GB2186942A - Structural joint - Google Patents

Abstract

A joint (used e.g. in the floor structure of a compartmentalised warehouse) comprises a pair of parallel plates (2) welded transversely to a vertical strut (1). The portions of the plates that emerge on either side of the strut receive the ends of beams (5), which have a U-shaped profile that fits in between the plate portions and whose free edges are bent outwards at right angles to form laps (6) that rest on the top edges (7) of the plate portions. Holes (12, 13) facing one another receive bolts (9), secured by washers (10) and nuts (11) to fasten the plates to the beams. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Structural joint This invention relates to structural joints designed to take part in building three dimensional structures, and more specifically for the establishment in said structures of floor structures. The joints are especially suitable for use in the field of compartmentalization of big areas used for storage, but are obviously useful in any other practical case that requires similar consideration.

As is known, for a specific volume available for storage such as a bay, compartmentalization of the volume is established in order to achieve maximum utilization of the available space, in accordance with the practical requirements of each case. Generally for this purpose metallic structures are used, with which the desired compartmentalization is obtained, since metallic structures offer maximum strength with the smallest volume.

When it is a question of rather high volumes, it is necessary to establish floor structures in the volumes in accordance with the basic aim of achieving the maximum utilization of the available space.

To this effect, one of the solutions consists of fastening the joints of the structure by means of welding, by which a very rigid structure is obviously obtained, but whose basic problem fundamentally lies in the need for forming the structure "in situ". In other words, the welding of the metallic sections is done right at the place where they are going to be erected, and this makes it necessary to provide scaffolding to keep the beams stable before and after the welding process. This all entails a considerable increase in the cost of the assembly process, to which must be added the unification of the structure, that makes it impossible later to dismount it in order to convert it in the face of some new need.

Another solution known for this purpose, consists of providing the ends of the beams with clamps that are in turn able to be fastened to the struts, which makes it possible to prefabricate the structure and to carry out a subsequent rapid, simple, "Meccano" type assembly. Nevertheless, the basic problem of this solution is the fact that the joints, in other words the fastening points between beams and struts, are not capable of enduring the loads that the structure is going to be subjected to, especially when floor structures are set up in the structure, since the clamps tend to slide over the struts.

In an attempt to overcome this problem it is also known that pins, that act as stops for said clamps and that diametrically go through the struts, are used. Nevertheless and given the stresses to be endured the pins must have a considerable diameter, and the holes made in the struts result in a substantial weakening of the struts for which reason, the latter must be oversized, with consequent price increase.

Accordingly an object of the present invention is to provide a structural joint designed to solve this problem in a fully satisfactory manner, in such a way that it allows for prefabrication of the structure and extremely rapid assembly of the structure in a way similar to the classic "Meccano" type systems, but with a total absence of weakness in any point of the structure, and as a result without the need for reinforcement and this is accompanied by structural rigidity similar to that of a conventional structure made out of parts connected to one another by welding.

According to the present invention a structural joint for forming a floor structure warehouse or similar structure comprising metallic struts and beams comprises a pair of parallel flanges respectively welded to diametrically opposite sides of one of the struts at a level corresponding to that of a required floor structure, the flanges extending in at least one direction from the strut with a predetermined space between them and a beam having a cross-section in the shape of an inverted omega mounted between the flanges, the beam having a U-shaped portion with sides that fit between the flanges and laps bent outwards from the U-shaped portion for resting on the top edges of the flanges.

In this way a joint in which beams fit and rest on flanges solidly connected to a strut, may be securely fixed to the flanges, with the help of holes existing in the flanges and beams, operatively facing each other, to receive corresponding screw-washer-nut units to convert the parts making up the joints into a rigid structure that is to convert the joint substantially into a unitary element.

From this basic structure as can be clearly seen, in the terms of the specific requirements in each case, the pair of flanges may be arranged laterally to project towards two opposite sides of the strut.

When the flanges project exclusively towards one side of a strut, the strut may be a marginal strut, at the end of a lateral plane of the structure. In specific cases cruciform pairs of flanges may be provided for the coupling of four beams on a single joint.

Likewise the orientation of said flanges may be varied in practical cases in which, due to needs of assembly, the beams that come together in a joint must remain out of line forming an angle otherthan 90".

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, a structural joint in accordance therewith will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a structural joint for use in the formation of floor sections in warehouses and similar structures; and Figure 2 shows a partial end elevation of a structure incorporating several floor structures each incorporating joints as shown in Figure 1.

The embodiment shown in the drawings comprises a number of floor structures 4 supported on struts 1 by means resulting in a structure of substantial rigidity. At the junction between each floor structure 4 and each strut lisa pair of flanges 2 welded respectively at their middle areas 3 to diametrically opposite sides of the strut 1.

Hence, the flanges 2 in each pair are fixed respectively in imaginary planes parallel to one another and to the strut axis and the opposed parts 2, 2' (Figure 1) extending in opposite directions from the strut 1 are capable of receiving between them beams 5, 5' as described below.

These beams 5 have the feature that they are shaped as a reversed omega as cleary seen in Figure 1, so that each has a central U-shaped cross-section with sides so separated as to fit between the flanges 2 but the upper areas of the sides being bent outwards to provide laps 6 that rest on the top edges 7 of the flanges 2.

Hence, having correctly placed the struts 1 on a base structure 8 of a room in which the structure is to be set up, having regard to what has been said above a beam 5 is placed between each pair of flanges as shown in Figure 2 so that it rests at its ends by means of its laps 6 on the edges 7 of the flanges 2 in the joints.

After this "pre-assembly" process the parts are fixed together with screws 9, washers 10 and a nut 11. The screws being inserted through holes 12 in the flanges 2 and holes 13 in the beams 5 so that the different parts of each joint are rigid with one another as if constructed in one piece.

More specifically at each joint two holes 13 are formed in each side of each of the beams 5, 5' and two holes 12 are formed in the adjacent portions of the flanges 2, 2', the holes being positioned so that after the pre-assembly process each hole 12 is in register with one of the holes 13 and so that each screw9 can be passed through two aligned pairs of holes 12, 13.

As can be inferred from what has been stated above, this joint structure not only ensures noteworthy structural rigidity and very easy assembly and disassembly of the structure, but also ensures that the beams that come together in the joints corresponding to a specific level are perfectly coplanar, making it possible to arrange on them any type of partition that makes up the floor structure itself.

It is not considered to be necessary to make this description any more extensive because it is believed that any expert in the art can understand the extent and advantages to be derived from the invention.

The materials, shape, size and arrangement of the parts can be varied as long as this does not result in an alteration of the essential nature of the invention claimed in the following claims.

Claims (4)

1. A structural joint for use in forming a floor structure in a warehouse or similar structure comprising metallic struts and beams, the joint comprising a pair of parallel flanges respectively welded to diametrically opposite sides of one of the struts at a level corresponding to that of a required floor structure, the flanges extending in at least one direction from the strut with a predetermined space between them and a beam having a cross-section in the shape of an inverted omega mounted between the flanges, the beam having a U-shaped portion with sides that fit between the flanges and laps bent outwards from the U-shaped portion for resting on the top edges of the flanges.

2. A structural joint according to Claim 1, in which the flanges are each formed with a hole that registers with a hole in the adjacent side of the associated beam so that after the beam has been mounted on the flanges it can be made rigid therewith by at least one screw and nut unit with the screw passing through holes in the two flanges and through holes in the sides of the associated beam to convert the joint substantially into a unitary element.

3. A structure joint substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

4. A floor structure comprising vertical struts and horizontal beams, each beam being joined between two struts by joints according to any one of the preceding claims.