EP1440219B1 - Mechanical connecting device for a system that is used to attach elements to a structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fastening system in at least one point of elements such as panels, of fragile material, in particular glass, on a structure such as a structural element or on a framework such as columns or stretched cables.

Among the applications of the present invention is the production of partitions, walls or glazed facades, consisting of glass elements attached to the surrounding structural elements (ceiling, floor, walls) and possibly assembled together. These partitions, walls or facades may be composed of fixed or moving glass elements (doors, windows, ventilation hatches). Conventionally, the fasteners of these elements act on holes through the elements and have two parts tight on each of the faces of the elements.

To ensure the adjustments of the relative positions of the elements and the structure, the holes generally have larger dimensions than those of the organs inserted therein, so as to allow the reception of these organs in a wide area, then the position of the organs is frozen during the tightening of the parts which also serve to mask the clearance between the bodies and the edge of the holes.

These fixing solutions are certainly effective, but the presence of opaque clamping parts, which are generally metal plates, is inconsistent with the desire for transparency that makes choose the glass material to form the wall elements.

Fastening systems promoting transparency are known in the field of the realization of glazed facades consisting of Attached Exterior Glazing (VEA). The glazings are equipped with fastening or fastening devices which generally have as common element a fastening rod projecting from one side, perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the glass panel, mounted on the panel by a connecting means 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.

To allow precise mounting of glass panels that can reach considerable dimensions, fastening systems generally include adjustment devices located at the level of the fasteners themselves, which therefore remain visible. If this is generally not detrimental to the aesthetic aspect of the large glass unit, it can become so if we consider glass elements of smaller dimensions, such as glass partitions.

A mechanical connection device according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the document DE 200 11 37941 .

The applicant company has sought means for mechanical connection between an element and a support structure or a framework, with the objective that such means allow the glass elements or other fragile material to be correctly positioned, in particular remain in their plane. inertia and without adding constraints related to the relative movements due to possible thermal expansion differences, so that the material retains all of its mechanical properties, while preserving at best the aesthetics of the binding to make it particularly applicable to the production of small glazed volumes.

For this purpose, it is proposed, according to the invention, a mechanical connection device between fastener and structure or frame, which is likely to ensure a rupture of the transmission of forces, and which allows the attachment to have an exactly fixed position and / or a number of degrees of freedom chosen, in particular depending on the position of the fastener, because the constraints are not the same for the high points and the low points of a system.

This mechanical connection device allows fine management of relative movements in a carpentry or facade assembly comprising glass elements (in particular monolithic, laminated, multiple glazing of which at least one wall may itself be laminated, etc.) or other material fragile, especially ceramic, which in situation are subjected to significant efforts, whether of substantially flat shape elements such as plates or panels, but also volume elements such as beams or columns.

The present invention therefore firstly relates to a mechanical connection device according to claim 1.

The device according to the invention decouples the functions of connection to the element and adjustment of the position of the latter, by returning the adjustment mechanism inside a remote core relative to the fastener. For this purpose, the core is provided with a tubular casing or sheath which isolates the adjustment mechanism from view. The sheath can take a variety of forms to comply with all architectural choices, and the term "tubular" here means a volume of any section (circular, elliptical or generally curved, but also square, rectangular or generally polygonal).

According to a particular and advantageous embodiment, the first end of the arm masks at least a portion of the fastener. In particular, the clip can be received in the body of the arm through the first end of the arm.

In particular, if the fastener has a threaded portion, the body of the arm may comprise a threaded portion which receives the threaded portion of the fastener. The threaded portion may be constituted by a threaded spacer, fixed to the body of the arm by screwing, in particular by means of a screw inserted into the spacer opposite the fastener; this system allows easy assembly and disassembly of the connecting device and adaptability to fasteners of different diameters by interchangeability of the spacer.

The first end of the arm may also include a fastening mechanism by mechanical engagement of the clip type, capable of cooperating with the outer surface of the fastener or with a specific body such as a sleeve mounted on any fastener, possibly threaded.

The first end of the arm may also have an inner surface capable of constituting a flat bearing surface for a part of the fastener connected to the element. This arrangement makes it possible to ensure a more rigid connection and the transmission of the forces by the attachment on a larger surface than that provided by the connecting rod. Optionally, this flat bearing surface may be masked, for example if it is provided inside the body of the arm.

Advantageously, the first end of the arm may be provided to come into contact with the element, possibly via an interface material. Thus, the arm defines with the surface of the element a space that allows in particular to hide a portion or the entire attachment. In addition, the arm provides an additional plane bearing surface, this time with the element directly, which contributes to the rigidity of the connection and the recovery of efforts in the direction of the arm.

Preferably, the adjustment mechanism is arranged to allow, once the mounted device, a displacement of the second end of the arm in translation or in rotation along its axis or perpendicular to its axis, within fixed limits, with the possibility of restriction ranging from until the suppression, of a degree of freedom or of the two degrees of freedom of said displacement, at the same time as being ensured, in case of suppression of this or these degrees of freedom, a definitive adjustment of the position of said fastener along the corresponding axis.

This adjustment mechanism can be integrated in the connection between the second end of the arm and the core. In particular, the second end of the arm is engaged in a cavity of the core and the cavity is shaped to allow sliding along its axis of the second end, optionally threaded externally.

According to a particular embodiment, the second end of the arm comprises an externally threaded portion and the cavity of the core is threaded to allow adjustment by screwing the position of the second end along its axis.

According to another particular embodiment, the cavity is shaped to allow a game of the second end of the arm perpendicular to its axis, in particular in translation or rotation, and the adjustment mechanism may comprise at least one adjustable stop arranged to limit the In particular, the stop may be formed by the head of a screw-shoe, whose threaded rod cooperates with a threaded hole made in the body of the second end of the arm. Moreover, the second end of the arm may be in connection with the core via a pin forming an axis of rotation.

Alternatively, the adjustment mechanism comprises a means adapted to provide a degree of freedom in rotation of the core itself about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the second end of the arm. In particular, this means can be constituted by an elastic ring arranged in the core coaxially with respect to the second end of the arm.

The core may be formed of at least two assembled parts, possibly movable or locked relative to each other.

For the connection to the structure, the frame or at least one element thereof, a connecting piece to the frame or the supporting structure is advantageously mounted on the tubular casing or the arm or arms. In particular, this connecting piece may comprise a connecting portion to a tube, a cable, or a stiffener, said connecting portion being slidably movable along the tube, the cable or the stiffener.

The connecting device may comprise a plurality of arms each having a first end in connection with a fastener mechanically linked to an element, and a second end in connection with a single core.

The device may also include a linkage portion to a structure, said link portion incorporating a pivot axis for the element relative to the structure. In this case, it is preferable that the mechanical connection device comprises at least three arms whose first ends are not aligned, so as not to promote the appearance of torsion moment in the element.

The present invention also relates to a wall comprising at least one fixed or opening element mounted on a structure or frame by means of a mechanical connection device as defined above.

This wall may advantageously be formed of elements connected at the periphery to the structure or to adjacent elements, by means of at least one seal of predetermined size filling the space between an element and the structure or between an element and another element. adjacent, where appropriate of uniform size between all the elements, for example by means of pre-extruded seal, all the elements being properly aligned through the adjustment system of the connecting device.

Preferably the elements are provided with fasteners mechanically linked to the element, although bonding bonds are also possible. The fastener is advantageously connected in the thickness of the material of the element, either in only a part of the thickness inside a non-through bore, or with the entire thickness in a through bore . In each case, the invention allows a discrete and resistant mounting.

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

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique partielle d'une cloison vitrée;
• la figure 2 une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de liaison représenté sur la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est, à échelle agrandie, une vue partielle en coupe transversale selon l'axe (III-III) d'un élément vitré de la figure 2;
• la figure 4, est une vue partielle en coupe transversale selon l'axe (IV-IV) de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue schématique en perspective de la fixation d'une porte en verre.

On these drawings:

• the figure 1 is a partial schematic view of a glazed partition;
• the figure 2 a perspective view of a connecting device shown in the figure 1 ;
• the figure 3 is, on an enlarged scale, a partial view in cross section along the axis (III-III) of a glazed element of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 4 , is a partial view in cross section along the axis (IV-IV) of the figure 2 ;
• the figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the attachment of a glass door.

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

The figure 1 represents a vertical partition 1 made of glazed elements or glazing 2 mounted between a high level 3 and a low level 4 structural work. For this purpose, the windows 2 are provided near each of their attachment angles 5 which cooperate with connecting devices 6 to a frame 7 made here of metal cables stretched between the high 3 and low 4 levels. rear of the frame, can be installed a not shown stiffener or spine system to withstand the frontal forces transmitted by the glazing to the frame.

Currently, it is desirable that the fastener in position (A) is a fixed point of the glazing and is therefore positioned during assembly very precisely without any degree of freedom. For the purposes of mounting, the connection of the fastener in position (B) with the structure is according to the invention with a possibility of adjustment along a horizontal axis contained in the plane of the glazing, and the connection of the fasteners in positions (C) and (D) with the structure is done with a possibility of setting firstly along a horizontal axis contained in the plane of the glazing and secondly, preferably, along an axis vertical content in the plane of the glazing.

The device according to the invention which allows these adjustments is visible on the perspective view of the figure 2 , of a device for connecting two elements 2 adjacent to a position (B) and a position (A).

The device essentially consists of two substantially L-shaped arms 8A and 8B and cooperating on the one hand with a first end 9 respectively with the fasteners 5A and 5B and on the other hand with a second end 10 with a core 11. core is clamped by a ring 12 which has a tubular portion 13 arranged vertically for connection to the cable frame 7. The cables 7 can be arranged indifferently to the rear of the connecting device 6 as shown in the figure, or between the connecting device 6 and the glazing 2.

The arms 8 come to intercept the fasteners 5 of the glazing 2 in a transverse direction, generally normal, to the planes of the glazing 2, which allows a very discreet mounting. The adjustment mechanisms of the fixing positions (A) and (B) are integrated inside the core 11, and are themselves invisible from outside the system.

The details of the device are visible on the figure 3 which is a sectional view along the axis (III-III) of the figure 2 .

This sectional view schematically reveals the structure of the fasteners 5, which are preferably expandable metal fasteners in mechanical connection with a non-through hole 14 against undercut. Such fasteners are known in particular documents EP 595 062 and EP 647 760 . Where appropriate, an interface material is disposed between the jaws of the fastener 5 and the wall of the countersunk hole 14. The fastener 5 is aimed on the glazing 2 by means of a nut 15 via a washer 16.

Alternatively, the clip 5 can be inserted into a through hole, or glued.

The portion of the fastener 5 which serves to bond to the structure is advantageously constituted by a threaded rod 17 projecting perpendicularly to the surface of the glazing 2.

The arms 8 of the connecting device are preferably made of metal, in particular steel. The first end 9 of the arm 8 contains a threaded annular spacer 18 which receives the threaded rod 17. On its side 19 located on the side of the glazing 2, the spacer 18 is in plane support against the nut 15. Opposite the face 19, the spacer 18 may be in plane bearing against a shoulder 20 formed inside the arm 8. L spacer 18 is clamped in the arm 8 by means of a screw 21 inserted in the tapping via a bore 22 formed in the arm at the elbow 23 towards the first end 9. This flat support system can relieve the thread of the rod during the transmission of efforts. During assembly, the clamping operation has the effect of putting the first end 9 of the arm bearing against the surface of the glazing 2, where appropriate via an interface material 24, such as a washer. of silicone. This material may be disposed in a groove formed in the front surface of the spacer or the end of the arm, and be maintained by tight fit or by a clip-type connection. The support of the end face of the arm against the glazing 2 completely masks the fastener and makes the arm participate in the transmission of forces and relieves the mechanical fastener.

The spacer system makes it possible, with the same model of arm, to adapt to fasteners of different types, that is to say presenting a threaded or non-threaded connecting rod, or of different diameters, by simple replacement of the spacer by another adapted tapping and / or incorporating another system of connection to the rod, in particular by clipping.

At its second end 10A, the arm 8A has an external thread. The core 11 comprises a tapered portion 25 that is to say a cavity which cooperates with the threaded end 10A and which is freely rotatable inside the ring 12. This connection by screwing allows to fix precisely and permanently the position of the fastener 5A in a horizontal direction along the axis of the arm at the second end 10A.

The position of the fastener 5A, which serves as a fixed point in the glazing system, can be adjusted in height at the connection between the homie 13 and the cable 7, in particular by means of a nut-type adjustable clamping means.

At its second end 10B, the arm 8B has a non-threaded outer surface. The core 11 comprises a screwed portion 26, that is to say a cavity, in the ring 12 and having a bore of shape adapted to receive axially sliding said end portion. Advantageously, the axial sliding is allowed by planar contact surfaces (clevises) between the second end 10B and the portion 26 parallel to the direction of translation. This connection by axial sliding makes it possible to provide the desired degree of freedom at the position of the fastener 5B in horizontal translation along the axis of the arm at the second end 10B.

The possibility of adjustment in the vertical direction is provided by a pin 27 inserted horizontally into the core portion 26 and which passes through the end 10B. For this purpose, the end 10B is provided with a light 28 wider than the diameter of the pin, to preserve the sliding mobility.

Further details appear on the figure 4 which is seen in section of the figure 2 along the axis (IV-IV).

Note that the core portion 26 has a recess 29 which defines a vertical clearance for the arm portion 8B near the end 10B, which is free to rotate about the axis of the pin 27. The extent of this game can be determined by an adjustable stop constituted by a screw skid 30 which passes through the body of the core via a vertical bore 31. Once mounted, the glazing 2 is subjected to the action of its own weight and the arm 8B is spontaneously placed in abutment against the head of the screw shoe 30, and the possibility of rotation is condemned by the force of gravity. Adjusting the screw skid therefore makes it possible to precisely determine the vertical position of the fastener 5B.

To constitute the connection of the fasteners 5C and 5D to the structure with two degrees of freedom in orthogonal translation, it suffices to dispense with the screw-pads 30 forming stops, which preserves the possibility of vertical sliding of the end portions 9 of the arms 8.

This degree of freedom in rotation of the arms 8 about a horizontal axis can also be authorized by arrangements made on the core only, in particular by the fact that the two portions 25 and 26 of the core 11 are separated by an annular ring of material elastic arranged coaxially with the holes of said portions. The joining of the core portions 25 and 26 can be effected by virtue of the outer ring 12 forming a tubular envelope, the core portion 26 being furthermore surrounded by an elastic sleeve which allows limited vertical mobility.

A collar 32 is associated with the ring 12, on which the tubular part 13 is provided for connection to the vertical cable 7, in particular allowing the cable to slide in the tubular part.

The tubular portion 13 may also be provided with means of connection to a stiffener, in particular glass, at the rear of the cable 7, with the possibility of sliding along the axis of the stiffener. Such a type of relationship between a connecting device and a stiffener is described in EP 887,484 .

The system which has just been described makes it possible to mount elements such as glazings with a very fine positioning, allowing in particular a vertical and horizontal alignment of perfect regularity, which allows the use of prefabricated extruded joints to achieve a durable seal between two neighboring elements. Compared to the usual technique which consists in applying a pasty joint between the mounted elements, which does not always make it possible to achieve perfect joints, the solution using prefabricated joints makes it possible to further increase the aesthetic concern in the realization of the glazed set.

The figure 5 presents another embodiment of the invention which consists of a glass door fixing device.

• trois bras 34, 35, 36 ayant chacun une extrémité en liaison avec une attache ponctuelle 37 liée mécaniquement au panneau de porte 38, et une autre extrémité en liaison avec un noyau 39 inclus dans une enveloppe tubulaire 40,
• et un arbre 41 en liaison pivot avec un élément de gros oeuvre 42 d'une part et raccordé au noyau 39 ou à l'enveloppe tubulaire 40 d'autre part.

This device 33 consists essentially of:

• three arms 34, 35, 36 each having one end in connection with a point fastener 37 mechanically linked to the door panel 38, and another end in connection with a core 39 included in a tubular envelope 40,
• and a shaft 41 pivotally connected to a shell element 42 on the one hand and connected to the core 39 or the tubular casing 40 on the other hand.

The three fasteners 37 are arranged on the door panel 38 at three non-aligned points to avoid a twisting moment at the glass. On the variant shown, the two arms 34 and 35 are bent as in the previous embodiment while the arm 36 is straight.

The shaft 41 is arranged in the plane of the door panel, thanks to an appropriate cutout of the latter, which gives the door a double opening action. If the pivot was installed out of the plane of the panel, the door would have a simple opening action.

This pivot system is suitable for fixing opening glazings with pivoting around a horizontal axis.

It goes without saying that 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.

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, which is defined by the claims.

Claims (26)

1. A mechanical connection device (6; 33) for fixing an element (2; 38) made of fragile material, such as glass, to a framework or bearing structure (7; 42), or for connection to an adjacent similar element (2), comprising
   a joining piece (11; 39) and at least one arm (8A, 8B; 34, 35, 36), the arm having a first end (9A, 9B) connected to a fastener (5A, 5B; 37) suitable for being mechanically connected to the element (2; 38), and a second end (10A, 10B) connected to the joining piece (11; 39),
   the joining piece (11; 39) comprising a tubular envelope (12; 40) which contains a mechanism for adjusting the degrees of freedom of the fixing or of the connection, the second end (10A, 10B) of the arm being engaged in a cavity (25, 26) of the joining piece (11),
   characterized in that said cavity (25, 26) is designed to allow the position of the second end (10A, 10B) of the arm to be adjusted along the axis of the second end parallel to the plane of the element (2; 38) when the fastener is connected to the element.
2. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the first end (9A, 9B) of the arm (8A, 8B) hides the fastener (5A, 5B).
3. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the first end (9A, 9B) of the arm (8A, 8B) has an interior surface (19) able to constitute a flat bearing surface for a part (15) of the fastener (5) connected to the element (2).
4. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the fastener (5A, 5B) is housed in the body of the arm (8A, 8B) through the first end (9A, 9B) of the arm (8A, 8B).
5. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the fastener (5A, 5B) has a threaded portion (17) and in that the body of the arm (8A, 8B) comprises a tapped portion (18) which accommodates the threaded portion (17) of the fastener (5A, 5B).
6. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the tapped portion consists of a tapped spacer piece (18) fixed to the body of the arm (8A, 8B) by screwing, particularly by means of a screw (21) inserted into the spacer piece (18) at the opposite end to the fastener.
7. The device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the body of the arm comprises a clip mechanism designed to collaborate with the exterior surface of the fastener or with a body mounted on the fastener.
8. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first end (9A, 9B) of the arm (8A, 8B) is designed to come into contact with the element (2), if necessary via an interface material (24).
9. The device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the first end (9A, 9B) of the arm (8A, 8B) has a surface (24) able to constitute a flat bearing surface for bearing against the element (2).
10. The device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism is designed to allow, once the device has been mounted, the second end of the arm to be moved in terms of translation or in terms of rotation along its axis or perpendicular to its axis, within fixed limits, with the possibility of restricting, extending so far as to eliminate, one degree of freedom or both degrees of freedom of said movement, at the same time as definitive adjustment of the position of said fastener along the corresponding axis is provided if this or these degrees of freedom is or are eliminated.
11. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second end (10A, 10B) of the arm has an externally threaded portion (10A) and the cavity (25) of the joining piece is tapped to allow the position of the second end to be adjusted along its axis by screwing.
12. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity (26) is of a shape designed to allow the second end (10B), which may be externally threaded, to slide along its axis.
13. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cavity (26) is of a suitable shape to allow the second end (10B) of the arm some play perpendicular to its axis and the adjusting mechanism comprises at least one adjustable stop (30) designed to limit the magnitude of this play.
14. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that the stop is formed by the head of a screw-runner (30), the threaded shank of which collaborates with a tapped hole (31) made in the body of the second end (10B) of the arm (8B).
15. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adjusting mechanism comprises a means able to give the joining piece a degree of freedom in rotation about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the second end of the arm.
16. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that said means consists of an elastic ring arranged in the joining piece so that it is coaxial with the second end of the arm.
17. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the joining piece is formed of two assembled parts (25, 26), possibly able to move or immobilized one with respect to the other.
18. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a connection piece (32, 13) for connection to the framework or the bearing structure is mounted on the tubular envelope (12) or one arm.
19. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that said connection piece comprises a connecting part (13) for connecting to a tube or a cable (7) or a stiffener.
20. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that said connecting part (13) can slide along the tube or the cable (7) or the stiffener.
21. The mechanical connection device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a number of arms (8A, 8B; 34, 35, 36) each having a first end (9A, 9B) connected to a fastener (5A, 5B; 37) mechanically connected to the element (2; 38) and a second end (10A, 10B) connected to one and the same joining piece (11; 39).
22. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the tubular envelope has a connecting part for connecting to a structure (42), said connecting part incorporating a pivot pin (41) about which the element (38) can pivot with respect to the structure (42).
23. The mechanical connection device as claimed in claim 22, characterized in that it comprises at least three arms (34, 35, 36) the first ends of which are not aligned.
24. A wall comprising at least one fixed (2) or opening (38) element fixed to a structure or a framework (7; 42) by means of a mechanical connection device (6; 33) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.
25. The wall as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the element or elements are provided at their periphery with at least one gasket of predetermined size filling the space between an element and the structure or between an element and another adjacent element.
26. The wall as claimed in claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the elements are equipped with fasteners (5) connected with drillings which may or may not (14) pass through said elements (2).

Images