CA3234234A1

CA3234234A1 - Connecting element

Info

Publication number: CA3234234A1
Application number: CA3234234A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Anton KRALER; Andreas POMAROLI; Philipp ZINGERLE; Bernhard Maurer; Christian Stoffler; Martin LENGAUER-STOCKNER
Original assignee: Fs1 Fiedler Stoffler Ziviltechniker GmbH; Holzbau Lengauer Stockner GmbH; Universitaet Innsbruck
Current assignee: Fs1 Fiedler Stoffler Ziviltechniker GmbH; Holzbau Lengauer Stockner GmbH; Universitaet Innsbruck
Priority date: 2021-10-25
Filing date: 2022-10-24
Publication date: 2023-05-04
Also published as: AT525590A1; WO2023070138A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a connecting element (1), comprising a front retaining section (2) with a first thickness (d2), a rear retaining section (3) with a second thickness (d3), wherein the front retaining section (2) has an even front boundary surface (4), wherein the rear retaining section (3) has an even rear boundary surface (5), wherein the front boundary surface (4) and the rear boundary surface (5) are arranged substantially parallel, wherein the front boundary surface (4) has an edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, wherein the rear boundary surface (5) has an edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, wherein the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the front boundary surface (4) and the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the rear boundary surface (5) are rotated relative to one another by an angle (a) of 90° to 180°, wherein the width (b2) of the front retaining section (2) reduces from the region of the edge with the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, along the first thickness (d2), to the rear retaining section (3), wherein the width (b3) of the rear retaining section (3) reduces from the region of the edge with the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, along the second thickness (d3), to the front retaining section (2).

Description

CONNECTING ELEMENT
The present invention relates to a connecting element for connecting wooden components.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In timber construction, various wooden components have to be connected with fasteners, with high demands placed on the fasteners. The fasteners have to absorb large loads, and they should be easily deployable on construction sites. In many cases, metal connecting elements are used that meet these requirements. Besides simple screw connections, more complex fasteners made of metal are also used.
For example, EP 1 239 092 Al discloses a multi-part metal connecting element for connecting two beams with two connecting flanges, each of them being screwed to the beam to be connected. A connecting flange has a slot-shaped cavity into which a tailored projection of the other connecting flange is inserted.
However, an increasing desire for metal-free fasteners and, respectively, fasteners made of wood is felt in timber construction. In the past, these were replaced by metal fasteners because of increasing requirements in terms of load-bearing capacity and a changed cost structure. In order for fasteners made of wood to be able to compete with those made of metal with regard to the requirements in terms of load-bearing capacity and economic efficiency, more complex wooden materials and manufacturing methods are necessary, which are available today.
EP 3 359 754 B1 describes connecting elements for interconnecting two components along surfaces facing each other. In doing so, two components with a cavity are interconnected by a connecting element. In this case, said element is designed as a type of double dovetail (also called Hoffmann-Schwalbe), with the two dovetails being arranged in such a way that the narrow end of one dovetail is connected to the narrow end of the other dovetail and the broad ends of the dovetail are spaced apart from each other. The corresponding cavities in the components are positively connected to one dovetail each, with the cavities being designed so as to be narrower in the area of their mouths at the edge of the component and wider in the interior of the component. Such connecting elements are well suited for interconnecting two components on the front side.
DE 10 2011 008 752 Al describes a type of dovetail connection for connecting two beam-shaped wooden components. The dovetail connection consists of a pin provided on the first component and having lateral outer surfaces converging in a wedge-shaped manner in the insertion direction and a groove provided on the second component and containing inner side surfaces corresponding to the outer surfaces of the pin.

2 Also, for the connection of wall elements to ceiling elements, each of them made of wood, it is already known from the prior art to mill a cavity into the wall element and a projection into the ceiling element in order to establish a positive connection in this way.
However, in doing so, the introduction of the projections, especially if several projections would have to be introduced into a ceiling element, involves a major loss of material and great expenditure of time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a connecting element which allows a ceiling element made of wood to be connected to a wall element made of wood, while getting by without large material input, and enables very high stability in the longitudinal and transverse directions.
This object is achieved by a connecting element comprising = a front retaining section having a first thickness, = a rear retaining section having a second thickness, wherein the front retaining section has a flat front boundary surface, wherein the rear retaining section has a flat rear boundary surface, wherein the front boundary surface and the rear boundary surface are arranged essentially in parallel, wherein the front boundary surface has an edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, wherein the rear boundary surface has an edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, wherein the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the front boundary surface is rotated relative to the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the rear boundary surface by an angle of 90 to 1800 , wherein the width of the front retaining section decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness towards the rear retaining section, wherein the width of the rear retaining section decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness towards the front retaining section.
With such a connecting element, components made of wood which have cavities that are form-fitting relative to the retaining sections cannot only be easily connected;
the connection is also very stable and also very tight due to the positive fit. The connecting element forms a coupling element that is independent of the components, can be optimized specifically and can be embedded in the components such as ceiling or wall elements without any protrusion, while being neutral with regard to dimensions. The loss of material for producing a pin or projection

3 in the component is eliminated. Similarly, the plate elements remain untouched by the connecting element on either side, apart from the precisely fitting cavity of the respective pin hole, without requiring excess numbers of cavities for assembly purposes etc.
The alignment of the plates is not exceeded by the system connection on either side of the attachment so that this system is also very well suited for multi-storey walls with ceilings that have been hung up subsequently.
The retaining sections of the connecting element can be interconnected in a jointless and non-positive manner and can thus be independent of the plate elements to be attached. These elements are simply countersunk in precisely fitting pin holes - arranged on both sides of the plate elements - without changing the outer plate dimensions such as alignments. Therefore, the retaining sections do not have to be screwed onto the plate elements. For this reason, the connection system does not require any metal aids such as screws or bolts.
It is preferably envisaged that the front boundary surface has an edge with a U-shape or V-shape and the rear boundary surface has an edge with a U-shape or V-shape. In both cases, the U-shape is particularly preferred.
In a preferred embodiment variant, the connecting element is designed in one piece. It can be manufactured by milling, for example.
In an alternative embodiment variant, it is envisaged that the front retaining section is connected to the rear retaining section via pin-shaped fasteners.
However, both embodiment variants result equally in an independent coupling element that can be optimized independently of the plate elements and has a multidimensional static effect.
Particularly preferably, the connecting element is made of wood; if necessary, binders or, respectively, adhesives are also provided for connecting the wooden elements of the retaining sections. In this case, the connecting element can comprise at least one retaining section made of laminated veneer lumber. Therefore, binders are also provided for this reason. Preferably, the main fibre direction of the laminated veneer lumber is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape.
However, bonding or, respectively, assembly does not occur on the plate elements; the fastener is completely independent of the plate elements and can thus also be optimized or conditioned, respectively.
In one embodiment variant, it is envisaged that the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the front boundary surface is rotated relative to the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the rear boundary surface by approximately 1800. This allows ceiling elements

4 and wall elements aligned relative to each other at 900 in the longitudinal plane to be assembled particularly easily. Other angles, for example, allow wall and ceiling elements to be assembled obliquely (e.g., at an obtuse angle). At all angles, no excess number of alignments is applied by the connecting element and the two plate elements with milled, precisely fitting pin holes so that the connecting element is also very well suited for refurbishments or, respectively, expansions hung up subsequently during renovations.
Preferably, the width of the front retaining section decreases linearly from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness towards the rear retaining section. Therefore, the outer contour along the thickness of the front retaining section is also U-shaped, polygonal or V-shaped, but the size of the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape decreases.
The width of the rear retaining section also preferably decreases linearly from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness towards the rear retaining section. Therefore, the outer contour along the thickness of the rear retaining section is also U-shaped, polygonal or V-shaped, but the size of the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape decreases.
The width of the front retaining section preferably decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness towards the rear retaining section as far as to a separating plane between the front retaining section and the rear retaining section.
Furthermore, it can be envisaged that the width of the rear retaining section decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness as far as to the separating plane. The two retaining sections thereby remain interconnected in a jointless and non-positive manner.
In addition to a linear decrease in the width of the front retaining section from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, the width can decrease step by step along the first thickness towards the rear retaining section. This also applies analogously to the rear retaining section so that the width of the rear retaining section can decrease step by step from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness towards the front retaining section. Such steps can increase the stability of the connection. A
width decreasing step by step is understood to mean that, in certain areas, the width of the respective retaining section initially decreases linearly from the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the respective thickness towards the other retaining section, with a step subsequently being provided at which the width increases abruptly towards the other retaining section and forms a new edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, the width again

5 decreasing linearly from the new edge along the respective thickness towards the other retaining section.
For acoustic decoupling and airtight attachment of the linked components, a sealing element can be applied along the first thickness and/or along the second thickness.
The sealing element can be a soundproofing element, an airtightness element, a fire protection sealing element or a combination thereof Furthermore, the invention relates to a set comprising = a connecting element of the above-mentioned type = a first component with a cavity which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the front retaining section, and = a second component with a cavity which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the rear retaining section.
For acoustic decoupling and airtight attachment of the linked components, a sealing element can be inserted along a component. In doing do, the sealing element is folded into the component. This sealing element can also be inserted into the cavity on the back of a retaining section.
If sealing elements are present, the two retaining sections can also be installed obliquely -relative to the axes of the components to be attached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Further advantages and details of the invention are explained using the figures and the following description of the figures.
The following is shown:
Figs. la to ld show a first embodiment variant of a connecting element according to the invention in an oblique elevation (Fig. la), a front view (Fig. lb), a side view (Fig. 1c) and a rear view (Fig. 1d).
Figs. 2a to 2d show a second embodiment variant of a connecting element according to the invention in an oblique elevation (Fig. 2a), a front view (Fig. 2b), a side view (Fig. 2c) and a rear view (Fig. 2d).
Figs. 3a to 3d show the embodiment variant of the connecting element of Figs. la to ld with a sealing element.
Figs. 4a to 4d show a third embodiment variant of a connecting element according to the invention in an oblique elevation (Fig. 4a), a front view (Fig. 4b), a side view (Fig. 4c) and a rear view (Fig. 4d).

6 Figs. 5a to 5d show the connecting element according to Figs. la to 1 d with components in the connected state (Fig. 5a), in an exploded front view (Fig. 5b) and, respectively, in an oblique elevation in two views (Fig. 5c and Fig. 5d).
Figs. 6a to 6d show the connecting element according to Figs. la to 1 d with a longitudinal sealing element folded into the component (in this case a wall element) or, respectively, inserted on the back of the wall-side retaining section with components in the connected state (Fig. 6a), in an exploded view (Fig. 6b) and, respectively, in an oblique elevation in two views (Fig. 6c and Fig. 6d).
In the figures and in the descriptions of the figures, like components are used with like reference numerals so that, if overlaps occur in the description of the individual embodiment variants, a new discussion of all the components that have already been described is avoided.
Figs. la to ld show a connecting element 1 according to the invention. The connecting element 1 comprises a front retaining section 2 with a first thickness d2 and a rear retaining section 3 with a second thickness d3. The two retaining elements 2, 3 engage complementary cavities on the components (in this regard, see Fig. 5). The front retaining section 2 has a flat front boundary surface 4 towards the front of the connecting element 1. In this case, the front boundary surface 4 is designed in such a way that the edge displays a U-shape. The rear retaining section 3 has a flat rear boundary surface 5, the rear boundary surface 5 also having an edge with a U-shape.
The front boundary surface 4 and the rear boundary surface 5 are arranged in parallel to each other. In addition, the respective "U" of the U-shape of the edge of the front boundary surface 4 is rotated relative to the U-shape of the edge of the rear boundary surface 5 by an angle of a 180 .
It is clearly evident that the width b2 of the front retaining section 2 decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape along the first thickness d2 towards the rear retaining section 3.
Similarly, the width b3 of the rear retaining section 3 decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape along the second thickness d3 towards the front retaining section 2.
In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. la to 1 d, the connecting element 1 has been manufactured from a block of laminated veneer lumber by milling so that the connecting element 1 is designed in one piece. Accordingly, the connecting element 1 consists only of wood and binder, wherein the binder is required for building up the laminated veneer lumber.
Thus, both retaining sections 2, 3 hence consist of laminated veneer lumber, with the main fibre direction of the laminated veneer lumber being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the U-shape.

7 As can be seen from the figures in Figs. 1 a to ld, the width b2 of the front retaining section 2 decreases linearly from the area of the edge with a U-shape along the first thickness d2 towards the rear retaining section 3. The width b3 of the rear retaining section 3 also decreases linearly from the area of the edge with a U-shape along the second thickness d3 towards the front retaining section 2. Specifically, the width b3 of the rear retaining section 3 thereby decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape along the second thickness d3 as far as to the separating plane E. In addition, the width b2 of the front retaining section 2 decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape along the first thickness d2 towards the rear retaining section 3 as far as to a separating plane E between the front retaining section 2 and the rear retaining section 3. (For reasons of clarity, the separating plane E is depicted only in Fig. 2a, which otherwise also shows a connecting element 1 along the lines of Figs. la to ld.) In contrast to the exemplary embodiment of Figs. la to ld, the connecting element of Figs. 2a to 2d is composed of several parts, namely the front retaining section 2, the rear retaining section 3 and pin-shaped fasteners 9, which connect the front retaining section 2 to the rear retaining section 3. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, eight fasteners 9 are shown, which are arranged roughly circularly on the respective retaining section 2, 3 in order to optimize the load distribution. The retaining sections 2, 3 have bores into which the fasteners 9 are inserted. The fasteners 9 can be inserted into the bores in a non-positive manner and/or can be glued into the bores.
In other respects, the exemplary embodiments of Figs. la to ld and 2a to 2d are analogous.
The exemplary embodiment of Figs. 3a to 3d corresponds to the exemplary embodiment of Figs. la to ld, with a sealing element 11 being applied along a thickness d3.
In this case, the sealing element 11 is a combination of a soundproofing element, an airtightness element and a fire protection sealing element.
In the exemplary embodiment of Figs. 4a to 4d, a modification of the exemplary embodiment of Figs. la to ld is shown. Therein, it is envisaged that, in certain areas, the width b3 of the rear retaining section 3 decreases step by step from the edge with a U-shape along the second thickness d3 towards the front retaining section 2. This means that, in certain areas, the width b3 of the rear retaining section 3 decreases from the edge with a U-shape along the second thickness d3 towards the front retaining section 2, then increases again at a step and finally decreases again.
Figs. 5a to 5d show a connecting element 1 as described in Figs. la to ld, as well as a first component 31 in the form of a wall element and a second component 32 in the form of a ceiling

8 element. The first component 31 has a cavity which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the front retaining section 2. The second component 32 has a cavity which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the rear retaining section 3. When assembled, the component can thus connect a wall element to a ceiling element. The shape of the connecting element 1, of the cavities in the components and the positive connection allow perfect force transmission from the ceiling element 32 to the wall element 31. The pressures acting on the connecting element 1 (Peening and P ) are indicated in Fig. 5a. Figs. 5c and 5d show views with several connecting - wall, elements for connecting a ceiling element 32 to a wall element 31.
Figs. 6a to 6d show a connecting element 1 as described in Figs. la to 1 d, as well as a first component 31 in the form of a wall element and a second component 32 in the form of a ceiling element. The first component 31 has an oversized cavity - herein shown obliquely - for accommodating a sealing element 11 inserted on the back, which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the front retaining section 2 including the sealing element 11. The second component 32 has a cavity - herein shown obliquely - which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the rear retaining section 3. Furthermore, a fold with an integrated sealing element 11 is shown along the wall element. Figs. 6a and 6b show the complete system composed of a sealing element 11 inserted between the first component 31 and the front retaining section 2 and - relative to the axes of the components to be attached - inclined front and rear retaining sections 2, 3, both in the assembled state (Fig. 6a) and in an exploded view (Fig. 6b).
The sealing element 11 can be inserted into a fold 12 along the first component 31. Figs. 6c and 6d show a first and a second component 31, 32, which are interconnected using a plurality of connecting elements 1 and additionally have a seal 11 between the first component 31 and the front retaining sections 2 of the connecting elements 1. In the embodiment variants in Figs. 6a to 6d, the seal 11 can, in each case, also be arranged between the second component 32 and the rear retaining section 3.
The shape of the connecting element 1, of the cavities in the components and the positive connection allow perfect force transmission from the second component 32, the ceiling element, to the first component 31, the wall element. The pressures acting on the connecting element 1 (Peening and P ) are indicated in Fig. 6a.
- wall,

Claims

9

1. A connecting element (1) comprising .cndot. a front retaining section (2) having a first thickness (d2), .cndot. a rear retaining section (3) having a second thickness (d3), wherein the front retaining section (2) has a flat front boundary surface (4), wherein the rear retaining section (3) has a flat rear boundary surface (5), wherein the front boundary surface (4) and the rear boundary surface (5) are arranged essentially in parallel, wherein the front boundary surface (4) has an edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, wherein the rear boundary surface (5) has an edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape, wherein the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the front boundary surface (4) is rotated relative to the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the rear boundary surface (5) by an angle (a) of 90° to 180°, wherein the width (b2) of the front retaining section (2) decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness (d2) towards the rear retaining section (3), wherein the width (b3) of the rear retaining section (3) decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness (d3) towards the front retaining section (2).

2. A connecting element according to claim 1, characterized in that it is designed in one piece.

3. A connecting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the front retaining section (2) is connected to the rear retaining section (3) via pin-shaped fasteners (9).

4. A connecting element according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is made of wood and, if necessary, a binder.

5. A connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the front boundary surface is rotated relative to the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape of the edge of the rear boundary surface by an angle (.alpha.) of 90 to 180°.

6. A connecting element according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the width (b2) of the front retaining section (2) decreases linearly from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness (d2) towards the rear retaining section (3), with the width (b3) of the rear retaining section (3) decreasing linearly from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness (d3) towards the front retaining section (2).

7. A connecting element according to claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the width (b2) of the front retaining section (2) decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness (d2) towards the rear retaining section (3) as far as to a separating plane (E) between the front retaining section (2) and the rear retaining section (3).

8. A connecting element according to claim 7, characterized in that the width (b3) of the rear retaining section (3) decreases from the area of the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness (d3) as far as to the separating plane (E).

9. A connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one retaining section (2, 3) consists of laminated veneer lumber, with the main fibre direction (if one or several fibre directions is/are present) of the laminated veneer lumber being parallel to the longitudinal axis of the U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape.

10. A connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the width (b2) of the front retaining section (2) decreases stepwise in an area from the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the first thickness (d2) towards the rear retaining section (3).

11. A connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the width (b3) of the rear retaining section (3) decreases stepwise in an area from the edge with a U-shape, polygon shape or V-shape along the second thickness (d3) towards the front retaining section (2).

12. A connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that a sealing element (11) is applied along the first thickness (d2) and/or along the second thickness (d3).

13. A connecting element according to claim 12, characterized in that the sealing element (11) is a soundproofing element, an airtightness element, a fire protection sealing element or a combination thereof.

14. A set comprising = a connecting element according to any of claims 1 to 13, = a first component (31) with a cavity which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the front retaining section (2), and = a second component (32) with a cavity which is designed so as to be form-fitting relative to the rear retaining section (3).

15. A set according to claim 14, characterized in that the first component (31) is a wall element and the second component (32) is a ceiling element.

16. A set according to claim 14, characterized in that the first component (31) is a wall element and the second component (32) is a wall element.

17. A set according to claim 14, characterized in that the first component (31) is a ceiling element and the second component (32) is a ceiling element.

18. A set according to any of claims 14 to 17, wherein a sealing element (11) is arranged betweent the first component (31) and the front retaining section (2).