It should be noted that AMT will not provide these systems to users on a retail basis.

Multi purpose systems for vandal/theft deterrence

Heavy-duty chain anchor systems

Shown at the left is a chain system that, dependent on soil conditions, would require a force of approximately 500 kg to lift out of the ground. This particular example is composed of two type SO2E anchors, with 6mm nickel-plated HT chain swaged to the anchors using ferrules and 2mm galvanised steel tendon.

The mild steel drive rod for the anchors shown in the picture can usually drive 10 anchors. Accompanied by a post rammer or hammer the above represents a complete kit for securing valuable plant, equipment and outdoor furniture.

These can be driven straight into the ground. There is no need for expensive concreting, bolting and the labour to install them.

It is also possible to neatly and cheaply install this device through paving and concrete as long as there is about 450mm to 550mm of soil below them. This is possible after drilling a 24mm diameter hole through the surface material.

The system’s installation is simple. A hammer/ post rammer is used with the drive rod to hammer one anchor into the ground. That anchor is load locked by pulling up on the chain. The chain is then looped around an appropriate spot of the object that is to be secured and then the other anchor is hammered into the ground. The second anchor can be loadlocked by again pulling up on the chain. Alternatively, it can be left as is and any vandal or thief attempting to lift the object will loadlock the anchor for you.

This system can be easily modified to suit your purposes. The underlying principles remain the same. However, you can use larger sized anchors for greater load capacity or you might specify the types of materials that you would like to have incorporated in the system to suit the object to be secured and/or the aesthetics of the area in which it will be placed. AMT can provide advice on whether the proposed system will achieve its objective.

Illustrative Examples

A few examples of how the principles of the multi purpose system might be applied are shown below. These might indicate the many ways in which it can be modified and applied.

Chain loop

Illustrated at left is a system based on looping chain around a cross member of furniture or equipment/plant. The key to the diagram is:

• 1. The cross member (obviously closed off at both ends)
• 2. Security chain may be covered with your stablised sleeve.
• 3. Ground level, notice that the chain has been driven in below ground level
• 4. Tendon that will fit the eye of the anchor type used has been threaded through the chain and then swaged.
• 5. The tendon is connected to the anchor.
• 6. Any of the Stealth range (excluding the S10T) could be used as components of this system.

Soft eye system

This system might consist of one type SO2E aluminium anchor (carrying a potential 250 kg load), swaged with aluminium ferrules and 2mm galvanised tendon to attach to 6mm stainless steel tendon (forming the soft eye at the top). As with the chain loop system illustrated above, the only part of the system above the surface would be the stainless steel tendon. Other locking systems could then be looped through this soft eye. When not in use, if carefully installed and positioned, the soft eye presents less of a hazard to pedestrian, or other traffic, than other systems of similar holding capacity.

Of course all of the components of this system could be “mixed and matched” to suit user requirements.

Protective UV-stabilised sheathing over 6mm tendon anchor system

This system might be composed of two type SO2E aluminium anchors (carrying a potential 500kg kg load), with 6mm stainless steel tendon (forming a strong collar, harder for would-be thieves to cut through), swaged to the anchors using copper ferrules and 2mm stainless steel tendon. The stainless steel tendon would be encased within the sheath before swaging. This would have the advantages of better appearance, greater longevity and less damage to the paintwork of the secured object.

The application of this system could be either as indicated in the example of the chain loop (illustrated above), or as another type of soft eye system (as described above). Again, all of the components of this system can be “mixed and matched” to suit user requirements.

D Shackle system

The diagram on the left shows how a D shackle could be used to provide a “hard eye” system. The key to the diagram is:

• 1. The D shackle (in whatever size/material required).
• 2. The the shackle’s turn bolt.
• 3. The tendon swaged to form a soft eye.
• 4. Tendon
• 5. Tendon swaged through the eye of the anchor
• 6. The anchor.
• 7. Ground level

For installation, a small hole would have to be dug to a depth necessary that leaves as much of the top of the D shackle exposed as desired. The anchor would then be hammered into the ground, the drive rod removed and the anchor loadlocked. The soft eye of the anchor tendon (at top) would be slipped over the shackle’s bolt. The bolt would be tightened and, if desired, its end deformed to prevent removal. The hole would then be refilled. If an SO2E anchor were used with this system it would take a force of approximately 250 kg (dependent on soil conditions) to lift the eye out.

Only part of the D shackle would appear above the surface. Other locking systems could be looped through this eye. Thus, e.g., it could provide a cheap open space alternative to bicycle racks.

Out door furniture systems for vandal/theft deterrence

The multi purpose chain and tendon systems described above could be used to secure outdoor furniture. However, in some instances the aesthetics of security systems are very important when used with furniture. This item provides information on systems that are almost totally indiscernible to users or passers-by.

Using a conical wedge grip

The illustration at left (side on view) shows how a conical wedge grip can be used to tie down the feet of outdoor furniture. The key to this diagram is:

• 1. The foot of the furniture to be secured.
• 2. The conical wedge grip is cylindrical in shape with a cone shaped hole bored inside. The grips are forced down into the cylinder around the wire tendon and the “teeth” of the wedges prevent any further upward movement.
• 3. The tendon connected to the anchor.
• 4. The tendon swaged through the eye of the anchor.
• 5. The anchor
• 6. Ground level.

The anchoring system can be driven straight into the ground. It does not require expensive labour, concreting and bolting to install. When securing, e.g., an outdoor table or bench this cost is an important consideration. Frequently, using alternative methods requires installing, for each of the four legs, 300mm x 300mm x 300mm concrete cubes some distance below the surface and providing a method of bolting each of the legs down to its concrete cube.

Thus, it takes the cost of about one cubic metre of concrete plus the labour required to dig the four holes and pour the concrete in the first step of installation. Then the concrete has to cure before the installer can return to finish the job. So as well as delay, the additional cost of the installer returning to the site is incurred.

The Platipus system only requires the installer to hammer the anchors into the ground at the appropriate spots, and loadlock the anchors. He/she then slips the wedge grip cylinder into the hole provided in the foot of the furniture, threads the tendon up through it and forces the wedges into place. The excess tendon above the wedges is then snipped off. Depending on the design of the foot, a plastic insert can then be used to cover the wedge grip and hole; the job is then finished.

With the smallest of the Stealth anchors, the SO2E, placed through each foot of an outdoor table, dependent on soil conditions, it would take approximately 1 tonne of force for a vandal or thief to lift the table.

It is also possible to neatly and cheaply install this device through paving and concrete as long as there is about 450mm to 550mm of soil below them. This is possible after drilling a 24mm diameter hole through the surface material and driving the anchor through that hole.

Outdoor furniture available may not have an aperture with sufficient space to insert a wedge grip. Dependent on circumstances, the solution might be to only partly recess the wedge grip or to sit the wedge grip on top of the furniture’s foot. The latter might provide a slight more noticeable solution than the un-recessed nuts commonly used on outdoor furniture, but cannot be unscrewed, whereas nuts can.

Threaded rod with nut

The diagram to the left shows an alternative solution to securing furniture when it is impossible to insert a wedge grip into (or partly into) the furniture’s foot. The key to the diagram is:

• 1. The threaded rod (say for example, 10mm diameter)
• 2. Ground level
• 3. The rod has been bent to form an eye at the bottom
• 4. Tendon looped through the eye of the rod and swaged
• 5. Tendon
• 6. Tendon swaged through the eye of the anchor
• 7. The anchor

The installation of this system is similar to the method described above for the wedge grip. The difference is that the rod is put through holes in the foot and a nut is tightened onto it to secure the furniture.

Dependent on the design of the furniture and user requirements, the nut could be recessed or it could sit on top of the foot.

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