subject: The Provision Of A Clevis Hanger [print this page] Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of a clevis hanger which has an alignment feature for simple alignment and assembly of lower and upper hanger members of the clevis hanger; the provision of a clevis hanger which includes a stop for limiting rotation of the lower hanger member to allow for easy insertion of a conduit through the hanger; the provision of a clevis hanger which has a ridge on an inside surface of the lower hanger member for supporting the conduit to prevent damage to the conduit by an outer edge of the lower hanger member, reduce the contact surface area between the conduit and lower hanger member to facilitate insertion of the conduit through the clevis hanger, and prevent build-up of condensation between the conduit and lower hanger member; and the provision of a clevis hanger which is economical to manufacture.
In general, a clevis hanger of the present invention is used for supporting conduit and comprises a lower U-shaped member having a pair of generally parallel arms, each having an upper end, and an upper hanger member having a pair of spaced-apart arms depending generally downward therefrom. Each arm of the upper hanger member has an upper portion, a lower portion and a lower end. The lower portions of the two arms of the upper hanger member are horizontally spaced apart such that the lower portions are located adjacent the arms of the lower hanger member. Each of the arms of the lower hanger member and each of the lower portions of the arms of the upper hanger member has an opening therein. The openings are in generally horizontal alignment with one another when the upper and lower hanger members are connected. An elongate fastener is adapted to be inserted through the aligned openings to connect the upper and lower hanger members. The clevis hanger further includes alignment means for limiting the upward movement of the lower hanger member relative to the upper hanger member to align the openings in the arms of the upper and lower hanger members to facilitate insertion of the fastener through the openings.
In another aspect of the invention, a clevis hanger comprises a U-shaped lower hanger member having an arcuate bottom and a pair of generally parallel arms extending upwardly from the bottom and an upper hanger member having a pair of arms depending generally downward therefrom. Each arm of the upper hanger member has a lower portion. The lower portions of the two arms of the upper hanger member are spaced apart such that the lower portions are located adjacent the arms of the lower hanger member. Each of the arms of the lower hanger member and each of the lower portions of the arms of the upper hanger member has an opening therein. The openings are in generally horizontal alignment with one another when the upper and lower hanger members are connected. An elongate fastener extends through the openings for connecting the upper and lower hanger members. The arcuate bottom of the lower hanger member has, as viewed in transverse cross section, a central portion and two side margins extending laterally outwardly from the central portion such that the central portion forms a ridge on an inner surface of the arcuate bottom. The side margins are depressed relative to the central portion.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a clevis hanger comprises a lower U-shaped member having a pair of generally parallel arms, each arm having an upper end, and an upper hanger member having a pair of spaced-apart arms depending generally downward therefrom. Each arm of the upper hanger member has an upper portion, a lower portion and a lower end. The lower portions of the two arms of the upper hanger member are horizontally spaced apart such that the lower portions are located adjacent the arms of the lower hanger member. Each of the arms of the lower hanger member and each of the lower portions of the arms of the upper hanger member has an opening therein. The openings are in generally horizontal alignment with one another when the upper and lower hanger members are connected. An elongate fastener is adapted to be inserted through the aligned openings to connect the upper and lower hanger members. The clevis hanger further includes means for limiting rotation of the lower hanger member relative to the upper hanger member. The clevis hanger is configured such that when the fastener is inserted into the aligned openings, the means for limiting rotation permits the lower hanger member to swing freely on the fastener through an arc of predetermined length, but limits swinging of the lower hanger member beyond the arc.
The clevis hanger 90 is configured such that when the fastener 38 is inserted into the aligned openings 98, the lower ends 100 of the upper hanger member 104 are spaced sufficiently above the stops 92 to permit the lower hanger member 96 to swing freely through an arc of predetermined magnitude, but sufficiently close to the stops so that the lower ends of the arms of the upper hanger member are engageable with the stops to limit swinging of the lower hanger member beyond the arc.
To assemble the clevis hanger 10 and install the conduit 12, the lower hanger member 14 may be connected to the upper hanger member 16 with the conduit in place or the lower and upper hanger members may be first assembled and the conduit fed through the clevis hanger. In the first method, an upper end of the support rod is connected to the ceiling and the upper hanger member 16 is connected to a lower end of the support rod. The lower hanger member 14 is then fitted around the conduit 12, and the conduit and lower hanger member are lifted up toward the upper hanger member 16 until the upper ends 48 of the arms 20 of the lower hanger member 14 contact the stops 30 on the upper hanger member 16. The fastener 38 is then inserted through the horizontally aligned openings 36 in the arms 20, 24 of the lower and upper hanger members 14, 16.
In the second method of assembly and installation, the lower hanger member 14 and upper hanger member 16 of the clevis hanger 10 are first assembled as described above. The clevis hanger assembly 10 is then connected to the lower end of the support rod. The conduit 12 is fed through the opening 50 in the clevis hanger 10 to a position on the central portion 60 of the arcuate bottom 18 of the lower hanger member 14.
