SE1550442A1

SE1550442A1 - Facade element and lifting rail for lifting the facade element

Info

Publication number: SE1550442A1
Application number: SE1550442A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Falk Henrik; Augustinson David
Original assignee: Brunkeberg Systems Ab
Priority date: 2015-04-13
Filing date: 2015-04-13
Publication date: 2016-10-14
Also published as: SE538904C2

Abstract

14 ABSTRACT The present invention relates to a façade element and lifting rail for lifting façadeelements. The façade element (2) comprises a frame (12) and façade material (l4; 16).The frame (12) is provided to surround and hold the façade material (l4; 16). The frame(12) has an upper side (13) With a length (L) and an elongate recess (10) With an undercut(11) that extends at least along a major part of the length (L) of the upper side (13) of theframe (12). The recess (10) With the undercut is adapted to receive the lifting rail (20) in alocking engagement, such that When the lifting rail (20) is in an engaged state a L-shapedlifting portion (21) of the lifting rail is inserted in the recess (10) of the frame (12) and ashoulder (22) of the lifting rail (20) rests on the upper side (13) surface at one side of therecess (10) and a locking mechanism (24) of the lifting rail (20) rests on an upper side (13) surface at another side of the recess (10). Fig. 1

Description

FACADE ELEMENT AND LIFTING RAIL FOR LIFTING THE FACADEELEMENT Technical ﬁeld The present disclosure relates to a façade element and lifting device for lifting façade elements .

Background art Multi-storey buildings can be constructed in a variety of Ways. Common to all multi-storey buildings, however, is a façade element. The façade element can be constructed toconstitute an integral part of the building as a load bearing component or it may onlyserve as a Weather protective layer. There may of cause also be different combinations offaçade elements With load bearing properties and Weather protective layers. If the façadeelement only is used as a Weather protective layer to seal the building then it is usuallyformed as a plate. In such a case the multi-story building comprises a building structure onto Which the plate formed façade elements are attached.

It is common that the façade elements arrive at the Working site on pallets. These palletsare then off-loaded by a toWer crane, a mobile crane, a site hoist or the like and lifted tothe floor of the multi-story building on Which they are to be mounted. This step of liftingand installing façade elements is one of the most time consuming tasks When a newmulti-storey building is built. Thus, by reducing this time it is possible to reduce theoverall time it takes to complete the Who le multi-storey building. A further draWback ofthe conventional construction method is that handling and storage of the façade elementsoccupies space on the construction site. Moreover, unloading, transporting and installation of the façade panels demand a lot of manual labor.

Brunkeberg Systems AB has developed an efficient method for mounting façadeelements Which substantially reduces the time to unload, lift and mount façade elementson a building structure of a multi-storey building. According to the method, Which isdisclosed in WO20l0070082, façade elements are transported on a conveyer directlyfrom a delivery truck to a multi-storey building. The façade elements are then hoisted by an elevator unit, i.e. a crane, Whilst inserted in slots of guiding rails mounted on the building structure, i.e. the Vertical edges of the façade element will run in slots whilehoisted. This will make the hoisting procedure less sensitive to weather conditions, suchas wind, since the façade elements run steadily in the slots. The guiding-rails aremounted on the building structure all the way up to the ﬂoor that is beneath the ﬂoor to bemounted, i.e. with this method the façade elements are mounted from the bottom and up.When the façade elements have reached the ﬂoor on which they are to be mounted theyare pushed in a horizontal direction towards the building and attached appropriately to thebuilding.

In the method disclosed in WO20l0070082, the façade elements are moved from theconveyor to the guiding rails by an elevator unit provided with a gripping device forgripping the façade element. In operation, the elevator unit angles out such that thegripping may grip the façade element. As the elevator unit then moves upwards the façade element is moved inwards towards the building and enters into the guiding rails.

The gripping device may also first be moved into a gripping position whereby the façade elements subsequently are moved into engagement with the gripping device.

However, although the gripping device of WO20l0070082 has proved to be useful, itsuffers from some drawbacks. In particular it is bulky and it is cumbersome and time consuming to move the gripping device in position for gripping a façade element.

An altemative to using a gripping device is to provide the façade elements with twoeyebolts. The two eyebolts are arranged at the two upper comers of the façade elementand adapted to receive a hook that is fastened to a wire of a crane. The façade elementcomprises a façade material, which may be glass (windows), concrete, or any othersuitable material or combinations of materials. The material is surrounded and held by aframe into which frame the eyebolts are fastened. This solution with eyebolts and hooksis the predominating way of lifting façade element today. One problem with thisprocedure is that the frame has to be designed to withstand high loads, especially pointloads at the upper comers of the frame. In fact it is these high point loads when lifting thefaçade element that determine the dimensions of the frame and thus the whole façade element.

Thus, it is an object of the present invention to achieve a façade element With dimensionsthat are limited by the conditions that prevail When mounted to the building structure andnot by the lifting process. In particular, it is an object ofthe present invention to achieve afaçade element With thinner frames than are used today. A further object of the present invention is to achieve a lifting device for engagement With the façade element, Which in an easy Way may be connected to a crane, a lifting jig or the like.

Summary of the invention According to a first aspect of the present disclosure at least one of these objects isachieved by a façade element, comprising a frame and façade material, Wherein the frameis provided to surround and hold the façade material. The frame has an upper side With alength L. An elongate recess With an undercut is extending at least along a major part ofthe length L of the upper side of the frame. The recess With the undercut is adapted for receiving a lifting rail in a locking engagement.

The elongate recess of the façade element may according to one embodiment extend along the entire length L of the upper side of the frame.

According to some embodiments the façade element may be provided With a recess that is substantially L-shaped or a recess that is substantially anchor-shaped.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure at least one of these objects isachieved by a lifting rail for lifting a façade element. The façade element comprises aframe and façade material. The frame is provided to surround and hold the façadematerial, said frame having an upper side With a length L. The lifting rail comprises a L-shaped lifting portion, a shoulder and a locking mechanism, Which all are adapted to bereceived by and in locking engagement With an elongate recess of the façade element.The recess is formed With an undercut and extends at least along a major part of the lengthof the upper side of the frame, the length of the recess corresponding to the a length of thelifting rail. When the lifting rail is in an engaged state the L-shaped lifting portion is inserted in the recess of the frame and the shoulder rests on an upper sidesurface at one side of the recess and the locking mechanism rests on an upper side surface at another side of the recess.

Furthermore, the locking mechanism is pivotable between an open position, in which thelifting rail is insertable into the recess of the frame and a locked position, in which is the lifting rail is in locking engagement with the recess of the frame.

According to an exemplary embodiment the locking mechanism is provided with a springbiased locking ball adapted to engage a cavity of the lifting rail, when the locking mechanism is in the locked position.

With such a façade element provided with a recess having an undercut the frame of thefaçade element may be designed with smaller dimensions then is customary. Since theload, when lifting the façade element, now is distributed along a major part of the lengthof the upper side of the frame the lifting procedure is no longer limiting the design anddimensions of the frame. Thus, by altering the way to lift façade elements it is nowpossible to design much thinner and also much wider façade elements, which is advantageous to the building process.

By using a lifting rail having substantially the same length as the elongate recess andwhich is designed to interact with the undercut of the elongate recess spot loads areavoided.

Brief description of drawings The invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a façade element; Fig .2 is an enlarged side view of an upper side of the façade element, showing an exemplary L-shaped recess; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side view of the upper side of the façade element, showing an exemplary anchor-shaped recess; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a lifting rail; Fig. 5 shows an enlarged side View of the lifting rail; Figs. 6-8 show enlarged views of different steps of the procedure of when lifting rail is brought into locking engagement with the recess of the façade element; Fig. 9 shows a partial front view of the lifting rail, with the locking mechanism in an open position, and Fig. 10 shows a partial front view of the lifting rail, with the locking mechanism in a locked position.

Detailed description of the embodiments Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings in order for those skilled in the art to be able tocarry out the invention. The invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather,these embodiments are provided so that this disclo sure will be thorough and complete,and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Thus, the invention is only limited by the appended claims.

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a façade element 2.

The façade element 2 comprises two vertical sides 4, guiding blocks 6, guiding pins 8, a recess 10, a frame 12, an upper side 13, façade material 14, 16 and a reinforcement frame18. The main components of the façade element 2 are the façade material 14, 16 and theframe 12. The façade material may by any material suitable used for building multi-storybuildings, such as glass, concrete, metal, bricks, insulation etc. The façade element 2 maycomprise one or more façade materials in different combinations. In the exemplaryembodiment of the façade element 2 in figure 1, the façade material comprises glass(Windows) 14 and a combination of aluminum and insulation 16. Thealuminun1/insulation combination corresponds in this exemplary embodiment to theceiling structure of the building, i.e. it Will cover the ceiling structure When mounted to the building structure.

The façade material 14, 16 is surrounded and held by the frame 12. In the exemplaryembodiment disclosed in figure 1, the façade element 2 is further reinforced by the T-shaped reinforcement frame 18. The use of such a reinforcement frame 18 is optional anddepends on Which size the façade element 2 has. As is realized by a person skilled in theart there may be numerous Ways to design reinforcement frame 18 and it is believed to beWithin in the capabilities of such a person to design a suitable reinforcement frame takingthe dimensions of the façade element into account. However, there may also be otherconsiderations than strength, such as the appearance of a façade element 2, When designing the reinforcement frame.

The upper side 13 of the façade element 2 is provided With a recess 10 and has a length L.The recess 10 is designed and adapted to receive a lifting rail, With help of Which thefaçade element 2 may be lifted to its mounting position. The recess Will be closerdescribed in conjunction With figures 2 and 3 and the lifting rail Will be closer describedin conjunction With figures 4 and 5. The interaction between the recess 10 and the liftingrail and how they are brought into a locking engagement is closer described in conjunction With figures 6 to 8.

As mentioned above the façade element 2 further comprises guiding blocks 6 and guiding pins 8 provided at the vertical sides 4 of the façade element 2. The guiding pins 8 are adapted to cooperate With a mounting tool used to guide the façade element 2 into its finalposition when mounting it to the building structure. This process is closer described in aco-pending Swedish patent application no. 1451229-7. The façade element 2 isfurtherrnore provided with guiding blocks 6 on the vertical side 4 of the façade element 2.As is apparent in figure 1, the guiding blocks 6 are provided on the same vertical line A asthe guiding pins 8. The horizontal width or extension of the guiding blocks 6 is greaterthan the diameter of the guiding pins 8. The function of the guiding blocks 6 are also described closer in the above referenced co-pending Swedish patent application.

Tuming now to Figure 2 an exemplary embodiment of the recess 10 will be described.The recess 10 is provided on the upper side 13 of the frame 12. Figure 2 shows anenlarged side view of the upper side 13 of the façade element 2. The recess 10 is providedwith an undercut 11, i.e. it has a hollow space under the surface 15 of the upper side 13 ofthe frame 12. The undercut 11 is, in the embodiment of figure 2, defined as being the ho llow space that is to the left of an axis X that is perpendicular to the upper side 13 andrunning adj acent to the opening of the recess 10. The undercut 11 is an important featurewhen bringing the lifting rail into locking engagement with the recess 10 as will beexplained further below. The shape of the recess 10 as seen in the enlarged side view of figure 2 may be defined as L-shaped or boot-shaped.

Figure 3 shows another exemplary embodiment of the recess 10. In this embodiment therecess 10 is provided with two undercuts 11, 11' instead of one. The principles for theundercut are the same as in figure 2 and will therefore not be described again. The secondundercut 11' in figure 3 is a mirror image of the first undercut 11 in figure 2, which givesthe recess 10 an anchor-like shape or upside-down T-shaped. One advantage with havinga recess with double undercuts is that the lifting rail may be inserted into the recess 10from two different directions, which may be beneficial during the lifting process of thefaçade elements 2. As is understood by a person skilled in the art, the recess may bedesigned in a variety of ways. As mentioned above it is import that the recess has anundercut in order to create a locking engagement with the lifting rail. The important feature is that the undercut is adapted such as it may receive the lifting rail 20, and especially the lifting portion 21 of the lifting rail 20. In the described embodiments thelifting portion 21 of the lifting rail 20 is shown as L-shaped, but may for example also beJ -shaped or any other suitable shape adapted for locking engagement with a mating recess 10 having an undercut 11.

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a lifting rail 20 and Figure 5 shows an enlargedside view of the lifting rail 20, having J-shaped profile. The lifting rail 20 comprises alifting portion 21, a shoulder 22, a hook 23 and locking mechanism 24. The lifting rail 20may be manufactured in aluminum, steel or any other suitable metal or material with themechanical properties for lifting a façade element 2. The hook 23 is adapted to bereceived by some kind of lifting device, such as a lifting rig also having a J -shaped rail forlifting the façade element 2 in the lifting rail. The functions of the different features of thelifting rail 20 will be described below in conjunction with figures 6 to 10. Figures 6 to 8show enlarged views of different stages of the procedure when the lifting rail 20 is brought into locking engagement with the recess 10 of the façade element 11.

In Figure 6 a first stage of the locking engagement between the lifting rail 20 and therecess 10 is shown. In this stage the lifting rail 20 is angled and the L-shaped liftingportion 21 of the lifting rail 20 is inserted into the recess 10. As soon as the L-shapedlifting portion has been inserted into the recess 10, the lifting rail 21 is rotated in thedirection of the arrow T into an upright position, i.e. perpendicular to the surface of theupper side 13 of the frame 12. During this movement the L-shaped lifting portion 21 will slide into the undercut 11.

In Figure 7 the lifting rail 20 is shown in its upright position. In this position the upperpart of the L-shaped recess 10 is almost completely filled out by the L-shaped liftingportion 21. The shoulder 22 of the lifting rail 20 is designed such that it abuts the surfaceof the upper side 13 of the frame 12 when the lifting rail 20 has reached its final uprightposition. In this position the lifting rail 20 cannot be rotated anymore in the direction ofarrow T, since the abutment of the shoulder 22 works as a stopper for the rotational movement in the direction of arrow T. Also the design of the L-shaped lifting portion 21 of the lifting rail 20 and the undercut ll of the recess 10 acts as a stopper, since theL-shaped lifting portion 21 will abut the surface of the undercut ll when the lifting rail 20is in its final upright position. Thus, the lifting rail 20 is securely fixed into recess 10 andmay withstand forces applied in the direction of the arrow T. However, if forces areapplied in an opposite direction of the arrow T the lifting rail 20 will reverse its previousmovement and fall out of the recess 10. To prevent such a movement and securely fix thelifting rail 20 in the upright position the lifting rail 20 is provided with a lockingmechanism 24. In figure 7 the locking mechanism 24 is shown in an open position, i.e. the lifting rail 20 has not been securely fixed into the recess 10.

Tuming now to Figure 8 the locking mechanism 24 is shown in a locked position. Infigure 8, the area of the locking mechanism 24 is also shown in an enlarged view in orderto better understand how the looking mechanism 24 functions. The locking mechanism24 may be a block that is pivotally attached to the lifting rail 20. When the lockingmechanism 24 is in its closed position one end surface of the locking mechanism 24 is inabutment with the surface of the upper side 13 of the frame 12. In this position the liftingrail 20 is in a locking engagement with the recess 10. In a preferred embodiment thelocking mechanism 24 may furtherrnore be provided with a spring-biased ball 26. Thespring-biased ball 26 is adapted to interact with a cavity 29 provided on the lifting rail 20.The cavity 29, the ball 26 and the spring 28 are best shown in the enlarged view of figure8. When the locking mechanism 24 is tumed from the open position to the lockingposition the spring 28 will push the ball 28 into the cavity 29 when the lockingmechanism 24 has reached its final position and thereby securely fix the lifting rail 20into the recess 10. As realized by a person skilled in the art there may be many other waysof securing the locking mechanism 24 in its locking position, such as spring-biased pins,pins and holes or a groove in the lifting rail adapted to receive the locking mechanismwhen it is in its final position etc. It is of course also possible to provide the spring-biased ball on the lifting rail and the cavity in the locking mechanism instead.

Even if the steps of engagement between the lifting rail 20 and the recess 10 in figures 6 to 8 relate to a recess having a L-shaped cross section, the steps are of course also applicable for the anchor shaped recess shown in figure 3 or any other suitable recess having an undercut.

Figure 9 and Figure 10 show a partial front view of the lifting rail with the lockingmechanism 24 in is its open and locking position, respectively. The spring biased-ball 26is indicated in the figures by dotted lines, since it is hidden by the locking mechanism 24in figures 9 and l0. In figures 9 and l0 the full length of the lifting rail 20 is not show, butonly the two ends where the locking mechanisms 24 are provided. The number of lockingmechanisms 24 depends on the length of the lifting rail 20, and is preferably two for afaçade element with a width (same as length of upper side l3) of 3 m. The length of thelifting rail 20 may in a preferred embodiment correspond to the length L of upper side l3of the frame l2. Using the whole length L of upper side l3 of the frame will distribute thelifting load along the entire length L, which makes it possible to reduce the dimensions ofthe frame l2 with regard to the lifting forces it has to withstand. In other embodiments ofthe lifting rail 20 the length of the lifting rail 20 may correspond to 2/3 of the length L ofthe upper side of the frame l2. It is preferred that the lifting rail is at least half, i.e. a majorpart, of the length L of the upper side l3 of the frame l2.

Thus, it is believed that different embodiments have been described thoroughly forpurpose of illustration and description. However, the foregoing description is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit example embodiments to the precise form disclo sed.Thus, modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may beacquired from practice of various altematives to the provided embodiments. Theexamples discussed herein were chosen and described in order to explain the principlesand the nature of various example embodiments and its practical application to enableone skilled in the art to utilize the example embodiments in various manners and withvarious modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The features of theembodiments described herein may be combined in all possible combinations ofmethods, tools, modules and systems. It should be appreciated that any of the exampleembodiments presented herein may be used in conjunction, or in any combination, with one another. 11 It should also be noted that the Word "comprising" does not necessarily exclude thepresence of other elements or steps than those listed and the Words "a" or "an" precedingan element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. It should furtherbe noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the example embodiments and that several "means", "units" or "tools" may be represented by the same item of hardware.

Claims

1. A façade element (2) comprising a frame (12) and façade material (14; 16), Wherein the frame (12) is provided to surround and hold the façade material (14;16), saidframe (12) having an upper side (13) With a length (L) characterized in that an elongaterecess (10) With an undercut (11) is extending at least along a major part of the length (L)of the upper side (13) of the frame (12), said recess (10) With the undercut being adapted for receiving a lifting rail (20) in a locking engagement.

2. The façade element (2) according to claim 1, Wherein the elongate recess (10) is extending along the entire length of the upper side (13) of the frame (12).

3. The façade element (2) according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the recess (10) is substantially L-shaped.

4. The façade element (2) according to claim 1 or 2, Wherein the recess (10) is substantially anchor-shaped.

5. A lifting rail (20) for lifting a façade element (2), said façade element (2)comprising a frame (12) and façade material (14; 16), Wherein the frame (12) is providedto surround and hold the façade material (14; 16), said frame having an upper side (13)With a length (L), said lifting rail (20) comprising a L-shaped lifting portion (21), ashoulder (22) and a locking mechanism (24), Which are adapted to be received by and inlocking engagement With an elongate recess (10) of the façade element (2), said recess(10) having an undercut (11) and extending at least along a major part of the upper side(13) of the frame (12), the length of the recess (10) corresponding to a length of the liftingrail (20), such that When the lifting rail (20) is in an engaged state the L- shaped liftingportion (21) is inserted in the recess (10) of the frame (12) and the shoulder (22) rests onan upper side (13) surface at one side of the recess (10) and the locking mechanism (24) rests on an upper side (13) surface at another side of the recess (10). 13

6. The 1ifting rai1 (20) according to c1aim 5, Wherein the locking mechanism (24) ispiVotab1e between an open position, in Which the 1ifting rai1 (20) is insertable into therecess (10) of the frame (12) and a locked position, in Which is the 1ifting rai1 (20) is inlocking engagement With the recess (10) of the frame (12).

7. The 1ifting rai1 (20) according to c1aims 6, Wherein the locking mechanism (24) isprovided With a spring biased locking ball (26) adapted to engage a caVity (29) of the 1ifting rai1 (20), When the locking mechanism (24) is in a locked position.

8. The 1ifting rai1 (20) according to any of c1aims 5 to 7, Wherein the 1ifting rai1 is provided With two locking mechanisms (24).