ANCHOR HOLDER

Description

[0001] The present patent concerns anchor brackets for structures, and more specifically it concerns a new anchor bracket for anchoring silos and similar structures to the floor.

[0002] Structures such as silos and the like, hereinafter referred to as silos for the sake of simplicity, are anchored to reinforced concrete floors or foundations.

[0003] The anchoring of silos can be done by integrating part of the silo structure into the foundation.

[0004] More frequently, however, the cylindrical structure of the silo is anchored to the floor or foundation by means of brackets.

[0005] In practice, vertical threaded pins are secured in the foundation or floor along the lower edge of the silo. Brackets suited to fit onto said threaded pins are secured to the lower external edge of the silo. One or more threaded nuts hold each bracket, and consequently the silo, on each threaded pin and consequently on the foundation or floor.

[0006] At present, fastening brackets are made by joining together various portions of sheet metal in such a way as to obtain a generic box shape, the upper and lower sides of which have a hole or compartment intended to allow the passage of the threaded pin, while a vertical side is provided with holes or other elements for fastening the bracket itself to the silo.

[0007] Consequently, each bracket must be manufactured in a specific manner, by cutting or shaping each part of the metal sheet constituting each individual side, drilling or otherwise making the necessary openings in the specific sides and welding the sides together to form the box shape of the bracket.

[0008] These operations, in addition to the secondary ones not described herein, require specific machining steps, require personnel specialized in each individual operation, take time to be carried out and are not exempt from assembly or j oining errors on the part of the personnel involved. An example of an anchor bracket according to the state of the art is disclosed in US 4 602 463 A.

[0009] To overcome all the above-mentioned drawbacks, a new anchoring bracket for silos and similar structures has been designed and manufactured.

[0010] It is one object of the present invention to provide a new bracket whose production is simplified.

[0011] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new bracket that can be produced through a reduced number of machining operations.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide a new bracket where production defects are eliminated.

[0013] These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new anchoring bracket especially suitable for use on silos and similar structures.

[0014] The new anchor bracket comprises, in its main parts, a first element and a tightening plate.

[0015] This first element is obtained from a metal sheet, cut according to a specific shape and bent to obtain a lower side, a back side and two lateral sides forming a boxshaped element.

[0016] Said tightening plate is obtained from a metal sheet and is intended to be applied to the edge of said lateral and back sides of said first element, in a position opposite said lower side and substantially parallel to said lower side.

[0017] Said lower side of said first element and said tightening plate are each provided with a generically central hole or opening for the passage of the threaded pin.

[0018] Said back side of said first element is provided with holes or other elements for fixing the bracket itself to the silo.

[0019] The characteristics of the new anchor bracket are better clarified by the following description, making reference to the drawings that are attached hereto by way of non-limiting example.

[0020] Figure 1 shows the separate parts (A, B) that make up the new bracket (M), Figure 2a shows the separate parts (A, B) that make up the new bracket (M) aligned with the pin (C) and the locking nut (D), while Figure 2b shows the parts (A, B) that make up the new bracket (M) in the position of use with the pin (C) and the locking nut (D).

[0021] The new anchor bracket (M) comprises, in its main parts, a first element (B) and a tightening plate (A).

[0022] Said first element (B) is obtained from a metal sheet, cut according to a specific shape and bent to obtain a lower side (B1), a back side (B2) and two lateral sides (B3) forming the shape of a box.

[0023] Figure 3a shows the net (surface development) of said first element (B), after it has been shaped and before bending.

[0024] Figure 3a also shows the bending lines (s, t, v) according to which the various parts (B1, B2, B3) of the cut element (B) are bent to obtain said lower side (B1), said back side (B2) and said lateral sides (B3), as illustrated in Figure 3b.

[0025] Each of the two lateral sides (B3) of said first element is provided with a lower projection (B3b) on its side facing towards said lower side (B1).

[0026] Each of said two lateral sides (B3) is also provided with an upper projection (B3c) on its side facing away from said lower side (B 1).

[0027] The lower side (B1) of said first element (B) is provided with a generically central hole (B1a) or opening for the passage of the threaded pin (C).

[0028] Said lower side (B1) of said first element (B) is also provided with two generically symmetrical openings (B1b), each suited to accommodate the lower projection (B3b) of the adjacent lateral side (B3).

[0029] The back side (B2) of said first element (B) is provided with holes (B2a) for fixing the bracket (M) itself to the silo (U).

[0030] When obtained from a metal sheet, the first element (B) of the new bracket (M) is substantially as shown in Figure 3a. Subsequently, by performing the bending operations along the indicated axes (s, t, v), the shape of the first element (B) shown in Figure 1 is obtained.

[0031] Said tightening plate (A), shown in Figure 4, is made from a metal sheet and is essentially rectangular in shape.

[0032] Said tightening plate (A) is provided with a generically central hole (A1) and two lateral openings (A2).

[0033] Said tightening plate (A) is applied to the edges of the back side (B2) and of the lateral sides (B3) of said first element (B), in such a manner that the upper projection (B3c) of each lateral side (B3) of said first element (B) is inserted and housed in one of the two lateral openings (A2) of the tightening plate (A) itself, and in such a manner that the central hole (A1) of the tightening plate is substantially aligned with the central hole (B1a) of the lower side (B1) of said first element (B).

[0034] The new anchor bracket (M) made as described above is fixed to the outside of the silo (U), precisely with its back side (B2) fixed to the outside of the silo (U).

[0035] The threaded pins (C) fit into the holes (A1, B1a) of the new bracket (M).

[0036] A nut (D) applied and tightened on each threaded pin (C) rests on and retains the tightening plate (A) of each new bracket (M).

[0037] Figure 5 shows an example of use of several new anchor brackets (M) made as described above and designed to anchor a silo (U) to a floor or foundation (P).

[0038] The new anchor bracket (M) made as described above has considerable advantages.

[0039] The production of the new bracket (M) is simplified, requiring only the operations of cutting from a metal sheet, drilling and bending.

[0040] The production of the new bracket (M) requires fewer machining operations than the known brackets and does not require welding.

[0041] As the various parts are not positioned manually in order to weld them together, the new bracket (M) is not affected by defects and inaccuracies resulting from its production steps.

[0042] Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are made.

Claims

1. Anchor bracket (M) for structures of silos (U) and the like, comprising at least one lower side (B1), a back side (B2) suited to be fixed to the silo (U) or a similar structure, two lateral sides (B3), a tightening plate (A), said lower side (B1) and tightening plate (A) having each at least one generically central hole (B1a, A1) for the passage of a threaded pin (C) or a similar element, wherein said lower side (B1), back side (B2) and lateral sides (B3) constitute a first element (B) obtained from a portion of conveniently cut and bent sheet metal, and wherein said lower side (B1) is provided with at least two holes or seats (B1b) that are preferably symmetrical with respect to said central hole (B1a), and wherein the portions making up said lateral sides (B3), on their side facing towards said lower side (B1), are provided with at least one lower projection (B3b) suited to be inserted and housed in said holes or seats (B1b) provided in said lower side (B1).

2. Anchor bracket (M) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tightening plate (A) is provided with at least two holes or seats (A2) that are symmetrical with respect to said central hole (A1), and wherein the portions making up said lateral sides (B3), on their side opposite said lower side (B 1), are provided with at least one upper projection (B3c) suited to be inserted and housed in said holes or seats (A2) provided in said tightening plate (A).

3. Anchor bracket (M) according to claim 1, characterized in that said back side (B2) is provided with holes (B2a) for fixing the bracket itself to the silo (U) or a similar structure.

4. Anchor bracket (M) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tightening plate (A) is thicker than the portion of cut and bent sheet metal that forms said first element (B).