HU207556B - Three-dimensional supporting structure and structural module - Google Patents

Abstract

A space frame comprises an upper rectangular grid of horizontal structural members (21B to 24B) and a corresponding lower grid of horizontal structural members (21A to 24A). Upper and lower grids are interconnected by upright members (25A, 25B) at intersections. The structure is built up from prefabricated modules (A, B, etc.) each of which comprises one upright member and four orthogonally arranged horizontal members (21 to 24). Alternate modules (B) are inverted and the outer ends of horizontal members (21A, 21B) are fixed to the free ends (31B, 31A) of the upright members (25).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a spatial support structure which is primarily, but not exclusively, used to bridge the space between support structures. This spatial support structure is particularly suitable for solid covering of internal spaces 15 where support is possible only at the edges of the structure. Since the support is self-supporting, no intermediate support is required. This spatial support is actually a rigid three-dimensional structure made up of lower and upper lattices fixed by connecting elements. 20

This spatial support structure can be used, for example, for slabs where it is essential that the column supporting the large interior space does not break. The bracket is also suitable for floor and floor structures in multi-storey office buildings. A further area of use is the construction of temporary structures such as temporary coverings for swimming pools, outdoor stages, or roof structures thereof.

A possible solution for this three-dimensional bracket has been described in our previous patent application (GB-B-2054694). It consists of a lower and upper grid made up of horizontal structural elements, which are connected by vertical structural elements at the connection points of the grids. The complete three-dimensional bracket is made up of different modules, each consisting of vertical, 35 and lower and upper horizontal components. The modular structure is very advantageous because most of the installation work can be carried out under operating conditions, only the assembly of the elements on site is required. 40

If the distance between the lower and upper grids is relatively small, for example less than one meter, it will make it difficult to access the welding equipment at the joining points.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these drawbacks.

The spatial supporting structure of the present invention is assembled from prefabricated modules and consists of an upper grid of horizontal structural elements joined at upper nodes and a lower grid of horizontal structural elements 50 joined at lower nodes, which are connected by vertical structural elements at the nodes of the grids. It is characteristic that each module comprises a vertical element with horizontal structural elements 55 connected to one end only. The adjacent modules are placed in the inverted position relative to one another by attaching the free end of the vertical member of the adjacent module to the free end of the horizontal component of one module. 60

In addition to improving the accessibility of the welds during manufacture, these modules can be assembled in a much smaller space during transport than those described in our earlier patent. This option makes it particularly suitable for use in difficult terrain as well as the simple modular mounting.

Vertical and horizontal elements are best welded. The invention is particularly advantageous because of the ease of access to welded structures with welding devices.

The horizontal structural elements are made of I-section steel. The horizontal elements of each module are best screwed together. To this end a protruding connection plate may be attached to the ends of the horizontal structural members.

The free ends of the vertical elements of the modules can also be fitted with a connector plate formed from a vertical plate to connect it to the connectors of the horizontal elements.

Modules with four horizontal elements each allow the lower and upper grids of structural members to be arranged in a rectangular position.

The support structure may also be provided with diagonal braces that connect the vertical member of the module to at least one horizontal member of the module.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a module comprising a combination of a vertical and a plurality of horizontal structural members for the construction of the spatial supports described above, wherein the horizontal structural members are secured to the end of the vertical member by welding or other insoluble bonding.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated by the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic spatial / axonometric drawing of the spatial holder of the invention, a

Figure 2 is a perspective view of two modules in a position corresponding to their connection to each other and further modules, a

3 and 4

Figs. 3A and 4B are modules for use on the edges and corners of the spatial holder, respectively

Figure 5 shows the typical connection of the modules, a

Figure 6 is a variant of the connection shown in Figure 5, and finally a

Figure 7 is a variant of the modules shown in Figure 2.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a three-dimensional bracket constructed from the modules (A, B) of Figures 2 and 4. Its structure is perpendicular to each other (21,22,23,

HU 207 556 Β

24) upper grid consisting of horizontal structural elements (11). The lattice elements in our example are of the same length, thus giving a rectangular structure. To this is attached a lower grid (12) of horizontal structural elements (21, 22, 23, 24), the distance of which from the upper grid (11) is determined by the vertical structural elements (13). As an additional option, the modules (A, B) may be provided with diagonal braces (14).

To illustrate the modular structure, the structural elements which are assembled during assembly are shown in a coherent manner, whereas the structural elements of module (A, B) which are attached to other modules (A, B) are shown separately with a small gap between the members. For example, the node (15) belongs to the upper lattice (11) and the structural elements of each module (B) of the lower lattice (12) have a node (16). Connection (17)! Similarly, a point (18) has a connection point (18) on the upper grid (11) and several modules of the lower grid (12).

Figure 2 shows two typical types of modules (A and B). In the following description, the indices (A and B) indicate to which module the structure under discussion belongs. Module (A) is a so-called module. a module in the normal position consisting of four horizontal members (21A to 24A) and a vertical member (25A) projecting upwards and enclosed in a rectangular section. The horizontal structural members (21A ... 24A) are made of profiled steel I profile. The perpendicular ends of the horizontal structural members (21A ... 24A) are welded directly to the rectangular cross-sectional faces of the vertical structural member (25A). The end of the vertical member (25A) may be closed by a welded cover plate (26A). The reinforcing plate (27A) (more visible as the reinforcing plate (27B) of module (B)) is a flat plate with a diagonal square aperture thereby fitting to the vertical structural members (25A or 25B) and to the four (21, 22, 23, 24) is connected by a horizontal structural member. The plate is fixed by welding to both the horizontal members (21,22,23,24) and the vertical members (25). The reinforcing plate (27) may be optional, optional.

The free ends of the horizontal members (21, 22, 23, 24), i.e. opposite their welded portions to the vertical member (25), have a connector plate (28) which will be described in more detail below.

The vertical members (25) have a connector (31) at their free ends, i.e., opposite their welded portion to the horizontal member (21, 22, 23, 24). Details of the connector (31) are shown on module (B). The end of the vertical structural member (25B) is covered by a square sealing plate (32) on which four small vertical plates (33) are welded to each other and to the sealing plate (32) to form a transverse structure. The cross-forming plates are designed to be interconnected and joined to the connecting plates (28) of other modules (A or B). As shown, for example, the connection plates (28) are provided with a hole so that the parts can be joined by means of a screw.

Module (B) is in a position opposite to module (A), i.e. the vertical member (25) extends downwardly and not upwardly from the four horizontal members (21B ... 24B). When assembling the modules (A, B), the connector (31B) of the module (B) is connected to the horizontal member of the module (A) and the horizontal member of the module (22B) to the module (31A) of the module (B). ).

It can be seen from Figure 1 that the modules (A, B) located on the edges of the spatial support structure have only three horizontal elements and the modules on the corners have only two horizontal elements. Such modules (A, B) are shown in Figures 3 and 4.

Fig. 5 shows the connection of the modules (A, B) and illustrates in more detail the connection plates (28) and the connectors (31) at the end of the vertical components (25). In addition to module (A) and its associated inverse module (B), there are three modules (C, D and E) in the same position as module (A), e.g. (24A) is a horizontal structural member connected to this node.

The connector (28A) is welded to the middle panel of the profile I on the horizontal structures (24A) of module (A). At the center of the connecting plate (28A) extending at the end of the horizontal member (24A) is a hole (34A) for receiving a screw. The associated horizontal member (22C and 23D), the connecting plate (28C and 28D) and the bore (34C and 34D) are shown in different positions according to module (C and D). The horizontal structural member (21E), the connecting plate (28E) and the bore (34E), as well as other parts of module (E) attached thereto, are not shown in Figure 5. The horizontal structural members (24A, 22C, 23D and 21E) are fixed to the end of the connector (31B) of the vertical member (25B). The vertical plates (33B) have a hole through which screws (not shown) can be guided to join the particular horizontal member (21,22,23,24) and the vertical member (25).

Figure 6 shows two variants for joining the connector member (28) and the horizontal member (22,22, 23,24) for cases requiring higher strength. THE

The connector plate (28F) of Fig. 6 is slightly longer than the corresponding connector member (28A) of Fig. 5 and, in addition to being welded to the horizontal member (21F), is also screwed therein (not shown). Alternatively, the connector plate (28H) is longer than the plate (28F) and is secured to the horizontal member (23H) by two screws (not shown).

Figure 7 shows a module (G) with diagonal braces (35) similar to the module (A) of Figure 1. These diagonal braces (35) are made of steel and are welded to the upper surface of the outer end of the associated horizontal member and to the corresponding face near the apex of the rectangular cross member (25G). These diagonal braces (35) are optional and, as shown in Fig. 1, are advantageously used in certain locations on the edges of the spatial support structure or on other parts of the structure.

EN 207 556 Β may be omitted. The horizontal elements of some modules may contain fewer (35) diagonal braces.

The resulting structure is relatively solid but lightweight and easy to install on site. By attaching the structure to a suitable support and then expanding it by module, installation can be started from a corner or an edge. Optionally, a group of modules may be preassembled and this assembly may be retracted and connected to other similar units.

The modules can be made on a rack that holds the structural members in the required relative position. Since the horizontal structural members (21, 22,23, 24) are located at only one end of the vertical structural members (25), the joining points are easily accessible from any direction so that the modules can be effectively welded. If necessary, the diagonal braces (35) can be mounted separately.

It is preferable that all modules except the corners and edges are identical and that only one or two horizontal members are omitted for the corners and edges, supplemented by the modified connectors (31) and the mounting plate (27). There are supporting structures in which either the lower members of the lower or upper lattice (11) require higher strengths, such as those described in European Patent Application No. 90300221.0 for a steel-concrete spatial support. In the upper grid of such structures, smaller cross-sections than in the lower grid can be used, since the strength of the upper elements is complemented by embedding in concrete. In such cases, two modules of different designs are required for the normal and opposite modules.

For some supporting structures, it is required that there is a greater spacing between horizontal members along the length of the structure than in the other direction along its width. To achieve this, horizontal elements of different lengths must be used within the modules.

If the support structure is to be formed on a curve or incline by essentially small bending or tilting to remove rainfall, the curvature, slope can be achieved by slightly changing the angle of the structural members or slightly changing the length of the members. Slight deviations from the actual vertical and horizontal in the structure as a whole and in its parts do not affect the basic character of the spatial support and compensate in both vertical and horizontal directions.

The structural members may have different cross-sections and materials. For example, the vertical members may be made of tubing, and the horizontal members may be made of T or I profile steel of different shank lengths. The horizontal elements may have different cross-sections in different directions. Steel may be replaced by aluminum or other materials in special cases where the light weight of the structure is essential.

In addition to welding, other insoluble joints may be used in the manufacture of modules. For example, advances in bonding technologies may allow bonding instead of welding.

For some spatial support structures, some modules may require greater load capacity than others. For rectangular spatial supports supported only on the corners, the modules along the edges and at the corners must have a larger cross-section to supplement or replace the diagonal braces.

Claims (9)

PATENT CLAIMS A spatial support structure, assembled from prefabricated modules (A, B, etc.), comprising an upper grid (11) of horizontal structural elements (21B, 22B, 23B, 24B) joined at a top node (15), and a lower grid (12) of horizontal structural members (21A, 22A, 23A, 24A) joined at each lower node (16), connected to vertical structural members (13, 25), characterized in that each module (A, B) comprising a single vertical structural member (13, 25) and horizontal structural members (21, 22, 23, 24) connected at one end to the vertical structural member (13, 25) and adjacent modules (A, B) being assembled in an inverted position such that the free ends of the horizontal structural members (21A, 22A, 23A, 24A) of one module (A) are attached to the free ends of the vertical structural members (13, 25) of the surrounding modules (B), Spatial support according to claim 1, characterized in that the modules (A, B) are formed by welding vertical members (13, 25) and horizontal members (21, 22, 23, 24). Spatial support according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the horizontal structural members (21, 22, 23, 24) are made of I-shaped steel profiles. 4. Spatial support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the horizontal structural elements (21A, 22B) of each module (A, B) are fastened to the surrounding modules (A, B) through holes (34A, 34B). 5. A spatial support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the horizontal structural members (21, 22, 23, 24) have an attached and end-extending connecting plate (28) at their ends connected to adjacent modules (A, B). Spatial support according to Claim 5, characterized in that the horizontal members (21, 22, 23) are formed from vertical plates (33) at the free ends of the vertical components (13, 25) of each module (A, B). 24) a connector (31) for securing engagement with the connector plate (28). 7. A spatial support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that four to four horizontal structural elements (21, 22, 23, 24) of the modules (A, B) are perpendicular to each other in the upper grid (11) and the lower grid (12). arranged. 8. From l-r7. Spatial support according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the modules (A, B) have diagonal braces (35) which Része a portion of the horizontal structural members (21, 22, 23, 24) of one of the modules (A, B) is connected to the vertical structural member (25) of the module (A, B). 9. Structural module (A, B) according to Figures 1-8. A spatial support structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which is a horizontal structural member (21, 22, 23, 24) and formed by joining a vertical structural member (25), characterized in that each horizontal structural member (21,22,23,24) is secured to the end of the vertical structural member (25) by welding or other insoluble bonding.