WO2024105331A1

WO2024105331A1 - System of articulated and nestable modules for forming a structural element

Info

Publication number: WO2024105331A1
Application number: PCT/FR2023/051783
Authority: WO
Inventors: Romain MESNIL; Olivier Baverel; Pierre GILIBERT
Original assignee: Ecole Nationale Des Ponts Et Chaussees
Priority date: 2022-11-14
Filing date: 2023-11-13
Publication date: 2024-05-23
Also published as: FR3141975A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element, comprising modules (M1, M2), at least part of which are connected to one another by pivot connections (6) of parallel axes in order to form a chain of modules (C1, C2), each module (M1, M2) comprising at least one lug (E1, E2) and/or at least one recess (E'1, E'2). These modules (M1, M2) have complementary shapes and are nested with one another by engagement of the lugs (E1, E2) in the recesses (E'1, E'2) in order to constitute a rigid solid assembly.

Description

Title: System of articulated and interlocking modules to form a structural element

TECHNICAL AREA

The invention relates to the field of construction of a temporary type supporting structure.

STATE OF PRIOR ART

The assembly of a temporary structure requires assembling a large quantity of components such as bars, beams and others, which must be carefully secured to each other by multiple mechanical joining elements.

In practice, the installation of a temporary structure requires having significant means of transport to transport its components which are bulky, and having a duly qualified workforce to carry out its assembly.

The aim of the invention is to provide a solution for forming a temporary structure which is compact when dismantled to facilitate its transport, and which is simple to assemble to allow rapid installation.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the subject of the invention is a supporting structure composed of modules of which at least part are connected to each other by pivot connections of parallel axes to form at least two distinct chains of modules, each module comprising at least a lug and/or at least one recess, these modules having complementary shapes and being fitted together by engagement of the lugs in the recesses to constitute at least one rigid beam.

With this arrangement, the structure can be transported by folding the strings of modules so that they occupy a compact footprint, and the assembly of the structure consists essentially of nesting the modules with each other, so that it can be carried out quickly. The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising two chains of modules constituting a beam, these two chains of modules extending along two opposite edges of this beam.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, each module of which has an essentially planar shape.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, the modules of which are identical.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising independent modules interposed between the modules of the two chains of modules which extend along two opposite edges of the beam.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising three chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, to form three beams connected to each other by a Y connection.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising three chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, in which each module has the shape of a prism with a triangular base to form a beam with a triangular section.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising four chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, these chains being arranged in helicoids to form a beam with a square section.

The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising at least one lug having a shape curved in an arc of a circle centered on a pivot connection of the module to which this lug belongs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[Fig. 1] is a side view of a rectilinear beam formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprising two chains of modules with transverse pivot connections;

[Fig. 2] is a side view of a module shown alone; [Fig. 3] is a side view of the assembly of a system according to the invention comprising modules with transverse pivot connections for the constitution of a rectilinear beam;

[Fig. 4] is a side view of a curved beam formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprising two chains of modules with transverse pivot connections;

[Fig. 5] is a side view of the assembly of the modules of a variant of the system according to the invention to constitute a rectilinear beam formed of a series of independent blocks held by two chains of modules with transverse pivot connections;

[Fig. 6] is a perspective view showing four beams according to the invention assembled to support a floor;

[Fig. 7] is a side view of a Y-shaped structure obtained by assembling a system according to the invention comprising three chains of modules with transverse pivot connections;

[Fig. 8] is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for forming a rectilinear beam whose pivot module connections are oriented parallel to the shear force;

[Fig. 9] is a schematic perspective representation of the assembly of a system according to the invention with three chains of modules forming a rectilinear beam; [Fig. 10] is a schematic perspective representation of the assembly of a system according to the invention with three chains following a helical arrangement constituting a rectilinear beam.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENTS

In Figure 1, a supporting structure in the form of a rectilinear beam PI formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprises a lower chain Cl formed of twelve modules Ml connected to each other, and an upper chain C2 formed of eleven M2 modules connected to each other, the Ml modules being nested with the modules As visible more clearly in Figure 2, each module Ml has a generally planar and triangular shape, comprising a first side 1 extended by a second side 2, these sides being joined by a base 3.

Each module Ml is here formed of a triangular plate equipped with two reinforcing bars 4. These two bars 4 extend on either side of the plate, the base of which they run along, being rigidly secured to it, these bars 4 having ends which protrude slightly beyond sides 1 and 2.

The modules Ml form the chain Cl by being secured to each other by pivot links 6 formed at the ends of the bars 4. Each bar 4 here has a hole at each of its ends, and the ends of the bars 4 of two consecutive modules Ml are connected for example by an axis passing through these holes while being crimped at its ends, to form a pivot connection 6 with an axis normal to the plane of these modules.

The modules Ml which are generally planar are thus secured to each other by pivot connections 6 parallel to each other and of orientation normal to the planes of these modules Ml. These modules thus constitute a polyarticulated chain-type solid.

The module Ml is provided with two lugs El and E2 protruding from its first side 1, and with two recesses E'1 and E'2 which open in its second side 2. The two lugs El and E2 have arcuate shapes of circles centered on the vertex joining the sides 1 and 2, and the recesses E'1 and E'2 have the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the vertex joining the second side 2 and the base 3.

In the example of Figures 1 to 3, the modules Ml of the chain Cl are identical to the modules M2 of the chain C2, but they are oriented head to tail. The modules Ml of the chain Cl thus have their bases which form the lower edge of the beam PI while having their lugs oriented towards the right in these figures. The M2 modules of the C2 chain have their bases which form the upper edge of the PI beam while having their lugs also oriented towards the right in these figures.

As shown in Figure 3, the assembly of the beam PI consists first of all in arranging the two chains Cl and C2 on the same plane, in such a way that the bases of one are opposed to the bases of the other, the modules extending between the bases of the chain Cl and those of the chain C2 the lugs of the modules Ml and M2 all being oriented towards the right.

The module M2 of the left end of the chain C2 is then moved to fit its lugs El and E2 into the recesses E'1 and E'2 of the module Ml of the left end of the chain C2. At this stage, the next module Ml of the chain Cl can be pivoted around the pivot link 6 linking it to the end module Ml, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the module M2 of the end of the chain C2.

The process is then continued by pivoting the next module M2 of the chain C2, around the pivot link 6 linking it to the module M2 previously fitted, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the module Ml of the chain Cl previously fitted. The next module Ml of the chain Cl is then pivoted around the pivot link 6 linking it to the module Ml previously fitted, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the module M2 previously fitted.

Once all the modules have been nested, the PI beam obtained is a rectilinear beam which is full, that is to say without openings thanks to the complementarity of the shapes of the modules which are all nested, and presenting resistance to significant bending. This resistance is due to the fact that when this beam is subjected to a load, the shear forces which it undergoes are taken up by the interlocking of the lugs in the notches, while the bending forces which it undergoes are taken up by the bars delimiting the opposite edges of this beam.

In the example of Figures 1 to 3, the modules Ml and M2 are all identical in having the same shape and the same dimensions, but the dimensions of these modules can be provided to give the beam obtained a non-rectilinear shape. Thus, in the example of Figure 4, modules Ml have been provided for the chain Cl whose bases are significantly shorter than those of the modules M2 of the chain C2. This dimensioning thus makes it possible to generate a solid beam having a curved shape instead of a rectilinear shape, as illustrated in Figure 4. In the examples of Figures 1 to 4, all the modules are part of a chain: the modules M1 are all linked together by the pivot links 6 to form the chain Cl, and in an analogous manner, the modules M2 are linked to form the C2 chain. But it is also possible to provide an arrangement comprising independent modules which are interposed between the modules of the chain Cl and the modules of the chain C2, as in the example of the beam P2 shown in Figure 5.

This beam P2 comprises a chain of modules C3 whose modules are marked M3 and a chain of modules C4 whose modules are marked M4, as well as independent modules Mi, the whole assembly being assembled to form a rectilinear beam having a greater height, and thereby greater rigidity.

The M3 modules are of the same type as the Ml and M2 modules: they have a generally triangular shape comprising two adjacent sides 1 and 2 joined by a base 3 reinforced by a bar 4 whose ends constitute pivot connections 6. The first side 1 is here devoid of lug and recess, and the second side, located on the left in Figure 5, here only has a lug El in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the pivot connection 6 to which it is closest.

Each M4 module of the C4 chain is identical to the M3 modules, with the difference that its first side has a lug E2 in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the pivot link 6 of the module from which it is furthest away. Thus, the two lugs El and E2 of a module M4 have the shape of an arc of circles centered on the same pivot connection 6 which is the connection located on the left in Figure 5.

As visible in Figure 5, the modules M3 and M4 have very similar shapes, and they are, just like in the example of Figures 1 to 4, arranged head to tail. The M3 modules of the C3 chain thus have their bases which form the lower edge of the beam while having their lugs oriented towards the left in Figure 5. The M4 modules of the C4 chain have their bases which form the edge upper part of the beam while having their lugs El and E2 also oriented towards the left in these figures.

The independent modules Mi here have generally rectangular shapes comprising, in Figure 5, an upper edge 7, a lower edge 8, a left side edge 9, and a right side edge 11. The lower and upper edges are the short edges fitting respectively with the M3 and M4 modules. The left lateral edge 9 fits with another independent module Mi and with a module M3, while the right lateral edge 11 fits with another independent module Mi and with a module M4. As visible in Figure 5, each upper edge 7 has a recess E'1 curved to receive a lug El of a module M4, and each right side edge 11 has a recess E'2 curved to receive a lug E2 of a another M4 module. Each lower edge 8 has a curved recess E"1 to receive a lug El of a module M3.

Complementarily, each left lateral edge 9 comprises a rectilinear lug E3 perpendicular to the edge 9, and each right lateral edge 11 comprises a rectilinear recess E'3 perpendicular to the edge 11 and intended to receive a lug E3 of another independent module Mi.

As shown in Figure 5, the assembly of the beam P2 consists first of all in arranging the two chains C3 and C4 on the same plane, such that the bases of one are opposite the bases of the other. The M3 and M4 modules then extend between the bases of the C3 chain and those of the C4 chain, the lugs of these M3 and M4 modules all being oriented towards the left. The two chains C3 and C4 are further arranged to be spaced at a distance greater than the height of the independent modules Mi. An independent module Mi is then fitted with an end module M3 of the chain C3 by engaging its recess E "1 on the lug El of the module M3, after which the end module M4 is fitted with the independent module Mi by engagement of its lug El in the corresponding recess E'1 of the module Mi.

At this stage, the following independent module Mi is fitted with the module Mi in place by engaging its lug E3 in the recess E'3 of the independent module in place. After this operation, the next M3 module is pivoted around the pivot link 6 linking it to the previous M3 module which is in place to engage its lug El in the recess E''l of the independent module Mi which has just been put in place . Once this operation has been carried out, the following M4 module is pivoted around link 6 connecting it to the M4 module previous which is in place, to simultaneously engage its lugs El and E2 in the recesses E'1 and E'2 of the two independent modules.

The above operation is then repeated until all the modules fit together so as to entirely constitute the beam P2 which is then a rectilinear beam. This beam P2 obtained is a solid beam thanks to the complementary shape of the modules which are all nested, and which has significantly increased bending resistance due to the fact that it has a greater height, that is to say a greatest distance separating its opposite edges.

The beam P2 in Figure 5 is also advantageous because its independent modules Mi are adapted to facilitate its assembly with another beam of the same type. As illustrated schematically in Figure 6, four beams P2 can thus be joined to each other by crossing in a grid-type pattern to constitute a support structure intended to support, for example, a floor of a stage or a podium.

As can be seen from this figure 5, the assembly of these four beams P2 is obtained thanks to four octahedral junction modules JO making it possible to join two beams P2 perpendicular to each other. As visible in Figure 5, such a JO junction module replaces an independent module in each of the two beams that it joins, given that it includes lugs and recesses (not shown) allowing it to fit together with the modules of one and the other of the two beams that it joins together.

More particularly, in the example of Figure 5, the independent modules Mi have plane diamond shapes, and the junction modules JO are volume modules in the shape of octahedrons which have in their two main perpendicular section planes the same diamond contour as the independent Mi modules.

The JO junction modules have octahedral shapes in the example of Figure 5, but other shapes are possible to implement such junction modules, such as cruciform or other shapes, as long as they allow the rigid connection of two beams at their intersection. As illustrated in the example of Figure 7, the invention also makes it possible to constitute a structure in the form of a split Y-shaped beam, which corresponds to the connection of three beams, using an arrangement of the same type as that of Figures 1 to 4, but based on the combination of three chains of modules.

This structure comprises three chains of modules C5, C6, C7, the modules of which are marked respectively by M5, M6 and M7. The chains C5 and C6 each comprise a first half by which they are secured to each other by interlocking their modules M5 and M6 to constitute a beam P3 of the same type as that of Figure 1 or 4, the second halves of these C5 and C6 chains being dissociated from each other.

The chain C7 has a half by which it is secured to the second half of the chain C5 by interlocking their modules to form another beam P4, and it has a second half by which it is secured to the second half of the chain C6 by interlocking their modules to form another beam P5. As visible in Figure 7, the modules M5-M7 of the chains C5-C7 are triangular modules, that is to say of the same type as the modules of the examples illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. But the modules M' 5, M'6 and M'7 of the chains C5-C7 which are located in the junction region of the beams P3, P4 and P5 are modules having here the shapes of quadrilaterals, to allow the dissociation of the three beams P3, P4 and P5, this can also be ensured by using triangular shapes.

As with all the examples in Figures 1 to 4, the modules in the example in Figure 7 are planar modules whose shapes are complementary, such that the beams Tl, T2 and T3 are solid, in the same way as the structure that they constitute.

In the examples of Figures 1 to 7, the modules of a chain are articulated to each other by pivot links 6 oriented transversely, that is to say that the axes of these pivot links 6 are perpendicular to the planes of the modules to be oriented transversely in relation to the beam that these modules form.

It is also possible to provide modules connected to each other by pivot connections 6 extending in the plane of these modules and perpendicular to the direction general of the beam they form. In such a solution which is shown in Figure 8, two chains of modules C8 and C9 are thus provided, formed of modules M8 and M9 which are essentially parallelepiped to form a beam P6. The modules of the same chain are connected to each other by parallel pivot connections 6 which extend in the direction of the shear force experienced by the beam P6 when it is loaded.

In this example of Figure 8, the lugs and recesses of the modules (not shown) are formed at the level of the faces of the modules which are applied against each other during assembly of the assembly.

In the examples of Figures 1 to 5 and 7, the modules are all essentially planar elements of the plate type, the lugs of which extend the edges, and the recesses of which are notches opening into these edges. Thus, the lugs and the recesses are formed directly during the cutting of these plates, so that the lugs have the same thickness as these plates, and the notches pass through these plates right through.

It is also possible to provide lugs in the form of studs protruding from the edge of the plates engaging in recesses in the form of holes formed in the edge of these plates. The lugs then have a thickness less than that of the plate and the recesses a diameter less than the thickness of the plate. This arrangement makes it possible, if necessary, to increase the mechanical strength of the beam obtained.

Furthermore, the modules which are all planar in the examples of Figures 1 to 5 and 7 can also be volumetric elements, as in the example of Figure 9 where a beam P7 is formed from three chains of CIO modules, Cil, C12, whose modules M10, Mil and M12 have the shape of prisms with triangular sections.

As visible in Figure 9, the three chains C10-C12 are arranged in a rectilinear manner, so that the beam P7 has a triangular section. According to this arrangement, each module has an external face, as well as two internal faces which are provided with lugs and recesses (not shown) allowing their nesting. Once two modules M10 and Mil have been fitted together, an M12 module is brought by its two internal faces against the two internal faces of modules M10 and Mil to fit it with them.

It is also possible to provide volume shapes of modules M13-M16 making it possible to constitute a beam P8 with four chains of modules C13-C16 which are arranged in helicoids wound with each other, as illustrated schematically in Figure 10. In this case, as visible in Figure 10, the beam obtained can be a rectilinear beam with a square section.

Generally speaking, the modules are made of a construction material, such as wood, steel, possibly concrete, or even a suitable plastic material. In the examples described in relation to the figures, the modules are solid and substantially planar elements forming solid beams, but these modules can also be hollow or have recesses, by being formed for example by assembling steel bars.

The reinforcing bars 4 are advantageously manufactured from a material having a mechanical strength greater than that of the rest of the module, in particular in traction and compression, due to the fact that they take up most of the bending forces of the beam, which are result in tensile and compressive stresses along its edges.

In the examples described in relation to the figures, the lugs and the recesses are elements curved in arcs of circles and having relatively significant lengths. Other shapes are possible for these lugs and these recesses, these being able for example to have frustoconical shapes, by not being curved, and by having shorter lengths.

Claims

1. Supporting structure composed of modules (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) of which at least part are connected to each other by pivot links (6) of parallel axes to form at least two chains of distinct modules, each module (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) comprising at least one lug (El, E2, E3) and/or at least one recess (E'1, E"l, E '2, E'3), these modules (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) having complementary shapes and being fitted together by engagement of the lugs (El, E2, E3) in the recesses (E'1, E"l, E'2, E'3) to constitute at least one rigid beam.

2. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising two chains of modules (Cl-C7) constituting a beam, these two chains of modules (C1-C7) extending along two opposite edges of this beam.

3. Supporting structure according to claim 2, each module (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) of which has an essentially planar shape.

4. Supporting structure according to claim 2, the modules (Ml, M2) of which are identical.

5. Supporting structure according to claim 2, comprising independent modules (Mi) interposed between the modules (M3, M4) of the two chains of modules (C3, C4) which extend along two opposite edges of the beam (P2).

6. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising three chains of modules (C5, C6, C7) connected by interlocking their modules (M5-M7, M'5-M'7), to form three beams (P3-P5) connected to each other by a Y connection.

7. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising three chains of modules (C10-C12) connected by nesting of their modules (M10-M12), in which each module (M10-M12) has the shape of a prism with a triangular base to form a beam (P7) with a triangular section.

8. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising four chains of modules (C13-C16) connected by interlocking of their modules (M13-M16), these chains (C13-C16) being arranged in helicoids to form a beam (P8) with square section.

9. Structural element according to claim 1, comprising at least one lug (El, E2, E3) having a shape curved in an arc of a circle centered on a pivot connection (6) of the module to which this lug (El, E2, E3).