AU662561B2 - Building element - Google Patents

Description

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;i it i; i 662561 P/00/0011 Regulation 3,2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

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Name of Applicantss: GEOFF FRANCIS TAFFS and HERMAN SIEDSES Actual Invewrors: GEOFF FRANCIS TAFFS and HERMAN SIEDSES Address for service in Australia: CARTER SMITH BEADLE, 2 Railway Parade, Camberwell, Victoria, 3124, Australia, Attorney Code CD Invention Title: BUILDING ELEMENT Details of Associated Provisional Applications: Nos: PK8845 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: -1 r i -2- TITLE: A BUILDING ELEMENT The present invention relates to a connecting element for a building frame.

More specifically, the invention relates to a connecting element for a steel framed building. The invention further relates to a building frame constructed using the connecting elements of the present invention.

In the erection of steel framed buildings, elongate members of steel generally of rectangular or square section are bolted or welded together to form the skeleton of a building. To bolt the members together, the members to be joined are first positioned and then holes drilled in the members to receive the bolts. Similarly when the elongate members are welded together, they are first position and welding equipment is lifted to the connection point to effect the weld.

While both these methods of joining are effective they are nevertheless time consuming and considering the number of joins which must be made, the time taken to join members to produce a steel frame for a building is a considerable proportion of the total time taken to erect a building. Therefore, if the time taken to join the elongate members is reduced considerable savings in construction time can be made.

It is an object of the invention to provide a connection means which quickly allows elongate members to be held in a fixed relationship.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a connecting element for a building frame including a first sleeve member having a longitudinal slit extending along a substantial part of its length, the first sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a first -,longate frame member, the first sleeve members being open at both ends such that the first elongate frame member is able to be inserted through the first sleeve member, the first elongate frame member in use being secured to the first sleeve member by fastening means that pass through a sidewall of the first sleeve member and join the sidewall of the firsl sleeve member to a corresponding sidewall GN:NI-::#98 5 July 1995 -3of the first elongate frame member, the connecting element further including a second sleeve member mounted in fixed relationship to the first sleeve member, the second sleeve member having a longitudinal slit extending along a substantial part of its length, the second sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a second elongate frame member.

The first and second sleeve members may comprise separate elements joined together, e.g. by welding. Alternatively, the first and second sleeve members may be formed integrally.

The connecting element may also include at least one further sleeve member mounted to a side wall of one of said sleeve members, said further sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a further elongate member. The at least one further sleeve member may be used for positioning rafters or battens that support a verandah extension, eaves, or other structure that extends beyond the main frame of the building. Preferably, the connecting element has two further sleeve members mounted on opposing side walls of said one of said sleeve members. More preferably, N:NUM 98 S July 1995 L 4 the further sleeve members are mounted on the first sleeve member.

Preferably, the sleeve members have a shaped crosssection such that when the sleeve members are produced from substantially square or rectangular tube sections the shape is produced by two flanged sides connected by a web extending between those sides.

The fastening means may comprise screws, nails or bolts which individually connect each side of the sleeve members with the sides of the elongate member received within that sleeve member. The action of such fastening means acts to deform the sleeve member and thereby clamp and securely retain the elongate members. The fastening means also pass through the walls of both the sleeve member and the elongate member and this also acts to secure the elongate members.

The invention also provides building frame comprising a plurality of elongate members connected in fixed relationship by a plurality of connecting components as described above.

The connection element of the present invention allows for simple and efficient erection of building frames.

In a further aspect, the present invention includes a method for assembling a building frame comprising a plurality of elongated members including cross members connected to upright elongate members, which method comprises providing a plurality of connecting elements comprising a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member mounted to said first sleeve member, wherein at least said first sleeve member is open at both ends to enable an elongate member to pass through said first sleeve member, securing connecting elements to respective ends of a cross member by inserting each end of the cross member int', the second sleeve member of respective connecting elements, locating said cross member having said connecting elements secured to both ends thereof near ground level, passing one end of respective upright elongate members through said first sleeve members of the connecting elements secured to the respective ends of said cross member, fixing said upright elongate members to the ground, raising said cross members such that said first sleeve members slide upwardly along said upright elongate members until an upper end of said first AM.OS:9BRIs 29 Novemer 1994 9 -1 4a sleeve members is at a desired height, and securing said first sleeve members to said upright members.

In a preferred form, the first sleeve member is open AM:O:9098.R ES 9 November 1994 5 1 j~aT1I at both its ends and said first elongate member is inserted through said first sleeve member whereby said first sleeve member is able to slide along the first elongate member.

The connecting element used in the method described above may further comprise a second sleeve member mounted in fixed relation to said first sleeve member,Asaid scond sleeve member having a longitudinal slit. In cases where such a connecting element is used, the method of the present invention preferably comprises securing said second elongate member to said connecting element by slidably receiving said second elongate member in said second sleeve member and applying fastening means to said second sleeve member.

It will be appreciated that the steps of the above methods may be carried out in any particular order. For example, the connecting element may be secured to the second elongate member prior to the first elongate member being slidably received in the first sleeve member.

Alternatively, the first elongate member may be secured to the first sleeve member and the second elongate member subsequently received in the second sleeve member.

In a preferred embodiment of the method of the present invention, the second elongate member comprises a cross member having connecting elements secured to both ends thereof and the first sleeves of said connecting elements slidably receive respective upright members. In a particularly useful method of assembling a building frame according to the present invention, the said cross member having connecting elements secured to both ends thereof is located near ground level, one end of respective upright elongate members are passed through said first sleeve members of both connecting elements, said upright elongate qt%\O1\ 090.nu 9. tO 1 6 members are subsequently fixed to the ground, said cross member is raised such that the first sleeve members slide upwardly along the upright members until an upper end of the first sleeve members lies adjacent upper ends of the upright members and the first sleeve members are then secured to said upright members by use of fastening means.

The upright members may comprise one set of a series of sets of in-line upright members, each of the set of upright members being associated with respect to the cross members.

Each of the respective cross members may be joined together by battens. The sets of upright members and respective cross members form the frame of the building.

By using the connecting component in accordance with the present invention, elongate members preferably of steel can be readily joined together without having to shape the ends of the elongate member to form a join and subsequently welding the ends thereby reducing the time to join the elongate members together and form a building frame.

The foregoing and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the front section of the building frame in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of region 2-2 in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a hip joint connecting component in accordance with the invention for a building frame; Figure 4 is a perspective view of an elbow joint connecting component in accordance with the invention; Figure 5 is a front elevational view of a collar tie 92 to I 7 used to brace a building frame; Figure 6 is an end elevational view of a co.lar tie shown in Figure Figure 7 is an end elevational view of a lateral mounting bracket for an elongate steel member; Figure 8 is a plan view of the bracket shown in Figure 7; and Figure 9 is a front elevational view of the bracket shown in Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 is a perspective view of a connecting element according to the invention having further sleeve members mounted on its side walls; Figures 11-14 show in diagrammatic form the sequential steps of a method of constructing a building frame in accordance with the invention; Figure 15 shows an alternative construction of a collar tie used to brace a building frame; and Figure 16 is a sectional view taken along section A-A of Figure As shown in Figure 1 a building frame 1 produced in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises elongate members 2 mounted in a mounting bracket (not shown) set into the footings of the proposed building.

The elongate members 2 extend in a substantially upright position and are received within hip joint connecting members 3.

The hip joint connecting members 3, shown in Figure 3, are made from two rectangular sectioned sleeve members 4, having a slit 6, 7, extending longitudinally of each member along substantially the entire side of the section.

The sleeve members are thus defined by sides 8, 9, connected together by web 10 and having flanges 11, 12, to gq\oI \gou o.OU z 10 II -"s~"~'~WyYL"PPY"U"C= 8 give a generally shaped appearance.

Sleeve member 4 defines the first sleeve member and, as can be seen from Figure 3, the first sleeve member is open at both ends. This allows an elongate member to slide through the sleeve. In the embodiment shown in Figure 3, sleeve member 5 forms the second sleeve member.

It would be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that cross section of the sleeve members is dependent on the cross sectional shape of the elongate ±0 members 2 and that the presence of the longitudinal slit will nevertheless give a shaped section.

Once the elongate member 2 is positioned in the connecting components 3, fastening means such as selftapping screws known under the trade name TEKS are used to individually fasten each side element 8, 9 of the sleeve member to the sides of the elongate member 2 received within the respective sleeve member. Consequently the web of each sleeve member deforms producing a clamping effect on the elongate member 2.

The elongate member is consequently securely held within the sleeve member and prevented from movement by both the clamping effect and the fasteners.

Fastening means other than TEKS screws such as bolts and the like can be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Furthermnore, while it facilitates ease 1 of manufacture for the slit to extend the entire longitudinal length of the sleeve, it is within the scope of the invention that the slit extends only the distance from the distal end of the sleeve member which is sufficient to allow the web of the sleeve members to be deformed and comply with the shape of the elongate member.

Once connected to elongate members 2, the hip joint (J11\0 I M96. nu 1J2 10 Ii L S.

9 connecting members 3 further received elongate members 13 which extend at a fixed angle relative to elongate member 2. The fixed angle is predetermined by the angle between the sleeve sections of the connecting components and can be varied depending upon the overall design of the proposed building frame.

As shown in Figure 1 the elongate members are each received within the sleeve member 15,16 of elbow connecting component 14. Connecting component 14 (Figure 4) comprises sleeve member 15, 16 which each receive an elongate member 13 and each sleeve member has a slit extending substantially the longitudinal length of each member. As with the hip joint connecting components and under the actions of fastening means, web 21 is deformed as sides 17, 18 and flanges 19, 20 are squeezed towards each other.

In some circumstances extra bracing for the roof may be required. To provide this extra bracing a collar tie 22 is fastened to the underside of elongate member 13 to allow a further bracing elongate member 23 to be positioned for extra structural support. The collar tie 22 comprises a shaped channel section 24 which is sized to receive elongate member 23 as shown in Figure 2, and the sleeve member 25 which receives the bracing elongate member 23.

By using these collar ties and additional bracing elongate member, the roof is given a structural sound triangular configuration.

An alternative construction of tL.e collar tie is shown in Figures 15 and 16. In this embodiment, collar tie 122 comprises a first sleeve 124 and a second sleeve 126.

Longitudinal slots 125 and 127 are associated with respective sleeves 124, 126. In use, elongate member 130 is passed through sleeve 124. Member 130 may be passed 11t1\0I N990. ho, 92 10 0 a la 10 i0 through sleeve 124 pric to positioning and securing member 130 in place in the building frame. Once member 130 is positioned, the placement of collar tie 122 may be adjusted as desired by sliding the collar tie along elongate member 130. When collar tie 122 is placed in the desired position, it is secured to elongate member 130 by fastening means such as TEKS screws. Elongate member 132, which may have been positioned in sleeve 126 before securing the collar tie to elongate member 130, is then secured by fastening means, for example, TEKS screws. It will be appreciated that the above sequence of steps may be varied somewhat in practising the invention.

S' To provide connection to laterally extend elongate members, a laterally mounting bracket 26 is used in co-operation with the hip joint connecting component 3.

S° The lateral mounting bracket 26 shown in Figures 7-9 comprises a shape channel 27 connected to a slit lateral sleeve member 28. Channel 27 is of a size to fit over hip joint connecting member 3 and is provided with a raised tongue 30 connected to the web 29 of the channel 27.

0 When the channel section 27 is fitted over sleeve member 4, 'the flanges 11, 12 on the sleeve member are sandwiched between the tongue 30 and the web 29 of the channel. The mounting bracket will continue its downward movement adjacent to the flanges 11 and 12 only as far as the connection weld 31 of the tongue to the channel 27 will permit thereby providing a sleeve member 28 which can receive an elongate member (not shown) and allow the elongate member to extend in a lateral direction.

It is preferred that the connecting components in accordance with the present invention and the elongate members used in conjunction with those connection members gIn\Ol\)o'O,nu 9. io U Our Ref: #9098 GN:RB Fee: $405.00 A~OO? 10,oq'2 Li to produce a building frame, are all made from rolled steel section with the steel thickness varying between about 1-11 mm depending on the load of the building. It would be appreciated by those skilled in the art by using the connection components in accordance with the present invention in conjunction with conventional elongate hollow' section beams, that a steel f ramed building can be produced in a more timely and precise manner with the consequent reduction in costs.

TO0 Figure 10 shows an connecting element that is similar 044 outo the one shown in Figure 3 with the addition of further sleeve member 35 mounted on the side wall of the first sleeve member. The further sleeve member 35 is used for receiving elongate members that can form th'e supporting frame for verandahs, eaves, or other structures that extend 04 on 4 00t~th main frame of the building. Although not shown in 04 0 Figure 10, it is preferred that a second further sleeve member be mounted on the opposing side wall of the sleeve.

0 The connecting element of the present invention may opitonally be provided with pre-formed holes to facilitate positioning and securing of the fastening means.

Referring now to Figures 11 to 14, a preferred method of assembling a building frame according to the present invention will be described. With reference to Figure 11, cross beam 40 comprises separate elongate elements 41 and 42 connected together by use of connecting element 43, which is similar to the connecting element shown in Figure 4. Connecting elements 45 and 46, which are similar -to the connecting element shown in Figure 3, are secured to either end of cross beam 40. Cross beam 40 and its associated connecting elements are positioned at the required location on a building site and upright elongate members 47 and 48 '9T\01\9090,uU 92 to a -12are inserted through the sleeves of connecting elements and 46. Once upright members 47 and 48 have been inserted to the required length, TEKS screws are used to temporarily hold the upright members in position. The cross member is thereafter supported on blocks of wood 49,50 or other suitable pack such that the upright members extend a suitable depth, say 400mm, into pre-dug holes 51 and 52.

It will be appreciated that the packs 49,50 support the upright members at the required depth. Concrete is ithereafter poured into the holes and allowed to cure. This o of course thereby supports the upright members in the desired position.

The TEKS screw may then be removed and cross member lifted such that the sleeves of connecting elements 45 and 46 slide upwardly along respective upright members 47 and o 48 (refer to Figure 13). When the sleeves reach the upper end of upright members 47 and 48, the sleeves are secured to the upright members by use of fastening means, such as :TEKS screws, bolts or the like.

As shown in Figure 12, upright members 47 and 48 may form one set of a series of sets of upright members that define part of the structure of the building frame. Cross member 40 may be connected to other cross members by use of battens 55, 56 and 57. The cross members and the battens will act -to define the support structure for the roof of the building. In the embodiment shown in Figure 12, once the concrete has cured, the entire upper structure of the building frame may be lifted into place and secured at the upper ends of the upright members. Alternatively, each cross member may be raised separately and secured to the upper ends of the upright members and the battens are fixed once the cross members are secured in place. Those skilled 'J1\O1\9o0I.au 92 to 0|

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first sleeve members to said upright members.

I ii i 'I I -I 13 in the art will appreciate that the battens may be fixed by any suitable method, such as riveting, screwing or nailing.

Further battens may be connected to the building frame as desired to produce the building frame as shown in Figure 14.

To complete the building, doors and windows are added and cladding is placed on the building.

The method as described above has substantial advantages of known methods of constructing metal frame buildings. In known methods, the cross members had to be welded to upper ends of the upright members. Not only was this a laborious task, it was also difficult to elevate the welding apparatus to the required height. Furthermore, exact positioning of the upright members was required in order to ensure a clean joint between the uprights and the cross members.

In contrast, the present invention can substantially do away with the requirements for welding. However, it will be appreciated that cross member 40 may be manufactured by joining elongate members 41 and 42 by welding instead of using connecting element 43.

Furthermore, the upright members are not positioned in con":irete until after they are positioned with respect to the cross members. Accordingly, a clean joint between the 'ross members and the upright members is assured.

Furthermore, securing the cross member to the upright members can be carried out by use of fastening means such as screws, rivets, bolts or nails and this eliminates the need to elevate the welding equipment to the height of the upright members.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It gj\01 \9098.u 92 0 0 performing it known to us: -1- I ii I r~ 14 is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications that fall within its spirit and scope.

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Claims (19)

1. A method for assembling a building frame comprising a plurality of elongated members including cross members connected to upright elongate members, which method comprises providing a plurality of connecting elements comprising a first sleeve member and a second sleeve member mounted to said first sleeve member, wherein at least said first sleeve member is open at both ends to enable an elongate member to pass through said first sleeve member, securing connecting elements to respective ends of a cross member by inserting each end of the cross member into the second sleeve member of respective connecting elements, locating said cross member having said connecting elements secured to both ends thereof near ground level, passing one end of respective upright elongate members through said first sleeve members of the connecting elements secured to the respective ends of said cross member, fixing said upright elongate members to the ground, raising said cross members such that said first sleeve members slide upwardly along said upright elongate members until an upper end of said first sleeve members is at a desired height, and securing said first sleeve members to said upright members.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cross members are secured to said second sleeve members prior to passing said upright elongate elements through respective first sleeve members.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein S said upright elongate members are inserted through respective second sleeve members and one end of respective upright elongate members extends into respective holes dug in the ground and said upright elongate members are fixed to the k ground by concreting the ends of the upright elongate members S in the holes.

4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 3 wherein said cross members are temporarily supported above the ground prior to inserting said upright elongate members through the first sleeve members. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said upright members comprise one set of a series of sets of in-line upright members, each of said sets of upright AM.05;909RES 29 November 1994 ON:NEF:119098 IlaI July 1995 I I 'i II m ,1 16 members being associated with respective cross members with battens being positioned transversely to and connected to said cross members, said sets of upright elongate members with respective cross members and said battens forming said building frame.

6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said cross member comprises a single elongate member.

7. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1 to wherein said cross member comprises two elongate elements joined together by a connecting member comprising two sleeve members.

8. A method as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7 wherein said cross member comprise a roofing rafter.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said two elongated members are joined together at an angle to each other and said cross members form a sloping roof. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said connecting elements are fixed to said elongate members by use of screws, nails or bolts.

11. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said first sleeve member has a longitudinal slit extending along a substantial part of its length and said second sleeve member has a longitudinal slit extending along a 2 substantial part of its length.

12. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein said sleeve members are deformed when they are secured to said elongate members and thereby clamp said elongate members.

13. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the first sleeve members are secured to respective upright members such that an upper end of said first sleeve members lies substantially adjacent upper ends of the upright members. 1A K 1 I a first sleeve member having a longitudin sitextending along a substantial part i a-kts ength, said first sleeve member ad pted o slidably receive a first elongate frame Jj -4 i ^j ent tMl-Utt-ififetif ttA.--W W -U -I- AM.-5.909&RES 29 ovember 1994 P- I

17- 14. A connecting element for a building frame including a first sleeve member having a longitudinal slit extending along a substantial part of its length, the first sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a first elongate frame member, the first sleeve members being open at both ends such that the first elongate frame member is able to be inserted through the first sleeve member, the first elongate frame member in use being secured to the first sleeve member by fastening means that pass through a sidewall of the first sleeve member and join the sidewall of the first sleeve member to a corresponding sidewall of the first elongate frame member, the connecting element further including a second sleeve member mounted in fixed relationship to the first sleeve member, the second sleeve member having a longitudinal slit extending along a substantial part of its length, the second sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a second elongate frame member. A connecting element as claimed in claim 14 wherein the second elongate frame member is in use secured to the second sleeve member by fastening means that pass through a sidewall of the second sleeve member and join the sidewall of the second sleeve member to a corresponding sidewall of the second elongate frame member. 16. A connecting element as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the fastening means passes through the sidewall of the first sleeve member and through the corresponding sidewall of the first elongate frame member. 17. A connecting element as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the fastening means passes through the sidewall of the second sleeve member and through the corresponding sidewall of the second elongate frame member.

18. A connecting element as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 17 wherein the fastening means includes screws, bolts or nails. ON:NEF:#9098 5 July 1995 IL i 18

19. A connecting element as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 18 further comprising at least one further sleeve member mounted to a side wall of one of the said sleeve members, said further sleeve member adapted to slidably receive a further elongate member.

20. A connecting element as claimed in claim 19 comprising two further sleeve members mounted on opposing side walls of said one of said sleeve members.

21. A connecting element as claimed in claim 20 wherein said further sleeve members are mounted on the first sleeve member.

22. A connecting element as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 21 wherein the first sleeve member includes one or more holes or slots formed in the sidewall(s) thereof through which the fastening means can pass.

23. A connecting element as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 22 wherein the second sleeve member includes one or more holes or slots formed in the sidewall(s) thereof through which the fastening means can pass.

24. A connecting element substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. A method for assembling a building frame substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED: 5 July 1995 CARTER SMITH BEADLE Patent Attorneys for the Applicant: GEOFF FRANCIS TAFFS and HERMAN SIEDSES ON:NI;P:9098 5 July 1995 IL- I_ I~YWni 19 ABSTRACT A connecting element for a building frame comprises a first sleeve member having a longitudinal slit The first sleeve member is adapted to slidably receive an elongate frame member The first sleeve member (6) is adapted to be secured to a further elongate member (13). The connecting element may further comprise a second sleeve member having a longitudinal slit The elongate members may be secured to the connecting element by fastening means, such as screws or bolts. Positioning of the connecting element may be achieved by sliding the connecting element along the elongate member. tI\ol \1 iJ Au 92 10 U IL-I