Key Clamp Sloping Elbow 0 to 11 Degrees for 42.4mm Tube, Galvanised

The sloping elbow turns a gently sloping top rail down into a vertical end post, at the top or bottom of a ramp, path or sloping site, at any angle from level to 11°. The rail end pushes into one socket and the post top into the other; both sockets are flared, so the rail can rise or fall by up to 11° while the post stays plumb. One grub screw in each socket locks the joint. It suits 42.4mm outside diameter tube and is malleable cast iron with a galvanised finish for indoor and outdoor use. The price shown is for one fitting, with a minimum order of 5.

Why use a sloping elbow

A neat end to a sloping rail. A standard 90° elbow only meets the post square, so on a ramp the rail has to kink or the post has to lean. The sloping elbow takes up the fall, so the rail runs straight into the end post.

Top or bottom of the slope. Turn it one way for the top of a ramp, where the rail falls away from the post, and the other way for the bottom, where it rises. The same fitting does both.

Any fall up to 11°. Both sockets are flared, so there is no ordering to an exact angle. Set the rail to the slope on site and tighten the screws.

Galvanised for outdoors. The zinc coating protects the iron on ramps, paths and sites in all weathers.

Where it is used

End posts of handrails and guard rails on access and wheelchair ramps, sloping footpaths and car park ramps, barriers on banks and gently sloping ground, rails at loading bay approaches, and any tube frame where a sloping rail must finish at a vertical post.

Specifications

Know its limits

The rail and the post both end inside the fitting; neither can pass through, so it suits end posts only. For intermediate posts use the short slope tee, which lets the rail run over the post. For slopes steeper than 11°, such as stairs, use an adjustable elbow. No load rating is published; for a guard rail that must meet a set load, ask a structural engineer to check the design.

Which 42.4mm fitting goes where on a sloping rail?

How many do you need?

Two per sloping run of rail: one on the end post at the top and one on the end post at the bottom. It carries the top rail only, because the post must finish inside the fitting; lower rails on the end posts need fittings that let the post carry on above.

Choosing the right size

Key clamps are sized by the tube's outside diameter. 42.4mm tube is often sold as 1¼" or 32mm nominal bore. Measure across the tube before ordering: this fitting will not grip 33.7mm or 48.3mm tube. The same galvanised fitting is made for 33.7mm and 48.3mm tube.

Fitting and care

Fix the end posts plumb first. Push the elbow onto the post top, offer up the rail, and let the rail settle to the slope in its flared socket. Check the rail height along the run, then tighten both grub screws firmly with a 5/16" hex key. Check the screws after the first week and once a year after that. Touch up scratched galvanising with zinc-rich paint.

Frequently asked questions

Ordering and delivery

Order 5 or more online, with Express UK Delivery to your site and same-day dispatch on orders before 2pm, Monday to Friday. For a full ramp or path rail, call 01744 520 110 or email sales@industrialsuppliesco.co.uk and we will confirm availability and delivery before you order.