EP1458947B1 - Connector element for a glazed support bar construction - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector element for a post and beam construction having load-bearing glass components consisting of load-bearing glass posts and load-bearing glass beams, the connector element including a first fitting fitted to a first load-bearing glass component; a second fitting fitted to a second load-bearing glass component; and a glass load-transmitting element located between the first fitting and the second fitting.

Description

Known are, e.g. from DE-A-19818727, banisters with supports and / or supports made of glass, which are connected with fittings.

The present invention relates to a connecting element for a glass pillar-latch construction, in which the supports and bars are made of glass, so that the glass supports and bars perform a supporting function, wherein the load transfer between bar and support is accomplished via a glass element. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a glass pillar-latch construction.

Obvious and distinctive features of glass are its translucency and transparency. As a result, the material glass in architecture has recently become an important building material and design element. Architects are increasingly working on designs in which they use glass as a construction material for structural engineering. Such transparent designs often serve to create meeting, communication and transit venues for connecting two or more structures.

In such applications, there is a need for a pillar-and-tie construction which is designed as an all-glass construction in order to satisfy the high transparency requirements of the architecture.

Depending on the application, glass, which is used in construction, can basically be cataloged in flat glass, profiled glass and glass blocks. This is usually alkali silicate glass. This contains a high proportion of silica. Usually, the glass is framed in a frame, as there are wind loads or snow loads in case of horizontal glazing and in addition also has to bear its own weight. For this purpose, multilayered glass plates are usually loaded in their stress on bending. These have hitherto been classic application areas for glass, but today the use of glass as the actual supporting element is increasingly becoming fashionable. By "supporting glass" is meant supporting structures made entirely of glass. These glass structures are z. As carriers, columns, frames, swords, stiffeners, etc.

Glass is basically a brittle material that is ideally elastic beyond. There is a breakage of the glass without any plastic deformation. Such properties of the glass are therefore fundamental to take into account when glass is used as a supporting element. For this reason, the definitions of glass have hitherto been understood to be used as a substance name and on the other hand as a state designation. In this case, glass can be referred to as a "frozen, supercooled melt".

So can be used as a basic element for supporting glass, float glass, tempered safety glass and beyond teilvorgespanntes glass. Such glasses are usually processed into laminated safety glass. Due to the already known types of glass need not be discussed in more detail in the invention.

A damage to the glass and thus a glass breakage, which is or can be caused in particular by different temperature stresses, emanates from the edges. The processing of the edges by grinding will thus increase the edge strength, since as a result of such processing, the macrocracks that have formed during the cut, are worked out.

It is ideal if the glass surface is free of scratches, cracks or notches. Because such a glass sheet that has a pre-damage, z. B. subjected to a tensile stress, so arise voltage peaks at the crack tips. If the material strength is exceeded, then it can be assumed that it leads to a supercritical crack growth and thereby triggered a sudden breakage of the glass sheet.

Examples of "supporting glass" have been published in a research report entitled "Glass Carrier, Report No. 20, ETH Zurich, Institute of Structural Engineering", pages 31 and 32. Here an object is described, which represents a glass construction on the test area of the faculty of the architecture / RWTH Aachen. In this case, both the post and the bolt and thus the entire structure are formed with glass. The area of the overlapping glasses of the posts and bars is connected via bores which are present inside the glasses, through which corresponding metallic screw elements are then passed. Single-pane safety glass was used. Due to the connection of the carrier with the supports by means of appropriate screw a solid connection of the glasses (carrier, supports) is achieved. Such holes must be provided with a correspondingly narrow tolerance, so that a sufficient support surface for the screw heads or nuts is given on the surface of the glass sheets. For the above reasons, such holes are relatively expensive to manufacture.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a connecting element for a glass pillar-bolt construction and a glass pillar-bolt construction, which with a simple structure and simple, inexpensive to manufacture highest transparent claims can be fulfilled and with virtually all glass types executable. Likewise, a simple assembly should be possible.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a connecting element or a support-latch construction with the features of claim 1 and of claim 12. Advantageous developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

The connecting element according to the invention for a glass pillar-latch construction has a first fitting, a second fitting and a load transfer element, which is arranged between the first fitting and the second fitting. The first fitting stands with a first component of the column-bolt construction, such. As a support, in conjunction and the second fitting is connected to a second component of the column-latch construction, such. B. a bar, in conjunction. It should be noted that as a second component, another support can be used to connect two supports together. The load introduction thus takes place via the first fitting on the load transfer element and from there to the second fitting and an associated support. Here, the load transfer element, as the components of the column-latch construction, is also made of glass. As a result, in particular the impression of a "floating" bolt can be made possible, since the load-transfer element is inconspicuous due to its design made of glass. Furthermore, it is possible to dispense with the holes in the area of the post bars to be connected, which, in addition to cost savings in the production process, also includes a reduction in assembly times. For receiving the glass load-transfer element, the first and the second fitting preferably each have a recess. By this inventive design of the connecting element can be a column-bolt construction be made of glass, which meets the highest transparency requirements and is not subject to tight tolerances. For the columns or bars of the column-tie construction, a "supporting" glass is used, so that an effective support structure made of glass is possible.

Preferably, the glass load transfer element is cylindrical or oval-shaped. As a result, a particularly advantageous load transfer between the components of the column-bolt construction can take place. An angular load transfer element can also be used, but there is a risk that the corners break out.

In order to have as far as possible no protruding parts, the glass load-transfer element preferably has the same thickness or a slightly smaller thickness than the glass panes of the components of the column-latch construction.

In order to allow easy manufacture of the glass load-bearing element, this is preferably made of cast glass.

In order to further enhance the impression of a "floating" bolt, a predetermined distance is preferably present between the first fitting and the second fitting. It can thus be spoken of a "floating bearing", which has no positive and positive connection means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the first and the second fitting are made of metal, in particular of precious metal. It should be noted that any other material, in particular Plastic, with a corresponding strength can be used.

In order to allow a simple fixation of the fittings on the components of the column-latch construction, the fittings preferably each have an arcuate curvature, which is arranged in a correspondingly shaped arcuate recess in the respective support or the respective latch. This allows a simple and accurate positioning of the fittings in the components of the column-bolt construction. Preferably, the curvature or the recess is formed semicircular or depends on the shape of the load transfer element.

In order to prevent damage to the glass supports or bars, a glass protection is provided between the fitting and the glass supports or bars. The glass protection can be in one piece or in several parts, in particular in three parts.

In order to further prevent damage to the load transfer element, a cap-shaped glass protection is preferably arranged between the load transfer element and the fittings. The glass protection can be made of plastic, silicone or other suitable materials.

The inventive glass pillar-bolt construction, in which the supports and bars are made of glass, so that the glass columns and bars provide a supporting structure, in conjunction with the glass connecting element allows the construction of particularly transparent structures. The post-tie construction is preferably used as a supporting structure for glass overhead elements and glass side elements.

Preferably, the components of the column-latch construction are made of laminated safety glass or partially tempered glass or single-pane safety glass.

If the glass pillar-latch construction has additional internal supports in the interior of the structure, these internal pillars are preferably provided with lateral glass stabilizers. As a result, in particular improved kink stabilization of the inner supports can be achieved. The edge supports of the column-tie construction are also stabilized in the edge region by the glass side elements. Furthermore, it is conceivable that the supports of the glass column-tie construction, z. B. via point holder to be connected to other stabilizing components. Furthermore, it should be noted that the effect of a "floating" bolt can be further enhanced if additional lighting applications such. B. low-voltage LEDs, are provided.

By virtue of the connecting element according to the invention, it is thus possible for the first time to provide a glass pillar-and-bolt construction which satisfies the highest demands and can be produced inexpensively.

The invention will be described with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings.

Figur 1:

Eine perspektivische Explosionsdarstellung eines Verbindungselementes gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung,

Figur 2:

eine perspektivische Ansicht des in Figur 1 gezeigten Verbindungselementes im montierten Zustand,

Figur 3:

eine perspektivische Teilschnittansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungselementes,

Figur 4:

eine teilweise geschnittene Seitenansicht des erfindungsgemäßen Verbindungselementes,

Figur 5:

eine Seitenansicht von rechts des in Figur 4 gezeigten Verbindungselementes,

Figur 6:

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausschnittes einer erfindungsgemäßen Stützen-Riegel-Konstruktion und

Figur 7:

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Stützen-Riegel-Konstruktion.

Show it:

FIG. 1:

An exploded perspective view of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention,

FIG. 2:

a perspective view of the connecting element shown in Figure 1 in the mounted state,

FIG. 3:

a perspective partial sectional view of the connecting element according to the invention,

FIG. 4:

a partially sectioned side view of the connecting element according to the invention,

FIG. 5:

a side view from the right of the connecting element shown in Figure 4,

FIG. 6:

a perspective view of a section of a column-bolt construction according to the invention and

FIG. 7:

a perspective view of a column-bolt construction according to the invention.

As shown in particular in FIG. 1, a connecting element 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a first fitting 2, a second fitting 8 and a load transfer element 18 arranged between the two fittings 2, 8. The connecting element 1 is used for a glass column-tie construction , which is shown in Figures 6 and 7. In the glass pillar-bolt construction, the pillars or bars are made entirely of glass, so that the glass pillars or bars must fulfill a supporting function.

As shown in Figure 1, the first fitting 2 consists of a one-piece base body, which has a base region 5 and two side walls 3 and 4 arranged laterally thereon. The base region 5 has an arcuate curvature 6 which extends between the two side walls 3, 4. On the underside of the first fitting 2, a correspondingly formed arcuate recess 7 is formed (see Figure 4). The fitting 2 is made of a precious metal. The fittings 2, 8 can be made of individual parts or cast in a casting process.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the second fitting 8 is formed in the same way as the first fitting 2 from a base body with a base region 11, two side ends 9, 10, a curvature and a recess 13. As can be seen in particular from Figure 2, the glass sheets, which are used for the supports or bars of the column-bolt construction, between the side walls 3, 4 and 9, 10 of the two fittings 2 and 8 are positioned. Here, a not-shown recess is provided in each of the glass panes, which corresponds to the curvature of the base regions 5 and 11 of the two fittings 2, 8. As a result, the fittings 2, 8 can be positioned exactly in the recesses of the glass sheet. In order to prevent damage to the glass sheets by the metallic fittings 2, 8, a glass protection 16 or 17 is arranged between each fitting and the disc. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the shape of the glass protection 16 or 17 is adapted to the shape of the fittings 2 and 8. As shown in Figure 1, the glass covers 16 and 17 are each made of three separate parts. However, it is also possible that a one-piece glass protection is used.

FIG. 1 likewise shows the cylindrical shape of the load-transferring element 18 made of glass. The thickness of the load transfer element 18 (ie, the height of the cylinder) corresponds to the glass thickness of the supports 29 and 19 bars. In order to prevent damage to the load transfer element 18 through the fittings 2, 8, is in each case a cap-shaped element 14, 15 between the fittings 2, 8 and the load transfer element 18 is arranged.

It should be noted that for better fixation, the glass guard 14, 15 or 16, 17 can be glued to the fittings 2 and 8 and the glass components of the column-latch construction.

The assembled state of the connecting element 1 according to the invention can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2, 6 and 7. Here, a pillar-latch construction is shown which consists of an edge support 20, an inner support 26 and a latch 19 (see Figure 7). The connecting element 1 according to the invention is arranged between the support 20 and the bolt 19 and the inner support 26 and the bolt 19. The supports 20, 26 and the bolt 19 are made of a laminated safety glass. The inner support 20 is an edge support which is disposed on the edge of the column-latch construction. In this case, a side glazing 25 directly adjoins the edge support 20.

As can be seen in particular from FIG. 2, the edge support 20 consists of three glass panes 21, 22, 23, wherein only the central pane of glass 22 has a supporting function and the two lateral panes 21 and 22 do not receive any forces. The two outer disks 21 and 23 serve primarily for edge protection of the middle glass pane 22.

The column-latch construction also serves as a support for glass overhead elements 24, which are mounted on the upper edge of the bolt 19 and the upper edge of the side glazing 25. To avoid damage between the individual glass components, an elastomer is preferably provided on the upper edge of the bolt 19 or the side glazing 25. To stabilize the inner support 26, two glass stabilizers 27 and 28 are laterally provided to allow improved kink stabilization. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 2 and 6, the load is transferred from the latch 19 or the overhead elements 24 via the first fitting 2 to the cylindrical glass load-transfer element 18, from there to the second fitting 8 and thus to the support 20 or 26. As can be seen from the figures, the connecting element 1 is constructed such that a predetermined distance A is present between the first fitting 2 and the second fitting 8 (see Figure 4), so that the side portions of the load transfer element 18 partially to the outside lie free. This measure enhances the "floating impression" of the bolt 19 of the glass construction. As can be seen in particular from FIGS. 1 and 4, in each case an arcuate recess with a large radius is provided for better load transmission at the inwardly directed region of the fittings 2, 8.

Thus, it is possible with the column-tie structure according to the invention and the connecting element according to the invention for a construction with which a completely glass structure can be produced, which meets the highest functional and aesthetic requirements. In this case, according to the invention not only the supports or bars are made of a supporting glass, but also the connecting element 1 has a glass load transfer element 18. In such an embodiment The design of the manufacturing tolerances are greater than the simultaneous reduction of assembly times.

The foregoing description of the embodiments according to the present invention is for illustrative purposes only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention. Various changes and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention and its equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

connecting element

2

first fitting

3

Side wall

4

Side wall

5

basic area

6

bulge

7

recess

8th

second fitting

9

Side wall

10

Side wall

11

basic area

13

recess

14

cap-shaped element

15

cap-shaped element

16

glass protection

17

glass protection

18

Load transfer element

19

bars

20

edge column

21

pane

22

pane

23

pane

24

Overhead element

25

side windows

26

internal support

27

stabilizer

28

stabilizer

29

support

A

distance

Claims (16)

1. A connecting element (1) for a glass post and beam construction, which, as construction components, has posts (20, 26) and beams (19) made from glass, such that the glass posts and beams fulfil a load-bearing function, comprising a first fitting (2), which is in connection with a first glass construction component, a second fitting (8), which is in connection with a second glass construction component, characterized in that the connecting element (1) furthermore comprises a load-transferring component (18) made from glass, which is disposed between the first fitting (2) and the second fitting (8).
2. A connecting element according to claim 1, characterized in that the load-transferring component (18) made from glass has a cylindrical shape with a circular or oval-shaped surface.
3. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the load-transferring component (18) presents the same thickness as the glass posts (20, 26), respectively the glass beam (19).
4. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a predetermined distance (A) is provided between the first fitting (2) and the second fitting (8).
5. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the glass used for the load-transferring component (18) is cast glass.
6. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fittings (2, 8) are made from metal, particularly precious metal, or plastic material.
7. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fittings (2, 8) respectively present an arcuate curvature, which can be disposed into correspondingly formed apertures in the post, respectively in the beam.
8. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a glass protection (16, 17) is disposed between the fittings (2, 8) and the glass posts (20, 26), respectively the beam (19).
9. A connecting element according to claim 8, characterized in that the glass protection (16, 17) is realized in one piece or in several pieces, particularly in three pieces.
10. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a cupped glass protection (14, 15) is disposed between the load-transferring component (18) and the fittings (2, 8).
11. A connecting element according to one of the claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the glass protection is made from plastic material or from silicone.
12. A connecting element according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that lighting elements, particularly low voltage light emitting diodes, are provided at the connecting element (1).
13. A post and beam construction, wherein the posts (20, 26) and the beams (19) are made from glass, such that the glass posts and beams fulfil a load-bearing function, comprising a connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims.
14. A post and beam construction according to claim 13, characterized in that the glass construction components of the post and beam construction are made from multilayer safety glass and/or from partially pre-stressed glass and/or from single pane toughened safety glass.
15. A post and beam construction according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that an inside post (26) presents lateral stabilizers (27, 28).
16. A post and beam construction according one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (1) is a movable bearing.

Images