GB2501066A

GB2501066A - A connector for casting within a concrete structure

Info

Publication number: GB2501066A
Application number: GB1205507.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Jarvis
Original assignee: Thomasons Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Thomasons Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-28
Filing date: 2012-03-28
Publication date: 2013-10-16
Also published as: GB201205507D0

Abstract

A connector 2 comprises a container-like fastener holder 4 of finite depth with a front plate 6 and a rear wall and side walls. The rear wall and substantially the whole depth of the holder can be cast into a concrete structure to form a space within the concrete structure. One or more fastening means are provided which can assume a range of positions within the holder and a moveable connection part or device 12 is also provided which can be fastened to the front plate by the fastening means. The front plate of the connector comprises at least one opening 10 which is able to receive the fastening means while the or each opening is sized to be wider in two dimensions than the narrowest part of the fastening means, allowing the fastening means to move in two dimensions relative to the front plate.

Description

A improved connector The present invention relates to a connector for joining building elements.

In the building construction industry it is often necessary to fix a beam or other horizontal element to a wall or other vertical element or vice versa.

Concrete walls or columns are well known for their sb-ength and ease of construction. However once the concrete is hardened it becomes difficult to resiliently fix beams or other load bearing items to the wall.

The construction of a building is a precise art and a beam or horizontal element nrnst be fixed to a wail or vertical element in the correct position.

Similarly, it is often desirable to fix a vertical member to a horizontal floor or ceiling.

A known construction method comprises drilling holes into a hardened concrete structure and fixing bolts into the hole. The hole locations often clash with steel reinforcements and problems often arise on site which cause additional costs and delays in construction.

A further known construction technique for securing a horizontal beam to a vertical concrete wail involves casting bolts into the wall during construction so that the beam can he fastened to the bolts and thereby secured to the wall.

Unfortunately it is difficult to cast bolts into a vertical or horizontal member in the correct position in order to secure the horizontal or vertical member in the desired position.

Accordingly the present invention is directed to a connector comprising a container-like fastener holder of finite depth with a front and a rear plate and side walls wherein the rear wall and substantially the whole depth of the holder can be cast into a concrete structure to form a space within the concrete structure, one or more fastening means which can assume a range of positions within the holder and a moveable connection part or device which can be fastened to the front plate by the fastening means, the front plate of the connector comprising at least one opening able to receive the fastening means, wherein the opening is sized to be wider in two dimensions than the narrowest part of the fastening means, allowing the fastening means to move in two dimensions relative to the front plate.

This arrangement allows for a tolerance in the casting position of the connector so as to enable the connector and the horizontal or vertical member to be attached in the desired position and provide a greater variation in position than possible with previous proposed designs.

The or each fastening means may further comprise a washer which is larger in at least one dimension than the narrowest part of the or each opening, the washer being captured within the connector.

The circular openings have the advantage that ordinary washers can he used in the construction and different sizes used according to the size of the openings.

The fastening means may comprise a frontwardly protruding bolt which is moveable within the opening or openings whose cap is captured within the connector.

The fastening means may comprise a nut which is moveable within a guide arranged within the connector so that the nut can move in the each or each opening. In certain embodiments, the nut is square, rectangular or elongate or has a square, rectangular or elongate washer welded thereto.

The opening may be a circuhr aperture.

The front phte may be formed with a toothed outside surface for improved connection between horizontal and vertical members.

The connector may he fixed to the beam or load hearing member, A connector may be fixed to the beam or load bearing member and a second connector may he cast into the concrete shuclure to enable a wider range of posifions.

The fastening means may form a friction ock between the connection part or device and the front plate.

The fastening means may comprise one or more high strength friction grip bolts.

The fastening means may alternatively comprise at least one tension control bolt, e.g. a stud having an additional outer nut thereon with a part which breaks when the nut reaches a pre-deternñned tension. This prevents the nut from being over-tightened or under-tightened.

Corresponding faces of the fastening means and front plate may be formed with interlocking teeth in order to form a sftonger fastening.

The front plate of the connector may he equipped with at least one rearwardly protruding attachment means which can be cast into the concrete structure.

The rear plate of the connector may he equipped with at least one rearwardly protruding attachment means which can be cast into the concrete structure.

The attachment means may be anchor studs or reinforcing bars or reinforcing bolts.

The rearwardly protruding anchor studs, reinforcing bars or reinforcement bolts improve the strength of the fastening between the connector and the concrete structure.

In an alternative configuration, the rearwardly protruding attachment means can be attached to a further plate which in turn may comprise at least one protruding attachment means which can be cast into the concrete structure.

This configurabon enables the connector to be attached to a plate which has already been cast into the concrete. This would he of parficular advantage where a connection is required between a concrete structure which forms part of an outside wall and a horizontal member such as part of a balcony.

Any remaining space which surrounds the rearwardly prohuding attachment means can be filled with heat insulating material.

The presence of a heat insulating material between the connector and the further plate prevents cold bridging between external building elements and internal building elements.

Examples of connectors in accordance with the present invention will now be described herein below with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of a connector according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the connector of Figure 1 with fastening means attached; Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the present invention; Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the connector of Figure 3 with fastening means attached; Figure 5 shows an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the present invention; Figure 6 shows a perspective view of the connector of Figure 5 with fastening means attached; Figure 7 shows an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the present invention; Figure 8 shows an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of a connector according to the present invention; and Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the connector of Figure 8 with fastening means attached.

Figure 10 shows a side view of a connector similar to that shown in Figure 1 attached to a further configuration of plates.

In the following descriptions, similar parts receive the same element numbers.

Figures 1 and 2 show a connector 2 comprising four containers 4 (not shown in Figure 2) with a shared front plate 6 and each with a rear plate (not shown) and side walls 8. The front plate 6 comprises four circular openings 10 (three shown) abTe to receive bolts 12, the bolts 12 being moveabTe within the openings 10. Nuts (not shown in the drawing) are moveable within the containers 4 and can be engaged with the bolts 12 to form a strong fastening between the connector 2 and a connection part or device 16. The nuts can optionally be equipped with a washer 140 if the head of the nut is not sufficiently large to be captured by the opening 10. Please note that it is possible for the connection part or device 16 to be formed on the building C') 0 element to be connected. The front plate 6 is equipped with rearwardly protruding anchor studs 18 which can be inserted into a concrete structure (not shown).

The connector is cast into the concrete structure in an appropriate position to receive the intended building element. The connection part or device is then manoeuvred into position. The fastening means are moveable with respect to the connector in an x and y dimension within the range alTowed by the openings in the front plate and the openings in the connection part or device.

Once the connection part or device is in the desired position relative to the connector, the nuts are tightened to ensure a secure fastening.

The following embodiments are affixed in a similar manner.

Figures 3 and 4 show a connector 2 comprising two containers 4 (not shown in Figure 4) with a shared front plate 6 and each with a rear pTate (not shown) and side walls 8. The front plate 6 comprises two openings 10 able to receive bolts 12, the bolts 12 being moveable within the openings 10. Nuts are moveable within the containers 4 and can be engaged with the bolts 12 to form a strong fastening between the cormector 2 and an connection part or device 16. A washer 140 may be provided if the head of the nut is not 1..

sufficiently large to be captured by the opemng 10. The front plate 6 is 0 equipped with rearwardTy protruding anchor studs 18 which can be cast into the concrete structure (not shown).

Figures 5 and 6 show a connector 2 comprising four containers 4 (three shown) with a shared front plate 6 and each with a rear plate (not shown) and side walls 8. The front plate 6 comprises four openings 10 (three shown) able to receive bolts 12, the bolts 12 being moveable within the openings 10. Nuts are rnoveable within the containers 4 and can be engaged with the bolts 12 to form a strong fastening between the connector 2 and a connection part or device 16. Washers 140 may be provided if the head of the nuts are not sufficiently large to be captured by the openings 10. The front plate 6 is -10 -equipped with rearwardly protruding anchor studs 18 which can be inserted into the concrete structure (not shown). The connection part or device 16 can be fabricated integrally with a beam portion 20.

Figure 7 shows a connector 2 comprising four containers 4 (three shown) with a shared front plate 6 and each with a rear plate (not shown) and side walls 8.

The front plate 6 comprises four openings 10 able to receive bolts 12, the bolts 12 being moveable within the openings 10. Nuts are moveable within the containers 4 and can be engaged with the bolts 12 to form a strong fastening between the connector 2 and an connection part or device 16. Washers 140 1.

may be provided if the head of the nuts are not sufficiently large to be 0 captured by the openings 10. The front plate 6 is equipped with rearwardly protruding anchor studs 18 which can be inserted into the concrete structure (not shown). The connection part or device 16 comprises openings 22 which allow adjustment of the position of the connection part or device 16. The cormection part or device 16 can be fabricated integrally with a beam portion 20.

Figures 8 and 9 show a connector 2 comprising four containers 4 with a shared front plate 6 and each with a rear plate (not shown) and side walls 8.

The front plate 6 comprises four openings 10 able to receive bolts 12, the bolts 12 being moveable within the openings 10. Nuts are moveable within the -11 -containers 4 and can he engaged with the bolts 12 to form a strong fastening between the connector 2 and an attachable steel block 24. Washers 140 may be provided if the head of the nuts are not sufficiently large to be captured by the openings 10. The front plate 6 is equipped with rearwardly protruding anchor studs 18 which can be cast into the concrete structure (not shown).

The attachable steel block 24 comprises openings 22 which allow adjustment of the position of the attachable steel block 24.

Figure 10 shows a connector similar to that shown in Figure 1 with reanvardly protruding anchor rods 18 connecting through a cavity 42 to a second plate 44 which is in turn connected to a further plate 30 by bolts 43.

Between plates 44 and 30 an insulating layer 41 may be provided, or the plates may be simply clamped together. The further plate 30 has a reanvardly protruding anchor stud 34 and a high tension rod 36 both of which are fastened into a concrete structure 38. A diagonal brace 40 is arranged so that one end is attached to the front plate 6 and the other end is attached to the second plate 44. The cavity 42 formed between the front plate 6 and the second plate 44 is filled with rigid polystyrene insulation.