SCREW CONNECTOR AND METHODS OF CONNECTING ELEMENTS USING SUCH A SCREW CONNECTOR

Abstract: The present invention relates to a screw connector and methods of connecting elements, particulary in metal constructions using such screw connector. According to the present invention, screw connectors are useful for making temporary connections, which are suitable for the proper stabilisation of elements before realisation of the final welded joints. The screw connector comprises a threaded shank (1a) and a flat head (1b) with a hole, the thickness of the head (1b) being smaller than the diameter of the shank (1a). The head of the connector is limited by one plane (A) tangent to the surface of the shank, and a second plane (B) at a shorter distance from the shank axis wchich second plane transforms into a single sided bevel (1c) in the transition zone between the shank (1a) and the head (1b). Preferably, the thickness of the head (1b) is equal to half the diameter of the shank (1a) and the ratio of the slope of the bevel plane (1c) to the plane (B) of the head (1b) is equal to 1:1.

Description: SCREW CONNECTOR AND METHODS OF CONNECTING ELEMENTS USING SUCH A SCREW CONNECTOR The present invention relates to a screw connector and a method of connecting elements, particulary of metal constructions. A bolt with an eye head comprising of a threaded shank and a flat oval head with a hole is already known. In this solution the thickness of the head is equal to the diameter of the shank. Beam-to-column connections, in which apart from bolts, additional connecting devices are used, made up of an angle or rolled tees, are already known. Joints of this type, as a result of substantial deformation of connecting devices, show a relatively high flexability as well as a not very great strength. According to the present invention, joints using screw connectors together with standard bolts and nuts are useful alternative solutions in these areas, while being simple and more constructable, since they do not need any additional connecting devices. From the description of the Polish utility model No. 37679, the screw connector for connecting steel rolled sections is already known. This connector consists of a bolt and a nut with grooves on them as well as from a rolled section in which there are cuts allowing for the fitting of a nut as well as a jointed section with a hole through which a bolt is fitted through a bent back cover plate. The aim of the present invention is the realisation of a connector for carrying out different types of connections, particulary so-called T-joints both single and double sided, ordinary and pre-loaded. According to the present invention, screw connectors are useful for making temporary connections, which are suitable for the proper stabilisation of elements before realisation of the final welded joints. The nature of the invention is that the connector consist of a threaded shank with a flat head in which there is a circular hole, while the thickness of the head is smaller than the diameter of the shank. The head of the connector has one plane limiting it at a tangent to the surface of the shank, while the second plane at a shorter distance from the shank axis transforms into a single sided bevel in the transition zone between the shank and the head. Preferably, the thickness of the head is equal to half of the diameter of the shank, while the ratio of the slope of the bevel plane to the plane of the head is equal to 1 : 1. According to the present invention, the method of connecting elements is that the perpendicular element is joined with the base element by means of the connector according to the invention as well as by means of the standard bolt in such a way that the head of the connector is in contact with the perpendicular element and the shank goes through the hole of the base element, while the bolt goes through the connector head and the hole of the perpendicular element, after which the bolt nuts are thightened and the single sided T-joint is obtained. According to the present invention, the method of connecting elements is that the perpendicular element is joined with the base element by means of two connectors according to the invention as well as by means of the bolt, in such a way that the heads of the connectors are in contact on both sides with the perpendicular element and the shanks go through the hole of the base element while the bolt goes through the connector heads and the hole of the peipendicular element, after which the nuts are thightened and the double sided T-joint is obtained. Preferably in the double sided T-joint, at least one distance plate is placed at a tangent to the perpendicular element. Preferably in the single or double sided T-joint, the distance element is placed at a tangent to the base element. According to the invention, the method of connecting elements is based on the fact that the shank of the connector, having first the nut placed on it, is then screwed into the threaded hole of the base element; then the nut is thightened, stabilising the position of the connector in relation to the base element, as a result of which a sort of screw type joint is obtained. The method of connecting elements is based on the fact that the shank of one connector is placed in the hole of the head of the second connector, next the nuts placed on the through shank on both sides of the head are tightened, stabilising the connectors in the required position and a through joint of two connectors is thus obtained. The method of connecting elements is based on the fact that at least two connectors are overlapping by heads using a central through-connector, obtaining in this way a lap joint. In the preferable case, the method of connecting elements relates to the fact that two connectors, whose thickness of the head is equal to one half of the diameter of the shank are connected in such a way that the axis of the shank he m the contact plane The present invention is explained m examples of realisation in the attached drawings, m which Fig la - shows the connector m perspective view Fig lb - shows the connector in a longitudinal section, Fig lc - shows the connectoi in a section along the A-A line of Fig lb, Fig 2 - shows the method of connecting the elements, to obtain a single sided T-jomt, Fig 3 - shows the method of connecting the elements, to obtain a double sided T-jomt, and Fig 4 - shows the diffeient applications of the screw connectors m various combinations The piesent invention relates to the screw connectoi manufactuied using the method of plastic forming, in the form of a threaded shank _la_and a flat head j_b with a circular hole The thickness of the connector head lb is smaller than the diametei of its shank la, while one plane A limiting the head lb at a tangent to the suiface of the shank, and the second plane B at a shorter distance from the shank axis tiansforms into a single side bevel lc in the transition zone between the shank la and the head lb The thickness of the head lb, in the preferable use of the invention, is equal to half of the diameter of the shank la, while the ratio of the slope of the bevel plane lc to the plane B of the head l_b is equal to 1 1 Fig 2-4 show the different methods of connecting elements using the connector 1 , according to the present invention Fig 2 illustrates the method of connecting elements, m which the perpen- diculai element 2 is joined with the base element 3 by means of the screw connectoi 1 as well as by means of the standard bolt 4 in such a way that the head lb of the connectoi 1 is m contact with the perpendicular element 2 and its shank la goes through the hole of the base element 3, while the bolt 4 goes through the hole of the connector I head and the hole of the perpendicular element 2, after which the nuts 5 are thightened and the single sided T-joint is obtained In this joint, at least one distance plate 6_ιs placed at a tangent to the perpendicular element 2 and/oi a distance element 7 at a tangent to the base element 3 Instead of the distance plate and distance element, one element can be used for instance in the form of an angle Fig 3 illustrates the method of connetmg elements, in which the perpendiculai element 2 is joined with the base element 3 by means of two screw connectoi s 1 as well as by means of the bolt 4 m such a way that the heads l_b of the connectoi s are in contact on both sides with the perpendicular element 2 and the shanks la go thiough the hole of the base element 3, while the bolt 4 goes through the connectoi heads I and the hole of the perpendicular element 2, after which the nuts 5 aie thightened and the double sided T-joint is obtained Preferably, in this joint, at least one distance plate 6_ιs placed at a tangent to the perpendicular element 2 and/oi a distance element 7 at a tangent to the base element 3 Instead of the distance plate and distance element can be used one element, for instance in the form of an angle Fig 4 illustrates a number of examples relating to the methods of connecting elements The shank of the screw connector 1, after first having the nut 5 placed on it, is screwed into the threaded hole 8 of the base element 3. and then aftei thightenmg the nut 5 ^ the position of the connectoi 1 in relation to the base element 3 is stabilised, as a lesult of which a sort of screw type joint is obtained The shank of one sciew connectoi I is placed m the hole of the head of the second connectoi 1, next both nuts 5 placed on the through shank on both sides of the head aie tightened, stabilising the connectors I in the required position, as a iesult of which a thiough joint of two connectors is obtained Two sciew connectoi s 1 aie ovei lapping by heads using a central trough-connector 9 , obtaining in this way a lap joint In the pieferable use of the invention, two screw connectoi s 1, whose thickness of the head lb is equal to one half of the diametei of the shank J_a aie connected in such a way that the axis of the shank lie in the contact plane The screw connector, according to the present invention, is to be used foi connecting mutually othogonal elements without additional connecting devices such as angles and tees, especially for realisation of the T-jomts between beam sections The screw connectors, according to the present invention, with oveilapmg heads may be used for the realisation of pm connections or othei joints on one central - through connector The screw connectors according to the present invention may also be used foi constructing racks and other assemblies with a large multiple versatility and a continuous regulation

Claims: Claims 1. A screw connector in a form of the threaded shank and a flat head with a hole, characterised in that, the thickness of the head (lb) is smaller than the diameter of the shank Qa), while one plane (A) limiting the head Qb) at a tangent to the surface of the shank, and the second plane (B) at a shorter distance from the shank axis transforms into a single sided bevel Qc) in the transition zone between the shank Qa) and the head Qb). 2. A screw connector according to claim 1, characterised in that, the thickness of the head Qb) is equal to half of the diameter of the shank Qa). 3. A screw connector according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that, the ratio of the slope of the bevel plane Qc) to the plane (B) of the head Qb) is equal to 1 : 1. 4. A method of connecting elements, characterised in that, the peipendicular element (2) is joined with the base element (3) by means of the screw connectoi Q) together with the bolt (4) in such a way that the head of the connector Q) is in contact with the perpendicular element (2) and the shank goes through the hole of the base element (3), while the bolt (4) goes through the connector Q) head and the hole of the perpendicular element (2), after which the nuts (5) are thightened and the single sided T-joint is obtained. 5. A method of connecting elements, characterised in that, the peipendicular element (2) is joined with the base element (3) by means of two screw connectors Q) together with the bolt (4) in such a way that the heads Qb) of the connectors Q) are in contact on both sides with the perpendicular element (2) and the shanks Qa) go through the hole of the base element (3), while the bolt (4) goes through the connector Q) heads and the hole of the peipendicular element (2), after which the nuts (5) are thightened and the double sided T-joint is obtained. 6. A method of connecting elements according to claim 5, characterised in that, in the T-joint at least one distance plate (6) is placed at a tangent to the peipendicular element (2). 7. A method of connecting elements according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that, a distance element (7) is placed at a tangent to the base element (3). 8. A method of connecting elements according to claim 6, characterised in that, a distance element (7) is placed at a tangent to the base element (3). 9. A method of connecting elements, characterised in that, the shank of the screw connector Q), having first the nut (5) placed on it, is then screwed into the threaded hole (8) of the base element (3); and then after thightening the nut (5) stabilising the position of the connector Q) in relation to the base element (3). as a result of which a sort of screw type joint is obtained. 10. A method of connecting elements, characterised in that, the shank of one connector Q) is placed in the hole of the head of the second connector Q), next the nuts (5) placed on the through shank on both sides of the head are tightened. stabilising the connectors Q) in the required position, as a result of which a through joint of two connectors is obtained. 11. A method of connecting elements, characterised in that, at least two connectors Q) are overlapping by heads using a central through-connector (9), obtaining in this way a lap joint. 12. A method of connecting elements according claim 11, characterised in that, two screw connectors Q), whose thickness of the head Qb) is equal to one half of the diameter of the shank Qa) are connected in such a way that the axis of the shank lie in the lap plane. AMENDED CLAIMS [received by the International Bureau on 6 Septembre 1999 (06.09.99); original claim 1 amended ; new claim 2 added; remaining claims unchanged (lpage)] ] . A sciew connector in a form of the threaded shank and a flat oval-shaped head with a hol , characterised in that, the thickness of the head Qb) is_oqual lo or greater than half of the diameter of the shank Qa), while one plane (Λ) limiting the head (lb) is languid lo the surface of the shank, and the second plane (]j) into a single sided bevel Qc) in the transition .one between the shank (la) and the head (Jb), 2. A sciew connector according to claim 1, characterised in thai, the hole and Ihc conioccr of the head (Jb) [is equal to half of (he diameter of the shank (J_a)l arc concentric. 3 A screw connector ac o di g to claim 1 or 2, characlcriRed in that, the aiio of the slope of the bevel plane Qc) to the plane (D) of the head Qb) is equal lo 1 : 1. 4. A method of connecting elements, characterised in thai, the perpendicular clement (2) is joined with the base clement (3) by means of the screw connector (1) together with the bolt (4) in such a way that the head of the connector (1) is in contact with the perpendicular element (2) and the shank goes through the hole of the base clement (3), while the boll (4) goes through the connector (1) head and the hole of the perpendicular element (2), after which the nuts (5) arc thightened and the single sided T-joint is obtained. 5. A method of connecting elements, characterised in that, the pcrpendieuJai element (2) is joined with the base element (3) by means of Iwo screw connectors Q) together with the boll (4) in such a way that the heads Qb) of the connectors Q) are in contact on both sides with the perpendicular element (2) and the shanks (la) go through the hole of the base element (3), while the boll (4) goes through the connector Q) heads and the hole of the peipendicular element (2), after which the nuts (5) arc thightened and the double sided T-joint is obtained. 6. A method of connecting elements according to claim 5, character u»ed in that, in the T-joint at least one distance plate (6) is placed at a tangent to the perpendicular element (2). 8 Statement under article 19(1) It is declared thai the amendments of claims under article 19 arc fully supported by the original disclosure. In the preamble of the amended claim 1 the shape of a flat head is defined as being oval-shaped in accordance with the known prior art recited in the second paragraph of ihc specification and in a characteri/ing part of the amended claim 1 the thickness of the head is defined more precisely by incorporating of the feature previously defined in claim 2 as filed. The new claim 2 is now added. The head of the screw connector is now defined in accordance with the drawings as filed (Fig. 1 a and Fig. 4). The specification will need to be amended as follows: a) on the first page oHhe specification as filed new paragraph directed to the bolt disclosed in GB 217038 Λ will have to be added after the present fourth paragraph; b) on page 1 the summary of the invention will need to be reworded lo match the language of the amended claim 1 and new claim 2; c) on page 3 of the specification more detail description of Fig. la will need to be introduced; d) in the second paragraph on page 4 the shape of Ihc head of the screw connector according to the invention shown on Fig, 4 will need to be described in details. There is no need to amend the drawings as filed.

Inventors: CZECHOWSKI ANDRZEJ, CZECHOWSKI, ANDRZEJ
Applicants: MOSTOSTAL PROJEKT S A, MOSTOSTAL - PROJEKT S.A.
Application year: 1999
Main classification: F16B45
IPC codes: F16B35, F16B45