KR20140016238A - A load transfer connector for a support member assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a load transfer connector 200 for the support member assembly 100. In the described embodiment, the connector 200 is the connector body 202, the corresponding interconnecting element of the first elongate member 1160 to transfer loads loaded on the first elongated member 1160 to the connector body 202. A set of interlocking members 208 configured to cooperate with the teeth 1162; A set of engagement members 212 configured to cooperate with corresponding interconnecting members 1142 of the second elongated member 1140 to transfer the load from the connector body 202 to the second elongated member 1140. It includes.

Description

LOAD TRANSFER CONNECTOR FOR A SUPPORT MEMBER ASSEMBLY}

The present invention relates to a load transfer connector for a support member assembly.

Support member systems for supporting walls are known, for example, from WO 03/102321, which discloses horizontal reinforcements supported at their ends by two vertical reinforcements. By using these reinforcements, the entire wall to be built is divided into smaller “panels” supported by horizontal and vertical reinforcements that reinforce the walls against “horizontal loads” such as wind or earthquake. However, this support member system can be improved to withstand heavier loads.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a load transfer connector that can solve at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art and / or to provide a useful option to the public.

According to one aspect of the invention, a load transfer connector for a support member assembly is provided, the connector comprising:

Connector body;

A set of interlocking members configured to interlock with corresponding interconnecting elements of the first elongated member to transmit a load bearing on the first elongated member to the connector body;

A set of engagement members configured to cooperate with corresponding interconnecting members of the second elongated member to transfer load from the connector body to the second elongated member;

.

"Interlock" or "lock" means herein that the interlocking members and the corresponding interconnecting elements are stable to each other and locked in place and cannot be separated (unless using a machine). Used to mean.

An advantage of the described embodiment is by using a load transfer connector, the load bearing on the first elongated member can be transferred to the second elongated member, thus mitigating the load acting on the first elongated member. As a result, the first elongate member can withstand heavier loads. Specifically, if the first elongated member is disposed as a horizontal reinforcement and the second elongated member is disposed as a vertical reinforcement, the load transfer connector can cause a vertical load acting on the first elongated member to be transmitted to the second elongated member. It may be obvious that it may not be a full load and that some or at least partial loads may be transferred to the connector body and then to the second elongate member.

“Vertical load” is used herein to mean the weight or force caused by the wall supported by the reinforcement, such as the weight of the wall portion acting on and above the horizontal reinforcement. "Horizontal load" is used herein to mean the average force caused by wind, earthquake or external forces acting on the masonry wall.

Preferably, the linkage members of the set are formed along two opposite peripheral edges of the connector body. The set of interlocking members may include a plurality of fingers protruding in the first direction, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of fingers define a space for receiving the individual interconnecting elements of the first elongated member.

The plurality of fingers may include top and bottom fingers configured to connect the first elongate member to deliver a horizontal load on the wall to the connector body. The engagement members of the set may be configured to transfer the horizontal load from the connector body to the second elongated member.

The engagement members of the set may include a plurality of protruding lugs that protrude in a second direction. A plurality of protruding lugs can be arranged to be inserted into corresponding interconnecting members of the second elongated member.

According to a second aspect, a support member assembly for supporting a wall is provided, the support member assembly comprising the load transfer connector described above and first and second elongated members.

Preferably, one end of the first elongate member comprises interconnecting elements configured to interlock with interlocking members of the set of load transfer connector to deliver a load bearing on the first elongated member to the connector body.

The first elongated member may include an elongated support member for supporting the wall. Instead, the first elongated member may include an elongated member engaging portion and an elongated support member to engage with one end of the elongated support member to extend the effective length of the member.

Preferably, the second elongate member comprises interconnecting members to cooperate with the engaging members of the set of load transfer connector to transfer the load from the connector body to the second elongated member.

The interconnecting members may comprise slots.

The second elongated member may be in the form of an elongated support member for supporting the wall. The second elongated member may include an elongated member engagement member and an elongated support member to engage with one end of the elongated support member to extend the effective length of the member.

The first elongated member may be disposed in the horizontal direction and the second elongated member may be disposed in the vertical direction.

In a third aspect, a method of assembling a support member assembly according to the second aspect described above is provided, the method comprising the following steps:

Aligning the connector with the end of the first elongate member such that at least a portion of the linkage members of the load transfer connector are interleaved between the interconnecting elements of the first elongated member, and the linkage members and the interconnecting elements of the load transfer connector. Bending the interconnecting elements of the first elongate member to interlock.

The method may include engaging the set of engaging members with the interconnecting members of the second elongated member.

Are included herein.

Examples of the present invention will now be described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
1A shows briefly a wall supported by a support member assembly comprising first and second vertical reinforcements and a horizontal reinforcement interconnecting the first and second vertical reinforcements;
FIG. 1B briefly illustrates another application of the vertical and horizontal reinforcements of FIG. 1A but is aided by improved connectors; FIG.
2A is an enlarged front view of one of the improved connector of FIG. 1B;
2B-2D are separate cross-sectional views along the AA, BB, and CC directions of FIG. 2A;
3 is an enlarged view illustrating how the improved connector of FIG. 2A is configured to be connected between the second vertical and horizontal stiffeners of FIG. 1B;
4A-4C show the steps for connecting horizontal stiffeners to the two vertical stiffeners of FIG. 1B using the improved connector of FIG. 2A;
5 is an enlarged view of one end of the horizontal reinforcement of FIG. 3;
6 and 7 show variations of the horizontal stiffener of FIG. 5;
8A and 8B are enlarged views for explaining how the improved connector interfaces between one of the vertical reinforcements of FIG. 4A and the horizontal reinforcement;
9A is a simplified and enlarged view of one end of a horizontal stiffener in conjunction with the improved connector of FIG. 3;
FIG. 9B shows the improved connector and horizontal reinforcement of FIG. 9A flipped or rotated 180 °.

FIG. 1A illustrates a support member assembly including first and second vertical reinforcements 120, 140 and horizontal reinforcement 160 interconnecting two vertical reinforcements 120, 140; 100). The support assembly 100 and the reinforcements 120, 140, 160 are similar to those described in WO 03/102321, which is incorporated herein by reference, but they are shown in the figures in simplified form. Stiffeners 120, 140, 160 are disposed to support wall 102. The wall 102 includes an opening 104 and the reinforcements 120, 140, 160 connect the wall 102 with two sidewall portions 106, an upper wall portion 108 and two lower wall portions ( Divide into 110). As shown by arrows A, the weight of the top wall portion 108 creates a vertical load acting on the horizontal stiffener 160. If the spacing or size of the opening 104 is quite narrow, the weight of the upper wall portion 108 is transferred through the horizontal reinforcement 160 to the two lower portions 110 on either side of the opening 104. As a result, with the presence of the lower wall portions 110, the horizontal reinforcement 160 can serve a dual role of providing horizontal reinforcement and further supporting the vertical load by the weight of the upper wall portion 108. .

FIG. 1B illustrates another application of the support assembly 100 of FIG. 1A, wherein similar elements are referenced using the same reference numerals plus 1000 and include a load transfer connector 200. The support assembly 1100 includes a horizontal stiffener 1160 disposed to support the wall 1102 and configured to support the upper masonry wall portion 1108 between two vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140. Vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140 are configured to provide horizontal support for sidewall portions 1106. Wall 1102 includes openings 1104 throughout and below the entire length of horizontal stiffener 1160 (ie, there are no wall portions below horizontal stiffener 1160). As a result, the connector 200 is used to transfer the vertical load (see arrows B in FIG. 1B) acting on the horizontal stiffener 1160 to the vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140. In this way, the load acting on the horizontal reinforcement 1160 can be relaxed.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be further described with reference to FIG. 1B.

FIG. 2A is an enlarged front view of the load transfer connector 200 of FIG. 1B. 2B-2D are cross-sectional views of the load transfer connector 200 of FIG. 2A taken separately in A-A, B-B and C-C directions. In this embodiment, the connector 200 is made of galvanized steel and press molded to the desired size and shape. The connector 200 generally includes a rectangular flat body 202 having two long edges 204 and two short edges 206a, 206b. The connector 200 includes a plurality of interlocking fingers 208 formed along the two long edges 204 and bent at about 90 ° with respect to the plane of the flat body 202. Each free end of) may point in the first direction. Each adjacent pair of interlocking fingers 208 defines an interleaving space 210 for receiving one of a plurality of interlocking lugs 1162 of the horizontal stiffener 1160 (FIG. 3). See).

The flat body 202 of the connector 200 includes a number of engagement members in the form of projecting lugs 212 formed at designated locations, in this embodiment four projecting lugs. There is a field 212. One of these lugs 212 is shown in FIG. 2D. As each protruding lug 212 is pushed by the machine and the edge 212a fixedly attached to the flat body 202, the contours of the four protruding lugs 212 are flat body 202 at the specified locations. Is cut from. The protruding lugs 212 are generally configured to point in a second direction, as opposed to the first direction of the interlocking fingers 208. Each protruding lugs 212 generally have an outer portion 212b longer than the inner portion 212c to form a T-shaped flat body.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view to show how the connector 200 of FIG. 2 is configured to be connected between the second vertical stiffener 1140 and the horizontal stiffener 1160 of FIG. 1B. Vertical reinforcements and horizontal reinforcements 1120, 1140, 1160 are all similar to those described in WO 03/102321 and are shown in the figures in simplified form. Each vertical stiffener 1120, 1140 includes a plurality of engagement means in the form of slots 1122, 1142 and the designated positions of the protruding lugs 212 of the connector 200 are vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140. ) To correspond to the positions of the slots 1122, 1142.

As described above, one end 1166 of the horizontal reinforcement 1160 is formed with a plurality of interlocking lugs 1162 to cooperate with the interlocking fingers 208 of the connector 200, as described above. ) Is similar to that described in WO 03/102321 (hence the engagement means 1163 like the second vertical reinforcement, but they are not shown in FIG. 3 but in FIG. 5). Multiple interlocking lugs 1162 are shown more clearly in FIG. 5, which is a side view at end 1166 of horizontal stiffener 1160 of FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 5, adjacent pairs of interlocking lugs 1162 are separated by openings 1164 that receive a corresponding one of interlocking fingers 208 of connector 200. The size and shape of the flat body 202 of the connector 200 corresponds to the size and shape of the horizontal reinforcement 1160 to allow the interlocking lugs 1162 of the horizontal reinforcement 1160 to be received by the spaces 210. The interlocking lugs 1162 are arranged to intersect between the interlocking fingers 208 of the connector 200. The interlocking lugs 1162 are then bent to secure with the individual interlocking fingers 208. Once secured, the interlocking lugs 1162 and the interlocking fingers 208 cannot be released from each other unless through the use of a machine that can damage these parts. As can be appreciated from FIG. 3, the plurality of interlocking fingers includes a pair of top and bottom interlocking fingers 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d extending beyond the body of the horizontal reinforcement 1160.

To connect the other end 1168 (see FIG. 4A) of the horizontal stiffener 1160 to the first vertical stiffener 1120, a second connector 1200 similar to that shown and described above in FIG. 2 is used and similar reference numerals are used. Are used for similar parts plus 1000.

For ease of installation of horizontal stiffener 1160 and to consider adjustments, support assembly 1100 extends the effective length of horizontal stiffener 1160, as described in WO 2007/032746, the contents of which are incorporated by reference. And a sleeve member 180 to make it. In this embodiment, one end of the sleeve member 180 is also preformed with interconnect lugs 182 similar to the interconnect lugs 1162 of the horizontal reinforcement 1160 of FIG. The connecting lugs 182 may be fixed to the interlocking fingers 1208 of the second connector 1200. The second connector 1200 also includes protruding lugs 1212 to engage the slots 1122.

To use the connectors 200, 1200, two vertical reinforcements 1120, 1140 are installed in place according to design requirements as described in WO 03/102321. Next, the horizontal reinforcement 160 having the other end 1168 into which the sleeve member 180 is inserted and the end 1166 fixed to the connector 200 as described above (the free end is fixed with the second connector 1200) Is positioned in a preferred position between the two vertical reinforcements. This is shown in FIG. 4A (with two vertical reinforcements 1120, 1140 shown in simplified form, not showing slots 1122).

The four protruding lugs 212 of the connector 200 are then inserted into the corresponding slots 1142 of the vertical stiffener 1140 such that the protruding lugs 212 and the corresponding slots 1142 are shown in FIG. 4B. Meshes as shown. 8A shows an enlarged engagement between one of the protruding lugs 212 and the corresponding slot 1142 to more clearly show the engagement. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view taken in the D-D direction of FIG. 8A. As shown in FIG. 8B, the outer portion 212b of the protruding lug 212 is pushed into the slot 1142 of the vertical stiffener 1140 and pushed to one edge of the slot 1142 so that One end engages the edge of the slot 1142. With the vertical reinforcement 1140 in the vertical direction as shown in FIG. 8B, the edge of the slot is engaged to engage the outer portion 212b to hold the protruding lug 212, thus the connector 200 in place. It acts as a catch.

Unlike the connection between the interlocking lugs 1162 and the interlocking fingers 208 that are secured, the engagement between the protruding lugs 212 and the corresponding slots 1142 is the load transfer connector 200 (thus the horizontal reinforcement). 1160 is released from the slots 1142 of the vertical stiffener 1140 because the slots are longer than the protruding lugs 212 as shown in FIG. 8B.

Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 4C, the sleeve member 180 corresponds on the first vertical stiffener 1120, where the protruding lugs 1212 of the second connector 1200 are similar to the engagement shown in FIG. 8B. It engages with the slots 1122 and extends in the horizontal direction until inserted. Once the horizontal reinforcement 1160 is held in place, the masonry wall 1102 is fabricated as described in WO 03/102321 and the end configuration is shown in FIG. 1B.

With the fabricated top wall portion 1108, the top wall portion 1108 creates a load on the horizontal stiffener 1160. The load bearing on the horizontal stiffener 1160, at least to some extent, from the end 1166 to the connector body 202 and through the interlocking lugs 1162 and the interlocking fingers 208 and the sleeve member 180, the sleeve member. At the other end, through the interlocking lugs 182 and the interlocking fingers 1208 of 180 is transmitted to the body of the second connector 1200.

The connector 200 then loads from its body 202 through the protruding lugs 212 and the slots 1142 to the second vertical stiffener 1140 and to the body of the second vertical stiffener 1140. To pass. As such, the second connector 1200 loads from its body through the protruding lugs 1212, the slots 1122 to the first vertical stiffener 1120, and to the body of the first vertical stiffener 1120. To pass.

The horizontal reinforcement 1160 directs the horizontal loads to the coupler 200 through at least the top or bottom interlocking lugs 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d (and the second coupler through the lugs 1208a, 1208b, 1208c, 1208d). ); The connector 200 then transfers the load to the second vertical connector 140 through the protruding lugs 212 and the slots 1142 as described above. Either the top interlocking lugs 208a, 208b or the bottom interlocking lugs 208c, 208d are mentioned as contributing to the transfer of horizontal loads but both the top and bottom interlocking lugs 208a, 208b, 208c, 208d are disposed. Can contribute according to. In addition, other lugs 208 may also contribute. It is understood that horizontal loads acting on the panel of the masonry wall (such as wall portion 1108) are generally impeded by peripheral supports such as vertical and horizontal reinforcements 1120, 1140, 1160 on all edges of the panel. Of course. With the presence of the horizontal stiffener 1160, the load is transmitted to the body of the horizontal stiffener 1160 throughout its length, and then the connectors 200, 1200 to transfer the horizontal load to the vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140. Depend on them.

As can be seen from the described embodiment, the load transfer connectors 200, 1200 can cause vertical and horizontal loads to be transferred from the horizontal stiffener 1160 to the vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140. In addition, the support assembly 1100 with load transfer connectors 200, 1200 is simple to install in the field. In order to secure or stabilize the load transfer connector 200 to the horizontal reinforcement 1160 or the sleeve member 180, field welding is not required, which is interlocked lug to engage the surface of the load transfer connector 200, 1200. This is because it is easily achieved by bending the fields 1162 and 182. The load transfer connector 200 is also compatible with existing support member assemblies such as the Stiflex ^™ system from Dyntek ^™ Pte Ltd. Load-bearing connectors 200 and 1200 were conventionally produced in large quantities because conventional punching and pressing techniques could be used to produce them.

With the support member assembly disclosed in WO 2007/032746, adjustments can be made in view of deformations in the field because the effective length of the horizontal reinforcement 1160 can be adjusted by adjusting the sleeve member 180. The height of the horizontal member 1160 with respect to the vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140 is (i) preferably increased by 100 mm, so that the corresponding slots for engagement of the protruding lugs 212, 1212 of the connectors 200, 1200 can be obtained. By selecting, or (ii) the configuration of the connectors 200, 1200 can be adjusted either by enabling an 11 mm nominal adjustment to height by installing a 180 ° inverted horizontal stiffener 1160. 9A and 9B further illustrate what this means. 9A is a simplified enlarged view of end 1166 of horizontal stiffener 1160 secured to connector 200 of FIG. 3. 9A also shows that the distance from the first edge 206a of the connector 200 to its nearest protruding lug 212 is the same as the distance from the second edge 206b to its nearest protruding lug 212. It does not show. That is, it can be seen that the distance from the edges 206a, 206b to the protruding lugs 212 is not symmetric about the center of the connector 200. If the horizontal reinforcement 1160 with the connector 200 is turned upside down or rotated 180 ° as shown in FIG. 9B, this causes an 11 mm offset adjustment to mount the connector 200 to the vertical reinforcement 1140.

The described embodiments are not to be construed as limiting. For example, in a preferred embodiment, other suitable materials may be used, such as stainless steel, even if the materials of the load transfer connectors 200, 1200 are made of galvanized steel. In addition, in the described embodiment, the load (represented by arrows B in FIG. 1B) acting on the horizontal stiffener 1160 is described as being transferred to two vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140. The load can be delivered to one of the vertical reinforcements 1120, 1140. In addition, the load acting on the vertical reinforcement in certain configurations may also be delivered to the horizontal reinforcement using load transfer connectors 200, 1200. In the described embodiment, the connection between the load transfer connector 200, 1200 and the horizontal stiffener 1160 can be fixed or locked, while the load transfer connector 200, 1200 and the vertical stiffeners 1120, 1140 can be fixed. The connection can be released. However, the type of connection can be made to be exchanged.

The preferred embodiment is described with reference to the configuration shown in FIG. 1B, but of course, the connectors 200, 1200 can be used in other configurations or applications to support other wall configurations. For example, if the opening 104 of FIG. 1A is substantially wide and needs to carry the load that it rests on the horizontal stiffener 160, the connectors 200, 1200 may also have a horizontal stiffener 160 and two vertical stiffeners ( 120, 140 may be used to interface.

The number of interlocking fingers 208, protruding lugs 212 and interlocking lugs 1162, 182 of connector 200 may vary depending on the type and size of the stiffener. 6 and 7 illustrate other types of stiffeners 300, 400 that can be used as vertical or horizontal stiffeners with other numbers of interlocking lugs 302, 402.

Having now been fully described with respect to the present invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many modifications may be made hereto without departing from the claims.

100: support member assembly
102: the wall
104: opening
106: sidewall portions
108: upper wall portions
110: lower wall portions
120: first vertical reinforcement
140: second vertical stiffener
160: horizontal reinforcement
200: load transfer connector
202: flat body
204: long edge
206: short edge
208: interlocking fingers
210: interstitial space
212: extruded lugs

Claims (18)

Connector body;
A set of interlocking members configured to interlock with corresponding interconnecting elements of the first elongated member to transfer a load bearing on the first elongated member to the connector body; And
A set of engagement members configured to cooperate with corresponding interconnecting members of the second elongated member to transfer load from the connector body to a second elongated member;
Load transfer connector for a support member assembly comprising a. The method of claim 1,
The set of linkage members is formed along two opposing peripheral edges of the connector body. 3. The method according to claim 1 or 2,
The set of linkage members includes a plurality of fingers protruding in a first direction, wherein adjacent ones of the plurality of fingers define a space for receiving individual interconnection elements of the first elongated member. The method of claim 3,
And the plurality of fingers comprises top and bottom fingers, wherein the top and bottom fingers are configured to contact the first elongate member to deliver a horizontal load on the wall to the connector body. 5. The method of claim 4,
And the set of engagement members is configured to transfer a horizontal load from the connector body to the second elongated member. 6. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 5,
And said set of engagement members comprises a plurality of protruding lugs projecting in a second direction. The method according to claim 6,
And the plurality of protruding lugs are arranged to be inserted into corresponding interconnecting members of the second elongated member. A support member assembly for supporting a wall, comprising a load transfer connector according to any one of the preceding claims and first and second elongated members. 9. The method of claim 8,
One end of the first elongated member includes interconnecting elements configured to interlock with a set of interlocking members of the load transfer connector to transfer a load bearing on the first elongated member to the connector body. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
And said first elongated member comprises an elongated support member for supporting a wall. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9,
The first elongated member includes an elongated support member and an elongated member engaging portion for engaging an end of the elongated support member to extend the effective length of the member, wherein the elongated support member is disposed to support a wall and is mutually supported. Connecting elements are formed at a free end of the elongate member engagement portion. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 11,
And the second elongate member includes interconnecting members to cooperate with a set of engagement members of the load transfer connector to transfer load from the connector body to the second elongate member. The method of claim 12,
And the interconnecting members comprise slots. 14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13,
And the second elongated member is in the form of an elongated support member for supporting the wall. 14. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 13,
And the second elongate member includes an elongated support member and an elongated member engagement portion to engage one end of the elongated support member to extend the effective length of the member. 16. The method according to any one of claims 8 to 15,
And the first elongated member is disposed in a horizontal direction and the second elongated member is disposed in a vertical direction. A method of assembling a support member assembly according to any one of claims 8 to 16,
The method comprises:
Aligning the connector with the end of the first elongated member such that at least some linkage members of the load transfer connector are interposed between interconnecting elements of the first elongated member, and the linkage members of the load transfer connector. And bending the interconnecting elements of the first elongate member to interlock the interconnecting elements. 18. The method of claim 17,
Engaging the set of engagement members with the interconnecting members of the second elongated member.

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