Connector Arrangement

Abstract

A connector arrangement for connecting a timber column to a base includes a releasable split nut for releasably gripping a rod, where the releasable split nut is disposed on the timber column, and a quickly mountable nut, where the quickly mountable nut is disposed on the base. The quickly mountable nut allows insertion of the rod into the quickly mountable nut and inhibits withdrawal of the rod from the quickly mountable nut.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A connector arrangement for connecting a timber column (3) to a base (1), comprising: a releasable split nut (30) for releasably gripping a rod (9), wherein the releasable split nut (30) is disposed on the timber column (3); and a quickly mountable nut (10), wherein the quickly mountable nut (10) is disposed on the base (1), wherein the quickly mountable nut (10) allows insertion of the rod (9) into the quickly mountable nut (10), and wherein the quickly mountable nut (10) inhibits withdrawal of the rod (9) from the quickly mountable nut (10).

11. The connector arrangement according to claim 10, further comprising the rod (9), wherein the rod (9) is releasably gripped by the releasable split nut (30) and is engaged by the quickly mountable nut (10) such that the timber column (3) is connected to the base (1).

12. A split nut (30), comprising: a sleeve (33) which has a lateral insertion opening for inserting a rod (9) into the sleeve (33); a first plunger jaw (41) for engaging the rod (9) when the rod (9) is inserted into the sleeve (33) through the lateral insertion opening (48), wherein the first plunger jaw (41) is disposed at least partly within the sleeve (33); a second plunger jaw (42) for engaging the rod (9) when the rod (9) is inserted into the sleeve (33) through the lateral insertion opening wherein the second plunger jaw (42) is disposed at least partly within the sleeve (33); and a jaw lock, wherein the first plunger jaw (41) and the second plunger jaw (42) are clampable together by the jaw lock such that the rod (9) is engaged by the the first plunger jaw (41) and the second plunger jaw between the first plunger jaw (41) and the second plunger jaw (42).

13. The split nut (30) according to claim 12, wherein the jaw lock comprises at least one threaded bolt (45, 45) which extends within the first plunger jaw (41) and within the second plunger jaw (42).

14. The split nut (30) according to claim 12, further comprising a fixing screw (50) which extends through the sleeve (33) and into the second plunger jaw (42).

15. The split nut (30) according to claim 14, wherein the fixing screw (50) extends through the sleeve (33) with a jaw operation play and wherein the jaw operation play allows displacement of the second plunger jaw (42) between a rod (9) engagement position and a rod (9) disengagement position.

16. The split nut (30) according to claim 12, wherein the first plunger jaw (41) has a threaded pull-out bore (55).

17. The split nut (30) according to claim 12, wherein the first plunger jaw (41) comprises a first jaw groove (51) for receiving the rod (9) and/or wherein the second plunger jaw comprises a second jaw groove (52) for receiving the rod (9).

18. The split nut (30) according to claim 12, wherein the sleeve (33) has a circular cylindrical lateral surface at least in an area surrounding the lateral insertion opening (48).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a connector arrangement that connects a timber column to a base by means of a rod.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector arrangement of FIG. 1, including the rod, but with the column and the base omitted.

[0033] FIG. 3 is an exploded sectional view of the connector arrangement of FIG. 1, including the rod, but with the column and the base omitted.

[0034] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the connector arrangement of FIG. 1, including the rod, but with the column and the base omitted.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] An example of a connector arrangement is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0036] The connector arrangement is intended to connect a timber column 3 to a base 1 by means of a rod 9. The base 1 can be, by way of example, a second timber column, a timber rod, or a concrete base.

[0037] The rod 9 is in particular a metal rod, more preferably a steel rod. The rod 9 has preferably a structured lateral surface for particularly effective engagement. In particular, the lateral surface can be threaded.

[0038] The connector arrangement comprises a quickly mountable nut 10 for gripping and engaging the rod 9 by axially pushing the rod 9 into the quickly mountable nut 10, wherein the quickly mountable nut 10 is arranged within the base 1. In the present embodiment, the quickly mountable nut 10 comprises catches 12 in the form of sliding wedges that are arranged in a tapering chamber 13 of a housing 14 of the quickly mountable nut 10. However, other mechanisms, that likewise allow insertion of the rod 9 into the quickly mountable nut 10 but obstruct oppositely directed removal are also feasible. Such other mechanisms might include for example pawl levers or springs as catches. In the shown embodiment, a compression coil spring 15 is provided for biasing the catches 12, but this is an example only.

[0039] The connector arrangement further comprises a split nut 30 for releasably engaging the rod 9. The split nut 30 is a barrel nut, which is arranged within a bore 4 provided in the timber column 3. The split nut 30 comprises a sleeve 33, which has a generally circular cylindrical lateral surface, which defines the barrel nut surface. A lateral insertion opening 48, located at the lateral surface of the sleeve 33, extends through the sleeve 33 from outside of the sleeve 33 into the sleeve 33. Located oppositely on the sleeve 33, and located, likewise, at the lateral surface of the sleeve 33, a lateral exit opening 49 extends through the sleeve 33 from outside of the sleeve 33 into the sleeve 33. The rod 9 can be inserted through the insertion opening 48 from outside of the sleeve 33 into sleeve 33. The insertion opening 48 and the exit opening 49 are aligned, so that the rod 9 can be passed through both openings 48 and 49 so as to traverse the sleeve 33.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the sleeve 33 is open at both at its faces. However, in other embodiments, the sleeve 33 might be closed at one of its faces or at both of its faces, be it by an integral (with respect to the sleeve 33) plug or by a non-integral (with respect to the sleeve 33) plug, i.e., by a separate plug.

[0041] The lateral surface of sleeve 33 is circular cylindrical at least in an area surrounding the insertion opening 48. In the present embodiment, the lateral surface of sleeve 33, i.e., the outer surface, is circular cylindrical throughout.

[0042] The split nut 30 further comprises a first plunger jaw 41 and a second plunger jaw 42, which are both arranged within the sleeve 33. The first plunger jaw 41 and the second plunger jaw 42 are slidable with respect to the sleeve 33 and are arranged on opposite sides of a rod insertion axis that extends through the insertion opening 48 and, if provided, through the exit opening 49. Consequently, each of the plunger jaws 41 and 42 can be, slideably, brought into contact with the rod 9 when the rod 9 is inserted through the insertion opening 48 into the sleeve 33, so as to engage the rod 9 so as to lock the rod 9 in the split nut 30 against being pulled out of the insertion opening 48, and each of the plunger jaws 41 and 42 can be, slideably, brought out of contact with the rod 9 when the rod 9 is inserted through the insertion opening 48, so as to release the rod 9.

[0043] The split nut 30 further comprises a jaw lock, which in turn comprises two headed, threaded bolts 45 and 45. Each of the bolts 45 and 45 extends within the first plunger jaw 41 and within the second plunger jaw 42. Each of the bolts 45 and 45 has a head, which is intended to abut against the first plunger jaw 41, and a thread, which threadedly engages the second plunger jaw 42. In the shown embodiment, the bolts 45 and 45 are internal hex head screws, but other drives could also be used, such as external hex heads.

[0044] The split nut further comprises a least one alignment pin, which extends within the first plunger jaw 41 and within the second plunger jaw 42. In the shown embodiment, by way of example, two alignment pins 46 and 46 are provided. The at least one alignment pin can provide for a particularly tight alignment of the plunger jaws 41 and 42 with respect to one another, whilst providing the bolts 45 and 45 with the play necessary for screw operation.

[0045] The split nut 30 further comprises a fixing screw 50, which extends through the sleeve 33 into the second plunger jaw 42. In the present embodiment, an elongate hole is provided in the sleeve 33 where the fixing screw passes through the sleeve 33. The elongate hole provides the fixing screw 50 and thus the second plunger jaw 42 which is engaged by the fixing screw 50 with jaw operation play with respect to the sleeve 33. This jaw operation play allows to shift the second plunger jaw 42 between a rod 9 engagement position, where it engages the rod 9 located within the sleeve 33, and a rod 9 disengagement position, where it does not engage the rod 9 located within the sleeve 33. However, an elongate hole is exemplary only, and other shaped holes might also be provided.

[0046] The first plunger jaw 41 comprises a first jaw groove 51 for receiving the rod 9 and the second plunger jaw 42 comprises a second jaw groove 52 for receiving the rod 9. The jaw grooves 51 and 52 have both the shape of a segment of a circular cylinder, optionally with engagement protrusions such a thread flights provided thereon.

[0047] A threaded pull-out bore 55 is provided within the first plunger jaw 41. The pull-out bore 55 is accessible from a face of the sleeve 33 and allows to (screwingly) engage the first plunger jaw 41 e.g., by means of a pull-out bar. By pulling the engaged pull-out bar with respect to the sleeve, the first plunger jaw 41 can be advanced to the face of the sleeve 33 and can be brought into a rod 9 disengagement position.