BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Connectors are used to fasten attachments to concrete buildings. Typically, either cast-in anchor plates, i.e. steel plates with welded anchors, or post-installed anchors are used, which typically do not allow compensation of construction tolerances. While the former requires troublesome welding on site causing quality issues, the latter requires tedious drilling causing health issues. For these reasons, a solution allowing a connection with bolts or screws without welding and drilling is preferable, in particular if this solution allows the compensation of construction tolerances and strengthening of the building structure at the connection point, particularly close to edges. The bolts or screws are then used to fix attachments, for example structural beams and columns or mechanical and electrical components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides for a technology to connect attachments to concrete building structures with bolts or screws without welding and drilling and allows the compensation of construction tolerances and strengthening of the building structure at the connection point, particularly close to edges.
In particular, the invention provides a technology for the connection of attachments to concrete building structures allowing the compensation of construction tolerances and/or strengthening of the building structure by means of a connector pad, said connector pad being attached to or embedded in said concrete building structure, said connector pad comprising a plate with a slot and one or more studs of whatever kind and direction, as well as slot bolts, or consisting thereof, wherein in said connector pad, or below said connector pad and in the concrete of said concrete building structure, a void is present, created or maintained for accommodating slot bolt heads or self-drilling screw shafts.
The invention furthermore provides a method for connecting attachments to concrete building structures, thereby allowing the compensation of construction tolerances and/or strengthening of the building structure, by embedding a connector pad of the invention in said concrete building structure, or attaching said connector pad to the said concrete building structure, by inserting a slot bolt head into a void in or under said connector pad, and by fixing said attachment to the shaft of the slot bolt such that construction tolerances are reduced or eliminated, wherein the slot bolt may be replaced by a self-drilling screw.
The invention finally provides a building, set up with said method and having reduced or eliminated construction tolerances and/or being strengthened in its building structure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a connector pad with a slotted hole to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
FIG. 2 shows a hollow connector pad with caps and a slotted hole to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
FIG. 3 shows a connector pad with a filler to accommodate self-drilling screws allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
FIG. 4 shows a connector pad with a slotted rail with or without studs to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
FIG. 5 shows a connector pad with an integrated slotted rail with or without studs to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
FIG. 6 shows a connector pad with a confining bend at the corner, optional reinforcement and a slotted hole to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances and strengthening of the building structure at the connection point.
FIG. 7 shows a connector pad with a confining bend at the corner and back-anchoring bend in various shapes and a slotted hole to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances and strengthening of the building structure at the connection point.
FIG. 8 shows a connector pad with inclined studs and with a slotted rail with inclined studs to accommodate slot bolts allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
THE REFERENCE SIGNS USED IN THE FIGURES ARE AS FOLLOWING
- (1) Connecting pad
- (2) Plate
- (3) Stud
- (4) Slot bolt with washer and nut
- (5) Slot
- (6) Attachment
- (7) Void
- (8) Concrete
- (9) Slotted rail with or without studs
- (10) Combined plate and slotted rail
- (11) Extended connecting pad
- (12) Confining and back-anchoring connecting pad
- (13) Confining bend
- (14) Back-anchoring bend
- (15) Recess
- (16) Welded bend
- (17) Welded sheet
- (18) Welded wire
- (19) Bolt post-installed or cast-in
- (20) Hollow section
- (21) Self-drilling screw
- (22) Reinforcing bar
- (23) Caps
- (24) Filler
- (25) Encasement
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention will now be described with reference to the figures, which in the embodiment relate to connector pads capable to connect attachments to the building structure without welding and drilling as well as to compensate building tolerances and to strengthen the building structure at the connection point.
It is understood that the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, the invention is intended to cover alternatives, modifications and equivalents of these embodiments, which are included within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Furthermore, in the following detailed description of the present invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be clear to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without such specific details.
Referring now for example to FIG. 1 there is shown in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a plate (2) with a slot (5) and one or more studs (3) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. A void (7) is generated using an encasement below the plate (25). One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slot (5), allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
Also FIG. 2 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a hollow section (20) with a slotted hole (5) and one or more studs (3) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. A void is generated (7) by closing the open ends of the hollow section (20) using caps (23). One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slot (5), allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
Also FIG. 3 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a hollow section (20) and one or more studs (3) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. A void is generated (7) by a soft filler (24) embedded in the hollow section (20). One or more self-drilling screws (21) are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the plate (2), allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
Also FIG. 4 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a plate (2), one or more studs (3) and an embedded slotted rail with or without studs (9) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. Note that a taping, filler and/or caps prevents concrete from flowing into the slotted rail during casting. The filler and/or taping is removed after the concrete is set. One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slotted rail with or without studs (9), allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
Also FIG. 5 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a combined plate and slotted rail (10) and one or more studs (3) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure.
Note that a taping, filler and/or caps prevents concrete from flowing into the slotted rail during casting. The filler and/or taping is removed after the concrete is set. One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slotted rail with or without studs (9), allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
Also FIG. 6 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a plate (2) with a slot (5) and one or more studs (3) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. A void (7) is generated using an encasement below the plate (25). One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slot (5), allowing the compensation of building tolerances. The plate is extended to a close edge and fitted with a confining bend (13) which increases the breakout capacity of the edge and thus the overall capacity if the connector pad is loaded in shear. The capacity of the connector pad may be further increased using reinforcement (22).
Also FIG. 7 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a plate (2) with a slot (5) and one or more studs (3) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. A void (7) is generated using an encasement below the plate (25). One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slot (5), allowing the compensation of building tolerances. The plate is extended to a close edge and fitted with a confining bend (13) and back-anchoring bend (14), both of which increase the breakout capacity of the edge and thus the overall capacity if the connector pad is loaded in shear. The bends may be uniform or designed with recesses (15). The bends may be replaced by welded bends (16), welded sheets (17), welded wires (18), or bolts either post-installed or cast-in.
Also FIG. 8 shows in the cross sections and top view the connector pad (1), consisting of a plate (2), one or more inclined studs (3) and an embedded slotted rail with inclined studs (9) cast in the concrete (8) of the building structure. Connector pad and slotted rail may be place at the edge (with zero distance to the front face surface). The connector pad may follow the corner and be reduced to a simple angle profile. The slotted rail may have various cross-sections not necessarily symmetrically. Connector pad and slotted rail may have the same length as the connector pad. Note that a taping, filler and/or caps prevents concrete from flowing into the slotted rail during casting. The filler and/or taping is removed after the concrete is set. One or more slot bolts (4) with washers and nuts are installed in the connector pad to fix any attachment (6) anywhere in the slotted rail with or without studs (9), allowing the compensation of building tolerances.
Patent Application
20240401327
