GB2369629A

GB2369629A - Bracing member with integrally formed end connectors

Info

Publication number: GB2369629A
Application number: GB0205145A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Snr William John Haley
Original assignee: Francis and Lewis International Ltd
Current assignee: Francis and Lewis International Ltd
Priority date: 2002-03-05
Filing date: 2002-03-05
Publication date: 2002-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 2022-03-05
Also published as: GB2369629B; GB0205145D0

Abstract

A bracing member (11) comprising an elongate, preferably tubular, body with integral end connectors in the form of mutually parallel plates (12, 13) having aligned apertures (14, 15) there though. Preferably the plates are spaced apart. In use the bracing members may be connected diagonally between adjacent structural or roofing members (Figure 3), or may form part of a hand railing assembly.

Description

BRACING MEMBERS FOR BUILDINGS This invention relates to bracing members for buildings, especially for buildings having a portal frame structure formed from steel, and also for steel hand railings, roofing and the like associated with buildings.

In the construction of portal buildings and other erections formed from structural steelwork, such as warehouses, factory units or other commercial or industrial premises in the form of buildings, bracing members typically comprise tubular body members having spade end connectors. Such connectors comprise a tongue welded to a plate itself welded across the end of the tubular member and, because of the welded construction, are time-consuming and costly to manufacture. Bracing members are required primarily to reinforce the sides and roof plans of portal buildings.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bracing member suitable for portal and other buildings and which is cheaper to manufacture than conventional bracing members with spade end connectors.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a bracing member of the type described, the member comprising an elongate body member and end connector elements, in which the connector elements comprise integrally-formed apertured plates, the plates being mutually parallel and the apertures formed therein being co-axial.

Preferably, the body member is tubular and the parallel plates are mutually spaced apart, whereby a lug having a hole formed therein and mounted to a structural element can be received in the space between the plates and secured therein by a bolt or pin passing through the apertures and through the hole when the hole is an axial registration with the apertures.

Bracing members according to the invention may be formed by cutting axially-disposed slots in opposed wall sections at each end region of a tubular body member to define upper and lower arcuate tongues co-terminous with the slots, pressing the tongues between dies to render them flat and forming holes therethrough by punching. Preferably, in the pressing step to flatten the tongues, a blanking member is inserted therebetween to maintain the tongues in spaced-apart relationship as the pressing operation proceeds. Conveniently, the pressing operation allows a unique identification code to be stamped on each bracing member or on each end thereof.

It will be appreciated that the forming operations may all be carried out with the use of punches in suitable pressure-application apparatus and do not require the use of metal-joining techniques such as welding.

In another aspect, the invention provides buildings as hereinbefore described and including bracing members as defined spanning between adjacent structural members.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of one end of a tubular bracing member embodying an end connector according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation at 90 to the view shown in Figure 1 ; and Figure 3 is a side elevation of the frame of a portal building wall.

With reference to the drawings, a tubular bracing member 11 has an end connector consisting of parallel and spaced-apart plates 12,13 formed with respective co-axial through-holes 14,15. The connector elements or plates are formed firstly by a punching operation diametrically through the plain tube end, the interior of the tube being supported by a slotted die complementary to the punch which forms corresponding slots in the walls of the tube. The arcuate tongues defined by the slots are then subject to a pressing operation, a rectangular die being inserted between the tongues to support them in spaced-apart relationship as punches are applied from each respective side to flatten the tongues. The holes are then formed by punching, again with an apertured die being inserted between the tongues.

In use, the bracing members are located, usually diagonally, between structural members to be braced and which are provided with apertured lugs which are accommodated between the respective tongues of the bracing members. With the apertures 14,15 in axially registration with the apertures in the lugs, a bolt can be inserted and tightened to secure the bracing member in position.

Figure 3 shows main upright structural wall members 31,32, 33 of one end of the side of a portal building wall secured at the bottom to concrete foundations and at the top to eaves ties 34. A diagonal bracing member 35 of the type described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 is bolted between adjacent structural members 31 and 32 constituting the end frame of the wall, the member being joined at its ends to apertured lugs 36,37 welded to the respective uprights 31,32.

Bracing members according to the invention may be galvanised and/or painted, either on the outside only or both inside and outside surfaces, or may be hot zinc sprayed. Optionally, the end may be plugged to prevent ingress of moisture or other corrosive elements.

It may be desirable to extend the relative length of the slot defining the tongue members to minimise the chances of cracking occurring during the pressing operation.

Claims

Claims 1. A bracing member for buildings, the member comprising an elongate body member and end connector elements, in which the connector elements comprise integrally-formed apertured plates, the plates being mutually parallel and the apertures formed therein being co-axial.
2. A bracing member according to claim 1, in which the body member is tubular and the parallel plates are mutually spaced apart.
3. A building having a portal frame structure and including bracing members according to claim 1 or claim 2 spanning between adjacent structural or roof members.
4. Hand railings having vertical support members and including bracing members according to claim 1 or claim 2.
5. A method of bracing a building having a portal structure, the method including the step of connecting in diagonal relationship between adjacent wall support or roof members a bracing member according to claim 1 or claim 2.
6. A building having a frame substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.