Abstract:
An anchoring assembly for anchoring a liner of a cured lining material applied in liquid form to metal objects, comprising a fixing device welded or soldered to a metal object, the fixing device comprising a weld element and a fixing element provided with a through hole, and an anchoring element configured to be passed through the through hole of the fixing device, wherein the weld element comprises a weld or solder stud.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to Dutch patent application no. 2006790 filed May 16, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to an anchoring assembly for anchoring a liner of a cured lining material applied in liquid form to metal objects, said anchoring assembly comprising a fixing device adapted to be welded or soldered to a metal object, which fixing device comprises a weld element and a fixing element provided with a through hole, and an anchoring element that can be passed through the through hole of the fixing device. 
         [0003]    A known anchoring assembly comprises a rectangular plate provided with a through hole. The weld element is formed by a short end weld side remote from the through hole of the rectangular plate. The fixing device is formed by a portion of the rectangular plate around the through hole. The known anchoring element, when used, is welded to a metal object with its short end weld side, using electrodes. Then a bent rod-shaped anchoring element is passed through the through hole and fixed in a desired position. Once the anchoring assemblies required for adequate anchoring have been welded to the metal object and the anchoring elements have been fixed in position, pouring of the liner, for example cement, can take place. 
         [0004]    A drawback of the known anchoring assembly is the fact that welding the rectangular plates to the metal object and subsequently fixing the anchoring element in a desired position is a time-consuming operation. 
         [0005]    Accordingly it is an object of the present invention, according to the first aspect thereof, to provide an anchoring assembly as described in the introduction, which is easier to provide on a metal object in the desired position. This object is achieved by the present invention in that the weld element comprises a weld or solder stud designed for being welded or soldered, respectively, to a metal object by stud welding or soldering. Weld or solder studs are known to the skilled person in various embodiments thereof. The idea underlying the invention is that a weld or solder stud can be welded to a metal object in a simple and quick manner in use, for example in situ, by stud welding or soldering. It can thus be attached to a metal object in a much simpler manner than is possible with a known fixing device in the form of a rectangular plate, making it possible to realise a significant saving in time. Also, anchoring assemblies according to the invention are easier to handle, store and transport to a workplace than alternative anchoring assemblies of which the weld element is already pre-welded or soldered to an anchoring rail. The object of the present invention is thus accomplished. 
         [0006]    German Gebrauchsmuster DE 7606293 U1 describes an anchor pre-welded to an anchoring rail for attaching construction elements to concrete (to be) poured in situ. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,058,672 describes a two-part anchor, wherein a connecting eye is connected to a sleeve provided with internal screw thread, which is to be attached to a second part of the anchor by means of a bolt. 
         [0008]    French patent FR 2,054,723 likewise describes a concrete anchoring arrangement, in which a fixing device can be screwed onto a threaded pin. Said pin forms an integral part of a wall. 
         [0009]    European patent application EP 0 039 931 describes an anchor type having a base portion configured as a plate, a bracket of which anchor is pre-welded to the base plate. 
         [0010]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weld or solder stud has a substantially constant cross-section along the length thereof. Furthermore, the welding surface is preferably provided at the end of the weld element remote from the fixing element. The fixing element thus has a shape which is simple and easy to handle. 
         [0011]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, aluminium is provided on the welding surface, thereby promoting the melting bath during the stud welding operation. 
         [0012]    It is preferable in that regard if said aluminium is present in the welding or soldering surface of the weld or solder stud in the form of a ball. Such a no-loss position of the ball makes it easier to handle the weld or solder stud during the stud welding operation. 
         [0013]    If the fixing element is at least substantially flat, with the through hole extending from a flat surface of the fixing element to an opposite flat surface of the fixing element, a fixing device that is easy to handle is provided. 
         [0014]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing device forms an integral element. Thus, a fixing element can be simply attached to a metal object in one operation, viz. a stud welding operation. 
         [0015]    Alternatively, the fixing device is an assembled or at least assemblable element. The various elements can thus be made of different materials, and standard elements can be assembled to form a desired fixing element. 
         [0016]    It is preferable in that regard if the fixing device comprises a weld or solder stud and a fixing element connected or at least to be connected thereto. If, for example, the weld element or the fixing element comprises external screw thread, and the other of the aforesaid two elements comprises corresponding internal screw thread, the two elements can be connected together in a simple manner after stud welding or soldering of the weld or solder stud has taken place. 
         [0017]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the fixing element is made of stainless steel. This renders the fixing element suitable for applications in which corrosion can affect the quality of the anchoring assembly. For the same reason the weld or solder stud may be copper-plated. 
         [0018]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the anchoring assembly comprises a clamping element, by means of which the anchoring element is clamped to the fixing device in use. The anchoring element can thus be readily fixed in a desired position. It is preferable in that regard if the fixing device comprises a first engagement surface portion and the clamping element comprises a corresponding second engagement surface. The anchoring element can thus be clamped between the fixing device and the clamping element. 
         [0019]    According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a fixing device for use with an anchoring assembly according to the first aspect of the present invention. A fixing device according to the second aspect of the invention comprises a weld or solder stud designed to be welded or soldered to a metal object by stud welding or soldering, and a fixing element provided with a through hole which is or at least is to be connected thereto. The connection may be a permanent connection, for example such that the fixing device is an integral element. 
         [0020]    According to a third aspect, the present invention relates to a method for fixing anchoring assemblies comprising a fixing device to a metal object, comprising the steps of: (1) providing the metal object and at least one fixing device of at least one anchoring assembly; (2) welding or soldering the at least one fixing device to the metal object; and (3) connecting an anchoring element to the at least one fixing device, wherein a fixing device comprising a weld or solder stud is provided in step (1), which weld or solder stud is welded or soldered to the metal object by stud welding or soldering in step (2). 
         [0021]    Additional features, aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the invention as described herein. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present various embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of an anchoring assembly according to the present invention; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2   a  is a perspective view of a fixing device according to the present invention; 
           [0025]      FIG. 2   b  is a front view of the fixing device of  FIG. 2   a;    
           [0026]      FIG. 3   a  is a perspective view of an alternative fixing element according to the present invention; 
           [0027]      FIG. 3   b  is a front view of the fixing element of  FIG. 3   a;    
           [0028]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a clamping element of the anchoring assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a metal object with anchoring assemblies according to the present invention during various stages of assembly; and 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a metal object with an alternative anchoring assembly during various stages of assembly. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0031]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown. However, the invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the representative embodiments set forth herein. The exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention and enable one of ordinary skill in the art to make, use and practice the invention. Like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various drawings. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective side view of an anchoring assembly  1  according to the present invention. The anchoring assembly  1  comprises a fixing device  2 , in which an anchoring element  4  is held by means of a clamping element. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  show a perspective view and a side view, respectively, of a fixing device  10  according to the present invention. The fixing device  10  is an integral element, substantially made of stainless steel, and comprises a weld stud  11 , an aluminium ball  12  and a fixing element  13  provided with a through hole  14 . On both sides  15  and at the upper side  16  the fixing element  13  is configured so that the clamping element (not shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b ), such as the clamping element  3  shown in  FIG. 1 , can be engagingly clamped on the fixing element  13  in a simple but firm manner. The specific configurations of the sides  15  and the upper side  16  are not relevant as such, as long as a correspondingly designed clamping element is available. 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b  show a perspective view and a front view, respectively, of an alternative embodiment of a fixing device  20  according to the present invention. The fixing device  20  is substantially made of stainless steel and comprises a sleeve  21  provided with internal screw thread (not shown) and a fixing element  23  provided with a through hole  24 , sides  25  and an upper side  26 , comparable to the fixing element  13  of  FIG. 2 . The fixing device  20  can be fixed as such to a weld stud (not shown in  FIGS. 3   a ,  3   b , but forming part of the fixing device) provided with external screw thread, as will be explained in more detail yet with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a perspective top plan view of a clamping element  30  comparable to the clamping element  3  of  FIG. 1 . The clamping element  30  may be made of plastic material or of a(n) (at least slightly) elastic metal. The clamping element  30  comprises a beam-shaped central element  31 , which is provided with keyhole-shaped recesses  31  at the short ends thereof. Arms of an anchoring member (not shown in  FIG. 4 ) having a circular cross-section can be accommodated in the circular part  33  of the keyhole-shaped recesses  32 . The arms (not shown) can be guided to the circular parts  33  via guide surfaces  34  of the keyhole-shaped recesses  32 . The keyhole-shaped recess  32  is narrowed at the location of the transition between the guide surfaces  34  and the circular parts  33  of the recesses. When the clamping element  30  is placed, partially surrounding an anchoring element, the guide surfaces  34  are pushed apart by the arms of the anchoring element. After passing the guide surfaces, an arm of an anchoring element is clamped down in the circular recess  33  in that the guide surfaces will eventually resiliently return to their original position. A comparable situation is shown in  FIG. 1 . Two wings  35  on either side of the beam-shaped central element  31  are placed and clamped around the sides (comparable to the sides  25 ,  35  of the fixing devices  10  and  20 , respectively) in use. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a part of a metal object  40  with anchoring elements according to the present invention provided on the metal object  40  during various stages of attachment. The metal object  40  may be a stainless steel wall, against which cement must be poured and allowed to cure. On the left-hand side of the metal object  40 , a fixing device  10  provided with a weld stud  11  is stud-welded to the metal object  40 . The second fixing device  10   b  has an anchoring element  4  inserted into the through hole  14  thereof. The fixing device  10   c  has an anchoring element  4  clamped thereon by means of the clamping element  30 . Once sufficient anchoring assemblies  1  are provided in the fully assembled condition as shown for the fixing device  10   c,  cement can be poured on the metal object  40 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 6 , to conclude, shows a part of a metal object  50  with anchoring assemblies provided with a fixing device  20  provided thereon during various stages of assembly. On the left-hand side of  FIG. 6 , a weld stud  27   a  provided with external screw thread  28  is welded to the metal object  50 . Furthermore, an insulation block  29  is placed over the weld studs  22  in such a manner that the screw thread  28  is clear at all times. A ring  19  is placed over the external screw thread  28   b  of the weld stud  27   b.  A fixing device  20   c  provided with internal screw thread is placed over external screw thread of the weld stud  27   c.  An anchoring element  4  is inserted into the through hole  24  of the fixing device  20   d.  A clamping element  30  is placed over the anchoring element  4  and the fixing device  20   e.    
         [0038]    Only a few embodiments of anchoring assemblies and fixing devices according to the invention are shown and described in the appended drawings and above description. It will be understood, however, that many variants, which may or may not be obvious to those skilled in the art, are conceivable within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims. Thus, various suitable materials may be used for the various elements. The weld stud may be a solder stud, which is soldered to the metal object in that case. The term “weld stud” or “solder stud” as used herein is understood to mean a pin-shaped element suitable for being welded or soldered to a metal object with its short end surface. The separation between a weld stud and the fixing device may be provided at a different position, using different fixing means, than the position and the fixing means shown and described herein. Various forms of anchoring elements can be used, of course, depending on the use and/or the user&#39;s requirements. The various elements may furthermore be connected together in various ways.