[0001] This invention relates to a brickwork support system for use in building construction.
The term "brickwork" used herein is intended to include assemblages of block shaped
building elements including, but not exclusively limited to, fired bricks.
[0002] More specifically the invention is concerned with a system for supporting brickwork
on a structure as external cladding and deals with the problem of providing reliable
support for suspended building elements such as, for example, those forming a so-called
soldier course or a soffit.
[0003] A support system in accordance with the invention comprises an elongate hanger rail
for attachment to a supporting structure and a plurality of hanger elements depending
from said rail and free to move longitudinally of the hanger rail during assembly
of the brickwork, each of said hanger elements having a lower end portion arranged
so as in use to enter a recess in a face of a block shaped building element and to
interlock with the block and/or the mortar or other bonding material in such recess.
[0004] Preferably there is provided adjustable means for attaching said hanger rail to said
structure said means providing adjustment of the position of the hanger rail relative
to the structure at least vertically and horizontally in use.
[0005] Desirably said adjustable means includes bracket means to which said hanger rail
is secured and anchor means secured to the structure and to which said bracket means
is adjustably connected.
[0006] Conveniently said hanger rail is of channel construction and said hanger elements
are slidable lengthwise thereof.
[0007] Conveniently said hanger elements are shaped to co-act with the frog of frogged bricks.
[0008] Alternatively said hanger elements each include one or more pins for engagement in
respective bores of perforated bricks.
[0009] Preferably there is provided horizontal restraining means for restraining in a horizontal
direction brickwork which is supported vertically by said hanger elements.
[0010] In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a first example of a system in accordance with the
invention used in a soldier course construction;
Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2 in Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a hanger element used in the system shown in Figure
1;
Figure 4 is a section like Figure 1, but showing a second example;
Figure 5 is a section like Figure 1, but showing a third example;
Figure 6 is a view like Figure 2 showing a modification which is applicable to all
three of the first to third examples;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a hanger element used in the modification shown
in Figure 6,
Figure 8 is a sectional view of a fourth example of the invention used in a soffit
construction;
Figure 9 is a section on line 9-9 in Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a perspective view of a hanger element used in the system shown in Figure
8;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative form of hanger element;
Figure 12 is a section like Figure 9, but showing two possible modifications,
Figure 13 is a sectional view of a fifth example used in a soffit construction.
Figure 14 is a view like Figure 2 of a further example of the invention used in a
soldier course of a soffit construction,
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a hanger element used in the example of Figure
14, and
Figure 16 is a view like Figure 15 of a modification.
[0011] Dealing firstly with the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, the supporting structure
includes a concrete beam, wall or floor 20 which has two elongate horizontal support
channels 21, 22 cast into it at vertically spaced positions. Each channel 21, 22 (as
well as a channel 23 yet to be described) has inturned flanges along its free edges
so as to be capable of interlockingly receiving bolt heads or T-shaped ends of hanger
or other elements
[0012] The upper one of the channels, 21, is used to mount brickwork support brackets 24
at intervals along its length. These are secured in position by means of bolts 25
which have their heads located in the channel 21. Each bracket has a vertically extending
slot through which the bolts 25 pass and is clamped in place by a washer 26 and nut
27. The bracket and washer preferably have interengaged serrated faces for positive
grip. The bracket position can be adjusted horizontally along the channel 21, vertically
by virtue of the slot and horizontally perpendicularly to the channel 21 by means
of shims inserted between the concrete and the bracket.
[0013] The brackets 24 support brickwork above and below as shown in Figure 1. For the support
of a soldier course beneath the brackets, a hanger rail in the form of an elongate
channel 23 is bolted to the brackets with its open mouth facing downwardly. A plurality
of the hanger elements 28 shown in Figure 3 are hung from the hanger rail 23 by means
of T-shaped end portions 28
a provided thereon. The hanger elements 28 are movable along the rail 23 during construction
and, as shown in Figure 2 extend into the mortar 29 between the bricks 30 of the soldier
course.
[0014] In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3 frogged bricks are employed for the soldier
course and, so as to provide a good interlock between the hanger elements and the
mortar (and therefore with the bricks), each hanger element has a bent lower end portion,
in this case a cranked end portion 28
b. To improve the interlock further and to maintain the integrity of the mortar, the
hanger element is formed with a series of punched holes.
[0015] The lower channel 22 is used for horizontal restraining elements 31. These are in
the form of flat metal strips with T-shaped ends like those of the hanger elements.
Holes are punched in these strips to provide a bond with the motor.
[0016] In assembling the construction shown in Figures 1 to 3 the brackets 24 are mounted
in the required positions and the hanger rails 23 are then bolted on. The soldier
course is laid onto a temporary support and after each brick is laid, one of the hanger
elements is positioned with its lower end disposed in the frog of the brick to which
mortar has already been applied and then the next brick is mortared and laid. A restraining
element 31 is inserted after every three, four (or other number) bricks. To conceal
to rail 23, the course of bricks laid on top of the soldier course, is formed of bricks
32 of L-shaped section as shown in Figure 1.
[0017] Turning now to Figure 4, the construction shown therein differs from that shown in
Figure 1 in that an elongated L-section strip 34 is used instead of the separate brackets
24. This strip has mounting brackets 35 welded to it at intervals and the rail 23
is welded directly to the strip 34, the brackets 35 being mounted to the upper channel
21 as described above in relation to the brackets 24.
[0018] In the example shown in Figure 5 an elongated L-section strip is again used and this
is attached to the concrete 20 by bolts 45 with their heads engaged in short lengths
of vertically extending channel 46 cast into the concrete (horizontal slots being
provided in the strip 44 for horizontal alignment). The channel 23 is again welded
directly to the strip 44.
[0019] In the modification shown in Figures 6 and 7, bricks 50 with a recess or rebate are
used instead of frogged bricks. The hanger element 51 has its lower end bent at right
angles to the length of the hanger element to enter the recess or rebate of the brick
instead of being cranked.
[0020] The soffit construction shown in Figure 8, 9 and 10 has a soldier course the same
as that shown in Figures 1 to 3, except for the arrangement for horizontal movement
restraint. To support the soffit brickwork 60, a pair of channels 61, 62, like channels
21 to 23, are cast into the underside of the concrete 20. These are horizontal and
parallel and each supports a plurality of hanger elements 63. As shown in Figure 10
each such hanger element is of inverted T shape in front elevation and is bent to
a cranked configuration in side elevation so that the horizontal portions of the inverted
T lie within the frogs of the soffit bricks.
[0021] Horizontal restraint of the soffit brickwork is provided by restraint elements 64
bolted at intervals to a further horizontally opening channel 65 cast into the concrete
20 and fastened to the hanger elements 63 at positions intermediate the ends of the
latter by means of bolts. Restraint of the soldier course is provided by restraint
strips 66 extending at one end into the mortar between the final row of soffit bricks
and at the other end into the mortar between the bricks of the soldier course. If
some relative movement between the soffit brickwork and the soldier course needs to
be provided for a soft sealant 67 is used instead of mortar between the soffit bricks
and the soldier course bricks and one end of each restraint strip 66 is enclosed within
a plastic sleeve 68.
[0022] As in the examples of Figures 1 to 5 recessed or rebated bricks may be used instead
of frogged bricks. The necessary modifications are shown in Figures 11 and 12.
[0023] In Figure 13, an alternative horizontal restraint arrangement for the soffit brickwork
is shown. In this case, each restraint element 74 is welded to a bracket 75 which
is secured to a channel 76 cast into the same face of the concrete as that which supports
the soldier course brackets.
[0024] Figure 14 illustrates a soldier course 81 formed from perforated bricks 82. Such
bricks are well known and include one or more through bores 85 extending between the
mating faces of the bricks. Bore configurations using a row of three bores or an array
of seven bores are well known but it should be recognised that many other bore configurations
are possible. Each hanger element 83 has one or more pins 84 extending transverse
to the element for engagement in the bore or bores of associated bricks. In Figure
15 a single pin 84 is shown and such a hanger is usable with a variety of perforated
bricks since there is no necessity for there to be a pin engaging in each bore of
each brick. Figure 16 shows a hanger having three pins and such a hanger is likely
to be suitable only for use with a corresponding three bore brick, although naturally
there may be multi bore bricks with which the three pin hanger could cooperate.
[0025] The pins 84 extend from both faces of their respective hangers and thus each interlocks
with the two bricks on opposite sides thereof. The pins 84 will usually be of much
smaller diameter than the bores 85 in the bricks but naturally any space in a bore
85 around a pin 84 will be occupied with mortar which will have set before the temporary
support for the bricks has been removed. The hangers 84 may have apertures through
which the mortar extends.
[0026] There can be provided hangers with a pin or pins projecting from one face only for
use at the end of a soldier course if appropriate.
[0027] The manner in which the hangers 83 are supported is as described above, Figure 14
showing a hanger rail channel 23 supported as described above, with which T-shaped
ends of the elements 83 interlock as described above.
[0028] During construction of the soldier course the hanger elements 83 will be interposed
between adjacent mortared bricks as the bricks are laid and the hanger elements will
be slid along the channel 80 as necessary to engage the pin or pins in the bore or
bores of the adjacent brick. The next brick will then be positioned so that the outwardly
projecting parts of the pin or pins 84 are received in its bore or bores. The pin
or pins 84 enter the bores of the associated bricks through the mortar layer applied
to the bricks and so push mortar into the bores.
[0029] Whilst all of the embodiments described above utilise hanger rails in the form of
channels having inturned flanges, it is to be understood that many other hanger rail
configurations are possible, for example, a channel with side walls which converge
towards the open mouth thereof. Corresponding formations are provided on the hanger
elements to provide the required dependent, axially moveable relationship with the
hanger rails.
1. A brickwork support system for use in building construction comprising an elongate
hanger rail (23; 61; 62) for attachment to a supporting structure (20) and a plurality
of hanger elements (28; 51; 63; 83) depending from said rail and free to move longitudinally
of the hanger rail during assembly of the brickwork (30; 81), each of said hanger
elements having a lower end portion arranged so as in use to enter a recess in a face
of a block shaped building element and to interlock with the block and/or the mortar
or other bonding material in such recess.
2. A brickwork support system as claimed in Claim 1 characterized by adjustable means
for attaching said hanger rail (23) to said structure (20) said means providing adjustment
of the position of the hanger rail relative to the structure (20) at least vertically
and horizontally in use.
3. A brickwork support system as claimed in Claim 2 characterized in that said adjustable
means includes bracket means (24; 34, 35; 44, 45) to which said hanger rail is secured
and anchor means (21) secured to the structure (20) and to which said bracket means
is adjustably connected.
4. A brickwork support system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 characterized in
that said hanger rail is of channel construction and said hanger elements are slidable
lengthwise thereof.
5. A brickwork support system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterized in
that said hanger elements are shaped to co-act with the frog of frogged bricks.
6. A brickwork support system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4 characterized in
that said hanger elements (83) each include one or more pins (84) for engagement in
respective bores (85) of perforated bricks (82).
7. A brickwork support system as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 6 characterized by
horizontal restraining means (22, 31; 64, 65, 66; 74, 75, 76) for restraining in a
horizontal direction brickwork which is supported vertically by said hanger elements.