EP1492960A1

EP1492960A1 - Demountable structural joint set

Info

Publication number: EP1492960A1
Application number: EP02785682A
Authority: EP
Inventors: David Paul Aviram
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-12-14
Filing date: 2002-12-16
Publication date: 2005-01-05
Also published as: WO2003052281A8; AU2002350970A1; WO2003052281A1

Abstract

Rapid panel joining system for assembly of panels which provides fast and accurate means of structural connection and of a type that does not require special skills and which is simple to align, adjust and erect for a multitude of building applications of different geometric constraints and forms. It consists of a first and second edge parts. The first edge part (1) comprises at least one rotating clamp (3). The second edge part (2) comprises at least one tongue (26). Each rotating clamp (3) rotates about an axis located within the first edge part (1) and one portion of the clamp (36) engages with at least a portion of the tongue of the second edge part (2). A surface of the clamp (3) is concentric with its axis of rotation. The engaging surface of the tongue (2a) corresponds to said surface. In the engaged position of the edge parts, these surfaces are staggered in relation to the axis of rotation.

Description

Demountable structural joint set

The invention relates to demountable structural joint sets consisting of panels and joining parts.

Demountable structural joints are known and used in the construction of modular structures, curtain walls, partition walls, window latching mechanisms and space structures. Additionally, various forms of localised locks have been developed for window and door system.

The structural integrity of current joints is dependent upon fasteners and bolted or pinned connections at corners and along the edges of adjoining parts. Such connections are of a fixed design, are not suitable for de- latching and have no automatic facility for adjustment at installation or in service.

A typical method for assembly of curtain walls and partition walls is described in GB 2 115452 A in which extruded H-sections are used for joining protrusions of adjacent panels. The joints utilise an extruded connection, which can be inserted along a straight edge or made of two separate parts, which imposes limitations on the strength by virtue of use of open sections. Furthermore, the structure is not designed to allow removal of individual panels once the structure has been assembled.

A typical method for assembling and locking of doors is described in US

1 ,530,655. Here, locking tongues (27, 28) are used for making a lock by means of a central shuttle (29) that causes tongue to wedge and lock adjacent edge parts (11 ,18). This solution does not provide a means for anchoring both edge parts for resisting shear loading. Furthermore, the complex mechanism for operating the lock is not suitable for applications where space is limited and a simple and efficient locking solution is required.

By similar means, DE 230715 provides a lock with a wedged locking mechanism. This solution has similar limitations as US 1 ,530,655 and is also not suitable for extrusion by virtue of out of plane geometry of the locking parts.

These two methods of locking and bolting were intended for applications where localised connection is required and a multitude of moving parts can be used. These methods are not suitable for large building assemblies where the number of moving parts must be kept to a minimum and stress concentration must be avoided for optimising structural performance at low weight. They do not provide for gap or angle variation between adjacent panel edges during initial assembly or during subsequent in service movement.

Where edge parts of panels or doors are made from thin extruded profiles, it is advantageous to distribute the applied loads in order to reduce and avoid load concentration for minimising overall weight.

It is the main aim of this invention to provide a rapidly demountable structural means of connection, used for erecting permanent or temporary structures of a type that is not made in a conventional manner and that will overcome the limitations mentioned above. The joint should be suitable for a multitude of modular building applications, provide structural integrity under all prevailing loads and enable accurate alignment and adjustment of adjacent panel's edges.

Accordingly, this invention provides for a demountable structural joint set, in particular for panels, consisting of a first and a second edge part, wherein the first edge part comprises at least one rotating clamp and the second edge part comprises at least one tongue, wherein the rotating clamp rotates about an axis located within the first part, and one portion of the clamp engages with at least a portion of the tongue of the second part.

The panel set according to the invention is characterized in that the engaging portion of the clamp has a surface that is concentric with the centre of rotation of the clamp, and the engaging surface of the tongue of the second edge part corresponds to the engaging surface of the clamp and the engaging surfaces in the engaged position are staggered in relation to the rotational axis of the clamp.

Angular variation between adjacent panel edges is achieved by means of rotating the second edge part about an assembly of linkages that connects to another second edge part.

One edge part of the demountable structural joint set has therefore two hinges at its side opposite to the other edge part. The hinges are located distant from each other and are each connected with one bracket. The brackets are movable along guiding means. One of the hinges is directly connected to one of the brackets, and the second hinge is connected via connecting means with the second bracket. The brackets on the side opposite to the edge part are connected to another edge part. This allows relative movement of the brackets to one another. The hinge which is directly connected to one bracket may rotate about a virtual axis located in the bracket, The connecting means, preferably a kind of connecting arm, is connected at one end to the bracket and at the other end to the hinge of the edge part. It is rotatable about virtual axes at both ends, allowing the bracket to move relative to the other bracket, pulling or pushing the edge part towards or away from the guiding means.

The guiding means may be a vertical shaft on which the brackets may slide, preferably separated by a spring load.

The assembly providing for angular variations may be symmetric, having one edge part at each side of the bracket assembly.

Horizontal displacement between two panel assemblies, in a locked position, may be made by virtue of an edge part comprising two components which can move relatively to one another in a direction to fill a gap. Normally, this direction will be in the plane of the panels attached to the edge parts. A structural joint set suitable to bridge gaps comprises two components that can horizontally move relative to one another by sliding upon bearing surfaces. The two components engage by means of a toothed tongue which engages a toothed idler within on component. The idler in turn bears and turns within a rounded housing. The joint set contains a spring loaded wedged part that slides vertically on shaft and engages with an inclined surface, thereby limiting horizontal separation between edge parts and providing a lock between all the moving parts.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims 2 through 10.

The tongue of the first edge part may have a tongue with a curved tip having a surface concentric to the rotation axis of the clamp. This surface may interact with a corresponding surface of the clamp so that the clamp may slide along these surfaces about its rotation axis. This design leads to a particularly stable assembly and provides for an equal distribution of the loads.

In another preferred embodiment, the tongues of the second edge part have rounded tips. That facilitates the assembly of the two parts of the set as it is sufficient to bring them into an approximate position and to close the locking mechanism. The clamp of the first edge part will then slide over the rounded tips of the tongues of the second edge part, pulling the two parts together.

It is advantageous that the engaging surface of the clamp follow the contours of the tongue tips. Preferably, one joint set has two rotating clamps with opposing rotations. More than two clamps per set are also possible.

The opposing tongue and clamp arrangement, according to the invention, may have the tongues and clamps staggered and preferably inclined to the vertical for improved resistance to shear, and with the contours of the

SUBSTITUTE SHEET (RULE 2^ clamp and tongue closely matching, thus providing optimum load bearing distribution.

In another preferred embodiment the opposing tongue external faces may also have internal seals, thereby affecting a structural and weather-tight sealed joint. The clamps may also or alternatively be spring-loaded for facilitating automatic clamping or retraction with a slight movement of the clamps about a neutral position.

By such means, a quick and accurate method for alignment, assembly and sealing of structural panel sets can be attained. In particular, the system enables latching, without having to accurately align adjacent panel edges, thereby eliminating the need for external means of alignment of major subassemblies.

Furthermore, such an arrangement can accommodate different load capacities by way of varying the length of the joint to suit the anticipated applied load. Thus, load capacity may be altered at any time, by simply altering the clamps length. This is especially beneficial with multiple panel sets where several panels may be connected.

Several embodiments of the invention will be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a cross section of two adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with joining clamps in the retracted position;

Fig. 2 shows a cross section of an edge of a demountable structural panel set with joining clamps in the clamped position;

Fig.3 shows a cross section of two adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with joining double hook clamps in the clamped position. Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment to the solution shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of an assembly of adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with an adjustable angular linkage assembly in the extended position.

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of an assembly of adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with an adjustable angular linkage assembly in the retracted position.

Fig. 7 shows a cross section of an assembly of adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with an adjustable gap linkage assembly in the retracted position.

Fig. 8 shows a cross section of an assembly of adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with an adjustable gap linkage assembly in the extended position.

Fig. 1 shows a cross sectional view of two adjacent panel edge parts 1 and 2 with clamps 3, in the retracted position. In this configuration, a panel can be detached and withdrawn from surrounding panels since no protruding clamping parts 3 inhibit a vertical movement.

The edge part 1 has curved tongues 1a, about which clamp 3 rotates for engagement and clamping upon rounded tongues 2b and within scalloped recess 2a.

Edge part 2 has curved tip tongues 2b with recess 2a which follows contours of a circle with its centre concentric to the curved tip tongue 1a.

Toothed shuttles 4 move about a vertical axis and engages clamp teeth 3c for effecting rotational movement of the clamps.

Fig. 2 shows a cross sectional view of two panel edges in the latched position. Shuttles 4 are moved vertically towards the centre and shuttle teeth 4a engage with clamp teeth 3c which results in rotation of clamp 3 about hinge tip 1a until tip 3b engages in recess 2a.

Recess 2a is situated vertically above or below tongue hinge 1a, thereby affecting the clamp, with rounded tips 3b engaging within recess 2a at an angle to the vertical such that a shear key is formed.

In this position the clamp is geometrically locked and the two edge parts are joined. The clamps bear upon the curved tips of the first edge part tongues and wedge upon curved protrusions of the second edge part tongues that provide a shear key for resisting shear loads and minimise the resultant loads required for maintaining the clamps in the locked position.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section of double hooked clamps (7) in the engaged position. When the joint is subjected to high tensile loads, it is advantageous to use such a double hooked clamp arrangement with tail hook, which engages in slot, for reducing internal bending stresses across the neck (7b) of the first edge part (5). The rear hook of the clamp (7a) engages in the first edge part slot (5a) which prevents bending stresses at the neck of the edge part (7b) when the joint set is subject to tensile loads.

Fig. 4 shows a cross section of two adjoining panel edge parts of a demountable structural panel set with joining double hook clamps and racks in the clamped position. When the joint is subjected to high tensile loads, it is advantageous to use such double hooked clamp (7) arrangement with tail hook (7a), which engages in hook of toothed rack (8) which, in-tum hooks onto slot (5a), for reducing internal bending stresses across the neck (5b) of the first edge part (5).

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of an adjustable angle joint assembly in the extended position. In this example, the second edge part (21) is connected by hinged links, (22) at hinge locations (21a) and (24a) with top bracket (23) and bottom hinged bracket (24), to another edge part (21b), such that angular movement between the two second edge parts (21) and (21b) can be made. Upon engagement of the first edge part (20), to the second edge part (21), the linkages will cause top bracket (23) to slide vertically on shaft (25) against spring load (26), which bears on bottom bracket (24). When the same engagement process takes place with the other second part (21b), automatic angular positioning is achieved, By turning the threaded shaft (25) through the threaded bracket (24) at the head (25a), the top bracket (23) may be moved up or down for final tightening of the assembly.

The top hinged bracket (23) may as well be spring loaded (26) and free to slide on shaft (25) for automatic thrusting of links (22) and consequent alignment of edge parts (21 ) and (21 b) onto the mating faces (20a) of edge part (20).

Fig. 6 shows a cross section of an adjustable angle joint assembly in the retracted position with the top hinged bracket (23) in the lower most position and links (22) pulling in both edge parts (21) and (21b). In this position, the shaft (25) may be turned in the threaded bottom bracket (24), against spring load (26) for tightening and engaging all the moving parts of the joint assembly.

Fig. 7 shows a cross sectional view of edge parts (30) and (31 ) in the locked position and with edge part (32) in the retracted position. In this position, relative movement between adjacent panel edges is possible.

Horizontal displacement between edge parts (31) and (32), is made by edge part (32) sliding within edge part (31) along bearing surfaces (32a), with horizontal movement transferred via toothed lugs (32b) to toothed tube idler (33) and (33a) which bears on circular surface (31b). The relative movement between edge parts (31) and (32) is controlled by a spring loaded (36) wedged bracket (34) which slides on shaft (35) and bears on inclined surfaces (31c) such that the wedged bracket (34) moves further between the two parts with increased separation between the two edge parts. Final adjustment and tightening is made by turning the shaft (35) through the lower wedged threaded bracket (34) for marinating full contact between all the moving parts.

The edge part (31 ) is free to move about bearing surfaces (32a), under the action of spring loaded wedged parts (34) which exerts thrust on inclined bearing surfaces (31c), while toothed tube idler (33), engages into toothed tongue (32b) and bears loads within circular housing (31b) of second edge part (31). Thus, automatic engagement of mating surfaces (30b) of edge parts (30) and (31 ) is achieved.

Fig. 8 shows a cross sectional view of edge parts (30) and (31 ) in the locked position and with edge part (32) in the extended position. In this position, edge parts (31) and (32) are locked since spring loaded wedged parts (34) are thrusting against inclined bearing surfaces (31c) due to the force of springs (36) and threaded shaft (35). The shaft (35) is restrained at its extremities onto bearing surfaces (32a), thereby clamping both wedged parts (34) and toothed tongues (32b) onto toothed tube idler (33) for final assembly lock.

Claims

1. Demountable structural joint set consisting of first and second edge parts wherein the first edge part (1 ) comprises at least one rotating clamp (3) and the second edge (2) part comprises at least one tongue (2b), wherein each rotating clamp (3) rotates about an axis located within the first part (1), and one portion of the clamp (3b) engages with at least a portion of the tongue of the second part (2a), characterized in that the engaging portion of the clamp (3b) has a surface that is concentric with the centre of rotation of the clamp, and the engaging surface of the tongue (2a) of the second edge part corresponds to the engaging surface of the clamp, and the engaging surfaces in the engaged position are staggered in relation to the rotational axis of the clamp.

2. Demountable structural joint set according to claim 1 characterized in that the first edge part (1 ) has a tongue with a curved tip (1a) having a surface concentric to the rotation axis of the clamp (3) that interacts with a corresponding surface of the clamp.

3. Demountable structural joint set according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that the tongues (2b) of the second edge parts (2) have rounded tips (2a).

4. Demountable structural joint set according to claim 3 characterized in that the engaging surface of the clamp (3b) follows the contours of the tongue tips (2a).

5. Demountable structural joint set according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the joint set has two clamps (3) with opposing rotations.

6. Demountable structural joint set according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the one or more clamps (7) of the first edge part (5) have tail hooks (7a) that engage within recesses (5b) of the first edge part (5).

7. Demountable structural joint set according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that one edge part (21) has two hinges (21a, 24a) at its side opposite to the other edge part (20), the hinges being distant from each other and being each connected with one bracket

(23, 24), wherein the brackets are movable along guiding means (26), and wherein one hinge (24a) is directly connected to the first bracket (24) and the second hinge (21a) is connected via connecting means (22) with the second bracket (23), and wherein the brackets on the side opposite to the edge part (21) are connected to another edge part (21b).

8. Demountable structural joint set according to claim 7, characterized in that the brackets (23, 24) are free to slide upon a shaft (26) under spring load (26).

9. Demountable structural joint set according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that one edge part comprises two components (31 , 32) that can horizontally move relative to one another by sliding upon bearing surfaces (32a), and engaging the two components by means of a toothed tongue (32b) which engages a toothed idler (33) within on component (31), wherein the idler in turn bears and turns within rounded housing (31b), with a spring loaded (36) wedged part (34) that slides vertically on shaft (35), and engages with inclined surface (31c), thereby limiting horizontal separation between edge parts (31) and (32) and providing a lock between all the moving parts.

0. Demountable structural joint set according to claim 9 characterized in that the shaft (35) is threaded through one of the wedged brackets (34) for driving these brackets against inclined surfaces (31c) and locking the assembly.