Patent Application
20180195284
The invention concerns a lattice structure according to the preamble of claim 1.
Lattice structures of this kind are used as structural elements implemented as flat or undulated support grids or protective gratings, wherein the thrust-resistance of the knot points ensures that the lattice is only slightly deformed even in case of huge loads. For the purpose of connecting the wires in the knot points, welding connections, clamps or additional wire material have been used until now.
A lattice structure of this type is disclosed in AT 409 506 B. It is composed of rod-shaped upper belts and lower belts, between which connecting rods have been welded in. These welding points implementing the knot points cause, on the one hand, structural changes and, on the other hand, involve a huge manufacturing effort when the belt rods are welded together. The latter also applies when using mechanically machined connecting elements, which also come with a high input regarding workforce and cost.
In view of the above, the objective of the invention is to avoid these shortcomings and to create a lattice structure of the type previously mentioned, the knot points of which comprise neither welding points nor additional materials, and which is producible in an efficient and economically expedient fashion. Furthermore a durable corrosion protection of the lattice structure is also to be ensured.
The objective is achieved, according to the invention, by the features of claim 1, respectively of claim 16.
In this way a non-displaceable connection is achieved between longitudinal elements and transverse elements, which may be implemented without external connecting elements, involving comparably low input. In addition, an increased lifespan of the lattice structure results as there are no weakening welding points or the like in the knot points.
The lattice according to the invention may be implemented in a variety of embodiments. In a first exemplary embodiment the invention teaches that the longitudinal elements and transverse elements of the lattice are furnished with non-twisted or partly pre-twisted loops along the elements, preferably perpendicularly to the lattice plane, which are open or closed and are twisted with one another in the intersection points of the elements, thus implementing knot points. To facilitate said connecting, the loops of the longitudinal wires are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the wires while the loops of the transverse elements are oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wires. It is however also easily possible to provide, vice-versa, the longitudinal wires with loops which are arranged transversely to the longitudinal direction of the wires while the transverse elements are furnished with loops arranged in the longitudinal direction of the wires.
In a second embodiment the invention teaches that the lattice is composed of longitudinal elements and transverse elements, which extend at least in two-fold and are twisted in themselves and are passed into and through one another in the intersection points of the wires.
It is herein expedient to preferably furnish the longitudinal wires, strands, ropes, rods or profiles with pass-through regions for receiving the transverse elements passing through them or past them. Vice versa, it is however also possible to implement the pass-through regions in the transverse elements, guiding the longitudinal wires through the transverse elements.
An additional advantage is achieved in a version of this embodiment wherein the longitudinal elements and transverse elements extending in two-fold fashion are implemented to be twisted only in a region of the intersection points.
Regarding a stability of the lattice in a load state, it is advantageous if the longitudinal elements and transverse elements are oriented lying in a plane at right angles with respect to one another. However, the implementation of the knot points according to the invention is easily applicable in lattices with other intersection angles as well.
In terms of manufacturing technique, it is advantageous if the distances between the knot points of the lattice are regular in a longitudinal, and/or transverse direction.
Advantageously the longitudinal elements and/or transverse elements are made at least partly of high-tensile steel, preferably with a strength of 700 N mm−2 to 2800 N mm−2.
In the following, exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail by the drawings. It is shown in:
a, b the longitudinal elements and transverse elements of the lattice of
a, b two schematically depicted phases of the manufacturing process of the lattice structure of
a, b a side view of a respective longitudinal, respectively transverse wire of the lattice structure of
a, b a knot point of a lattice structure of
The lattice structure 1 according to
Furthermore, in comparison to the longitudinal elements, the transverse elements may be differently dimensioned, and may be composed of different materials and/or of different materials having different properties, e.g. strengths.
Such a lattice structure 1 is suitable for a variety of applications in the field of reinforcement, protection and/or securing. Lattice structures of this kind may, for example, be inlaid and/or usable in concrete or asphalt for reinforcement, in the field of mining or similar fields for armoring.
They may however also be applied for other purposes, e.g. slope protection, on terrestrial surfaces of any kind or in constructions for protection from avalanches, rock fall or other natural dangers.
Beyond this, such lattice structures may be used for interior and exterior applications in buildings, e.g. as a permanent or mobile protective or separating element which, in a high-strength implementation, moreover increases safety from vandalism.
These lattices are producible continuously or in panels, and may in some embodiments be rollable, resulting in augmented application possibilities and in particular allowing simplifications regarding transport and assembly.
According to the invention, the wires of said lattice structure 1 are fixedly twisted with one another in the intersection points 6 by loops 4, 5, thus implementing knot points 7, which are thrust-resistant also in case of a load and bear up in case of deformations to the lattice. This results in a kind of positive-fit in these knot points 7:
In said lattice structure 1 the longitudinal elements 2 and transverse elements 3 are embodied as wires and are arranged lying in a plane perpendicularly to one another, wherein the knot points 7 are spaced apart from one another at equal distances both in a longitudinal direction and in a transverse direction.
It is of course also possible to provide different distances for the two directions. In both cases a geometry of the lattice is comparable, for example, to a geometry of reinforcing steel meshes.
As a further version, the intersection points 7 may be embodied zigzag-shaped instead of approximately rectangular. However, in a practice context the rectangular arrangement is to be considered advantageous both in terms of production technology and regarding their mechanical characteristics.
For the purpose of fixating the lattice structure 1, for example, to a frame encompassing the lattice structure 1, closed anchoring loops 8 are provided on the ends of the longitudinal elements 2 and transverse elements 3, allowing a regular fixation all around the lattice without additional means.
a) and b) show a longitudinal wire 2 prepared with loops 4 as well as, for an assembly, a transverse wire that is also prepared for an assembly with loops 5 that are positioned transversely at 90°. Thus prior to the twisting the loops 4, 5 are located in parallel side by side in the intersection points 6, allowing the twisting to be carried out in a simple manner.
Of course the loops may also be pre-formed in a different shape than shown. To form a strand, at least one further wire may be wound about the respective wire with the transversely positioned loops, the further wire comprising or not comprising a loop.
a) depicts an intersection point 6 prepared for twisting the loops 4 and 5, wherein, in the scope of the invention, the wires 2 and 3 are inserted in definitely spaced-apart grooves 9′ of an assembly plate 9 or the like to allow a positioning and fixedly holding for the purpose of twisting said wires 2 and 3. The grooves 9′ are herein arranged in the assembly plate 9 spaced apart from one another by such distances that they correspond to mesh sizes of the lattice structure 1.
b) shows the point with loops 4 and 5 twisted with one another. They form in this point a non-displaceable thrust-resistant knot point 7.
The lattice structure 10 of
a) shows a longitudinal wire 2 prepared for assembly, with regularly distributed pass-through regions 11 for receiving the transverse elements.
b) illustrates a transverse wire 3′ also prepared for assembly, which is still only twisted up to the first intersection point 6 of the lattice structure 10.
a) and b) show, in an assembly of the lattice structure 10, the transverse wire 3′ being put through the first pass-through region 11 of the longitudinal wire 2′ and being then further twisted up to the following pass-through region, wherein it is also fixedly twisted with the longitudinal wire 2′ in a region of the intersection point 6. This procedure is repeated until the transverse wire 3′ has been passed through all pass-through regions 11 of the longitudinal wires 2′ completely. Suitably sized dimensioning of the pass-through regions 11 will result in a structure that is interlaceable at a certain angle and is thus rollable.
The lattice structure of
The exemplary embodiments of
In the exemplary embodiments of
According to the invention, the transverse elements 13 are passed through pass-through regions 14 of the longitudinal elements 12 in the intersection points 6, the transverse elements 13 and the longitudinal elements 12 being thus in this way connected to one another via being passed into one another. Said pass-through regions 14 are herein implemented by openings in the wound wires 12′ corresponding to mesh lengths.
Preferably, following the sliding-in and the further winding process of the longitudinal elements 12, said transverse elements 13 are connected to the latter in such a way that they are clamped between the wires 12,′ the intersection points 6 being implemented knot-like at said wires 12′. This results in a force-fit connection in said intersection points.
Of this device for the winding of the wires 12′ and the passing through of the transverse elements 13 only straight holders 15 at the beginning of the longitudinal elements 12 and rotating means 16 are shown schematically.
The lattice structure 20 could of course be also manufactured differently from the way explained above. For example, the completed strands could be arranged, with the corresponding mesh lengths, both at the longitudinal elements and the transverse elements 12, 13, and the longitudinal elements could herein be slid through wires of the wound transverse elements, which have been opened with respect to one another machine-wise in the elastic region, or vice versa, and then these opened wires could be released again, thus effecting a clamping of the passed-through transverse elements.
In
In the scope of the invention, said longitudinal elements respectively transverse elements 12, 13 are connected at their ends to neighboring transverse elements respectively longitudinal elements 13, 12. In the present exemplary embodiment the wires 12″, 13″ are angled at ends of the longitudinal elements respectively transverse elements 12, 13 and are held by wrapping around or winding with one another in case of the outermost transverse elements respectively longitudinal elements 13, 12, which are arranged at right angles thereto.
The longitudinal elements and/or transverse elements are advantageously made of high-tensile steel, preferably with a strength of 700 N mm−2 to 2800 N mm−2. Following the twisting, said knot points are thus held together with an even higher rigidity. It is also possible to provide longitudinal elements or transverse elements with a lower strength.
The lattice structure according to the invention permits generating any desired shapes and/or sizes of meshes. Principally said longitudinal elements and transverse elements may be arranged, with respect to one another, not at right angles as shown but also like, for example, in wire nettings, in which rhomboid-shaped meshes are implemented.
The longitudinal elements and/or transverse elements could also comprise loops bent by approximately 360°, which the transverse elements or longitudinal elements are passed through with or without twisting, as may be seen in the remaining figures. The knots are advantageously implemented of at least one winding of circle-shaped 360° loops, which are pre-formed in the provided intersection points and are in assembly formed at the transverse wires by passing through, guiding backwards and re-passing through the loops of the longitudinal wires. Herein the loops are threaded-in in such a way that they are positioned, with respect to the lattice plane, mirror-symmetrically to the loops of the longitudinal wires.
It is also possible that not all of the intersection points are implemented with a connection or twisting. For example, only every second intersection point or intersection points following a number of elements may be provided featuring connections, while the others are arranged adjacently to one another.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 00920/15 | Jun 2015 | CH | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2016/061826 | 5/25/2016 | WO | 00 |
