GB2095303A

GB2095303A - A portal frame structure

Info

Publication number: GB2095303A
Application number: GB8204055A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-02-27
Filing date: 1982-02-11
Publication date: 1982-09-29
Also published as: NL8105514A; DE3107416A1; DK12282A; BE891716A; GB2095303B; ATA9882A; FR2500869A1; AT374862B

Abstract

In a portal frame structure which can be readily erected and dismantled, there is used as columns (1) and roof girders (6) framework members (10) which are profiled in I-shaped manner and which are provided on one flange side with a T-shaped groove (14) for retaining bolt beads (32) to enable, these members to be connected together at the eaves by appropriately designed connecting pieces (5) or at the ridge by appropriate connecting pieces (7). The members (10) may have wooden nailing strips (17') for the fastening of lining or facing materials. The connecting pieces may provide hinges to enable variation in the roof angle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A supporting structure for awnings or hangars This invention relates to a supporting structure for awnings, hangars or other similar structures such as sheds, barns, roofings or shelters, which for simplicity will hereinafter be referred to as awnings or hangars, which can if need be be erected at any desired location and subsequently be dismantled.

Supporting structures which have so far become known for awnings or hangars are erected in such a way that the profile beams which are used as supports and roof girders are connected to one another or respectively to the other structural parts by bolted joints in which the bolts engage through bores provided in the profile beams. On the one hand, this requires a considerable expenditure of energy in order to initially form the bores, necessary for the bolting, into the profile beams and compels one, upon reuse of the elements either to take the same dimensions as a basis or to form a new set of differently-arranged bores.

An object of the invention is to provide a supporting structure which does not require formation of special bores for the fastening of the individual structural elements to the supports or roof girders or for the bolting of the individual structural parts, even when different dimensions are used for said supporting structure.

With this object in view, the present invention provides a supporting structure in which use is made, as supports and roof girders, of beams which are profiled in I-shaped manner and which have, at least along one flange side a T-shaped groove which- extends in the longitudinal central plane of the beam and in which the individual structural parts are secured by bolts, each bolt having a hammer head which engages behind the side ledges of the T-shaped groove.

In this way it is sufficient, for the provision of such a supporting structure, to cut off the metal I-profiled beams, to be used as supports or roof girders respectively, to the necessary length and then to connect them to the appropriately-shaped structural parts whilst avoiding any further processing of the beams by using only clamping connections.

In a further deveiopment of the invention, the beams which are profiled in I-shaped manner are advantageously designed in such a way that they have two webs which extend at a spacing parallel to one another and which are connected by two transverse walls so as to form a double web. Also, a recess which extends over the entire width of the interior of the double web is provided on the flange side along the side opposite to the groove which is profiled in T-shaped manner. This recess may serve to receive wooden planks, boards or battens on which, for example from the outside, a wall lining for the hangar can be mounted by means of nails. Profiles of this kind can advantageously be produced by extrusion from a light metal or a light metal alloy.

The I-shaped beam profiles which are designed with double webs in the described manner, have a box-shaped inner space, bounded by the parallel webs as well as transverse walls connecting these. It is advantageous to provide, on the inside wall of each web, a respective ledge which points into the inner space, in which respect these ledges are preferably arranged, in relation to the longitudinal central plane of the beam extending parallel to the webs, symmetrically to one another in such a way that they define a cross-section which corresponds to standard dimensions of a rectangular tube which may be fitted in formlocking manner i.e. to exactly interengage between the two webs.

The individual structural parts which are to be connected to the beams which are profiled in I-shaped manner are for their part provided with one or more slotted holes which are arranged along a straight line and through which in each case the head of the hammer-head bolts to be used can be placed and can be introduced into the T-shaped groove, whereupon the hammer head can be brought by a rotation through 900 into engagement with the edge ledges bounding the T-shaped groove. In order to avoid over-rotation of the hammer head, this is advantageously designed so that its flat abutment surfaces directly abut the sides of the T-shaped groove, whilst the rotation is made possible because two diagonally-opposed corners of the hammer head are appropriately rounded-off.

Further details of the structure of the invention and more especially the shaping for the various structural parts being used will be explainedhereinunder with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a partially sectioned end view of one embodiment of an I-profiled beam of the supporting structure of the invention; Fig. 2 is a partial cross-section of another I-profiled beam showing a hammer head bolt; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the hammer head bolt shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows various components of the supporting structure of the invention connected together and viewed from the gable side; Fig. 5 shows a part of the same supporting structure as shown in Fig. 5 viewed from the eaves side; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a foot plate and part of a support of the supporting structure of the invention;; Fig. 7 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a plan view of the foot plate and support of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a diagonal stiffening element of the supporting structure of the invention; Fig. 10 is a connecting part for the diagonal stiffening; Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a connecting element of the supporting structure of the invention for connection of a roof beam to a support; Fig. 12 is an elevation at right angles to Fig.

11; Fig. 13 is a plan view of the connecting element of Fig. 11; Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 11 of another embodiment of the connecting element; Fig. 1 5 is a side elevation of one embodiment of a connecting element of the supporting structure of the invention for the ridge-sided connection of two roof beams for a saddle roof; Fig. 16 is a plan view of the connecting element shown in Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a section along the line XVIl-XVIl of Fig. 15; Fig. 18 is a side elevation of another embodiment of a connecting element of the supporting structure of the invention for the ridgesided connection of roof beams; Fig. 19 is a side view of a plug-in connection of the supporting structure of the invention for the connection of a roof beam to a support;; Fig. 20 is a side view of a plug-in connection of the supporting structure of the invention for the ridge-sided connection of two roof beams; Fig. 21 is a side elevation of an adjustable purl in connection of the supporting structure of the invention; Fig. 22 is a side elevation of a fastening element of the adjustable purlin connection shown in Fig. 21; Fig. 23 is a plan view of the same fastening element; and Fig. 24 is a side view of a further embodiment of a connecting element of the support structure of the upper end of a roof beam to a support in the case of shed or lean-to roofs.

In Fig. 1, a metal beam 10 used for the supports and the roof girders of the supporting structure of the invention is shown considered from the front end and partially sectioned. It consists of two webs 11, 11' which extends at a spacing parallel to one another and which are connected at the one end (at the top in the drawing) by a transverse wall 12 and at the other end by a transverse wall 13. The transverse wall 12 is in this respect offset by a specific amount towards the opposite end of the webs 11, 11' so that a recess 17, extending the entire width of the space bounded by the two webs 11, 1 1', is formed, in which recess 17 a wooden plank 17' can be inserted.The side walls of this recess 1 7 are advantageously ribbed in sawtooth-shaped manner in order to secure the wooden plank 17'.

The opposite transverse wall 13 is shaped to form a groove 14. Along each of the two outer edges of this groove 14 a ledge 1 5 extending at right angles to the webs 11, 11' is provided in such a way that the groove 14 has a T-shaped profile.

Flanges 16, 16' are located along the edges of the webs 11, 11' on both sides so that the beam 10 comprises an I-profile having a double web.

Provided in the I-profiled beam interior, which is bounded by the two webs 11, 11' and the transverse walls 12 and 13, are two inner ledges 1 8 which are arranged symmetrically to the longitudinal central plane A-A of the beam 10 and which extend in the longitudinal direction (i.e.

perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 1). The region 19 of the inner space, bounded by these inner ledges 18 is of such dimensions that its crosssection corresponds to the cross-section of a standard rectangular tube 1 9' which fits exactly, or in form-locking manner so to speak, between the two webs 11, '. The distance between the two webs 11,11' is indicated as B in Fig. 1.

In order to secure desired structural element 20 to the beam 10, it is sufficient to provide, in the structural element 20 that is to be mounted, a slotted hole 20' the longitudinal axis of which is so aligned that it extends, upon erection, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the T-shaped groove 14 of the beam 10. If the structural element 20 is positioned in such a way that the slotted hole 20' comes to rest in alignment with the grove 14, then the head 32 of a hammer head bolt 31 can be introduced through the slotted hole 20' into the groove 14. The bolt 31 is then rotated about its axis through approximately 900 so that the hammer head 32 engages the ledges 1 5 of the groove 14. The structural element 20 can be clamped fast by tightening of a nut 34 on the bolt 31.

In order also to be able to secure structural elements which are not provided with slotted holes, for example a T-profile crossing the beam 10, to the beam 10, a rectangular clamping plate 35 is provided, as is shown in side view in Fig. 2.

This clamping plate 35 has a round hole through which a hammer head bolt 31 engages. Along one edge the clamping plate 35 is provided with a supporting bead 36, which is adapted to abut the beam 10, when the clamping plate 35 is in use, whilst the opposite part tapers to form a strap 37 which engages, for example, over a flange 30 of a T-profile that is to be secured. The hammer head 32 is introduced into the groove 14 and brought by rotation of the bolt 31 into engagement with the ledges 1 5. By tightening the nut 34, the strap 37 is pressed against the structural element that is to be secured, in the example chosen the flange 30 of a T-profile, which is secured by clamping against the beam 10.

In order on the one hand to make possible the rotation of the hammer head 32 and on the other hand to limit the angle of rotation, the head 32 of the hammer head bolt 31 is rounded off at two diametrically-opposed corner edges 33 (Fig. 3), whilst the other two corner edges, in the end position corresponding to a rotation of 900, butt against the wall of the groove 14 and prevent any further rotation.

One practical embodiment of the supporting structure of the invention is shown in Figs. 4 and 5, viewed respectively from the gable side, the right hand part of the structure being partially omitted to save space, and in side view in partial detail. Supports 1 comprise in each case an I-profiled beam 10 which is held upright by means of foot plates 2 on the ground and may be secured. These beams 10 are so orientated that the grooves 1 4 face towards the interior of the hangar or awning, whilst the wooden planks 17' are disposed on the outside, where they can serve for example for fastening a lining or facing made from plywood or tarpaulins by means of nails.

For stiffening in the longitudinal direction of the hangar or awning, the supports 1 are connected by diagonal struts 4 which cross over one another and which are connected to one another in scissors-like manner (Fig. 5).

The principal trusses are composed of roof girders 6, which likewise each comprise an profiled beam 10. Connection of said roof girders to the supports 1 is effected by means of special connection elements 5, and the ridge-side union of the two oblique roof girders 6 is effected by means of ridge elements 7. Adjustable holders 60, which can be situated at any desired location on the roof girders 6, are provided for the mounting of purlins 64.

In Figs. 6 to 8 a foot plate 2 is shown in three different views, namely in Fig. 6 from the inside of the awning, in Fig. 7 in the longitudinal direction of the awning and in Fig. 8 a plan view. This foot plate 2 comprises a base plate 21, which is orientated substantially horizontally, rests on the ground and is provided with holes 22 which serve to secure the foot plate 2 for example in undisturbed soil with earth nails or, for instance, on a concrete base by bolting. Welded onto this base plate 21 and upstanding therefrom at right angles is a connection plate 23 in which are provided slotted holes 24 for the hammer head bolts (not shown) with which the support 1, indicated by broken lines, is fastened by clamping in the afore-described manner, to the foot plate 2.

Moreover, a bolt 25 is also provided on the connection plate 23. This bolt 25 projects at right angles to the plate 23 in the horizontal direction inwardly of the roofed-over space and is provided at the end with a tilting pin 26. This bolt 25 serves to secure one or more diagonal strut 41 (see Fig. 9), in that said bolt 25 engages through a bore 43 which is disposed at the lower end of each strut 41 whilst the tilting pin 26 prevents the bolt 25 from sliding out of said bore or bores. The height of the bolt 25 is so chosen that in each case two diagonal struts 41 can be secured simuftaneously in the aforesaid manner.

A pair of diagonal struts 41 are advantageously connected to one another in scissors-like manner, as shown in Fig. 9, by a pivot 44 thus forming a stiffening element 4, which is situated in each case between two consecutive supports 1 (Fig. 5).

The pivot connection 44 has the advantage that for each panel or bay between two adjacent supports a single immediately-insertable stiffening element 4 is available, which is additionally stiffened in itself due to the diagonal struts 41 which are connected to one another and which cross over one another, but which can on the other hand be folded together for storage thereby having only a low storage space requirement. Each diagonal strut 41, which may advantageously comprise a scaffolding tube, is provided at each end with a flat strap 42 a bore 43 by means of which it can be secured to a support. At the lower end, of each strut 41, it is secured for example in the manner described above, by slipping the bore 43 over the bolt 25 of the foot plate 2.Two straps 42 of the diagonal struts 41 of adjacent bays or panels of the supporting structure find space on top of one another on the same bolt 25. When scaffolding tubes are used for the diagonal struts 41, it is sufficient to produce the straps 42 by pressing the tube ends flat.

To secure the upper end of each diagonal strut 41, a special connection plate 3 can be used, as is shown in Fig. 10. This plate 3 corresponds in all details to the vertical connection plate 23, which is welded to the base plate 21 of the foot plate 2, so that a further detailed description is not required. The reference numerals used in Fig. 10 correspond to the reference numerals of Figs. 6 to 8.

A connection element 5 for connection of a roof girder 6 to a support 1 is shown in Figs. 11 to 13. Fig. 11 is a view from the inside of the awning or hangar, Fig. 12 is a side view and Fig. 13 is a plan view. The connection element 5 comprises two U-profiles 51 and 52 which are cut on the slant and which are connected to one another, for example by welding, at an angle corresponding to the pitch of the roof of the support structure. The clear width between the flanges of the U-profiles 51, 52 corresponds to the outside dimension of the metal beam 10 between the outer edge of the two flanges 16' (Fig. 1), so that the metal beam 10 can be inserted with its side 14 foremost, in for sm-locking manner into i.e. interengaged with the U-profile 51 or 52 respectively.Provided in the web of each profile 51 and 52 are at least two slotted holes 55 which allow introduction of hammer-head bolts 31 into the groove 14 and thereby the securing of the metal beams 10, serving as support 1 or as roof girder 6 respectively, to the U-profiles 51 and 52. To strengthen the connecting element 5, a strut 53 which connects the two U-profiles 51 and 52 is provided in the angle between said U-profiles 51, 52. The strut 53 is partially interrupted in Fig. 11, in order to make the slotted holes 55 visible.

Welded at the corner formed by the junction point of the U-profiles 51, 52 are additionally, on both sides of the connecting element 5, pipe sockets 54 which serve for the insertion of the purlins 64.

These purlins 64 may, for example, comprise round tubes provided at their ends with connection sockets 66 superposed at right angles (see Fig. 21).

The vertically-extending U-profile 51 of the connection element 5 may advantageously be lengthened somewhat downwardly, so that the end 51' extending below the adjoint-piece of the strut 53 may be provided with a bolt 25 having a tilting pin 26. With such an arrangement, the upper ends of the diagonal struts can be connected directly to the connection element 5 and the connection plate 3 is not required.

The connection element 3 described above pre-supposes a fixed predetermined roof angle. In a further embodiment of the connection element 5', a hinge having a variable angle a is provided, as shown in Fig. 14, so that any desired roof angle may be selected. In this respect the basic construction of the connection element 5' is the same as shown for the connection element 5 in Figs. 11 to 13. The inclined U-profile 52' is connected by means of a hinge 56 to the vertical U-profile 51. In order to be able to adapt the strut in each case to the angle a, said strut consists of two tubes 53', 53" of different diameter which are in each case hinged to the U-profiles 51 and 52' by means of hinges 57.These tubes 53', 53" extend in telescope-like manner inside one another, so that, by withdrawing or slipping the one tube 53' into the other 53", the length of the strut can be changed as desired. In order to secure the two tubes 53', 53" in a particular mutual position, a half-coupling 58 is welded to the end of the outer tube 53". The half-coupling 58 engages around the inner tube 53' and may be clamped fast by means of the inner tube 53'.

In the case of a saddle roof, a ridge sided connection 7 is provided to connect together the two-sided roof girders 6 meeting in the ridge line, as shown in Figs. 1 5 to 1 7. Fig. 1 5 shows the connection element 7 in side view considered from the gable side, Fig. 1 6 shows it in plan view and Fig 1 7 in a section corresponding to the line XVll-XVIl in Fig.15, considered in the direction of the arrows. The connection element 7 consists of the U-profiles 71 and 71'.The clear width between the flanges of these U-profiles 71,71 is, in the same way as in the case of the connection elements 5 provided at the eaves side, of such dimensions that the metal beams 10 serving as roof girders 6 can be introduced into said Uprofiles so as to fit exactly. The U-profiles 71, 71' are secured to each other at an angle 2P=2 . (1 80-a) corresponding to the roof pitch, each profile being welded at an angle ,l3 to a ridge plate 74. The ridge plate 72 extends downwardly as far as a stiffening 73, to which it is securely connected, said stiffening 73 connecting the two U-profiles 71,71 to one another. Provided on both sides of the ridge plate 72 are pipe sockets 74 which serve for suspension of the purlins 64.

To secure the metal beams 10 forming the roof girders 6, slotted holes 75, through which the hammer head bolts 31 can be introduced into the groove 14, are disposed in the webs of the U-profiles 71,71'.

If the roof angle is to be selected as required then, of course, as well as the connection element 5' for the eaves-side connection of the roof girder (Fig. 14) being adjustable, the connection element for the ridge-side connection of the two roof girders 6 must be designed so that adaptation to the respective selected roof angle is possible.

Such a connection element 7' is shown in Fig. 18.

The two U-profiles 71 and 71' are connected in this case by a hinge 76. A ridge plate 72 (Fig. 15) is not provided. In order to be able to set the desired angle, the stiffening may comprise, in a similar way to that shown in Fig. 14 two tubes 73', 73" which are hinged by means of hinges 77 to the roof beams 71,71 and which are guided telescopically in one another. The securing of the tubes 73, 73" with respect to each other is effected, for example, in the same manner as in the case of the eaves-side connection element 5' by means of a half-coupling which is welded to the outer tube.There is however also a possibility of simplifying the structure by restricting the arrangement to permit only a predetermined number of different possible roof angles and introducing bores 78, which serve for the securing of the angular position by means of bolts, at equal spacings along both tubes 73', 73", as shown in Fig. 1 8. In this adjustable connection element 7' a ridge plate 72 (Fig. 1 5) standing at all times vertically for the mounting of tube sockets and for the fastening of ridge purlins 64 is lacking.

Instead of a ridge purlin, with this connection element 7', two parallel purl ins must be provided, for suspension into the two tube sockets 74' situated on both sides at the upper end of each U-profile 71,71'.

As an alternative to using the above-described connection elements 5 and 7, it is also possible to connect the metal beams 10, forming the supports and roof girders, to one another in a different manner. As already stated above, arranged in the interior of each beam 10, bounded by the webs 11,11 and the transverse walls 12 and 13, are two inner ledges 18 (see Fig.

1) which define a region 1 9 adapted in its dimensions to the standards for rectangular tubes. The metal beams 10, forming the supports 1 and the roof girders 6 may be connected to one another at the eaves side by an appropriately angled rectangular tube 81 inserted into the respective regions 1 9 at the ends of the metal beams 10. Such a plug-in connection is shown, considered in the longitudinal direction of the awning or hangar, in Fig. 19. The rectangular tube 81 is angled in accordance with the roof angle and one end thereof is introduced into the region 19 of the interior of the metal beam 10 forming the support 1. The other end of the tube 81 is introduced into the region 19 of the metal beam 10 forming the roof girder 6. The dimensions of the rectangular tube 81 are selected so that it interengages with or fits in form-locking manner into the respective regions 19, as shown in Fig. 1 with reference to the rectangular tube profile 19' which is indicated by broken lines. Respective clamping angles 83 are provided both on the support 1 and on the roof girder 6 in order to prevent the rectangular tube 81 from sliding out.

Each clamping angle 83 is secured by means of a hammer head bolt 31 in the groove 14 of the relevant metal beam 10 and its angled end 83' engages about the end of the metal beam 10 and is pressed in such a way against the rectangular tube 81 that this is held fast in its position relative to the support 1 or the roof girder 6 respectively.

Mounted on both sides of the rectangular tube 81, for instance at the point at which it is angled, is a respective tube socket 84 for suspension of the purlins 64. Each tube socket is so dimensioned that the purlins 74 rest both in the plane determined by the outer surface of the supports 1 and in the plane determined by the outer surface of the roof girders 6.

The roof beams 6 may also be connected to one another, in a similar manner, at the ridge side, as shown in Fig. 20. The rectangular tube 82 angled in accordance with the ridge angle is introduced into the metal beams 10 and secured by means of clamping angles 83 in the same way as already described with reference to Fig. 9.

Tube sockets 84' which are situated at both sides at the point where the rectangular tube 82 is angled, are provided for the mounting of the ridge purlin.

Figs. 21,22 and 23 show a fastening element 60, with the aid of which the purlins 64 can be secured on the roof girder 6. As shown in Fig. 21 (transversely to the longitudinal direction of the hangar) a purlin 64 comprising, for example, a rectangular tube has each end inserted into a fastening element 60. The roof girders 6 are indicated by dot-dash lines. Fig. 22 shows the fastening element 60 considered from the gable side and Fig. 23 shows it in plan view. The element 60, which can be used at any desired point on the roof girders 6 consists of a yoke 61 profiled in U-shaped manner and having flanges on which are located tubular sockets 63 which serve for the reception of an arbor or plug-on mandrel 66 of a respective purlin 64. Slotted holes 62 are provided in the web of the U-shaped profile 61.These holes 62 allow the fastening of the element 60 by means of a hammer head bolt 31 (in the manner already described above) in the groove 14 of the metal beam 10 forming the roof girder 6. Each purlin 64 comprises a rectangular tube which has at both ends in its upper and lower wall an angular coping or notching 65 in which the arbor or plug-on mandrel 66 consisting of a tube piece is welded. At the lower end of the arbor or mandrel 66 there is disposed a bore 66' through which a pin or cotter (not shown) can be placed, in order to prevent the arbor or mandrel 66 from sliding out of the socket 63. Of course, in this way the purlins 64 may be located not only on the roof girders 6, but if necessary also on the supports 1, where they can be utilised in the appropriate circumstances for the fastening of tarpaulins or plywood panels forming a side wall.

Instead of a saddle roof, to which the previous description has been directed it is also possible to provide a shed or lean-to roof. In this case, as shown in Fig. 24, an angular element 9 is provided upper connection element between a roof girder 6 and a corresponding support 1. This connection element 9 consists of two U-profiles 91, 92 which are connected to one another at the necessary angle by welding and which form an angle y which is equal to the angle (180), the angle a being the angle formed by the two limbs of the previously described lower connection element 5. For the rest this connection element 9 corresponds in its details to the connection element 5, that is to say the clear width between the flanges of the U-profiles 91, 92 corresponds to the supporting width of the beam 10, whilst provided in the webs of the U-profiles 91, 92 forming the element are slotted holes necessary for connection to supports 1 or roof girders 6 respectively, and situated at the connection point of the two U-profiles 91, 92 on both sides is a respective tube socket 94 for the fastening of the purlins 64.

Claims

1. A supporting structure for awnings or hangars which can be erected and dismantled, characterised in that use is made, as supports and roof girders of beams which are I-shaped in profile and which have, at least along one flange side, a T-shaped groove which extends in the longitudinal central plane of the beam and in which the individual structural parts are secured by bolts having a hammer head which engages behind the side ledges of the T-shaped groove.

2. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that each I-profiled beam used for the supports or roof girders has a double web consisting of two webs which extend at a spacing parallel to one another and to the longitudinal central plane of the I-profiled beam and which are connected at each respective flange side by a transverse wall.

3. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each beam has along one flange side, symmetrically to its longitudinal central plane extending parallel to the webs, a wide recess for the reception of a wooden beam.

4. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterised in that provided along the inside of each of the two webs, in symmetrical arrangement related to the longitudinal central plane of the beam extending parallel to the webs, is a respective ledge which points towards the interior of the hollow space of the double web, and in that these two ledges define a space the cross-section of which corresponds to the external dimensions of a standard rectangular tube which is insertable in a form-locking manner between the two webs i.e. to directly interengage with the inner walls of the webs.

5. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised in that the bolts serving to secure the individual structural parts are in each case provided with a hammer head which is rounded at two diametrically-opposed corners, whilst two edges butt, in the end position, against the walls of the T-shaped groove.

6. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised by provision of a rectangular clamping plate having a round hole through which a hammer head bolt is able to project, said plate having a supporting bead extending along one of its edges, whilst the opposite end tapers to form a strap.

7. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the supports are each provided, at their lower end, with an exchangeable foot plate comprising a horizontal base plate and a connection plate which is welded perpendicularly to said base plate and in which, along its central axis, vertically-extending slotted holes (24) are provided.

8. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that the connection plate is provided with a bolt welded at right angles to said plate, which bolt projects in the horizontal direction inwardly of the roofed-over space and carries, at its end, a tilting pin.

9. A supporting structure are claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that incorporated between two consecutive supports is in each case a stiffening element comprising two diagonal struts which cross over one another, which are provided at each of their ends with a flat strap having a bore and which are connected, at the point of cross-over, in scissors-like manner by a pivot.

10. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim, characterised by provision of a connection plate having slotted holes arranged along its central axis and, welded to said plate, a bolt protruding at right angles to the plane of the plate and carrying, at its end, a tilting pin.

11. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that a connection element between a roof girder and a support comprises two U-profiles connected to one another, for example by welding, at an angle (x) corresponding to the roof pitch, the clear width of each U-profile corresponding to the supporting width of the metal beam and the webs of each U-profile having at least two slotted holes which extend in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the respective U-profile.

12. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 11, characterised in that the vertical U-profile is lengthened downwardly and has a bolt which extends horizontally towards the interior of the awning and at the end of which a tilting pin is provided.

13. A supporting structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that the connection element comprises two U-profiles connected swingably to one another by a hinge, the clear width of each U-profile corresponding to the supporting width of the metal beam and the webs of each U-profile having at least two slotted holes extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the respective U-profile.

14. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that a connection element for the ridge-side connection of two roof girders forming a saddle roof comprises two U-profiles which are connected securely to one another at an angle (2. (1 80-a)0) corresponding to the roof.pitch, the clear width of each U-profile corresponding to the supporting width of the metal beam and the webs of each Uprofile having at least two slotted holes extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the respective U-profile.

1 5. A supporting structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 13 characterised in that the connection element for the ridge-sided connection of two roof girders forming a saddle roof comprises two U-profiles connected to one another by a hinge, the clear width of each U-profile corresponding to the supporting width of the metal beam and the webs of each U-profile having at least two slotted holes extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the respective U-profile.

1 6. A supporting structure as claimed in any of claims 11, 12 or 14, characterised in that the Uprofiles which are connected securely to one another at an angle are connected securely by a strut.

17. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 1 3 or 15, characterised in that a tubular strut is hinged to the mutually-swingable U-profiles, in that the outside diameter of the one tube is equal to the inside diameter of the other tube, in that furthermore the one tube is moveable in said other tube in telescope-like manner, and in that provided at the upper end of the outer tube is a half-coupling which, in the closed state, secures the inner tube by clamping.

18. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 13 or 1 5, characterised in that a tubular strut is hinged to the mutually-swingable U-profiles in that the outside diameter of the one tube is equal to the inside diameter of the other tube, in that furthermore the one tube is moveable in said other tube in telescope-like manner, and in that the end parts of the tubes are provided with a series of bores which are intended to accommodate pins or cotters and which are arranged at equidistant spacings.

1 9. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim characterised by provision of purlins comprising rectangular tubes, the upper and lower walls of each purlin being notched or coped at both ends, and welded in each notching or coping an arbor or slip-on mandrel at the lower end of which there is disposed a bore.

20. A supporting structure as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that purlin holders are provided for the securing of the purlins, which purlin holders each comprise a yoke profiled in U-shaped manner to have two side flanges on the outside of each of which is located a reception socket for arbors or mandrels of the purlins, the webs of each yoke being provided with at least one slotted hole extending parallel to the flanges.

21. A supporting structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the I-profiled beams which form the various supporting structural elements are connected to one another in that rectangular tubes forming an appropriate angle are inserted into the interior region, bounded by the inner ledges, of the two beams that are to be connected to one another.

22. A supporting structure as claimed in claim 21, characterised in that the rectangular tubes forming the plug-in connection are secured by clamping angles which each comprise a metal angle having a longer lever arm with a round hole and, said angle being bolted to a respective beam by means of a hammer head bolt in such a way that the edge of the shorter lever arm is pressed against the rectangular tube that is to be secured.

23. A supporting structure as claimed in any of claims 1 to 10 characterised in that a connection element for the connection of the upper end of a roof girder of a shed or lean-to roof to a respective support comprises two U-profiles the clear width of each of which corresponds to the supporting surface of the metal beam and the webs of each of which are provided with at least two slotted holes extending in the direction of the longitudinal axis of each respective U-profile, and in that these U-profiles are connected to one another at an angle (y-l 80-a) corresponding to the angle of the roof pitch.

24. A supporting structure for awnings or hangars which can be erected and dismantled substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 13, 1 5 to 17,and21 to 22 or by Figs. 14 and 18, or by Figs. 19 and 20 or by Fig. 24.