EP2307650B1 - Linear connector for spacers in insulating glass panes, method for the manufacture thereof and for connecting two ends of a hollow profile member for a spacer using such a linear connector - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a linear connector with the features specified in the preamble of claim 1. Such a connector is from the DE 20 2004 004 734 U1 known.

It is known to bend spacers for insulating glass panes from a hollow profile bar. After the bending operation, the two ends of the hollow profile bar face each other and must be connected to each other to close the frame-shaped spacer. For this purpose, it is known to use straight connectors, which are designed in cross section so that they fit without play in the clear cross section of the hollow profile bar. Such straight connectors are hereinafter referred to as linear connectors. The known linear connectors are preferably bevelled at their ends for easier insertion into the hollow profile bar. So that you can not insert it deeper into the one end of the hollow profile bar than in the other end of the hollow profile bar, the known linear connector in the middle of a rib or another projection which abuts the edge of the hollow profile bar and thereby limits the insertion depth.

It is known to produce such linear connectors as plastic molded parts by injection molding. It is also known, such linear connectors by punching and bending

To produce sheet metal. They can be inserted by hand into the ends of the hollow profile bars. In manufacturing plants with a higher degree of automation, the prefabricated plug connectors are inserted into the ends of the hollow profile rods by machine.

From the WO 2006/092314 A1 linear connectors are known, which are produced by cutting of an extruded semi-finished product. This has the advantage that differently wide linear connectors for different width spacers can be formed from one and the same semifinished product.

The interior of an insulating glass pane must be kept dry so that no moisture can be deposited on the inside of the glass panes of the insulating glass pane at low temperatures. Therefore, insulating glass panes are sealed at their edges to prevent the ingress of moisture. In the interior of the insulating glass existing moisture is absorbed by a desiccant, which is located in the hollow spacer of the insulating glass pane. So that the desiccant can absorb the moisture from the interior of the insulating glass pane, the side of the spacer facing the interior of the insulating glass pane must be perforated.

The joint to be joined by a linear connector between the two ends of a hollow profile bar is, as far as the sealing of the insulating glass pane, a critical point, because the otherwise dense outer wall of the metallic spacer profile is interrupted at this point. The joint is typically sealed by sealing the edge joint of the insulating glass pane, which is bounded by the outside of the spacer and by the edge sections of the two glass panes of the insulating glass pane projecting over the outside of the spacer, with a sealing compound. Good sealing compounds are expensive and their price increases with the price of petroleum, which serves as a raw material for the production of the sealant. Insulating glass manufacturers are therefore anxious to get along with as little sealant. For this purpose, it is already known not to continuously apply the sealing compound from one glass pane to the other glass pane on the outside of the spacer, but to provide them only between the respective glass pane and a facing surface of the spacer. If you do that, you have to do the sealing of the spacer at the point where it is closed by means of a linear connector, pay special attention.

The present invention has for its object to provide a way as with low effort a good seal of spacer frame for insulating glass panes can be achieved at a joint of the spacer frame.

This object is achieved by a linear connector having the features specified in claim 1. An inexpensive method for producing such a linear connector is the subject matter of claims 12 and 13. A method for connecting two opposite ends of a hollow profile rod by means of such a linear connector is the subject of claim 17. Advantageous developments of the invention are subject of the dependent claims.

The linear connector according to the invention has for connecting two opposite ends of a hollow profile rod to form a frame-shaped spacer for the production of insulating glass panes a top, a bottom and two side surfaces which connect the top and bottom of the linear connector together. In a middle region of the linear connector, preferably exactly in the middle of the linear connector, a waist is provided, which extends at least over the entire width of the top or the bottom of the linear connector. This makes it possible to fill the waist over the entire width of the top or bottom of the linear connector with a sealant. By this sealing compound, the joint between the two ends of the hollow profile bar can be sealed over its entire width. For this purpose, the linear connector is expediently inserted into the opposite ends of the hollow profile bar, that the waist is at least the outer wall of the spacer opposite. As the outer wall of the spacer, that wall is designated which limits the insulating glass pane between its two glued with the spacer glass sheets to the outside. The outer wall of the spacer opposite wall is referred to as the inner wall of the spacer, because it faces the interior of the insulating glass pane. The two walls of the spacer facing the glass panes are called flanks. Appropriate designations are used here for the walls of a hollow profile rod, from which the frame-shaped spacer is formed.

An internally sealed groove in the outer wall of the spacer is adapted to completely seal the spacer at this point, even if the spacer contains a desiccant in its cavity and therefore the inner wall of the spacer is perforated.

Preferably, the linear connector is made of a solid material at least in the region of its waist. This facilitates the formation of a waist and gives him at this point an advantageous for the sealing of the joint between the ends of the hollow profile bar mechanical stability.

The linear connector can be made entirely of a solid material, in particular of a plastic. But it can also be made of a metal. However, manufacture from a plastic is preferred because it is less expensive and results in poorer heat transport across the spacer as compared to a metallic linear connector.

On either side of its waist, the linear connector does not necessarily consist of a solid material, but may also have cavities, holes or lamellae, which preferably extend over the entire width of the linear connector and are directed to the top or bottom of the linear connector, so that they on the inner wall or act on the outer wall of the spacer forming hollow profile bar and oppose a withdrawal of the linear connector from the ends of the hollow profile bar a resistance. The provision of cavities, holes or fins would save material and desirably degrade heat transfer across the spacer.

Preferably, the waist extends completely around the linear connector. This has the advantage that the entire joint between the two opposite ends of the hollow profile rod can be sealed from the inside, ie along all peripheral walls of the spacer profile, along the outer wall, along the inner wall and along the two flanks of the hollow profile bar.

The sealing of the joint from the inside can be done so that the waist is provided with a sealing compound before the two ends of the hollow profile bar are pushed together on the linear connector completely to stop. By pressing at least the outer wall of the two ends of the hollow profile bar, an intimate connection of the sealing compound with the inner surface of the hollow profile bar can be achieved at least in the region of the particularly critical outer wall of the spacer.

However, another possibility, which is to open the joint slightly by pressing the outer wall on both sides of the joint, and to inject the sealant into the spacer through the opening thus formed from the outside, where it turns around in the waist, is preferred distributed around the linear connector and the entire gap including the opening formed for the injection of the sealing compound from the inside tightly seals, and particularly reliable on the critical outer wall of the hollow profile bar, from where the sealant is injected. In the area of the waist between the underside of the linear connector and the outer wall of the hollow profile bar or spacer is desired, the back pressure in the sealing compound during injection greatest, so that the security to seal the joint, on the outer wall of the spacer is also greatest.

Preferably, a hole is provided in the waist of the linear connector, which passes from the top to the bottom through the linear connector. This has the advantage that one can inject the sealing compound through an opening in the region of the joint on the outside of the hollow profile rod or spacer in this hole, whereby the sealing compound the cavity in the region of the waist between the top of the linear connector and the inner wall of the spacer lighter can reach. In this way, not only on the outer wall, but also on the inner wall of the spacer excellent sealing of the joint between the two ends of the hollow profile bar from the inside.

The hole passing through the linear connector from the top to the bottom is preferably cylindrical or has a cylindrical portion and may e.g. B. be made by drilling. In an advantageous development of the invention, the hole on the underside of the linear connector is widened, in particular widened conically or wedge-shaped or expanded spherically. This has the advantage that you can press with a nozzle, which has a particular conical or wedge-shaped or crowned front, the outer wall of the spacer on both sides of the joint in the widened portion of the hole, which easily defines a defined opening of the Groove results, through which the sealant can be injected directly into the hole of the linear connector from the nozzle.

On the upper side and / or on the lower side, preferably on these two sides of the linear connector, the waist is expediently formed by a flat recess or channel which extends from the one side surface to the opposite side surface of the linear connector and on the underside in the preferably intended extension of the hole passes or complements it. In this flat recess or gutter, the injected sealing compound may optionally be distributed over the entire clear width of the spacing stop, both on the upper side and on the underside of the linear connector, and seal the butt joint in the spacer from the inside.

On the outside of the flanks of the hollow profile rod or the spacer is coated anyway with a sealing compound, so that there the joint is already sealed by the outside applied to the flanks sealant or is. Preferably, the butt joint in the spacer but also in the region of the flanks is sealed from the inside. For this purpose, the invention is provided in an advantageous development that the waist is formed on the two side surfaces of the linear connector by a preferably cylinder jacket-shaped limited, in particular semi-cylindrical, recess extending from the top to the bottom of the linear connector. The - imaginary - cylinder axis of the cylinder jacket-shaped limited recess extends transversely to the top and bottom of the linear connector, expediently parallel to the two side surfaces of the linear connector, which are also - at least outside the waist - preferably parallel to each other. Through such recesses, the sealant, which is injected in the region of the butt joint in the spacer, seal the joint also on the flanks of the spacer from the inside. When injecting the sealant into the hole in the middle of the waist, the sealant can flow around the linear connector in both directions, also cover the flanks of the hollow profile rod from the inside in the area of the joint and in this way finally reach that side of the linear connector on which the butt joint for Injection has been opened in the sealing compound by pressing the outer wall of the hollow profile bar.

It is even better to form on the two side surfaces of the linear connector not only one but each two preferably cylinder jacket-shaped limited, in particular semi-cylindrical recesses. This makes it easier for the sealant to completely distribute around the linear connector around the waist and to perfectly seal the joint at the joint of the spacer along the entire circumference of the joint from the inside.

It is particularly advantageous if the recesses provided on the side surfaces of the linear connector extend as far as the two ends of the flat recesses which form the waist on the underside and preferably also on the upper side of the linear connector. This is the easiest way to ensure that the sealant fills the waist down to the last corner.

It is alternatively possible to provide on the two side surfaces of the linear connector in each case a recess which extends over the entire length of the provided on the top and on the bottom waist. As will be explained in more detail below, however, it is easier to form half-cylindrical recesses, because they can be formed efficiently by drilling.

• Das bevorzugte Verfahren zum Herstellen des Linearverbinders knüpft an die Lehre der WO 2006/092314 A1 an, welche sie in nicht naheliegender Weise weiterbildet. Durch das Verfahren soll ein Linearverbinder mit den Merkmalen des Anspruchs 10 hergestellt werden, wonach die Taille des Linearverbinders an den beiden Seitenflächen durch ei-ne bevorzugt zylindermantelförmig begrenzte Ausnehmung gebildet ist, welche sich von der Oberseite bis zur Unterseite des Linearverbinders erstreckt und deren Zylinderachse quer zur Oberseite und zur Unterseite des Linearverbinders verläuft. Ein solcher Linearverbinder wird aus einem strangförmigen Halbzeug mit einem über seine Länge gleich bleibenden Querschnitt hergestellt. In dieses Halbzeug werden "erste" Löcher gebohrt, welche von der Oberseite zur Unterseite des strangförmigen Halbzeugs durchgehen und in Längsrichtung des Halbzeugs voneinander beabstandet sind. Die Löcher werden in einem mittleren Bereich zwischen den Längsrändern des strangförmigen Halbzeugs gebohrt, vorzugsweise entweder genau in der Mitte, oder die ersten Löcher werden paarweise gebohrt und so angeordnet, dass die Bohrachsen eines jeden Paares von Löchern in einer die Längsmittellinie des strangförmigen Halbzeugs rechtwinklig schneidenden Ebene nebeneinander liegen. Dabei können die gebohrten ersten Löcher eines jeden solchen Paares einen Abstand voneinander haben oder einander überlappen. Der Abstand der Bohrachsen von in Längsrichtung des Halbzeugs benachbarten ersten Löchern entspricht annähernd der Breite der zu bildenden Linearverbinder. Die Linearverbinder werden von dem Halbzeug abgetrennt, indem Trennschnitte so gelegt werden, dass ihre Trennebene jeweils quer, insbesondere rechtwinklig, zur Längsrichtung des Halbzeugs verläuft und jeweils die Bohrachse der ersten Löcher enthält bzw. - wenn die Löcher paarweise nebeneinanderliegend gebohrt werden - die Bohrachsen der Paare von ersten Löchern enthält.

The cylindrical surface of the recesses on the two side surfaces of the linear connector preferably extends over a circumferential angle of at most 180 °. This has an advantage in the preferred manufacturing method of the linear connector:

• The preferred method for producing the linear connector is based on the teaching of WO 2006/092314 A1 which she develops in a non-obvious way. By the method, a linear connector with the features of claim 10 is to be prepared, after which the waist of the linear connector on the two side surfaces by ei-ne preferably cylinder jacket-shaped limited recess is formed, which extends from the top to the bottom of the linear connector and the cylinder axis extending transversely to the top and bottom of the linear connector. Such a linear connector is made of a strand-shaped semifinished product with a constant over its length cross-section. In this semi-finished "first" holes are drilled, which pass from the top to the bottom of the strand-shaped semifinished product and are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product. The holes are drilled in a central region between the longitudinal edges of the rope-shaped semi-finished product, preferably either exactly in the middle, or the first holes are drilled in pairs and arranged such that the drilling axes of each pair of holes intersect at a right angle to the longitudinal centerline of the rope-shaped semi-finished product Lay flat next to each other. In this case, the drilled first holes of each such pair may be spaced or overlapping one another. The spacing of the drilling axes of first holes adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product corresponds approximately to the width of the linear connectors to be formed. The linear connectors are separated from the semifinished product by separating cuts are placed so that their parting plane each transverse, in particular perpendicular, to the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product and respectively contains the drilling axis of the first holes or - if the holes are drilled in pairs next to each other - the drilling axes of the Contains pairs of first holes.

• Die für das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren benötigten strangförmigen Halbzeuge lassen sich preiswert herstellen, entweder durch Strangpressen aus Metall, insbesondere aus Aluminium oder aus einer Aluminiumlegierung, oder durch Extrudieren von Kunststoff. Die Verwendung eines strangförmigen Halbzeugs aus Kunststoff wird bevorzugt, weil Kunststoffe preiswerter als Aluminium sind und wegen ihrer verglichen mit Metallen geringeren Wärmeleitfähigkeit Isolierglasscheiben mit einem geringeren Wärmedurchgangswert ermöglichen als das bei Abstandhaltern aus metallischen Hohlprofilstäben der Fall ist. Kunststoffe mit einer Festigkeit, die den typischen Einsatzbedingungen in einer Isolierglasscheibe gerecht wird, sind dem Fachmann bekannt. Geeignet sind z. B. Polyamide, Polyethylen, Polypropylen, Polystyrol, Polykarbonat, Polytretrafluorethylen und

EPDM, ein Ethylen-Propylen-Terpolymer.

• Strangförmige Halbzeuge lassen sich kostengünstig und platzsparender transportieren und bevorraten als in Einzelformtechnik hergestellte Linearverbinder.
• Die strangförmigen Halbzeuge können von einem Zulieferer bezogen, aber auch vom Isolierglashersteller selbst produziert werden.
• Das Herstellen der Linearverbinder durch Abtrennen von einem vorgefertigten strangförmigen Halbzeug ist sehr kostengünstig, insbesondere auch deswegen, weil unterschiedlich breite Linearverbinder aus ein und demselben strangförmigen Halbzeug gebildet werden können.
• Einrichtungen und Aufwendungen zum Bevorraten unterschiedlich breiter Linearverbinder entfallen erfindungsgemäß.
• Schwingförderer oder dergleichen Apparaturen zum Vereinzeln und Zuführen unterschiedlich breiter Linearverbinder entfallen erfindungsgemäß.
• Die Linearverbinder können von ihrer Herstellung durch Abtrennen vom Halbzeug bis zum Einfügen in einen Hohlprofilstab unter positiver maschineller Kontrolle sein, indem sie während dieser Zeitspanne ergriffen bleiben. Zufällige, ungeordnete Bewegungen, die das Ergreifen und Einfügen der Linearverbinder erschweren könnten, lassen sich ausschließen.
• Der Bewegungsablauf vom Ergreifen des vom Halbzeug abzuschneidenden Linearverbinders bis zu seinem Einfügen in einen Hohlprofilstab lässt sich stark vereinfachen und automatisieren. Sogar für unterschiedlich breite Linearverbinder lässt sich der Bewegungsablauf wiederholbar gleich vorbestimmen und ermöglicht hohe Arbeitsgeschwindigkeiten und damit kurze Taktzeiten für das Herstellen von rahmenförmigen Abstandhaltern für Isolierglasscheiben.
• Dadurch, dass die Trennschnitte in die Bohrachsen der "ersten" Löcher gelegt werden, wird durch eine Bohrung zugleich in zwei aufeinander folgenden Linearverbindern eine Ausnehmung in der durch den nachfolgenden Trennschnitt entstehenden Seitenfläche des Linearverbinders gebildet. Wäre das Trennwerkzeug extrem dünn, dann wären die Ausnehmungen in der Draufsicht halbkreisförmig. Wegen der endlichen Dicke des Trennwerkzeuges geht jedoch ein Teil des Materials des Linearverbinders durch den Trennschnitt verloren, so dass tatsächlich der Umfangswinkel der zylindrisch begrenzten Ausnehmung etwas weniger als 180° beträgt. In diesem Sinne ist die Angabe im Anspruch 11 zu verstehen, dass sich die Zylindermantelfläche der Ausnehmung über einen Umfangswinkel von "höchstens 180°" erstreckt. In diesem Sinne ist auch die Angabe in den Ansprüchen 18 und 19 zu verstehen, dass der Abstand der Bohrachsen von in Längsrichtung des Halbzeugs benachbarten ersten Löchern "annähernd" der Breite eines zu bildenden Linearverbinders entspricht, denn da der Ort der Bohrachse der Ausnehmungen durch den Trennschnitt vom Linearverbinder abgetrennt wird, der Linearverbinder aber spielfrei im Abstandhalter stecken soll, ist der in Längsrichtung des Halbzeugs gemessene Abstand der beiden Bohrachsen der Ausnehmungen des Linearverbinders ein wenig größer als die Breite des zu bildenden Linearverbinders.

This way of working has significant advantages:

• The strand-like semi-finished products required for the method according to the invention can be produced inexpensively, either by extrusion of metal, in particular of aluminum or of an aluminum alloy, or by extrusion of plastic. The use of a strand-shaped semi-finished plastic is preferred because plastics are cheaper than aluminum and because of their compared with metals lower thermal conductivity insulating glass panes with a lower heat transfer value than the case of spacers made of metal hollow profile bars is the case. Plastics with a strength that meets the typical conditions of use in an insulating glass pane, are known in the art. Suitable z. As polyamides, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polytretrafluoroethylene and

EPDM, an ethylene-propylene terpolymer.

• Strand-shaped semi-finished products can be transported and stored cost-effectively and in a space-saving manner as linear connectors produced in single-forming technology.
• The strand-like semi-finished products can be purchased from a supplier, but also produced by the insulating glass manufacturer.
• The manufacture of the linear connector by separating from a prefabricated strand-shaped semifinished product is very inexpensive, in particular also because different width linear connectors can be formed from one and the same strand-shaped semifinished product.
• Facilities and expenses for storing differently wide linear connectors omitted according to the invention.
• Vibratory conveyors or similar apparatuses for separating and feeding differently wide linear connectors are dispensed with according to the invention.
• The linear connectors can be positively positive in mechanical control from their manufacture by severing from the semifinished product to insertion into a hollow profile rod while remaining engaged during this period of time. Random, disorderly movements, which could complicate the gripping and insertion of the linear connectors, can be excluded.
• The sequence of movements from gripping the linear connector to be cut off from the semifinished product to its insertion into a hollow profile rod can be greatly simplified and automated. Even for differently wide linear connectors, the sequence of movements can be repeatedly determined in the same way and allows high working speeds and thus short cycle times for the production of frame-shaped spacers for insulating glass panes.
• Characterized in that the separating cuts are placed in the drilling axes of the "first" holes, a recess in the resulting by the subsequent separation cut side surface of the linear connector is formed by a bore at the same time in two successive linear connectors. If the cutting tool were extremely thin, then the recesses would be semi-circular in plan view. Because of the finite thickness of the parting tool, however, a portion of the material of the linear connector is lost by the separating cut, so that in fact the circumferential angle of the cylindrically limited recess is slightly less than 180 °. In this sense, the statement in claim 11 to understand that the cylinder surface of the recess over a circumferential angle of extends "at most 180 °". In this sense, the statement in claims 18 and 19 to understand that the distance of the drilling axes of adjacent in the longitudinal direction of the semi-finished first holes "approximately" corresponds to the width of a linear connector to be formed, because as the location of the drilling axis of the recesses through the Separating section is separated from the linear connector, but the linear connector is to plug play in the spacer, the measured in the longitudinal direction of the semi-finished distance of the two drilling axes of the recesses of the linear connector is a little larger than the width of the linear connector to be formed.

Preferably, the separated from the semi-finished linear connector is inserted by means of the same gripper in the hollow profile bar, which holds it already during the separation of the semifinished product. This is the apparatus and movement of the simplest way of working. However, it is also possible to proceed in such a way that the linear connector is transferred from the gripper, which holds it during the separation of the semifinished product, to a second gripper and is inserted by the latter into the hollow profile rod. With this procedure, shorter cycle times can be achieved because the processes of separating and inserting into a hollow profile rod can take place side by side in terms of time.

Preferably, "second" holes are additionally drilled in the strand-shaped semifinished product, which also pass from the upper side to the lower side of the semifinished product, in such a way that between each two first holes there is a second hole in each case. This second hole is preferably located exactly in the middle between the two adjacent first holes, if they lie in only a single row, which extends in the longitudinal direction of the strand-shaped semifinished product. However, if the "first" holes are drilled in pairs next to one another in such a way that two holes each have drill axes which are at a distance from each other transversely to the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product and lie in a common plane, one of the "second" Holes, preferably in the middle between two such adjacent planes.

In this "second" hole to seal the sealing compound for sealing the butt joint between the two ends of the hollow profile bar to be injected after insertion of the linear connector in a hollow profile bar or spacer, from which the spacer is formed or will. Preferably, the second holes are narrower than the first holes or the first holes wider than the second holes. This ensures on the one hand a sufficient mechanical stability and on the other hand recesses in the side surfaces of the linear connector, which are large enough to achieve a reliable sealing of the joint between the ends of the hollow profile bar.

In order to form a defined abutment for the nozzle, with which the sealing compound is injected, it may be advantageous to expand the second holes on the underside of the semifinished product, for. B. in that they are drilled with the conical tip of a drill conical.

A particular advantage of the invention is that the strand-shaped semi-finished product in any order different width linear connector for different width spacers can be separated. It is just as easy to choose the places where the first and second holes need to be drilled. The control of feeding the strand-shaped semi-finished product to a cutting tool and the positioning of drills along the strand-shaped semifinished product for drilling the first and second holes can be done automatically according to specifications of a computer-aided manufacturing control (CAM = Computer Aided Manufacturing).

Figur 1

zeigt in einer Schrägansicht einen Linearverbinder zum Verbinden von zwei Enden eines Hohlprofilstabes, aus welchem ein Abstandhalter für Isolierglasscheiben gebildet werden soll,

Figur 2

zeigt den Linearverbinder aus Figur 1 in einer teilweise längs geschnittenen Ansicht und zwar in einer Stellung, in welcher er zur Hälfte in einem Ende eines Hohlprofilstabes steckt und nachfolgend zur Hälfte in ein gegenüberliegendes Ende eines Hohlprofilstabes gesteckt wird,

Figur 3

zeigt den Hohlprofilstab aus Figur 2 in einer Ansicht auf sein Ende, so dass seihe Profilform zu sehen ist,

Figur 4

zeigt in einer Schrägansicht den in die beiden Enden eines Hohlprofilstabes oder in Enden von zwei zu verbindenden Hohlprofilstäben gesteckten Linearverbinder gemäß Figur 1, wobei der Hohlprofilstab teilweise transparent dargestellt ist, um die Lage des Linearverbinders zu zeigen,

Figur 5

zeigt perspektivisch in einem Längsschnitt durch einen Abstandhalter, welcher aus einem Hohlprofilstab wie in Figur 3 gebildet ist, und durch den Linearverbinder aus Figur 1 die Anordnung des Linearverbinders in zwei einander gegenüberliegenden Enden des Hohlprofilstabes vor dem Einspritzen einer Versiegelungsmasse,

Figur 6

zeigt vergrößert in einem Längsschnitt durch einen Abstandhalter im Bereich des Linearverbinders den Zustand nach dem Einspritzen von Versiegelungsmasse,

Figur 7

zeigt in einer Schrägansicht des teilweise transparent dargestellten Abstandhalter bzw. Hohlprofilstabes, wie sich die Versiegelungsmasse an der Stoßstelle zwischen den Enden des Hohlprofilstabes um den Linearverbinder herum verteilt,

Figur 8

zeigt in einer Schrägansicht eine Vorrichtung zum Herstellen solcher Lineafverbinder,

Figur 9

zeigt einen Ausschnitt der Vorrichtung aus Figur 8 in der Phase des Abtrennens eines Linearverbinders von einem strangförmigen Halbzeug,

Figur 10

zeigt in einer Schrägansicht ein anderes Beispiel eines Linearverbinders, welcher aus einem strangförmigen Halbzeug gebildet ist,

Figur 11

zeigt in einer Schrägansicht einen Hohlprofilstab mit einer gegenüber den Figuren 2 bis 7 abgewandelten Querschnittsgestalt, wobei die beiden miteinander zu verbindenden Enden des Hohlprofilstabes zur Vorbereitung des Einspritzens von Versiegelungsmasse zwischen Klemmbacken gehalten sind,

Figur 12

zeigt einen Längsschnitt durch die Anordnung in Figur 11, wobei die Schnittebene die Außenwand und die Innenwand des Hohlprofilstabes mittig schneidet,

Figur 13

zeigt eine Schrägansicht auf die Außenwand des Hohlprofilstabs im Bereich der zwischen den Klemmbacken liegenden Stoßstelle zwischen den beiden Enden des Hohlprofilstabes,

Figur 14

zeigt einen Längsschnitt durch den Hohlprofilstab entsprechend der Figur 12, jedoch während des Einspritzens von Versiegelungsmasse,

Figur 15

zeigt einen Längsschnitt durch den Hohlprofilstab wie in Figur 14, jedoch am Ende des Einspritzens von Versiegelungsmasse in den Hohlprofilstab,

Figur 16

zeigt den Hohlprofilstab in einem Schnitt wie in Figur 15, wobei die Düse, mit welcher die Versiegelungsmasse eingespritzt wird, ungefähr bis in die Flucht der Außenwand des Hohlprofilstabes zurückgezogen ist,

Figur 17

zeigt einen Querschnitt durch die zwischen den Klemmbacken liegende Stoßstelle zwischen den beiden Enden des Hohlprofilstabes gemäß Figur 11 vor dem Einspritzen von Versiegelungsmasse,

Figur 18

zeigt den Querschnitt durch die Stoßstelle zwischen den Enden des Hohlprofilstabes wie in Figur 17, jedoch nach dem Eindrücken der Außenwand des Hohlprofilstabes mit der Düse, durch welche die Versiegelungsmasse zugeführt werden soll,

Figur 19

zeigt den Querschnitt wie in Figur 18 nach dem Einspritzen von Versiegelungsmasse,

Figur 20

zeigt einen Querschnitt entsprechend der Figur 19 zu einem Zeitpunkt, zu welchem die Düse ein Stück weit zurückgezogen ist, und

Figur 21

zeigt einen Querschnitt wie in Figur 19, jedoch mit einer Versiegelungsmasse, welche ein körniges Trockenmittel enthält.

Der in Figur 1 dargestellte Linearverbinder 1 ist ein gerades Steckteil, welches spiegelsymmetrisch zu seiner Mittelebene gestaltet ist, welche den Linearverbinder 1 in seiner Länge halbiert. Der Linearverbinder 1 hat eine Oberseite 2, eine Unterseite 3 und zwei Längsseiten 4. In den Längsseiten 4 sind zwei Ausnehmungen 6 vorgesehen, welche in der Draufsicht kreisbogenförmig, insbesondere annähernd halbkreisförmig ausgebildet sind. Ferner ist in der Mitte der Oberseite 2 eine flache Ausnehmung 5 vorgesehen, in deren Mitte sich ein von der Oberseite 2 zur Unterseite 3 durchgehendes Loch 7 befindet, insbesondere eine Bohrung. Die Breite und Dicke des Linearverbinders 1 sind an die lichte Weite des Hohlprofilstabes 8 angepasst, dessen Enden der Linearverbinder 1 zum Bilden eines Abstandhalters für Isolierglasscheiben verbinden soll. Zu diesem Zweck steckt der Linearverbinder 1 nach dem Einführen in den Hohlprofilstab 8 spielfrei in diesem. Zur Unterseite 3 hin erweitert sich das Loch 7 vorzugsweise konisch oder keilförmig oder ballig, wie es in den Figuren 2, 5 und 6 dargestellt ist. Auf diese Weise ist der Linearverbinder 1 von einer Taille umgeben, die von dem Loch 7 durchquert wird. Die Taille setzt sich aus der flachen Ausnehmung 5, den seitlichen Ausnehmungen 6 und aus der Erweiterung 9 des Loches 7 zusammen.Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Like or corresponding parts are indicated in the various figures with corresponding reference numerals.

FIG. 1

shows in an oblique view a linear connector for connecting two ends of a hollow profile rod, from which a spacer for insulating glass panes is to be formed,

FIG. 2

shows the linear connector FIG. 1 in a partially longitudinally sectioned view and in a position in which it is half in one end of a hollow profile bar and is then inserted halfway into an opposite end of a hollow profile bar,

FIG. 3

shows the hollow profile bar FIG. 2 in a view on his end, so that his profile form can be seen,

FIG. 4

shows in an oblique view according to the plugged into the two ends of a hollow profile bar or in the ends of two hollow profile bars to be connected linear connector FIG. 1 wherein the hollow profile bar is shown partially transparent to show the position of the linear connector,

FIG. 5

shows in perspective in a longitudinal section through a spacer, which consists of a hollow profile rod as in FIG. 3 is formed, and through the linear connector FIG. 1 the arrangement of the linear connector in two opposite ends of the hollow profile rod prior to the injection of a sealing compound,

FIG. 6

shows enlarged in a longitudinal section through a spacer in the region of the linear connector the state after the injection of sealing compound,

FIG. 7

shows in an oblique view of the spacer partially shown transparent or hollow profile rod, as the sealing compound distributed at the joint between the ends of the hollow profile rod around the linear connector,

FIG. 8

shows an oblique view of an apparatus for producing such Lineafverbinder,

FIG. 9

shows a section of the device FIG. 8 in the phase of severing a linear connector from a strand-shaped semifinished product,

FIG. 10

shows in an oblique view another example of a linear connector, which is formed from a strand-shaped semifinished product,

FIG. 11

shows in an oblique view a hollow profile bar with a comparison with the figures 2 to 7 modified cross-sectional shape, the two together to be connected ends of the hollow profile rod are held in preparation for the injection of sealing compound between jaws,

FIG. 12

shows a longitudinal section through the arrangement in FIG. 11 wherein the sectional plane cuts the outer wall and the inner wall of the hollow profile bar in the middle,

FIG. 13

shows an oblique view of the outer wall of the hollow profile bar in the region between the jaws lying joint between the two ends of the hollow profile bar,

FIG. 14

shows a longitudinal section through the hollow profile bar according to the FIG. 12 but during the injection of sealant,

FIG. 15

shows a longitudinal section through the hollow profile bar as in FIG. 14 but at the end of the injection of sealant into the hollow section bar,

FIG. 16

shows the hollow profile bar in a section as in FIG. 15 wherein the nozzle with which the sealant is injected is retracted approximately into alignment with the outer wall of the hollow profile rod,

FIG. 17

shows a cross section through the lying between the jaws joint between the two ends of the hollow profile bar according to FIG. 11 before the injection of sealing compound,

FIG. 18

shows the cross section through the joint between the ends of the hollow section bar as in FIG. 17 but after pressing the outer wall of the hollow profile bar with the nozzle through which the sealant is to be supplied,

FIG. 19

shows the cross section as in FIG. 18 after injection of sealing compound,

FIG. 20

shows a cross section corresponding to the FIG. 19 at a time when the nozzle is pulled back a bit, and

FIG. 21

shows a cross section as in FIG. 19 but with a sealant containing a granular desiccant.

The in FIG. 1 Linear connector 1 shown is a straight plug-in part, which is designed mirror-symmetrically to its center plane, which bisects the linear connector 1 in its length. The linear connector 1 has a top 2, a bottom 3 and two longitudinal sides 4. In the longitudinal sides 4, two recesses 6 are provided, which are arc-shaped in plan view, in particular approximately semicircular. Further, in the middle of the upper side 2 a shallow recess 5 is provided, in the middle of which there is a hole 7 extending from the upper side 2 to the lower side 3, in particular a bore. The width and thickness of the linear connector 1 are adapted to the inside width of the hollow profile bar 8, the ends of the linear connector 1 is to connect to form a spacer for insulating glass panes. For this purpose, the linear connector 1 inserted after insertion into the hollow profile bar 8 backlash in this. Towards the bottom 3, the hole 7 expands preferably conical or wedge-shaped or convex, as in the Figures 2 . 5 and 6 is shown. In this way, the linear connector 1 is surrounded by a waist which is traversed by the hole 7. The waist is composed of the flat recess 5, the side recesses 6 and the extension 9 of the hole 7.

Preferably, the linear connector 1 is already inserted into the one end of the hollow profile bar 8, after it has been cut to the required length to form a spacer and before the corners of the spacer are bent. Conveniently, the linear connector 1 is first inserted with half its length in one end of the hollow section bar 8. To close the spacer, the free end of the linear connector 1 is inserted into the opposite end of the hollow profile bar 8, see FIG. 4 , So that he is not pushed deeper than half his length in that end of the hollow section bar 8, in which he was first plugged, it is temporarily stuck there z. B. by means of a pair of pliers, with which one acts on the outer wall 10 and inner wall 11 of the hollow profile bar 8.

The hollow profile bar 8 is typically made of thin-walled aluminum or stainless steel, preferably stainless steel, and has a hollow profile as shown in FIG FIG. 3 is shown, with an outer wall 10, which points after installation of the spacer in an insulating glass pane to the outside, with an outer wall 10 opposite inner wall 11, which faces the interior of the insulating glass pane after installation of the spacer in an insulating glass pane, and with two flanks 12, which connect the outer wall 10 and the inner wall 11 together and are coated with an adhesive and sealant, with which they are glued to the two glass sheets of insulating glass to secure their mechanical cohesion and to seal the interior of the insulating glass against the ingress of moisture , The interior of the hollow section bar 8 is usually filled with a granular desiccant, which is intended to bind moisture from the interior of the insulating glass pane. In this case, the inner wall 11 is perforated. But it is also possible to store the desiccant in an adhesive and / or sealant and to arrange on the inner wall 11 or on the flanks 12 of the hollow profile rod 8. In this case, a perforation of the inner wall 11 of the hollow profile bar 8 can and should be omitted.

After the two ends of the hollow section bar 8 are collided, as in FIG. 4 is shown, the outer wall 10 of the hollow profile bar 8 on the conical, wedge-shaped or spherical extension 9 of the hole 7 with a nozzle 13 which has a matching conical, wedge-shaped or crowned tip, in the conical, or wedge-shaped or crowned Extension 9 of the hole 7 is pressed, wherein in the joint 14 between the two ends of the hollow section bar 8 an opening 15 is formed, can be injected through the means of the nozzle 13, a sealing compound 16 in the hollow section bar 8. The sealing compound 16 flows through the hole 7 in the shallow recess 5 on the opposite side of the linear connector 1, distributed there evenly to all sides and flows through the side recesses 6 to the two edges 12 and further to the inside of the outer wall 10 of the hollow profile bar eighth In this way, the joint 14 between the two ends of the hollow profile bar 8 is completely sealed from the inside, without the sealing compound 16 emerging from the joint 14. The joint 14 is not only reliably sealed in this way, but also very inconspicuous, which is advantageous for the appearance of the spacer in the insulating glass pane. The location of the linear connector 1 is in the two Ends of the hollow section bar 8 by the impressions of the outer wall 10 in the extension 9 of the hole 7 and secured by the injected sealant 16.

FIG. 5 shows in perspective in a longitudinal section through the hollow section bar 8 and through the linear connector 1, the arrangement of the linear connector 1 in the hollow section bar 8 before the injection of the sealing compound 16 by means of the nozzle 13, which already pressed the outer wall 10 of the hollow profile bar 8 for this purpose conical or wedge-shaped or crowned Has.

FIG. 6 shows enlarged in a longitudinal section through the hollow section bar 8 the state after the injection of the sealing compound 16th

FIG. 7 shows in an oblique view of the hollow profile bar 8 shown transparent, as the sealing compound 16 has been distributed at the junction between the ends of the hollow profile bar 8 to the linear connector 1 around.

At the junction with the joint 14, which is held by the linear connector 1, the beginning and end of one and the same hollow profile bar 8 can meet. At the junction but can also meet the end of a first hollow profile bar and the beginning of a second hollow profile bar, which are processed together to form a spacer for an insulating glass pane. In this case, the two other ends of these two hollow profile rods 8 are also connected by closing such a spacer by such a linear connector 1, so that the spacer contains two linear connectors 1.

A stop, which prevents the linear connector 1 is pushed with more than half its length in a hollow profile bar, is not provided on the linear connector 1. It's not necessary because you can do it in other ways. So you can, as already mentioned, when plugging the second end of a hollow section bar 8 on the half out of the first end of the hollow section bar 8 above linear connector 1 prevent it is pushed deeper than half its length in the hollow section bar 8 in by one detects the hollow profile bar 8 on its outer wall 10 and on its inner wall 11 and presses against the linear connector 1, so that it is held by the increased static friction.

The FIGS. 8 and 9 serve to explain an advantageous method for producing the in the FIGS. 1 to 7 For this purpose, it is assumed that a strand-shaped semifinished product 18, which has a profile shape, as the side wall 4 of the in FIG. 1 shown linear connector 1 shows. This semi-finished product 18, which may have been produced by extrusion, is preferably supplied horizontally on a guide device 19 processing tools 20-22, namely two drills with a slimmer drill 20 and a thicker drill 21 and with a cutting tool 22, which is a is rotatably driven saw blade, which is mounted in a pivotable holder 23 about a horizontal axis 24 pivotally mounted in a stand 25 which also carries the guide means 19. The drills 20 and 21 are movable up and down and otherwise stationary. By a feed device, not shown, the semi-finished product 18 is progressively advanced by such lengths that with the thicker drill 21 first holes 26 are drilled whose distance z. B. computer-assisted is chosen so that the distance of the drilling axes of two adjacent first holes 26 corresponds to the width of each linear connector 1 to be produced. If necessary, the length of the steps can be changed from case to case, so that different width linear connector 1 can be produced in any desired sequence.

With the thinner drill 20, a second hole 7 is drilled in the middle between every two first holes 26.

The linear connectors 1 are separated from the strand-shaped semifinished product 18 so that the saw blade 22 places the separating cut exactly through the middle of each first hole 26. During the separating cut, the resulting linear connector 1 is held by a pair of pliers 28, with which, as shown in FIG FIG. 8 is shown schematically, the separated from the semifinished product 18 linear connector 1 can be inserted automatically by an exclusively translational movement directly into a next to the arrangement of the processing tools 20, 21, 22 positioned hollow profile bar 8. This allows a very rational way of working. Of course, a manual method of operation is possible, but which is less efficient.

That in the FIGS. 1 to 9 illustrated embodiment may be modified to the effect that the strand-shaped semifinished product 18 and with it the linear connector 1 formed therefrom have a shallow recess 5 not only on the top 2, but in a corresponding manner on the bottom 3. This makes it easier for the sealing compound 16 injected into the spacer through the "second" hole 7 to be distributed around the linear connector 1 and to completely fill its waist.

The in FIG. 10 Linear connector 1 shown is a straight plug-in part with a top 2, a bottom 3 and two longitudinal sides 4. In the longitudinal sides 4 two recesses 6 are provided, which are arcuate in plan view, in particular scarce semicircular. In the middle of the top 2 a shallow recess 5 is provided. A corresponding flat recess 5a is provided on the underside 3 of the linear connector 1. In the middle of the linear connector 1 is provided from the top 2 to the bottom 3 through hole 7, in particular a bore. The recesses 5, 5a are bounded by two blocks 29 whose height measured between the upper side 2 and the lower side 3 coincides with the clear height of the hollow profile bar 8 for which the linear connector 1 is intended, see FIG. 11 and FIG. 12 , Between its ends and the blocks 29, the linear connector 1 on a series of fins 30, which emanate from the wall which forms the bottom 3 of the linear connector 1. The lamellae 30 extend at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the linear connector 1 and project beyond that plane in which the two upper sides 2 of the blocks 29 lie. This has the result that the lamellae 30 are bent in the direction of the blocks 29 when the linear connector 1 is inserted into a hollow profile bar 8, see FIG. 12 , The linear connector 1 thus has in the region of the slats 30 a height which is slightly larger than the clear height of the hollow profile rod 8. This has the advantage that the bent blades 30 make it difficult to pull out the linear connector 1 from the ends of the hollow profile rod 8.

The in FIG. 10 illustrated linear connector 1 may as well as in FIG. 1 Linear connectors shown are made of a strand-shaped semifinished product. That on the basis of FIGS. 8 and 9 described method for its preparation is also suitable for the preparation of in FIG. 10 illustrated linear connector 1, with the special feature that between every two "second" holes 7, unlike in context with the FIGS. 8 and 9 described, not only a single hole 26 is drilled, but two such holes whose drilling axes in a longitudinal direction of the semifinished product 18 intersecting plane are at a distance next to each other and by the later separating cuts with the saw blade 22 to the almost semi-cylindrical recesses 6, of which each two lie on each longitudinal side 4 of the linear connector 1. To achieve this, one can move the drilling tool 21 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product 18 by the distance of the drilling axes of the "first" holes back and forth to drill pairs of "first" holes, from which in the later separating cut with the saw blade 22 Pairs of almost semi-cylindrical recesses 6 arise.

FIG. 11 shows two end portions of a hollow section bar 8, which collide with its two ends between two jaws 31 and 32. The jaws 31 and 32 have clamping surfaces, the contour of the contour of the flanks 12 of the hollow profile bar 8 is closely adapted so that they are present at the joint joint, which in FIG. 11 hidden and therefore not visible, seal from the outside. On the inner wall 11 of the hollow section bar 8 is an abutment 33 and seals the joint between the ends of the hollow section bar 8 in the region of the inner wall 11 from. The abutment 33 is located opposite a nozzle 13, which is surrounded by a flat collar 34, via which an orifice 35 of the nozzle projects, the outer circumferential surface of which tapers conically. The mouth 35 of the nozzle 13 is directed against the outer wall 10 of the hollow section bar 8 and aims precisely at the joint 14 between the two abutting ends of the hollow section bar 8, see FIG. 12 , It should be recalled that the inner wall 11 of the hollow profile bar 8 is that wall which faces the interior of the insulating glass pane after installation in an insulating glass pane, whereas the exterior wall 10 of the hollow profile bar 8 is that wall which after being installed in an insulating glass pane facing outward.

With the nozzle 13, the outer wall 10, the joint 14 across, pressed. The forces required for this are absorbed by the abutment 33. The forces are introduced from the collar 34 via the outer wall 10, the solid blocks 29 and the inner wall 11 in the abutment 33. The nozzle 13 is oriented so that its mouth 35 aims at the "second" hole 7 in the linear connector 1. The consequence of this is that the opening 36, which arises in the outer wall 10, when the outer wall 10th is pressed with the mouth 35 of the nozzle, with the second hole 7 in the linear connector 1 is aligned, as in FIG. 13 is shown. Once the outer wall 10 is pressed in the region of the joint 14 and the collar 34 of the outer wall 10 rests and the joint 14 seals in the region of the outer wall 10 from the outside, sealant 16 is injected. The sealing compound 16 is injected directly into the second hole 7, enters the shallow recess 5 on the upper side 2 of the linear connector 1, is distributed there as far as the blocks 29, flows into the almost semi-cylindrical recesses 6 and finally reaches the shallow recess 5a on the bottom 3 of the linear connector 1, see FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 ,

FIG. 17 shows that the recesses 5 and 5a of the linear connector 1 open into cavities 37 which exist between the longitudinal sides 4 of the linear connector 1 and the flanks 12 of the hollow profile rod 8. FIG. 17 shows this in a cross section, which is placed exactly in the joint 14, wherein in FIG. 17 the nozzle 13, the outer wall 10 has not yet pressed. FIG. 18 shows the corresponding cross section as in FIG. 17 However, after the impressions of the outer wall 10 and before the injection of sealant 16th FIG. 19 shows in the same cross section as in FIG. 18 how the sealing compound 16 in the region of the recesses 5 and 5a is completely distributed around the linear connector 1 around and not only fills the waist, which is formed by the recesses 5, 5a and 6, but also in the cavities 37 between the linear connector 1 and penetrates the flanks 12 of the linear connector and in these cavities 37 also flows a little way in the longitudinal direction of the hollow profile bar 8, as in FIG. 15 is shown.

The sealing compound 16 is intended to seal the entire joint 14 from the inside. This can be ensured by injecting a predetermined amount of sealant 16, which according to experience can be determined to be sufficient in any case to seal the entire joint 14. Once this is done, the nozzle 13 is pulled back a distance, while the indentation 38 formed by the impressions of the outer wall 10 in the outer wall 10 filled with the sealing compound 16, thereby completing the sealing of the joint 14, see FIG. 16 and FIG. 20 ,

After removal of the nozzle 13 and opening of the jaws 31, the already closed to a frame hollow profile bar 8 can be further processed. He is now sealed and can be installed in a conventional manner as a spacer in an insulating glass pane. Sealant is required for installation in an insulating glass according to the invention only on the flanks 12. In this case, the joint 14 would be the only place through which water vapor could penetrate through the hollow section bar 8 into the interior of the insulating glass pane, but this gap 14 is perfectly sealed according to the invention. A desiccant, which is intended to bind moisture, which may be present in the interior of the insulating glass pane, may be incorporated into the sealing compound 16 to be applied to the flanks 12, instead of being filled into the hollow profile bar 8 as usual. This has the advantage that the inner wall 11 of the hollow profile bar 8 does not require a perforation through which water vapor can pass from the interior of the insulating glass pane into the interior of the hollow profile bar 8. The hollow profile bar 8 is in this case a double barrier against the ingress of water vapor from the outside into the insulating glass pane.

A desiccant may also be incorporated in the sealing compound 16, with which the joint 14 is sealed from the inside. This is in FIG. 21 shown schematically, in which the granular desiccant - exaggerated - present in the sealant 16. As a desiccant, a zeolite powder (molecular sieves) can be used.

The basis of the FIGS. 10 to 21 described tight connector of two ends of a hollow section bar 8 is equally applicable to the straight-line joining of two hollow section bars eighth

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS:

1. linear connector 33rd abutment Second top 34th collar Third bottom 35th muzzle 4th Long sides, side surfaces 36th --- 5,5a. shallow recess, gutter 37th cavities 6th Recess in 4 38th deepening 7th Hole, second holes 39th desiccant 8th. Hollow-section bar 9th extension 10th outer wall 11th inner wall 12th flanks 13th jet 14th Gap 15th Opening of the joint 16th sealing compound 17th --- 18th stranded semi-finished product 19th guide means 20th drill 21st drill 22nd Cutting tool / saw blade 23rd bracket 24th axis 25th stand 26th first holes 27th --- 28th tongs 29th blocks 30th lamella 31st jaw 32nd jaw

Claims (18)

1. A linear connector for connecting two mutually opposed ends of a hollow profile bar (8) so as to form a frame-shaped spacer for producing insulating glass panes comprising a top side (2), a bottom side (3), two lateral surfaces (4) connecting the top side (2) and the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1), and a waist disposed in a central region of the linear connector (1), characterized in that the linear connector is made entirely or at least in the region of its waist from a solid material, that the waist extends completely around the linear connector, that said waist is extending over an entire width of the top side (2) or the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1), and that in the waist a hole (7) is provided, which extends through the linear connector (1) from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3).
2. The linear connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the linear connector (1) has fins on either side of the waist, the fins (30) extending over the entire width of the linear connector (1) and are oriented towards the top side (2) or the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1).
3. The linear connector according to claim 1, characterized in that the hole is cylindrical or has a cylindrical section.
4. The linear connector according to claim 3, characterized in that the hole (7) is expanded towards the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1), the expansion being conical, in a wedge shape, or convex.
5. The linear connector according to one of the previous claims characterized in that the waist on the top side (2) and/or on the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1) is formed by a flat recess or chute (5) extending from one lateral surface (4) to the opposite lateral surface (4) of the linear connector (1),
6. The linear connector according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the waist at the two lateral surfaces (4) is formed by one recess (6), which is preferably delimited in a cylinder jacket-like manner, which is extending from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1) and its cylinder axis is running transversely to the top side (2) and the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1), and that the cylinder jacket area of the recess (6) extends preferably over circumferential angle of no more than 180 degrees.
7. The linear connector according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the lateral surfaces (4) outside of the waist have a planar design and are parallel to each other.
8. The linear connector according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that it is made of plastics.
9. The linear connector according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at both lateral surfaces (4) of the linear connector (1) in the region of the waist (7) two recesses (6) extending from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) are disposed next to each other.
10. The linear connector according to claim 9, characterized in that the recesses (6) are delimited in a cylinder jacket-like manner, preferably in a semicylindrical manner.
11. The linear connector according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the recesses (6) provided on the lateral surfaces (4) of the linear connector (1) extend up to the two ends of the flat recesses (5a, 5b), which form the waist on the top side (2) and on the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1).
12. A method for producing a linear connector according to one of the previous
    claims, in which the waist at the two lateral surfaces (4) is formed by at least one recess (6), which is preferably delimited in a cylinder jacket-like manner, which extends from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1) and the cylinder axis of which runs transversely to the top side (2) and bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1), characterized in that holes (26) are drilled into a strand-shaped semifinished product (18) having a constant cross-section over the length thereof, which are continuous from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) of the strand-shaped semifinished product (18) and disposed at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product (18), that the distance of the drilling axes of adjoining first holes (26) corresponds approximately to the width of a linear connector (1) to be produced, and the linear connector (1) is severed from the semifinished product (18) by placing severing cuts so that each severing plane runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product (18) and contains the drilling axis of the respective first holes (26).
13. A method for producing a linear connector according to one of the claims 1 to 11, in which the waist at the two lateral surfaces (4) is formed by at least one recess (6), which is preferably delimited in a cylinder jacket-like manner, which extends from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1) and the cylinder axis of which runs transversely to the top side (2) on the bottom side (3) of the linear connector (1) characterized in that pairs of first holes (26) are drilled into a strand-shaped semifinished product (18) having a constant cross-section over the length thereof, which are continuous from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) of the strand-shaped semifinished product (18) and disposed at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product (18), that the distance of the drilling axes of adjoining first holes (26) in the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product (18) corresponds approximately to the width of a linear connector (1) to be produced, whereas the drilling axes of each pair of first holes (26) are located next to each other in a plane transversely intersecting the longitudinal center line of the semifinished product (18), and that the linear connector (1)s are severed from the semifinished product (18) by placing severing cuts so that each severing plane runs transversely to the longitudinal direction of the semifinished product (18) and contains the drilling axes of the pairs of first holes (26).
14. The method according to claims 12 or 13, characterized in that into the strandshaped semifinished product (18) second holes (7) are drilled, which are continuous from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3) of the semifinished product (18), too, and that between two consecutive first holes (26) a second hole (7) is provided.
15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the second holes (7) are narrower than the first holes (26).
16. The method according to claims 14 or 15, characterized in that the second holes (7) are expanded at the bottom side (3) of the semifinished product (18).
17. A method for connecting two mutually opposing ends of one or two hollow profile bars (8) using a linear connector (1) according to one of the claims 1 to 13, wherein the waist extends completely around the linear connector (1) and is provided with a hole (7), which extends through the linear connector (1) from the top side (2) to the bottom side (3), characterized in that the ends of the hollow profile bar or profile bars (8) are placed onto the linear connector (1) so that they abut above the hole (7), that the outside wall (10) of the hollow profile bar (8) above the hole (7) is pushed in, thereby opening the joint (14) between the two ends of the hollow profile bar (8), and a sealing compound (16) is injected into the waist through this opening and through the hole (7),
18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the outside wall (10) is pushed in by a nozzle (13), through which the sealing compound (16) is injected.

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