LINKING SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING A LINK BETWEEN BUILDING ELEMENTS
The invention concerns a linking system (10) for fixing building elements (20, 30) such as natural or artificial stones. The linking system (10) comprises: a first dowel (60) having a first internal orifice (80) comprising a first hole axis, and which is introduced into a first building element (20) by being adapted to be fixed into a first hole (40) which has a first hole axis; and a second dowel (70) having a second internal hole (90), and which is introduced into a second building element (30) by being adapted to be fixed into a second hole (50) which has a second hole axis. Between the first dowel (60) and the second dowel (70) is provided a sleeve (100) wherein a rod (110) is inserted.
The invention relates to a linking system for producing a link between at least two building elements.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the art of linking there are known a number of linking systems, for example for linking building elements such as natural or artificial stones and beams from wood or metal. In house building, load-bearing walls are often made of brick stones, the brick stones being linked with mortar made of cement. The result is a rigidly linked wall, the wall being relatively inelastic. The inelasticity of the links makes such walls susceptible to vibrations and shocks caused by earth quakes, for example.
The construction of mortared brick walls comprises, in addition to laying the brick stones, the step of preparing the mortar, a step of applying the mortar to the brick stones and the step of letting the mortar set during which the linking between the building elements is formed. The step of applying the mortar must occur within a predetermined time span after preparation of the mortar and before the mortar starts setting. The laying of brick stones is restricted to a number of rows, for further rows of brick stones can be laid on top of those brick stones which are linked by the set mortar. This causes delays because of during the construction work.
Environmental factors are further restricting for the use of mortar, for example the typical temperature for using mortar made of cement being above 5° C. Temperatures below 0° C. pose a problem because the water which is normally used for the preparation of the mortar freezes. Furthermore, the properties and use of certain mortars are subject to higher temperatures and humidity.
The position of the individual brick stones is determined by their positioning during their laying. Therefore, in order to obtain an accurate wall, certain craftsmanship is necessary and an expensive trained workforce required.
Nowadays, the building elements of inner and/or non-load-bearing walls are often linked by means of glue. Restrictions for the use of glue are similar to the ones discussed above in connection with the use of mortar.
Especially in the field of Do-It-Yourself, there are number of systems for inner walls with positioning devices, the positioning devices being operative for positioning the building elements relative to each other. Those positioning devices, for example tongue and groove systems, must be arranged on the building elements while those building elements are being produced. Then, on the construction site the thus formed building elements can then be joined and linked for example with glue.
Links without glue of building elements are for example known from wooden links. Number of different pin links for example are known in the art of joinery, for example dove tailings which allows an interlocking link between two building elements. The use of glue-free dowel linkings is also known for wooden building elements. German Patent DE 1 107 910 teaches a link between two building elements, the link being effected by a pliable dowel. The pliable dowel is introduced in two holes in two building elements. The axis of the holes are slightly slanted relatively to the normals of the surfaces of the building elements. The holes in the building elements form an obtuse angle, and pressure is exerted on the building elements and the dowel is bent according to this obtuse angle. Preferably, one uses two or more dowels. The inclination of the hole axis towards the surface points into another direction than the inclination of the corresponding hole axis of the hole in the abutting building element. The teaching of the '910 patent is restricted to wooden materials. The '910 patent is especially concerned with the problem of enclosures of air between the dowel and the hole which may result in a link bursting in an explosive manner in case rising ambient temperature causes the enclosed air to expand. The '910 patent discloses a method according to which such severance of the link can be avoided by milling structures within the dowel.
Bolt-like linking systems are very versatile. A problem with those linking systems is the accessibility of the head of the bolts and nuts, for example when a plurality of rows of building elements like building blocks are joined in order to form a wall. The underside of a building block is not easily accessible once the rows have been fixed. A further problem is the loosening of bolt-like links. Furthermore access to bolts which happen inserted along the direction to which the wall proceeds while being constructed is no longer possible once the wall has been finished.
Problems with accessibility to bolt heads and nuts and possible positions for the bolts have led to solutions as disclosed in the European patent application EP-A-1 389 687. Application '687 teaches a system for linking building elements in which special linking elements are arranged on the building elements. The linking elements are fixed to the building elements by means of bolts before the building elements are being linked. While assembling the building elements the linking elements effect mashing of the building elements, rendering a non-destructive disassembling of the building elements after their assembly next to impossible. Such systems can be used for the construction of prefabricated houses as disclosed in German patent DE-A-100 266 769. The '769 patent teaches utilising such linking elements for buildings intended for long, as well as medium-term use, for example makeshift housings after earthquakes or military barracks. The patent emphasises advantages in assembling time, costs and the possibility to build houses with less trained workers in contrast to the method like erecting a brick stone wall using mortar.
The disadvantages of the systems as disclosed in the '769 and the '687 patents are that both systems add further linking elements to the building elements. Those linking elements themselves are rather complicated.
Another solution for a mortar-free method for erecting brick stone walls is given by the bolt-like linking system for building systems disclosed in European patent application EP-A-1 382 761. Proceeding from similar problems as the '769 patent, the '761 application teaches a linking system wherein starting from a basis plate individual brick stones are secured to the row of brick stones above and below. According to one aspect they are arranged in a lower female thread in the upper fixing means. Lower fixing means start from the base plate, the lower fixing means having a length substantially equal to the height of a brick stone and being arranged with a male upper thread. Brick stones have holes arranged to receive the lower fixing means of the fixing system. Whilst laying one row, the lower fixing means are inserted through the holes of the brick stones. The upper fixing means are bolted to the lower fixing means. The upper part of the upper fixing means is arranged such as to be usable as lower fixing means for the next row. The '761 application discloses a system allowing non destructive disassembling and reassembling of the building elements. According to a preferred aspect, the '761 application discloses positioning devices in order keep the brick stones in place. The '761 application is directed to brick stone walls, facades or buildings having wooden frame constructions. The '761 application does not disclose information about the load-bearing capacities of the walls.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an objective of the invention, to provide a versatile stable linking system for different kinds of building elements.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a link between building elements, allowing an elastic relative motion of the building elements.
It is a further objective of the invention to provide a linking system for quick and efficient construction of buildings such as houses under difficult environmental conditions.
These and other objectives are addressed by providing a linking system for linking the first building element and the second building element. The linking system comprises a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole having a first dowel inner hole axis, fixingly inserted in a first hole with a first hole axis in a first building element, and a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole having a second dowel inner hole axis fixably inserted in a second hole with a second hole axis of a second building element. A sleeve with an inner and outer sleeve radius is being inserted between the dowels into the first dowel inner hole and the second dowel inner hole. The rod with a rod radius is inserted into the sleeve.
Using of the linking system according to the invention allows linking building elements of a plurality of materials for sufficiently stable boreholes. The materials for the dowel, the sleeve and the rod are adaptable with respect to the structure, for example the surface structure.
Materials for the dowel, the sleeve and the rod are adaptable with respect to the properties such as elasticity to the materials of the building elements. The diameter of the boreholes is in a range that allows an efficient drilling of holes into the material of the building elements.
The motion of the linked building elements is mainly determined by the elastic properties of the link, as the link between the building elements is only effected by the linking systems at certain points as well as by frictional forces between the linked building elements. In particular the elastic properties of those links are adaptable in connection with the materials used for the linking systems. This elastic construction of non-rigid walls is particularly suitable for walls in areas prone to earthquakes.
The use of the disclosed linking system is independent of the ambient temperature. The holes within the building elements can be provided either before being shipped to the construction site or on the spot. Assembling the building elements is suitable for untrained work forces. There is no need for waiting for the mortar to set.
The link can be for example effected by plying the rod and the sleeve into an obtuse angle. The resulting elastic forces in the plastic deformations within the linking system causes mashing the linking system with the building elements. The link can be effected by deformation of the sleeve and the rods by means of an eccentricity of an upper dowel hole axis with respect to a lower dowel hole axis. This causes the sleeves and the rods to be pressed against a wall of the dowel to a dowel wall, consequently holding the whole linking system with the building elements.
The link can be affected by deformations and tensions caused by the dowel inner hole axis of the building first dowel not coinciding with the dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel.
The linking can be affected by deformation and tension caused by, for example, compressing the sleeve dowel and rod, for example, by inserting the rod into a conically arranged dowel inner hole if, for example, the rod has a larger diameter than the conically arranged dowel inner hole of the corresponding depth of insertion.
According to a preferred aspect of the invention the first dowel 60 and the second dowel 70 are each divided in two sections. The first dowel 60 has a first dowel upper part 62 and a first dowel lower part 64. The first dowel upper part 62 abuts the surface of the first building element 20 and the first dowel lower part 64 is within the first building element 20. The first dowel upper part 62 and the first dowel lower part 64 are linked by a conical middle portion 66. The dowel inner hole diameter of the first dowel upper part 62 is greater than the dowel inner hole diameter of the first dowel lower part 64.
Similarly the second dowel 70 has a second dowel upper part 72 and a second dowel lower part 74. The second dowel upper part 72 abuts the surface of the second building element 30 and the second dowel lower part 74 is within the second building element 30. The second dowel upper part 72 and the second dowel lower part 74 are connected by a conical middle portion 76. The dowel inner hole diameter of the second dowel upper part 72 is greater than the dowel inner hole diameter of the second dowel lower part 74.
The first dowel upper part 62 and the second dowel upper part 72 are substantially the same length and are referred to by reference D in
A sleeve 100 is inserted into the first dowel inner hole 80 up to a depth of about ⅓ and a rod 110 is inserted into the second hole 50. The sleeve 100 is typically arranged as a hollow cylinder. Rod 110 is for example arranged as a hollow cylinder or as a solid cylinder.
In an exemplary aspect of the invention the first building element 20 and the second building element 30 are concrete slabs. The first dowel 60 and the second dowel 70 are made of plastic or some silica polymer. Silica particles can, for example, be added to a plastic, for example polyethylene, in order to furnish a silica based enforcement. The first dowel 60 and the second dowel 70 are provided with a ceramic coating. By means of the ceramic coating or the silica based enforcement are, for example suitable to increase the friction between the building elements 20 and 30, the dowel 60 and 70 and the sleeve 100 and the rod 110 where concerned.
The first dowel upper part 62 and the second dowel upper part 72 have length of 120 mm, a dowel inner hole diameter of 25.8 mm and a dowel outer diameter of 49.6 mm. The first dowel lower part 64 and the second dowel lower part 74 have a length of 80 mm, a dowel inner hole diameter of 20.2 mm and a dowel outer diameter of 49.6 mm. The rod 110 is made of St37 steel with a length of 398 mm and a diameter of 19 mm. The first hole 40 and the second hole 50 have a hole diameter of 50 mm and a depth of 200 mm.
The sleeve 100 is made of St37 steel having a sleeve inner diameter of 19.8 mm and a sleeve outer diameter of 25 mm and a length of 238 mm. The dimensions provided are exemplary and shall not be construed to limit the scope of the invention.
According to one aspect of the invention the first dowel 60 and the second dowel 70 are arranged as one piece. According to another aspect of the invention the first dowel 60 and the second dowel 70 are provided as two separate pieces corresponding to dowel upper parts 62 and 72 and the dowel lower parts 64 and 74. From a manufacturing point of view the two piece dowel is probably easier to produce.
In
Further aspects of the linking system according to the invention are shown in
(
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Given the dimensions of the dowel 200 from the first example (
Three further aspects of the rod 110 are shown in
Another version of the system 1000 is shown in
A house—or any other kind of building—is shown in
Claims
1. A linking system for fixing a first building element and a second building element comprising;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert-able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
2. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and the second dowel comprises a dowel upper part and a dowel lower part wherein the dowel upper part and the dowel lower part for linking the first with the second building element builds a connected component.
3. A linking system according to claim 1, in at least one of the first and the second dowel comprises a dowel upper part and a dowel lower part, whereby the dowel upper part and the dowel lower part are separate components before linking the first with the second building elements.
4. A linking system according to claims 1, wherein at least one of the dowel inner hole, of the first dowel upper part and the second dowel upper part and the dowel inner hole of the first dowel upper part and the second dowel lower part has a upper part that is conically tapered.
5. A linking system according to claim 1, whereby at least one of the dowel inner hole of the first dowel and the second dowel comprises, an upper dowel inner hole in upper dowel part with an upper dowel inner hole radius and an upper dowel inner hole axis and a lower dowel inner hole in lower dowel part with a lower dowel inner hole radius and a lower dowel inner hole axis, wherein the upper dowel inner hole radius is greater than the lower dowel inner hole radius.
6. A linking system according to claim 1, for which the upper dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel coincides with the axis of the first hole, in the first dowel is inserted, into which the first dowel is inserted, and at least one of the upper dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis coincides with the axis of the second hole into which the second dowel is inserted.
7. A linking system according to claim 1, whereby at least one of the upper dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel is slightly eccentric to the axis of the first hole, into which the first dowel is inserted and at least one of the upper dowel inner hole axis and at least one of the lower dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel is slightly eccentric to the axis of the second hole into which the second dowel is inserted.
8. A linking system according to claim 1, whereby the upper dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis, the first dowel coincide and the upper dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel is slightly to eccentric with respect to the axis of the first hole, in which the first dowel is inserted, and at least one of the upper extremity of the dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel coincide and the upper extremity of the dowel inner hole axis and the lower dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel is slightly eccentric to the axis of the second hole in which the second dowel is inserted.
9. A linking system according to claim 1, whereby the upper dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel and the axis of the first hole coincides into which the first dowel is inserted, and lower dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel is eccentric to the upper dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel and the axis of the first hole and at least one of the upper dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel and the axis of the second hole coincide, into which second dowel is inserted and the lower dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel is eccentrically to the upper dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel and the axis of the second hole.
10. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein the dowel inner hole axis of the first dowel is slightly inclined to a normal of a surface of a the first hole in the first building element, in which the first dowel is inserted, and at least one of the dowel inner hole axis of the second dowel is slightly inclined to a normal of a surface of the second hole in the second building element, into which the second dowel is inserted.
11. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein the axis of the first hole in the first building element is slightly inclined to the normal of the surface of the first hole in the first building element in that the first dowel is inserted and at least one of the axis of the second hole in the second building element which is slightly inclined to normal of the surface of the second hole in the second building element into which the second dowel is inserted.
12. A linking system according to claim 1, whereby the first dowel inner hole axis is slightly inclined to the axis of the first hole in the first building element into which the first dowel is inserted and at least one of the second dowel inner hole axis slightly inclined to the axis of the second hole in the second building element into which the second dowel is inserted.
13. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first and or the second dowel comprise a fastening retaining hook.
14. A linking system according to claim 1, for which one or more or a plurality of sleeves are manufactured from wood, plastic or metal.
15. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein one or more sleeves are made of steel.
16. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the rods are made of wood, plastic or metal.
17. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein one or more rods is made of steel.
18. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein one or more dowels are made of wood, plastic or metal.
19. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein one or more dowels are made of polyethylene.
20. A linking system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more dowels is manufactured from polyethylene and the dowel comprises silica particles.
21. A dowel for the application in a linking system, the linking system comprising;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
22. A sleeve for application in a linking system, the linking system comprising;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
23. A rod for application in a linking system, the linking system comprising;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
24. A link for building elements effected by a plurality of linking systems, the linking system comprising;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
25. A link for building elements effected by a plurality of linking systems according to claim 24, whereby the linking systems are rotated against each other and the linking systems comprise;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
26. A construction comprising a first building element and a second building element, whereby the first building element and the second building element for one or a plurality of linking systems are held together, wherein the linking system comprises;
- a first dowel with a first dowel inner hole with at least a first dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a first hole with a first hole axis,
- a second dowel with a second dowel inner hole with at least a second dowel inner hole axis, which is attachable in a second hole with a second hole axis in a second building element inserted therein,
- between the first dowel and the second dowel a sleeve with a inner sleeve radius and a outer sleeve radius, and
- a rod, insert able in the sleeve, with a rod radius.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 20, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 24, 2011
Applicant: FIRST VANDALIA LUXEMBOURG HOLDING S.A. (LUXEMBOURG)
Inventor: Franz Josef Philipp (Hasselroth)
Application Number: 12/064,298
International Classification: E04B 1/38 (20060101);