AU707800B2 - Joint means - Google Patents

Description

TITLE

Joint Means FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to building and in particular to the erection of steel frame buildings.

More particularly the invention relates to a joint for use in construction of a frame for a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION It is known to use steel in construction of buildings. Particular cross section, rolled steel members are routinely produced on order for the trade.

The usual manner of forming a framing element of a building is to order the desired lengths of stock, roll formed steel, and then weld end plates or brackets 15 thereto. These end plates or brackets usually have flanges for abutment with the corresponding part of an adjoining member, with provision therein of a means such as hole for receipt therethrough of a bolt which is the usual means of interconnection used in the assembly of 20 such frames. This method of forming the elements of the frame is labour intensive. Its success is dependent on the skills of a welder so as to produce a reliable result. In practice, the joint between the rolled steel members is the point of weakness of the frame.

Typically the joint is able to withstand only a fraction of the theoretical load which the usual roll formed members will sustain within their length.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to 3 provide a means by which a joint can be formed in a steel frame with reduced labour; reduced reliance on skilled trades; and which achieves superior strength.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter become apparent.

NATURE OF THE INVENTION The invention achieves its object in the provision of a joint means for interconnection of elongate C-sections comprising: a planar sheet form joint spanning body part with at least first and second portions, each portion extended along respective first and. second directions and each defining a respective axis along which an elongate member is to lie, in use, which portions abut, in use, the respective elongate element; 20 opposed upstanding flanges on each first and second portion, establishing respective channels therebetween, the channels extended in a respective one of the first and second direction, which upstanding flanges abut, in use, the sides of the 25 elongate members; and a plurality of means provided in association with the upstanding flanges to enable, in use, interconnection of the joint means with 30 respective elongate members.

-coo ••co The joint means which is set out above can have the joint spanning body part formed from sheet material and the shoulders can be flanges formed therein.

The above defined joint means may be more particularly adapted such that the plurality of means to enable interconnection of the joint means and respective elongate elements are holes in the flanges for receipt therein of bolts. The joint means can be formed in galvanised sheet steel, in a selected gauge, cut in the flat with wings thereto, which wings are drilled and bent to form said flanges.

The present invention encompasses a frame for a building or like structure which comprises at least two rolled steel sections and a pair of the above defined joint means, said pair of joint means being disposed with their respective channels adjoined so as to box the rolled steel sections therebetween, the joint means and the rolled steel sections being bolted 15 together.

The invention further encompasses a method of establishing a joint between two elongate members comprising selecting a pair of the joint means of the above character and boxing adjoining ends of said 20 elongate members therebetween. These are interconnected by interconnection means operative between the shoulders or flanges and respective elongate members. The method of establishing a joint is preferably applied to elongate members which are rolled 25 steel sections and the interconnection means are preferably bolts passed through the shoulders or flanges and the rolled steel sections to be tensioned by nuts applied thereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described in greater detail with reference to a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a pattern which can be used to provide a joint means in accordance with the present invention; FIG. 2 shows the joint means of FIG. 1 in its formed state; and FIG. 3 shows a style of framing which the invention enables.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 10 The pattern of FIG. 1 shows the pattern from which a joint means or knee plate can be manufactured in accordance with the invention. Sheet steel of a suitable grade can be cut with the outline shown so as to provide a joint spanning body part or planar body part 10 with shoulders, edge flanges or wings 11 to 14 attached thereto, which, in use, are bent to a position at which they are flat against the elongate member which is to be joined thereto. In practice, when the elongate member is one of the common lengths of stock material, the flanges or wings are at right angles to the planar body part 10. They are conveniently produced in flat sheet stock by bending along lines 15 to 18 respectively. The cut 29, and cutout 30, permit the folding which forms the shoulders or upstanding flanges.

The flanges or wings 11 to 14 can be provided with a plurality of means to enable interconnection of the joint means and respective elongate elements. These are most conveniently holes therein for the receipt of bolts, such as bolt holes 19 to 28.

FIG. 2 shows a joint means or knee plate which has been produced off the pattern of FIG. i. It is formed with its wings or flanges bent upwardly out of the plane of the planar body part 10. The effect is to create intersecting channels between the upstanding flanges or wings, which channels, in use, receive the framing elements that are to be joined by the joint means. Bolt holes, as shown, are convenient securing points at which the knee plate or joint means and framing elements can be finally connected.

It will be appreciated that the above described knee plate or joint means can be manufactured by automated processes such as stamping, pressing, etc, with a minimum labour content. No special trade such as 15 welding is required. The frame assembly process can be by bolting only. So long as the framing elements are cut to the required length, and the knee plates are properly dimensioned, then the bolted frame will be readily produced.

20 In practice, it is found that a knee plate in the above form, bolted to a framing element through its flanges or wings, achieves a far stronger joint than does the usual welded flange assembly. The strength of the joint can approach the strength of the framing 25 elements themselves. Tests which load the knee joint to the point of failure indicates that deformation can be first expected in the flanges or wings and particularly at the bolt holes. The size of the holes relative to the dimension of the flange, and the location of the holes needs to take account of this fact with allowance of material therein to resist the deformation.

In practice, two knee plates are used, opposed to each other and complementary thereto, to capture and box the framing elements therebetween. On assembly of a joint in accordance with the invention, the joint is quite rigid during raising of the frame and attachment thereto of the other building members. The two knee plates or joint means create the equivalent of the more elaborate, known, boxed joint.

FIG. 3 shows a typical portal frame which might be produced using the invention. The portal frame 31 is fitted with knee plates of the above described character, at the knees 32 and 33. The framing elements to 38 can be standard, rolled steel, C-section lengths. The framing elements 35 and 36 can be interconnected at the apex 34 using another of the joint means having the character as hereinbefore described. The framing elements can be joined to posts 37 and 38 respectively by respective joint means at the knee joints 32 and 33. The assembly of the frame might 20 be performed on the flat, with the portal frame raised by any suitable means to the vertical over a foundation such as slab 39. The slab may be formed with the typical edge beams and frame brackets at 40 and 41 embedded therein and to which the portal frame is bolted when it is vertical. Following erection of a number of like portal frames, lengthwise members or purlins such as 42 can be bolted or screwed thereto.

These can be standard top hat sections to which cladding 43 can be screwed to form walls and a roof in like manner.

The above described joint means will be produced in a size and shape to suit the desired joint, be it knee, apex, or other, to preferably box the joint, 8 one from each side, and connect to the frame elements by suitable means such as bolts. The frame elements are typically in steel and in particular any of the standard sections might be conveniently boxed to develop a joint which is capable of a strength therein approaching or bettering the strength of the section depending, of course, on the chosen parameters such as metal type, metal thickness or gauge, etc. The joint will work across a range of sections and sizes.

9 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A joint means for interconnection of elongate C-sections comprising: a planar sheet form joint spanning body part with at least first and second portions, each portion extended along respective first and second directions and each defining a respective axis along which an elongate member is to lie, in use, which portions abut, in use, the respective elongate element; opposed upstanding flanges on each first and second portion, establishing respective channels therebetween, the channels extended in a respective one of the first and second direction, which upstanding flanges abut, in use, the sides of the elongate members; and 20 a plurality of means provided in association with the upstanding flanges to enable, in use, interconnection of the joint means with respective elongate members.

25 2. The joint means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the joint spanning body part is formed from sheet material and the upstanding flanges are formed ~therein by bending flaps thereto at right angles.

30 3. The joint means as claimed in claim 2 wherein the plurality of means to enable interconnection of the joint means and respective S S elongate elements are holes in the flanges for receipt therein of bolts.

4. The joint means as claimed in either one of claims 2 and 3 wherein the sheet material is

Claims (5)

1. 5. A frame for a building or like structure comprising: at least two rolled steel sections; and a pair of joint means as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4; said pair of joint means being disposed with their respective channels adjoined so as to box the rolled steel sections therebetween; the joint means and rolled steel sections being bolted together.
2. 6. A method of establishing a joint between two elongate members comprising; selecting a pair of the joint means of any one of claims 1 to 4; boxing adjoining ends of said elongate members therebetween; and elnaeinterconnecting said joint means and said elongate elements by interconnection means operative between the upstanding flanges and respective elongate members. A method of establishing a joint as claimed in claim 6 wherein the elongate members are rolled steel sections and the interconnection means are bolts 30 passed through the upstanding flanges and the rolled *o steel sections to be tensioned by nuts applied thereto.
3. 8. A joint means for interconnection of elongate members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 11
4. 9. A frame established by use of a joint means substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
5. 10. A method of forming a joint using a joint means substantially as hereinbefore described. DATED this Thirtieth day of April 1999. MODERN GARAGES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD By their Patent Attorneys FISHER ADAMS KELLY a ak ABSTRACT A joint means (10) by which to form a frame (31) has a joint spanning body part formed from sheet material with shoulders or flanges (11 to 14) formed therein. The joint means (10) is adapted with a plurality of means (19 to 28) to enable interconnection of the joint means (10) and respective elongate elements to 38) as by holes (19 to 28) in the flanges (11 to 14) for receipt therein of bolts. The joint means can be formed in galvanised sheet steel, in a selected gauge, cut in the flat with wings thereto, which wings are drilled and bent to form said flanges (11 to 14). The joint means (10) enable construction of frames (31) .for a building or like structure which comprise at least two rolled steel sections and a pair of the above joint means, said pair of joint means being disposed with their respective channels adjoined so as to box the rolled steel sections therebetween, the joint means and rolled steel sections being bolted together. S* S