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Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

(OP)
Hello all,

I'm looking to build an adjustable truss system and am looking for structural pipe braces that have an adjustable length (shown in the attachment). I have seen them on multiple projects and am convinced that they are manufactured in a catalog, but can't find it anywhere. The closest I have found are Dayton tilt-up wall-brace supports, but it's not quite what I require.

Does anyone recognize these things or can point me in the right direction? Thank you!

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

the flattened end looks mighty thin. I think they added a welded threaded plug to the pipe, not tap the pipe directly

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

(OP)
Agreed! The leaders and info aren't accurate. But because I've seen this setup many times before, I'm thinking it's part of a company catalog and that's what I'm hoping someone would recognize. I've never seen those connector pieces either.

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

One end seems good for at least twice the allowable force of the other end.
Whatever you do, I'd choose one from another catalog.

Sorry, can't help you here...
They're quite common in automotive (steering linkage amongst others), but this probably isn't going to help you.

http://www.fusionpoint.be
http://be.linkedin.com/in/fusionpoint

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

(OP)
Thanks for the response. I guess I have to continue my search!

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

The tilt up concrete industry uses various adjustable struts like these. Dayton Sure Grip used to be in the business. Trench shores are nice (even available in aluminum) but they only push, not pull.

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

(OP)
Yup, Dayton Superior has tilt-up versions of this, but also (obviously) for push applications. It's just such a mystery that this type of brace so ubiquitous for adjustable truss design has no catalog or supplier.

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

Plentres:
Why not ask some of the contractors involved in that part of the work on the ‘multiple projects’ on which you have seen these used? Maybe ask some of the suppliers who deal with that part of the construction industry in your area? Is that some sort of heavy hung ceiling application in your photo? The top connectors are obviously a proprietary casting of some sort, is there a casting number on them, or any manuf’er. i.d. stamp on the entire piece someplace? I would call these small, light weight, adjustable struts. It would seem that the struts would work in either tension or compression, with some tabulated values vs. strut length in compression.

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

Why not make your own or have them made by some fabricating shop. Take them to a construction materials testing facility run by professional engineers whou would provide test data. Your photo looks like the adjustable links used on farm and utility tractors for the three-point lifts on the rear. They take both tension and compression loads.
Stop at a large tractor dealer and look them over.

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

I've designed similar pieces for supports of canopies over doors. We previously used threaded rods, but I was worried if they over went into compression due to wind uplift. I picked a pipe where the ID was slightly more than the C dimension of the nut. I used mild steel nuts and just had them welded in.
As far as the other end, there must be a socket type fitting that can be welded on. Smashing it as shown and drilling the hole probably works, but I prefer something I can run numbers on or get the manufacturers rating.

RE: Unrecognized Adjustable Braces

(OP)
Thanks everyone for the replies so far, I really appreciate it.


SlideRuleEra: Thanks for the recommendation. Unfortunately this truss system needs to handle BOTH tension and compression loads and therefore I can't rely on a tension-only rod and a compression-only rod.


dhengr: There's no casting number unfortunately. The photo was taken top-down but it's actually a bracing system to hold up a vertical plywood climbing wall. These struts do require to work in both tension and compression which is why turnbuckle rods (the closest thing I could find) won't work.

oldestguy: Thanks for the advice. If worst comes to worst I may have to bring my tension and compression loads and unbraced length to a machine shop and see if they can fabricate something for me with those parameters.

JedClampett: I have also seen "homebrew" creations that use a nut welded to a pipe and a threaded rod for that nut. Did you have any concerns for accidental eccentric compression loads since effectively there's only one point of transfer between the threaded rod and the pipe (the welded nut)?

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