IMPROVEMENTS IN, OR RELATING TO, A JOINT AND SYSTEM THEREFOR

Abstract

A joint system for structural elements for a building construction, comprising a first beam formed from at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel to define a closed hollow cross-section, a second beam having a hollow cross-section, the first beam having at least two unitarily formed opposing extending portions having a distance between them to accommodate, when in a jointed condition, the second beam therebetween, the extending portions and the second beam each having a plurality of corresponding, when in a jointed condition, spaced apart holes to receive fasteners therethrough, such that when in a jointed and fastened condition the joint system provides a joint system that is moment, in plane, and out of plane, force resistant and wherein the extending portions are formed from at least one of the at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel that define the closed hollow cross-section beam.

Claims

1. A joint system for structural elements for a building construction, comprising a first beam formed from at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel to define a closed hollow cross-section, a second beam having a hollow cross-section, the first beam having at least two unitarily formed opposing extending portions having a distance between them to accommodate, when in a jointed condition, the second beam therebetween, the extending portions and the second beam each having a plurality of corresponding, when in a jointed condition, spaced apart holes to receive fasteners therethrough, such that when in a jointed and fastened condition the joint system provides a joint system that is moment, in plane, and out of plane, force resistant and wherein the extending portions are formed from at least one of the at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel that define the closed hollow cross-section beam.

2. A joint system of claim 1 wherein the second beam is formed from at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel to define a closed hollow cross-section beam.

3. A joint system of claim 1 or 2 wherein the extending portions are formed from two of the at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel that define the closed hollow cross-section beam.

4. A joint system of any one of claims 2 and 3 wherein the pieces of overlapping sheet steel are formed into the respective first and/or second beam by any one or more of roll forming, folding, or cold forming.

5. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the extending portions are cut into the first beam sheet steel prior to forming the first beam.

6. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the extending portions are formed by cutting the first beam after the first beam is formed into a closed hollow cross-sectional beam.

7. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the two opposing extending portions are parallel to each other.

8. A joint system of claim 7 wherein the two opposing extending portions each present planar inward facing surfaces that in part define a complimentary pocket.

9. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein a substantial length of the first and/or second beam have an enclosed cross-sectional.

10. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the first and second beams are of constant cross-sectional along their length.

11. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the closed hollow cross-sectional beam is of rectangular or square cross-sectional.

12. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein at least one of the extending portions includes at least one reinforcing rib formed onto the exterior surface of the extending portion.

13. A joint system of claim 12 wherein the one or more reinforcing ribs run parallel to the main axis of the first beam.

14. A joint system of claim 12 or 13 wherein the reinforcing ribs extend from the extending portions into the body of the first beam.

15. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the second beam has threaded connections complimentary to the spaced apart holes, inward of an external surface of the second beam, to receive and engage fasteners therein.

16. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the sheet steel thickness is between 2 to 10 mm thick.

17. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 16 wherein the closed hollow cross-section beam(s) are formed from first and second open cross-sectional beams that are nested, one inside the other.

18. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the closed hollow cross-section beams have two opposed vertical webs, and two opposed horizontal flanges connecting therebetween.

19. A joint system of claim 17 or 18 wherein the first open cross-sectional beam forms a first of the vertical webs and part of a second of the vertical webs, and the second open cross-sectional beam forms the second vertical web, and part of the first vertical web, the first open cross-sectional beam and the second open cross-sectional beam both forming the two opposed horizontal flanges.

20. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 19 wherein an open part of the or a closed hollow cross-section beam is substantially closed off by a first blanking plate

21. A joint system of claim 20 wherein thickness of the blanking plate steel is between 2 to 15 mm thick.

22. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 21 wherein the sheet steel, used to form the beam(s), is formed to the respective first and/or second beam by welding.

23. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein there is no separate bracket between the first and second beam.

24. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 23 wherein the two parallel extensions are formed from sheet steel solely of the first beam.

25. A joint system of any one of claims 1 to 24 wherein the first and second beams are load-carrying members of a portal frame.

26. A method of forming a joint system for structural elements for a building construction, comprising a first beam formed from at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel to define a closed hollow cross-section, a second beam having a hollow cross-section, the first beam having at least two unitarily formed opposing extending portions having a distance between them to accommodate, when in a jointed condition, the second beam therebetween, the extending portions and the second beam each having a plurality of corresponding, when in a jointed condition, spaced apart holes to receive fasteners therethrough, and locating the second beam between the at least two unitarily formed opposing extending portions, and locating fasteners through the first plurality of spaced apart holes, and second plurality of spaced apart holes such that when in a jointed and fastened condition the joint system provides a joint system that is moment, in plane, and out of plane, force resistant.

27. A kit of parts for forming a joint between a second beam and a first beam, comprising a first beam formed from at least two pieces of overlapping sheet steel to define a closed hollow cross-section, a second beam having a hollow cross-section, the first beam having at least two unitarily formed opposing extending portions having a distance between them to accommodate, when in a jointed condition, the second beam therebetween, the second beam having a second plurality of spaced apart holes on opposing sides thereof to receive the same fasteners therethrough, complimentary to the first plurality, a plurality of fasteners to engage between the first plurality of spaced apart holes and their corresponding second plurality of spaced apart holes, such the first and second beam may be fastened together using the fasteners to form a jointed beam that is moment, in plane, and out of plane, force resistant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0104] FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a column with one half of the connection.

[0105] FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of a rafter with one half of the connection, being complimentary to that shown in FIG. 1.

[0106] FIG. 3 shows various configurations of open cross sectional steel to form the closed cross sectional beam as described.

[0107] FIG. 4 shows in side isometric view of the connection as described applied to a floor joist and column.

[0108] FIG. 5 shows in side isometric view of the connection as described applied to a rafter and column.

[0109] FIG. 6 shows Section AA along line A-A from FIG. 5.

[0110] FIG. 7 shows a typical construction using steel sheet and the potential locations of the joint as described, for example as a floor joist and as a rafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0111] Described is a joint system for structural elements for a building construction, comprising a first beam of closed hollow cross-section having a cutout in at least one side of the beam to accommodate a second beam within the cutout, and a fastening system to attach both beams to each other.

[0112] A joint 1 for a jointed beam is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The joint 1 may be used in the construction of steel frame buildings as shown in FIG. 7. For example, the joint 1 may be used to form the framework of a portal system, rafter system for a building, or any other structural element.

[0113] The joint 1 is formed from a first beam 8 and a second beam 3. The first beam extends in a first direction 9 and the second beam 3 extends in a second direction 4. In the assembly of the two beams shown the second direction 4 and the first direction 9 are different, and the joint 1 that is formed is for example a knee joint where the first beam 8 is vertical or near vertical and supports the second beam which extends out from the first beam 3, to form, for example, a rafter. However, in other forms the second direction 4 and the first direction 9 may be the same, whether vertical as a post, or at an angle as a rafter, or horizontal as a joist.

[0114] The first beam 8 and the second beam 3 may be formed by any one of roll forming, folding, or other cold or hot forming techniques.

[0115] The first beam 8 and the second beam 3 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 may be formed from two separate pieces of steel: 10A and 10B, and 5A and 5B. Each piece of steel may be formed as separate open cross-sectional beams having at least one vertical web and at least one horizontal web. The pieces of steel may be formed together to form a hollow cross sectional beam. As shown in FIGS. 3A to 3F a range of configurations of steel web combinations could be utilised. For example, in FIG. 3A each piece of steel includes two full horizontal webs and one full vertical web. Each piece of steel are mirror images of each other, although one is nested within the other. The resultant beam has a closed cross-section. FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional beam formed from two separate pieces of steel, each piece having a full vertical web and two full horizontal webs. The two pieces of steel are mirror images, with the cross-sectional beam formed by each piece of steel having one horizontal web located within the cross-section of the other piece of steel. FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional beam formed from two separate pieces of steel, each piece having a full vertical web, two partial vertical webs and two full horizontal webs. The two pieces of steel are nested in each other to form the hollow cross-sectional beam. FIG. 3D shows a cross-sectional beam formed from two separate pieces of steel, each piece having two full vertical webs and one full horizontal web. One of the pieces of steel is fully nested in the other. FIG. 3E shows a cross-sectional beam formed from two separate pieces of steel, each piece having two full vertical webs and one full horizontal web. The pieces of steel are mirror images of each other, each having one vertical web nested within the cross section of the other steel piece. FIG. 3F shows a cross-sectional beam formed from two separate pieces of steel, each piece having one full vertical web and one partial vertical web and one full horizontal web. The pieces of steel are mirror images of each other, each having one vertical web nested within the cross section of the other steel piece.

[0116] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional beam formed from two separate pieces of steel, each piece having one full vertical web, one partial vertical web, and two full horizontal webs. The pieces of steel are mirror images of each other, each having one vertical web nested within the cross section of the other steel piece. In doing so the two open cross-sectional pieces of steel form the beam 3 having a closed cross-sectional shown in FIG. 1. The resulting beam has a first dimension 7 across the webs as shown and is substantially rectangular in cross-sectional orthogonal to the second direction. It will be appreciate that the beam may be square or of other polygonal cross-sectional as needed, and potentially may be circular or ovoid.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 2, the opposing sides 17 of the second beam 3 have a first plurality of spaced apart holes 14, these holes in the preferred form a threaded to receive a like threaded fastener 15. If the holes 14 themselves are not threaded then they may thread inserts or similar to receive the fasteners.

[0118] To impart additional stiffness, or at least to prevent ingress of vermin and similar, the end of the second beam 3 may include a blanking plate 19 to close the end off.

[0119] The first beam 8, shown in FIG. 1 similar to the second beam, is formed from two second pieces of steel 10A and 10B and may be formed of various cross sectional shapes as described above and shown in FIG. 3. The open end of the hollow cross-section mean may be closed with a blanking plate 19 to enclose at least that end of the beam.

[0120] As shown in FIG. 1, the first beam 8 comprise two extending portions 11. These may be formed unitary with the beam and are extensions of the two steel pieces 10A and/or 10B. As shown in FIG. 1, the extending portions 11 are formed from both steel pieces 10A and 10Bthat is, one is formed from steel piece 10A, and the opposing one is formed from steel piece 10B. The extending portions may comprise reinforcing ribs 20 as shown in FIG. 1. The reinforcing ribs 20 may be located on their external surface of the extending portions 11. The reinforcing ribs 20 may be located on the edge, or at least towards the edge, of the extending portions 11. The ribs 20 may extend from the free end of the extending portion down into the full enclosed beam section. The planar inward facing surfaces 18 of the extending portions may the first dimension 7 of the second beam and are complimentary to these opposing sides 17. In this way when the fasteners are done up there is little movement of the extending portions 11 to support and engage the second beam 3.

[0121] The extending portions 11 may extend a distance that substantially matches the height of the second beam 3. As shown in FIG. 4 the lengths of the extending portions 11 extend a majority of the height of the second beam. The extending portions 11 may extend at least 75, 80, 85, 90 or 95% of the height of the second beam, and useful ranges may be selected between any of these values.

[0122] The extending portions 11 may be unitary with the two pieces of steel 10A and 10B. They may be formed by cuts in the sheet steel that forms the open cross-sectional beams 24 prior to forming the first beam 8, for example using a three dimensional machine in flat form. The cuts are at the correct angle to form the complimentary pocket 13 to support the second beam 3.

[0123] Alternatively, lengths of beam may be made and then the complimentary pocket 13 is cut into the end of the beam section after forming to form the complimentary pocket 13, for example, but not limited to using a five axis robotic arm or similar and cutting tool. In doing so the webs of the beam are cut away at the correct angle and to form the support surface 25 to match the second beam angle.

[0124] The free end of the hollow cross-sectional of the beam 8 may be angled to match the angle of incidence of the second beam 3 to the first beam as seen in FIG. 3. This provides clearance, but also when closely matched will provide a support surface 25 to the facing surface of the second beam 3. When keyed into place with the fasteners this may also provide resistance against moments. The result is a complimentary pocket 13 in the first beam 8 that can receive the second beam 3.

[0125] The extending portions 11 have the second plurality of spaced apart holes 16 which are complimentary to those of the second beam 3. When the second beam is located in the complimentary pocket 13, either with additional support, or by the support surface, then the holes will align and then fasteners 15 can be passed through the second plurality 16 and engage with the first plurality 14. If these are threaded fasteners then torqueing them up will form the joint as shown in FIG. 4. In the preferred form these are hollow bolts as the threaded connection.

[0126] The first two pieces of steel 5A and 5B and the second two pieces of steel 10A and 10B may be formed from sheet steel. The sheet steel may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 mm thick, and useful ranges may be selected between any of these values. In one embodiment the sheet steel is 6 mm thick. The blanking plate 19 may be 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15 mm thick, and useful ranges may be selected between any of these values. In one configuration the blanking plate is 10 mm thick.

[0127] Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Many modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.