APPARATUS FOR TYING OR ANCHORING WOODEN POSTS OR THE LIKE

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for tying or anchoring one end of a wooden post, pillar, post beam or the like (1). To maintain the structural strength and stability of the tying or anchoring apparatus independently of such altera­ tions of the dimensions of the wood fibres as are caused by variations i the humidity content of the wood the apparatus comprises at least one stud bolt (3) which is threaded at least in part and extends in the fibre direction of the wood, at least one key or cotter (2) which is introduced in a bore in the post etc. extending transverse to the fibre direction of the wood, said cotter having a threaded hole adapted to cooperate with the threads of the stud bolt (3), and means (4) for bringing about a strain or stress action between the stud bolt (3) and the cotter (2) at the turning of the stud bolt or an appurtenant nut.

Description: This invention relates to an apparatus for tying or anchoring one end of a wooden post, pillar, beam or the like. According to tying or securing methods of the prior art bigger or smaller metal fittings are secured to the outside of posts or beams by means of screws or bolts which extend substantially perpendperpendicularly to the longitudinal direction of the wood fibres. Outdoors and in other places where great humidity variations occur a difficulty appears at the use of this method which depends upon the extensive swelling and shrinking of the fibres in a direction perpendicular to the fibres when the wood absorbs and emits, respectively, humidity. The appurtenant variations in the dimensions of the post/beam in the transverse direction of the securing bolts eventually leads to a deterioration of the strength of the bolt connections. Another drawback of this known method resides therein, that the metal fittings which are attached by means of the bolts and usually are comprised of sturdy plates, which conform to the contour of the post/beam, cover a comparatively large portion of its circumferential surface and thereby prevent or make more difficult the securing of cross-beams and the like on large portions of the post or the like. Another means or system for anchoring a wooden post to a base is disclosed in US-A-3295275 to Carlsen. According to this specification the pole or post has its lower end penetrated by two diametrically extending bolts which extend perpendicularly to each other. The outer ends of these bolts are each secured to an L-shaped intermediate piece having one portion extending in the longitudinal direction of the pole and to which the bolt is connected, and a second portion or foot which projects radially outwards with respect to the pole and is provided with a through bore. Each of these bores is penetrated by the upper, threaded end of a tie rod or the like. This threaded end is to be engaged by a nut which is to abut the upper surface of the foot of the L-shaped intermediate piece. The lower end of the tie rod terminates in an eye through which a bolt passes which is firmly secured in a concrete base upon which the wooden pole is to rest. When tightening down the nuts on the upper ends of the tie rods against the overside of the foots of the intermediate pieces the pole becomes pressed against the base and firmly anchored thereto. Although this known construction which substantially corresponds to the preamble of our claim 1 constitutes an improvement in the art it suffers from certain drawbacks. In the first instance the L-shaped intermediate piece constitutes an unnecessary complication which should be avoided. Still more important, however, is the fact that the intermediate pieces as well as the tie rods are located outside the circumferential surface of the post and its base and project radially therefrom. This projecting parts entail the risk that hands, fingers, feet or toes of children (when the pole is erected on a play-ground) and other persons can get stuck therein, which is also true in respect of articles of their clothing, such as scarfs, hood strings or the like. The principal object of the invention resides in eliminating the above drawbacks and in providing an anchoring or tying device for wooden posts, pillars, beams or the like which is substantially insensitive of variations of the dimensions of wood on account of variations in humidity. Another object of the invention is to provide an anchoring device of the kind referred to above which is free of endagering projections and accordingly exhibits a smooth, neat surface which in addition thereto makes possible attachment of fittings for cross-beams and the like along the entire extension of the post or beam. A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of the kind in question which is adjustable and dismountable and is independent of the geometry of the post/beam. These objects are attained thanks to the fact that the apparatus according to the invention is so constructed as is defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Further features and advantages of the apparatus in accordance with the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the annexed drawings which diagrammatically and as non-limiting examples illustrate a plurality of preferred embodiments of the invention. The embodiments according to Figs. 1-10 are based upon a first common principle, and the embodiments according to the remaining Figures are based on a second principle common to them. Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view on line I-I in Fig. 2 through the lower end of a post and illustrates a first embodiment of the invention. Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on line II-II in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on line III-III in Fig. 4 corresponding to Fig. 1 and illustrating a second embodiment of the invention. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view on line IV-IV in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view on line VII-VII in Fig. 6 corresponding to Fig. 1 and illustrating a third embodiment of the invention. Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view on line VIII-VIII in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view on line IX-IX in Fig. 8 through one end of a horizontal beam and illustrates how this can be secured or joined to a vertical post according to the invention. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the joint or connection according to Fig. 7, as seen from the line X-X therein. Fig. 9 is a side view illustrating linear or in-line-joining of two beams, end-to-end. Fig. 10 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 11. Figs. 11 and 12; 13 and 14; 15 and 16; 17 and 18; and 19 and 20 illustrate in the same way as Figs. 1 and 2; 3 and 4; 5 and 6; 7 and 8; and 9 and 10, respectively, further embodiments of the invention which are based upon the above-mentioned, second principle. In all Figures same or similar details and details corresponding to each other are designated with the same reference numerals, throughout. In Figs. 1 and 2 which illustrate a first embodiment of the invention 1 designates a cylindrical, vertical wooden post through which there have been bored firstly four bores extending substantially parallel to the central axis of the post, and secondly two bores which are substantially perpendicular to the first-mentioned bores. In each one of the last-mentioned bores a rod or stud 2 is introduced which in the following is called "key" or "cotter" and in which two threaded holes have been made. In each one of the first mentioned holes a screw, rod, stud or bolt 3 which is threaded at least in part and which is generally designated "stud bolt" is introduced. If a threaded stud or the like is concerned, its appurtenant nut 5 is included in the designation "stud bolt". In the Figures the stud bolt 3 is shown as being threaded in both ends without any head. In the embodiment according to Figs. 1-2 the means for bringing about a strain or stress action between the cotter 2 and the stud bolt 3 comprise a plate 4 which engages the end surface of the post 1 and has one hole for the outer, threaded end of each stud bolt, and nuts 5 (corresponding to bolt heads) threaded onto the respective threaded bolt ends. The plate 4 is rigidly united with, or comprises part of, an attachment fitting which is generally designated 6 and intended to be cast into a concrete bed in the embodiment according to Figs. 1-8. In these embodiments the bending moment acting upon the lower end of the post 1 are absorbed principally by the stud bolts 3. The embodiment according to Figs. 3 and 4 differs from that described above substantially only therein, that the stud bolts 3 are located in grooves 8 in the circumferential surface of the post 1. According to Figs. 5-6 the four stud bolts 3 have been replaced by a single, central stud bolt. In Figs. 7 and 8 there is shown a horizontal beam 1 which corresponds to the post 1 in the preceding Figures and has its left end in Fig. 7 attached or secured to a vertical post 9 which corresponds to a base or footing. The attachment fitting 6 is presumed to be screwn to the post 9 by means of diagrammatically indicated screws 10 (Fig. 7). In the embodiment according to Figs. 9-10 the vertical post according to Figs. 7-8 is corresponded to by a beam end 9 provided with an attachment fitting and basically corresponding to the beam end according to Figs. 7-8 and being joined end-to-end with a similar beam end by means of such fittings as are illustrated in Figs. 7-8. In the embodiments according to Figs. 11-20 the means for bringing about or creating a stress or strain action between the stud bolt 3 and the cotter 2 comprise, instead of the plate 4 engaging the end surface of the beam, a rod or the like 4 which is introduced in a transverse bore in the post 1, preferably the same bore as the corresponding cotter, and which constitutes an abutment for the inner end of the stud bolt 3. This arrangement brings about the advantage that the attachment fitting 6 can be located at a distance from the end surface of the post 1, so that an interspace 11 is formed therebetween. The embodiments according to Figs. 11-20 bring about a special advantage, i.e. that the interspace 11 between the end of the post/beam 1 and the attachment fitting 6 becomes adjustable. Another related advantage of the embodiments according to Figs. 11-16 resides therein, that the entire post, beam, etc. becomes aerated thanks to the fact that no portion thereof is covered by plates or the like, as is the case according to prior technique. In general the apparatus according to the invention has the advantage that it makes possible over-ground-mounting of wooden posts and, in addition hereto, the apparatus is independent of the geometric form of the post/beam. The embodiments described above and illustrated on the drawings are, of course, to be regarded merely as non-limiting examples and may as to their details be modified in several ways within the scope of the following claims. Thus, it is possible to provide an arbitrary number of cotters 2 and stud bolts 3; however, at least one of each kind. The cotters 2 and the rods 4 may have an arbitrary geometrical cross-sectional form. Thus, they may have the form e.g. of a tube, round or square, in which a suitable nut is introduced or ― at external mounting ― an ordinary screw and a nut.

Claims: 1. Apparatus for tying or anchoring one end of a wooden post, pillar, post, beam or the like (1) comprising at least one stud bolt (3) which is threaded at least in part and extends in the fibre direction of the wood; at least one key or cotter (2) which is introduced in a bore in the post etc. extending transverse to the fibre direction of the wood, and means (4) for bringing about a strain or stress action between the stud bolt (3) and the cotter (2) at the turning of the stud bolt or an appurtenant nut, characterized in that said cotter has a threaded hole located in the interior of the wooden post and adapted to cooperate with the threads of the stud bolt (3) and in that the stud bolt, substantially in its entirety, is located inside the circumferential surface of the wooden post (1), in a bore, a channel or the like therein. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the stud bolt (3) extends substantially along the longitudinal axis of the post etc. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cotters (2) are two in number and extend through individual, preferably through bores which intersect each other at a preferably right angle and are located at different distances from said end of the post (1) etc., and in that the strain creating stud bolts (3) are four in number and cooperate in pairs with the one and the other cotter (2), respectively. 4. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that at least some of the stud bolts (3) are introduced into and extend along grooves (8) which are cut out into the circumferential surface of the post (1) etc. 5. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said stress or strain producing means is comprised of an attachment fitting (6) having a plate (4) adapted to abut the end of the post (1) and having one aperture for one end of each stud bolt (3) said end having, or being provided for cooperation with, means (5) for pressing the attachment fitting (6) against the end of the post, beam or the like (1) with the cotter as an abutment or holder-on. 6. Apparatus according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that said strain or stress creating means are comprised of at least one abutment rod (4) which extends through a transverse bore which extends through the post etc. and is located on the opposite side of the cotter (2) in respect of the end of the post etc. (1), at least one of the stud bolts (3) being adapted to be pressed against said abutment rod (4) by being screwed in through a hole in the cotter (2). 7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the end(s) of the pin bolt or bolts (3) which is/are located opposite with respect to the cotter (2) project(s) outside the end of the post (1) etc., and in that an attachment fitting (6) is secured to or attachable to said projecting stud bolt ends. 8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in that there is an interspace (11) between the end of the post (1) etc. and the attachment fitting (6).

Inventors: GRANSTROEM, JOHN, Granström, John
Applicants: AB HAGS MEKANISKA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: E04H12
IPC codes: E04H12