EP0028606A1 - Connecting device for plane construction elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention relates to a connecting device for planar elements of construction which can be fixed to one another with variable angles. These are in particular wall and / or roof elements, chassis, which have on each of the edges a profiled part (4) which is in the form of an open arc which allows them to be fixed one to the other; by these means the profiled parts (4) are nestable one inside the other and fixed frontally by studs (11). The parts in an arc are limited by two arcs which can be transposed with respect to each other; these two arcs have the same radius (r '); the studs provided for fixing are prestressed and provided at one end with a flange (14) overlapping the adjacent faces of the profiled parts in the form of an arc of a circle nested one inside the other. The profiled parts in the shape of an arc of a circle can also be extended at least at one end by a decorative extension (10); the extension is formed by a profiled part which is limited by two arcs which can be transposed with respect to each other, these two arcs having the same radius. By this means it is prevented that a hinge formed by several arc-shaped elements nested one inside the other can collapse so that the rim (74) of the stud (11) can be abandoned.

Description

 Connection device for surface construction elements or the like.

description

The invention relates to a connecting device for surface construction elements which can be fixed to one another at variable angles, in particular wall and / or ceiling elements, frames or the like, with profile rails which can be fixed in each case on the abutting edges of the surface construction elements and each have an open cross-section have arcuate Pxofilstück and hereby can be brought into mutual engagement, with several

OMPI Profile rails inserted into one another in this way can be fixed by bolts which can be inserted at the end.

An arrangement of this type has become known from DE-PS 25 35 388. In this known arrangement, however, the arcuate profile pieces should have the shape of a spiral. However, since a spiral has a continuously changing radius over its entire arc length, interlocking arc pieces offset from one another by a certain angle due to different curvatures at the same location do not lie cleanly against one another, but gape apart. However, this causes a considerable loss of space, so that only a few sheet pieces can be nested within each other.

A clean mutual system and thus a clean fixation can only be achieved by appropriately bending the interlocking pieces of arch. The known arrangement therefore requires a pressure piece exerting a radially outward force in order to elastically deform the interlocking arc pieces in this way. For this purpose, in the known arrangement, the bolts to be inserted on the end face are designed as rubber plugs, which are pressed together in the axial direction with the aid of a tensioning screw, thus achieving a radial expansion. The radial explosive

OMP Forces must be absorbed through the mutual positive locking of the arc pieces to be fixed together. On the one hand, this leads to relatively large arc lengths. On the other hand, there is also the danger that the radial explosive forces will break the positive connection, so that the profile rails fall apart.

Another disadvantage is that when the plug is tightened, a subsequent change in angle is no longer possible, which can increase the assembly effort. If a torque is nevertheless applied, for example by mistake, the plunger-like tilting movement of the interlocking elbow pieces can occur as a result of the rotational movement prevented by the stopper, as a result of which the positive engagement can be blown up and the connection consequently falls apart. In addition, it can be assumed that the rubber plugs mentioned only cause a locally limited mutual contact. The mutually interacting rails thus only have the desired mutual contact in the area of their ends, which can have a disadvantageous effect on stability and security against wobble, in particular in the case of rails of relatively long length.

Another uncertainty factor in the known arrangement is that the screw pressing the respective rubber plug in the axial direction is under-tightened to avoid excessive radial explosive forces. The known arrangement accordingly requires a not inconsiderable assembly and control effort if assembly errors are to be excluded. In this regard, it should also be borne in mind that instructions of a generic type are used in particular in trade fair and exhibition construction and are therefore generally exposed to non-specialist personnel. Another disadvantage of the known arrangement can be seen in the construction of grid ceilings or walls or the like with several unsupported joints. This results in the lower chord area acting on the generic connection. de tensile forces, which can lead to further deformation of the profile pieces and thus to sagging of the ceiling or wall construction.

Proceeding from this, it is therefore the object of the present invention, while avoiding the disadvantages of the known solutions, to improve an arrangement of the generic type in such a way that a quick and easy-to-assemble, hinge-like connection is adjustable, with many pieces of sheet nested and the nested pieces of sheet nested have a clean mutual contact and di fixing bolts can at the same time be designed as simple plug-in elements, with the aid of which tensile and compressive forces acting in the radial direction can be absorbed.

This object is achieved according to the invention in a surprisingly simple manner in that the arcuate profile pieces are delimited by two circular arcs which are offset with respect to one another and have the same radius, and in that the bolts provided in each case for fixing are designed to be pressure-resistant and at one end with a adjacent end faces of the interlocking arc-shaped profile pieces overlapping edge claw are provided.

In the solution of the task proposed above, the arcuate profile piece is designed in the manner of a crescent moon, this crescent moon enclosing approximately an angle of 180 °. When putting together two or more profile ^f pieces of this type, the bolt inserted at the end must therefore have an edge claw so that it holds the assembled profile pieces together and prevents the hinge-like construction from falling apart.

Another advantageous solution to the task now consists in that the arcuate profile pieces also through two circular arcs offset with respect to one another, which have the same radius, are delimited and are extended at least at one end by a decorative arch extension, and that the bolts provided for fixation are designed to be pressure-resistant. Since the profile piece is extended by the arch extension and therefore encloses a larger angle than 180 °, the arch piece itself prevents a hinge formed by several nested arch pieces from falling apart, so that the edge claw of the pressure-resistant bolts can be dispensed with.

The problems encountered in the prior art advantageously no longer occur here. The measures according to the invention clearly result in a hinge-like connection in which a subsequent change in the angle of the interlocking profile rails is readily possible. As a result of the exact crescent moon cross section of the arch pieces, a comparatively large number of profile rails can be nested one inside the other. No radial bracing is required to achieve a clean fit and sufficient hold. This ensures full rotatability and the connection cannot be pushed apart by radial forces acting outwards. The pressure-rigid fixing bolts that can be used here also represent relatively simple and therefore inexpensive components that can be easily and simply brought into position, which can make assembly work extremely easy. The edge claw of the fixing bolts used for the first solution example practically forms a clamp which encompasses the rotatably engaging arc pieces, by means of which they are reliably held together and guided in the circumferential direction, so that a positive fit between the interlocking arc pieces is not required and even when tensile forces acting on the connection occur or when there are changes in angle, there can be no gaping or popping open of the connection. On the other hand, the mentioned claw also forms one

O PI - -

Securing the associated fixing bolt itself against lateral displacements and thus against passage through the arch opening, so that one already gets by with relatively small arc angles, which has an advantageous effect with regard to a the circular arc configuration of the arc pieces according to the invention.

Appropriate refinements and advantageous developments of the superordinate measures result from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment with reference to the drawing in conjunction with the subordinate claims.

The drawing shows:

1 shows a schematic view of a plurality of surface elements of a grid ceiling which are fixed to one another;

Figure 2 shows a profile rail according to the invention in section according to a first preferred embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a profile rail according to the invention in section according to a second preferred embodiment on a different scale.

4 shows a fixing bolt according to the invention with an edge claw in section;

5 shows the fixing bolt according to FIG. 4 in the assembly position;

Fig. 6 shows some assembly examples with several interpenetrating profile rails in a schematic representation; U.N

Fig. 7 shows another preferred embodiment of the inventive fixing bolt.

The grid ceiling shown in Fig. 1 consists of individual _¬ wa et through plastic panels 1, which engage in the region of their upper and lower edges in frames 2, formed, designated as a whole with 3 surface elements fixed to one another in the region of their union since _¬ edges are. This is the area

OP see elements 3 in the area of their lateral abutting edges with profile rails 4 of the type shown in more detail in FIG. 2 or 3, which can be brought into mutual engagement with variable angles.

The profile rails 4 consist, as can best be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, of an open curved profile piece 5, to which a retaining strip 6 is molded. To form a connection of the generic type, the profiled rails 4 to be fixed to one another are plugged into one another with their curved profile pieces 5. This practically results in a hinge-like connection that enables variable angular positions.

The holding strip 6 is used to hold the plates 1 or he coffins 2. The holding strip 6 is provided with an undercut groove 7 to enable a form-fitting fixing. The groove 7 is generally used to receive a tensioning element provided with a hammer head of tensioning locks, not shown, which can be used in the plates 1 or the frames 2 in a manner known per se. The outer surface 8 and the inner surface 9 of the arc piece 5 each describe an exact circular arc with the same radius r; The center points M ₁ , M_ or ₂ , M. of these arcs are simply offset from one another by the thickest wall thickness, in a preferred embodiment approximately 2.5 mm. The offset arcs form the shape of a complete crescent moon, whose greatest thickness is in the middle and the wall thickness of which decreases to both sides, which results in a high degree of flexural rigidity.

In the area opposite the retaining strip 6, the curved profile piece 5 can end where the inner and outer circles intersect, or are approximated to one another to a wall thickness of approximately 1 mm. Since the crescent-shaped arc section 5 at

OMPI The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 encompasses an angle of approximately 180 °, the bolt 11 used to fix several nested profile pieces must have an edge claw 14, as shown in FIG. 4. Di se edge claw engages in the manner described above the edge of the rails and thus prevents them from falling apart after the hinge-like nesting under load.

In the second advantageous embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, the arch profile piece 5 runs in the region of its free end into a decorative arch extension 10, the contour of which describes circular arcs entering the circular arcs of the inner or outer edge of the arch profile piece 5, the radii of which r "Deviate slightly from the radius r ^" * in the exemplary embodiment shown.

As can be seen from Fig. 3, the arc profile piece 5 by the arch extension 10, which is also limited by two staggered arcs with the same radius r ", extended beyond 180, so that an inserted bolt is included in such a way that several nested profile pieces can be fixed by a smooth bolt that has no edge claw The arch extension 10 can also serve to improve the visual impression of the profile rail 4 z according to the invention if such a rail is arranged in a free edge of a surface element.

The retaining bar 6 is suitably arranged so that its center lies approximately in the area of the intersection of the arcs with the radius. Since sufficient meat is thus available in this area, the circular arc describing the inner surface 9 can extend beyond this intersection point, in the exemplary embodiment shown, over the entire width of the holding strip 6.

O PI From Fig. 3 it can also be seen that the profile rail cross section in the connection area to the retaining strip 6 is reinforced at point 25, while the retaining strip is approximately the same amount in cross section on its inside in the region of the profile rail end at the point 26 is weakened. This is necessary so that several profile rails 4 can be inserted one into the other and the profile rails can be pushed against each other with the flange of the retaining strip located at the end of the profile rail.

If several profile rails of this type are inserted into one another with their curved profile pieces 5, as can be seen from FIG. 6, walls with exactly the same Krüπtπung come, namely the outer wall 8 of one with the inner wall 9 of the other profile rail in mutual contact, so that one large-scale mutual contact results. Bolts 11, of the type shown in detail in FIG. 4, or bolts without an edge claw are used to fix the nested profile rails, depending on whether profile rails of the type shown in FIG. 2 or 3 are used.

In the exemplary embodiment indicated in FIG. 1, two bolts 11 are arranged opposite each other in the region of each joint, which can be clamped together by tie rods 12, which are only indicated by their center lines. The bolts 11 are made of pressure-resistant material and are simply inserted into the hollow space delimited by the nested arch profile pieces. The diameter of the bolts 11 is therefore to be dimensioned such that there is a corresponding sliding play.

In the illustrated embodiment ^' according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the bolt 11 is provided in the region of an end face with a flange 13 which is used to form an edge claw 14 in the region of its outer edge is cranked. In the assembly position, the edge claw 14 engages over the adjacent end faces of the arched profile pieces 5 which are inserted one into the other like a clamp. This not only results in a form-fitting securing of the relevant bolt 11 against falling out laterally when using short curved profile pieces, but at the same time forms a clatter-like encirclement of the interlocking profile rails 4, so that even when tensile forces occur, a gaping apart is prevented, which is particularly the case with unsupported joints can have an advantageous effect.

If several surface elements 3 form a bridge of about the type shown in FIG. 1, but only a support is possible at the edge, the surface elements 3 tend to tilt due to the natural sag between the supports, as indicated in FIG. 1 by broken lines , so that the connections in the area of the lower chords are subject to tension, which can lead to a gap. This is not possible here on the basis of the positive connection achieved with the edge claw 14 according to the invention. The lateral legs 15 of the retaining strip 6 are expediently ground in the region of the end faces in accordance with the depth of the groove 16 formed by the edge claw 14, as indicated in FIG. 5, but is not designated by sewing.

7 shows another preferred exemplary embodiment of the fixing bolt 27 according to the invention. As ersic Lich, the fixing bolt consists essentially of the Bo shaft 28 and the bolt flange 29, which are interconnected by means of a screw connection, not shown. The B zen flange 29 has an edge claw 30. The bolt shank 28 has an essentially cuboid cross-section, its corners being formed by rounded, elongated profile pieces 31 which are in axially parallel, dovetail-shaped recesses 32

OMPI IPO of the bolt shaft 28 are used. The advantage of this construction is that the bolt rests only with its corner profile pieces 31 against the inner surface 9 of the arch profile pieces 5, so that the frictional forces are reduced, which contributes to easier assembly. Since the profile pieces 31 are interchangeable, the same bolt shafts can be used as a base body for connecting two or more profile rails, while the profile pieces are simply exchanged for wider or narrower profile pieces. This improves the adaptability of the fixing bolts to different cross sections, which result from the fact that two or more curved profile pieces 5 are nested one inside the other.

Opposite bolts 11 can, as already indicated above, be fixed to one another by tie rods 12. For this purpose, the bolts 11 can be provided with a threaded bore 17. The tie rods 12 ensure that the bolts 11 remain clean in position. A further possibility for securing the bolts 11 is indicated in FIG. Here, the radially outer wall 18 of the edge claw 14 is provided with a radially outwardly open circumferential groove 19, into which a retaining tab 20 which can be easily fixed on an adjacent frame 2 or the like engages. An embodiment of this type proves to be particularly useful if, in the case of an addition of two profile rails to be arranged one above the other, the facing bolts 11 are screwed together to achieve mutual securing, but then there is no possibility of attaching them Tie rods exist.

In the example shown in FIG. 5, the bolt 11 is simply secured by bolts 21 which overlap the claw 14. Such an embodiment is appropriate if the

OMPI each outer end face of the bolt 11 is exposed. The latch 2 consists of a tab which is provided at one end with a bent nose 22 which overlaps the edge claw 14 in the illustration according to FIG. 5. In this case, the latch 21 can be fixed to this by means of an undercut groove 7 of a retaining strip 6 inserting clamping element 23, provided this is free. In the illustration according to FIG. 5, the latch 2 is fastened to a frame 2 fixed here on a retaining strip 6. Here, the flat tab end opposite the nose 22 is simply in engagement with the bolt 1. The nose 22 can simply protrude into the undercut groove 24 of the frame 2. The lug width is therefore expediently matched to the usual groove cross sections.

The profile rails 4 can expediently be designed as drawn aluminum rails. Aluminum can also be used to form the pressure-resistant bolts. The bolts can be designed either as castings or as one- or multi-part turned parts.

As can best be seen from FIG. 6, the design according to the invention of the arched profile pieces 5 as a gecmetriscally precise crescent moon ensures that virtually any number of profiled rails are nested within one another. A limit is only set by the width of the holding strips 6. Since in each case circles with the same radius lie against each other, a slight change in angle is evidently also possible.

OMP

Claims

 Expectations

1. Connection device for surface structure elements which can be fixed to one another at variable angles, in particular wall and / or ceiling elements, frames or the like, with profile rails which can be fixed to the abutting edges of the surface structure elements and which each have an open, cross-sectionally arcuate profile piece and hereby can be brought into mutual engagement, wherein a plurality of profiled rails which are inserted one into the other can be fixed by bolts which can be inserted at the end, characterized in that a) the arcuate profile pieces (5) are delimited by two circular arcs offset with respect to one another and having the same radius, and b) the bolts (11) provided for fixation are designed to be pressure-rigid and at one end are provided with an edge claw (14) which overlaps the adjacent end faces of the arcuate profile pieces (5) which are inserted into one another.

2, connecting device for surface construction elements which can be fixed to one another at variable angles, in particular wall and / or ceiling elements, frames or the like, with profile rails which can each be fixed to the abutting edges of the surface construction elements and which each have an open profile section which is curved in cross section and can be brought into mutual engagement therewith, wherein a plurality of profiled rails which are plugged into one another in this way can be fixed by means of bolts which can be inserted at the end, characterized in that

OMPI a) the arcuate profile pieces (5) are bounded by two circular arcs offset with respect to one another, which have the same radius, and are extended at least at one end by a decorative arch extension (10), and b) the bolts (11) provided for fixing each are pressed ¬ are stiff.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the arch extension is formed by a profile piece (10), which is limited by two staggered circular arcs, which have the same radius.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the radii delimiting the arch extension (10) are smaller than the radii delimiting the profile piece (5) and that the contour lines of the profiled rail cross section merge smoothly into one another.

5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the center points of the arcuate extension (10) delimiting arcs on a normal to that through

Centers of the center axis of the circular arc defining the profile piece (5) are offset from one another.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized ge indicates that the cross section of the profile rail (4) or the profile piece (5) is formed by a crescent moon, the greatest thickness of which is in the region of the center of the profile piece and the wall thickness thereof starting to decrease on both sides.

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized ge indicates that the arcuate profile piece (5) is formed with a thin end of the crescent on an at least with an undercut groove (7) provided retaining strip (6).

f OMPI 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized ge indicates that the crescent end of the profile piece (5) in the connection area to the retaining strip (6) is reinforced in cross section on the outer side and that the retaining strip by the same amount is weakened in cross-section on its inside in the region of the 3rd rail end.

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized ge indicates that the retaining strip (6) in the region of the ends of the profile rails relative to the associated arcuate profile piece (5) at least by the engagement depth of the edge claw (14) shortens is.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized ge indicates that the bolt shaft (28) has a cuboid cross-section.

11. The device according to claim 10, characterized in that the corners of the parallelepiped shaft are formed by rounded, elongated profile pieces (31) which are held in dovetail-shaped recesses (32) of the shaft shell.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized ge ^¬ indicates that in order to secure the bolt (11) a bolt overlapping the bolt edge (21) is provided which can be fixed on the retaining strip or surface construction element side.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1.2, characterized in that the bolt (21) has the shape of a tab provided at one end with a bent nose (22).

14. Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized ge ^¬ indicates that the bolt (11).. Has a radially outwardly open circumferential groove (19) into which a holding tab (20) can be inserted holding surface or surface construction element.

OMPI 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, characterized in 3, the circumferential groove (19) in the radially outer wall (18) of the edge claw (14) is arranged.

16. The device according to one of claims 1 to 15 with two opposing bolts, characterized in that the opposing bolts (11) can be connected to one another by a tie rod (12).

- ^ ORE OMP »IP List of reference symbols for P 3507

Plastic sheets

Frames

Surface elements

Profile rails

Arch profile piece

Retaining bar

Groove

Outside surface

Inner surface

Arch process

bolt

Tie rod

flange

Edge claw

leg

Groove

Tapped hole outer wall

Circumferential groove

Retaining tab

bars

nose

Clamping element

Groove

Cross-sectional reinforcement

Cross-sectional weakening

Fixing bolt

Stud shank

Bolt flange

Edge claw

Profile piece

Recess

OMPI