EP1083289B1 - Mechanical connecting device in a system to fix elements on a support structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to fastening systems in at least one point of elements such as panels, in particular of fragile material, in particular glass, comprising, at each point of attachment, a fastening device integral with the element. carried and provided with a fastening rod substantially perpendicular to the surface of the element and intended to be mounted on a mounting member attached to the carrier structure.

By the term "integral" is meant that the fixing device is such that it can allow the worn element to bend slightly relative to its support structure, which is the case of a pendulum connection means or with ball.

Among the applications of the present invention, there is the realization of glazed facades consisting of Attached Exterior Glazing (VEA). These glazings generally comprise glass panels of any type: monolithic, laminated, multiple glazing whose at least one wall may itself be laminated, etc. They are equipped with attachment or attachment devices which generally have as common element a hanging rod projecting from one side, perpendicularly or substantially perpendicular to the glass panel, mounted on the panel by a connecting means of any type, including pendulum, ball, bolts, etc. Advantageously, the connecting means is such that the other side of the panel opposite the rod has no flanking element in front.

The height of these glass panels up to 6 meters, the density of the glass being of the order of 2.5, and a hooking point being arranged at each corner of the panel, one can imagine the difficulties of mounting a such glass facade on existing supports that are not always perfectly flat, and the difficulties that may arise over time due to the differences in expansion between the glass panels and the support structures.

Similar difficulties can arise when using a glass panel as a stiffener in a construction, or when using volume elements such as beams or columns.

Moreover, it is known to DE-A-197 03 298 a system for mounting a plate of glass on a structure by a point, putting into play a retaining ring at each point of attachment. Adjustment is possible at each point of attachment during assembly, by moving a rod projecting from the glass plate parallel to the plane of the glass plate. However, in this mounting system, the position of the rod is fixed in assembled configuration, without degree of freedom of movement of the rod parallel to the plane of the glass plate.

The applicant company has sought means of mechanical connection between the fastening rods of the fixing devices and the mounting members generally attached to the support structures, with the objective that such means allow the glass elements or other fragile material. remain in their plane of inertia and that there is no addition of prestresses related to relative movements due to the aforementioned differences in expansion, so that the material retains all of its mechanical properties.

For this purpose, it is proposed, according to the invention, a mechanical connection device between the attachment rod and mounting member, which ensures a rupture of the transmission of forces, and which allows the rod, whose position is adjustable to the assembly along its axis, to have a certain number of degrees of freedom in a plane perpendicular to its axis. The mechanical connection device according to the invention also makes it possible to choose the number of degrees of freedom left at each point of attachment, because the constraints are not the same for the high points and the low points of a system. This mechanical connection device allows refined management of relative movements in a carpentry or facade assembly comprising elements of glass or other fragile material, especially ceramics, which in situation are subject to significant efforts, whether elements of substantially flat shape like plates or panels, but also of volume elements such as beams or columns.

• un moyen permettant le réglage, lors du montage du dispositif de liaison mécanique, de la position de ladite tige selon son axe, et
• des moyens pour autoriser, une fois le dispositif de liaison mécanique monté, un déplacement de ladite tige perpendiculairement à son axe, dans des limites fixées,

le dispositif de liaison mécanique comportant en outre des moyens permettant la restriction, voire la suppression, lors du montage du dispositif de liaison mécanique et/ou une fois le dispositif de liaison mécanique monté, du ou des degrés de liberté dudit déplacement de la tige perpendiculairement à son axe.The present invention therefore firstly relates to a mechanical connection device for a fastening system as defined above, the mechanical connection device being adapted to be mounted between said rod and said mounting member and comprising:

• means for adjusting, during assembly of the mechanical connection device, the position of said rod along its axis, and
• means for authorizing, once the mechanical connection device is mounted, a displacement of said rod perpendicular to its axis, within fixed limits,

the mechanical connection device further comprising means for restricting, or even eliminating, during assembly of the mechanical connection device and / or once the mechanical connection device is mounted, the degree or degrees of freedom of said movement of the rod perpendicularly to its axis.

According to the invention, the mechanical connection device comprises a plate carried by the rod being perpendicular to the axis of said rod, this plate being guided during its displacement according to its plane, said means allowing the restriction, or even the suppression, or degrees of freedom of movement of the rod perpendicular to its axis comprising a peripheral portion of the plate with which is capable of cooperating at least one stop whose distance from said peripheral portion is adjustable. According to a first variant embodiment, the plate is mounted movable perpendicularly to the axis of the rod in all directions; in particular, the plate may be slidably mounted in particular at its periphery between two walls carried by the mounting member.

According to a second variant, the plate is mounted movable perpendicularly to the axis of the rod in one or two directions corresponding to the degree or degrees of freedom of movement of the rod; in particular, the plate can be mounted displaceable in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, the particular element of fragile material being mounted vertically, the plate then advantageously constituting one of the end plates of a set of trays of the Oldham seal type arranged to surround the stem.

According to an advantageous feature of the present invention, the mechanical connection device comprises a rod position adjustment means adapted to adjust said position among a continuous set of positions along the axis or axes of suppression of the degrees of freedom .

Thus, each stop may be formed by the head of a screw-shoe, whose threaded rod cooperates with a threaded hole made in the mounting member, the adjustment of the screw-shoe or each of these screw-pads allowing a restriction of the displacement of the associated plate, therefore of the rod, within the selected limits, in one or two directions corresponding to the degree or degrees of freedom of movement of the rod.

According to another advantageous feature of the present invention, the mechanical connection device comprises a means able to adjust the position of the rod along its axis continuously in a given range of lengths.

According to this particular feature of the device according to the invention, the setting, during the assembly of the mechanical connection device, of the position of the rod along its axis can be done by screwing, on the mounting member or on a part integral with said mounting member or on a part which cooperates with the mounting member but whose position along the axis of the rod remains fixed, a piece integral in translation with said rod.

In the case of the first variant mentioned above, the plate may then have a tapped central opening cooperating with a threaded outer region of a sleeve in which the rod is able to penetrate during assembly of the mechanical connection device, until in abutment in the position set along its axis according to the chosen position of the sleeve.

In the case of the second variant mentioned above, the other end plate of the assembly of the Oldham seal type can then be housed in the cavity of a nut having an external thread capable of cooperating with a tapping made in a peripheral wall facing the mounting member.

In general, the mechanical connection device according to the invention is in the form of a cage having an axial opening with an axis parallel to the axis of the rod in the mounted position, said cage enclosing the adjustment elements and fixing the position of said rod along its axis, and the adjustment elements of said rod perpendicularly to its axis. The mechanical connection device is advantageously associated with a housing arranged to be fixed on the support structure directly or by intermediate fixing of the housing on a mounting member. In this latter embodiment, the mounting member carries the housing, the cage can then be independently, all the parts that compose it being contained in said housing. This then comprises means for fixing the cage on the mounting member. In the other embodiment, it is expected that the housing is itself arranged to be directly attached to the carrier structure.

In the case of the aforementioned first variant, the housing can advantageously be formed by the assembly of two plates each having a central opening, between which the plate is slidably mounted, the peripheral rim of one of the plates having at least one tapped opening for the passage of a screw-pad.

In the case of the second aforementioned variant, the housing can advantageously be formed by a ring with an axis parallel to the axis of the rod. mounting position, the ring having, in the vicinity of one of its ends at least one threaded opening for the passage of a screw-shoe and at its other end, a thread intended to cooperate with the thread of the nut of adjusting the position of the rod along its axis.

The present invention also relates to an assembly comprising a mounting member intended to be fixed on a supporting structure and at least one mechanical connection device intended to cooperate with a fastening rod forming part of a fastening device carried by an element. in particular of fragile material, such as glass, in order to constitute in particular a glazed facade of exterior glazings Attached, said connecting device being as defined above.

Said mounting member may, in known manner for the glazed facades, carry one to four arms depending on whether it is intended to cooperate in the mounting respectively one to four elements including fragile material.

The aforementioned assembly comprises, in the case where the stops are constituted by the screw-skid heads, as accessories, a set of screw-pads associated with each connecting device.

It should be noted that the adjustment possibilities offered by the device according to the invention can make a mounting accessory in other parts of the system for example to adjust the mounting position of a mounting member on the structure .

The present invention finally relates to façades or glazed walls equipped with mechanical connecting devices as defined above or assemblies as defined above.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique partielle d'une façade vitrée VEA, des arrachements laissant voir les organes de montage de ces vitrages sur la structure porteuse ;
• la figure 2 est un schéma de modélisation montrant un vitrage d'un système VEA destiné à être stabilisé par un élément raidisseur formé d'une plaque de verre, les organes de fixation vitrage-structure porteuse, raidisseur-vitrage et raidisseur-structure porteuse incorporant chacun une cage de liaison conforme à la présente invention ;
• la figure 3 est, à échelle agrandie, une vue partielle en coupe transversale d'un vitrage de la figure 1, ladite coupe étant effectuée selon l'axe d'un élément de fixation dudit vitrage à l'organe de montage associé, avec interposition d'une cage de liaison montée selon le mode de montage (I) qui ne fait pas partie de l'invention tel que défini ci-après ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective éclatée des différentes pièces composant ladite cage ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe selon V-V de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue analogue à la figure 3, dans une position dans laquelle l'axe de l'élément de fixation du vitrage s'est déplacé au cours du temps ;
• les figures 7 et 8 sont des vues en coupe selon respectivement VII-VII et VIII-VIII de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 9 est une vue analogue à la Figure 3, excepté que la cage de liaison est montée selon le mode de montage (II) tel que défini ci-après ;
• la figure 10 est une vue en coupe selon X-X de la figure 9, deux vis-patins supplémentaires étant représentées en trait mixte, lesquelles sont utilisées dans un mode de montage (III) ;
• la figure 11 est une vue analogue aux figures 3 et 9, avec une cage de liaison conforme à un second mode de réalisation de la présente invention.

To better illustrate the object of the present invention, will now be described, by way of purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, several embodiments shown in the drawings. Figures 9 to 11 .

• the figure 1 is a partial schematic view of a glazed facade VEA, tearing revealing the mounting members of these windows on the supporting structure;
• the figure 2 is a modeling diagram showing a glazing of a VEA system intended to be stabilized by a stiffening element formed of a glass plate, the glazing-carrier structure, stiffener-glazing and stiffener-bearing structure fasteners each incorporating a connecting cage according to the present invention;
• the figure 3 is, on an enlarged scale, a partial cross-sectional view of a window of the figure 1 , said section being made along the axis of a fastening element of said glazing unit to the associated mounting member, with the interposition of a connecting cage mounted according to the mounting mode (I) which is not part of the invention as defined below;
• the figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the various parts making up said cage;
• the figure 5 is a sectional view according to VV of the figure 3 ;
• the figure 6 is a view similar to the figure 3 in a position in which the axis of the glazing securing member has shifted over time;
• the Figures 7 and 8 are sectional views respectively according to VII-VII and VIII-VIII of the figure 6 ;
• the figure 9 is a view similar to the Figure 3 except that the connecting cage is mounted according to the mounting mode (II) as defined hereinafter;
• the figure 10 is a sectional view along XX of the figure 9 , two additional screw-skids being shown in phantom, which are used in a mounting mode (III);
• the figure 11 is a view similar to figures 3 and 9 , with a connecting cage according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The proportions between the various elements represented are not rigorously respected in these figures in order to facilitate their reading.

If we refer to the figure 1 it can be seen that there is shown a partial view of a facade consisting of glazing 1 separated by joints 2 of narrow width, each of the glazing 1 being mechanically fixed to the supporting structure at its four corners by dots 3 attaches advantageously so that the outer surface generally has no overflowing element. The seals 2 are generally constituted by pre-extruded silicone profiles or else they are silicone seals extruded in situ.

On the figure 1 , one can also see the assembly members 4 of the glazing 1 on the support structure. The mounting members 4 each comprise a hub 5 pierced with a fixing hole 6 of the member in question to the supporting structure. The hubs 5 externally carry one to four arms 7 according to the member 4 in question is intended to cooperate in the mounting of respectively one to four windows 1. The arms 7, which are all equal, are all inclined forwards if we look at the figure 1 and they each carry, at their free end, a cylindrical ring 8 ( figure 3 ) of axis parallel to the central axis of the fixing hole 6 of the hub 5. Furthermore, the arms 7 are arranged with an angular orientation such that the axes of the rings 8 coincide with the axes of the attachment points 3 of the glazings 1, as illustrated by the figure 1 .

In what follows, the axis of the rings 8 (or attachment points 3) is also called the z axis. Each of these rings 8 constitutes the housing of a connecting cage according to the present invention, which cooperates with both the associated mounting member 4 and with a fastening rod of the fastening device of the panel 1 along the axis the corresponding attachment point 3.

On the figure 2 a mounting diagram is shown comprising a glazing panel V, a reinforcing glass panel R and frame elements O, with the interposition of cages C according to the present invention. This schematic representation of the figure 2 is primarily intended to indicate on which types of systems can be interposed a connecting cage according to the invention. It illustrates the possibility of orienting these cages in all directions, the z-axis setting for a panel, as will be described hereinafter, which can be turned into an x-axis setting for a panel arranged transversely. Multiple variants are possible from the figure 2 by removing one or the other of the glazing and the stiffener, or by replacing it with another construction element of fragile material.

We will now describe with reference to the figure 3 , a device for fixing a glazing unit 1 on a mounting member 4 at a point of attachment 3.

The glazing 1 shown here is a monolithic glazing. It comprises a substrate 9 of silico-soda-lime glass, preferably at least 8 mm thick, for example 12, 15 or 19 mm, pierced with a countersunk hole 10 in each of its corners. This hole 10 is traversed by a metal screw 11, also countersunk, the head of which is flush with the face 12 of the glazing intended to be on the "outside" side of the facade once the glazing is fixed in front. A flexible seal-collar 13 is interposed between the screw 11 and the wall of the hole 10 in order to avoid direct glass-to-metal contact. The screw 11 is also hollowed out with a cylindrical cavity 14. In this cavity 14, the head 15 of a rod element 16 is housed with a certain clearance, the other end of which cooperates with the elements which will be described here. -after a connecting cage 17, the corresponding ring 8 of the mounting member 4 constitutes the housing.

The head 15 of the rod element 16 has a flat front face which abuts against the bottom of the cylindrical cavity 14 with the interposition of a flexible seal 18, advantageously made of elastomer with a Shore hardness of, for example, approximately 50. Its lateral face of revolution is the association of two cone portions by means of an annular portion. The head 15 is held in place in the cavity 14 by a clamping piece 19, a washer 20 of a material similar to that of the seal 18 being interposed between the rear face of the head 15 and the clamping piece 19.

A certain clearance is maintained between the cavity 14 and the head 15 by a choice of cavity diameter 14 slightly greater than that of the annular zone of the head 15 and by the aforementioned flexible materials 18 and 20. The deflection of the rod 16 is authorized by the inner profile of the clamping piece 19, having a central opening of larger diameter than that of the cylindrical portion opposite the rod 16.

The assembly is tightened by a nut 21 which is screwed onto the screw 11 and the clamping piece 19, coming to bear against the face 22 of the substrate 9 with the interposition of a flexible washer 23.

Once the glazing 1 attached, as shown on the figure 3 , in a substantially vertical plane, its point or its support zone P on the device of fixation which has just been described, is located approximately on the annular zone of the head 15, in the upper part, and it is around this point or this support zone P that the glazing 1 will swing in a pendular manner , and in all directions, the amplitude of the allowed flexion - generally set to a few degrees - of the glazing being controlled by the clearance between the head 15 and the cavity 14 and the ability to compress the seal 18 and the washer 20. The glazing 1 can thus flex slightly, either in the event of strong winds, or to take account of tolerances as to its positioning relative to the supporting structure.

Such a fixing device, said pendulum, is described in the European patent EP-B-0 655 543 and the European patent application EP-A-801,201 . In the European patent EP-B-0 655 543 Pendulum fasteners applied to double glazing and laminated glazing are also disclosed. It goes without saying that all these devices can be used interchangeably, especially in all the embodiments and variants described in EP-B-0 655 543 because the present invention is not limited to monolithic glazing. It also encompasses multiple windows of the double-glazed type, in which different glass plates are assembled by means of a gas strip with a peripheral seal, as well as laminated glazings, such as those consisting of a so-called "inner" float soda-lime float glass plate, joined to another glass plate of the same type, called "external", by means of a polyvinylbutyral type plastic interlayer sheet. The multiple glazings may also comprise at least one laminated glass sheet.

In the same way, the present invention is not limited to pendular fixing devices and applies equally to all types of fasteners as soon as they include a rod intended to be connected to the supporting structure. Mention may be made, inter alia, of ball-jointing devices as described in the European patent applications EP-A-0 201 212 and EP-A-0 506 522 in the German patent application DE-A-4,325,024 , with eccentric circular rings, as described in EP-A-0 506 522 , or anchor bolts screwed into attachment fittings, as described in European patent applications EP-A-0 552 101 and 0 595 062 .

Finally, the present invention can be applied to fastening devices in which the fastening rod is carried by the supporting structure, as is the case for systems in which the glazings are held by pinching (French patent FR-B-2 739 406 ).

We will now describe, with reference to figures 3 and 4 , the connecting cage 17 according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

• trois plateaux 24, 25, 26 qui forment ensemble un système de type joint d'Oldham ;
• un écrou de réglage 27 ; et
• une rondelle d'appui 28,

chacune de ces pièces 24 à 28 allant maintenant être décrite plus en détail.The linkage cage 17 comprises an assembly of parts that snap onto the projecting portion of the rod 16, successively, from left to right if one looks at the figure 3 :

• three trays 24, 25, 26 which together form an Oldham joint type system;
• a setting nut 27; and
• a support washer 28,

each of these parts 24 to 28 will now be described in more detail.

The cylindrical symmetrical rod 16 comprises, in its protruding part, at a distance from the glazing fixing device 1, on the right when one looks at the figure 3 , a progressive increase of its section (at 29) to a portion of section (30) having the shape of a flattened circle to form two flat horizontal surfaces 31, then a progressive decrease of its section (at 32) until to resume its initial diameter, the rod 16 then ending in a threaded portion 33.

• Le plateau 24 a la forme générale d'un disque dont la paroi périphérique comporte quatre méplats régulièrement espacés, à savoir deux méplats horizontaux 34, 35 et deux méplats verticaux 36, 37 si l'on regarde la figure 4. Le plateau 24 comporte un perçage axial 38 débouchant, dans sa paroi arrière 39 si l'on regarde la figure 4 suivant une partie cylindrique de section légèrement supérieure à la section circulaire de la partie d'extrémité de la tige 16, et débouchant, dans sa paroi avant 40, suivant une partie de section oblongue dont le grand axe est disposé horizontalement, la partie cylindrique et la partie de section oblongue étant reliées par une partie conique destinée à s'adapter étroitement autour des parties 30 et 32 de la tige 16, comme on peut le voir en position de montage sur la figure 3. Le perçage avant est ici de forme oblongue notamment pour des raisons de commodité de fabrication du plateau 24 et pourrait affecter une autre forme.
  Par ailleurs, le plateau 24 comporte, faisant saillie sur sa paroi arrière 40, une barrette verticale 41, disposée diamétralement, traversée par le prolongement de la partie arrière cylindrique du perçage axial 38. La barrette 41, de section horizontale sensiblement carrée, dépasse du plateau 24 proprement dit en partie supérieure et inférieure compte tenu de la présence des méplats 34 et 35.
• Le plateau 25 a la forme générale d'un disque de même diamètre que le plateau 24. Il comporte une ouverture circulaire centrale 42 de diamètre très supérieur au diamètre de la tige 16 dans sa partie cylindrique. Sa paroi avant 43 et sa paroi arrière 44, si l'on regarde la figure 3, comportent chacune une rainure diamétrale, respectivement 45 et 46, la rainure 45 étant disposée verticalement et la rainure 46 étant disposée horizontalement. Chacune des rainures 45 et 46 est en deux parties compte tenu de l'ouverture 42. La section transversale, sensiblement carrée, de la rainure 45, est complémentaire de celle de la barrette 41 du plateau 24, ladite barrette 41 pouvant coulisser dans ladite rainure 45.
• Le plateau 26 se présente sous la forme générale d'un disque de même dimension que le plateau 25, avec une ouverture circulaire centrale 47 de même dimension que l'ouverture 42 du disque 25. Sa paroi avant 48 comporte, en saillie, une languette diamétrale 49, disposée horizontalement et se trouvant être en deux parties compte tenu de l'ouverture 47. La section transversale, sensiblement carrée, de la languette 49 est complémentaire de celle de la rainure 46, ladite languette 49 pouvant coulisser dans celle-ci.
• L'écrou de réglage 27 est constitué par une platine 50 comportant une ouverture centrale 51 de même diamètre que les ouvertures 42 et 47, ladite platine 50 présentant un rebord périphérique 52 de hauteur telle que ledit écrou 27 est susceptible de recevoir au moins partiellement le plateau 26, la bordure périphérique annulaire avant 53 de l'écrou 27 venant alors se situer avantageusement dans le même plan que la paroi avant 48 du plateau 26, mais aussi éventuellement en retrait ou encore éventuellement en saillie autour du plateau 25 (mais en retrait de la rainure 45). Par ailleurs, la paroi périphérique du rebord 52 comporte un filetage 54 destiné à coopérer avec un taraudage 55 porté par la bague 8 dans sa partie d'extrémité qui sera située à l'opposé du vitrage 1 en position de montage. Ce taraudage 55 s'étend sur une distance plus grande que le filetage 54.

The three plates 24, 25, 26 which form the Oldham joint type system are made for example of stainless steel and will now be described in more detail with reference to the figure 3 and at their positions on this figure:

• The plate 24 has the general shape of a disc whose peripheral wall comprises four flattened regularly spaced flats, namely two horizontal flats 34, 35 and two vertical flats 36, 37 if we look at it. figure 4 . The plate 24 has an axial bore 38 opening, in its rear wall 39 if we look at the figure 4 following a cylindrical portion of section slightly greater than the circular section of the end portion of the rod 16, and opening, in its front wall 40, in a portion of oblong section whose long axis is disposed horizontally, the cylindrical portion and the oblong section portion being connected by a conical portion adapted to fit closely around the portions 30 and 32 of the shank 16, as can be seen in the mounting position on the figure 3 . The front bore here is oblong in particular for reasons of convenience of manufacture of the plate 24 and could affect another form.
  Furthermore, the plate 24 comprises, projecting on its rear wall 40, a vertical bar 41, arranged diametrically, traversed by the extension of the cylindrical rear portion of the axial bore 38. The bar 41, of substantially square horizontal section, exceeds the plateau 24 itself in the upper and lower part given the presence of the flats 34 and 35.
• The plate 25 has the general shape of a disc of the same diameter as the plate 24. It has a central circular opening 42 of diameter much greater than the diameter of the rod 16 in its cylindrical portion. Its front wall 43 and its rear wall 44, if we look at the figure 3 , each comprise a diametrical groove, respectively 45 and 46, the groove 45 being disposed vertically and the groove 46 being disposed horizontally. Each of the grooves 45 and 46 is in two parts in view of the opening 42. The substantially square cross section of the groove 45 is complementary to that of the bar 41 of the plate 24, said bar 41 being able to slide in said groove 45.
• The plate 26 is in the general form of a disc of the same size as the plate 25, with a central circular opening 47 of the same size as the opening 42 of the disc 25. Its front wall 48 has a protruding tongue 49, arranged horizontally and being in two parts in view of the opening 47. cross section, substantially square, of the tongue 49 is complementary to that of the groove 46, said tongue 49 being slidable therein.
• The adjusting nut 27 is constituted by a plate 50 having a central opening 51 of the same diameter as the openings 42 and 47, said plate 50 having a peripheral rim 52 of height such that said nut 27 is able to receive at least partially the plateau 26, the annular peripheral edge before 53 of the nut 27 then coming to be advantageously in the same plane as the front wall 48 of the plate 26, but also possibly recessed or possibly possibly projecting around the plate 25 (but set back groove 45). Furthermore, the peripheral wall of the flange 52 comprises a thread 54 intended to cooperate with a tapping 55 carried by the ring 8 in its end portion which will be located opposite the glazing 1 in the mounting position. This tapping 55 extends over a greater distance than the thread 54.

The rear wall 56 of the nut 27 also has at its periphery a number of regularly spaced blind holes 57 (at least two) in which a suitable screwing tool for the nut 27 can be introduced.

On the rear wall 56 of the nut 27 is applied, in the mounting position, the bearing washer 28 mentioned above, whose face facing the nut 27 has a coating 58 for improving the sliding.

A nut 59 cooperating with the threaded end of the rod 16 tightens the assembly by applying against the bearing washer 28.

Furthermore, the ring 8 comprises, in the vicinity of its free edge, four radial holes, namely two tapped holes 60 diametrically opposite along the y-axis ( figure 3 ) and two threaded holes 61 diametrically opposed along the x-axis ( figures 8 and 10 ), the holes 60 and 61 being arranged to lie opposite the flats respectively 34-35 and 36-37 of the plate 24.

The mechanical connection device according to the invention is moreover optionally supplemented by two flexible seals 62 and 63. The seal 62 presents a generally annular shape and is fixed by its outer edge to the inner free edge of the ring 8 and by its inner edge on the front face 40 of the plate 24. As for the seal 63, it has the shape of a bellows, being fixed , by one of its borders, to the front edge of the fastening nut 21 of the rod 16 and, by its other edge, to the front edge of the opening 38 of the plate 24. The attachment of the seals 62 and 63 can be achieved by snapping for example in grooves provided for this purpose on the elements respectively 8 and 24, and 24 and 21. The seals 62 and 63 protect the cage 17 in the use position.

• Dans chaque bague 8 d'un organe de montage 4, on vient mettre en place les éléments 24 à 27 pour constituer ainsi le dispositif de liaison mécanique ou cage 17, les plateaux 24, 25 et 26 étant emboîtés successivement les uns dans les autres, le plateau 26 étant reçu dans la cavité intérieure de l'écrou 27, et ce dernier étant vissé sur la bague 8. Cette dernière forme le boîtier de ladite cage 17. Les surfaces de contact entre le plateau 26 et l'écrou 27 sont avantageusement traitées pour assurer le glissement lors du réglage de la position de l'écrou 27 selon l'axe z. Un moyen de retenue temporaire peut être prévu. On peut également utiliser comme moyen de retenue le joint 62 que l'on vient par exemple encliqueter dans les gorges prévues à cet effet sur la bague 8 et sur la paroi avant 40 du plateau 24.

To realize the installation of a facade of type VEA, one can proceed in the following way:

• In each ring 8 of a mounting member 4, the elements 24 to 27 are put in place to thus constitute the mechanical connection device or cage 17, the plates 24, 25 and 26 being successively nested in each other, the plate 26 being received in the internal cavity of the nut 27, and the latter being screwed onto the ring 8. The latter forms the casing of said cage 17. The contact surfaces between the plate 26 and the nut 27 are advantageously treated to ensure slippage when adjusting the position of the nut 27 along the z axis. Temporary restraint means may be provided. It is also possible to use as a retaining means the seal 62 that is for example snapped into the grooves provided for this purpose on the ring 8 and on the front wall 40 of the plate 24.

The various mounting members 4 each equipped with the corresponding number of stands 17 are fixed on the support structure. A preset of the position of the nuts 27 along the axis z can be performed before or after fixing the mounting members 4 on the supporting structure.

Then comes to place the glass panels 9 provided with their fasteners with their protruding rods 16. The rods 16 are inserted into the holes left free of the cages 17, the frustoconical portions 32 of said rods 16 abutting against the parts corresponding plates 24.

We can then act on the nuts 27 to ensure, thanks to screwing, a fine adjustment of the position of the corresponding attachment points. The bearing washers 28 are then put in place and then the nuts 59 which tighten the rods onto the assembly members 4 equipped with their cages 17 are brought.

In the illustrated case of mounting a VEA-type facade, the rods 16 fitted to the points of the panel intended to be the upper attachment points are preferably inserted first.

As already indicated, the panels 9 may be provided with flexible seals 63, similar to the seals 62, which are for example preliminarily snapped into the front walls 40 of the trays 24 of the cages 17, and that it is snapped on the edge The sealing of the assemblies is thus ensured by the seals 62 and 63, the seals 63 coming to press against the walls 40, or even against the seals 62 according to the position of attachment of these members. last on said walls 40.

The various tightening and / or adjustment operations are allowed by the arrangement of sufficient space between the elements of the supporting structure and the rear of the rings 8 of the mounting members 4. This space may be authorized in particular by the choice of sufficient arm length 7, or by the use of spacer pieces.

The mounting mode that has just been described is not intended to be limiting: it can for example be considered to equip the rods 16 with the trays 24 to 26 with the use of suitable retaining means, and come to place these sets in the rings 8 mounting members 4, with or without screws 27.

Similarly, by making some minor changes to the device, the operations may be reversed or changed.

• Le plateau 24 peut se déplacer librement en translation selon l'axe x, la languette 49 coulissant dans la rainure 46 (Figure 7), et le plateau 24 - qui suit le plateau 25 dans son déplacement selon l'axe x du fait de l'encastrement de la barrette 41 dans la rainure 45 - peut se déplacer librement en translation selon l'axe y, ladite barrette 41 coulissant dans ladite rainure 45 (figure 8). Grâce aux appuis en 31 contre la paroi délimitant le perçage 38 du plateau 24, on empêche toute possibilité de rotation relative entre la tige 16 et le plateau 24.

We have just described what has been defined previously as the assembly (I), namely that the positioning of the attachment points 3 along the z axis is set and then blocked, whereas the positioning of these points along the x-axis and the y-axis will remain free over time to the extent of the conceded games. This type of assembly is not part of the invention but helps to understand it. The movements break down as follows ( Figures 6 to 8 ):

• The plate 24 can move freely in translation along the x axis, the tongue 49 sliding in the groove 46 ( Figure 7 ), and the plateau 24 - which follows the plate 25 in its displacement along the axis x due to the embedding of the bar 41 in the groove 45 - can move freely in translation along the axis y, said bar 41 sliding in said groove 45 ( figure 8 ). Thanks to the supports 31 against the wall delimiting the hole 38 of the plate 24, any possibility of relative rotation between the rod 16 and the plate 24 is prevented.

During these radial movements along the x axis and along the y axis, the surface between the coating 58 of Figures 6 to 8 give an image of a position that can take the cage 27 according to this assembly (I): adjustment along the z axis and freedom of translation along the x and y axes.

We have just described the installation of a glazed facade VEA, using this mounting mode (I) for all attachment points 3. This is not the preferred overall assembly. If we refer to the figure 1 it can indeed be seen that it has been chosen to adopt this mounting mode (I) only for the low points of attachment of glazing 1 (or panels 9), mounting modes (II) and (III ) having been adopted for high points of attachment. In the example shown, we chose the modes (II) for the high points on the right and the modes (III) for the high points on the left.

These modes of assembly (II) and (III) will now be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10 .

On these Figures 9 and 10 it can be seen in fact that the two tapped holes 60 serve for the passage of screw skids 64, the heads 64 of which abut on the flats respectively 34 and 35 of the plate 24. It can therefore be seen that under these conditions it is possible to adjust the position of the plate 24 along the y-axis in a continuous interval of positions between the two extremes defined by the contact of the plate 24 against the inner wall of the ring 8. It is possible to move the plate in translation 24 along the x-axis.

This assembly therefore constitutes the assembly called assembly (II): adjustment along the z and y axes and freedom of translation along the x axis.

If we now refer to the figure 10 it can be seen that it has also been shown the possibility of setting up screw-skids 65, the position is adjustable by screwing into the threaded holes 61, in the same way that the screw 64 cooperate with the holes 60. The heads 65a of these screw-pads 65 then abut against the flat portions 36 and 37 of the plate 24. The placement of these screw-skids 65 in addition to the screw-skates 64 constitutes the assembly (III), removing the freedom of translation also along the x-axis.

In the case of this assembly, the cage 17 by screwing allows fine adjustment of the attachment position 3 in three dimensions.

One could also provide a mounting (IV), not shown, according to which the position of the attachment point would be adjustable along the z and x axes and there would be freedom of translation along the y axis. In this case, the screw skids 64 on the figure 9 .

When assembling the cages 17, it is sufficient, before coming to place the elements 24 to 26, come to install screw-skates 64 and / or 65 by screwing them into the corresponding threaded holes respectively 60 and 61 from the inside. 8. The adjustment of the position of these screw-pads 64 and / or 65 will then be effected from the outside. On the figure 10 there is shown an adjustment according to which the axis of the rod 16 coincides with the axis of the ring 8, but it goes without saying that another adjustment is possible, the invention making it possible to very finely adjust the position of the attachment point 3.

Also, one could provide that the brake shoes screw 64 and / or 65 do not necessarily bear against the corresponding flat surfaces of the plate 24, but their respectively 64 heads a and 65 a are at a selected distance in each case by the assembler to allow to limit the movement of the point of attachment 3 along the axes respectively of y and x.

In the example shown, it could possibly be envisaged to dispense with the upper screw skids 64.

Moreover, it is possible to systematically install the screw skids in all the cages 17 used to mount a facade made of VEA, and to adjust these screws to allow maximum displacement along the x-axis and the y-axis. , for the attachment points 3 for which a typical mounting (I) is desired.

The flats of the plates 24 may be processed to form sliding surfaces of the heads 64 a and 65 a of the pads towards respectively 64 and 65. Similarly, the parts cooperating to a sliding of the plates 24 to 26 can advantageously be treated to form sliding surfaces. Thus, the plates 25 and 26, which take less effort than the plate 24 and serve more as a sliding surface in this embodiment, could also be plastic.

If we now refer to the figure 11 it can be seen that a simpler embodiment of a device according to the invention has been shown.

The glass panel 9 and its associated fastening devices provided with their protruding rods 16 are the same as those of the first embodiment and therefore bear the same reference numerals. The only difference is that the end portion of the rods 16 from the frustoconical portions 32 is shorter.

The mounting member 104 intended to be fixed to the support structure differs from the member 4 of the first embodiment in that each of the arms 107 that it carries no longer ends in a ring, but according to an eyelet constituted by a circular bottom 166 having a central opening 167, axis coinciding with the axis of the corresponding point of attachment 3 in the mounting position shown. The circular bottom 166 is folded square over its entire edge 168, opposite the glazing 1 or panel 9 in the mounting position. In this border, are made three tapped holes 169 whose axes are arranged radially, the one - the one that we see on the figure 11 - along the y axis, and the other two along the x axis. These threaded holes 169 are used for the passage of screw-skids 170 having heads 170a, mounted in the same way as the screw-pads 64 and 65 of the first embodiment.

The contents of the cage 17 of the first embodiment is here simplified to include only one circular plate 171. This plate 171 has a peripheral wall having three flats 172, each being associated with a screw-pad 170, of the same way that the flats 34 to 37 of the plate 24 were associated with the screw-pads 64 and 65 of the first mode of production. In addition, the plate 171 has a tapped central circular opening 173.

The housing 108 of the cage 117 is formed by the front plate 166 supplemented by a back plate 166 having a central opening 167 has the same diameter as the opening 167 and which is placed opposite the latter in the mounted position. The outer front edge of the plate 166 has a notch 166 b which receives the edge 168 in the assembly position, the side wall of the plate 166 then coming into the extension of the outer wall of the border 168. The plate 166 has is attached to this edge 168 by screws (not shown) or by any other means.

The end portion of the rod 16 between the frustoconical portion 32 and the vicinity of its free end receives a cylindrical sleeve 174, whose outer wall has, except in its rear end portion, a thread 175 intended to cooperate with the tapping the opening 173 of the plate 171.

The inner wall of the sleeve 174 is shaped to allow it to come snug on the rod 16 by the end thereof, and to abut against the conical portion 32.

As previously, a nut 59 cooperating with the threaded end 33 of the rod 16, tightens the assembly by applying against the rear wall of the sleeve 174.

The device represented on this figure 11 is completed by a rear cap 176 in the form of spherical cap which comes to fit force by its free rim shaped ring against the outer side wall of the plate 166a.

This device is mounted for example in the following way: the cages 117 associated with the mounting members 104 are formed by putting in place the screw-pads 170, the plate 171 receiving by screwing the sleeve 174, then the closure plate 166 a . The screw-pads 170 ensure the correct orientation of the flats 172 during assembly. We can then ensure an adjustment of the future position of the rod 16 along the z axis by acting on the sleeve 174 by screwing from its rear end wall. Then comes the panel 9 with its projecting rod 16 through the opening of the sleeve 174, until the frustoconical portion 32 is abutted against the corresponding inner wall of the inlet opening of the sleeve 171.

Then comes to tighten the nut 59, set up the cache 176, and adjust from the outside the three screws-skids 170 according to the degree of freedom that we want to keep along the x axis and along the y axis . The slip thus made possible the tray 171 of the cage 117 may be advantageously promoted by the fact that the contacting faces of the plates 166 and 166 and the board 171 were treated accordingly.

• un premier plateau déplaçable dans une première position (par exemple horizontale) présentant une ouverture centrale oblongue disposée perpendiculairement à la première direction (par exemple verticalement) et dont la largeur correspond au diamètre de la tige 16 (qui n'a plus de renflement médian) ; et
• un deuxième plateau plaqué contre le premier et déplaçable dans une deuxième direction (par exemple verticale) présentant une ouverture centrale oblongue disposée perpendiculairement à la deuxième direction (par exemple horizontalement).

In a variant of this second embodiment with a slidably mounted plate, it is possible to use:

• a first plate movable in a first position (for example horizontal) having an oblong central opening disposed perpendicularly to the first direction (for example vertically) and whose width corresponds to the diameter of the rod 16 (which no longer has a median bulge) ; and
• a second plate pressed against the first and movable in a second direction (for example vertical) having an oblong central opening disposed perpendicularly to the second direction (for example horizontally).

It is understood that the embodiments described above are in no way limiting and may give rise to any desirable modifications, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (20)

1. Mechanical connection device (17; 117) for a system for fastening, at at least one point, an element (1, 9) in particular of fragile material, such as glass, on a bearing structure, this fastening system comprising, at each fastening point, a fixing device secured to the element (1, 9) and provided with an attachment rod (16) substantially perpendicular to the surface of the element (1, 9) and intended to be mounted on a mounting member (4; 104) fixed to the bearing structure, the mechanical connection device (17; 117) being able to be mounted between the rod (16) and the mounting member (4; 104), the mechanical connection device (17; 117) comprising:

   - a means (17; 174) allowing the adjustment, during the mounting of the mechanical connection device (17; 117) of the position of the rod (16) along its axis, and

   - means (24, 25, 26; 166, 166a, 171) for allowing, once the mechanical connection device (17; 117) has been mounted, a movement of the rod (16) perpendicularly to its axis, within fixed limits,

   the mechanical connection device (17; 117) additionally comprising means (34, 35, 36, 37; 172) allowing the restriction, or even the elimination, during the mounting of the mechanical connection device (17; 117) and/or once the mechanical connection device (17; 117) has been mounted, of the degree or degrees of freedom of the said movement of the rod (16) perpendicularly to its axis, the mechanical connection device (17; 117) comprising a plate (24; 171) borne by the rod (16) while being perpendicular to the axis of the rod (16), this plate (24; 171) being guided during its movement along its plane, characterized in that the said means allowing the restriction, or even the elimination, of the degree or degrees of freedom of the movement of the rod (16) perpendicularly to its axis comprise a peripheral part (34, 35, 36, 37; 172) of the plate with which there is able to cooperate at least one stop (64a, 65a; 170a) of which the distance from the peripheral part (34, 35, 36, 37; 172) is adjustable.
2. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plate (171) is moveably mounted perpendicularly to the axis of the rod (16) in all directions.
3. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the plate (171) is slideably mounted at its periphery between two walls (166, 166a) borne by the mounting member (104).
4. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the plate (24) is moveably mounted perpendicularly to the axis of the rod (16) in one or two directions corresponding to the degree or to the degrees of freedom of the movement of the rod (16).
5. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 4, characterized in that the plate (24) is moveably mounted in the horizontal direction and in the vertical direction, the element (1; 9) in particular of fragile material being mounted vertically.
6. Mechanical connection device according to either one of Claims 4 and 5, characterized in that the plate (24) constitutes one of the end plates of an assembly of plates of the Oldham joint type (24, 25, 76) arranged so as to surround the rod (16).
7. Mechanical connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a means (64, 65; 170) for adjusting the position of the rod (16) able to adjust the said position from among a continuous set of positions along the axis or the axes (x, y) for eliminating the degree of freedom.
8. Mechanical connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each stop is formed by the head (64a, 65a; 170a) of a screw-runner (64, 65; 170), the threaded rod of which cooperates with a tapped hole (60, 61; 169) made in the mounting member (4; 104), the adjustment of this screw-runner or of each of these screw-runners allowing a restriction of the movement of the associated plate (24; 171), and hence of the rod (16) within chosen limits, in one or two directions corresponding to the degree or to the degrees of freedom of movement of the rod.
9. Mechanical connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a means (27; 174) able to adjust the position of the rod (16) along its axis (z) in a continuous manner within a defined range of lengths.
10. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 9, characterized in that the adjustment, during the mounting of the mechanical connection device (17; 117), of the position of the rod (16) along its axis takes place by screwing, on the mounting member (4) or on a part secured to the said mounting member (4) or on a part (171) which cooperates with the mounting member (104) but of which the position along the axis of the rod (16) remains fixed, of a part (27; 174) coupled in translation to the said rod (16).
11. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the plate (171) has a tapped central opening (173) cooperating with a threaded outer region of a sleeve (174) in which the rod (16) is able to penetrate during the mounting of the mechanical connection device (117), until abutting in the adjusted position along its axis according to the chosen position of the sleeve (174).
12. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 10, characterized in that the plate (24) constitutes one of the end plates of an assembly of plates of the Oldham joint type (24, 25, 26) arranged so as to surround the rod (16), the other end plate (26) of the assembly of the Oldham joint type being housed in the cavity of a nut (27) having an external thread (54) capable of cooperating with a tapping (55) made in a peripheral wall (8) facing the mounting member (4).
13. Mechanical connection device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it takes the form of a cage having an axial opening of axis parallel to the axis of the rod (16) in the mounted position, this cage containing the elements for adjusting and for fixing the position of the rod (16) along its axis, and the elements for adjusting the rod (16) perpendicularly to its axis.
14. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 13, characterized in that it is associated with a housing (8; 108) designed to be fixed on the bearing structure directly or by intermediate fixing of the housing on a mounting member.
15. Mechanical connection device according to Claim 14, characterized in that the housing (108) is formed by the assembly of two plates (166, 166a) each having a central opening (167, 167a), between which the plate (171) is slideably mounted, the peripheral rim (168) of one of the plates (167) having at least one tapped opening (169) for the passage of a screw-runner (170).
16. Mechanical connection device according to Claims 12 and 14, characterized in that the housing (8) is formed by a ring of axis parallel to the axis of the rod (16) in the mounting position, the ring (8) having, in the vicinity of one of its ends, at least one tapped opening (60, 61) for the passage of a screw-runner (64, 65), and, at its other end, the tapping (55) intended to cooperate with the thread (54) of the nut (27) for adjusting the position of the rod (16) along its axis.
17. Assembly comprising a mounting member (4; 104) intended to be fixed on a bearing structure and at least one mechanical connection device (17; 117) intended to cooperate with an attachment rod (16) forming part of a fixing device borne by an element (1, 9) in particular of fragile material, such as glass, in order to constitute in particular a glazed facade of structural glazing, characterized in that the connection device (17; 117) is as defined in any one of the preceding claims.
18. Assembly according to Claim 17, characterized in that the mounting member (4; 104) bears one to four arms (7; 107) depending on whether it is intended to cooperate with the mounting of one to four elements (1, 9), respectively.
19. Assembly according to either one of Claims 17 and 18, comprising at least one connection device (17; 117) as defined in Claim 8 and, as accessories, a set of screw-runners (64, 65; 170) associated with each connection device (17; 117).
20. Glazed facades or walls equipped with at least one mechanical connection device (17; 117) as defined in one of Claims 1 to 16 or with at least one assembly as defined in one of Claims 17 to 19.

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