Suspending equipment

Abstract

Means for suspending equipment ( 21 ) from an overhead structural member ( 16 ) comprises a suspension strand ( 10 ), e.g. a length of wire rope, with a nipple ( 11 ) at one end, a toggle plate ( 12 ) with an aperture ( 13 ) through which the strand can pass but not the nipple, together with a locking device ( 18 ) having twin bores ( 17 A, 17 B) associated with wedging means ( 19 A, 19 B), the toggle plate ( 12 ) and nipple ( 11 ) being pushed through a hole ( 15 or 34 ) in the overhead structural member ( 16 ) or the equipment ( 21 ), for the toggle plate to overlie or underlie the hole, while the free end ( 14 ) of the strand ( 10 ) is passed through one bore ( 17 A) of the locking device ( 18 ), through an eye ( 20 ) on the equipment ( 21 ) or round the equipment or through an eye ( 35 ) on the overhead structural member ( 16 ) or round the overhead structural member, and finally through the other bore ( 17 B) of the locking device ( 18 ).

1 - 17 . (Canceled).  
     
     
         18 . Means for suspending equipment ( 21 ) from an overhead structural member ( 16 ) comprising a suspension strand ( 10 ) and a locking device ( 18 ) having twin bores ( 17 A,  17 B) at least one of which is associated with wedging means ( 19 A or  19 B) preventing withdrawal of the free end ( 14 ) of the suspension strand ( 10 ) in the opposite direction to insertion, characterized in that there is provided a nipple ( 11 ) at one end of the suspension strand, a toggle plate ( 12 ) having a length appreciably greater than its width, an aperture ( 13 ) in the toggle plate elongate in the lengthwise direction of the toggle plate but of a width preventing passing of the nipple through the aperture, the free end ( 14 ) of the suspension strand ( 10 ) being able to pass through the aperture ( 13 ) until the toggle plate ( 12 ) abuts or lies captive adjacent the nipple ( 11 ).  
     
     
         19 . Equipment suspending means as in  claim 18 , characterized in that the suspension strand ( 10 ) is a length of wire or wire rope.  
     
     
         20 . Equipment suspending means as in  claim 18  characterized in that the nipple ( 11 ) is formed by a separate member with a hole ( 22 ) in which the end of the strand ( 10 ) is secured by swaging the whole or part of the separate member.  
     
     
         21 . Equipment suspending means as in  claim 20 , characterized in that the separate member is formed with an enlarged formation ( 23 ) to abut a substantial area of the toggle plate ( 12 ) on each side of the aperture ( 13 ).  
     
     
         22 . Equipment suspending means as in  claim 18 , characterized in that each bore ( 17 A,  17 B) of the locking device ( 18 ) is associated with wedging means ( 19 A,  19 B), so that the locking device ( 18 ) can be used either way up.  
     
     
         23 . A method of suspending equipment ( 21 ) from an overhead structural member ( 16 ) using means as in  claim 18 , characterized in that a hole ( 15 ) is provided through the overhead member ( 16 ), the toggle plate ( 12 ) is angled into close lengthwise alignment with the suspension strand ( 10 ) adjacent the nipple ( 11 ), the toggle plate ( 12 ) is passed with the nipple ( 11 ) through the hole ( 15 ) in the overhead member ( 16 ), and the toggle plate ( 12 ) is realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspension strand ( 10 ) and bridging the topside of the hole ( 15 ), whereafter the free end ( 14 ) of the strand ( 10 ) is passed through one bore ( 17 A) of the locking device ( 18 ), then through an eye ( 20 ) provided on the equipment ( 21 ) or passed round the equipment, and through the other bore ( 17 B) of the locking device ( 18 ) wherein the strand ( 10 ) is secured by the wedging means ( 19 B).  
     
     
         24 . A method of suspending equipment ( 21 ) from an overhead structural member ( 16 ) using means as in  claim 18 , characterized in that a hole ( 34 ) is provided in the equipment ( 21 ) to be suspended, the angled toggle plate ( 12 ) is passed with the nipple ( 13 ) through the hole ( 34 ) and realigned predominantly perpendicularly to the suspension strand ( 10 ) and bridging the underside of the hole ( 34 ), whereafter the free end ( 14 ) of the strand ( 10 ) is passed through one bore ( 17 A) of the locking device ( 18 ), then through an eye ( 35 ) provided on the overhead structural member ( 16 ) or passed over the member, and through the other bore ( 17 B) of the locking device ( 18 ) wherein the strand ( 10 ) is secured by the wedging means ( 19 B).  
     
     
         25 . An equipment suspending method as in  claim 23  or  claim 24 , characterized in that the level at which the equipment ( 21 ) is suspended is adjusted upwards by pulling the locking device ( 18 ) upwards or downwards, as the case may be.  
     
     
         26 . An equipment suspending method as in  claim 23  or  24 , characterized in that the level at which the equipment ( 21 ) is suspended is adjusted upwards by pulling the free end ( 14 ) of the suspension strand ( 10 ) further through the locking device ( 18 ).  
     
     
         27 . A method as in  claim 23 , characterized in that temporary release means ( 32 A,  32 B) is provided for the wedging means ( 19 A,  19 B) of the locking device ( 18 ) to enable the level at which the equipment ( 21 ) is suspended to be adjusted downwards.  
     
     
         28 . A method as in  claim 23 , with the suspension strand ( 10 ) passing round the equipment ( 21 ), characterized in that plastics sleeving ( 33 ) is slipped over part of the suspension strand ( 10 ) otherwise expected to contact the equipment.  
     
     
         29 . An equipment suspension kit characterized by a suspension strand ( 10 ) with a nipple, ( 11 ) a toggle plate ( 12 ) with an aperture ( 13 ), and a locking device ( 18 ) as in  claim 18 , together with plastics sleeving ( 33 ) for slipping over part of the suspension strand ( 10 ) expected to contact the equipment ( 21 ) to be suspended.  
     
     
         30 - 34 . (Canceled)