GB2053407A

GB2053407A - Improvements in or relating to connections for walls

Info

Publication number: GB2053407A
Application number: GB8022180A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Beier H P
Current assignee: Beier H P
Priority date: 1979-07-07
Filing date: 1980-07-07
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: DE7919516U1; FR2461068A3

Abstract

A connection is provided for connecting together wall portions 1a-1fto provide a wall which may be easily assembled and dismantled. The connection member 2, 3 having right cylindrical bores 4 into which corresponding cylindrical portions 8 of ties 7 can be axially inserted. The bores 4 are angularly spaced about the connection member axis and have slots 5 at the periphery of the connection member. The ties 7 project from faces of the wall portions. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to connections for erectable walls The invention relates to a connection for erectable walls, which may be easily assembled and dismantled, for instance for use at exhibitions, fairs, interior structures, shop fittings, and the like, the wall portions being insertable into cylinder-like connection members, disposed between adjacent wall portions, in the axial direction of the said connection members by way of ties projecting from the faces, for which purpose the connection members have a plurality of openings which are arranged at different angular positions and which are also transversely to the axial direction of the connection member.

Connections of this type are required in particular when large-surface partition walls are to be set up and dismantled in a short tirne, for instance in the case of trade fairs etc. In the case of a known connection with the features described above, the openings in the cylindrical connection member are in the form of radially extending slots with parallel walls. Ties may be inserted into these slots in the axial direction of the connection member, i.e. from above or below. Their position is secured against displacement in the horizontal direction and against tilting by means of transversely projecting contact surfaces which are formed on the ties in such a way that they project at both ends of the slot and bear against the matching surfaces of the connection member shaped accordingly.

It is important for the stability of this known connection not only that the tie should match the length and width of the slot in the connection member with respect to its dimensions, but also that the transversely projecting contact surfaces of the tie should correspond as precisely as possible to the matching surfaces of the connection member. There is thus a plurality of different fitting surfaces which necessarily lead to a certain amount of play at the connection points. This play adds up at each individual connection point. Large partition walls of up to about 10 m in length and 4 m in height are therefore relatively unsteady at their free ends and require additional support.

According to the invention, there is provided a connection for erectable walls which may be easily assembled and dismantled, the connection comprising a generally cylindrical connection member to be disposed between adjacent wall portions and arranged to receive axially of the connection member ties constituting part of the connection and arranged to project from faces of the wall portions, the connection members having a plurality of openings which are arranged at different angular positions with respect to the axis of the connection member and which are open transversely to the axis of the connection member, the ties having portions in the shape of right cylinders and the openings in the connection member comprising corresponding right cylindrical bores which are slotted only on a peripheral surface of the connection member remote from the axis of the connection member.

It is thus possible for the plurality of matching surfaces of the known connection to be replaced by a single cylindrical matching surface, which provides protection against both transverse displacement and tilting in any direction. In addition, the reduction of the matching surfaces corresponding to one another makes possible a considerably more precise fit, i.e. one which is practically free from play, so that the connection is substantially more stable. This is also particularly enhanced by the fact that the cylindrical tie portion can be guided over almost its entire periphery in the corresponding bore of the connection member. This type of matching surface allows a more compact construction of the connection member, so that the individual wall portions may be placed closer together.

If the connection is subjected to particularly exacting requirements, the ties may be provided in a manner known per se with transversely extending contact surfaces which bear against the outer periphery of the connection member in the inserted state. In contrast to the known connection mentioned above, however, these are not true bearing surfaces, since possible transverse movement of the tie is already prevented by the cylindrical construction of the bearing surfaces, but they are- rather additional support surfaces. In contrast to the known connection they are advantageously in the form of plane surfaces extending at right angles to a radial line from the centre of the connection member to the axis of the bore. The plane construction, in contrast to the known connection, provides a more exact fit which is easier to assemble.

The connection members and the ties are preferably made of an aluminium alloy.

The invention wiil be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a section of an erectable wall with a connection constituting a preferred embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a three-quarter view of a connection member; and Figure 3 is a three-quarter view of a tie.

The general structure of an erectable wall is shown in Figure 1. Similar wall portions 1 a to 1 f are each provided at their corners with laterally projecting ties which engage in connection members 2. Assembly takes place as follows; The connection members 2 are each placed on a lower tier of fixed wall portions 1 a to 1 c from above. In this way these wall portions are secured to one another at their top and at the same time the upper part of the connection member is used to mount further wall portions 1 dto if. These wall portions are likewise inserted with their ties on their lower corners into the connection members already present and then secured to one another at their top corners by additional connection members, after which the assembly of further wall portions is continued in a corresponding manner.

The preferred connection member is shown in Figure 2 and comprises, as is known, two identical halves 2a and 2b which extend from a common, centrally arranged circular disc 3. The lower half 2b of the connection member is placed in a known manner on the ties of the wall portions already set up, the circular disc 3 acting as a stop for this insertion movement, while the upper half 2a of the connection member is used for inserting the wall portions to be mounted subsequently.

instead of the known slots arranged in different angular positions, the preferred connection member has a plurality of bores 4 which extend parallel to one another in the direction of insertion, i.e. with a vertical axis. In the embodiment the bores 4 are arranged in such a way that, radiating from the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical connection member, the bores are each arranged at an angle of 450 relative to one another. A different angular position is of course also possible. At their regions remote from the axis of symmetry of the cylindrical connection member, the bores each have a longitudinal slot 5 which advantageously extends as for as the circular disc 3. This slot allows the tie portion inserted into the bore to be joined to the associated wall portion.At its centre the connection member has a continuous bore 6, the axis of which coincides with the axis of symmetry of the connection member and is thus parallel to the bores 4. This continuous bore, however, is not important for the function of the connection.

The tie is illustrated in Figure 3 and comprises a longitudinal shank 7 which projects horizontally into the top or bottom side face of its wall portion and is used to join the tie firmiy to the wall portion.

The other end of the tie has a right cylindrical tenon 8 formed thereon the diameter of which corresponds to the diameter of the bores 4 such that it may be axially inserted into the said bores practically without play, until it bears against the circular disc 3. The complete encirclement of the tenon 8 by the walls of the bore 4 ensures a secure connection between both parts.

A transverse member 9 is formed between the shank 7 and the tenon 8. The rear side faces of the transverse member 9 bear flush against the wall portion and its side faces 9a and 9b facing the tenon 8 and formed in one plane are arranged in such a way relative to the tenon 8 that, when the tenon 8 is inserted into one of the bores 4, they bear fully against the transverse faces 1 Oa and 1 Ob which are adjacent to the cylindrical surface of each bore 4 on either side in the vicinity of the slot 5. The connection is thus suitable for taking up particularly heavy loads.

Thus, movements are controlled in all possible degrees of freedom by a single pairing of matching surfaces, namely the bore 4 and the axially insertable tenon 8 of the tie. In this way, with simple manufacture a more precise and play-free connection than previously known is obtained. By means of the additional side faces 9a and 9b on the tie and the corresponding transverse faces 1 Oa and 1 Ob on the connection member, additional support or guide surfaces may be provided in a simple manner and the stability of the connection may be further increased.

Claims

1. A connection for erectable walls which may be easily assembled and dismantled, the connection comprising a generally cylindrical connection member to be disposed between adjacent wall portions and arranged to receive axially of the connection member ties constituting part of the connection and arranged to project from faces of the wall portions, the connection members having a plurality of openings which are arranged at different angular positions with respect to the axis of the connection member and which are open transversely to the axis of the connection member, the ties having portions in the shape of right cylinders and the openings in the connection member comprising corresponding right cylindrical bores which are slotted only on a peripheral surface of the connection member remote from the axis of the connection member.

2. A connection as claimed in claim 1, in which the ties are provided with transversely extending contact surfaces which bear against the outer periphery of the connection member in the inserted state.

3. A connection as claimed in claim 2, in which the transversely extending contact surfaces and the corresponding bearing surfaces of the connection member are in the form of plane surfaces extending at right angles to a radial line from the centre of the connection member to the axis of the bore.

4. A connection as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the connection member and the ties consists of an aluminium alloy.

5. A connection for readily assemblable and dismantlable walls, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

6. A wall comprising a plurality of wall portions connected together by a plurality of connections, each as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.