Assembled beam clamp

Abstract

A beam clamp (1) for mounting an object to a flange of a structural beam comprises an assembly of a pair of lateral plates (2) and a plurality of spacers (3A,3B), as well as a threaded male fastener (4). The spacers (3A,3B) are located between the lateral plates (2) whereby the lateral plates (2) are spaced apart and are each fixed to the spacers (3A,3B) to interconnect the lateral plates (2). Each lateral plate (2) of said pair of lateral plates (2) comprises a main body (21) as well as a first leg (22) protruding from the main body (21) and a second leg (23) spaced apart from the first leg (22), wherein the main body (21), the first leg (22) and the second leg (23) of the lateral plate (2) define a contour of a receiving space that is open for insertion of a flange of the structural beam. At least a first spacer (3B) of the plurality of spacers (3A,3B) is arranged between the main bodies (21) of the pair of lateral plates (2) and wherein at least a second spacer (3A) of the plurality of spacers (3A,3B) is arranged between the second legs (23). The first spacer (3B) has a bore and the second spacer (3A) has a threaded bore adapted to cooperate with the threaded male fastener (4).

Description

P36532PC00 / CHO Title: Assembled beam clamp The invention relates to a beam clamp for mounting an object to a flange of a structural beam, such as an I-beam. These beam clamps are mounted on (heavy) construction profiles, to provide a means tosuspend e.g. threaded rods from the profiles without drilling or welding. Generally, there are two basic embodiments of these products depending on the material they are made of and on the production process. One basic embodiment is made of cast iron. An Example of such a beam clamp is shown in US D583.640 S1. Another basic embodiment is made of steel, bent on a press. An example of such a beam clamp is shown in US 2013 / 214098 A. There is also known a special beam clamp variant, to be used in combination with Holland Profile or “Bulb profile” in shipbuilding. These are also known as “Maritime Clamps”. There are thus many types of beam clamps and each type has several sizes for different profiles or flange thicknesses, so each product requires separate bending tools or a bespoke mould. Therefore, production can be relatively expensive, especially for beam clamp types that are produced in small quantities.In addition, the strength of these products is also very important. Cast products are thick andstrong but the fire resistance is questionable. Press-bent products are thinner and weaker, but their fire resistance is proven. US 2006 / 214073 aims to provide a cheap and reliable alternative for cast beam clamp types, e.g. such that a bespoke mould is not required. To this end it discloses several embodiments of beam clamps that are assembled with spacer blocks that are arranged between and attached to legs of a main plate or to set(s) of side plates. Most spacer blocks in these embodiments have an opening, or a threaded opening for cooperating with a threaded male fastener. A beam clamp in a first embodiment has a U-shaped plate and spacer blocks arranged between the legs of the U-shaped plate. The spacer blocks are attached to the U-shaped plate by means of pin rivets. In some other embodiments a laminated spacer block having a series of vertically oriented plate laminates is arranged between two (sets of) side plates. This laminated spacer block does not have a (threaded) opening. The laminates are unitized and held to the side plates by rivet pins or fasteners. In some embodiments spacer blocks are used which are provided with special projections - which are received in openings in side plates having bent legs – and / or with wings that are received in notches on the top edges of the side plates. Disadvantageously, each of the beam clamps disclosed in US 2006 / 214073 requires specially made components and / or dedicated equipment to manufacture said components: e.g. manufacturing the U-shaped plate, manufacturing of the series of laminations that are formed into a laminated spacer block, making the protrusions and / or the wings of the spacer blocks. Even the simplest spacer blocks that are disclosed require further machining. Therefore the beam clamps of US 2006 / 214073 require a relatively complex and costly manufacturing. The present invention has for an object to produce a range of beam clamps in an easy and cost-effective way. This object is achieved by a beam clamp for mounting an object to a flange of a structural beam, such as an I-beam, said beam clamp comprising:an assembly of a pair of lateral plates and a plurality of spacers,a threaded male fastener,wherein:the spacers are located between the lateral plates whereby the lateral plates are spaced apart and are each fixed to the spacers to interconnect the lateral plates,each lateral plate of said pair of lateral plates comprises a main body as well as a first leg protruding from the main body and a second leg spaced apart from the first leg, wherein the main body, the first leg and the second leg of the lateral plate define a contour of a receiving space that is open for insertion of a flange of the structural beam,at least a first spacer of the plurality of spacers is arranged between the main bodies of the pair of lateral plates and wherein at least a second spacer of the plurality of spacers is arranged between the second legs,the first spacer has a bore, andthe second spacer has a threaded bore adapted to cooperate with the threaded male fastener,wherein the first spacer (3B; 3B’) and second spacer (3A) are standard hexagonal nuts (3), wherein the first spacer (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) and second spacer (3A) are welded to the lateral plates (2). The beam clamp according to the invention allows for manufacturing beam clamps by manufacturing or providing components common to a plurality of embodiments of beam clamps, which common components can be assembled in varying configurations to form different embodiments of beam clamps. Standard parts can be selected as components and assembled. Standard manufacturing processes can be used to make, at least some of the components and assemble them into beam clamps; there is no dedicated equipment required for manufacturing the beam clamps according to the invention. Thus the beam clamp assemblies allow to make the various types of beam clamps in a cost-effective manner. The beam clamp assembly according to the invention advantageously does not require to make “customized” spacers or “customized” (interconnection with the) lateral plates since standard hexagonal nuts are welded to the lateral plates. Welding the standard hexagonal nuts allows for an improved simplicity in the manufacturing process, whilst being most cost-effective. Threaded standard hexagonal nuts can be obtained in a wide range in the market. The bore in each of the nuts is provided with an inner thread of course. In a practical embodiment, the plurality of standard hexagonal nuts are all the same size. The beam clamp according to the invention is manufactured by the following steps: a metal sheet is provided and lateral plates are cut from the metal sheet. Each lateral plate comprises a main body as well as a first leg protruding from the main body and a second leg spaced apart from the first leg. The main body, the first leg and the second leg of the lateral plate define a contour of a receiving space that is open for insertion of a flange of a structural beam. A plurality of spacers, having a bore, is provided. The spacers and a pair of the lateral plates are assembled, wherein the spacers are arranged between the lateral plates and are each attached - welded - to the lateral plates to interconnect the lateral plates. In an embodiment the plurality of spacers is a pair of spacers. In another embodiment the plurality of spacers are three spacers. The bore in the spacers may have an inner thread or may have a smooth inner surface, i.e. without a thread. In some embodiments of the beam clamp, the bore in one or more spacers has a smooth inner surface and in one or more other spacers of the same clamp has an inner thread. In other embodiments of the beam clamp, the bores of the spacers may all have a smooth inner surface. In yet other embodiments of the beam clamp, the bores of the spacers may all be threaded.In an embodiment a third spacer is arranged between the plates at the first legs or the transition between the first legs and the main body, which third spacer has a bore. This embodiment is more universal in use. The third spacer can be used instead of the first spacer to suspend another component from, should the specific use and orientation of the clamp require so. In an embodiment the lateral plates are provided with welding openings at the location where the spacers are arranged, in which welding openings a weld or plug weld is provided by which the spacer is fixed to the respective lateral plate. In an embodiment the threaded bore in the second spacer has a center axis which is directed towards a space between the first legs. This second spacer, which may be a standard threaded nut is combined with a threaded male fastener, for example a threaded bolt, to cooperate with the nut, whereby the flange of the structural beam is clamped between the bolt tip and the first legs of the respective lateral plates to hold the beam clamp tightly fixed on said flange. In an embodiment the bore in the first spacer has a center axis which extends perpendicular to the center axis of the bore in the second spacer. This embodiment is particularly suitable for mounting on a Holland profile, wherein the main bodies of the lateral plates perpendicularly cross the web of the Holland Profile underneath the bulb of the profile. In this embodiment the first legs extend preferably under an angle of less than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body, preferably within a range of 30°-60° whereby the first legs can be hooked around the flange or bulb of the profile. Alternatively the first leg can be formed with a hooking member that can hook over the flange or bulb of the profile. In such an embodiment the first leg may extend substantially perpendicular to the main body. In another embodiment the bore in the first spacer has a center axis which extends parallel to the center axis of the bore in the second spacer. This embodiment is particularly suitable for mounting a heavy structural beam having a horizontal plane flange, such as an I-beam. The flange will usually be oriented horizontally and the main body of the respective lateral plates of the beam clamp crosses the flange of the beam substantially perpendicularly and generally vertically. The center axis of the bore of the first spacer is in that event also oriented generally vertically. In an embodiment the bore of the third spacer has a center axis which extends parallel to the central axis of the threaded bore in the second spacer. This embodiment allows the beam clamp to be used as a clamp on a Holland Profile or a structural beam having a plane flange like an I-beam. In an embodiment the lateral plates are arranged parallel to each other. With parallel plates the same size of spacers can be combined with flat plates, which altogether is more cost-effective, because only one type of spacers, e.g. hexagonal nuts, has to be acquired and one lateral plate design has to be cut from the sheet metal. In an embodiment the lateral plates are flat. Flat lateral plates are easier to make than 3D bent plates and thus more cost-effective. The use of flat plates is particularly advantageous as it leads to a simplified manufacturing and assembly process, as the flat plates may be ready for assembly of the beam clamp – with the standard hexagonal nuts - immediately after being cut from the metal sheet provided. In an embodiment the lateral plates are identical. Using only one type of lateral plates requires also the manufacturing of one shape, which is more cost-effective. The invention also relates to a method according to claim 15. Preferred embodiments of the method are laid down in the dependent claims 16-19. It is noted that while the spacers and the lateral plates are currently attached by welding, it is also conceivable to, e.g. additionally, attach the spacers and the lateral plates to each other by other fixing methods, such as by applying an adhesive, or by using small screw connections. The invention also relates to a beam clamp for mounting an object to a flange of a structural beam, such as an I-beam, said beam clamp comprising:an assembly of a pair of lateral plates and a plurality of standard hexagonal nuts,a threaded male fastener adapted to cooperate with one of the plurality of hexagonal nuts,wherein:the hexagonal nuts are located between the lateral plates whereby the lateral plates are spaced apart and are each fixed to the hexagonal nuts to interconnect the lateral plates,each lateral plate of said pair of lateral plates comprises a main body as well as a first leg protruding from the main body and a second leg spaced apart from the first leg, wherein the main body, the first leg and the second leg of the lateral plate define a contour of a receiving space that is open for insertion of a flange of the structural beam,at least a first hexagonal nut of the plurality of hexagonal nuts is arranged between the main bodies of the pair of lateral plates and wherein at least a second hexagonal nut of the plurality of hexagonal nuts is arranged between the second legs, the first and second hexagonal nut being welded to the lateral plates.  The invention will be further elucidated in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows in an isometric view a lateral plate of a beam clamp according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows in an isometric view a nut used as a spacer in a beam clamp according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows in an isometric view an embodiment of a beam clamp according to the invention, Fig. 4 shows in an isometric view another embodiment of a beam clamp according to the invention, Fig. 5 shows in an isometric view yet another embodiment of a beam clamp according to the invention, Fig. 6 shows an isometric view of the beam clamp of Fig. 3 mounted on a flange of an I-beam, Fig. 7 shows another isometric view of the beam clamp of Fig 6, Fig. 8 shows an isometric view of the beam clamp of Fig. 4 mounted on a “Holland Profile”, Fig. 9 shows another isometric view of the beam clamp of Fig. 8, Fig. 10 shows an isometric view of another embodiment of a beam clamp according to the invention mounted on a flange of an I-beam, Fig. 11 shows an isometric view of a seismic fixing on the flange of an I-beam of two beam clamps according to another embodiment, and Fig. 12 shows another isometric view of the seismic fixing of Fig. 11. In Fig. 3 is shown a beam clamp 1. The beam clamp 1 comprises two identical lateral plates 2 which are spaced apart by intermediate nuts 3A and 3B which are arranged between the lateral plates 2 and function as a spacer. The nuts 3A and 3B can be standard hexagonal nuts 3 of which an example is shown separately in Fig. 2. However, in other embodiments also other nuts, for example square nuts can be used as spacers. In Fig. 1 a lateral plate 2 of the beam clamp is shown separately. The lateral plate 2 is cut from a flat sheet of metal, preferably by laser cutting. Also another cutting process may be used. Also a punching process to punch the contour of the lateral plate out of a metal plate is possible. The sheet metal may be a steel plate. The lateral plate 2 is thus a one-piece component including a main body 21 as well as a first leg 22 protruding from the main body 21 and a second leg 23 spaced apart from the first leg 22. In this embodiment the lateral plate 2 is a flat part, wherein the main body 21, the first leg 22 and the second leg 23 lie in a common flat plane. The main body 21, the first leg 22 and the second leg 23 of the plate 2 define a contour of a receiving space 24 that has an opening 25 for insertion of a flange of a structural beam, such as an I-beam. The first leg 22 extends at an angle of less than 90° with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body 21. The second leg 23 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body. In the main body 21 in the second leg and at the transition area between the first leg 22 and the main body 21 are provided respective cutouts 26, 27 and 28. The cutouts are preferably provided by laser cutting. However, the cutouts can also be cut in another way or punched out of the plate material. The cutouts 26, 27 and 28 have in this embodiment the form of a slotted hole, but may also have a circular shape or another suitable shape. The cutouts 26, 27 and 28 can be used for welding the nuts 3 to the plate 2. The nuts 3 are welded to the cut lateral plates 2 by welding at least along the edge of the cutout. The provided cutouts 26, 27, 28 are filled at least partially with welding filler material, if a nut 3 is positioned at the cutout 26, 27 or 28. The welding material is not shown in the figures for clarity. The provision of three cutouts 26, 27, 28 in the lateral plates 2 allows to assemble different embodiments of the beam clamp as illustrated by the figures 3-5. In the embodiment of Fig. 3 the beam clamp 1 has lateral plates 2 which are interconnected and spaced apart by two nuts. One nut 3A is arranged at cutouts 27 at the second legs 23 of the lateral plates 2. The other nut 3B is arranged at the cutouts 28 provided in the main bodies 21 of the lateral plates 2. The nuts 3A and 3B each have a threaded bore 31 with a central axis 32 (cf. Fig. 2). The two nuts 3A and 3B are oriented such that the central axes 32 of the nuts 3A and 3B are parallel to each other. At the cutout 28 no nut is arranged. The beam clamp of Fig. 3 is adapted to be mounted to a flange 601 of a structural beam 6, in this case as an example an I-beam, as is shown in Figs 6 and 7. The clamp 1 is arranged such on the beam flange 601 that the beam flange 601 is received in the space 24 of the respective side plates 2 of the clamp 1. A threaded bolt 4 is screwed in the nut 3A that is arranged at the second legs 23 of the side plates 2. The tip of the bolt shaft 401 of the bolt 4 engages the flange 601 on one side and by tightening the bolt 4, the first legs are 22 of the plates 2 of clamp 1 are clamped against the opposite side of the flange 601. A threaded rod 5 is screwed in the nut 3B that is located between the main bodies 21 of the lateral plates 2. From this threaded rod 5 other components, such as for example pipe clips, can be suspended. Instead of this nut 3B there could be applied another spacer between the main bodies 21, wherein the spacer has a bore, not necessarily a threaded bore, from which a suspension element, such as a rod or wire can be suspended. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 the first leg 22 extends at an angle of less than 90°, for example within a range of 30° to 60°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the main body 21, whereby the first leg 22 engages the flange with an end portion. Within the scope of the invention there are however embodiments conceivable, which are not shown in the figures, wherein the first leg 22 extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the main body 21. In such an embodiment the entire inwardly facing edge of the leg 22 can engage the flange 601. In the embodiment of Fig. 4 a beam clamp 101 has lateral plates 2 which are interconnected by two nuts 3A and 3B’. The nut 3A is arranged at cutouts 27 at the second legs 23 of the lateral plates 2. The other nut 3B’ is arranged at the cutouts 26 provided in the main bodies 21 of the lateral plates 2. Compared to the nut 3B in Fig. 3 however, the nut 3B’ is rotated 90°. The nuts 3A and 3B’ each have a threaded bore 31 with a central axis 32 (cf. Fig. 2), wherein the two nuts 3A and 3B’ are oriented such that the central axes 32 of the nuts 3A and 3B’ are perpendicular to each other. In particular the nut 3B’ arranged at the cutouts 26 in the main bodies is oriented such that the central axis 32 extends towards the openings 25, whereas the nut 3A arranged at the cutouts 27 in the second legs 23 extends towards the first legs 22. At the cutout 28 no nut is arranged. The clamp 101 is adapted to be mounted on a so called “Holland Profile” or “bulb profile”, which profile is used in shipbuilding. This is shown in Figs 8 and 9. The Holland Profile 7 has a sort of bulb shaped flange 701 at the end. The legs 22 hook around the bulb 701 of the profile 7. A threaded fastener, in this case a bolt 4 is screwed in the nut 3 at the second legs 23. The tip of the bolt shaft of the bolt 4 engages the web of the profile, and tightens the legs 22 to the other side of the web and maintains the legs hooked around the bulb 701. The inclination of the first legs 22, which have an angle less than 90°, preferably between 30° and 60° with respect to the main body 21 of the lateral plates 2, allows that said legs 22 can be hooked around the bulb 701 of the profile 7. It is conceivable though that in alternative embodiment the first leg extends mainly perpendicular to the main body, and that at an end of the leg a hooking protrusion is formed which extends from the first leg in the direction of the second leg. This protrusion can then be hooked around a flange or bulb of the beam or profile. The nut 3 at the main bodies 21 of the lateral plates 2 has in this mounted state a centre axis which extends vertically. In this nut 3, which preferably has a threaded bore, a threaded rod 5 can be screwed. From this threaded rod 5 other components, such as for example pipe clips, can be suspended. In another embodiment shown in Fig. 5 a beam clamp 201 has lateral plates 2 which are interconnected by three nuts 3A, 3B’and 3C. At each of the cutouts 26, 27, 28 a nut 3 is arranged. The nut 3A at the cutouts 27 and the nut 3C at the cutout 28 are oriented such that their centre axes 32 are parallel. The nut 3B’ between the main bodies 21 is oriented such that the centre axis 32 thereof extends perpendicular to the center axes of the other two nuts 3A and 3C. This particular embodiment is universally applicable in the sense that it can be mounted on the flange of an I-beam or other structural beam comparable to what is shown in Figs 6 and 7 and it can be mounted on a “Holland Profile” as is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The difference with the embodiment in Figs 6 and 7 is that the threaded rod 5 is screwed in the nut 3C (cf. Fig. 5) instead of in nut 3B (cf. Fig. 7). It is to be noted that the three embodiments of the beam clamp shown respectively in Figs 3, 4 and 5, are assembled from two components being the lateral plate 2 shown in Fig. 1 and the nut 3 shown in Fig. 2, which are the same for the whole range of embodiments. By varying the orientation and the number of nuts 3 the different embodiments can be manufactured in a cost-effective manner. In Fig. 10 another embodiment of the beam clamp is shown. This beam clamp 301 has a first spacer 3B’’ which is an elongate tubular member having a bore with a smooth inner surface, i.e. without an inner thread. The clamp 301 furthermore has a second spacer 3A which is embodied as a nut with a threaded bore. The bores of the first spacer 3B’’ and the second spacer 3A have mutually parallel central axes. Like the embodiment shown in Figs 6 and 7, a bolt 4 cooperates with the second spacer 3A to tighten the clamp 301 on the flange 601 of the structural beam 6. The first spacer 3B’’ in this embodiment extends towards the end of the respective main bodies 21 at the respective second legs 23 of the lateral plates 2. Thereby, if a threaded rod 5 extends through the bore in the first spacer 3B’’, and thus extends substantially vertically, a loose nut 8, which cooperates with the threaded rod 5, can rest on top of the first spacer 3B’’ as is shown in Fig. 10. This can advantageously be used to adjust the length of the rod 5 extending below flange 601 of the beam 6, and thereby to adjust the height of a component suspended from the lower end of the threaded rod 5. For example the position of a pipe clip or pipe hanger which is already arranged around a pipe, and which is mounted to the lower end of the threaded rod 5 can be adjusted in height by rotating the loose nut 8, which is readily accessible with a spanner or other suitable tool on the top side of the beam clamp 301. Figs. 11 and 12 show another embodiment of a beam clamp. In the Figs. 11 and 12 is illustrated how two of the same beam clamps 801 are mounted on a flange 601 of an I-beam in a so called “seismic fixing”. The beam clamp 801 has a first spacer 3B’’’ which is a member having a bore with a smooth inner surface, i.e. without an inner thread. The clamp 801 furthermore has a second spacer 3A which is embodied as a nut with a threaded bore. The bores of the first spacer 3B’’’ and the second spacer 3A have mutually perpendicular central axes. This embodiment of the beam clamp is like the embodiment in Fig. 4, with the difference that the first spacer 3B’ in Fig. 4 has a threaded bore, while the first spacer 3B’’’ in the clamp 801 shown in Figs 11 and 12 has a bore without an inner thread. Like the embodiment shown in Figs 6 and 7, a bolt 4 cooperates with the second spacer 3A to tighten the clamp 801 on the flange 601 of the structural beam 6. In the seismic fixing two beam clamps 801 are positioned on opposite sides of the flange 601 of the I-beam 6. The beam clamps 801 are tightened on the flange 601 in the usual way by a bolt 4, which is screwed in the second spacer 3A. The second spacer 3A is embodied as a threaded nut. Furthermore, a rod 9 having at least threaded portions at the rod ends, extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the beam 6, underneath the flange 601. The rod 9 extends through the bores of the respective first spacers 3B’’’. Nuts 10 are screwed on the ends of the threaded end portions of the rod 9. The nuts 10 are tightened such that the main bodies 21 of the respective beam clamps 801 are held tight against the lateral edge of the beam flange 601. The clamp 801 has the lower end a third spacer 3C arranged between the lateral plates 2 at the transition between the first legs 22 and the main body 21 (cf. Fig.12). The third spacer 3C has a threaded bore. The beam clamp 801 is similar to the beam clamp 201 shown in Fig. 5 with the difference that the first spacer 3B’ in Fig. 5 has a threaded bore, whereas in the embodiment of Figs. 11 and 12 the first spacer 3B’’’ has a non-threaded bore. A threaded rod 5 can be screwed in the third spacer 3C. From the threaded rods 5 a component can be suspended, e.g. a pipe hanger, pipe clip or mounting rail. This assembly provides a stable fixation of suspended components on a structural beam and improves the safety of the structure or building in the event of vibrations in the structure, e.g. due to seismic activity, for example during earthquakes. Within the scope of the present invention it is possible that more than one lateral plate design or size is made, and that more than on type or size of spacers (e.g. nuts) are used. In such a way more different beam clamps can be manufactured, but the cost-effectiveness due to the limited number of different parts and standard manufacturing and assembly processes remains. By using the method of production according to the invention, it becomes also relatively easy to vary the strength of the products. If beam clamps are produced by casting, a different mould has to be made. If beam clamps are manufactured by bending, different sets of tooling have to be made for different thicknesses of lateral plates 2. This is not necessary for products made according to the invention. The same universal equipment can be used. The invention may further be described by the following clauses.CLAUSES 1. Beam clamp (1, 101, 201) for mounting an object to a flange (601, 701) of a structural beam (6, 7), such as an I-beam, said beam clamp (1, 101, 201) comprising:an assembly of a pair of lateral plates (2) and a plurality of spacers (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C),a threaded male fastener (4),wherein:the spacers (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C) are located between the lateral plates (2) whereby the lateral plates (2) are spaced apart and are each fixed to the spacers (3) to interconnect the lateral plates (2),each lateral plate (2) of said pair of lateral plates comprises a main body (21) as well as a first leg (22) protruding from the main body (21) and a second leg (23) spaced apart from the first leg (22), wherein the main body (21), the first leg (22) and the second leg (23) of the lateral plate (2) define a contour of a receiving space (24) that is open for insertion of a flange (601; 701) of the structural beam,at least a first spacer (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) of the plurality of spacers is arranged between the main bodies (21) of the pair of lateral plates (2) and wherein at least a second spacer (3A) of the plurality of spacers is arranged between the second legs (23),the first spacer (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) has a bore (31),the second spacer (3A) has a threaded bore (31) adapted to cooperate with the threaded male fastener (4). 2. Beam clamp according to clause 1, wherein the plurality of spacers is a pair of spacers (3A, 3B; 3A, 3B’; 3A, 3B’’). 3. Beam clamp according to clause 1, wherein the plurality of spacers are three spacers (3A, 3B’, 3C; 3A, 3B’’’, 3C). 4. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the first spacers (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) and second spacers (3A) are welded to the lateral plates (2). 5. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the first spacers (3B; 3B’) and second spacers (3A) are nuts (3), preferably standard hexagonal nuts (3). 6. Beam clamp according to clause 3, wherein a third spacer (3C) is arranged between the plates at the first legs (22) or the transition between the first legs (22) and the main body (21), which third spacer (3C) has a bore (31). 7. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the lateral plates (2) are provided with welding openings (26, 27, 28) at the location where the spacers (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C) are arranged, in which welding openings a weld or plug weld is provided by which the spacer (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C) is fixed to the respective plate (2). 8. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the threaded bore (31) in the second spacer (3A) has a center axis (32) which is directed towards a space between the first legs (22). 9. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the bore (31) in the first spacer (3B’) has a center axis (32) which extends perpendicular to the center axis (32) of the bore (31) in the second spacer (3A). 10. Beam clamp according to any one of the clauses 1-8, wherein the bore (31) in the first spacer (3B, 3B’’) has a center axis (32) which extends parallel to the center axis (32) of the bore (31) in the second spacer (3A). 11. Beam clamp according to clause 6, wherein the bore (31) of the third spacer (3C) has a center axis (32) which extends parallel to the central axis (32) of the threaded bore (31) in the second spacer (3A). 12. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the lateral plates (2) are arranged parallel to each other. 13. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clauses, wherein the lateral plates (2) are flat. 14. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding clause, wherein the lateral plates (2) are identical. 15. Method for manufacturing a beam clamp (1, 101, 201), comprising the following steps:- provide a metal sheet and cut lateral plates (2) from the metal sheet, wherein each lateral plate (2) comprises a main body (21) as well as a first leg (22) protruding from the main body (21) and a second leg (23) spaced apart from the first leg (22), wherein the main body (21), the first leg (22) and the second leg (23) of the lateral plate (2) define a contour of a receiving space (24) that is open for insertion of a flange (601, 701) of a structural beam;- provide a plurality of spacers (3) having a bore (31);- assemble the spacers (3) and a pair of the lateral plates (2), wherein the spacers (3) are arranged between the lateral plates (2) and are each attached to the lateral plates (2) to interconnect the lateral plates (2). 16. Method according to clause 15, the lateral plates (2) and the spacers (3) are attached to each other by a welding process. 17. Method according to clause 16, wherein welding openings (26, 27, 28) are cut in the lateral plates (2), wherein the spacers (3) are each positioned at the plate (2) at one of the welding openings (26, 27, 28), and wherein the spacer (3) is welded to the lateral plate (2) in the welding hole (26, 27, 28). 18. Method according to clause 15, wherein the spacers (3) are attached to the lateral plates (2) by applying an adhesive. 19. Method according to clause 15, wherein the spacers (3) are attached to the lateral plates (2) by using screw connections 20. Method according to any of the clauses 15-18, wherein the spacers are nuts (3), preferably hexagonal nuts, having a threaded bore (31).   

Claims

1. Beam clamp (1, 101, 201) for mounting an object to a flange (601, 701) of a structural beam (6, 7), such as an I-beam, said beam clamp (1, 101, 201) comprising:an assembly of a pair of lateral plates (2) and a plurality of spacers (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C), a threaded male fastener (4),wherein: the spacers (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C) are located between the lateral plates (2) whereby the lateral plates (2) are spaced apart and are each fixed to the spacers (3) to interconnect the lateral plates (2), each lateral plate (2) of said pair of lateral plates comprises a main body (21) as well as a first leg (22) protruding from the main body (21) and a second leg (23) spaced apart from the first leg (22), wherein the main body (21), the first leg (22) and the second leg (23) of the lateral plate (2) define a contour of a receiving space (24) that is open for insertion of a flange (601; 701) of the structural beam,at least a first spacer (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) of the plurality of spacers is arranged between the main bodies (21) of the pair of lateral plates (2) and wherein at least a second spacer (3A) of the plurality of spacers is arranged between the second legs (23), the first spacer (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) has a bore (31),the second spacer (3A) has a threaded bore (31) adapted to cooperate with the threaded male fastener (4),characterised in that, the first spacer (3B; 3B’) and second spacer (3A) are standard hexagonal nuts (3), wherein the first spacer (3B; 3B’; 3B’’; 3B’’’) and second spacer (3A) are welded to the lateral plates (2).

2. Beam clamp according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers is a pair of spacers (3A, 3B; 3A, 3B’; 3A, 3B’’).

3. Beam clamp according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of spacers are three spacers (3A, 3B’, 3C; 3A, 3B’’’, 3C).

4. Beam clamp according to claim 3, wherein a third spacer (3C) is arranged between the plates at the first legs (22) or the transition between the first legs (22) and the main body (21), which third spacer (3C) has a bore (31).

5. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral plates (2) are provided with welding openings (26, 27, 28) at the location where the spacers (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C) are arranged, in which welding openings a weld or plug weld is provided by which the spacer (3A, 3B, 3B’, 3B’’, 3B’’’, 3C) is fixed to the respective plate (2).

6. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the threaded bore (31) in the second spacer (3A) has a center axis (32) which is directed towards a space between the first legs (22).

7. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the bore (31) in the first spacer (3B’) has a center axis (32) which extends perpendicular to the center axis (32) of the bore (31) in the second spacer (3A).

8. Beam clamp according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the bore (31) in the first spacer (3B, 3B’’) has a center axis (32) which extends parallel to the center axis (32) of the bore (31) in the second spacer (3A).

9. Beam clamp according to claim 6, wherein the bore (31) of the third spacer (3C) has a center axis (32) which extends parallel to the central axis (32) of the threaded bore (31) in the second spacer (3A).

10. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral plates (2) are arranged parallel to each other.

11. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral plates (2) are flat.

12. Beam clamp according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lateral plates (2) are identical.

13. Method for manufacturing a beam clamp (1, 101, 201), comprising the following steps: - provide a metal sheet and cut lateral plates (2) from the metal sheet, wherein each lateral plate (2) comprises a main body (21) as well as a first leg (22) protruding from the main body (21) and a second leg (23) spaced apart from the first leg (22), wherein the main body (21), the first leg (22) and the second leg (23) of the lateral plate (2) define a contour of a receiving space (24) that is open for insertion of a flange (601, 701) of a structural beam; - provide a plurality of spacers (3) having a bore (31), wherein the spacers are hexagonal nuts (3) having a threaded bore (31).; - assemble the spacers (3) and a pair of the lateral plates (2), wherein the spacers (3) are arranged between the lateral plates (2) and are each attached to the lateral plates (2) to interconnect the lateral plates (2), the lateral plates (2) and the spacers (3) are attached to each other by a welding process.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein welding openings (26, 27, 28) are cut in the lateral plates (2), wherein the spacers (3) are each positioned at the plate (2) at one of the welding openings (26, 27, 28), and wherein the spacer (3) is welded to the lateral plate (2) in the welding hole (26, 27, 28).  

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