GB2047375A

GB2047375A - Fixing device for securing cladding panels to walls

Info

Publication number: GB2047375A
Application number: GB7925809A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-04-12
Filing date: 1979-07-24
Publication date: 1980-11-26
Also published as: GB2047375B

Abstract

A cladding panel 10 and wall 12 are each provided with anchorages in the form of undercut channels (14) disposed mutually at right angles. In each channel (14) is slidably and captively disposed a nut 24. The two nuts (24) are connected by a stud (20) which has one end with a right hand screw thread, and the other end with a left hand screw thread, the nuts (24) being correspondingly internally screw threaded. The stud (20) has a fixed central nut (22) and locknuts (26) mounted thereon. In use the nuts (24) may be moved as required along the length of, and within the channels (14), thus allowing a wide tolerance for the location of the stud (20), and the stud (20) may be readily rotated by means of a spanner to set the spacing of one member (10) from the other member (12). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fixing devices and methods of using them This invention concerns fixing devices, and especially, but not exclusively, fixing devices for securing together constructional members (such as cladding on the one hand and the wall of a building on the other hand), and methods of fixing employing such devices.

It is often the case that known such fixing devices are called for in situations where, for one reason or another, the anchorage points for a fixing device, which are provided in the parts to be secured together are not located with sufficient accuracy; or where there is a possibility of the anchorage points being relatively displaced after a fixing device has been put in position. As a consequence either the fixing device in question is omitted altogether (which could have disastrous results), or damage to the fixing device or other parts is likely to occur.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a fixing device and a method of using same which virtually eliminates the problem referred to.

According to the present invention a fixing device comprises a stud having a left-hand screw thread at one end and a right-hand screw thread at the other and, means intermediate said ends adapted for engagement by a spanner or like torque-applying instrument, two detents one in screw-threaded engagement with each end of the stud, and two locknuts, one in screw-threaded engagement with each end of the stud between said intermediate means and the detent at that end of the stud.

Also according to the invention a construction comprises such a fixing device, and an anchorage in each of two members to be secured together, the anchorages providing parallel sliding locations for the detents and the directions of sliding being at an angle to each other. The angle is preferably a right angle.

The invention also comprises a method of construction involving the provision of such sliding locations, the positioning therein of the detents of such a fixing device, the spacing of such members by rotating the stud, and the setting of the device in place by means of said locknuts.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the single figure is a sectional view through part of an situ concrete structure, and a pre-cast unit, secured thereto by a fixing device according to the invention.

The drawing illustrates the fixing of pre-cast concrete cladding 10 to an in situ concrete wall 1 2. There will usually be a substantial number of fixing devices connecting the cladding to the wall, one only being shown.

Anchorages are provided, in the cladding 10 and the wall 12, each comprising an insert in the form of a metal channel 14, 100mm in length, which presents a slot 1 6 of this length both at the surface of the cladding and the wall. The longitudinal edges of the slots 1 6 are defined by re-entrant terminations 1 8 of the side walls of the channels 14. Such anchorages are available commercially from GTE Unistrut Limited of Hampton, Middlesex, England.

Viewed from the left of the figure the longitudinal centre lines of the anchorage will be designed to cross at their mid-points to define the nominal location of the axis of the fixing device stud now to be described. However it will be clear that so long as these centre lines cross at all the fixing device can be accommodated so that, in effect, there is a wide tolerance field, which may extend over an area of, say, 80mm square.

The fixing device consists of a 16mm diameter stud 20, screw-threaded right hand at one end, left hand at the other; a nut 22 welded in position centrally of its length; two detents 24; and two locknuts 26. Each detents 24 is in the form of a block of metal sized so as to be a sliding fit in a channel 14, with a screw threaded bore enabling it to fit onto one end or the other of the stud 20, and with legs 28 adapted to engage with the reentrant termination 1 8 of the channels 1 4.

In use the detents 24 are positioned within the channel 14 before the latter are incorporated in the cladding or wall, as the case may be, to form the anchorages. As the cladding is brought up to the wall, the stud 20 is engaged at its two ends with the detents 24 (which are brought into alignment) and, by using a spanner on the nut 22 progressively screwed into the detents 24 until the desired spacing of the cladding 10 from the wall 1 2 is achieved. Finally the locknuts 26 are firmly turned down against the faces of the cladding 10 and wall 1 2 respectively.

As already indicated the invention allows for substantial departures from nominal dimensional standards-e.g. where an error in setting out occurs, and for disturbance of the fixing-e.g. during construction. Also, the locknuts 26 provide for the firm attachment of the cladding thus, for example, considerably reducing the risk of damage to jointing material between adjacent panels of cladding due to wind buffeting.

The fixing device and the methods of use thereof forming the subject matter of the invention are suitable for a wide variety of applications where one member is to be secured to another.

Thus in addition to concrete the invention is applicable to the fixing of stone (natural or reconstructed) and marble facing slabs for instance; and not only to certain types of wall cladding for buildings but for example sus pe-nded ceilings.

The dimensions mentioned in connection with the embodiment illustrated in the draw ings are in no way restrictive. Usually how ever, the stud diameter will be 1 6 mm or less.

Claims

1. A fixing device comprising a stud hav ing a left hand screw thread at one end and a right hand screw thread at the other end, means intermediate said ends adapted for engagement by a spanner or like torque applying instrument, two detents, one in screw threaded engagement with each end of the stud, and two locknuts, one in screw threaded engagement with each end of the stud between said intermediate means and the detent at that end of the stud.

2. A fixing device substantially as herein before described with- reference to, and as illustrated in, the single figure of the accom panying drawing.

3. A construction comprising a fixing de vice as claimed in claim 1 or 2, and an anchorage in each of two members to be secured together, the anchorages providing parallel sliding locations for the detents and the directions sliding being at an angle to each other.

4. A construction as claimed in claim 3 in which said angle is a right angle.

5. A construction substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the single figure of the accom panying drawing.

6. A method of construction involving the provision of sliding locations as claimed in claims 3, 4 or 5, the positioning therein of the detents of a fixing device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, the spacing of the members in which said sliding locations are provided by rotating the stud, and the setting of the device in place by means of said locknuts.

7. A method of construction involving the connecting together of two members substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the single figure of the accompanying drawing.