System for stiffening a structure

Abstract

A system for stiffening a structure has at least one pair of tie rods (3), each tie rod (3) of the pair of tie rods (3) having a first end (4) fastened to the structure (2) and a second end (5), and at least one device (6) for tensioning the tie rods (3) having a deformable linking element (7) fastened to the second end (5) of each tie rod (3) so as to connect the tie rods (3). An actuator (10) is configured to deform the linking element (7) so as to make it pass from an inactive configuration in which the tie rods (3) are in a first state of tension to an active configuration in which the tie rods (3) are in a second state of tension, different than the first state of tension.

Claims

1. A system for stiffening a structure, comprising: at least one pair of tie rods, each tie rod of the pair of tie rods having a first end fastened to the structure and a second end, at least one device for tensioning the tie rods, having: a deformable linking element fastened to the second end of each tie rod so as to connect the tie rods, an actuator configured to deform the linking element so as to make it pass from an inactive configuration in which the tie rods are in a first state of tension to an active configuration in which the tie rods are in a second state of tension, different than the first state of tension.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second state of tension is a state of tensile loading of the tie rods.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the tensile load in the tie rods is greater in the second state of tension than in the first state of tension.

4. the system as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the tie rods of the pair of tie rods is fastened by its second end at a first fastening point of the linking element, and the other tie rod of the pair of tie rods is fastened by its second end at a second fastening point of the linking element.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the deformation of the linking element as it passes from the inactive configuration to the active configuration shortens the distance between the first and second fastening points of the linking element, this distance being measured along a straight line passing through the first and second fastening points of the linking element.

6. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the linking element has a pair of arms, one of the arms having a proximal end connected to the center of the linking element and a distal end having the first fastening point, and the other arm having a proximal end connected to the center of the linking element and a distal end having the second fastening point.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the arms of the pair of arms of the linking element are aligned.

8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator is configured to deform the linking element by tightening the linking element against the actuator.

9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the linking element extends in a first plane and is deformable in a second plane, perpendicular to the first plane.

10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tie rod of the pair of tie rods extends in the same plane as the linking element or in a parallel plane.

11. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tie rods of the pair of tie rods are rigid.

12. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tie rods of the pair of tie rods lie in the continuation of one another.

13. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tie rods of the pair of tie rods are aligned.

14. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator has a tightening support and is configured to deform the linking element via tightening, preferably by screwing, the linking element in contact with the tightening support.

15. The system as claimed in claim 1, which has at least two pairs of tie rods, the tie rods preferably being disposed in a star shape around the linking element.

16. The system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the linking element has at least two pairs of arms, the arms preferably being disposed in a star shape around the center of the linking element.

17. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the structure is a supporting structure, in particular a lattice structure.

18. A method for stiffening a structure with the aid of a system as defined in claim 1, said method comprising the steps of: applying a predetermined deformation force to the linking element with the aid of the actuator so as to deform the linking element in a controlled manner and thus to make it pass from an inactive configuration in which the tie rods are in a first state of tension to an active configuration in which the tie rods are in a second predetermined state of tension, different than the first state of tension.

19. A lattice structure comprising: at least two longitudinal members extending parallel to one another along a main direction of extension, a plurality of crossmembers distributed along the main direction of extension in order to connect the longitudinal members together, a plurality of tie rods disposed so as to connect the adjacent crossmembers together, at least two adjacent crossmembers having, between one another, a stiffening system as claimed in claim 1.

20. The structure as claimed in claim 19, wherein at least some crossmembers are movable in translation in both directions along the main direction of extension with respect to the longitudinal members and at least some crossmembers are fixed with respect to the longitudinal members.

21. A solar tracker comprising: at least one lattice structure as claimed in claim 19, in particular a lattice beam, extending longitudinally along a main direction of extension, at least one table supported by the lattice structure, the table being equipped with at least one device for collecting solar energy, the table extending longitudinally along the main direction of extension, at least two support arches that are rotatable about an axis of rotation extending along the main direction of extension, the arches being mounted on the lattice structure so as to drive the lattice structure in rotation about the axis of rotation of the arches.

22. A solar field having a plurality of solar trackers as claimed in claim 21, wherein at least some solar trackers are preferably disposed parallel to one another, in particular along the North/South direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0136] The invention may be understood better from reading the following detailed description of a nonlimiting implementation example thereof, and from examining the appended drawing, in which:

[0137] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of an example of a system for stiffening a structure according to the invention,

[0138] FIG. 2a schematically shows a partial, top view of the stiffening system in FIG. 1, in which the linking element is in an inactive configuration,

[0139] FIG. 2b schematically shows a partial, top view of the stiffening system in FIG. 1, in which the linking element is in an active configuration,

[0140] FIG. 3a schematically shows an example of a device for tensioning the tie rods according to the invention, in which the linking element is in an inactive configuration,

[0141] FIG. 3b schematically shows the device for tensioning the tie rods that is shown in FIG. 3a, in which the linking element is in an active configuration,

[0142] FIG. 4a schematically shows a perspective view of another example of a system for stiffening a structure according to the invention,

[0143] FIG. 4b schematically shows another perspective view of the system for stiffening a structure that is shown in FIG. 4a,

[0144] FIG. 4c schematically shows another perspective view of the system for stiffening a structure that is shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b, in which the actuator and the linking element are shown in cross section,

[0145] FIG. 4d schematically shows a perspective view of the device for tensioning the tie rods of the system for stiffening a structure that is shown in FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, in which the linking element is in an active configuration,

[0146] FIG. 5 schematically shows a top view of an example of a lattice structure according to the invention,

[0147] FIG. 6a schematically shows a perspective view of a detail of the lattice structure shown in FIG. 5,

[0148] FIG. 6b schematically shows a perspective view of a detail of the longitudinal member of the lattice structure shown in FIG. 6a,

[0149] FIG. 7a schematically shows a perspective view of another detail of the lattice structure shown in FIG. 5, and

[0150] FIG. 7b shows a detail of the longitudinal member of the lattice structure shown in FIG. 7a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0151] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a system 1 for stiffening a structure 2 according to the invention. In this example, the structure 2 has two perpendicular walls 8.

[0152] The system 1 has, in this example, a pair of tie rods 3, each tie rod 3 of the pair of tie rods 3 having a first end 4 fastened to the structure 2 and a second end 5. The tie rods 3 lie in the continuation of one another and are aligned.

[0153] The system 1 also has a device 6 for tensioning the tie rods 3, having a deformable linking element 7 fastened to the second end 5 of each tie rod 3 so as to connect the tie rods 3 together.

[0154] One of the tie rods 3 of the pair of tie rods 3 is fastened by its second end 5 at a first fastening point 9a of the linking element 7, and the other tie rod 3 of the pair of tie rods 3 is fastened by its second end 5 at a second fastening point 9b of the linking element 7.

[0155] The linking element 7 is able to deform so as to pass from an inactive configuration in which the tie rods 3 are in a first state of tension to an active configuration in which the tie rods 3 are in a second state of tension, different than the first state of tension.

[0156] FIG. 2a illustrates the linking element 7 in an inactive configuration in which the tie rods 3 are in a first state of tension. In this inactive configuration, the linking element 7 is not deformed and the tie rods 3 are not tensioned. The first 9a and second 9b fastening points are separated by a distance L.sub.1.

[0157] FIG. 2b illustrates the linking element 7 in an active configuration in which the tie rods 3 are in a second state of tension.

[0158] In this active configuration, the linking element 7 is deformed and the tie rods 3 are tensioned. The first 9a and second 9b fastening points are separated by a distance L.sub.2, where L.sub.2<L.sub.1.

[0159] Thus, in this second state of tension, the tensile load in the tie rods 3 is greater than in the first state of tension.

[0160] FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate an actuator 10 configured to deform the linking element 7 so as to make it pass from an inactive configuration (FIG. 3a) to an active configuration (FIG. 3b).

[0161] The linking element 7 extends in a first plane P1 and is deformable in a second plane P2, perpendicular to the first plane P1.

[0162] The actuator 10 has a tightening support 11 on which the linking element 7 comes to bear. The tightening support 11 has a concavity 14 oriented toward the linking element 7.

[0163] The tightening support 11 has an orifice 15 at the apex of the concavity 14.

[0164] The linking element for its part has an orifice 16 situated next to the orifice 15 in the tightening support 11.

[0165] The actuator also has a tightening-screw 12/nut 13 assembly, and the orifices 15, 16 in the tightening support 11 and in the linking element 7 receive said tightening-screw 12/nut 13 assembly.

[0166] During the tightening of the tightening-screw 12/nut 13 assembly, the linking element 7 deforms, conforming to the shape of the concavity 14 of the tightening support 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3b. This shortens the distance between the first 9a and second 9b fastening points of the linking element and thus tensions the tie rods 3.

[0167] In this example, the actuator 10 is removable, meaning that it serves to deform the linking element 7 so as to take it from the inactive configuration to the active configuration and then can be detached from the linking element 7 following deformation.

[0168] FIGS. 4a to 4d illustrate another example of a system 1 for stiffening a structure 2 according to the invention.

[0169] The linking element 7 extends in a first plane P1 and is deformable in a second plane P2, perpendicular to the first plane P1.

[0170] Each tie rod 3 of the pair of tie rods 3 extends in the same plane as the linking element 7 or in a parallel plane.

[0171] In this example, the system 1 has two pairs of tie rods 3, each tie rod 3 having a first end 4 (not shown) fastened to the structure 2 and a second end 5 fastened to the linking element 7.

[0172] In this example, the actuator 10 is not removable. It is fastened both to the tie rods 3 and to the linking element 7.

[0173] FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrate the device 6 for tensioning the tie rods 3 with the linking element 7 in its inactive configuration (i.e. prior to deformation) and FIG. 4d illustrates the device 6 with the linking element 7 in its active configuration (i.e. following deformation).

[0174] The tie rods 3 of each pair of tie rods 3 are disposed in a star shape around the linking element 7.

[0175] Each pair of tie rods 3 has two aligned tie rods 3.

[0176] The angle a between two adjacent tie rods is greater than or equal to 40° and less than or equal to 140°.

[0177] The second end 5 of each tie rod 3 is continued by a mounting plate 16 to which the tie rod 3 is fastened by riveting. The mounting plate 16 is for its part fastened both to the tightening support 11 and to the linking element 7 by a screw/nut system. The use of such a mounting plate 16 for connecting the second end 5 of a tie rod 3 both to the tightening support 11 and to the linking element 7 is optional. Specifically, it is possible to fasten the second end 5 of each tie rod 3 directly to the tightening support 11 and to the linking element 7.

[0178] The tightening support 11 is sandwiched between the tie rods 3 and the linking element 7.

[0179] The tightening support 11 is in the form of a plate having at its center 73 a concavity 14 oriented toward the linking element 7. The concavity 14 may have a parabolic, hyperbolic or elliptical shape.

[0180] The tightening support 11 has orifices for fastening it to the mounting plates 16 and to the linking element by the screw/nut system. These orifices have an oblong shape so as to allow the tie rods to move toward the center 73 of the tightening support 11.

[0181] The linking element 7 has two pairs of arms 18.

[0182] The arms 18 are disposed in a star shape around the center 71 of the linking element 7.

[0183] Each arm 18 of the linking element 7 is fastened to the second end 5 of a tie rod 3.

[0184] Each arm 18 extends along the longitudinal axis of the tie rod 3 to which it is fastened or along an axis which extends with a slight deviation, for example of around plus or minus 10°, with respect to the longitudinal axis of the tie rod 3 to which it is fastened.

[0185] Preferably, each arm 18 extends along the longitudinal axis of the tie rod 3 to which it is fastened.

[0186] The tightening of the tightening-screw 12/nut 13 assembly of the actuator 10 makes it possible to deform the linking element 7 and therefore to tension the set of tie rods 3.

[0187] In FIG. 4d, which illustrates the device 6 with the linking element 7 in its active configuration (i.e. following deformation), each pair of arms 18 of the linking element 7 extends along a longitudinal axis 80, 90. The longitudinal axes 80, 90 are in the plane P1 in which the linking element 7 extends. The linking element 7 is deformed along a longitudinal axis 100 which is perpendicular to the axes 80, 90.

[0188] FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a lattice structure 20 according to the invention.

[0189] The structure 20 has:

at least two longitudinal members 21 extending parallel to one another along a main direction of extension,
a plurality of crossmembers 22, 32 distributed along the main direction of extension in order to connect the longitudinal members 21 together, the crossmembers 22, 32 extending in a direction perpendicular to the main direction of extension and being parallel to one another,
a plurality of tie rods 3, 23 disposed so as to connect the adjacent crossmembers 22, 32 together.

[0190] The structure 20 has at least two adjacent crossmembers 22, 32 having, between one another, the stiffening system 1 according to the invention, that is to say at least two adjacent crossmembers 22, 32 between which the tie rods are tensioned with the aid of the tensioning device 6 according to the invention.

[0191] The structure 20 forms a rectangle 24, 34 between two adjacent crossmembers. The rectangle 24, 34 may have two opposite sides corresponding to two adjacent crossmembers 22, 32 and two opposite sides corresponding to the portions of longitudinal members 21 extending between said adjacent crossmembers 22, 32.

[0192] The tie rods 3, 23 connecting two adjacent crossmembers 22, 32 extend along the direction of the diagonals of the rectangle 24, 34.

[0193] The structure 20 thus has a plurality of rectangles 24, 34 distributed along the main direction of extension, each rectangle 24, 34 having tie rods 3, 23 which extend along the diagonals of the rectangle 24, 34.

[0194] The structure has crossmembers 22 that are movable in translation in both directions along the main direction of extension and crossmembers 32 that are fixed.

[0195] As illustrated in FIGS. 6a and 6b, the movable crossmembers 22 are fastened to the longitudinal members 21 by fastening systems such as, for example, screw/nut systems 30 received in oblong holes 40 provided in the longitudinal members 21. These oblong holes 40, and in particular appropriate tightening of the screw/nut systems 30, allow the movement of the movable crossmembers 22 in translation along the main direction of extension with respect to the longitudinal members 21. Thus, before the tie rods are tensioned, the tightening of the screw/nut systems 30 is such that it allows the movement of the movable crossmembers 22 in translation along the main direction of extension with respect to the longitudinal members 21.

[0196] As illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b, the fixed crossmembers 32 are fastened to the longitudinal members 21 by fastening systems such as, for example, screw/nut systems 30 received in circular holes 50 provided in the longitudinal members 21. These circular holes 50 do not allow the crossmembers 32 to move with respect to the longitudinal members 21.

[0197] Further fastening systems may be used to fasten the fixed crossmembers 32 to the longitudinal members 21, such as rivets (not shown), for example.

[0198] The lattice structure 20 may be supported by at least two support arches 60. For example, the lattice structure 20, and in particular the longitudinal members 21 of the lattice structure 20, are fastened to the ends of the support arches 60.

[0199] The lattice structure 20 has fixed crossmembers 32 at its ends and in the fastening zone of the arches. Thus, the lattice structure has at least four fixed crossmembers 32.

[0200] The lattice structure 20 has, between two adjacent fixed crossmembers 32, at least one rectangle 24 in which the tie rods 3 are tensioned with the aid of the tensioning device 6 according to the invention, which is preferably centered with respect to the two adjacent fixed crossmembers 32.

[0201] The tensioning of the tie rods of the rectangles 24 in which the tie rods 3 are tensioned with the aid of the tensioning device 6 according to the invention makes it possible to drive the movable crossmembers 22 in translation along the main direction of extension and thus makes it possible to stiffen the lattice structure 20 as a whole.

[0202] Thus, after the tie rods 3 of the rectangles 24 have been tensioned, the lattice structure 20 as a whole is stiffened. It is thus possible to retighten the screw/nut systems 30 received in the oblong holes 40 provided in the longitudinal members 21 so as to prevent the movement of the movable crossmembers 22 in translation along the main direction of extension with respect to the longitudinal members 21.