US2313280A

US2313280A - Beam connecting unit

Info

Publication number: US2313280A
Application number: US389554A
Authority: US
Inventors: Steven D Szego
Original assignee: AMERICAN DIAGRID CORP
Current assignee: AMERICAN DIAGRID Corp
Priority date: 1941-04-21
Filing date: 1941-04-21
Publication date: 1943-03-09
Anticipated expiration: 1960-03-09

Description

March 9, 1943.

S. D. SZEGO BEAM CONNECTING UNITS Filed April 21 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR .STEVCND..SZE60 March 9, 1943. 5 SZEGQ 2,313,280

BEAM CONNECTING UNITS Filed April 21, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Y STE VWD. 52560 Patented Mar. 9, 1943 BEAM CONNECTING UNIT Steven D. Szego, American Diagrid New York, N. Y., assignor to Corporation, New York, N. Y.

Application April 21, 1941, Serial No. 389,554

13 Claims.

My present invention relates to a connecting unit for a plurality of beams and more particularly to a node connecting unit for beam grids consisting of relatively short beams connected to each other at a series of grid nodes.

It is an object of my invention to provide a connecting unit for two or more beams which makes it possible to use and re-use beams of certain standard length with varying node distances.

It is a further object of my invention to regain the beam material easily and without the usual waste due to riveted, bolted, or welded connections.

Another object of my invention consists in a grid structure, especially for non-permanent structural works, provided with node-connecting units of the above described type.

Still another object of my invention consists in providing a node-connecting unit which can be used for foldable grids of the type described in my prior U. S. Patent application, Serial Number 368,014.

With the above objects in View, my present invention mainly consists in providing a beam connecting unit which comprises a plurality of holding means for the beams to be connected; each of these holding means has to be shaped in such a manner as to be adapted to receive one of the beams slidably only in longitudinal direction; all holding means have to be arranged in the connecting unit in such relative position to each other that each beam received by one of said holding means is adapted to carry out said sliding movement without interfering with other beam or beams received by other holding means of said connecting unit.

I have found that if I use a grid beam provided with beam connecting units of the above described type for a horizontal structure, the own weight of the structure prevents the sliding of the beams out of the connecting units. For certain structures as, for instance, sloping roofs, it may be preferable to provide means for fastening each of the beams to the corresponding holding means in order to prevent unwanted sliding of these beams after they have been inserted in correct position into these holding means.

As explained in the foregoing, I propose to use the new beam connecting units for a plurality, i. e., for two or more beams. When the new connecting unit is used for two beams arranged in the same direction, it comprises two parallel holding means, one for each of the beams; each of these holding means should be shaped in such a manner as to be adapted to receive one of the beams slidable in longitudinal direction only.

If my new connecting unit is to be used for interconnecting four or more beams, I prefer to shape the connecting unit in such a way that it comprises a plurality of pairs of parallel holding members, of the type described above; these pairs of holding members should be arranged in different, preferably parallel, planes, thereby enabling each beam to carry out a sliding movement in longitudinal direction without interfering with other beams.

For connecting nodes of beam grids consisting of relatively short grid beams connected to each other at a series of grid nodes, it is preferable to use a connecting unit of the type described in the preceding paragraph.

I Want to note that my new beam connecting unit may be used for beams made of any kind of material: thus, for instance, the connecting units may be employed in combination with; beams made of steel, light metal, timber, plastics, as Bakelite, or the like.

It is evident that the connecting units according to my present invention, may be shaped. in

the most different ways:

Thus, I may use as connecting unit a block member provided with a plurality of longitudinal holes in said block; each end of these holes should be open at both ends and preferably should have a cross-section similar in shape to the cross section of the beam to be received by it, but slightly larger than the same.

We may also use a connecting unit comprising tubular members for receiving the beams to be connected. In a further embodiment of our invention, each of the holding means consists of several, preferably two, brackets provided with co-axially arranged openings being shaped in such a manner as to be adapted to hold a beam.

Further characteristic features of our new beam-connecting unit and the beam grid incorporating these connecting units, and advantages of the improvements proposed by us, will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings illustrating several embodiments of our invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a connecting block member for two beams;

Figs. 2 and 3 are perspective views of different connecting block members for four beams;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a connecting unit provided with holding brackets;

Figs. 5, 6, and '7 are perspective views of different beam connecting units provided with tubular holding means;

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are perspective views of different node-connecting units for foldable grid structures and the like;

Figs. 11 and 12 are plane views of one and the same grid structure provided with node-connecting means, used for covering different floor areas;

Fig. 13 is a plane View of a foldable grid provided with node-connecting units according to the present invention; and

Fig. 14. is an enlarged perspective view of a node-connecting unit of the type used for the grid shown in Fig. 11.

The beam connecting units shown in Figs. 1 to 3, consist each of a block member provided with holes for receiving the beams to be connected. The block member ll, shown in Fig. 1, is provided with two parallel cylindrical holes 2 for receiving the beams 13 and it. The block member 15, shown in Fig. 2, is cube-shaped, while the block member [3, shown in Fig. 3, is of spherical shape. The beams connected by the connecting blocks shown in Figs. 1 to 3, are indicated in dotted lines.

It is evident that, by sliding the end portions of the beams to a greater or smaller extent into and through the holes ll, l8, l3 and 23, it is possible to vary the combined length of the beams 2!, 22 and 23, 24, respectively. It may be observed that the holes H and 18 are parallel to each other; in the same manner,

holes

19 and 26 are parallelly arranged; furthermore, the planes in which the holes l1, l8, and 19, 2'0, respectively, are located, are lying parallel to each other: thus, also beams 2!, 22, and 2-3, 25, respectively, are parallel to each other. As, furthermore, the size of the connecting units is relatively small compared to the length of the beams, it can be assumed that all four beams are lying in a common plane and

beams

21, 22 and 23, 24, respectively, are lying in the same line, one after another.

Having now described, in connection with the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the main char acteristics features of my new connecting units, I will proceed with the description of other embodiments; however, since the basic principles of these embodiments are the same as those of the embodiments described above in detail, the following description will be a less detailed one.

As shown in Fig. 4, I may use a connecting unit provided with bracket-

like extensions

25, 26, 21 and 28, instead of the block members shown in Figs. 1 to 3. These brackets are provided with cut-outs 29 being similar in shape to the cross-section of the beams to be connected; thus, they may be double-T-shaped, as shown in the drawing, or they may have any other shape,

within the members 33, but also to fix them in any desired position by means of the screws 34.

The embodiments shown in Figs. 8 to 10 are adapted for connecting the beams in such a manner that the angle formed by the connected beams may be varied; therefore, these embodiments are especially well adapted for foldable grids.

The unit shown in Fig. 8 consists of two block members and 35, turnably connected by bolt 31; both

members

35 and 33 are provided with two

parallel holes

38 and 35 for receiving the beams. It is easy to understand that by turning the

members

35 and 36 about bolt 31' relatively to each other, it is possible to vary the angle formed by the beams passing through

hoies

33 and 39. If required, the angle between the

beams

38 and 39 can be fixed by means of screws or bolts 4?? if required. The beams are held and connected by this unit as indicated in dotted lines.

In Figs. 5 and 6, connecting units are shown which consists of tubular member 33 welded together along welding seams 3|.

In order to avoid bending of tubular members belonging together, I may weld them to each 1 other along welding seams In the embodiment shown in Fig. 7, I use semi-cylindrically shaped tubular members 33 for holding the beams. By making the cross-section of the cylindrical space formed by the semicylindrical member 33, equal to or somewhat smaller than the space needed for the beams, it is possible not only to hold the beams slidably 32, as shown in Fig. 6.

which are inserted after the members 3" 33 have been placed into correct position.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9, tubular members 4| and 42, respectively, serve for hold-- ing the beams. The tubular members 4! are secured, preferably by welding, to disk 43, while the tubular members 42 are secured to disk 44. Disks 43 and 44 lie superimposed one upon another, turnably connected by means of bolt 45. Bolts or screws 46 serve for fastening together the two disks and the tubular members carried by them in the desired position.

The unit shown in Fig. 10 consists of two U shaped members 41 and 48 provided with bracket-

like extensions

49 and 56. These bracket-like extensions are provided with cut-outs of required shape, e. g., square-shaped cut-outs 5! for receiving square beams. Members 41 and 43 are turnably connected by bolt 52. In this correct relative position, the two members may be welded together as indicated by numeral 53. The last described two units, i. e., the units shown in Figs. 9 and 10, are used in the same way as described in connection with the unit shown in Fig. 8.

In Figs. 11 and 12 one and the same beam grid is shown: while in Fig. 11 it covers a relatively great area, the area covered by the same grid in Fig. 12 is much smaller. This can be accomplished by connecting the beams 54 of the grid by connecting block members of the type shown in Fig. 14. In Fig. 11, it may be observed that these connecting units are spaced as far as possible from each other, i. e., the beams 54 project with their end portions 56 only slightly, or not at all, over the connecting blocks 55. In Fig. 12, the connecting block members 55 are much nearer to each other and, therefore, the free end portions 56 project over the respective block members to a much greater extent. In their extreme position, the end portions 56 of consecutive beams are in contact with each other and can be connected, increasing thereby the strength of the structure. Thus, it is possible to substantially vary the size of the beam grid, without changing the type of the beams used.

In Fig. 13 a foldable grid is shown. The single grid beams 51 are connected to each other by means of turnable beam connecting members 58 of the type shown in Fig. 8. Besides its foldability, the grid shown in Fig. 13 shows the same characteristic features as the grid shown in Figs. 11 and 12: its size can also be varied in the way described above.

Fig. 14 shows a beam node-connecting member which is very-similar to the one shown in Fig. 2. The sole difference is that. instead of cylindrical holes, it is provided with holes having a squareshaped cross-section. This figure shows how the beams may be fixed in their required relative position by wedges 80 or welding along the edges 59. However, as stated above, mostly it is unnecessary to wedge or weld the beams to the connecting means, since sliding of the beams is prevented by the friction between the beams and the inner surface of the hole, respectively its edges; this friction is caused by the bending moments within the beam structure.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types ,of beam connecting units, differing from the types described above. 7

While I have illustrated and described the invention as embodied in grid beams, we do not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of our invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of my invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of .the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of holding members and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from each of said beams to at least one of the other beams.

2. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel holding members arranged in different planes, and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

3. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from each of said beams to at least One of the other beams.

4. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

5. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to slidably embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of. one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

6. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams, connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to slidably embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair, and means for fastening each of said beams to the corresponding holding member in order to prevent unwanted sliding of said beams after they have been inserted into said holding members in the desired position.

'7. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting block members connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting block members provided with a plurality of holes passing through said block member and being open at both ends and receiving one of the beams to be connected, each of said holes being shaped and receiving said beams in such a manner that the block member in which said hole is provided embraces said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one of said beams to at least one of the other beams.

8. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting block members connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting block members being provided with two pairs of parallel longitudinal holes arranged in parallel planes, each of said holes passing through said block and being open at both ends and receiving one of the beams to be connected at said grid nodes, each of said holes being shaped and receiving said beams in such a manner that the block member in which said hole is provided embraces said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

9. Beam grid consisting of relatively short grid beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of tubular holding members and each of said tubular holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from each of said beams to at least one of the other beams.

10. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beam and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel tubular holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said tubular holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

11. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams, connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel tubular holding members arranged in parallel planes, and each of said tubular holding members being shaped in such a manner as to slidably embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair, and means for fastening each of said beams to the corresponding tubular holding member in order to prevent unwanted sliding of said beams after they have been inserted into said holding members in the desired position.

12. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units comprising two pairs of parallel holding bracket arranged in parallel planes and provided with co-axially arranged openings, each set of co-axially arranged openings being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

13. Beam grid consisting of relatively short beams and connecting units connecting the end portions of said beams at the grid nodes to each other, each of said connecting units consisting of at least two members, means rotatably securing said members to each other, and means for fastening said members in the desired relative position to each other, each of said members comprising a pair of parallel holding members for said grid beams, said pairs of parallel holding members being arranged in parallel planes and each of said holding members being shaped in such a manner as to embrace one of said beams at least at two points of the same spaced apart from each other in longitudinal direction, thus transmitting bending moments from one beam of one beam pair to the other beam of the same beam pair.

STEVEN D. SZEGO.