IE85988B1

IE85988B1 - A framing system

Info

Publication number: IE85988B1
Application number: IE2008/0122A
Authority: IE
Inventors: Paul Davis Jeff; Berezanskij Antony
Original assignee: Kingspan Holdings (Irl) Limited
Filing date: 2008-02-18
Publication date: 2012-05-09

Abstract

ABSTRACT A framing system 1 comprises track frame elements 3 and stud frame elements 4 which are interconnected at joints 2. The framin g system comprises connection means for interconnecting the frame elements 3, 4 on assembly. The connection means comprises an adaptor 10 for a frame element and fixing means for fixing the adaptor to the frame elements. The adaptor conforms to at least part of the profile of at least one of the frame elements. In one case the adaptor 10 is of generally channel profile comprising a web 11 and side flanges 12. The side ﬂanges of the adaptor 10 are engagable in the end of the stud frame element 4 such that the ﬂanges 12 of the adaptor engage with the ﬂanges 8 of the stud frame element 4. Rivets 30 are used to fix the stud frame element 4 to the adaptor 10. Track fixing means comprising a fixing bolt 25 extending to engage with a receiver 26 which is captive in the web 11 of the adaptor 10. The cross section of the stud frame element 4 has full bearing with the track frame element 3 for efficient load transfer.

Description

A framing system Introduction The invention relates to a structural framing system comprising a number of roll formed metal elements joined together. Such a framing system may be used to provide a wall such as a partition wall of a building such as a modular building.

Many framing systems of this type are known. Stud and track systems for structural applications must enable load transfer from the top track to the stud and from the stud to the bottom track.

This must be achieved without short term settlement or long term creep.

In one current arrangement the stud is located in the track and then fastened in place through the ﬂanges. This provides a simple, site fixable method of construction. However, in use the stud usually sits on the internal radii of the track. Consequently, the connection relies on the restricted shear strength of the fastener. Tolerances are limited by site workmanship and varying settlement can present problems. As the frames are not assembled in a controlled environment, the positions of each fastener may not be exactly in line. Consequently, creep may occur locally in some studs when a load is applied to the frame.

Another known arrangement involves shaping the stud and track at the engagement regions is to reduce location tolerances and provide an improved shear load with a horizontal clamping action.

An external clamping mechanism may be used to ensure that the studs are positioned in contact with the track before fastening. The clamping may be applied either local to the connection or the entire frame may be clamped. Additional grinding of the stud ends may be required to ensure a close ﬁt. When the frame is sufficiently clamped tight, the connection can then be riveted.

This system is impractical because it is slow and difficult to operate and is inﬂexible.

The most structurally efﬁcient of these systems facilitates end bearing of the stud into the web of the track. The use of external clamping mechanisms or specialist equipment however leads to high cost and complexity.

There is therefore a need for an improved system which will be easy to assemble whilst ensuring efﬁcient load transfer between the studs and the tracks.

Statements of Invention According to the invention there is provided a structural framing system comprising a stud frame element comprising a pair of stud side ﬂanges and a stud web extending between the stud ﬂanges, the stud ﬂanges having inner and outer faces, the stud web and stud ﬂanges having end faces; a track frame element comprising a pair of track side ﬂanges and a track web extending between the track side ﬂanges; an adaptor comprising a pair of adaptor side ﬂanges and an adaptor web extending between the adaptor side ﬂanges, the adaptor ﬂanges having inner and outer faces; the outer faces of the adaptor side ﬂanges extending partially along the inner faces of the stud side ﬂanges; stud ﬁxing means for ﬁxing the adaptor side ﬂanges to the stud side ﬂanges; and track ﬁxing means for extending between the track web and the adaptor web to draw the stud into engagement with the track, the width of the stud web element being narrower than the width of the track web whereby the adjacent end face of each of the stud ﬂanges and the adjacent end face of the stud web have full face to face contact with the inner face of the track web for load transfer through the stud directly to the track, wherein the track ﬁxing means extends substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the stud element and between the stud ﬂanges, wherein the track ﬁxing means comprises an adjustable screw or bolt and a receiver for the screw or bolt, wherein the receiver is captive in the adaptor, and wherein the track has a countersink for receiving a countersink head of the track ﬁxing screw or bolt.

Preferably the stud ﬁxing means extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stud. The stud ﬁxing means may comprise a self piercing rivet.

The adaptor may be substantially channel shaped.

In another embodiment the connecting member web comprises a central part and a pair of side parts extending from the central part to the side ﬂanges of the adaptor. The central part is substantially ﬂat.

The invention also provides a building system comprising a framing system of the invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective View of portion of an assembled frame according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded View of ajoint detail of the frame; Fig. 3 is a side partially cross sectional view of the joint detail; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View in the direction of the arrows IV to IV of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of portion of another assembled frame according to the invention; Fig. 6 is a perspective exploded View of ajoint detail of the frame of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a side partially cross sectional View of the joint detail of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view in the direction of the arrows VIII — VIII; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a portion of an assembled frame incorporating the joint detail ofFig. 1 to 5; Fig. 10 is an end view of the frame portion of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a side View of the frame portion of Fig. 9; Fig. 12 is a cross sectional View on the line XII — XII of Fig. 1 1; Fig. 13 is an elevational View of a structural frame incorporating the joint details of the invention; Fig. 14 is a perspective View of part of a building incorporating the framing system of the invention; Fig. 15 is a perspective, partially cut-away view of part of a building incorporating the framing system of the invention; Fig. 16 is another View of the building part of Fig. 15; Fig. 17 is a View of a detail of one joint in the building part of Figs. 15 and 16; Fig. 18 is an enlarged view of detail of Fig. 17; Fig. 19 is a perspective view of portion of an assembled frame; Fig. 20 is a perspective exploded view of a joint detail of the frame of Fig. 19; and Fig. 21 is a cross sectional View of the joint detail.

Detailed Description Referring to the drawings there is illustrated a structural framing system 1 according to the invention comprising a number of frame elements typically of metal, in this case steel sections, connected at joints 2. The frame elements in this case comprise track frame elements 3 and stud frame elements 4 which are interconnected to form the framing system.

The track frame element 3 is of rolled steel and comprises an elongated channel having a web 5, and side ﬂanges 6 which extend continuously the length of the element 3. In this case the side ﬂanges 6 are overbent. The overbent ﬂanges 6 taper inwardly to the width of the stud to ensure a smooth joint between the stud and track frame elements.

The stud frame element 4 is also of rolled steel and comprises and elongated generally c-shaped lipped channel having a web 7, and side ﬂanges 8 which extend continuously the length of the element. The side ﬂanges 8 have intumed side lips 9.

The framing system comprises connection means for interconnecting the frame elements 3, 4, on assembly. The connection means comprises an adaptor 10 for a frame element and ﬁxing means for ﬁxing the adaptor to the frame elements. The adaptor preferably conforms to at least part of the proﬁle of at least one of the frame elements.

In this case the adaptor 10 is of generally channel proﬁle comprising a web 11 and side ﬂanges 12. The side ﬂanges of the adaptor 10 are engagable in the end of the stud frame element 4 such that the ﬂanges 12 of the adaptor engage with the ﬂanges 8 of the stud frame element 4.

The framing system comprises ﬁxing means for fixing the adaptor 10 to the frame elements. The ﬁxing means comprises a stud ﬁxing means for fixing the stud frame element to the adaptor 10 and a track ﬁxing means for fixing the track frame element 3 to the adaptor 10.

The stud ﬁxing means in this case comprises rivets 29 which are applied by a suitable rivet gun to ﬁx the ﬂanges 8 of the stud frame element 4 to the ﬂanges 12 of the adaptor 10. The rivets 29 may be of any suitable type such as self piercing rivets which do not require a pre-drilled hole(s).

The track ﬁxing means comprises an adjustable screw or bolt 25 and a receiver 26 for the bolt 25.

The receiver 26 is captive in the web 11 of the adaptor 10 and on rotation of the bolt 25 in the receiver 26 the adaptor 10 to which the stud frame element 4 is ﬁxed is drawn into the track to provide an extremely strong and secure joint which facilitates load transfer.

It will be noted that the underside of the web 5 of the track 3 has a countersink 30 for receiving a countersunk head 31 of the ﬁxing bolt 25 so that the head does not protrude and thereby location of one joint adjacent to another is not inhibited — there is ﬂat face-to-face contact as illustrated for example by 40 in Figs. 10 to 12.

The track ﬁxing means provided by the bolt 25 extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stud frame element 4 for efficient transfer of vertical loads.

It will be noted that in this case the width of the web 7 of the stud frame element 4 is narrower than the width of the web 5 of the track frame element 3 at the joint so that the track ﬂanges 6 are bent over the stud ﬂanges 8 as will be particularly apparent from Fig. 4. This slight oversizing of the track 3 relative to the stud 4 ensures that the ends of the stud 4 have full face to face contact with the web 5 of the track 3 when they are drawn together by the ﬁxing bolt 25, thus ensuring full load bearing contact. Guide counterforms may be provided on the track ﬂanges to ensure correct positioning of the stud. The overbent track feature also facilitates mounting of insulation boards to the framing system as a generally ﬂat surface is provided. The framing system of the invention ensures full bearing of the stud 4 in the track 3 for efficient load transfer through the joint.

The ﬂaming system can be speedily and simply assembled. The adaptors are attached to the stud with self piercing rivets as a sub-assembly. The studs can then be attached to the track with a single fastener that is driven in from the side. This means that the frame does not have to be turned during the assembly sequence and can be slid ﬂat along rollers.

A single fastener is used to draw the stud 4 and the track 3 together with a notional torque. This positions the stud 4, aligns it vertically and enables the full cross section of the stud 4 to have effective ﬁall bearing with the track 3. Once the frame is in position, any load is transferred through the stud directly to the track 3.

Once the frame is assembled, the connection eliminates any chance of creep occurring when under load.

The load bearing connection of the invention is particularly applicable for use in a light steel building system.

The connection means used in the system of the invention for connection the stud to the tracks acts to draw the stud 4 into effective full bearing with track 3. The stud engages against the track to achieve full bearing load distribution.

No metal is removed from the ﬂanges of the stud; therefore the structural properties of the stud are not affected.

Referring now to Figs. 5 to 8 there is illustrated another structural framing system 50 of the invention in which parts similar to those of Figs. 1 to 4 are identified by the same reference numerals. In this case an adaptor 51 comprises a pair of side ﬂanges 52 and a connecting part extending therebetween. The connecting part comprises a central section 53 and a pair of side parts 54 extending from the central section 53. The V-shaped adaptor 51 because it is ﬂexible can facilitate fabrication of the sub-assembly. It can ﬁt a wide range of stud sizes.

It will be appreciated that the system may be used to join adjacent frame elements in any application such as a wall type frame as illustrated to which cladding panels may be attached.

Such a wall may be load bearing or non load bearing and may, for example, form part of a modular building unit.

Figs. 9 to 12 illustrate part of a framing system incorporating the joint details of the invention.

These drawings show how the sub-assemblies engage in a face-to-face manner at 40 so that full load transfer is facilitated. The connection has no protruding parts either along the outer web 5 or outer ﬂanges 6 or the track 3.

Referring to Fig. 13 there is illustrated a typical part of a building frame with a window opening 60. The load bearing connections are in the full height studs 4 only as these transfer the vertical loads. The connections of the invention are in both the top and bottom of all load bearing studs.

The section size of the stud is selected to suit the desired structural design.

Referring to Fig. 14 there is illustrated part of a building incorporating the framing system of the invention. Various insulation boards 70 are attached to the framing system. The boarding can be fixed to the track 3 and 4 frame elements. The overbent track ﬂange 6 ensures that the board will not crack at the track to stud location.

Referring to Figs 15 to 18 there is illustrated part of a building incorporating the framing system of the invention. In this case the load bearing connection is used in an exterior wall 80 incorporating conventional block work 81. Boarding and insulation can be ﬁxed to the frame elements.

Referring to Figs. 19 to 21 there is illustrated another structural framing system 100 which is similar to those described above and like parts are assigned the same reference numerals. In this case there is a bearer plate 102 which is a close fit with the web 5 of the track frame element 3.

The web 5 of the track frame element 3, the bearer plate 102, and the web 11 of the adaptor 10 all have fixing holes respectively indicated as 21, 22, 23 for reception of a ﬁxing bolt 25 which is engageable with a ﬁxing nut 26. Side fixing screws or rivets 29 extend through the side ﬂanges 8 and 12 of the adaptor and stud frame element 4 are used to ﬁx the stud frame element to the adaptor. In this way the adaptors and ﬁxings ensure close connection between the stud frame elements and the track frame elements.

In this case a single fastener is used to draw the stud component and the track together with a notional torque. This positions the stud, aligns it vertically and enables the full cross section of the stud to have effective full bearing with the track. Once the frame is in position, any load is transferred through the stud directly on to the bearer plate. The load is then transferred from the bearer plate on to the track element 3. The vertical position of the adaptor in the stud does not have a critical tolerance and can feature a range of fastener connections, such as bolts with riv- nuts or utilising a press thread.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A structural framing system comprising:- 5 a stud frame element comprising a pair of stud side ﬂanges and a stud web extending between the stud ﬂanges, the stud ﬂanges having inner and outer faces, the stud web and stud ﬂanges having end faces; a track frame element comprising a pair of track side ﬂanges and a track web 10 extending between the track side ﬂanges; an adaptor comprising a pair of adaptor side ﬂanges and an adaptor web extending between the adaptor side ﬂanges, the adaptor ﬂanges having inner and outer faces; 15 the outer faces of the adaptor side ﬂanges extending partially along the inner faces of the stud side ﬂanges; stud ﬁxing means for ﬁxing the adaptor side ﬂanges to the stud side ﬂanges; and 20 track ﬁxing means for extending between the track web and the adaptor web to draw the stud into the engagement with the track, the width of the stud web element being narrower that the width of the track web whereby the adjacent end face of each of the stud ﬂanges and the adjacent end face of the stud web have full face to face contact with the inner face of the track web for load transfer through 25 the stud directly to the track, wherein the track ﬁxing means extends substantially parallel with a longitudinal axis of the stud element and between the stud ﬂanges, wherein the track ﬁxing means comprises an adjustable screw or bolt and a receiver for the screw or bolt, wherein the receiver is captive in the adaptor, and wherein the track has a countersink for receiving a countersunk head of the track 30 ﬁxing screw or bolt. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the stud ﬁxing means extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the stud. A system as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 wherein the stud ﬁxing means comprises a self piercing rivet. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the adaptor is substantially channel shaped. A system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the adaptor web comprises a central part and a pair of side parts extending from the central part to the side ﬂanges of the adaptor. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the central part is substantially flat. A framing system as claimed in claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings. A building system comprising a framing system as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7. A modular building system comprising a framing system as claimed in any of claims 1 to