DE9304055U1 - Flat or spatial ceiling grid made of bars and nodes, especially walkable ceiling grid - Google Patents

Description

ST-lO7a-DE 03.03.1993

MERO-Raumstruktur GmbH & Co. Würzburg, 87 00 Würzburg

Description

Flat or spatial ceiling grid made of bars and nodes, especially walkable ceiling grid

The invention relates to a flat or spatial ceiling grid made of bars and nodes, in particular a walkable ceiling grid, with supports which carry the ceiling grid.

A spatial ceiling grid, which is intended for multi-storey exhibition stands, for example, is known from the brochure of MERO-Raumstruktur GmbH & Co. Würzburg, D433MF2.90. This ceiling grid is provided with floor panels and can therefore be walked on. The floor panels are supported on the chord bars and node pieces of the upper chord and are laid butt-jointed. The node pieces have threaded holes to which the bars in the upper and lower chords of the ceiling grid and its diagonal bars, as well as the supports that support this ceiling grid, are screwed. This construction is structurally complex and also requires a relatively high level of assembly effort.

It is also known in the case of space frame panels that the bars of the upper chord are not only screwed to the nodes, but also supported in order to

To relieve screw connections from shear forces.

The invention is based on the object of creating a particularly economical flat or spatial ceiling grid made of rods and nodes, which should also be easy to assemble and particularly suitable for multi-storey trade fair and exhibition stands.

According to the invention, the above object is achieved in that the supports and node pieces have the same longitudinally slotted profile and the supports replace the node pieces in their connection area, and that the chord bars of the ceiling grid, consisting for example of rectangular profile tubes, can be connected to the node pieces and supports by means of clamp fasteners that can be fastened in their slots. The node pieces therefore have the same cross-sectional profile as the supports and can be made, for example, from an extruded aluminum profile, from which the node pieces are cut. The supports advantageously replace the node pieces in their connection area, because the chord bars of the ceiling grid can also be connected to the supports using the same clamp fasteners. The requirement for simple assembly is met by a quick and functionally reliable clamp fastener technology. The ceiling grid can advantageously be pre-assembled on the ground, as well as in the free projection. If rectangular profile tubes are used as chord bars, especially in the upper chord of the ceiling grid, these, in conjunction with the node pieces, enable the direct support of floor slabs on the ceiling grid, if the latter is used, for example, for walk-in multi-storey exhibition stands. The ceiling grids according to the invention can also be used for decorative purposes and it is also possible to use the system according to the invention to create large-scale

To produce ceiling grids from lattice girder elements and profile supports. In this case, the chord bars form parts of these lattice girder elements. The invention thus enables the production of flat or spatial ceiling grids for a wide variety of purposes in a very economical manner.

Embodiments of the invention emerge from the subclaims. The supports and node pieces can have a polygonal profile, a cross profile or another multi-arm or multi-web profile. The polygonal profile can be, for example, a square, hexagonal or octagonal profile.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the node pieces are supplemented on one end face by node segments with threaded holes for screwing diagonal bars of a spatial (two-layer) ceiling grid. The node segment, which can be a ball node segment, for example, can be connected to the node piece in various ways. The node segments serve to connect the diagonal bars of the spatial ceiling grid using a connection technique known per se.

If, according to a further embodiment of the invention, the node segments are arranged so that they can rotate and be locked relative to the node pieces, the node segment can be positioned in any position relative to the node piece with the longitudinally slotted profile, so that different space frame geometries are possible without the need for another node type. This possibility brings further savings in production and assembly.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the node segment is connected by means of a central

Holes in the node piece and a screw extending through the head plate are connected to the node piece.

If, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, the screw connecting the node piece to the node segment is extended upwards and at the same time serves to fasten a rod standing on the ceiling grid, for example a railing rod, the screw advantageously fulfills a dual function.

If, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, the head plate is provided with four cross-shaped holding pins for floor panels to be laid on the ceiling grid, which have corresponding recesses for receiving the holding or fixing pins, the head plate also advantageously fulfills two functions.

If, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, the chord bars of the ceiling grid are additionally supported on the node pieces and supports, the assembly is further simplified. In addition, load forces are transferred from the chord bars directly to the node pieces and supports.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the clamping fasteners each have two clamping jaws that are mounted so as to be rotatable about vertical axes in the ends of the chord rods, which are held together by a spring in their ineffective starting position and can be expanded by an adjusting screw into their effective position, in which the outer profiled ends of the clamping jaws engage in a form- and force-fluid manner in the correspondingly profiled slots in the node pieces and supports. The bearing bolts for the clamping jaws transfer tensile and compressive forces in the upper and lower chords of the ceiling grid.

If, according to yet another embodiment of the invention, the supports are flush with the top of the ceiling grid at their upper ends, floor panels can be supported directly on the chord bars in the upper chord of the ceiling grid in order to obtain a walkable ceiling grid.

For example, in the case of large decorative ceiling grids, the supports can advantageously protrude above the ceiling grid with their upper ends like pylons. In this case, a bracing system can be provided between the upper ends of the supports and the ceiling grid using ropes. This allows relatively large spans to be achieved.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the ceiling grid consists of lattice girder elements that are connected vertically to the supports and node pieces, the length of which essentially corresponds to the height of the lattice girder elements. In this way, large-area ceiling grids can also be formed, whereby the lattice girder elements can be connected directly to the supports using the clamp fasteners, which have the same longitudinally slotted profile as the node pieces.

Another variant of a decorative ceiling grid is characterized by the fact that the gaps between the lattice girder elements are filled with closing elements, for example sails or membranes made of textile material.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, wall elements can be inserted into the opposite longitudinal slots of adjacent supports below the ceiling grid. This advantageous possibility

A wall connection is achieved by the special longitudinally slotted profile of the supports.

Yet another embodiment of the invention is characterized in that connecting profiles for wall elements can be clamped into the longitudinal slots of the supports below the ceiling grid. This makes it possible to attach wall elements to the supports in such a way that the skeleton construction is concealed, i.e. invisible, which can be particularly desirable for trade fair or exhibition stands.

The invention is explained below with reference to the drawings of embodiments. They show:

Fig. 1 is an oblique view of a spatial (two-layer) ceiling grid, which is supported, for example, by four supports, the cross-sectional profile of which corresponds to that of the node pieces of the ceiling grid;

Fig. 2 shows an enlarged section of the ceiling grid of Fig. 1 in the area of a corner, but with floor panels and a railing;

Fig. 2a a detail on the edge of the ceiling grid of Fig. 1 and 2, showing a standing railing rod and its attachment to the ceiling grid;

Fig. 3 is an oblique view of a node detail of the ceiling grid of Figs. 1 and 2, partially in an extended state to illustrate the connection of the chord rods to a cross-block-shaped node piece by means of clamp fasteners;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the node detail of Fig. 3 in the fully assembled state with

supported floor slabs;

Fig. 5 shows a view of one of the belt profile bars of

below
and 6 or above, which are used in the ceiling grid of Fig. 1 to 4;

Fig. 7 is an oblique view of a flat or single-layer ceiling grid, whereby the supports and nodes of the ceiling grid also have the same cross-sectional profile;

Fig. 8 shows a section of the ceiling grid of Fig. 7 to show the connection of the chord bars consisting of rectangular profile tubes to a support;

Fig. 9 is an oblique view of a ceiling grid made of lattice girder elements;

Fig. 10 another oblique view of a ceiling grid made of lattice girder elements and profile supports, which are extended pylon-like beyond the lattice girder elements and enable bracing by means of wire ropes;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a longitudinally slotted octagonal profile for supports and nodes, which can, for example, take the place of the cross profile of Fig. 3;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of a flange profile bar, partially in section, which is connected and supported by clamps to two nodes or supports with the cross-sectional profile of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 shows a view of the belt profile bar of Fig. 12 and 14 from below and above respectively;

Fig. 15 a section of a longitudinally slotted four-arm profile for supports and nodes, which also allows special connections of wall elements that cover the nodes or supports on the outside;

Fig. 16 a sectional view of e.g. a support with the profile of Fig. 15 and parts of a belt profile bar and wall elements which are attached to the support and

Fig. 17 is a detailed view showing a connector for connecting a wall element according to Fig.

The spatial (two-layer) ceiling grid 10 shown in Fig. 1 and 2, for example, has a rectangular floor plan and is supported by four supports 11, 11', of which the two front supports 11 are so-called clamped supports and the two rear supports 11' are so-called pendulum supports, which will be explained later. The bars 12 of the upper chord and the bars 13 of the lower chord consist of identical rectangular profile tubes, which are connected to node pieces 14, which in turn are connected to one another by diagonal bars 15. The supports 11, 11' and node pieces 14 have an identical longitudinally slotted profile, for example a cross profile, with the supports 11, 11' replacing the node pieces 14 in their connection area. The spatial ceiling grid 10 is a walkable version (Fig. 2) and on this ceiling grid 10 are therefore supported floor panels 16, which in turn are butt-jointed

and have a square floor plan which is adapted to the grid of the ceiling grid 10.

Reference is now made to Fig. 3 to 6. Fig. 5 and 6 show a belt bar 12 which consists of a rectangular profile tube and has a notch 160 on its underside at both ends. The bars

13 in the lower chord correspond to the bars 12 in the upper chord. Furthermore, each chord bar 12 or 13 contains pairs of holes 17 in its upper and lower walls in the area of its ends, which are vertically aligned with one another and serve to accommodate bearing bolts 18 for clamping jaws 19 (Fig. 3). For this purpose, the clamping jaws 19 are provided with corresponding holes 20 through which the bearing bolts 18 extend. Two clamping jaws 19 each form a clamping closure in the ends of the belt rods 12 and 13, which enables the connection of the belt rods 12, 13 to the node pieces 14 or supports 11, 11". The clamping jaws 19 have outer, hook-shaped profiled ends 21 and rear or inner ends, between which, for example, a leaf spring 22 is clamped, which pre-tensions the clamping jaws 19 into their ineffective starting position shown in Fig. 3 bottom left.

As already mentioned, the node pieces 14 and supports 11, 11' have the same longitudinally slotted cross profile. In Fig. 3, a cross-block-shaped node piece 14 is shown in detail. This node piece

14 is cut from an extruded profile made of aluminum, for example, from which the supports 11, 11' are also made, and it has four cross-shaped arms 23 which contain slots 24 open to the outside, the clear dovetail-shaped cross-section of which is adapted to the hook-shaped profiled ends 21 of the clamping jaws 19, so that the latter can be anchored in these slots 24. For this purpose

the clamping jaws 19 can be spread using an adjusting screw 25, as indicated in Fig. 3 top right.

For mounting e.g. on the floor, the belt rods

12 or 13 are placed from above onto the arms 23 of the cross-block-shaped node piece 14 by means of their notch 160, whereby they are supported by a wall section 26 on the arms 23. The clamp fasteners or their clamping jaws 19 are in their ineffective starting position in this phase (Fig. 3 bottom left). The adjusting screws 25 of the clamp fasteners are then actuated in order to spread the clamping jaws 19 so that their hook-shaped profiled ends 21 are pressed against the undercut side walls of the slots 24. The adjusting screws 25 can be inserted into the slots 24 by means of a through holes 35 in the side walls of the belt rods 12 or

13. In the same way, the chord rods 12 are connected to the upper ends of the supports 11 and 11', which, as already mentioned, have the same cross-sectional profile as the node pieces 14 and thus replace one node piece in the upper chord.

In the case of the clamped supports 11 (Fig. 1), four rods 27 are provided which extend from nodes 14 of the lower chord to the supports 11 and can be screwed to them, for example, via blocks with threaded holes guided in a groove.

The cross-block-shaped node pieces 14 of the upper chord and lower chord of the ceiling grid 10 are each provided on one end face with, for example, ball node segments 28, which have threaded holes for screwing the diagonal bars 15 of the two-layer ceiling grid 10

This connection technology is known and therefore requires no further explanation. The ball node segments 28 can, for example, have a flat cylindrical projection 28a (Fig. 4) which extends into a central hole in the node pieces 14. In the mentioned pin 28a of the ball node segment 28, a central threaded hole 28b is provided, which extends with its shaft through a hole 32 in a head plate through a hole 29 in the node piece 14. The head plate 31 is held against the node piece 14 by the screw 30 (Fig. 4). The advantage of this arrangement is that the ball node segments 28 can be rotated relative to the cross-block-shaped node pieces 14, depending on the geometry of the spatial ceiling grid, and then fixed using the screws 30. The node pieces 14 in the lower chord of the ceiling grid 10 correspond to those in the upper chord, but the ball node segments 28 of these node pieces are arranged in a mirror image.

The thickness of the head plate 31 is dimensioned such that, when assembled, it is flush with the tops of the connected chord rods 12 (Fig. 4). In the embodiment according to Figs. 3 and 4, each head plate 31 has four cross-shaped retaining pins 33, which engage in corresponding recesses 34 on the underside of the base plates 16. The corners of four base plates 16 are thus vertically aligned with the center axis of each cross-block-shaped node piece 14 and also with the longitudinal axis of the supports 11'.

The ceiling grid 10 shown in Fig. 2 carries floor panels 16, is therefore walkable and is equipped with a railing 45 on the edge. Fig. 2a shows the fastening of a standing railing rod 46 to the support grid 10.

The railing rod 46 consists, for example, of a round tube, into the lower end of which a plate 47 with a threaded hole 48 is welded. Between the lower end of the railing rod 46 and a base plate 16 there is a base plate 49 which has a central hole 50. An extended threaded section 51 of the fastening screw 30 extends through a hole 52 in the base plate 16 and the hole 50 into the threaded hole 48. This screw connection is locked by a nut 53. Another nut 54 is screwed onto the threaded section 51, which holds the head plate 31 against the node piece 14. The fastening screw 30 also connects the node piece 14 to the ball node segment 28. A stiffening bar 55 is used to stabilize the railing rod 46, which is screwed on the one hand to the node piece 14 and on the other hand to a ring 5 6 with numerous threaded holes. The ring 5 6 and two further rings 5 6 are attached to the railing rod 46, with the two upper rings 56 serving to screw the horizontal rods 57 of the railing.

In Fig. 7, a flat or single-layer ceiling grid 110 is shown, which is supported by numerous supports H'' (Fig. 15). The ceiling grid 110 is made up of chord bars 12 and node pieces 141 (Fig. 15), which will be described later. The profile cross-section of the node pieces 141 and supports 11'' is also the same here and the chord bars 12 can therefore be connected to the upper ends of the supports 11 in the same way as to the node pieces 141, as can be seen from Fig. 8. In Fig. 8, the holes 35 in the side walls of the chord bars 12, consisting of rectangular profile tubes, are also shown, through which the screwdriver can be inserted to operate the adjusting screws 25 of the clamp closures. The supports 11'' close with

their upper ends essentially meet the top of the ceiling grid 110. For example, wall elements 36 are inserted into the opposite longitudinal slots 24 of adjacent supports 11'' on the edge of the ceiling grid 110. In this case, the lower ends of the supports II ¹ ' are connected to one another by further chord bars 12. Such wall elements 36 can also be provided within the floor plan delimited by the ceiling grid 110 if the supports 11'' are arranged accordingly. The gaps between the chord bars 12 of the ceiling grid 110 can be filled with any elements made of wood, metal, plastic or textile material, provided that this only serves decorative purposes.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 9, the ceiling grid 210 has so-called lattice girder elements 37, which are connected vertically to the supports 11 and node pieces 141. The node pieces 141 have a correspondingly greater length for this purpose, but their cross-sectional profile (Fig. 15) also corresponds to that of the supports 11. Each lattice girder element 37 consists of an upper and lower chord bar 38 and 39, respectively, which are connected to one another, for example, by a so-called lattice snake 40. The lattice snake 40 can also be replaced by individual webs in a flat design, possibly with holes. The upper chord bars 38 and lower chord bars 39 have the same rectangular profile with a groove for receiving the individual webs or lattice snake. The connection of the bars 38, 39 to the upper ends of the supports 11 and nodes 141 is carried out as in the embodiment according to Fig. 3. In the case of the lower chord bars 39 of the lattice girder elements 37, however, the profiled ends 21 of the clamping jaws 19 protrude beyond the front ends of the chord bars 39 in order to enable their introduction into the slots 24 in the nodes 141 or supports 11. In this case too

In the exemplary embodiment, the supports 11 terminate with their upper ends with the top of the ceiling grid 210 or the lattice girder elements 37. The gaps between the lattice girder elements 37 can be filled, for example, by textile end elements (not shown) that are attached to the lattice girder elements 37.

The ceiling grid 310 shown in Fig. 10 is also made up of lattice girder elements 37, which, as in the embodiment according to Fig. 9, are connected to supports 11 and node pieces 141 (Fig. 15). In this embodiment, however, the supports 11 protrude with their upper ends 41 like pylons beyond the ceiling grid 310, and wire ropes 42 are stretched between the upper ends 41 of the supports 11 and the edge of the ceiling grid 310, which help to stabilize the ceiling grid 310. In this case too, the gaps between the lattice girder elements 37 can be filled, for example, with textile closure elements (so-called sails or membranes).

In Fig. 11, an octagonal extruded profile made of aluminum, for example, is shown, from which node pieces 140 can be cut off, similar to the node piece 14 in Fig. 3. The supports 11 and 11' can also be made from this octagonal extruded profile. Such a node piece 140 or such a support then has eight slots 24 open to the outside, the clear dovetail-shaped cross-section of which is also adapted to the hook-shaped profiled ends 21 of the clamping jaws 19. The clamping jaws 19 can therefore be anchored in these slots 24 in a force-fitting manner, as in the embodiment according to Fig. 3, as shown in Fig. 12. In Fig. 12, a belt rod 12' consisting of a rectangular profile tube is shown, which is clamped between two node pieces 140. The belt rod 12',

which is also shown in Fig. 13 and 14, is a continuous square tube with a projection 5 8 at each end. The projections 5 8 serve to support the chord bar 12' on the node pieces 140 or supports made of the same cross-sectional profile. The clamps with the clamping jaws 19 in the ends of the chord bar 12' correspond to those in Fig. 3 and reference is made to their description.

Fig. 15 shows another extruded profile, for example made of aluminum, which could also be referred to as a four-web profile, with the hollow webs 59 arranged diagonally opposite one another on a square base profile. Node pieces 141 can also be cut from this extruded profile or it can also be used to produce supports 11 '' (Fig. 7 and 16). The four hollow webs 59 also laterally delimit longitudinal slots 24 that are open to the outside, corresponding to the profiles already described. The clear dovetail-shaped cross section of these longitudinal slots 24 is also adapted to the hook-shaped profiled ends 21 of the clamping jaws 19. The clamping jaws 19 can therefore be anchored in these longitudinal slots 24 (Fig. 16).

If, for example, a wall panel is to be attached to the supports 11'', this can be done in the manner shown in Fig. 16. The supports 11'' have, as already mentioned, the cross-sectional profile shown in Fig. 15. Belt rods 12' can therefore be attached to the supports II' ¹ by means of the clamping fasteners already described with the clamping jaws 19 and, if necessary, also supported, as in the embodiment according to Fig. 12. In the other longitudinal slots 24 of the supports II ¹ ', connecting profiles 60 can be snapped or clamped. These connecting profiles 60 are provided with a

A series of slots 61 are provided in which wall brackets 62 can be hung using corresponding hooks 63. The wall brackets 62 each have, for example, two pins 64 that can be inserted into holes 65 in wall elements 36'. Cover strips 36'' can be attached directly to the supports H'' between the wall elements 36' using a connecting profile 66. The connecting profiles 66 can be clipped into the longitudinal slots 24 using corresponding spring webs, just like the connecting profiles 60. In this way, a practically continuous wall can be arranged in front of the supports 11'', so that the latter remain concealed or are not visible from the outside.

Claims (16)

Protection claims 1. Flat or spatial ceiling grid made of rods and node pieces, in particular a walkable ceiling grid with supports which support the ceiling grid, characterized in that the supports (11) and node pieces (14) have an identical longitudinally slotted profile and the supports (11) replace the node pieces (14) in their connection area, and that the belt rods (12, 38) of the ceiling grid (10, 110, 210, 310), consisting for example of rectangular profile tubes, can be connected to the node pieces (14) and supports (11) by clamp fasteners (18-22) which can be fastened in their slots (24). 2. Ceiling grid according to claim 1, characterized in that the supports (11) and node pieces (14) have a polygonal profile, a cross profile or another multi-arm or multi-web profile. 3. Ceiling grid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the node pieces (14) are supplemented on one end face by node segments (28) with threaded holes for screwing diagonal bars (15) of a spatial (two-layer) ceiling grid (10). 4. Ceiling grid according to claim 3, characterized in that the node segments (28) are arranged so as to be rotatable and lockable relative to the node pieces (14). 5. Ceiling grid according to claim 3, characterized in that the node segment (28) is connected by means of a central holes (29, 32) in the node piece (14) and a screw (30) extending into a head plate (31) is connected to the node piece (14). 6. Ceiling grid according to claim 5, characterized in that the screw (30) connecting the node piece (14) to the node segment (28) is extended upwards (51) and at the same time serves to fasten a rod standing on the ceiling grid (10), e.g. a railing rod (46). 7. Ceiling grid according to claim 5, characterized in that the head plate (31) is provided with four cross-shaped holding pins (33) for floor panels (16) to be laid on the ceiling grid (10), which have corresponding recesses (34) for receiving the holding pins (33). 8. Ceiling grid according to claim 1, characterized in that the belt rods (12) of the ceiling grid (10; 110) are additionally supported on the node pieces (14) and supports (11). 9. Ceiling grid according to claim 1 or 8, characterized in that the clamping fasteners each have two clamping jaws (19) which are rotatably mounted about vertical axes in the ends of the belt rods (12), which are held together in their ineffective starting position by a spring (22) and can be expanded by an adjusting screw (25) into their effective position, in which the outer profiled ends (21) of the clamping jaws (19) engage positively and force-fittingly in the correspondingly profiled slots (24) in the node pieces (14) and supports (11). 10. Ceiling grid according to one of claims 1-9, characterized characterized in that the supports (11) terminate at their upper ends with the upper side of the ceiling grid (10, 110, 210). 11. Ceiling grid according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the supports (11) protrude with their upper ends (41) like pylons above the ceiling grid (310). 12. Ceiling grid according to claim 11, characterized in that a bracing is provided between the upper ends (41) of the supports (11) and the ceiling grid (310) by means of cables (42). 13. Ceiling grid according to one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the ceiling grid (210, 310) consists of lattice girder elements (37) which are connected vertically to the supports (11) and node pieces (14'), the length of which corresponds essentially to the construction height of the lattice girder elements (37). 14. Ceiling grid according to claim 13, characterized in that the gaps between the lattice girder elements (37) are filled by closure elements, e.g. sails or membranes made of textile material. 15. Ceiling grid according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that wall elements (36) can be inserted into the mutually opposite longitudinal slots (24) of adjacent supports (11) below the ceiling grid (110). 16. Ceiling grid according to one of claims 1-14, characterized in that connecting profiles (60) for wall elements (36') can be clamped into the longitudinal slots (24) of the supports (H ¹ ') below the ceiling grid.