U-Bracket Connectors for Curtain Wall & Steel Pipe Fixing – U-Clevis & U-Strap Clamps | Fabao

Product Description

Wrap Around. Bolt Tight. Load Transferred.

Some connections require a bracket that doesn’t just bolt to one side — it needs to wrap around and grip from both sides. That’s what a U-bracket does. Shaped like a saddle or a clevis, it surrounds a steel tube, a beam flange, or a rectangular hollow section, and transfers load through the legs into the connecting member.

In curtain wall and steel structure work, U-brackets are everywhere: attaching pipe supports to steel columns, securing transoms to mullions, clamping canopy arms, and anchoring cable trays. They’re simple, rugged, and versatile. And because they engage both faces of the member, they resist rotation better than a flat plate ever could.

Fabao Machinery produces U-brackets in carbon steel and stainless steel, with leg dimensions, internal clearance, and hole configurations built precisely to your project’s requirements.

U-Bracket vs. U-Channel: Different Tools for Different Jobs

How a U-Bracket Clamps a Connection

        BOLT (through leg)
              ██
              ██
    ┌─────────██─────────┐
    │                    │ ← Leg 1 (bolted)
    │                    │
    │    ┌──────────┐    │
    │    │  STEEL   │    │ ← Steel tube or beam flange held inside
    │    │  TUBE    │    │
    │    └──────────┘    │
    │                    │
    │                    │ ← Leg 2 (bolted through or against)
    └────────────────────┘

Installation: ① Slide the U-bracket over the tube or beam flange → ② Align holes through both legs → ③ Insert bolts → ④ Torque to specification. The member is now clamped on both sides — no welding required.

Application Scenarios

• Pipe-to-Steel Column Clamping – U-brackets wrap around a circular or square steel column and provide a bolting face for pipe supports, cable trays, and service conduits.

• Canopy Arm Saddle Connection – Securing a canopy support arm to a primary steel beam where the arm sits inside the U and is through-bolted on both legs.

• Transom End Fixing – U-clevis brackets at transom-to-mullion junctions, providing rotational restraint in stick-built curtain wall framing.

• Parapet & Handrail Post Anchoring – Saddle-type U-brackets clamping handrail posts to structural steel edges on balconies, terraces, and walkways.

• Machinery Guard Frame Attachment – Heavy U-clamps bolting safety guard frames to equipment skids and industrial steel platforms.

Standard Dimensional Range

Custom internal widths, leg heights, and hole configurations produced to your drawing. Closed-back U-brackets also available where the base is solid rather than open.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What’s the difference between an open-back and a closed-back U-bracket?

An open-back U-bracket has two separate legs — easier to slide over an existing member. A closed-back U-bracket has a solid base connecting the two legs — higher structural rigidity. We produce both types; choose based on your installation sequence and load requirement.

2. Can you produce U-brackets with different hole patterns on each leg?

Yes. One leg can have round holes, the other can have slotted holes, or each leg can have different bolt sizes. Specify per-leg hole details on your drawing.

3. What if my tube diameter doesn’t match any standard internal width?

All U-brackets are custom-fabricated. Send us the exact tube diameter or beam flange width, and we’ll build the U-bracket to match — with appropriate clearance for fit-up.

4. Can you add a welded stiffener between the legs for extra rigidity?

Yes. Welded stiffener plates between legs are available for heavy-load U-brackets, particularly those used in canopy and machinery base applications.

5. How are U-brackets galvanized to ensure coating inside the throat?

Our hot-dip process coats all surfaces — external legs, internal throat, and hole edges. For deep U-brackets (leg height >100mm), we ensure adequate drainage holes to prevent zinc pooling during the galvanizing process.

Why Fabao for U-Bracket Connectors?

• Precision Internal Width – U-brackets fabricated to your specified internal clearance within ±1mm — snug enough to prevent slop, loose enough for easy installation.

• Burr-Free Edges – All cut edges and drilled holes deburred; no sharp corners that could damage tube coatings or installer gloves.

• Custom Leg Geometry – Equal or unequal leg heights, straight or tapered leg profiles, and custom bolt patterns — all standard practice.

• In-House Galvanizing – Two galvanizing plants deliver consistent 50μm+ HDG coating on all surfaces, internal and external.

• Export-Ready Palletizing – U-brackets nested and strapped on reinforced pallets to prevent deformation during ocean transit.