PILLAR WITH LOAD-BRANCHING NODES AND ADJUSTABLE RUN-OUT ANGLE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a free pillar having a shaft, a load-branching node provided at the upper end of the shaft and at least two cantilever arms which are each connected at one end to the load-branching node and at the other end support the superstructure, and is characterized in that the load-bearing node includes a dome surface and a number of cantilever arm connections which corresponds to the number of cantilever arms, and in that the cantilever arm connections are arranged in such a manner that the center axes of the cantilever arm connections and of the shaft meet at a common point of intersection.

Claims

1. A free pillar having a shaft, a load-branching node provided at the upper end of the shaft and at least two cantilever arms which are each connected at one end to the load-branching node and at the other end support the superstructure, wherein the load-branching node includes a dome surface and a number of cantilever arm connections which corresponds to the number of cantilever arms, and in that the cantilever arm connections are arranged in such a manner that the center axes of the cantilever arm connections and of the shaft meet at a common point of intersection.

2. The pillar as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dome surface comprises a form which is at least symmetrical to a plane of symmetry running through the center axis of the shaft or rotationally symmetrical to the center axis of the shaft.

3. The pillar as claimed in claim 2 wherein, the dome surface is realized substantially in the form of a spherical segment, and in that the cantilever arm connections are connected to the dome surface via circular surfaces, as a result of which the common point of intersection of the center axes lies in the center of the spherical segment.

4. The pillar as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cantilever arms are connected to the cantilever arm connections by means of screw flanges.

5. The pillar as claimed in claim 3, wherein the cantilever arm connections are realized in one piece with the cantilever arms.

6. The pillar as claimed in claim 5, wherein the load-branching node includes a transition, wherein the dome surface is connected to the shaft by means of the transition, and wherein the transition compensates for at least one of different diameters and cross-sectional forms of the shaft and of the dome surface.

7. The pillar as claimed in claim 6, wherein the transition comprises at least one of a continually changing diameter and cross section.

8. The pillar as claimed in claim 7 wherein the parts of the load-branching node are welded together.

9. The pillar as claimed in claim 8 wherein bulkhead plates are provided in the load-branching node.

10. The pillar as claimed in claim 9 wherein the cantilever arms are realized as tubing with one of a constant and conical cross section.

11. The pillar as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cantilever arms are one of curved and molded in 3D.

12. The pillar as claimed in claim 11 wherein the shaft is realized as a spirally welded tube.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The invention is explained in more detail below by way of schematic drawings, similar-type components being provided with identical reference symbols, in which in detail:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a pillar in an embodiment of the invention,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a further view of the upper part of the embodiment in FIG. 1,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the invention analogous to that shown in FIG. 2,

[0027] FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of the lower parts of a pillar according to the invention,

[0028] FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the lower parts of a pillar according to the invention,

[0029] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of the lower parts of a pillar according to the invention including cantilever arm connections,

[0030] FIG. 7 shows a use of the pillar according to the invention as an example in the case of a bridge.

DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a free pillar (1) according to the invention in an embodiment with four cantilever arms (4) which are conical in basic form and are lightly curved. Said cantilever arms (4) are connected by means of screw flanges (6) to the load-branching node (3) which is explained in more detail in the following figures. The load-branching node (3) connects to the upper end at the top of a shaft (2).

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a load-branching node (3) and parts of the cantilever arms (4) according to FIG. 1. In this connection, the cantilever arms (4) are each connected by means of screw flanges (6) to a cantilever arm connection (32), which cantilever arm connections are connected to a dome surface (31) which comprises a curvature upward. A transition (33) connects downwardly to the edge of the dome surface (31), the lateral surface of which transition tapers conically downward in the direction of the shaft (2) which is not shown.

[0033] FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment to the variant shown in FIG. 2. The design with regard to the cantilever arms (4) covering the screw flanges (6) and the cantilever arm connections (32) and the dome surface (31) are identical in this connection. However, the transition (33) comprises smaller diameters, which is why the transition (33) is not connected to the edge but to the inside of the dome surface (31). As a further difference, the transition (33) tapers in a conical manner to a smaller diameter compared to the shaft (2) which is not shown. In order to compensate for said difference in diameter, the transition (33) comprises a connection plate which connects to the cone.

[0034] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 each show the lower components of different embodiments. Common to said embodiments is that the shaft (2) extends from bottom to top and a conical transition (33), which widens up to the diameter of the dome surface (31), is provided at the upper end. The dome surface (31) is realized in each case as a spherical segment. On account of the realization as spherical segments, it is possible to use tubular portions with a circular cross section for the cantilever arm connections (32) which are not shown.

[0035] The difference consists in that in FIG. 4 the dome surface (31) provides a hemisphere, consequently therefore the height of the spherical segment or of the dome surface (31) corresponds to the radius of the spherical segment. A relatively large dome surface (31) which correspondingly provides space for an arrangement for the cantilever arm connections (32) which are not shown and at the same time, in particular for large spans, enables a large run-out angle between cantilever arm connections (32) and center axis of the shaft (2), is provided as a result.

[0036] In contrast to this, in FIG. 5 the height of the spherical segment is smaller than the radius of the spherical segment. This forms a dome surface (31) which is realized in a significantly flatter manner, as a result of which a smaller run-out angle is generated between cantilever arm connection (32) and center axis of the shaft (2), which improves the flow of forces in the components.

[0037] FIG. 6 shows a shaft (2) of a pillar (1) according to the invention and the dome surface (31) connects in a direct manner to the upper end of said pillar. A transition (33) is not provided in said exemplary embodiment. Here the dome surface (31) comprises a design which is symmetrical to the plane which extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane through the center axis of the shaft (2) and is designed for two cantilever arm connections (32). As shown, the center axes of the cantilever arm connections (32) and of the shaft (2) meet at a point. The position of said point on the center axis of the shaft (2) can be modified in said exemplary embodiment by modifying the height of the triangular cross section of the dome surface (31) shown in the view and/or another angle of the surfaces on the cantilever arm connections (32) for connection to the dome surface (31), as a result of which the flow of forces in the pillar is modifiable.

[0038] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary use of pillars (1) according to the invention by way of a bridge as superstructure (5). In said example, the pillars (1) support the superstructure (5) as a result of a shaft (2) extending in each case from the ground upward and branching into the cantilever arms (4) at the load-branching node (3). The cantilever arms (4) branch out in order to enable a larger support surface or span and are connected to the superstructure (5).

[0039] The different features of the invention can be combined with one another in an arbitrary manner and are not restricted to just the examples of embodiments which are described or shown.

[0040] It should be understood that the mixing and matching of features, elements, methodologies and/or functions between various examples may be expressly contemplated herein so that one skilled in the art would appreciate from the present teachings that features, elements and/or functions of one example may be incorporated into another example as appropriate, unless described otherwise above.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0041] 1 (Free) pillar

[0042] 2 Shaft

[0043] 3 Load-branching node

[0044] 31 Dome surface

[0045] 32 Cantilever arm connection

[0046] 33 Transition

[0047] 4 Cantilever arm

[0048] 5 Superstructure

[0049] 6 Screw flange