Brace mounting hardware

Abstract

This design allows for easy installation of braces to enhance earthquake resistance, and its ease of manufacture reduces production costs. [Solution] The device comprises a nut member 12 that is screwed onto one adjacent suspension bolt 22 and the other adjacent suspension bolt 22, and a metal fitting body 2 that is formed integrally with the nut member 12 and works in cooperation with the nut member 12 to fix one adjacent suspension bolt 22 and the other adjacent suspension bolt 22. The brace 15 is attached between the metal fitting body 2 of one adjacent suspension bolt 22 and the metal fitting body 2 of the other adjacent suspension bolt 22 by pin joint.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting fitting for a brace used to damp the vibration of an object to be suspended (such as an air conditioner, a supply and exhaust blower, a total heat exchanger, etc.) suspended via a suspension unit from the ceiling of a building such as a building.

Background Art

[0002] In Japan, which is a country prone to earthquakes, various earthquake countermeasures are taken everywhere. For example, in buildings such as buildings, in order to prevent an object to be suspended (such as an air conditioner, a supply and exhaust blower, a total heat exchanger, etc.) suspended from the ceiling slab via a suspension unit from falling from the ceiling due to the vibration caused by an earthquake, a function of enhancing the earthquake resistance is added to the suspension unit to suppress the swing of the object to be suspended due to an earthquake.

[0003] For example, a brace is obliquely attached between adjacent suspension bolts of the suspension unit, and this brace suppresses the horizontal swing acting on the suspension bolts during an earthquake, preventing the object to be suspended from swinging excessively horizontally and falling from the ceiling.

[0004] An example of a mounting fitting for attaching a brace between adjacent suspension bolts is described in Patent Document 1. This mounting fitting (brace connecting fitting) includes a locking member attached to the suspension bolt and a connecting member rotatably connected to the locking member via a rotating shaft. The upper end of the brace is fixed to the connecting member by a screw, and the lower end of the brace is fixed to the lower end of the suspension bolt by a fixing fitting, so that the brace is configured to be obliquely attached between adjacent suspension bolts.

[0005] In this case, the locking member comprises a pair of side plates spaced apart, and a locking body integrally provided between the side plates, with locking teeth on its inner surface that engage with the threaded portion of the suspension bolt. The suspension bolt is inserted between the side plates of the locking member, the locking teeth are screwed into the threaded portion of the suspension bolt, and the angle of the connecting member is adjusted to tighten the space between the two side plates with the bolt, thereby fixing the locking member to the upper end of the suspension bolt.

[0006] Another example of a mounting bracket for attaching a brace between adjacent suspension bolts is described in Patent Document 2. This mounting bracket (brace connecting bracket) comprises a U-shaped fixing bracket having a pair of expanding parts that expand at their ends, and angle members that are attached to each expanding part by support bolts.

[0007] To attach a brace between adjacent suspension bolts using a brace connecting fitting of this configuration, the brace is first attached between the angle members of the two connecting fittings using two brace connecting fittings.

[0008] Then, one brace connecting fitting is attached to the upper end of one adjacent suspension bolt via a fixing fitting, and the other brace connecting fitting is attached to the lower end of the other adjacent suspension bolt via a fixing fitting. The angle of the angle members of both connecting fittings is adjusted to position the brace diagonally between adjacent suspension bolts, and the brace is attached diagonally between adjacent suspension bolts by tightening each bolt.

[0009] Incidentally, the brace connecting fitting described in Patent Document 1 attaches the upper end of the brace to the upper end of the suspension bolt by inserting a suspension bolt between the side plates of the locking member and tightening the bolt between the side plates while the locking teeth are screwed into the threaded portion of the suspension bolt. However, because it is necessary to machine locking teeth at the tip of the locking member that screw into the suspension bolt, the structure becomes complex, making it time-consuming and labor-intensive to manufacture the locking member, and resulting in high manufacturing costs. Furthermore, since the locking member is fixed to the suspension bolt only by the tightening force of the bolt, repeated vibrations such as earthquakes can cause the bolt to loosen in a short period of time, requiring periodic maintenance such as retightening the bolt.

[0010] Furthermore, the brace connecting fitting described in Patent Document 2 fixes the fixing fitting to the upper or lower end of the suspension bolt solely by the tightening force of the bolt. As a result, repeated vibrations caused by earthquakes and other factors can cause the bolt to loosen in a short period of time, requiring periodic maintenance such as tightening the bolt. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0011] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2013-199800 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2014-125812 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0012] This invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and aims to provide a brace mounting bracket that has a simple structure, can be manufactured at a low cost, hardly loosens due to vibrations such as earthquakes even after long-term use, and can maintain its initial performance over a long period of time in a maintenance-free state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] To solve the above problems, the present invention employs the following means. The present invention is a mounting bracket for a brace that is attached between adjacent suspension bolts of a plurality of suspension bolts that suspend an object from a ceiling, thereby improving the seismic resistance of the plurality of suspension bolts, comprising a nut member that is screwed onto one adjacent suspension bolt and the other adjacent suspension bolt, and a fitting body that is formed integrally with the nut member and cooperates with the nut member to be fixed to the one suspension bolt and the other adjacent suspension bolt, wherein the brace is attached diagonally between the fitting body of one adjacent suspension bolt and the fitting body of the other adjacent suspension bolt by pin joint. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] The brace mounting bracket of this invention is configured such that the bracket body is attached to each adjacent suspension bolt via a nut member, and the brace is attached between the bracket bodies of adjacent suspension bolts by pin connection, thereby increasing the seismic resistance of multiple suspension bolts. As a result, even if vibrations from an earthquake act on multiple suspension bolts, the horizontal swing of the multiple suspension bolts can be suppressed, preventing the suspended object from falling and being damaged. Furthermore, even if vibrations from an earthquake act on the suspension bolts, the bracket body does not move on the suspension bolts, so the function of the brace can be maintained over the long term, and the seismic resistance enhanced by the brace can be maintained over the long term. In addition, since it has a simple structure in which the nut member and the bracket body are formed integrally, the time and effort required for manufacturing can be reduced, and an inexpensive product can be provided. Furthermore, since the bracket body does not move on the suspension bolts via the nut member, the initial performance can be maintained over the long term in a maintenance-free state. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0015] The drawings show specific embodiments of the present invention according to the present disclosure, including not only essential components of the invention but also optional and preferred embodiments. [Figure 1] It is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a brace mounting bracket according to the present invention. [Figure 2] It is an explanatory view seen from the A direction of FIG. 1. [Figure 3] It is an explanatory view seen from the B direction of FIG. 1. [Figure 4] It is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the first suspension bolt and the brace, and the relationship between the third suspension bolt and the brace. [Figure 5] It is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the second suspension bolt and the brace, and the relationship between the fourth suspension bolt and the brace. [Figure 6] It is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the fourth suspension bolt and the brace, and the relationship between the second suspension bolt and the brace. [Figure 7] It is an enlarged view showing the relationship between the third suspension bolt and the brace, and the relationship between the first suspension bolt and the brace. [Figure 8] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the brace mounting bracket of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view seen from the front side. [Figure 9] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the brace mounting bracket of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view seen from the right side. [Figure 10] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the brace mounting bracket of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view seen from the back side. [Figure 11] It is an explanatory view showing an example of use of the brace mounting bracket of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view seen from the left side. [Figure 12] It is an explanatory view of the usage examples shown in FIGS. 8 to 11 as seen from the ceiling. [Figure 13] It is an explanatory view showing another example of use of the brace mounting bracket of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory view seen from the front side. [Figure 14]It is an explanatory drawing showing another usage example of the brace attachment fitting of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory drawing seen from the right side. [Figure 15] It is an explanatory drawing showing another usage example of the brace attachment fitting of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory drawing seen from the back side. [Figure 16] It is an explanatory drawing showing another usage example of the brace attachment fitting of the first embodiment, and is an explanatory drawing seen from the left side. [Figure 17] It is a front view showing a second embodiment of the brace attachment fitting according to the present invention. [Figure 18] It is an explanatory drawing showing a usage example of the brace attachment fitting of the second embodiment, and is an explanatory drawing seen from the ceiling side. [Figure 19] It is a cross-sectional view of the central part of FIG. 18, and is an explanatory drawing showing a usage example in which one brace is attached between adjacent suspension bolts. [Figure 20] It is a cross-sectional view of the central part of FIG. 18, and is an explanatory drawing showing a usage example in which two braces are attached in a crossed state between adjacent suspension bolts.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first embodiment of a brace attachment fitting according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the entire attachment fitting, FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing seen from the A direction of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing seen from the B direction of FIG. 1.

[0017] The brace attachment fitting 1 of the present embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "attachment fitting 1") is composed of a fitting body 2 made of an L-shaped metal angle material and a metal nut member 12 integrally connected to the inner surface side of the fitting body 2 by a joining means described later.

[0018] The metal fitting body 2 comprises a first mounting portion 3 which is a rectangular plate shape with a predetermined thickness, width, and length; a second mounting portion 7 which is a rectangular plate shape with the same thickness, width, and length as the first mounting portion 3, and whose front and back surfaces extend in a direction perpendicular to the front and back surfaces of the first mounting portion 3; and a right-angled corner portion 11 provided between the first mounting portion 3 and the second mounting portion 7.

[0019] In this embodiment, the metal fitting body 2 is made by cutting an angle material to a predetermined length, with one side serving as the first mounting portion 3 and the other side as the second mounting portion 7. However, the embodiment is not limited to this, and the first mounting portion 3 and the second mounting portion 7 may be constructed using a flat bar, and the ends of both mounting portions 3 and 7 may be integrally connected by joining means such as welding, so that the joint between both mounting portions 3 and 7 forms a right-angle corner portion 11, thereby constructing an L-shaped metal fitting body 2. Alternatively, the L-shaped metal fitting body 2 may be constructed by bending a flat bar at a right angle.

[0020] A pair of mounting holes 6, 6 are provided at intervals along the two diagonals 4, 5 of the first mounting portion 3, penetrating between the inner and outer surfaces. One end or the other end of the brace 15, described later, is attached to the first mounting portion 3 using either of the mounting holes 6 on either of the diagonals 4, 5.

[0021] Similar to the first mounting portion 3, a pair of mounting holes 10, 10 penetrating between the inner and outer surfaces are provided at intervals along the two diagonals 8, 9 of the second mounting portion 7, and one end or the other end of the brace 15, described later, is attached to the second mounting portion 7 using either of the mounting holes 10 on either of the diagonals 8, 9.

[0022] The nut member 12 is a long nut, such as a round nut, square nut, or hexagonal nut, with an internal thread 13 on its inner surface. It is integrally connected to the inner surface of the metal fitting body 2 by joining means such as welding, with a portion of its outer surface in close contact with the inner surface of the corner portion 11 of the metal fitting body 2. A suspension bolt 22, described later, is screwed into the internal thread 13 on the inner surface of the nut member 12. The nut member 12 is formed to have the same length as the width of the first mounting portion 3 and the second mounting portion 7 of the metal fitting body 2, or to be shorter than the width of both mounting portions 3 and 7.

[0023] In this embodiment, a long nut made of a square nut is used for the nut member 12, and this long nut member 12 is integrally connected to the inner surface of the corner portion 11 of the metal fitting body 2 by spot welding. However, the joining method is not limited to this, and the nut member 12 may also be integrally connected to the inner surface of the corner portion 11 of the metal fitting body 2 by joining means such as arc welding, gas welding, or brazing, or it may be configured to be integrally connected to the inner surface of the corner portion 11 of the metal fitting body 2 by joining means such as adhesive.

[0024] The metal fitting body 2 and the nut member 12 are made of steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, and a protective film is formed on their surface by plating, painting, coating, etc., to enhance wear resistance and corrosion resistance. In this embodiment, a protective film of chrome plating is formed on the surface of the metal fitting body 2 and the nut member 12 to enhance wear resistance and corrosion resistance. It is preferable that the metal fitting body 2 and the nut member 12 be made of the same metal to improve welding accuracy, etc.

[0025] The brace 15 is formed from a metal structural material such as a channel with a U-shaped cross-section, an angle with an L-shaped cross-section, or a flat bar with an I-shaped cross-section. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, the brace 15 is constructed using a channel with a U-shaped cross-section. The brace 15, like the mounting bracket 1, is formed from a metal material made of steel, stainless steel, or aluminum, and has a protective film formed on its surface by plating, painting, coating, etc. In this embodiment, a lightweight ceiling profile with chrome plating on the surface of the channel is used.

[0026] At one end and the other end of the brace 15 in the longitudinal direction, there are mounting holes 16 that coincide with either one mounting hole 6 on one diagonal 4 or either one mounting hole 6 on the other diagonal 5 of the first mounting portion 3 of the metal fitting body 2.

[0027] As shown in Figure 7, the mounting holes 16 at one or the other end of the brace 15 are aligned with either one of the mounting holes 6 on the diagonal 4 of the first mounting part 3, and a connecting member 18 such as a tapping screw, bolt, or pin is inserted between the mounting holes 16 and 6, thereby pin-joining one or the other end of the brace 15 to the extension of the diagonal 4 of the first mounting part 3. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 5, the mounting holes 16 at one or the other end of the brace 15 are aligned with either one of the mounting holes 6 on the diagonal 5 of the first mounting part 3, and a connecting member 18 such as a tapping screw, bolt, or pin is inserted between the mounting holes 16 and 6, thereby pin-joining one or the other end of the brace 15 to the extension of the diagonal 5 of the first mounting part 3.

[0028] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, by aligning the mounting hole 16 at one end or the other end of the brace 15 with one of the mounting holes 10 on the diagonal 8 of the second mounting portion 7, and inserting a connecting member 18 such as a tapping screw, bolt, or pin between the mounting holes 16 and 10, one end or the other end of the brace 15 is pin-joined to the extension of the diagonal 8 of the second mounting portion 7. Or, as shown in Figure 6, by aligning the mounting hole 16 at one end or the other end of the brace 15 with one of the mounting holes 10 on the diagonal 9 of the second mounting portion 7, and inserting a connecting member 18 such as a tapping screw, bolt, or pin between the mounting holes 16 and 10, one end or the other end of the brace 15 is pin-joined to the extension of the diagonal 9 of the second mounting portion 7.

[0029] Next, an example of using the mounting bracket 1 of this embodiment, configured as described above, will be explained with reference to Figures 4 to 12.

[0030] In buildings such as office buildings, objects 30 are suspended from the ceiling slab or other ceiling portion 25 via suspension units 20. Examples of objects 30 that can be suspended include air conditioners, supply and exhaust fans, total heat exchangers, silencers, large lighting fixtures, large air diffusers, fan coil units, and suspended ceilings.

[0031] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the suspension unit 20 comprises a plurality of inserts 21 embedded in the ceiling 25 and a plurality of suspension bolts 22, each consisting of a threaded rod with its upper end fixed to each insert 21. The number of suspension bolts 22 corresponding to the type of object 30 to be suspended is suspended from the ceiling 25.

[0032] In this example, as shown in Figures 8 to 12, a rectangular parallelepiped air conditioner is used as the object to be suspended 30. This object to be suspended 30 is configured to be suspended from the ceiling 25 by four suspension bolts 22. Therefore, as shown in Figures 8 to 11, inserts 21 are embedded in four locations in the ceiling 25 corresponding to the four corners on the upper surface of the object to be suspended 30, and the upper ends of the suspension bolts 22 are fixed to each insert 21, thereby suspending the four suspension bolts 22 from the ceiling 25.

[0033] Then, as shown in Figures 4 to 7, the nut member 12 of the mounting bracket 1 of this embodiment is screwed onto each suspension bolt 22 from the lower end, and the mounting bracket 1 is screwed and rotated on each suspension bolt 22 via the nut member 12 to adjust its vertical position, thereby attaching the mounting bracket 1 to each suspension bolt 22.

[0034] In this case, the first suspension bolt 22a, second suspension bolt 22b, third suspension bolt 22c, and fourth suspension bolt 22d are designated in a counterclockwise direction in Figure 12. Then, as shown in Figures 8 to 11, the mounting bracket 1 is positioned on the lower end of the first suspension bolt 22a, the upper end of the second suspension bolt 22b, the lower end of the third suspension bolt 22c, and the upper end of the fourth suspension bolt 22d, with the vertical position of the mounting bracket 1 adjusted on each of the suspension bolts 22a to 22d.

[0035] Furthermore, the orientation of each mounting bracket 1 on each suspension bolt 22a to 22d is adjusted so that the outer surfaces of the first mounting portion 3 and the second mounting portion 7 of each mounting bracket 1 are approximately parallel to the front and rear surfaces 30a, 30b and both sides 30c, 30d of the object to be suspended 30.

[0036] Then, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 8, the brace 15 is positioned between the first suspension bolt 22a and the second suspension bolt 22b, facing diagonally upward from the first suspension bolt 22a toward the second suspension bolt 22b. One end of the brace 15 is then aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the first suspension bolt 22a, and as shown in Figure 4, the mounting hole 16 at one end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 10 on the diagonal 8 of the second mounting part 7, and the connecting member 18 is inserted into both mounting holes 16 and 10, thereby pin-connecting one end of the brace 15 to the mounting bracket 1 on the first suspension bolt 22a.

[0037] Furthermore, the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the second suspension bolt 22b, and as shown in Figure 5, the mounting hole 16 at the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 6 on the diagonal 4 of the first mounting part 3, and the connecting member 18 is inserted into both mounting holes 16, 6, thereby pin-connecting the other end of the brace 15 to the mounting bracket 1 on the second suspension bolt 22b.

[0038] Next, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 9, a brace 15 is positioned between the second suspension bolt 22b and the third suspension bolt 22c, facing diagonally downward from the second suspension bolt 22b toward the third suspension bolt 22c. As shown in Figure 6, one end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the second suspension bolt 22b, and the mounting hole 16 at one end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 10 on the diagonal 9 of the second mounting part 7. By inserting the connecting member 18 into both mounting holes 16 and 10, one end of the brace 15 is pin-connected to the mounting bracket 1 on the second suspension bolt 22b.

[0039] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the third suspension bolt 22c, the mounting hole 16 at the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 6 on the diagonal 5 of the first mounting part 3, and the connecting member 18 is inserted into both mounting holes 16, 6, thereby pin-connecting the other end of the brace 15 to the mounting bracket 1 on the third suspension bolt 22c.

[0040] Next, as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 10, a brace 15 is positioned between the third suspension bolt 22c and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, facing diagonally upward from the third suspension bolt 22c toward the fourth suspension bolt 22d. As shown in Figure 4, one end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the third suspension bolt 22c, and the mounting hole 16 at one end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 10 on the diagonal 8 of the second mounting part 7. By inserting the connecting member 18 into both mounting holes 16 and 10, one end of the brace 15 is pin-connected to the mounting bracket 1 on the third suspension bolt 22c.

[0041] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 5, the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the fourth suspension bolt 22d, and the mounting hole 16 at the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 6 on the diagonal 5 of the first mounting part 3. By inserting the connecting member 18 into both mounting holes 16, 6, the other end of the brace 15 is pin-connected to the mounting bracket 1 on the fourth suspension bolt 22d.

[0042] Next, as shown in Figures 6, 7, and 11, a brace 15 is positioned between the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the first suspension bolt 22a, facing diagonally downward from the fourth suspension bolt 22d toward the first suspension bolt 22a. As shown in Figure 6, one end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the fourth suspension bolt 22d, and the mounting hole 16 at one end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 10 on the diagonal 9 of the second mounting part 7. By inserting the connecting member 18 into both mounting holes 16 and 10, one end of the brace 15 is pin-connected to the mounting bracket 1 on the fourth suspension bolt 22d.

[0043] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 7, the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with the mounting bracket 1 on the first suspension bolt 22a, the mounting hole 16 at the other end of the brace 15 is aligned with one of the mounting holes 6 on the diagonal 5 of the first mounting part 3, and the connecting member 18 is inserted into both mounting holes 16, 6, thereby pin-connecting the other end of the brace 15 to the mounting bracket 1 on the first suspension bolt 22a.

[0044] In this way, by attaching the braces 15 diagonally between the first suspension bolt 22a and the second suspension bolt 22b, between the second suspension bolt 22b and the third suspension bolt 22c, between the third suspension bolt 22c and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, and between the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the first suspension bolt 22a, the seismic resistance of the suspension unit 20 equipped with four suspension bolts 22a to 22d can be improved.

[0045] This suppresses the horizontal sway of the four suspension bolts 22a to 22d, thereby preventing the suspended object 30 from falling. In addition, the load acting on each suspension bolt 22a to 22d can be distributed in the direction of the brace 15, thereby increasing the durability of each suspension bolt 22a to 22d.

[0046] Next, other usage examples will be explained using Figures 13 to 16. In this usage example, two braces 15, 15 are positioned to intersect between the first suspension bolt 22a and the second suspension bolt 22b, two braces 15, 15 are positioned to intersect between the second suspension bolt 22b and the third suspension bolt 22c, two braces 15, 15 are positioned to intersect between the third suspension bolt 22c and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, and two braces 15, 15 are positioned to intersect between the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the first suspension bolt 22a.

[0047] To achieve this configuration, in this example, two mounting brackets 1, 1 are attached to the first suspension bolt 22a, the second suspension bolt 22b, the third suspension bolt 22c, and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, respectively. The vertical positions of the two mounting brackets 1, 1 on each suspension bolt 22a to 22d are adjusted so that the mounting brackets 1, 1 are positioned at the upper and lower ends of each suspension bolt 22a to 22d, respectively.

[0048] Then, following the same procedure as in the usage example described above, a brace 15 is attached between the mounting bracket 1 at the lower end of the first suspension bolt 22a and the mounting bracket 1 at the upper end of the second suspension bolt 22b, as shown in Figure 13, and a brace 15 is attached between the mounting bracket 1 at the upper end of the first suspension bolt 22a and the mounting bracket 1 at the lower end of the second suspension bolt 22b.

[0049] Next, as shown in Figure 14, a brace 15 is installed between the mounting bracket 1 at the upper end of the second suspension bolt 22b and the mounting bracket 1 at the lower end of the third suspension bolt 22c.

[0050] Next, as shown in Figure 15, a brace 15 is attached between the mounting bracket 1 at the lower end of the third suspension bolt 22c and the mounting bracket 1 at the upper end of the fourth suspension bolt 22d, and another brace 15 is attached between the mounting bracket 1 at the upper end of the third suspension bolt 22c and the mounting bracket 1 at the lower end of the fourth mounting part 22d.

[0051] Then, as shown in Figure 16, a brace 15 is installed between the mounting bracket 1 at the upper end of the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the mounting bracket 1 at the lower end of the first suspension bolt 22a.

[0052] This enhances the seismic resistance of the suspension unit 20 equipped with four suspension bolts 22a to 22d, suppresses horizontal sway of the four suspension bolts 22a to 22d, and prevents the suspended object 30 suspended by the four suspension bolts 22a to 22d from falling.

[0053] In this example, two braces 15, 15 are installed in a crossing manner between the first suspension bolt 22a and the second suspension bolt 22b, between the second suspension bolt 22b and the third suspension bolt 22c, between the third suspension bolt 22c and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, and between the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the first suspension bolt 22a. Therefore, seismic resistance and durability can be improved compared to the previously mentioned example.

[0054] Figure 17 shows a second embodiment of the brace mounting bracket 1 according to the present invention. The mounting bracket 1 of this embodiment consists of a rectangular plate-shaped bracket body 2 and a nut member 12 integrally provided on the center of the longitudinal direction of the bracket body 2 by joining means such as welding so as to face the width direction, and the other configurations are the same as those shown in the first embodiment.

[0055] In this embodiment, the right-hand portion of the nut member 12 of the metal fitting body 2 is designated as the first mounting portion 3, and the left-hand portion is designated as the second mounting portion 7. A pair of mounting holes 6, 6 are provided on the diagonals 4, 5 of the first mounting portion 3, and a pair of mounting holes 10, 10 are provided on the diagonals 8, 9 of the second mounting portion 7.

[0056] To attach braces 15 to enhance the seismic resistance of the four suspension bolts 22a to 22d that suspend the aforementioned suspended object 30 using mounting brackets 1 with this configuration, one mounting bracket 1 is attached to each suspension bolt 22a to 22d, and one brace 15 is attached diagonally between the mounting brackets 1,1 of adjacent suspension bolts 22a to 22b, 22b to 22c, 22c to 22d, and 22d to 22a (see Figures 8 to 11). Alternatively, two mounting brackets 1,1 are attached to each suspension bolt 22a to 22d, and two braces 15,15 are attached diagonally in a crossing manner between the mounting brackets 1,1 of adjacent suspension bolts 22a to 22b, 22b to 22c, 22c to 22d, and 22d to 22a (see Figures 13 to 16).

[0057] This enhances the seismic resistance of the suspension unit 20 equipped with four suspension bolts 22a to 22d, suppresses horizontal sway of the four suspension bolts 22a to 22d, and prevents the suspended object 30 suspended by the four suspension bolts 22a to 22d from falling.

[0058] Figures 18 to 20 show other examples of the use of the mounting bracket 1 according to the present invention. This example is applied to the installation of a brace 15 used to improve the seismic resistance of a suspension unit 20 that suspends a suspended ceiling 31 from the ceiling section 25.

[0059] To suspend the suspended ceiling 31 from the ceiling section 25, for example, as shown in Figures 18 to 20, multiple inserts 21 are embedded in the ceiling section 25 in a grid pattern, and the upper end of each suspension bolt 22 is fixed to each insert 21, thereby suspending multiple suspension bolts 22 from the ceiling section 25 in a grid pattern, and the suspended ceiling 31 is fixed to the lower ends of these multiple suspension bolts 22 using a well-known fastener (not shown).

[0060] In this example, seven suspension bolts 22a to 22g are arranged vertically and horizontally at predetermined intervals in the central part. One brace 15 is attached diagonally or two braces 15 are attached in a crisscross manner between adjacent suspension bolts 22a to 22b, 22b to 22c, 22c to 22d, 22d to 22e, 22e to 22f, and 22f to 22g via the mounting bracket 1 of the second embodiment.

[0061] Here, the seven suspension bolts 22a to 22g arranged horizontally are designated as the first suspension bolt 22a, second suspension bolt 22b, third suspension bolt 22c, fourth suspension bolt 22d, fifth suspension bolt 22e, sixth suspension bolt 22f, and seventh suspension bolt 22g, respectively, from left to right in Figure 18.

[0062] Furthermore, the seven vertically positioned suspension bolts 22a to 22g are designated as the first suspension bolt 22a, the second suspension bolt 22b, the third suspension bolt 22c, the fourth suspension bolt 22d, the fifth suspension bolt 22e, the sixth suspension bolt 22f, and the seventh suspension bolt 22g, respectively, from top to bottom in Figure 18.

[0063] In this configuration, one or two braces 15 are attached via the mounting bracket 1 of the second embodiment between the first suspension bolt 22a and the second suspension bolt 22b, between the second suspension bolt 22b and the third suspension bolt 22c, between the third suspension bolt 22c and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, between the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the fifth suspension bolt 22e, between the fifth suspension bolt 22e and the sixth suspension bolt 22f, and between the sixth suspension bolt 22f and the seventh suspension bolt 22g. The attachment of the braces 15 is the same as shown in the second embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0064] Furthermore, one or two braces 15 are attached via the mounting bracket 1 of the second embodiment between the first suspension bolt 22a and the second suspension bolt 22b, between the second suspension bolt 22b and the third suspension bolt 22c, between the third suspension bolt 22c and the fourth suspension bolt 22d, between the fourth suspension bolt 22d and the fifth suspension bolt 22e, between the fifth suspension bolt 22e and the sixth suspension bolt 22f, and between the sixth suspension bolt 22f and the seventh suspension bolt 22g. Note that the attachment of the braces 15 is the same as shown in the second embodiment, so a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0065] This improves the seismic resistance of the suspension bolts 22a-22g, 22a-22g, which are arranged in seven vertical and seven horizontal directions in the central part. As a result, horizontal sway of the suspension bolts 22a-22g, 22a-22g, which are arranged in seven vertical and seven horizontal directions in the central part, can be suppressed. In addition, the seismic resistance of the suspension bolts 22 surrounding them, to which the brace 15 is not attached, can be improved. This suppresses horizontal sway of multiple suspension bolts 22, and prevents the suspended ceiling 31, which is the object to be suspended 30, from falling due to horizontal sway.

[0066] Furthermore, in this example of use, by installing one or two braces 15 diagonally between adjacent suspension bolts 22a-22b, 22b-22c, 22c-22d, 22d-22e, 22e-22f, and 22f-22g of the seven suspension bolts 22a-22b and 22b-22c arranged vertically and horizontally in the central part, the seven suspension bolts 22a-22b and 22b-22c arranged vertically and horizontally in the central part can be made to function as a truss structure. This allows the load acting on the suspension bolts 22a-22b and 22b-22c during an earthquake to be distributed to the braces 15, thereby increasing the seismic resistance of the suspension bolts 22a-22g and 22a-22g arranged vertically and horizontally in the central part, and reliably preventing the suspended ceiling 31, which is the object to be suspended 30, from falling.

[0067] In the mounting bracket 1 of each embodiment of the present invention configured as described above, the nut member 12 is joined to the bracket body 2 by welding or other joining means, resulting in a simple structure that can be easily manufactured, reducing the time and effort required for manufacturing, and significantly reducing the cost required for manufacturing.

[0068] Furthermore, by screwing the nut member 12 onto the suspension bolt 22, the mounting bracket 1 is held in a predetermined position in the vertical direction of the suspension bolt 22, and the brace 15 is attached to this mounting bracket 1 by pin connection. As a result, loosening of the nut member 12 of the mounting bracket 1 due to vibrations caused by earthquakes is virtually impossible, and the initial performance can be maintained for a long period of time in a maintenance-free state.

[0069] Furthermore, since the brace 15 is attached by pin connection between the mounting brackets 1, 1 of the adjacent suspension bolts 22, 22, the suspension bolts 22 including the brace 15 can function as a truss structure, and the seismic resistance of the suspension bolts 22 and the brace 15 can be greatly improved.

[0070] The disclosure relating to the present invention described above can be summarized to at least the following:

[0071] This invention relates to a mounting bracket 1 for a brace 15 that is attached between adjacent suspension bolts 22 that suspend an object 30 from a ceiling 25, thereby increasing the seismic resistance of the multiple suspension bolts 22. The mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15 comprises a nut member 12 that is screwed onto one adjacent suspension bolt 22 and the other adjacent suspension bolt 22, and a fitting body 2 that is formed integrally with the nut member 12 and works in cooperation with the nut member 12 to fix one suspension bolt 22 and the other adjacent suspension bolt 22. The brace 15 is configured to be attached diagonally between the fitting body 2 of one adjacent suspension bolt 22 and the fitting body 2 of the other adjacent suspension bolt 22 by pin joint.

[0072] According to the mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15 of this invention, the bracket body 2, which is integrally formed with a nut member 12, is attached to one adjacent suspension bolt 22 and the other suspension bolt 22 via the nut member 12, and the brace 15 is attached diagonally between the bracket bodies 2 of the adjacent suspension bolts 22 by pin joint. This configuration enhances the seismic resistance of multiple suspension bolts 22 and suppresses horizontal swinging of multiple suspension bolts 22 during an earthquake. Furthermore, since the bracket body 2 is fixed to the suspension bolts 22 by screwing the nut member 12 onto the suspension bolts 22, the bracket body 2 does not move on the suspension bolts 22 even when vibrations from an earthquake act on the suspension bolts 22, and the function of the brace 15 can be maintained. In addition, because it has a simple structure in which the nut member 12 and the bracket body 2 are integrally formed, the time and effort required for manufacturing can be reduced, and an inexpensive product can be provided. Furthermore, since the metal fitting body 2 does not move on the suspension bolt 22 via the nut member 12, the initial performance can be maintained over the long term in a maintenance-free state.

[0073] The above invention may include at least the following embodiments. These embodiments may be adopted separately or in combination with each other.

[0074] Furthermore, in the mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the object to be suspended 30 is suspended from the ceiling 25 by four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d. One bracket body 2 is attached to each of two adjacent suspension bolts 22a-22b, 22b-22c, 22c-22d, and 22d-22a via a nut member 12, and one brace 15 is attached diagonally between the bracket bodies 2 of two adjacent suspension bolts 22a-22b, 22b-22c, 22c-22d, and 22d-22a. Therefore, with this mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the seismic resistance of the four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d can be increased, thereby suppressing the horizontal swing of the four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d during an earthquake. Therefore, with this mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, based on the above configuration, it is possible to prevent the suspended object 30 from falling due to the swing of the four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d.

[0075] Furthermore, in the mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the object to be suspended 30 is suspended from the ceiling 25 by four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d. A pair of upper and lower bracket bodies 2 are attached to each of two adjacent suspension bolts 22a-22b, 22b-22c, 22c-22d, and 22d-22a via nut members 12. Two braces 15 are attached in a crossing manner between the upper and lower bracket bodies 2 of two adjacent suspension bolts 22a-22b, 22b-22c, 22c-22d, and 22d-22a. Therefore, with this mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the seismic resistance of the four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d can be further enhanced. Therefore, the mounting bracket 1 for this brace 15 can suppress the horizontal swing of the four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d during an earthquake, thereby preventing the suspended object 30 from falling due to the swing of the four suspension bolts 22a, 22b, 22c, and 22d.

[0076] Furthermore, in the mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the object to be suspended 30 is suspended from the ceiling 25 by a plurality of suspension bolts 22 arranged in a grid pattern. One bracket body 2 is attached to each adjacent suspension bolt 22 of the plurality of suspension bolts 22 arranged vertically and horizontally in the center via a nut member 12, and one brace 15 is diagonally attached between the bracket bodies 2 of adjacent suspension bolts 22 by pin connection. Therefore, with this mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the seismic resistance of the plurality of suspension bolts 22 arranged vertically and horizontally in the center can be increased by the above configuration. This improves the overall seismic resistance of the multiple suspension bolts 22 that suspend the suspended object 30. As a result, even if vibrations from an earthquake act on the multiple suspension bolts 22, the multiple suspension bolts 22 will not swing horizontally, preventing the suspended object 30, such as a suspended ceiling 31, from falling and being damaged.

[0077] Furthermore, in the mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15, the object to be suspended 30 is suspended from the ceiling 25 by a plurality of suspension bolts 22 arranged in a grid pattern. A pair of upper and lower bracket bodies 2 are attached to each of the adjacent suspension bolts 22 of the plurality of suspension bolts 22 arranged vertically and horizontally in the center via nut members 12, and two braces 15 are attached in a crossing manner between the upper and lower bracket bodies 2 of adjacent suspension bolts 22 by pin connection. As a result, the mounting bracket 1 for the brace 15 can further enhance the seismic resistance of the plurality of suspension bolts 22 arranged vertically and horizontally in the center, and even if vibrations caused by an earthquake act on the plurality of suspension bolts 22, the plurality of suspension bolts 22 will not swing horizontally, and the object to be suspended 30, such as the suspended ceiling 31 suspended by the plurality of suspension bolts 22, can be more effectively prevented from falling and being damaged. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0078] 1. Mounting bracket (bracing bracket) 2 Metal fittings 3. First mounting section 4, 5, 8, 9 Diagonals 6, 10, 16 mounting holes 7. Second mounting section 11 corners 12 Nut component 13 Female thread 15 Brace 18 Connecting member 20 Hanging Units 21 Inserts 22 Suspension bolts 25 Ceiling 30 Objects to be suspended 31 Suspended ceiling

Claims

1. A mounting bracket for a brace that is attached between adjacent suspension bolts of multiple suspension bolts used to suspend an object from the ceiling, thereby increasing the seismic resistance of multiple suspension bolts, It comprises a nut member that is screwed onto one adjacent suspension bolt and the other suspension bolt, and a metal fitting body that is formed integrally with the nut member and works in cooperation with the nut member to fix the one suspension bolt and the other suspension bolt, A brace mounting bracket characterized in that the brace is attached diagonally by pin joint between the fitting body of one adjacent suspension bolt and the fitting body of the other adjacent suspension bolt.

2. The mounting bracket for a brace according to claim 1, characterized in that the object to be suspended is suspended from the ceiling by four suspension bolts, one of the fitting bodies is attached to each of two adjacent suspension bolts via the nut member, and one of the braces is attached diagonally between the fitting bodies of the two adjacent suspension bolts.

3. The mounting bracket for a brace according to claim 1, characterized in that the object to be suspended is suspended from the ceiling by four suspension bolts, a pair of upper and lower fitting bodies are attached to each of two adjacent suspension bolts via the nut member, and two braces are attached between the upper and lower fitting bodies of the two adjacent suspension bolts in a crossing manner.

4. The mounting bracket for a brace according to claim 1, characterized in that the object to be suspended is suspended from the ceiling by a plurality of suspension bolts arranged in a grid pattern, one of the fitting bodies is attached to each adjacent suspension bolt of the plurality of suspension bolts arranged vertically and horizontally in the center via the nut member, and one of the braces is attached diagonally between the fitting bodies of adjacent suspension bolts by pin connection.

5. The mounting bracket for a brace according to claim 1, characterized in that the object to be suspended is suspended from the ceiling by a plurality of suspension bolts arranged in a grid pattern, a pair of upper and lower fitting bodies are attached to each of adjacent suspension bolts of a plurality of suspension bolts arranged vertically and horizontally in the center via the nut member, and two of the braces are attached in a state of crossing between the pair of upper and lower fitting bodies of adjacent suspension bolts by pin connection.

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