CONNECTION ELEMENT FOR A POST-AND-BEAM OR ROD CONSTRUCTION AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A CONNECTION ELEMENT

Abstract

The invention relates to a connection element for a post-and-beam or rod construction of a facade system, wherein the connection element has a connection part which is manufactured by means of an additive manufacturing process for metals and which is formed by a plurality of different three-dimensionally curved regions.

Claims

1. A connecting element for a mullion/transom or beam structure of a façade system, wherein the connecting element comprises a connecting body produced by a generative manufacturing process, wherein the connecting body includes a plurality of different, three-dimensionally curved regions.

2. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the three-dimensionally curved regions run along previously calculated force flow vectors, wherein the force flow vectors correspond to a load acting on the connecting element in an integrated state of the connecting element in the mullion/transom or beam structure.

3. The connecting element according to claim 2, wherein each of the three-dimensionally curved regions run extend exclusively in an area of the calculated force flow vectors.

4. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein each of the three-dimensionally curved regions is of a rod, strut or branch shape in at least areas or sections of the three-dimensionally curved regions, wherein the areas or sections of the three-dimensionally curved regions exhibit different material thicknesses and material densities.

5. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein the material thicknesses and material densities are selected pursuant to a calculated point or area load of the connecting element in an integrated state of the connecting element in the mullion/transom or beam structure.

6. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein each of the three-dimensionally curved regions is parametrically defined.

7. The connecting element according to claim 1, wherein each of the three-dimensionally curved regions is parametrically adapted to specifically calculated and predetermined requirements of the mullion/transom or beam structure or to specifically calculated and/or predetermined requirements of the façade system which is part of the mullion/transom or beam structure.

8. The connecting element according to claim 6, wherein a curvature of the three-dimensionally curved region, a three-dimensional orientation of the three-dimensionally curved regions, a number of the three-dimensionally curved regions and the orientation of the three-dimensionally curved regions are parametrically defined among one another.

9. The connecting element according to claim 4, wherein each of the material thicknesses and material densities of the three-dimensionally curved regions is defined parametrically.

10. The connecting element according to one of claim 1, wherein the connecting element exhibits includes at least two interface areas, wherein the at least two interface areas are separate from one another, and wherein each of the at least two interface areas is integrated into the connecting body, via which mullion and/or transom elements of the mullion/transom structure or beam elements of the beam structure are configured to be connected to each other.

11. The connecting element according to claim 10, wherein the three-dimensionally curved regions have a rod, strut or branch shape, wherein a cross-sectional area of at least one of the three-dimensionally curved regions increases toward the interface areas and wherein a material thickness and a material density of at least one of the three-dimensionally curved regions increases toward the interface areas.

12. A façade structure, comprising at least one first beam element and at least one second beam element, wherein the at least one first beam element is connected to the at least one second beam element by the connecting element according to claim 1.

13. A façade structure, comprising at least one mullion element and at least one transom element, wherein the at least one mullion element is connected to the at least one transom element by the connecting element according to claim 1.

14. A method for producing the connecting element for a mullion/transom or beam structure of a façade system according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises the steps of: parametrically designing at least one connecting body of the connecting element; and generatively producing at least the parametrically designed connecting body.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the parametrically designed connecting body has a plurality of respectively different, three-dimensionally curved regions of rod, strut or branch shape, wherein the three-dimensionally curved regions extend along previously calculated force flow vectors, wherein the force flow vectors correspond to a load acting on the connecting element in an integrated state of the connecting element in the mullion/transom or beam structure.

16. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of integrating at least two interface areas into the connecting body, wherein the integration of the at least two interface areas ensues generatively.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the parametric designing step further comprises verifying approvability of the connecting body by virtually simulating the connecting body.

Description

[0043] Shown are:

[0044] FIG. 1a a schematic and isometric view of the front side of a first exemplary embodiment of a connecting element according to the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 1b a schematic and isometric view of the rear side of the first exemplary embodiment of the connecting element according to FIG. 1a;

[0046] FIG. 2a a schematic and isometric view of the front side of a second exemplary embodiment of the inventive connecting element;

[0047] FIG. 2b a schematic and isometric view of the rear side of the second exemplary embodiment of the connecting element according to FIG. 2a;

[0048] FIG. 3a a schematic and isometric view of the front side of a third exemplary embodiment of the inventive connecting element; and

[0049] FIG. 3b a schematic and isometric view of the rear side of the third exemplary embodiment of the connecting element according to FIG. 3a.

[0050] The following description of the figures uses the same reference numerals for the same or equivalent components of the different embodiments.

[0051] In a respective schematic and isometric view, FIG. 1a and FIG. 1b each show the front and rear side of a system having a generatively produced connecting element 1 formed integrally with a vertically extending façade profile and two interface areas 4 for receiving or respectively attaching corresponding façade profiles 5. In the embodiment depicted, the connecting body 2 of the connecting element 1 is generatively produced in a single operation, for example by means of a 3D printing process, and thus forms a monolith.

[0052] The connecting body 2 comprises a plurality of respectively different, three-dimensionally curved regions 3. These three-dimensionally curved regions 3 run along previously calculated force flow vectors.

[0053] As shown, the three-dimensionally curved regions 3 of the connecting body 2 in the first exemplary embodiment are in particular at least partly of rod, strut or branch shape and exhibit at least areas or sections of different material thicknesses and/or material densities. The material thicknesses and/or material densities are selected pursuant to a calculated point or area load of the connecting element 1 in an integrated state of the connecting element 1 in a façade structure.

[0054] As previously stated, the connecting element 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment has four separate interface areas 4 which are each integrated into the connecting body 2, by means of which façade elements 5, in particular façade profiles of the façade structure, can be connected together.

[0055] In the first exemplary embodiment, the interface areas 4 of the connecting body 2 are designed to receive the façade profiles 5 by the façade profiles 5 being at least partially fit onto the connecting areas and appropriately secured there.

[0056] A similar approach is used to connect the façade profiles 5 to the connecting body 2 in the embodiment depicted schematically in FIG. 2a and FIG. 2b, whereby a slip joint which is positively connectable to the interface areas of the connecting body 2 and serves to receive the façade profiles 5 is however used here.

[0057] The exemplary embodiment of the inventive connecting element 1 depicted schematically in FIG. 3a and FIG. 3b makes use of a topology-optimized solution, whereby the connection to the façade profiles 5 is effected by way of a standard sliding joint from the exterior of the connecting element 1 serving as a connecting node.

[0058] Particularly able to be recognized in the inventive connecting element 1, based on the rear views according to FIG. 1b, FIG. 2b and FIG. 3b, is that the drainage/sealing channels 6 of the façade profiles 5 connected to the connecting element 1 continue on in the connecting element in continuous manner.

[0059] The invention is not limited to the embodiments depicted in the drawings but rather yields from an integrated overall consideration of all the features as disclosed herein.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0060] 1 connecting element

[0061] 2 connecting body

[0062] 3 three-dimensionally curved region

[0063] 4 interface area

[0064] 5 façade profile

[0065] 6 drainage/sealing channel