Console for retractable roofs and facades

Abstract

The invention relates to a console with the aid of which large roofs and facade elements can be horizontally or vertically retracted.

Claims

1. A console for retractable roofs and facades comprising a load introduction plate, a mechanical interface and two elastomer bearings, wherein the load introduction plate has a base surface and at least one side surface, wherein the mechanical interface comprises at least one rib, a first bearing plate arranged on the at least one rib and a second bearing plate arranged on the at least one rib, characterized in that a first elastomer bearing is arranged between the base surface of the load introduction plate and the first bearing plate, and in that a second elastomer bearing is arranged between the second bearing plate and the side surface of the load introduction plate.

2. The console according to claim 1, characterized in that the load introduction plate has two side surfaces, wherein an angle between the normal vectors of the base surface and the side surfaces lies in an area between 60? and 120?.

3. The console according to claim 1, characterized in that the first elastomer bearing is designed as a first elastomer plate and the second elastomer bearing is designed as a second elastomer plate, in that a bearing block is mounted on the load introduction plate, which bearing block receives and/or carries the first elastomer.

4. The console according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one rib positively engages around the load introduction plate and its side surfaces.

5. The console according to claim 1, characterized in that the mechanical interface comprises two or more ribs, and in that at least one of the first bearing plate and the second bearing plate is connected to the ribs.

6. The console according to claim 1, characterized in that each rib has two legs, in that at least one holding part is detachably fastened to the legs, and in that the holding part or parts engages or engage around one of the side surfaces of the load introduction plate.

7. The console according to claim 1, characterized in that the load introduction plate is part of a linear guide, and in that the linear guide comprises one or more carriages and a guide rail.

8. The console according to claim 7, characterized in that the load introduction plate is detachably connected to one or more carriages of the linear guide.

9. The console according to claim 7, characterized in that the guide rail has a base and a bearing area, and in that a first distance between the bearing area and the contact surface between the first bearing plate and the first elastomer is approximately the same as a second distance between the bearing area and the contact surface between the second bearing plate and the second elastomer.

10. The console according to claim 9, characterized in that the difference between the first distance and the second distance is less than 30%.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0045] In the drawings:

[0046] FIG. 1 shows a guide rail,

[0047] FIG. 2 shows a heavy-duty roller carriage,

[0048] FIGS. 3 to 6 show the most important components of an exemplary embodiment;

[0049] FIGS. 7 to 9 show the exemplary embodiment in the assembled state in various views.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The same reference numerals are used in all figures.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a guide rail 5 in various views. The area of the guide rail 5 that is waisted in cross-section is the so-called bearing area 53. The base 55 serves to connect the guide rail 5 to a bearing structure 13 (see FIG. 7).

[0052] FIG. 2 shows a carriage 3 in various views. There are several threaded holes (without reference numerals) on the upper side of the carriage 3 (see view 2-2). With the aid of these threaded holes, a load introduction plate 15 (see FIG. 3) of the console 1 according to the invention is detachably connected to the carriage 3.

[0053] FIGS. 3 to 6 show the most important components of the first exemplary embodiment individually and in different views, such that their shape can be recognized in all details.

[0054] FIG. 3 shows a load introduction plate 15. It is bolted to carriage 3. The load introduction plate 15 is part of a mechanical interface that connects a roof or a carrier 11 of a roof with a carriage 3 of the linear guide. In order to be able to absorb the forces introduced from the roof via the carrier(s) 11 into the console 1, several carriages 3 can be arranged one behind the other on the guide rail 5 and connected to the load introduction plate 15 with screws if necessary. This makes it easy to increase the load capacity of the linear guide. A further advantage is that the local load on the guide rail 5 does not increase despite the greater forces. The carriages 3, arranged one behind the other, transfer the vertical forces (Y-axis) and the horizontal forces (Z-axis) over a certain length (i.e. in the direction of the X-axis) to the guide rail 5. This reduces the local load on the guide rail 5 and a bearing structure 13 of the building.

[0055] The load introduction plate 15 comprises a base surface 17 and two side surfaces 19. The side surfaces 19 of the load introduction plate 15 extend parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-axis) of the guide rail 5. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the load introduction plate 15 has a U-shaped cross-section with its side surfaces 19. The load introduction plate 15 and the side surfaces 19 usually consist of three steel plates that are welded together.

[0056] A bearing block 123 is fastened to the upper side of the base surface 17 of the load introduction plate 15 (for example by welding or bolting). In the exemplary embodiment shown, it is bolted to the carriage 3 (see, for example, FIG. 7).

[0057] A recess 125 is provided on the upper side of the bearing block 123 in this exemplary embodiment. The recess 125 accommodates a first EPDM plate 127 (not shown in FIG. 3) in a form-fitting manner, such that the first EPDM plate 127 is secured against displacement in the direction of the Z-axis (i.e. transverse to the direction of travel of the carriage 3).

[0058] FIG. 4 shows another part of the mechanical interface between the linear guide and a carrier 11 of the mobile roof. This welded structure, referred to as the upper part, comprises two ribs 7, an (optional) flange 9, which is not represented, and two bearing plates 31, 32.

[0059] A carrier 11 of the mobile roof is fastened to the ribs 7 or the flange 9 (not shown in FIG. 4) with fastening screws or by welding (see e.g. FIG. 7). The first bearing plate 31 and the second bearing plate 32 are welded to the ribs 7.

[0060] Holding parts 37 are designed at the lower ends of the ribs 7. The holding parts 37 protrude inwards and, in the assembled state of the console 1 (see FIG. 7), surround the load distribution plate 15 or its side surfaces 19. This results in a form closure connection between the carrier 11 and the carriage 3 of the linear guide. This form closure is for safety and prevents the roof from lifting off the linear guide (e.g. during a storm). The form closure has a certain amount of play; it is designed to allow and not hinder the relative movements between the roof and the building that occur during operation of the console 1.

[0061] FIG. 5 shows a flange 9 and a carrier 11 of the mobile roof connected to it.

[0062] FIG. 6 shows a first PDM plate 127.

[0063] The first bearing plate 31 in the upper part (see FIG. 4) and the recess 125 in the bearing block 123 (see FIG. 3) of the load introduction plate are aligned parallel to one another, such that the first EPDM plate 127 can absorb the forces introduced into the first EPDM bearing by the bearing plate 31 over its entire surface and transmit them to the load introduction plate 15.

[0064] In this exemplary embodiment, the first bearing plate 31, the bearing block 123 and the first EPDM plate 127 form a first plain bearing. The first plain bearing transmits (vertical) loads in the direction of a Y-axis and thus orthogonal to the direction of movement (X-axis) of the carriage 3.

[0065] A second plain bearing layer is provided to transmit lateral loads (in the direction of a Z-axis). In this exemplary embodiment, it comprises the components second bearing plate 32, a side surface 19 of the load introduction plate 15 and a second EPDM plate 129 (see FIG. 7). The second plain bearing has a very similar design to the first plain bearing.

[0066] FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 show the first exemplary embodiment of a console 1 according to the invention in the assembled state in various views. The console 1 consists of the individual parts shown in FIGS. 1 to 6. The structure and function of console 1 become clear from the overview of FIGS. 1 to 9.

[0067] For reasons of clarity, not all reference numerals are shown in FIGS. 7 to 9.

[0068] FIG. 7 shows a front view of the console 1 as it may be used in an application for moving a roof. The console 1 is assembled on one or more carriages 3 of a linear guide. The carriage or carriages 3 are assembled on a guide rail 5 in a form-closed manner and are retractable in the direction of an X-axis. Carriage 3 and guide rail 5 form the linear guide.

[0069] A roof or a carrier 11 of a roof is connected to the linear guide via a mechanical interface, which comprises two ribs 7, a first bearing plate 31, a second bearing plate 32 and a load introduction plate 15 in the exemplary embodiment shown.

[0070] The guide rail 5 is in turn connected to a bearing structure 13 of a building or similar. Details of the connection (screw connection, clamping, etc.) of guide rail 5 and bearing structure 13 are not represented in FIGS. 7 to 9. The bearing structure 13 can be a steel carrier, a concreted ring beam or something similar.

[0071] The figures show only a small part of the retractable roof and a console 1 together with its connection to the bearing structure 13 of the building. Of course, the roof is not only fastened on one side to the console 1 shown, but there is a second console (not shown) to the left of the console 1 shown in FIG. 7, which is laterally reversed but otherwise of the same design. As a rule, at least four consoles 1 (one at each corner) are provided on a movable component (roof or facade). For large components, there may also be six, eight or more consoles 1. For reasons of clarity, however, only one console 1 is represented.

[0072] As in the exemplary embodiment shown, the linear guide can be a linear guide with roller bearings available on the market. Such linear guides are used in machine tools, for example. The advantage of using linear guides from the mechanical engineering sector is that components manufactured and tested to a very high quality are available. In addition, the appropriate model can be selected from the linear guide manufacturer's catalog according to the loads that occur.

[0073] The guide rails 5 are usually composed of several parts arranged one behind the other. Carriage 3 is only recognizable in its outer contour or cross-section. The rolling bodies between carriage 3 and the waisted guide rail 5 are also not shown in the figures, as the person skilled in art is therefore familiar with positive-locking linear guides mounted on roller bearings.

[0074] In order to be able to absorb the forces introduced from the roof via the carrier(s) 11 into the console 1, several carriages 3 can be arranged one behind the other on the guide rail 5 if necessary and connected to the load introduction plate 15 by screws. This makes it easy to scale the load capacity of the linear guide.

[0075] A further advantage of this scalability is that the local load on the guide rail 5 does not increase despite greater forces. The carriages 3, which are arranged one behind the other, transfer the forces acting in the direction of the Y-axis and the Z-axis over a certain length (i.e. in the direction of the X-axis) to the guide rail 5. This reduces the local load on the guide rail 5 and a bearing structure 13 of the building.

[0076] The interaction of the first and second EPDM bearing ensures that vertical and lateral loads are transmitted safely from the carrier 11 to the carriage(s) 3; nevertheless, due to the softness of the EPDM plates 127 and 129, minor angular errors can be flexibly compensated.

[0077] The angular errors can be caused by the unavoidable tolerances when building a large roof, and/or by locally different thermal expansions on the structure, for example if part of the structure is exposed to sunlight and another part of the structure is in the shade.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0078] 1 console [0079] 3 carriage [0080] 5 guide rail [0081] 7 rib, [0082] 9 flange [0083] 11 carrier of the roof/facade [0084] 13 bearing structure [0085] 15 load introduction plate [0086] 17 base surface [0087] 19 side surface [0088] 21 extensions [0089] 25 fastening screw [0090] 27 bolts [0091] 31 first bearing plate [0092] 32 second bearing plate [0093] 35 legs [0094] 37 holding part [0095] 39 contact surface [0096] 53 storage area [0097] 55 base [0098] 123 bearing block [0099] 125 recess [0100] 127 first bearing plate made of elastomer, EPDM or another material [0101] 129 second bearing plate made of elastomer, EPDM or another material [0102] S.sub.1 first distance [0103] S.sub.2 second distance