Abstract: A fastening member for joining together adjacent duct sections includes a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to the head and a threaded portion extending from the unthreaded space, the threaded portion threadedly engaging a hole of an inserted corner plate positioned in flange of a first duct section. When the fastening member is fully inserted, the inserted corner plate positioned in the flange of the first duct section is retained within the unthreaded space.

Abstract: A tie rod for spanning a duct interior to join duct walls bounding the duct interior, that can be simply and inexpensively fabricated from sheet metal or other suitable material, including automatically, securely fastenable quickly and easily to the duct walls, often by one person, and which can be configured to be nestable for efficient storage and shipping, of elongate construction for spanning a duct interior, with a transverse attachment flange or flanges that can be pre-bent or bent onsite at the installation location via special bending features to snug to a duct wall, and include holes for threadedly receiving fasteners, having a shape and size to reduce fastening torque, with a two attachment flange configuration that resiliently self retains the fastener against loosening from vibration and other forces.

Abstract: A fastening member for joining together adjacent duct sections includes a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to the head and a threaded portion extending from the unthreaded space, the threaded portion threadedly engaging a hole of an inserted corner plate positioned in flange of a first duct section. When the fastening member is fully inserted, the inserted corner plate positioned in the flange of the first duct section is retained within the unthreaded space.

Abstract: A unitary support assembly for connecting an air transport duct to a support includes a body portion, a duct connecting means integrally formed with the body portion for selectively securing the support assembly to the air transport duct, and a support connecting means integrally formed with the body portion opposite the duct connecting means for selectively securing the support assembly to the support.

Abstract: A system and method of assembling flanged duct sections, using large sheet metal screws through opposing inserted corner plates. The large screws are threadedly inserted fully through the corner plates of a first duct section and hold perpendicular thereto for guiding alignment with the mating duct section. The screws hold the duct sections apart to allow aligning them without fluid sealant or tape gasket material on one of the duct sections contacting the other. The screws are then threadedly engaged with the corner plates of the mating duct section, bringing the duct sections together with a leak resistant seal therebetween. Optional hanger brackets can be placed between the corner plates before assembly, and additional screws used to deform the flanges and corner plates about the brackets to compress the sealant or gasket thereabout.

Abstract: A unitary support assembly for connecting an air transport duct to a support includes a body portion, a duct connecting means integrally formed with the body portion for selectively securing the support assembly to the air transport duct, and a support connecting means integrally formed with the body portion opposite the duct connecting means for selectively securing the support assembly to the support.

Abstract: A unitary support assembly for connecting an air transport duct to a support includes a body portion, a duct connecting means integrally formed with the body portion for selectively securing the support assembly to the air transport duct, and a support connecting means integrally formed with the body portion opposite the duct connecting means for selectively securing the support assembly to the support.

Abstract: A corner flange connection member configured for joining together adjacent duct channel flanges associated with duct sections includes two leg portions joined together in angular relationship by a corner portion, and at least one opening in said corner portion for receiving at least one fastening member for connecting said corner flange connection member to the duct sections. The at least one opening is shaped so as to threadably receive the fastening member without cutting threads.

Abstract: A fastening member for joining together adjacent duct sections includes a head and a shank extending from the head, the shank having an unthreaded space adjacent to the head and a threaded portion extending from the unthreaded space, the threaded portion threadedly engaging a hole of an inserted corner plate positioned in flange of a first duct section. When the fastening member is fully inserted, the inserted corner plate positioned in the flange of the first duct section is retained within the unthreaded space.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface for positioning a duct section thereon in a vertical orientation, a track mechanism for moving a pair of carriage assemblies each having seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper position, and upper and lower clamping members movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein each clamping member is positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, each seam forming assembly includes a pair of roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other roller member being substantially cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface for positioning a duct section thereon in a vertical orientation, a track mechanism for moving a pair of carriage assemblies each having seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper position, and upper and lower clamping members movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein each clamping member is positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, each seam forming assembly includes a pair of roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other roller member being substantially cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface for positioning a duct section thereon in a vertical orientation, a track mechanism for moving a carriage assembly which holds seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper position, and upper and lower clamping members movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein each clamping member is positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, the seam forming assembly includes a pair of roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other roller member being substantially cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: A system and method of assembling flanged duct sections, using large sheet metal screws through opposing inserted corner plates. The large screws are threadedly inserted fully through the corner plates of a first duct section and hold perpendicular thereto for guiding alignment with the mating duct section. The screws hold the duct sections apart to allow aligning them without fluid sealant or tape gasket material on one of the duct sections contacting the other. The screws are then threadedly engaged with the corner plates of the mating duct section, bringing the duct sections together with a leak resistant seal therebetween. Optional hanger brackets can be placed between the corner plates before assembly, and additional screws used to deform the flanges and corner plates about the brackets to compress the sealant or gasket thereabout.

Abstract: A high speed fastener member and method of assembling duct sections, uses an externally threaded element having a threaded portion of known diameter, and a piloted nut having a threaded cavity configured to threadedly receive the externally threaded portion, and an open ended unthreaded cavity connected to the threaded cavity, the unthreaded cavity having a known diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the externally threaded portion and being aligned with the threaded cavity. The externally threaded portion is inserted through holes of associated corner elements of flanges of the duct sections, and into the unthreaded cavity to align the threaded portion for threaded engagement, and at least one of the nut and externally threaded element is rotated to threadedly engage them to hold the duct flanges together, eliminating need to start the engagement by hand and allow fastening using a power tool such as a drill only.

Abstract: A unitary support assembly for connecting an air transport duct to a support includes a body portion, a duct connecting means integrally formed with the body portion for selectively securing the support assembly to the air transport duct, and a support connecting means integrally formed with the body portion opposite the duct connecting means for selectively securing the support assembly to the support.

Abstract: A corner flange connection member for joining flanges of duct sections, includes two leg portions joined together in an angular relationship by a corner portion, the connection member being substantially flat and including at least one opening for receiving a fastening member having a threaded portion, the threaded portion having a root diameter, the opening being defined by two joined and offset partially rounded openings, at least one of the offset partially rounded openings having a sectional extent between opposite sides thereof about equal to the root diameter of the threaded portion of the fastening member, the offset being about equal to a thread height of threads of the threaded portion of the fastening member, and the sides of the offset openings being joined generally tangentially. The opening or openings can be located in the corner portion or one or both of the leg portions.

Abstract: A corner flange connection member for joining flanges of duct sections, includes two leg portions joined together in an angular relationship by a corner portion, the connection member being substantially flat and including at least one opening for receiving a fastening member having a threaded portion, the threaded portion having a root diameter, the opening being defined by two joined and offset partially rounded openings, at least one of the offset partially rounded openings having a sectional extent between opposite sides thereof about equal to the root diameter of the threaded portion of the fastening member, the offset being about equal to a thread height of threads of the threaded portion of the fastening member, and the sides of the offset openings being joined generally tangentially. The opening or openings can be located in the corner portion or one or both of the leg portions.

Abstract: A vertical Pittsburgh seam closing apparatus having a base supporting surface for positioning a duct section thereon in a vertical orientation, a track mechanism for moving a carriage assembly which holds seam forming members used to close a Pittsburgh seam, a pair of upper and lower guide members for guiding the duct section into a proper position, and upper and lower clamping members movable between an unclamped position and a clamped position wherein each clamping member is positioned inside the duct section and adjacent the inside portion of the Pittsburgh seam to be closed, the upper guide members and clamping member being selectively movable and adjustable for accommodating different duct section lengths. In one embodiment, the seam forming assembly includes a pair of roller members mounted in vertical arrangement to each other, one roller member being V-shaped in configuration and the other roller member being substantially cylindrical in shape.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an improved high-speed corner flange connection member is disclosed which includes creases or bends allowing the leg portions to be bent or angularly deflected away from such creases downwardly so as to form a bowed configuration. In some embodiments, the connection member includes clearance holes and tap holes which are strategically positioned such that when a pair of duct sections are positioned in end-to-end relationship for joinder, the opposed connection members are arranged such that a clearance hole is positioned in registration with a tap hole; other embodiments include similarly shaped openings which are associated with the respective opposed connection members; and in still other embodiments, a substantially flat corner element is constructed utilizing the strategically placed clearance and tap holes. A plurality of differently configured high-speed fastener members for substantially eliminating misalignment and cross-threading issues are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to various embodiments of an improved high-speed corner flange connection member which is specifically shaped and designed to increase the clamping force applied to adjacent duct flanges when adjacent duct sections are connected together.