US3910002A

US3910002A - Location means for rafter on columns

Info

Publication number: US3910002A
Application number: US399443A
Authority: US
Inventors: David Royle Lough
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-09-21
Filing date: 1973-09-21
Publication date: 1975-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-07
Also published as: ZA737201B; AU6021273A; GB1436410A; CA991818A; FR2200421B3; BE805085A; IT997296B; DE2346882A1; FR2200421A1; NL7312601A

Abstract

Means for locating and securing rafters defined by at least two similar units on and relative to columns serving to support an end of the rafter provided with a first location means between the column top and the end of the first of the rafter units and a second location means between the column side and a plate extending laterally of and into the joint between the similar units in which the first and second location means also serve as a means for securing the rafter units to the column.

Description

United States Patent [191 [111 3,910,002

Lough Oct. 7, 1975 1 1 LOCATION MEANS FOR RAFTER ON 3,389,525 6/1968 Moody 52/714 COLUMNS 3,513,610 5/1970 Devonport. 52/283 3,665,665 5/1972 Soum 52/251 Inventor: David Royle g 21 Everton 3,721,056 3/1973 Toan 52/263 x T W 11' t N Z l er e mg ew ea and 1 FOREIGN PATENTS oR APPLICATIONS [22] Flled: SePt- 1973 257,119 9/1967 Germany 52/227 [21] Appl. No.: 399,443

Primary ExaminerErnest R. Purser Assistant ExaminerCarl D. Friedman [30] Forelgn Apphcanon Pnomy Data Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Holman & Stern Sept. 21, 1972 New Zealand 168457 [57] ABSTRACT [52] US. Cl. 52/283; 52/263; 52/251 [51] Int. 01. E04B 1/00 Means for locatmg and Securmg rafters defined by at [58] Field of Search 0 52/272 251 252, 721, least two similar units on and relative to columns serv- 52/722 283 583, 726, 250 260 289 263 ing to support an end of the rafter provided with a first 52/712 714 & locatlon means between the column top and the end of the first of the rafter units and a second location [56] References Cited means between the column side and a plate extending laterally of and into the joint between the similar units UNITED STATES PATENTS in which the first and second location means also l,89l,597 .lagdmann serve as a means for ecuring the rafter units to the 2,569,669 10/1951 Henderson... 52/283 column 3,074,209 l/1963 Henderson... 52/252 X 3,372,518 3/1968 Rensch 52/263 X 2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures US. Patent 00:. 7,1975

LOCATION MEANS FOR:RAFTER ON. COLUIVINS:

BACKGROUND'OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to location means for or as between rafters or beams for buildings and upright columns for supporting such rafters, which location means mayalso serve as securement means therebetween.

More particularly this invention relates to the location and to the location and securing of composite .raf-

ters or beams. 1 a

By the temq composite rafters is meant rafters constructed of two or more units which may or may not be identical, which units are jointed or fastenedtogether to form a single rafter or beam of a lengthdetermined by the number of such unitsused'in the construction of such a rafter. The'term rafter as used herein is to be taken-asa reference to a composite rafter.

'lt is'an object of this invention to provide positive means for the location and securing of the distal ends of rafters to the upper ends of columns designed to sup port such rafters. a

PRIOR TECHNIQUES In the construction of portal-type buildings, columns are erected and rafters are fabricated on or off the site and when on the site are lifted, usually by a crane'int'o approximately the correct position when they are lowered onto the top of the columns for securement thereto. Hitherto, the system hasbeen to lower the rafter onto the top of the columns and align bolt holesin both the tops of the columns and ends of the rafters and slide a bolt through the aligned holes to securethe rafters to the tops' o'f'the column.

Such an'arrangement hasthe difficulty that it is necessary"'for theho'les tobe'aligned and once'alig'ned to maintain alignment'while the bolt is slid through the holes. Difficulties can arise in ende'avoring to keep the holes aligned for 'a sufficient length of time forthe bolt to be passed through the holes.

It is a further object of thisinvention'to overcome this disadvantage and permit the rafter to be lowered ontothe columns ahd, in the last part ofthe lowering operation, the location means of this invention acting to position or locatethe'rafter as it is lowered into'jux- 5 apositi'o'n with this column.

"MSUMMARYOHF THE INVENTION According tothis in've ntion jth ere is provided means i for locating raft ers 'on and relative to columns adapted i to support an end of sucha rafter includinga firs t location between the top of the column and the end of the rafter and a second location means between "the side of the columnanda" plate, extending laterally of and into the joint between adjacent units composing said rafter.

Further according to this invention, there is provided' means for locating and securing rafters on and to columns adapted to support an end of such a rafter including of the projection of oronthe, rafter is such that with, the rafterresting on top of the column, the projection and hole in the lug may be. aligned. The lug may be an upstanding abutment formedintegrally with the column or. may be a separate integer cast into, the column with that portion in which thehole is located extending from the column. The projection may be formed by an extension of a reinforcing tendon or a pin cast into the rafter or a pin rod, shaft, or bolt welded to or formed integrally with) thereinforcing tendon end plate at the butt end of the rafter. This arrangement forms a suit-- able first locationmeans between the .top

of the column and the end of the rafter.

Projecting from andformed or formed integrally with or cast into the column and being substantially parallel to the axis of the rafter (whenthe latter is in position), may be provided a second projection adapted to bereceived in a hole provided in a lug-formed integrally with a plate secured to said rafter and between adjacent units composing the rafter. The arrangement described in this paragraph forms a suitable second location means between the side of the column and the plate secured between adjacent units of the rafter; I

When the projection on the end of the rafter is ac'-' commodated within the hole in the lug in the'colurnn, simila'rlythe projection from the column is accommodated within the hole in the lug of the plate secured between adjacent units of'whichthe rafter is composed. The second projection, being that projectingfrom the column, may be inthe fo'rmofa bolt, a'pin or an extension of a reinforcing tendon on the'column.

Alternatively, the projections (one extendingfrom the end of the beam andtheother from the column) may be disposed with their axes at an oblique angle to the axis of the rafter. i

Where the projections are formed from a metal (which, while usefully maybe a suitable alloy or aluminum or of bronze is preferably steel), the distal ends thereof may be screw threaded to threadly receive a nutor may be slotted to receivea wedge so as to'be capable of securing the end of the rafter to thecolumn. Alternatively, when the rafter is located in position, the

two p rojections' may be bonded by a suitable known indu'strial bonding material or welded to their respective lugs or may be deformed in a rivet-like manner to achieve securement of the rafter to the top of the column; g

However, the projections, by their co-operation with their respective lugs 'rnay merely serve to locate the rafter in relation to the'beam and separate securing means may be used, for example a bolt or bolts passing through aligned holes in therafter and column or straps spectively, either the column or rafter. Another operable arrangementwould be a three sided abutment or socket located on either or both the rafter or column and adapted to receive a complementary portion. of respectively, the columnor rafter.

Further while the above general description of the invention makes reference to only one securement means each between the top of the column and the end of the rafter on the one hand and between the side of column and said lug'or plate on the other hand, two or more such securement means may be used at either or both positions should individual circumstances so dictate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Many modifications of the above described invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof and by way of example only and not by way of limitation reference will be made to one form, of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a unit for use in forming therafters and FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of one aspect of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In the drawings, a column and rafter formed of a plurality of units constructed of a castable material. and of the type described.

The column, generally indicated by arrow 1 is composed of a desired number of standard units 2 (as shown in FIG. 1).

Slightly widened special column sections 3 are placed on column beam unit 2 to which is secured a knee joint generally indicated at 4 and comprising a base section 5 and a laterally extending portion 6.

The rafter, generally indicated at 7, is composed of a series of unit 2 which, with suitable stressing form the rafter 7.

Extending from and cast into the lateral portion 6, towards the base section 5 of the knee joint is a lug unit 8, that portion of which extending from the lateral portion 6 forming the lug itself which is indicated at numeral 9.

Cast into and extending from distal end of the lateral portion 6 at right angles to the lug 9 is a bolt 11.

Secured to end plate 711 of the rafter (to which the ends of the reinforcing tendons of the rafter may be secured) is a bolt 12 whose axis is parallel to the axis of the rafter 2 and whose positioning is such that with the rafter 7 resting on the lateral portion 6, the bolt 12 is aligned so as to be accommodated within a suitable hole provided in the lug 9.

The distance of the lug 9 from the end 10 of the lateral portion 6 is, in this described form of the invention, commensurate with the length of one unit 2 such that a plate 13 may be bonded between the last two units 2 and thus stressed into the rafter, so as to provide a lug 14 extending laterally from the rafter 7. A hole may be provided in lug 14 adapted to have accommodated therewithin the end of the bolt 11.

In the positioning and securing of the rafter 7 to two columns it will be appreciated that the rafter may be formed as an inverted V, each end of which is adapted to be secured to the column of the type shown in FIG. 2.

Thus, the rafter. usually with a supporting cradle is lifted by a crane to a position such that the ends of the rafter are positioned immediately above the lateral portion 6 of the rafters two supporting columns.

When the rafter is lowered, the bolt 12 is guided so as to pass through the hole in the lug 9 and the lug 14 is guided so as to pass over the bolt 11. Thus, the lowering of the rafter onto its supporting beams is a simple exercise and locates the beam by virtue of the locating of the bolt 12 in the hole of the lug 9 and the bolt 11 in the hole in the lug 14. i

To achieve the securement of the rafter to the column nuts may be engaged on the

bolts

12 and 11 and tightening same to secure the rafter in its position.

FIG. 2 shows a Y form to the top of the column 1 for supporting rafters in the center of a large building. Where the column 1 is on the outside of the building,

integers

2a, 3a, 4a, 5a and 8a will not, of course, be there and the profile of the column will follow the broken line 15.

Thus, by this invention, there is provided an improved means for the securing of rafters of the type described to columns.

I claim:

1. Means for locating and securing a rafter defined by at least two similar units arranged in end to end jointing relationship on and relative to a column for supporting an end of such rafter, with the column having an upper end surface and a distal side surface extending normal to the upper end surface, said means including a first lug projecting from the upper end surface of the column, said first lug having an aperture therein, a first bolt extending from the butt end of the rafter, the axis of the first bolt being substantially parallel to the axis of the rafter, a second bolt projecting from the distal side surface of the column and extending substantially parallel to the axis of the rafter, a second lug secured between the joining ends of the units and extending laterally therefrom, the second lug having an aperture therein, the apertures of the first and second lugs, when the rafter is in position, receiving the first and second bolts, and means cooperable with each of the bolts for securing the rafter to the upper end surface and the distal side surface of the column.

2. The means for locating and securing a raftere as claimed 'in claim 1 in which the location of the aperture in the first lug and the positioning of the first bolt, the location of the aperture in the second lug and the positioning of the second bolt are such that the bolts and the apertures in the lugs can be aligned.

Claims

2. The means for locating and securing a raftere as claimed in claim 1 in which the location of the aperture in the first lug and the positioning of the first bolt, the location of the aperture in the second lug and the positioning of the second bolt are such that the bolts and the apertures in the lugs can be aligned.