Patent Grant
9255407
This patent application is the U.S. national phase of International Application No. PCT/AU2012/000963, filed on Aug. 15, 2012, which claims the benefit of Australian Patent Application No. 2011232748, filed Oct. 5, 2011, the disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.
The present invention relates to building structures and, more particularly, to roof truss, roof panelling and curtain wall systems.
The covering of outdoor and indoor areas, as well as building facades, with light transmitting materials is well known, and polymer, typically polycarbonate sheeting or panels for this purpose, are in common use. A range of materials and configurations of supporting members are used to span the area or facade required to be covered. Conventional systems rely on framing, typically, in the case of roof structures, comprising sloping rafters with regular arrays of transverse purlins, the latter providing both stabilising elements and support for the polymer sheeting.
To span relatively large areas, such as sporting venues for example, requires large and heavy structural timber or steel trusses, adding considerably to the cost of the roof structure.
The use of timber or steel trusses with the added array of purlins is often undesirable from an aesthetic point of view, and in some environments, such as indoor swimming pools for example, these structural elements can be subject to corrosion and deterioration.
It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.
Notes
The term “comprising” (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of “having” or “including”, and not in the exclusive sense of “consisting only of”.
The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.
The term “fish plate” as used in this specification indicates a plate for interconnecting two structural elements, either through interlocking elements or by means of fasteners.
Accordingly, in one broad form of the invention, there is provided a truss system for roof or façade panelling of a building; a truss of said truss system including at least one truss segment; each said truss segment comprising a first elongate element and a second elongate element; said first and second elongate elements interconnected at intervals by a series of fish-plate assemblies; each fish-plate assembly of said series of fish-plate assemblies comprising a pair of fish-plates arranged back-to-back when in use; each fish-plate comprising a planar plate portion provided at respective upper and lower edges with flanges projecting outwardly and normal to an outer surface of said planar plate portion; said fish-plate assemblies engaging with respective extruded fish-plate channels of said first and second elongate elements; said fish-plate channels formed so as to retain said fish-plate assemblies by capture of said flanges when said pair of fish-plates are assembled back-to-back.
Preferably, each said first and second elongate element of a said truss segment comprises an extruded section; said extruded section including a panel retaining channel and said extruded fish-plate channel.
Preferably, a said extruded section further includes a connector plate slot; said connector blade slot adapted for friction fit insertion of a connector plate.
Preferably, a said extruded section further includes a cable channel; said cable channel adapted to receive a free-running tensioning cable.
Preferably, said panel retaining channel includes panel retaining elements; said panel retaining elements formed along outer edges of said panel retaining channel; said panel retaining elements directed inwards towards a median plane of said panel retaining channel.
Preferably, a said truss supports said panels by retaining flange elements of said panels in said panel retaining channels; said panel retaining elements locking respective said flange elements of adjacent said panels into said panel retaining channel as a snap fit.
Preferably, a said truss supports said panels along said first elongate elements of said truss.
Preferably, a said truss supports said panels along said second elongate element of said truss.
Preferably, a said truss supports said panels along both said first and said second elongate elements of said truss.
Preferably, said panels interconnect adjacent ones of said trusses; said panels fulfilling the function of purlins.
Preferably, said first and second elongate elements of said truss comprise aluminium extrusions.
Preferably, fish-plates of said fish-plate assemblies comprise stainless steel pressings.
Preferably, said tensioning cable comprises stainless steel wire rope.
Preferably, said panels comprise transparent or translucent polymer panels.
Preferably, translucent insulating panels are retained between said panels arranged along both said first and said second elongate elements of said truss.
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of providing roofing or curtain walling of a building or area; said method including assembly and erection of trusses; said method including the steps of:
Preferably, said method further includes the steps of:
Preferably, insulating panels are retained between said panels attached to both said first and second elements.
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a truss system for roof or façade panelling of a building; a truss of said truss system including at least one truss segment; each said truss segment comprising a first elongate element and a second elongate element interconnected at intervals by one or more short fish-plate assemblies; each said short fish-plate assembly comprising a pair of fish-plates arranged back-to-back when in use; said fish-plate assemblies engaging with respective extruded fish-plate channels of said first and second elongate elements; each said fish-plate comprising a planar plate portion provided at respective upper and lower edges with flanges projecting outwardly and normal to an outer surface of said planar plate portion; said flanges captured in said fish-plate channels, and wherein abutting truss segments are connected together by means of a long fish-plate assembly.
Preferably, said long fish-plate assembly comprises a back-to-back assembly of two long fish-plates; each said long fish-plate comprising a central section; said long fish-plate assemblies including extension arms extending from upper and lower portions of said central section; said central section and said extension arms provided with respective upper and lower series of through holes.
Preferably, said central section is provided with outwardly projecting flange elements at an upper edge and a lower edge of said central section such that when said long fish-plates are assembled in said back to back assembly said outwardly projecting flange elements project outwardly from said assembly.
Preferably, said outwardly projecting flange elements engage with said extruded fish-plate channels of said first and second elongate elements.
Preferably, half of a length of a said long fish-plate assembly is secured in said extruded fish-plate channels of a first said truss segments by bolts passing through flange elements of said first and second elongate elements and said through holes; a second half of said length of said long fish-plate assembly secured in said fish-plate channels of an adjoining said truss segment by bolts passing through flange elements of said first and second elongate elements and said through holes.
In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of securing together adjoining segments of a truss; each said truss segment comprising first and second elongate elements interconnected by short fish-plate assemblies; each of said short fish-plate assemblies comprising a pair of short fish-plates arranged back to back when in use; each of said short fish-plates comprising a planar plate portion provided at respective upper and lower edges with flanges projecting outwardly and normal to an outer surface of said planar plate portion; said fish-plates retained in said fish-plate channels by capture of said flanges in said fish-plate channels, said method including the steps of:
In another broad form of the invention there is provided a method of assembling fish-plate assemblies to elongate elements of a truss; said truss comprising first and second elongate elements interconnected by a series of said fish-plate assemblies; each said fish-plate assembly comprising a pair of fish-plates arranged in a back-to-back position when in use; said method including the steps of:
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
With reference to
Each of the truss segments (12) comprises a first elongate element (14) and a second elongate element (16), which are interconnected at intervals by a series of fish-plate assemblies (18). As can be seen in
Preferably, as best seen in
The extruded section of the elongate elements (14) and (16) further includes a connector plate slot (26) which is adapted for friction fit insertion of a connector plate (28). Also included in each extruded section is a cable channel (30) which is adapted to receive a free-running tensioning cable (32).
With reference to
As can be seen from
It will be understood that the fish-plates may be made in a range of sizes so as to adapt the depth of the truss to suit the required span, wind load factors and other design parameters.
Preferably, both the connector plates (28) and the pairs of fish-plates (18a,18b) are of stainless steel, with the tensioning cables (32) also of stainless steel.
As best seen in
As can also be seen from
In Use
The panels adapted for use with the truss system of the invention, may be of metal, but are preferably of opaque or translucent polymer, more preferably polycarbonate, sheeting provided with the edge flanges suited to engagement with the panel retaining channels of the truss.
For large spans, the aluminium extrusions of the first and second elements of the truss segments may be roll formed into an arcuate form so that when the segments are assembled, the truss forms an arch over the building or area to be covered.
To assemble a truss, firstly the required number of truss segments is assembled. This is effected by placing the first and second elongate elements of each truss segment side by side with the fish-plate channels facing each other. The first fish-plates of the series of fish-plate assemblies for that truss segment are then placed into the opposing channels. At this stage the first and second elongate elements are not locked together and the corresponding second fish-plates of each back-to-back pair may also be inserted into the opposing channels adjacent their opposite plates.
The second fish-plates are then slid into their back-to-back positions to complete the fish-plate assemblies and lock the first and second elongate elements together, as the retaining flange elements then lock into the fish-plate channels. Assemblies may be secured in position by riveting for example through the parallel sides of the fish-plate channel.
A major advantage of the fish-plate assemblies is that, unlike bolted connections between first and second elements of a truss, there are no stress points at bolt hole locations. The load is transferred between the first and second elongate elements of the truss system of the invention and is spread over the considerable length of the flange elements of the fish-plates. Connector plates are driven into the connector plate slots at that end of the truss segment to be joined to the next truss segment and the two segments forced into abutment. This process is repeated until the required number of truss segments has been connected together. Tensioning cables are then fed through the tensioning channels and tensioned by means of swage studs (not shown) at each end of the truss to secure the truss into a load bearing unit.
In the case of roofing, trusses are lifted into position on suitable supporting elements at predetermined spacings. Roofing panels are then snap-fitted into the roof panel retaining channels of either or both of elongate first and second elements of adjacent trusses. The roof panels of the system interconnect adjacent ones of the trusses, and the structural properties of the polycarbonate panels of the system are such that no other support is required than that provided by the trusses, with the panels in effect fulfilling the function of purlins.
The system of the invention thus offers three glazing solutions. Firstly, in a roof construction, polycarbonate roofing panels may be arranged at the upper elongate elements of the truss only, providing a continuous glazed surface over the roof with the trusses exposed from below. Alternatively, roofing panels may be arranged at the lower elongate elements only, providing a continuous glazed surface as viewed from below, leaving the trusses exposed above, while thirdly, panels may be provided at both the upper and lower elongate elements of the trusses. Where both an upper and a lower layer of roofing panels are to be supported by the trusses, the lower layer is installed first and may be followed by placing translucent insulation bats to substantially fill the space between the upper and lower roofing panels. Alternatively, as shown in
It will be appreciated, especially from
In this second embodiment with reference to
Only the central portion (104) of each long fish plate (118a) and (118b) is provided with outwardly projecting flanges (106), (as described for the first embodiment above), at the upper and lower edged of the plate. A series of through holes 108 is provided along the upper and lower portions of the fish plate and along the extension arms 102. If required, depending on the degree of curvature of the elongate elements of the truss to which they are to be applied, the long fish plates may be provided with matching curvature.
In this embodiment, with reference now to
To join prior assembled truss segments one to another, a long fish plate assembly (118) is inserted into the ends of first and second elongate elements (114) and (116) at the end of one of the two truss segments to be joined. The long fish plate assembly (118) is inserted to half its length as shown in
The truss segment to be connected (without a long fish plate assembly inserted into the abutting ends of its elongate elements) may then be slid over the projecting sections of the long fish plate assembly (118) projecting from the prepared truss segment and the two segments secured together by similarly bolting through the flanges (120) and the opposite extension arms (102) of the long fish plates.
The extruded elongate elements (114) and (116) making up the first and second truss elements of a truss segment (112) may be of the same profile as described above and shown in
In the case of the extrusion (130) of
In an alternative arrangement as shown in
Although the above description is mainly focused on the use of the trusses in a roofing context, it will be understood that extensive facades may be provided with a translucent or transparent curtain wall by use of the truss assemblies of the invention arranged in vertical or sloping arrays and similarly combined with panels.
The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011232748 | Oct 2011 | AU | national |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/AU2012/000963 | 8/15/2012 | WO | 00 | 4/2/2014 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2013/049878 | 4/11/2013 | WO | A |
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