WO2008122291A1

WO2008122291A1 - Device for attaching a rail to a post

Info

Publication number: WO2008122291A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/001869
Authority: WO
Inventors: Didier Corniere
Original assignee: Dirickx Groupe S.A.
Priority date: 2007-03-05
Filing date: 2007-03-05
Publication date: 2008-10-16

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for attaching a rail (136) to a post (134), the wall of said post being provided with a hole (138). The inventive device (100) comprises: means for holding the rail, a first clamping means (104) designed to extend into the hole (138) and to contact with the interior of the wall of the post (134), a second clamping means (102) intended to contact with the exterior of the wall of the post (134), and manoeuvring means designed to move the first clamping means (104) and the second clamping means (102) from a released position in which they do not clamp the wall of the post (134) to a secured and locked position in which they clamp the wall of the post (134). The attachment device (100) is designed such that it includes a blocking pin (118) solidly connected to one of the clamping means (102, 104) and a blocking groove solidly connected to the other clamping means (104, 102). In addition, means are provided for exerting a stress on the blocking pin (118) in the base of the blocking groove in the secured and locked position.

Description

Device for attaching a rail to a pole

The present invention relates to a device for attaching a rail to a pole, and a barrier comprising such fasteners. The invention finds application in the field of fences.

A fence is known comprising vertical posts and barred panels. Each barred panel extends between two consecutive posts and consists of at least one lower rail and at least one upper rail between which are arranged bars which extend between one of the lower rail and one of upper smooth. The placement of the panels on the posts is done by fixing the rails on the poles. The fixing of each rail is achieved by their welding or screwing on the posts. Welding has the disadvantage of being long and dangerous for the technician performing the welding, and unsightly due to the presence of beads at the welds. The screwing has the disadvantage of being visible and sometimes easily removable for a person wishing to cross the fence.

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for attaching a rail to a pole which does not have the drawbacks of the prior art and which in particular allows a simple fixing, fast and not easily removable of the rail. For this purpose, there is provided a device for fixing a rail to a post whose wall comprises a hole, the fixing device comprising:

means for maintaining the stringer;

a first clamping means adapted to penetrate into the hole and to come into contact with the inside of the column wall;

a second clamping means adapted to come into contact with the outside of the column wall;

operating means adapted to move the first clamping means and the second clamping means to a free position in which they do not clamp the wall of the post to a fixed and locked position in which they clamp the wall of the post; the fixing device being such that it comprises:

a locking pin integral with one of the clamping means;

a locking groove integral with the other clamping means; and in the fixed and locked position there are provided means for biasing the locking pin in the bottom of the locking groove.

Advantageously, at least one of the clamping means is compressible.

Advantageously, the means for stressing the locking pin in the bottom of the locking groove comprise the compressible clamping means or means.

According to a particular embodiment, the second clamping means comprises a ramp designed to cooperate with the locking pin during the transition from the free position to the fixed and locked position.

Advantageously, the ramp extends from below the bottom of the groove to beyond the bottom of the locking groove.

According to a particular embodiment, the first clamping means comprises a head which fits into the hole of the column wall and an axis which extends in the direction of the second clamping means and on which is arranged the pin of blocking. Advantageously, the second clamping means comprises a rotation cylinder in which the axis of the first clamping means is inserted and on which the locking groove is made. Advantageously, the passage from the free position to the fixed and locked position is effected by rotation of the axis of the first clamping means inside the rotation cylinder.

Advantageously, the operating means comprise a maneuvering hole made in the first clamping means and an access window made in the second clamping means and allowing access to the maneuvering hole from outside the second clamping means.

Advantageously, the locking pin and the locking groove are disposed inside the rail when the latter is in position. The invention also proposes a barrier comprising at least one fixing device according to one of the preceding objects.

The characteristics of the invention mentioned above, as well as others, will appear more clearly on reading the following description of an exemplary embodiment, said description being made in connection with the attached drawings, among which: FIG. . 1 represents an exploded view of a device for attaching a rail to a pole according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a side view of a fastening device according to the invention; FIG. 3 shows a broken view of a fixing device in the free position; FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of a fastener in a fixed but unlocked position; FIG. 5 shows a cutaway view of a fastener in fixed and locked position; FIG. 6 shows another cutaway view of a fixing device in the free position; FIG. 7 shows another cutaway view of a fixing device in fixed and locked position; and FIG. 8 represents a barrier comprising fixing devices according to the invention. Fig. 1 shows a device 100 for attaching a beam 136 to a pole

134. The pole 134 extends vertically and consists of a hollow shell whose wall is traversed by a plurality of holes 138. The arm 136 extends horizontally and here takes the form of a hollow cylindrical tube. In a particular embodiment, shown in FIG. 8, an upper rail 136a is integral with a lower rail 136b and between these two rails 136a and 136b extend bars 804. This set of two smooth 136a and 136b and 804 bars form a barricaded grid which is fixed between two consecutive columns 134a and 134b. The posts 134a and 134b and the barred grids then form a barrier 802 for limiting a space.

The fixing device 100 comprises:

means for maintaining the beam which are explained below;

a first clamping means adapted to penetrate into one of the holes 138 and to come into contact with the inside of the wall of the pole 134; and

a second clamping means adapted to come into contact with the outside of the wall of the pole 134.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the first clamping means comprises a head 104 integral with an axis 114 on which is arranged a locking pin 1 18. The head 104 is provided for insertion into one of the holes 138 and the axis 1 14 extends in the direction of the second clamping means.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1, the second clamping means comprises, inter alia, an elastic means 102 and a body 106 in which a rotation cylinder 112 is formed (see Figs 3 to 7). The axis 114 of the first clamping means is housed in the rotation cylinder 1 12 on which is formed a locking groove 126. The adjustment between the rotation cylinder 112 and the axis 114 is preferably of the sliding type. just.

The elastic means 102 here takes the form of a truncated cone provided with a central bore to allow the passage of the axis 114. The elastic means 102 may be for example a truncated cone rubber or a spring of compression with a very high coefficient of stiffness. The elastic means 102 and thus the second clamping means are compressible, that is to say that it is possible to compress them and any compression induces the creation of an opposing thrust force. Advantageously, this thrust force is used to constrain the locking pin 118 in the bottom of the groove 126, as shown in FIG. 5. The base of the truncated cone 102 is engaged in the body 106. To facilitate the alignment of the elastic means 102 and the body 106, it comprises a bore into which a cylindrical protrusion of the elastic means 102 penetrates. this is best seen on the Fig. 7, the vertex 128 of the truncated cone 102 comes into contact with the outside of the wall of the pole 134.

The end of the axis 1 14 which does not bear the head 104, is radially pierced by a mounting bore for receiving the locking pin 1 18. The end of the axis 1 14 which carries the head 104 , is radially pierced by an operating bore 1 16 (Fig. 3).

The assembly of the fixing device 100 is as follows: the headless end of the axis 1 14 is inserted in the elastic means 102, then in the body 106. The locking pin 1 18 is then inserted into the boring of the axis 1 14, so as to avoid any disassembly of the fixing device 100.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the head 104 is not integral with the axis 1 14 but the locking pin 1 18 is integral with the axis 1 14. The assembly of the fixing device 100 is then the following: the headless end of the axis 1 14 is inserted into the body 106, then into the elastic means 102. The locking pin 1 18 is then positioned against the rotation cylinder 1 12 and the head 104 is then attached to the end of the axis 1 14, so as to avoid any disassembly of the fixing device 100.

Fig. 2 shows the fixing device 100 when assembled. The body 106 and the elastic means 102 are then placed between the head 104 and the pin 1 18. FIG. 3 shows a cut-away view of the fixing device 100 when it is in the free position, that is to say when it can be freely mounted in one of the holes 138 of the post 134. The first clamping means and the second clamping means then exert no clamping force on the wall of the pole 134.

The body 106 comprises from outside to inside, an outer cylinder 130, an alignment cylinder 132 and the rotation cylinder 1 12. These three cylinders form a one-piece assembly.

The outer cylinder 130 and the alignment cylinder 132 are spaced from each other so as to leave free a space 1 10 forming a cylinder whose dimensions are chosen so as to allow the insertion of the smooth 136 and which constitutes the holding means of the bar 136. The outer dimensions of the alignment cylinder 132 are slightly smaller than the internal dimensions of the bar 136 and the inner dimensions of the outer cylinder 130 are slightly greater than the outer dimensions of the bar 136. According to a particular embodiment, the guide curve of the outer cylinder 130, the guide curve of the alignment cylinder 132, the directional curve of the space 1 10, the guide curve of the rail 136 and the guide curve of the protuberance elastic means 102 are ellipses, which avoids, on the one hand, the rotation of the arm 136 in the space 1 10, and, on the other hand, the rotation of the elastic means 102 in the body 106.

The rotation cylinder 1 12 extends beyond the outer cylinder 130 and the alignment cylinder 132. The wall of the rotation cylinder 1 12 is machined so as to produce a ramp 124 which extends, in the operating mode. described embodiment, about a quarter turn. At one end of the ramp is disposed a first blocking zone consisting of the ramp 124 and the unmachined wall of the rotation cylinder 1 12, and at the other end of the ramp 124 is arranged a second zone of blocking which is here constituted by a groove 126. The ramp 124 is rising from the first blocking zone to the second blocking zone 126. The bottom of the groove 126 is placed below the top of the ramp 124. In FIG. in other words, the ramp 124 extends from below the bottom of the groove 126 to beyond the bottom of the locking groove 126.

The free space 1 10 is disposed outside with respect to the rotation cylinder 1 12 and the locking groove 126 so that the locking pin 1 18 and the locking groove 126 are hidden inside the rail 136 and thus prevent the unlocking of the fixing device 100 by action on the locking pin 1 18.

The distance between the head 104 and the mounting bore is such that it must be apparent at the level of the first blocking zone. That is to say, when the elastic means 102 and the body 106 are traversed by the axis 1 14, it is long enough for the locking pin 1 18 can be inserted into the mounting bore without that the elastic means 102 is put in compression. The length of the axis 1 14 must also be sufficient for a space exists between the head 104 and the end 128 of the resilient means 102 facing it. This space allows the insertion of the wall of the post 134 during the establishment of the fixing device 100 on the post 134. The outer cylinder 130 is pierced with an orifice 122 of generally oblong shape whose axis substantially follows the In the same way, the rotation cylinder 1 12 is pierced with a guide orifice 120 which has the same general shape. When the fixing device 100 is assembled, the operating bore 116 is accessible through the guide orifice 122 of the outer cylinder 130 and the orifice 120 of the cylinder 112. In the embodiment described, the alignment cylinder 132 does not extend to the top of the operating bore 1 16 and therefore does not need to be pierced with a hole allowing access to the operating bore 116. The operating bore 1 16 and the access window constituted, on the one hand, by the orifice 120 of the rotation cylinder 112 and, on the other hand, by the guide orifice 122 of the outer cylinder 130 constitute operating means adapted to pass the first clamping means and the second clamping means from the free position to the fixed and locked position. The access window 120, 122 is thus formed in the second clamping means and allows access to the maneuvering hole 116 from outside the second clamping means. The operating bore 1 16 is dimensioned to allow the insertion of a tool, for example a screwdriver.

Fig. 4 shows a broken view of the fixing device 100 when in the fixed position but not locked. This position represents an intermediate step between the position of FIG. 3 and the position of FIG. 5 which shows a cutaway view of the fastening device 100 when in the fixed and locked position, that is to say that it can no longer be detached from the pole 134, the first clamping means and the second clamping means. tightening then exerting a clamping force on the wall of the pole 134.

Fig. 4 shows the fixing device 100 after a tool has been inserted in the operating bore 116 and that this tool has been operated so as to rotate the shaft 114 inside the rotation cylinder 1 12. Guided by the locking pin 118 which follows the ramp 124 to be positioned opposite the locking groove 126, the tool follows the guide orifices 122, 120. During the rotation, the head 104 and the elastic means 102 come closer to come sandwich the wall of the pole 134. As explained below, the rotation of the axis 1 14 causes the compression of the elastic means 102 under the effect of the locking pin 118 which presses on the ramp 124 thus pushing the body 106 against the wall of the pole 134 while pivoting the head 104. Thus, during the transition from the free position to the fixed and locked position, the locking pin 118 cooperates with ramp 124. The implementation Instead of the fixing device 100 is fast because it is achieved by the rotation of the head 104 about a quarter turn and at most one turn. Fig. 4 represents an intermediate position in which the locking pin 18 is opposite the locking groove 126 but before the elastic means 102 has pushed the body 106 away.

Fig. 5 represents the final position when the elastic means 102 has pushed the body 106 and thus positioned the locking pin 118 in the locking groove 126. When passing from the intermediate position of FIG. 4 at the end position of FIG. 5, the tool remains in the operating bore 1 16 and follows the movement thereof.

In the final position of FIG. 5, the elastic means 102 freely pushes the body 106, which has the effect of constraining the locking pin 118 in the bottom of the locking groove 126. Thus, the passage of the free position to the fixed and locked position s 'accompanies the stressing of the locking pin

1 18 in the bottom of the locking groove 126. The stress of the locking pin 1 18 in the bottom of the locking groove 126 is achieved by means provided for this purpose. In the embodiment described in Figs., These means comprise, inter alia, the elastic means 102. The establishment of the fixing device 100 is then simple and fast.

The resilient means 102 must remain sufficiently compressed to ensure the tensioning of the fixing device 100, that is to say that the locking pin

118 must be constrained in the bottom of the locking groove 126. The clamping force of the wall of the pole 134 between the elastic means 102 and the head 104 must be sufficient to prevent the fastening device 100 from being rotated around its axis and thus releases the head 104 of the hole 138. The distance from the head 104 to the locking pin 118 and the depth of the locking groove 126 must remain small enough to ensure that the elastic means remains in compression at the end of the establishment of the fixing device 100.

Fig. 6 shows the fixing device 100 when the head 104 is inserted into one of the holes 138 of the pole 134 and is then in the position shown in FIG. 3.

Fig. 7 shows the fixing device 100 when the wall of the pole 134 is clamped between the head 104 and the elastic means 102. The fixing device 100 is then in the position shown in FIG. 5.

As best seen in FIG. 3, the head 104 extends radially relative to the axis 114 and the face of the head 104 which is opposite the wall of the pole 134 has a convex shape, which facilitates the passage of the head 104 behind the wall of the pole 134 and the tightening of the wall of the pole 134 by the head 104 during the rotation of the head 104.

The passage from the free position (Fig. 6) to the fixed and locked position (Fig. 7) is effected by rotation of the head 104 inside the pole 134 so that the wall of the pole 134 is placed. between the head 104 and the elastic means 102. During the rotation of the axis 114, the head 104 is pressed inside the pole 134 and the body

106 is pushed by the locking pin 118 against the outer wall of the pole 134.

The displacement of the body 106 causes the elastic means 102 to move against the outside wall of the post 134. The elastic means 102 is thus compressed and deformed to fit the shape of the outer wall of the post 134, which increases the friction force between the pole 134 and the elastic means 102 and thus avoids any disassembly of the fastening device 100 by sliding on the wall of the pole 134. When the locking pin 1 18 is housed in the locking groove 126, the deformation of the elastic means 102 is reduced but remains sufficient for the elastic means 102 exerts a clamping force on the wall of the pole 134 in cooperation with the head 104.

Fig. 8 represents the barrier 802 comprising a barred grid and the realization of which may, for example, consist of:

the laying of a first pole 134a, the fixing and locking of fixing devices of a first type 100a on the first pole 134a,

the insertion of the first end of each arm 136a, 136b into the space 110 of the fixing device of the corresponding first type 100a,

the establishment of fixing device of a second type 100b at the second end of each arm 136a, 136b,

fastening and locking fastening devices of the second type 100b on a second pole 134b;

-the establishment of the second pole 134b at a distance such that it allows the insertion of the second end of each smooth 136a, 136b in the space 110 of the fixing device of the corresponding second type 100b.

According to another embodiment, each end of each smooth 136a, 136b is previously secured to a fastener 100a, 100b. The construction of the barrier 802 can then consist of:

the laying of a first pole 134a, fastening and locking fastening devices of a first type 100a on the first pole 134a,

fastening and locking fastening devices of the second type 100b on a second pole 134b; the laying of the second pole 134b.

When the barrier 802 comprises only a set of posts 134a and 134b and a stringer 136b, the preceding embodiment can be used by adapting it because there is only one fastener of the first type 100a and a fixing device of the second type 100b. In order to prevent any movement of the heddles 136 with respect to the fixing devices 100, the hinges 136 and the fixing devices 100 may be fixed, for example by fitting without play, by riveting or by any other fixing method, eliminating any clearance between the hinges. Although the present invention is not limited to the examples and embodiments described and shown, it is capable of numerous variants accessible to those skilled in the art.

For example, in the description, the outer cylinder 130, the alignment cylinder 132, the space 110, the beam 136 and the protrusion of the elastic means 102 are more particularly described as cylinders of revolution or elliptical cylinders, but they could take, for example, the shape of a prism.

The invention has been more particularly described in the case where the locking pin is secured to the first clamping means and the locking groove formed in the second clamping means, but it is possible to switch the respective positions of the pin of blocking and locking groove.

In the above description, only the second clamping means has been selected as being compressible, but it is possible to choose whether the first clamping means is compressible or both are compressible. The means provided for biasing the locking pin in the bottom of the groove may then consist of the first clamping means and / or the second clamping means.

In the description above, only one locking pin has been provided, but it is possible to provide at least two distributed around the periphery of the first clamping means. It is then preferable to provide at least as many ramps as there are locking pins. In the description above, the orientation of the ramp is not specified because the ramp can be oriented in the direct trigonometric direction or in the indirect trigonometric direction. In the case where there are several ramps, it is possible to predict that some are oriented in the direct trigonometric direction and that others are oriented in the indirect trigonometric direction.

Claims

1) Fixing device (100) for a rail (136) on a pole (134) whose wall comprises a hole (138), the fixing device (100) comprising: - holding means (1 10) of the smooth;

a first clamping means (104) adapted to penetrate into the hole (138) and to come into contact with the inside of the wall of the pole (134);

a second clamping means (102) adapted to come into contact with the outside of the wall of the pole (134); -an operation means (1 16, 120, 122) adapted to pass the first clamping means (104) and the second clamping means (102) from a free position in which they do not clamp the wall of the post ( 134) at a fixed and locked position in which they clamp the wall of the pole (134); the fixing device (100) being characterized in that it comprises: a locking pin (1 18) integral with one of the clamping means (102, 104);

a locking groove (126) integral with the other of the clamping means (104, 102); and in that fixed and locked position is provided means for biasing the locking pin (1 18) in the bottom of the locking groove (126).

2) Fixing device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the clamping means (102, 104) is compressible.

3) Fastening device (100) according to claim 2, characterized in that the means for stressing the locking pin (1 18) in the bottom of the locking groove (126) comprise the one or more clamping means ( 102, 104).

4) Fastening device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second clamping means comprises a ramp (124) provided to cooperate with the locking pin (1 18) during the passage of the free position in the fixed and locked position. 5) Fastening device (100) according to claim 4, characterized in that the ramp (124) extends from below the bottom of the groove (126) to beyond the bottom of the locking groove (126). ).

6) Fastening device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first clamping means comprises a head (104) which fits into the hole

(138) of the post wall (134) and an axis (114) extending in the direction of the second clamping means (102) and on which the locking pin (118) is disposed.

7) Fastening device (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the second clamping means comprises a rotation cylinder (112) in which is inserted the axis (1 14) of the first clamping means and on which the locking groove (126) is formed.

8) Fixing device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that the passage from the free position to the fixed and locked position is effected by rotation of the axis (114) of the first clamping means inside. of the rotation cylinder (112).

9) Fixing device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the operating means comprise a maneuvering hole (1 16) formed in the first clamping means and an access window (120, 122 ) made in the second clamping means and allowing access to the maneuvering hole (1 16) from outside the second clamping means.

10) Fixing device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the locking pin (118) and the locking groove (126) are arranged inside the rail when the latter is in position. position.

11) Barrier (802) comprising at least one fixing device (100) according to one of the preceding claims.