U.S. patent application number 11/372990 was filed with the patent office on 2006-09-21 for support column collet assembly.
Invention is credited to E. Bane Kroeger.
Application Number | 20060207210 11/372990 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37008853 |
Filed Date | 2006-09-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060207210 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kroeger; E. Bane |
September 21, 2006 |
Support column collet assembly
Abstract
A support column collet assembly is provided that comprise a
base having a tube extending perpendicularly from the base, a
bearing plate having a tube extending perpendicularly from the
bearing plate, and a collet clamp. The collet clamp has a tapered
cylindrical portion at the end of the collet that is adapted to be
received within the bearing plate tube, and an opening therein for
adjustably receiving the end of the base tube. The collet further
comprises at least two slots extending longitudinally from the end
of the collet adapted to receive the base tube. The inside diameter
of the collet clamp is configured to compress against the base tube
received in the opening when the tapered cylindrical surface is
pressed into the bearing plate tube, to effectively clamp the base
tube relative to the bearing plate tube.
Inventors: |
Kroeger; E. Bane;
(Carbondale, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bryan K. Wheelock
Suite 400
7700 Bonhomme
St. Louis
MO
63105
US
|
Family ID: |
37008853 |
Appl. No.: |
11/372990 |
Filed: |
March 10, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60660576 |
Mar 10, 2005 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/835 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21D 15/32 20130101;
E04C 3/005 20130101; E04C 3/32 20130101; E21D 15/285 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
052/721.5 ;
052/737.5 |
International
Class: |
E04C 3/34 20060101
E04C003/34; E04C 3/30 20060101 E04C003/30 |
Claims
1. A collet clamp having a tapered portion and an opening therein
adapted to receive a first tube, the tapered cylindrical portion
being adapted to be received within a second tube, the collet clamp
being configured to be compressed against the first tube received
in the opening when the tapered cylindrical portion is pressed into
the second tube to effectively clamp the support base tube relative
to the bearing plate tube.
2. The collet clamp according to claim 1 wherein the taped portion
of the collet is generally cylindrical.
3. The collet clamp of claim 2 wherein the tapered cylindrical
portion has a length of between about 4 and about 6 inches.
4. The collet clamp of claim 3 wherein the tapered cylindrical
portion has a taper angle of between about 0.5 degrees and about 5
degrees.
5. The collet clamp of claim 4 further comprising at least two
slots extending longitudinally from the end of the collet clamp
that is adapted to receive the first tube, the slots having a
length that at least corresponds to the length of the tapered
cylindrical portion.
6. The collet clamp of claim 5 further comprising a shoulder on the
end of the collet clamp adapted to receive the first tube.
7. A support column assembly comprising: a first tube having first
and second ends; a base on the first end of the first tube for
engaging a surface; a second tube having first and second ends,
with an opening in the second end; a base on the first end of the
second tube; a collet clamp having a tapered portion adapted to be
received within the opening in the second end of the second tube,
the collet further comprising an opening therein for receiving the
second end of the first tube, the collet clamp being configured to
compress against the second end of the first tube received in the
opening of the collet when the tapered surface is pressed into the
opening in the second end of the second tube, to effectively clamp
the first tube relative to the second tube.
8. The support column of claim 7 wherein the tapering face of the
collet is generally cylindrical, and the first and second tubes are
generally cylindrical.
9. The support column assembly of claim 8 further comprising at
least two slots extending longitudinally from the end of the collet
clamp that is adapted to receive the support base tube.
10. The support column assembly of claim 8 wherein the tapered
cylindrical portion has a length in the range of about 4 to 6
inches.
11. The support column assembly of claim 10 wherein the tapered
cylindrical portion has a taper angle of between about 0.5 and
about 5 degrees.
12. The support column assembly of claim 11 further comprising at
least two slots extending longitudinally from the end of the collet
clamp that is adapted to receive the support base tube, the slots
having a length that at least corresponds to the length of the
tapered cylinder portion.
13. The support column assembly of claim 12 further comprising a
shoulder on the end of the collet clamp adapted to receive the
support base tube.
14. An adjustable support column assembly comprising: a first tube
having first and second ends; a first base plate on the first end
of the first tube, extending perpendicularly with respect to the
first tube; a second tube having first and second ends, the second
end of the second tube having an opening therein; a second base
plate on the first end of the second tube, extending
perpendicularly with respect to the second tube; and a collet clamp
having a tapered cylindrical portion at one end that is adapted to
be received in the opening in the second end of the second tube,
and an opening therein for adjustably receiving the second end of
the first tube, the collet clamp including at least two slots
extending longitudinally from the end of the collet that is adapted
to receive the first tube, the collet clamp being configured to
compress against the portion of the first tube received in the
opening in the collet when the tapered cylindrical surface of the
collet is pressed into the opening in the second end of the second
tube, to effectively clamp the base tube relative to the bearing
plate tube.
15. The adjustable support column of claim 14 wherein the first
tube may be adjustably positioned within the opening of the collet
clamp to adjust the height of the support column as necessary.
16. The adjustable support column of claim 15 wherein the tapered
cylindrical portion has a length of between about 4 and about 6
inches.
17. The adjustable support column of claim 16 wherein the tapered
cylindrical portion has a taper angle of between about 0.5 degrees
and about 5 degrees.
18. The adjustable support column of claim 17, wherein there are
two slots in the collet, and wherein the slots have a length that
at least corresponds to the length of the tapered cylinder
portion.
19. The adjustable support column of claim 17 further comprising a
shoulder on the end of the collet clamp adapted to receive the
support base tube.
20. The adjustable support column of claim 17 wherein the collet
clamp is made of steel or a steel alloy.
21. The adjustable support column of claim 17 wherein the first
tube and second tube are made of steel or a steel alloy.
22. An adjustable support column assembly comprising: a first
support tube having first and second ends, with an opening in the
second end; a bearing plate on the second end of the first support
tube; a second support tube, having first and second ends; a
bearing plate on the first end of the second support tube; the
second end of the second support tube telescoping into the opening
in the second end of the first tube; a locking wedge between the
second end of the first tube and the second end of the second tube,
the wedge having an tapered exterior face facing the inside of the
second end of the first tube; a cylindrical clamp having an opening
for receiving the second end of the first tube, and adapted to be
driven over wedge member, the clamp having a tapered interior
surface for engaging the second end of the first tube between the
locking wedge and clamp, so that the relative axial movement of the
cylindrical clamp and the locking wedge compresses the second end
of the first support tube against the second end of the second tube
to effectively clamp the first support tube relative to the second
support tube.
23. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the locking
wedge is separate from the second support tube.
24. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the locking
wedge is formed integrally with the second support tube.
25. The adjustable support column of claim 22 further comprising at
least two longitudinally extending slots in the locking wedge.
26. The adjustable support column of claim 22 further comprising at
least two longitudinally extending slots in the second end of the
first tube.
27. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the second
end of the first tube is flared.
28. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the tapered
portion of the locking wedge has a length in the range of about 4
to 6 inches.
29. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the tapered
portion of the locking wedge has a taper angle of between about 0.5
degrees and about 5 degrees.
30. The adjustable support column of claim 22 further comprising at
least two longitudinally extending slots in the tapered portion of
the locking wedge.
31. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the locking
wedge is a separate piece than the first support tube, and wherein
the locking wedge comprises a shoulder at one end of the locking
wedge adapted to engage the second end of the first support
tube.
32. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the locking
wedge and cylindrical clamp are made of steel or a steel alloy.
33. The adjustable support column of claim 22 wherein the first and
second support tubes are made of steel or a steel alloy.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/660,576, filed Mar. 10, 2005, the
entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to adjustable vertical support
column assemblies for supporting roofs and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Support columns are often used to counteract the force that
gravity exerts on a mass supported by a roof or other overhead
structure. Support columns may also be positioned between two
vertical objects under load to keep the objects spaced apart from
each other. In underground mining, for example, support columns are
used as supports for mine roofs. These support columns are
generally positioned perpendicularly between the mine floor and the
mine roof. The required length of the support column assembly will
accordingly vary with respect to the height of the mine roof to be
supported. Fabricating support columns of varying lengths can be
costly, and trimming or adjusting the length of the columns during
installation can be time consuming.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Various embodiments of the present invention comprise a
support column assembly that provides for assembling the column in
place to support a roof or other structure under load. In
accordance with one aspect of the invention, some embodiments of a
support column assembly comprise a base having a tube extending
perpendicularly from the base, a bearing plate having a tube
extending perpendicularly from the bearing plate, and a collet
clamp. The collet clamp has a tapered cylindrical portion at the
end of the collet that is adapted to be received within the bearing
plate tube, and an opening therein for adjustably receiving the end
of the base tube. The collet further comprises at least two slots
extending longitudinally from the end of the collet adapted to
receive the base tube, wherein the inside diameter of the collet
clamp is configured to compress against the base tube received in
the opening when the tapered cylindrical surface is pressed into
the bearing plate tube. This compression effectively clamps the
base tube relative to the bearing plate tube.
[0005] In another aspect of the present invention, one embodiment
of a collet clamp is provided that comprises a tapered cylindrical
portion and an opening therein adapted to receive a tube of a
support base, the tapered cylindrical portion being adapted to be
received within an open end of a bearing plate tube. The collet
clamp is configured to be compressed against a support base tube
received in the opening when the tapered cylindrical portion is
pressed into the bearing plate tube to effectively clamp the
support base tube relative to the bearing plate tube. The collet
clamp further comprises at least two slots extending longitudinally
from the end of the collet clamp that is adapted to receive the
support base tube. As the tapered cylindrical portion of the collet
clamp is gradually driven into the end of a support tube opening,
the slots allow the ends of the collet to deflect and the opening
through the tapered cylindrical portion to be reduced. The opening
in the collet is compressed to frictionally grip against a support
tube that is received within the opening of the collet clamp.
[0006] Further areas of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter.
It should be understood that the detailed description and specific
examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the
invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description and the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of
an assembled vertical support column in accordance with the
principles of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a side view of one embodiment of an unassembled
vertical support column;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of one embodiment of a
collet clamp of the vertical support column assembly of the present
invention; and
[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a third embodiment
of a clamp assembly in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
[0012] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS
[0013] One embodiment of a support column collet assembly is shown
generally as 20 in FIG. 1. The support column collet assembly 20
comprises a support base 22 having a tube 24 extending
perpendicularly from the base 22, a bearing plate 28 having a tube
26 extending perpendicularly from the bearing plate 28, and a
collet clamp 30 for clamping the support base tube 24 relative to
the bearing plate tube 26.
[0014] In one embodiment of a support column collet assembly shown
in FIG. 2, the collet clamp 30 has a tapered cylindrical portion 32
adapted to be received within the open end of the bearing plate
tube 26, and an opening therein 34 for receiving the end of the
support base tube 24. The collet clamp 30 is configured to compress
against the support base tube 24 received in the opening 34 when
the tapered cylindrical surface 32 is pressed into the bearing
plate tube 26.
[0015] In use, the support base 22 is positioned on a generally
horizontal surface and the support base tube 24 is received or
positioned within the opening 34 in the collet clamp. The tapered
cylindrical portion 32 of the collet clamp 30 is then inserted into
or received within the open end of the bearing support tube 26,
upon which the collet clamp 30 is gradually moved into the open end
of the bearing support tube 26 until the collet clamp 30 has
frictionally engaged the support base tube 24. The displacement of
the tapered portion 32 of the collet clamp 30 within the bearing
support tube 26 provides a sufficient amount of compression of the
collet 30 against the support base tube 24. This sufficient amount
of compression of the collet opening 34 frictionally grips the
support base tube 24 to effectively clamp the support base tube 24
relative to the bearing plate tube 26. Thus, the support collet
column assembly 20 may be placed on a horizontal surface and
assembled in place to provide a support means for a roof or other
structure spaced above the horizontal surface.
[0016] One embodiment of a collet clamp 30 is provided having a
tapered cylindrical portion 32 and an opening 34 therein adapted to
receive a tube 24 of a support base 22, the tapered cylindrical
portion 32 being adapted to be received within an open end of a
bearing plate tube 26, wherein the collet clamp 30 is configured to
be compressed against a support base tube 24 received in the
opening 34 when the tapered cylindrical portion 32 is pressed into
the bearing plate tube 26 to effectively clamp the support base
tube 24 relative to the bearing plate tube 26. Various embodiments
of a collet clamp 30 may be configured for use with any number of
different tube diameters, and may be used with any support base 22
or bearing plate assembly 28 comprising corresponding support
tubes. The tapered portion 32 of the collet clamp 30 is configured
to closely fit within the opening in the end of the bearing plate
tube 26, such that the taper of the collet interferes with the
inside diameter of the tube 26 when the collet clamp 30 is
compressed.
[0017] In some embodiments, the collet clamp 30 further comprises
at least two slots 36 extending longitudinally from the end of the
collet clamp adapted to receive the support base tube 24. In other
embodiments, the at least two slots 36 may alternatively extend
longitudinally from the opposite end of the collet. As the tapered
cylindrical portion 32 of the collet clamp 30 is gradually driven
further into the end of a support tube opening, the slots 36 allow
the ends of the collet to deflect and the opening through the
tapered cylindrical portion 32 to be reduced. The collet opening 34
when compressed frictionally grips against a support tube 24 that
is received within the opening of the collet clamp 30. Thus, the
collet clamp 30 may be used to clamp any support column tube
relative to a corresponding support column tube to allow for
assembling the tubes to provide a support column for supporting a
roof or other structure.
[0018] In another embodiment of a collet clamp 30 shown in FIG. 3,
the collet clamp 30 has a tapered cylindrical portion 32 and an
opening 34 therein adapted to receive a tube 24 of a support base
22, the tapered cylindrical portion 32 being adapted to be received
within a bearing plate tube 26. The collet clamp 30 is configured
to be compressed against a support base tube 24 received in the
opening 34 when the tapered cylindrical portion 32 is pressed into
the bearing plate tube 26 to effectively clamp the support base
tube 24 relative to the bearing plate tube 26. The tapered
cylindrical portion 32 has a length in the range of about 4 to 6
inches, and has a taper angle in the range of about 0.5 degrees to
about 5 degrees. The collet clamp 30 further comprises at least two
slots 36 extending longitudinally from the end of the collet 30
that is adapted to receive the support base tube 24, where the
slots 36 have a length 40 that at least corresponds to the length
of the tapered cylinder portion 34. The collet clamp 30 of this
embodiment further comprising a shoulder 38 on the end of the
collet clamp 30 adapted to receive or abut one end of the support
base tube 24. This shoulder 38 also provides a surface for applying
a force against, for driving or pressing the tapered cylindrical
portion 34 of the collet clamp 30 into the open end of a bearing
support tube 26.
[0019] In a second embodiment of a support column collet assembly,
an adjustable support column assembly 20 is provided that comprises
a base 22 having a tube 24 extending perpendicularly from the base
22, a bearing plate 28 having a tube 26 extending perpendicularly
from the bearing plate 28, and a collet clamp 30. The collet clamp
30 has a tapered cylindrical portion 32 at one end that is adapted
to be received within the bearing plate tube 26, and also has an
opening therein for adjustably receiving the end of the base tube
24. The collet clamp 30 further comprises at least two slots 36
extending longitudinally from the end of the collet adapted to
receive the base tube 24, wherein the inside diameter of the collet
clamp 30 is configured to compress against the base tube 24
received in the opening 34 when the tapered cylindrical surface 32
is pressed into the bearing plate tube 26, to effectively clamp the
base tube 24 relative to the bearing plate tube 26. The adjustable
support column 20 is configured such that the base tube 24 may be
adjustably positioned within the opening 34 of the collet clamp 30
to adjust the height of the support column 20 as necessary to fit
the height of the roof or structure to be supported. In this
embodiment, the tapered cylindrical portion 32 of the collet clamp
30 has a length in the range of about 4 to 6 inches, and a taper
angle in the range of about 0.5 degrees to about 5 degrees. The
collet clamp 30 preferably comprises two slots 36 extending
longitudinally from the end of the collet clamp 30 that is adapted
to receive the base tube 24, each slot of which has a length 40
that at least corresponds to the length of the tapered cylinder
portion 32. The collet clamp 30 further comprises a shoulder 38 on
the end of the collet clamp 38 adapted to receive the base tube 24,
and the collet 30 is preferably made of steel or a steel alloy.
Likewise, the base tube 24 and bearing plate tube 26 are also
preferably made of steel or a steel alloy.
[0020] In a third embodiment a support column collet assembly shown
in FIG. 4, a modified collet assembly 20'' is shown in which the
first support tube 26 has an open end 29, and a cylindrical clamp
40 having a tapered opening 42 therein is disposed over the first
support tube 26. A locking collet or wedge 30 having a tapered end
portion 32 and an opening 34 therein is placed over a second
support tube 24, which is then inserted in the opening at the end
29 of the first support tube 26. The second support tube 24 is
slidably disposed within the first support tube 26 such that the
second support tube may be positioned relative to the first support
tube to provide for adjusting the height of the support column
assembly. The tapered end 32 of the locking collet or wedge 30 is
then slid into position between the opening in the end 29 of the
first support tube 26 and the second support tube 24 as shown in
FIG. 4. The collet or wedge 30 is then driven between the second
support tube 24 and the first support tube 26, during which the end
29 of the first support tube 26 becomes flared. The cylindrical
clamp 40 is then driven onto the flared end 29 of the first support
tube 26, which compresses the flared end 29 and the locking collet
or wedge 30 onto the second support tube 24. As the cylindrical
clamp 40 is gradually driven onto the flared end 29, the first
support tube 26 and the locking collet wedge 32 frictionally grip
the first support tube 24 to effectively clamp the first support
tube 26 relative to the second support tube 24. Thus, the third
embodiment of a vertical support column assembly 20'' may be placed
on a horizontal surface and assembled in place to provide a support
means for a roof or other structure.
[0021] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in
nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of
the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the
spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *