GB2080850A - Assembly for anchoring tensioned sheet material to a framework; struts; strut connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly comprises elongate boom 1 and elongate rope guide 7, which is provided with a pair of longitudinally-extending grooves 10, for receiving an edge beading (or rope) 13 of the sheet material. Rope guide 7 is so attached to boom 1 as to allow limited relative movement which constricts the mouths of grooves 10, so providing water-tight seals. To boom 1, braces 18 may be attached. Fig. 1 depicts part of a strut forming part of the framework. Fig. 5 shows two struts interconnected by connectors comprising joint members 23, seen end on in Fig. 8 and as a sectional end view in Fig. 9. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to building structures This invention relates to a building structure of the type having a framework covered with tensioned sheet material. The invention is particularly concerned with an anchorage assembly for anchoring sheet material to the framework of such a building structure, to a particular form of strut for use in constructing the framework of such a building structure, and to a connector for joining together adjacent struts of the framework of such a building structure.

British Patent Specifications Nos. and describe and claim respectively a building structure and a building structure framework, each of which has a generally rectangular floor plan. In each case, the framework is constituted by a main body section and two end sections. The main body section is constituted by a plurality of parallel spaced arches which extend at right-angles to an axis of symmetry of the floor plan. A rectangular strip of material is provided between each pair of adjacent arches, each strip being provided with beading at each of its longer edges, the beading sliding along correspondingly-shaped slots in the edges of the arches. In this way, the strips cannot move laterally away from their arches.

The end sections of the building are covered in a similar fashion with, for example, triangular pieces of sheet material.

Each of the arches of such a building structure is constituted by a plurality (for example seven) struts joined together end-to-end.

These struts are compound-braced struts, that is to say they have a pair of parallel booms joined by braces which criss-cross between the booms at angles of 45 .

There are a number of problems with a building structure of this type. Thus, it is sometimes difficult to provide water-proof seals at the locations where the strips of water-proof sheet material meet the framework, particularly in the regions of valley gutters. Another problem is that the booms of each strut are inter-connected by tubular braces of circular cross-section, the braces being flattened and bent at their end portions to lie along the booms. The flattened end portions are then rivetted to the opposed faces of the respective booms. Unfortunately, the flattening and bending of the braces can cause splitting, and the stresses to which the braces are subjected in use cause the rivets joining the braces to the booms to be subjected to tension forces instead of shear forces.Another problem with the known type of building structure is that it is sometimes necessary to alter the angles between adjacent struts, so as to change the profile of the arches. Unfortunately, the known type of connector used for joining adjacent struts cannot accommodate such changes, so differently shaped connectors have to be kept in stock for each arch profile.

The present invention provides an anchorage assembly comprising first and second elongate members, the first elongate member being provided with a longitudinally-extending groove for receiving an edge beading of sheet material to be anchored, the first elongate member being attachable to the second elongate member so as to allow limited relative movement between the two elongate members, said movement constricting the mouth of the groove.

Preferably, the first elongate member is provided with a pair of longitudinally-extending grooves, each of which is for receiving an edge beading of a respective strip of sheet material to be anchored, and wherein said movement constricts the mouth of each of the grooves. Conveniently, the first and second elongate members are aluminium extrusions.

The first elongate member may be slidingly and detachably secured to the second elongate member. Advantageously, the sliding detachable connection between the two elongate members is provided by interengageable pairs of elongate lugs provided on the two elongate members. Preferably, the elongate lugs of the second elongate member are provided with inwardly-extending flanges, and the elongate lugs of the first elongate members are constituted by outwardly-extending flanges, the outwardly-extending flanges of the first elongate member being a sliding fit within the inwardly-extending flanges of the lugs of the second elongate member.

Advantageously, the first elongate member is provided with means for constricting the mouth of the or each groove. Preferably, the elongate lugs of the second elongate member constitute the means for restricting the mouths of the grooves. In this case, it is preferable if the inwardly-extending flanges of the elongate lugs of the second elongate member are spaced from the main portion of the second elongate member by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the outwardly-extending flanges constituting the lugs of the first elongate member. Thus, the sliding interfit between the two elongate members causes the mouth(s) of the groove(s) to be constricted regardless of the relative movement therebetween.

In a preferred embodiment, the first elongate member is so dimensioned that tensioning of the sheet material draws the two elongate members together thereby constricting the mouth of the or each groove. Thus, when the sheet material is tensioned, the two elongate members are drawn together, thus constricting the groove(s).

Preferably, the first elongate member is provided with a respective drainage channel adjacent to, and extending alongside, the or each groove.

The invention also provides a compoundbraced strut for a building structure, the strut having a pair of parallel booms interconnected by braces, wherein each end of each brace is connected to the associated boom by means of a respective bracket, each bracket having upstanding side walls, the brackets being positively secured to the opposed faces of the two booms, and each brace being rigidly secured to the side walls of the two associated brackets.

Conveniently, each brace is rivetted to the side walls of the associated brackets. Each brace may be rivetted to the side walls of the associated brackets. Advantageously, each brace has planar faces which lie along the internal faces of the side walls of the associated bracket. Each bracket may be rivetted to its associated boom.

Preferably, each bracket is positively secured to the associated boom in such a manner that it is slidable therealong. Conveniently, the sliding connection between each bracket and the associated boom is provided by interengageable pairs of elongate lugs provided on said bracket and on said boom. In this case, it is preferable if the elongate lugs of each boom are provided with inwardly-extending flanges, and the elongate lugs of each bracket are constituted by outwardly-extending flanges, the outwardly-extending flanges of the brackets being slidable within the inwardly-extending flanges of the associated booms.

The invention further provides a strut for use in a building structure framework, the strut being adapted for interconnecting end-toend with a similar strut, wherein the strut is provided with a joint member extending from one end thereof, the joint member being capable of interfitting with similar joint member of an adjacent strut at any of a given range of angles thereto.

The joint member may be integral with, or attached to, the strut. In the latter case, the strut may be hollow, and the joint member may be fitted into, and extend outwardly from, the end portion thereof. Advantageously, the joint member is rivetted to the strut, and the outwardly-extending portion of the joint member is shaped to continue the outline of the strut.

Preferably, the joint member is provided with an aperture passing therethrough, the aperture being alignable with the aperture of an interfitting similar joint member of an adjacent strut so that, in use, a bolt can be passed through the aligned apertures to fix the two struts together at a given angle.

The invention further provides a pair of struts whenever connected together by means of a connector constituted by a pair of identical joint members, the joint members being attached to the adjacent ends of the two struts and interfitting with one another at any of a given range of angles.

The invention will now be described in greater detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an end part-sectional view of a portion of one arch of the rigid frame of a building structure, incorporating an anchorage assembly constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end view, on an enlarged scale, of a first member of the anchorage assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 3 is an end view of a second member of the anchorage assembly of Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a partial side view of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1; Figure 5 is a plan view of the end portions of two interconnected struts of the building structure, and shows a connector constructed in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a side view of a joint member of the connector of Fig. 5; Figure 7 is a plan view of the joint member of Fig. 6;; Figure 8 is an end view of the joint member of Figs. 6 and 7; and Figure 9 is a sectional end view of the joint member of Figs. 6 to 8.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows part of a strut which forms part of a rigid framework. The rigid framework is covered by sheet material to form a building. The frame work is constituted by a main body portion and two end portions. The main body portion is constituted by a plurality of spaced parallel arches, which are joined together by means of cross-pieces (purl ins). Each arch is constituted by a plurality of (for example, seven) struts joined end-to-end by means of joints (to be described below with reference to Figs. 5 to 9). The end portions are constituted by arch members which are also made up from a plurality of struts joined together end-toend.

The arch members are also interconnected by cross-pieces. Each of the struts (and the cmsspiece) is constituted by a compound-braced strut, that is to say it has a pair of booms braced together by means of braces which criss-cross between the two booms at angles of about 45'. A building structure and a building structure framework of this type are described and claimed in British Patent Specifications Nos and Fig. 1 shows one boom 1 of one of the framework struts. The boom 1 is made of extruded aluminium, is hollow and generally octagonal in cross-section, two opposite faces 2 and 3 being wider than the others. The boom 1 is the outer boom of the strut and is arranged to support the sheet material (as is described below).

The face 2 is formed with a pair of integral, outwardlyextending runners 4. The free ends of the runners 4 curve towards one another to form "hooks". The face 3 is also formed with a pair of integral, outwardly-extending runners 5. The free ends of the runners 5 extend laterally in both directions, so that each forms a T-shaped member with "hooks" extending outwardly and inwardly.

The runners 4 are used to fasten a rope guide 7 to the upper face 2 of the boom 1.

Thus, the runners 4 engage over the ends of correspondingly-shaped flanges 6 extending laterally from the lower part of the rope guide 7. The rope guide 7 is fitted onto the boom 1 by sliding the flanges 6 under the runners 4 (as shown in Fig. 1). The rope guide 7 is also made of extruded aluminium, and is generally I-shaped in cross-section. The rope guide 7 is formed with pairs of inwardly-extending ridges 8 and 9, which form rounded grooves 10 along each side of the rope guide. The two grooves 10 are separated by a central stem 11. The ridges 8 are disposed slightly further away from the stem 11 than are the ridges 9.

Each of the ridges 8 has a respective drainage channel 12.

Strips 1 4 of "Trevira" plastics reinforced with woven material extend between the booms 1 of the struts of adjacent arches or arch members. Each strip 14 has, along its longitudinal edges, beading or "ropes" 1 3 which fix that strip in position within the facing grooves 10 of the associated booms 1.

Fig. 1 shows the ropes 1 3 of two adjacent strips 14. Each of these ropes 13, which is a loose sliding fit within its groove 10, is held in position by abutment with the ridges 8 and 9 of the rope guide 7, each pair of opposed ridges 8, 9 being spaced by less than the diameter of the rope.

In practice, the spacing between the pairs of ridges 8 and 9 is about 6 millimetres, which allows the strips 14 to be slid into position very easily. However, once the rope guide 7 is fitted onto the boom 1, the effective mouth of each of the grooves 10 is constricted to 5 millimetres by the respective runner 4 which extends above the respective ridge 9.

The inner surface of each runner 4 is 3.5 millimetres above the face 2 of the boom 1, while the flanges 6 each have a height of 2 millimetres; so the rope guide 7 is a loose fit on the boom 1, and can move away from it to a limited extent.

The runners 5 are used to fasten gussets 1 6 to the face 3. Thus, the runners 5 engage over the ends of flanges 1 5 extending laterally outwards from the base of each of the gussets 16. Fig. 1 shows one of these gussets 16, each of which is made of extruded aluminium.

Each gusset 1 6 is fitted onto the boom 1 by sliding the flanges 1 5 under under the runners 5 (as shown in Fig. 1). Once in the required position, each gusset 1 6 is rivetted, at 17, to the face 3 of the boom 1. Each gusset 1 6 is thus held securely against the boom 1. Any forces tending to pull a given gusset 1 6 longitudinally away from the boom 1 are resisted by the rivets 1 7. Similarly, forces tending to pull a given gusset 1 6 away from the boom 1, in a direction normal to the face 3, are resisted by the interconnection of the runners 5 and the flanges 1 5.

A pair of braces 1 8 (see Fig. 4) extend between a given gusset 1 6 and a pair of gussets (not shown) attached to the inner boom (not shown) of the strut. The braces 1 8 are made of extruded aluminium, and are of square tube section. Each brace 1 8 is rivetted, at 19, to the side walls of its gusset 16, and each brace is a fairly tight fit in its gusset.

Thus, any breaking forces exerted between the braces 1 8 and the gusset 1 6 act in shear on the rivets 19, and are thus effectively resisted.

In use, the arches (and the arch members) of the building structure framework are formed by interconnecting the adjacent ends of the struts. Strips 14 are then attached between adjacent pairs of arches (or arch members). Each strip 14 is attached by sliding its ropes 1 3 along the grooves 10 of the booms 1 of the struts of the associated arches (or arch members). The rope guides 7 are then slid into engagement with their booms 1; thereby constricting the mouths of the grooves 10 by means of the runners 4, and tensioning the strips 14. The building structure is such that, when tensioned, the strips 14 each lie at a downwardly-inclined angle with respect to its strut (as shown in Fig. 1), and this is accommodated by the lateral spacing of the ridges 8 and 9.When the strips 14 are tensioned, they force the rope guides 7 down onto the faces 2 of the booms 1, thereby constricting to a minimum the mouths of the grooves 10 by causing the runners 4 to project into the mouths to their maximum extent. In this way the mouths 10 are reduced to between 2 and 3 millimetres, so that the ropes 13, the strips 14, the ridges 8 and the runners 4 form water-tight seals.

The rope guides 7 are arranged on the booms 1 so as to overlie the joints between the booms. This is accomplished by arranging that the joints between the booms 1 and the joints between the rope guides 7 are staggered. This further enhances the water-tightness of the arrangement. Each of the rope guides 7 is sufficiently thin that it can be bent at an angle in the area of the boom joints, to compensate for angular joints, thereby lying flat along each adjacent boom.

The rope guides 7 can, if desired, be held against longitudinal movement by inserting self-tapping screws (or other fixing means) through them into the booms 1.

By providing the co-operation between the booms 1 and the rope guides 7, and by allowing relative movement between them, it can be seen that a gap of 6 millimetres across the mouths of the grooves 10 can be reduced, in use, to between 2 and 3 millimetres. A 6 millimetre gap is the minimum which can be easily obtained by extrusion processes, and allows easy and rapid insertion of the ropes 1 3 into the grooves 10. Engagement with the booms 1, and subsequent tensioning of the strips 14, reduces the gap to one which allows the strips to be tightly held and water-proof seals to be formed.

Referring now to Figs. 5 and 9, there will be described a type of connector used to join adjacent ends of the two booms of each pair of adjacent struts. Fig. 5 shows the adjacent ends of the outer booms 22 of a pair of adjacent struts 21, the other booms (not shown) being disposed inwardly of the framework with respect to the outer booms 22. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 5, the struts 21 are interconnected end-to-end in a vertical plane with angles of 157+ between adjacent struts, seven such struts thus forming a generally semi-circular arch. As described above, a plurality of these arches are disposed parallel to one another in spaced relation with crosspieces between them. Strips of polyvinyl chloride sheet reinforced with woven material are stretched between adjacent pairs of arches.

A casting 23 is provided with each open end of each boom 22 of each strut 21, each casting being made of aluminium alloy or steel. As described above with reference to Figs. 1 to 4, each boom 22 is generally octagonal in cross-section, the outer face 24 of each casting 23 being solid and having a corresponding profile to the respective boom end (see Fig. 8). The portion of each casting 23 behind its outer face 24 is tapered and cut away (see Figs. 6, 7 and 9) for lightness of weight; and rivets 25 extend through the side wall 26 of the associated boom 22, and through the side wail 27 of the casting 23, to secure the casting against sliding movement within the boom.

A pair of rounded arms 28 extend from the face 24 of the each casting 23 corresponding holes 29 passing through these arms. The arms 28 are spaced from one another by a distance equivalent to the thickness of each of the arms 28, and they are offset laterally from the centre line of the face 24 by a distance equivalent to half the thickness of each of the arms 28. The outer arm 28 of each casting 23 has a flange 30 extending from its upper edge. The height of each of the arms 28 is slightly greater than the height of the face 24 of the respective casting 23, and is the same as the height of the main body of the associated boom 22.

Each boom 22 has a pair of upstanding runners 31 (these runners being equivalent to the runners 4 of the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 4), extending from its upper face.

When a given casting 23 is positioned within its boom 22, its flange 30 forms' a continuation of the line of one of the runners 31 (see Fig. 5). In use, each pair of adjacent booms 22 are brought together, with their castings 23 rivetted in position, until the arms 28 of one boom interfit with the arms 28 of the other boom (see Fig. 5). When the through holes 29- of all four arms 28 are aligned, a bolt 32 is passed through them and secured with a nut 33. Alternatively, a quick-release locking member can be used for ease of operation. With the booms 22 thus loeked together, the runners 31 and the flanges 30 of the arms 28 form an almost continuous ridge line of uniform height.

A cross-piece (not shown is generally bolted to the assembly to minimise twisting of the connector.

Fig. 5 shows only the outer booms 22 of one pair of adjacent struts 21, bin the inner booms (not shown) are intercoilnected by identical castings, thereby ensuring that the connector is rigid and preventing swiveling about the bolt 32.

Where a rope guide (not shown in Figs. 5 to 9, but similar to the rope guide 7 of Figs. 1 to 3) is fitted onto the booms 22 by interconnection with the runners 31, the flanges 30 provide a guide therefor over the joint The rope guide can thus overlap the joint, so that the rope guide joints are staggered from the boom joints.

In this arrangement, the struts 21 are interconnected at a constant included angle of 157i. However, if it is desired to provide a different profile for the arches of the building structure, entailing alteration of the included angle between the struts, the outer (or inner) booms are simply cut off to the required length, the castings 23 inserted into the cut ends and secured, and the struts 21 are then ready for assembly at a different included angle.

The connector described above is, there- fore, easily assembled; and is highly adapts ble by allowing alteration af the jointing angle with very little effort, and without the need for replacement parts constructed specifically for a given angle.

Claims (1)

1. An anchorage asembly comprising first and second elongate members, the first elongate member being provided with a longitudi nallytending groove for receiving an edge beading of sheet material to be anchored, the first elongate member being attachable to the second elongate member so as to allow limited relative movement between the two elongate members said movement constricting the mouth of the groove.

2. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first elongate member is provided with a pair of longitudirrally-extend- ing grooves, each of which is for receiving a" edge beading of a respective strip of sheet material to be anchored, and wherein said movement constricts the mouth of each of the grooves.

3. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first elongate member is slidingly and detachably secured to the second elongate member.

4. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the sliding detachable connection between the two elongate members is provided by interengageable pairs of elongate lugs provided on the two elongate members.

5. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein the elongate lugs of the second elongate member are provided with inwardly-extending flanges, and the elongate lugs of the first elongate members are constituted by outwardly-extending flanges, the outwardly-extending flanges of the first elongate member being a sliding fit within the inwardly-extending flanges of the lugs of the second elongate member.

6. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first elongated member is provided with means for constricting the mouth of the or each groove.

7. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 6 when appendant to claim 2, wherein the elongate lugs of the second elongate member constitute the means for restricting the mouths of the grooves.

8. An anchorage assembly as claimed in claim 7, wherein the inwardly-extending flanges of the elongate lugs of the second elongate member are spaced from the main portion of the second elongate member by a distance which is greater than the thickness of the outwardly-extending flanges constituting the lugs of the first elongate member.

9. An anchorage assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first elongate member is so dimensioned that tensioning of the sheet material draws the two elongate members together thereby constricting the mouth of the or each groove.

10. An anchorage assembly as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first elongate member is provided with a respective drainage channel adjacent to, and extending alongside, the or each groove.

11. An anchorage assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figs. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings.

1 2. A compound-braced strut for a building structure, the strut having a pair of parallel booms interconnected by braces, wherein each end of each brace is connected to the associated boom by means of a respective bracket, each bracket having upstanding side walls, the brackets being positively secured to the opposed faces of the two booms, and each brace being rigidly secured to the side walls of the two associated brackets.

1 3. A strut as claimed in claim 12, wherein each of the brackets is a gusset whose side walls lie substantially at rightangles to its braces, the difference between the side walls being substantially the same as the external width of the associated brace.

1 3. A strut as claimed in claim 1 2 or claim 13, wherein each brace is rivetted to the side walls of the associated brackets.

1 5. A strut as claimed in any one of claims 1 2 to 14, wherein each brace has planar faces which lie along the internal faces of the side walls of the associated bracket.

16. A strut as claimed in any one of claims 1 2 to 15, wherein each bracket is positively secured to the associated boom in such a manner that it is slidable therealong.

1 7. A strut as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sliding connection between each bracket and the associated boom is provided by interengageable pairs of elongate lugs provided on said bracket and on said boom.

18. A strut as claimed in claim 17, wherein the elongate lugs of each boom are provided with inwardly-extending flanges, and the elongate lugs of each bracket are constituted by outwardly-extending flanges, the outwardly-extending flanges of the brackets being slidable within the inwardly-extending flanges of the associated booms.

19. A strut as claimed in any one of claims 1 2 to 18, wherein each of the brackets is rivetted to its associated boom.

20. A compound-braced strut substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Fig. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A strut for use in a building structure framework, the strut being adapted for interconnecting end-to-end with a similar strut, wherein the strut is provided with a joint member extending from one end thereof, the joint member being capable of interfitting with a similar joint member of an adjacent strut at any of a given range of angles thereto.

22. A strut as claimed in claim 21, wherein the joint member is integral with the strut.

23. A strut as claimed in claim 21, wherein the joint member is attached to the strut.

24. A strut as claimed in claim 23, wherein the strut is hollow, and the joint member is fitted into, and extends outwardly of, the end portion thereof.

25. A strut as claimed in claim 24, wherein the joint member is rivetted to the strut.

26. A strut as claimed in claim 24 or claim 25, wherein the outwardly-extending porton of the joint member is shaped to continue the outline of the strut.

27. A strut as claimed in any one of claims 21 to 26, wherein the joint member is provided with an aperture passing there through, the aperture being alignable with the aperture of an interfitting similar joint member of an adjacent strut so that, in use, a bolt can be passed through the aligned apertures to fix the two struts together at a given angle.

28. A pair of struts whenever connected together by means of a connector constituted by a pair of identical joint members, the joint members being attached to the adjacent ends of the two struts and interfitting with one another at any of a given range of angles.

29. A connector for connecting together two struts end-to-end, the connector being substantially as herein before described with reference to, and as illustrated by, Figs. 5 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.