further object of the present invention is to provide an
arrangement for mounting a tubular steel beam on a concrete footing
wherein the mounting hardware and electrical access for running
wires such as for lighting is disposed entirely within the column
and hidden from view.
[0007] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide
for the positioning of plural mounting bolts in a support base such
as a concrete footing for attachment to a tubular support column,
where the bolts are precisely arranged in a predetermined, spaced
pattern for insertion through apertures in the column's base plate
and are disposed within the column and thus hidden from view.
[0008] The present invention contemplates an arrangement for
mounting a tubular steel column on a concrete base with the tubular
steel column having upper and lower ends and a lateral wall portion
disposed therebetween. The inventive mounting arrangement comprises
a base plate attached to a lower end of the tubular steel column
and including plural spaced first apertures disposed within the
lateral wall portion of the tubular steel column; plural nut and
bolt combinations attached to the concrete base, wherein the bolts
are arranged in a predetermined pattern in the concrete base and
each bolt is inserted through a respective first aperture for
mounting the tubular steel column to the concrete base; and a
second aperture in the tubular steel column providing access to the
nut and bolt combinations within the tubular steel column for
securing the nut and bolt combinations to the base plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The appended claims set forth those novel features which
characterize the invention. However, the invention itself, as well
as further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood
by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred
embodiment taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
where like reference characters identify like elements throughout
the various figures, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of a
tubular steel column mounted to a concrete base in accordance with
the principles of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an upper perspective view illustrating a tubular
steel support frame positioned upon and mounted to concrete
casings, or footings, in accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view shown partially in phantom of
an arrangement for mounting a tubular steel column on a concrete
base in accordance with the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the tubular steel
column mounting arrangement of the present invention illustrating
the orientation and positioning of each of the column's base plates
in a structure which includes four tubular steel columns;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a combination of plural
mounting bolts and an anchor bolt template used for proper
positioning of the anchor bolts in the concrete support base in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention; and
[0015] FIGS. 6 and 7 are sectional views of the tubular steel
column mounting arrangement of the present invention respectively
showing the mounting bolts disposed in a square and a diamond
configuration in the column's mounting plate.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, these are respectively shown a
partially cutaway side elevation view and a perspective view shown
partially in phantom of a tubular steel mounting arrangement 10 in
accordance with the principles of the present invention. The
tubular steel columns used with the present invention are typically
incorporated in a steel frame building 30 as shown in the
perspective view of FIG. 2, where each column is disposed in a
respective corner of the steel frame building as shown in FIG. 4.
However, the tubular steel columns with which the present invention
is intended for use may be located virtually anywhere within the
building.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the steel frame building 30 includes
four generally vertical tubular steel columns 12, 32a, 32b and 32c.
Each of the tubular steel columns 12, 32a, 32b and 32c is connected
at its upper end to one or more structural members such as an eave
or ridge beam, or a truss which form an upper portion of the steel
frame building 30. The lower end of each of the tubular steel
columns 12, 32a, 32b and 32c is positioned upon, supported by and
connected to a respective concrete footing 14, 34a, 34b and 34c in
accordance with the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, each of
the four tubular steel columns 12, 32a, 32b and 32c is disposed in
a respective corner of the steel frame building.
[0018] Details of the manner in which each tubular steel column is
connected to a respective concrete footing by means of the tubular
steel column mounting arrangement 10 of the present invention will
now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. The tubular steel
column mounting arrangement 10 securely connects a tubular column
12 to a support base, such as a concrete footing, or foundation,
14. The tubular steel column 12 includes a hollow, upper tubular
member 16 having a metal base plate 18 attached to its lower end by
weldments 26 as shown in FIG. 1. Disposed in a spaced manner in the
column's base plate 18 are plural apertures each adapted to receive
a respective anchor bolt for securely attaching the base plate to
the concrete footing. Thus, in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and
3, each of four apertures in the column's base plate 18 is adapted
to receive a respective one of four anchor bolts 22a, 22b, 22c and
22d. Each of the anchor bolts 22a-22d is positioned within the
concrete footing 14 as it sets so as to be securely and fixedly
attached to the concrete footing after it cures and hardens. Each
of the four anchor bolts 22a-22d has on its upper end a respective
threaded portion for receiving a nut thereon as shown in the
figures. Thus, the upper ends of anchor bolts 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d
are respectively adapted to receive and securely engage coupling
nuts 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d. By tightening each of the coupling nuts
24a-24d on a respectively one of the anchor bolts 22a-22d, the
column's base plate 18, and thus the column itself, may be securely
and fixedly mounted to the concrete footing 14.
[0019] A lateral portion, i.e., sidewall, of the lower end of the
tubular steel column 12 includes an access aperture, or opening,
20. It is by means of the access aperture 20 that each of the nuts
24a, 24b, 24c and 24d may be positioned on a respective upper
threaded portion of one of the anchor bolts and tightened. The
access aperture 20 is sized so as to be able to accommodate a
wrench or other nut tightening device for securely connecting the
lower end of the tubular steel column 12 to the concrete footing
14. A removable cover plate 28 is adapted for attachment to the
lateral portion of the tubular steel column 12 so as to cover the
access aperture 20. Cover plate 28 is positioned on the tubular
steel column 12 over the access aperture 20 therein after the nuts
are tightening on each of the respective anchor bolts. Cover plate
28 may be removably maintained in position over the access aperture
20 by any of various means such as positioning screws 36 shown in
FIG. 1 or by a mounting flange 52 (shown in dotted line form) which
is adapted to receive the cover plate 28 in a sliding manner and
maintain the cover plate in position over the access aperture 20.
The tubular steel column's base plate 18 includes an electrical
access aperture 27 to permit electrical leads (not shown) to extend
upward from the concrete footing 14 into the tubular steel column
so as to be hidden from view. This electrical wiring may be used to
provide lighting, grounding, signs, etc., in the building
structure.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 5, there is shown a perspective view of an
anchor bolt template 40 for precisely positioning four anchor bolts
42a, 42b, 42c and 42d within a concrete footing in accordance with
another aspect of the present invention. The concrete footing is
not shown in FIG. 5 for simplicity, it being understood that the
anchor bolt template 40 is positioned on the upper surface of the
concrete footing after the four anchor bolts 42a-42d are inserted
into the concrete footing shortly after it is poured and while the
concrete footing is curing. The anchor bolt template 40, which also
is preferably comprised of a high strength steel, includes plural
spaced apertures each adapted to receive a respective anchor bolt.
Anchor bolt template 40 further includes a centering aperture 46
and an electrical access aperture 48. Centering aperture 46 is used
for precise positioning of the anchor bolt template 40 as well as
the four anchor bolts in the concrete footing, such as shown in
FIG. 4, where the center of each of the tubular steel columns 12,
32a, 32b and 32c is located precisely at the corner of the square
building structure 38 which is shown in the figure in dotted line
form. The electrical access aperture 48 permits electrical wiring
such as for lightening, grounding, signs, etc., to be positioned
within the tubular steel column and thus be hidden from view.
Finally, the anchor bolt template 40 includes a center reference
indicator 50 which points to the center of the structure being
constructed and which insures proper positioning and orientation of
the anchor bolt template and thus the tubular steel column within
the structure being constructed.
[0021] Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown a sectional view of a
tubular steel column 58 having a base plate 60 and an access
aperture 62. Disposed within the tubular steel column 58 and
inserted through respective apertures in the column's base plate 60
are first, second, third and fourth nut/bolt combinations 64a, 64b,
64c and 64d. The nut and bolt combinations 64a-64d in FIG. 6 are
arranged in a generally rectangular, or more particularly a square,
array by the anchor bolt template previously described. Similarly,
shown in FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a tubular steel mounting
arrangement including a tubular steel column 68, having a column
base plate 70 and an access aperture 72. Disposed within the
tubular steel column 68 and inserted through a respective aperture
in the column's base plate 70 are first, second, third and fourth
nut/bolt combinations 74a, 74b, 74c and 74d. The four nut and bolt
combinations 74a-74d shown in FIG. 7 are arranged in a
diamond-shape also by means of the above described anchor bolt
template. The anchor bolt template may be used to precisely
position and align virtually any number of anchor bolts in
virtually any geometric array for precise mounting and alignment of
the nut/bolt combinations within a tubular steel column in
accordance with this aspect of the invention.
[0022] While particular embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in
the relevant arts that changes and modifications may be made
without departing from the invention in its broader aspects.
Therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such
changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope
of the invention. The matter set forth in the foregoing description
and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only
and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is
intended to be defined in the following claims when viewed in their
proper perspective based on the prior art.
* * * * *