GB2272006A - Joining hand-rail sections. - Google Patents

Abstract

Tubular hand-rail sections (5) are joined together using an articulated connector (1, 2), e.g. of GRP having spigoted portions (1, 2) which can move relative to each other through angles between 44 DEG and 316 DEG . G.R.P. tubes can be connected in this way, and each spigoted portion may comprise several spaced discs which interleave with similar discs on the other portion. One of the apertures receiving bolt (7) may be threaded to allow the portions to be fixed relative to each other. The connectors may be glued into the hand-rail sections, and the discs may be glued together. <IMAGE>

Description

This invention relates generally to the joining of horizontal rails for example hand rails as used on stairways and knee rails. Knee rails as the term implies are incorporated in barriers running parallel beneath hand rails.

Such rails form part of a framework for barriers or guards or fences for industrial application more particularly for oil installations for example in the North Sea. Such fences or barriers have to conform to British, European and U.S.

standards and in the case of this invention the Standards lay down how the joints of rails so as to form long lengths of railing are to be made. Horizontal hand rails and knee rails are connected together to uprights or posts to form a section of a barrier and are referred to as guard rails. At corners or bends in gangways or stairs the rail joints are required to be mitred, dowelled or pinned to resist the various loads experienced by the guide rails in use. Thus jointing pieces need to be made for each different angle of corner required. A stairwell may well require a considerable number of corner joints and handrails at any required angle say between 450 and 1800. The angle between rails required to be joined must be in a single plane usually a vertical plane or a horizontal plane but not as in a Universal joint.

Rails are usually made from stainless steel, or carbon steel or aluminium. Clearly such materials are not suitable for resistances to chemicals or suitable for applications which require the frame to be electrically non-conducting or nonsparking. Thus for ease of fabrication and resistance to chemical attack as well as the need for guard rails to be electrically non-conducting there is a strong case for plastic railings. Plastic frames or guard rails meet the standards of strength and may actually be stronger tan metal versions.

A material increasingly replacing steel and aluminium in the manufacture of these guard rails is glass fibre reinforced plastic (GRP). These are lighter than corresponding rails made from steel or aluminium. The problem of joining hollow rails by spigotting dowelling and mitreing remains, and it is an object of the invention to overcome some or all of these disadvantages.

One method of making such material is by a process known as pultrusion. In this process continuous strands of glass mat and fibres are impregnated with resin. Subsequently the impregnated strands are pulled through a heated shaping die to produce glass fibre reinforced plastic tubes in long straight lengths. Acrylics, polyesters and vinylesters are suitable resins.

These plastics may be self coloured and need no painting.

However it remains difficult if not impossible to use the pultrusion process to produce "bends" so the lengths of hollow rail still require joining together at corners or curves. The problem thus remains muc as it is with metal railing, that is: storing a number of different angle joints to meet most requirements at angles between 450 and 1800. Storing a range of different angle joints is expensive and again skilled fitters often still required to tailor make the joint. As regards barrier erecting it is believed that the joints of the present invention will facilitate the pre-erection or assembling of barrier frames including bends or corners to erect in position as complete sections rather than fabricating the section together with the joins on the stairway since the angle of the joints of the present invention can be adjusted on site to fit the stairway.

Accordingly, the invention provides in one aspect a joint for joining open ended tubular members comprising two elements connected together for relative rotation with respect to each other in the plane of the members, spigot means remote from the relative rotation connection, said spigot means being adapted to fit into the open ended tubular members, the two relatively rotatable elements being angularly adjustable with respect to one another to any selected angle within the limits of the elements abutting one another and preventing further rotation, the elements further comprising means by which they are secured to each other at the selected angle.

The term open ended tubular member is intended to include any elongated section having an internal cross sectional opening which can be circular, square, rectangular or other shape.

Preferably, the two elements are connected together by a pin passing through apertures through circular discs formed at the end of the spigots remote from the ends of the spigot that are adapted to fit into the open ended hollow members.

Each element nas at least one circular disc connected to its respective spigot.

Preferably both elements have a double disc connected to the spigots the double discs of one element being spaced apart and offset to mesh with one of the double discs of the other element in an interdigitating relationship.

The spigots may extend from the circular disc or discs in a radial direction. Alternatively the spigots may extend in a direction such that the surface of the spigots of the joint are substantially tangential to the discs. In a preferred arrangement the spigots extend from the disc in a position between radial and tangential. Spigots may be solid or hollow in cross section.

Tne aperture through one of the discs of the joint may be screw threaded whereby the Joint can be tigntened at the required spigot angle. Alternatively the discs .may be bonded to each other or secured by gluing the discs together at the required or final spigot angle.

The spigots of eacn element is preferably faired or shape profiled so as to be adapted to provide a smooth transitional surface from one element of the joint over the discs to the other element of the joint particularly on the "hand" side of the joint.

In an embodiment of a joint having square section spigots and a single circular disc extending from each spigot the circular disc on one spigot is offset towards one side of the associated spigot end substantially continuous with the outer surface thereof, and the other co-operating circular disc extension is offset towards the other side of the associated spigot in such a way that the width of the circular disc extensions together, is substantially equal to the width of the rail to assist in providing a smooth transition from joint to rail.

Each spigot is relieved or cut away to receive the circular disc extension of the other spigot and also to receive the rail without a step and provide a smooth transition from joint to rail. The spigots may be solid in cross section or hollow and the cross section may be square or circular or of any desired shape to suit the cross section of the adjoining rails.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a barrier system having at least a pair of barrier sections each comprising horizontal and vertical members and a hollow handrail, the sections of the barrier system being joined together at the ends of adjacent handrails by a joint, said joint being adjustable for handrails inclined to each other at any chosen angle of between of the order of 440 and 3160, the joint also including locking means to lock the joint at the chosen angle and fairing of the joint to provide a smooth transitional surface between the hand rails and the joint.

The barrier system may be pre assembled with the handrail and joints connected together with the joints unlocked to enable erection with the angles so required before locking the joints.

In the case of a stair well barrier system with a plurality of corner bends and changes in the inclination of one handrail section adjoining another handrail section preassembly and connection of a number of barrier sections to each otner with loose joints, enables the barrier so connected to be erected around tne stairwell bends before the joints are locked at the required angie.

The invention will now be described by way of example only witn reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Figure 1 is a persective view of a square handrail joint having two co-operating circular disc extensions from the spigots; Figure 2 shows a joint similar to that shown in Figure 1 with each spigot having two circular disc extensions.

Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a joint similar to that shown in Figure 1 but with circular rail end spigots and discs which are domed.

Figure 4 shows a plan view end sections of a joint in which one spigot has outer disc extensions and the other spigot has an inner disc extension positioned between the outer discs showing an angular adjustment between 450 and 2550.

Figure 5 shows very diagrammatically a part of a stairwell rail system where joints according to the invention are incorporated in the knee and hand rails.

Figure 1 shows the joint assembly with each element having a square section spigot 1 and 2 and a circular disc extension 3 and 4 connected to the spigots 1 and 2 respectively. The spigots 1 and 2 fit into the hollow and open ended rail, 5 to be joined as shown at 6. A pivot pin bolt or rivet 7 provides an axis of rotation so that the angle of the two rails can be angularly adjusted. The outer surfaces of the disc extensions 3 and 4 will be contoured or faired as shown at 8 and 9 to provide a smoother hand surface or transition from the rail 5 over the joint and to avoid as far as possible gaps which may damage hands. The fairings 8 and 9 are readily produced in the case of a plastic moulding. Spigots 1 and 2 are relieved or stepped at 10 and 11 to provide a smooth transition from spigot to rail.

The joint is only free for angular adjustment in one plane. For vertical plane angular adjustment the curved parts of te circular discs as indicated at 12 and 13 will be at the uppermost (handside). To provide as smooth a transition from one rail to the other the joint fairing 8 and 9 is employed but this may limit the amount of adjustment possible since spigot 2 including the fairing 9 will abut spigot 1 and its fairing 8.

The spigots are, of course, inserted into the open ends of the hollow square or round section rail to produce the required plane of rotation. The spigots are cut away at 14 and 15 to form a rebate for receiving the circular disc extension from the opposite spigot with a minimum gap or sliding fit to provide a smooth transition which is important on the hand or uppermost surface.

It will be appreciated that the spigots as regards the "hand" surface are non radial to the discs 3 & 4 and may be tangential to the upper surface of the discs. Such an arrangement produces a smoother transition with less of a "hump" on the upper side but a reduced range of angular adjustment in one direction. Spigots between tangential and radial may be good compromise. A radial spigot provides for the largest angular rotational adjustment in both directions but the disc surface is not such a smooth transition with the rail.

In use the spigot of one element will be pushed and bonded into the hollow end section of a handrail and likewise the spigot of the other element into the hollow end section of a handrail to provide a handrail bend.

Figure 2 shows a joint with each spigot having two spaced apart circular disc extensions 16 & 17, and 18 & 19 arranged so that the extensions 16 & 17 fit with the recesses beside 13 and 19. This arrangement is preferred since it provides additional joint strength and resistance to loading. The joint has three cooperating pairs of plain bearing surfaces and moreover the elements of the joint are identical so only one moulding has to be produced. In other words the left hand element is identical to the right hand element but inverted. The remaining features of the joint are not described since they are identical with the joint shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a joint similar to that shown in Figure 1 that is one circular disc extension for each spigot but with surfaces 20 and 21 curved so that all the hand surfaces are curved. This curving is particularly suitable for cylindrical spigots 22 and 23 and cylindrical rails as shown at 24. Again the "hand" side of the joint spigots is not radial with respect to the discs 20 and 21.

Figure 4 shows an alternative disc extension arrangement one spigot 25 having two disc extensions 26 and 27 spaced apart to receive a disc extension 28 on the spigot 29. In addition Figure 4 shows how the angle of the joint can be varied between 450 and 2550 and at any angle therebetween. It will be noticed that there are no grooves, projections, notches or teeth on the cooperating faces of the disc so auy angle between the limits is achievable.

It will be understood that a tangential hand surface of spigot in relation to the hand side of the disc provides a smoother transitional surface but wit a penalty that there is less freedom for angular adjustment in both directions. A radial hand surface of spigot to hand surface of disc provides the least smooth transition but maximum range of angular adjustment in both directions. Integral shrouds or fairings limit angular adjustment but are essential for smooth transition from one rod to the other over the joint.

As regards the material of the joint preferably this is made from a rigid plastic, e.g. a glass reinforced plastic and the handrails manufactured from pultruded glass reinforced plastic as previously referred to in the introduction.

Figure 5 shows a stairwell rail systen according to the invention where a number of joints 30 are indicated in position on the bends of the system. Thus if the right hand side of the rails A (descending) is considered the entire left hand side could be assembled flat on a bench and connected together by the joints but left untightened. The spigots are inserted into the hollow hand rail ends and bonded or glued. The left hand section can then be erected in the vertical position possibly as one interconnected series of barrier sections. The angles of the handrails with respect to each other can then be adjusted and tigntened up by the pivot pin screw to leave the smooth transitional surface from handrail to adjoining handrail round the bend It will be clear that the angular movement of one element of the joint relative to the other elenent is in one plane of rotation normal to the axis of the pivot screw. Thus, the position of the spigot in the hollow rail ending will be chosen for a horizontal bend or a vertical bend and as has been stated, this is not a universal joint.

Claims (15)

1) A joint for joining open ended tubular members comprising two elements connected together for relative rotation with respect to each other in the plane of the members, spigot means remote from the relative rotation connection said spigot means being adapted to fit into the open ended tubular members, the two relatively rotatable elements being angularly adjustable with respect to one another to any selected angle within the limits of the elements abutting one another and preventing further rotation, the elements further comprising means by which they are secured to each other at the selected angle.

2) A joint as claimed in Claim 1 in which the elements include at least one disc connected to the spigots.

3) A joint as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which one of the elements has a single disc connected to the spigot thereof and the other cooperating element has a double disc attached to the spigot thereof in which the discs are spaced apart to receive the single disc of the other element.

4) A joint as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which both elements have a double disco connected to the spigots the double discs of one element being spaced apart and offset to mesh with the double discs of the other element in an interdigitating relationship.

5) A joint as claimed in Claim 4 in which the spigot and double disc form of each element are identical.

6) A joint as claimed in any of claims 1 - 5 in which the discs of each element have a control aperture to receive a pivot pin which is adapted to join and tighten the discs of the joint together at the required angle.

7) A joint as claimed in any of claims 1 - 6 in which part of a longitudinal surface of the spigot extends substantially tangentially from the circular discs.

8) A joint as claimed in any of claims 1 - 6 in which part of a longitudinal surface of the spigot extends from the discs in a position between radial and tangential.

9) A joint as claimed in claims 1 to 8 in which the discs are bonded together at the required angle.

10) A joint as claimed in any of claims 1 - 8 in which the discs are glued together at the required angle.

11) A joint as claimed in any of claims 1 - 10 in which the spigots and discs include a fairing or shroud to provide a smooth transitional surface from one element of the joint over the discs to the other element on the viflandil surface of the joint and rail.

12) A joint for joining open ended rail members including circular discs connected to spigots which fit into open ended rail members of tne rails to be joined, the discs being arranged adjacent to one another and connected together by a pivot pin in which joint the discs project from their respective spigot SUCh that one disc is offset towards one side of its associated spigot and the other disc offset towards the other side of its associated spigot in such a way that the width of the adjacent discs is substantially equal to the width of the spigots.

13) A joint for joining open ended rail members comprising two elements each including a double disc connected to a spigot which spigots fit into the open ended rail members of rails to be joined, the double discs being spaced apart and offset with respect to the ones of the spigot in such a way that the double disc of one element meshes with the double disc of the other element in an interdigitating relationship, the joint further comprising means to secure the discs of each element together at the required angle of the rail members to be joined and such that the width of the assembled discs are substantially equal to the width of the spigots.

14) A joint as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, in which a first spigot of a joint is relieved or cut away to receive the disc of the second spigot of the joint and the said second spigot is relieved or cut away to receive the disc of the first spigot in such a manner that all gaps are kept to a minimum.

15) A barrier system having at least a pair of barrier sections each comprising horizontal and vertical members and a hollow handrail, the sections of the barrier system being joined together at the ends of adjacent handrails by a joint, said joint being adjustable for handrails inclined to each other at any chosen range of angle of between the order of 440 and 3160, the joint also including locking means to lock the joint at the chosen angle and an integral fairing extending over the joint to provide a smooth transitional surface between the hand rails.