Seismic Bracket for Conduit Bracing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conduits suspended in commercial buildings experience increased load and potential damage during seismic events due to lateral and axial movement, necessitating a bracket that can brace and stabilize these loads without requiring extensive installation or material usage.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight, compact seismic bracket that attaches to existing hangers or building surfaces, utilizing a design with close-spaced sides to bear load and accommodate different sizes, allowing for easy installation and compatibility with standard hardware, including the option to stack multiple brackets at a single anchorage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional hangers are used to support conduits, then the conduits can be suspended under normal static loading conditions, but during seismic events the conduits experience excessive lateral and axial movement that increases load and causes damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic resistanceVSAvoidconduit movement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is divided into multiple functional portions: a first portion for attachment to the hanger, a second portion for bracing the conduit laterally, and a third portion for additional support. This segmentation allows each portion to address specific movement vectors independently, effectively restraining the conduit during seismic events while maintaining compatibility with existing hanger systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-affected harmful factors

If larger, more robust brackets are used to brace conduits during seismic events, then conduit movement is reduced, but the brackets become heavier, more expensive, and more difficult to install

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconduit movementVSAvoidbracket weight

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket employs local quality by concentrating material and structural reinforcement only where needed for seismic bracing - specifically at the attachment points and along the bracing surfaces that contact the conduit. The close-spaced sides provide localized reinforcement without requiring a uniformly heavy structure, achieving effective seismic restraint with minimized weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The bracket utilizes composite construction combining different material properties in a single integrated component. The close-spaced side configuration creates a composite structural effect that provides high stiffness and strength-to-weight ratio, enabling effective seismic bracing without excessive weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If custom-designed seismic brackets are implemented, then conduit stability during seismic events is improved, but installation complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseismic stabilityVSAvoidinstallation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket is designed with universal applicability to work with standard hanger assemblies and conduit configurations. The close-spaced side configuration and standardized attachment features allow the same bracket design to be used across different load ranges and installation scenarios, simplifying inventory management and installation procedures while maintaining effective seismic bracing performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Adaptability or versatility

If precise dimensional control is maintained for different sized brackets, then load range accommodation is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveload range accommodationVSAvoiddimensional control

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The bracket design accommodates different load ranges by systematically varying key parameters such as the spacing between sides, the dimensions of attachment surfaces, and the gauge thickness. These parameter changes follow consistent design rules that maintain the close-spaced configuration principle, allowing manufacturing to use standardized processes with controlled variations rather than completely different manufacturing approaches for each size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9777870B2Bracket for seismic bracing of conduits

Publication Date: 2017.10.03 ROTH STEVEN ANDREW

AI summary

A bracket useful for seismic bracing of conduits is described. The bracket is placeable over a threaded rod and includes sidewalls for accepting a fastener and a pair of apertures for attaching to a brace. Certain brackets are stackable, allowing for the attachment of multiple braces from a single anchored rod. Other brackets include two parts that allow the bracket to be assembled about a threaded rod without removing elements which might previously be attached to the rod.