Title of Invention

CONNECTING ELEMENT FOR A GLASS POST AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION

Abstract

The invention discloses a connecting element (1) for a glass post and beam construction. The connecting element has posts (20) and beams (19) made from glass, such that the glass posts and beams fulfill a load-bearing function. Further, the connecting element has a first fitting (2), which is in connection with a first glass construction component and a second fitting (8), which is in connection with a second glass construction component. The connecting element (1) further more comprises a load transferring component (18) made from glass, which is disposed between the fitting (2) and the fitting (8). A glass protection (16, 17) is disposed between the fittings (2, 8), and posts (20). The fittings (2, 8) respectively present an arcuate curvature. [ Figure No. to be accompanied with this abstract during publication: Fig. 2. ]

Full Text

CONNECTING ELEMENT FOR A GLASS POST AND BEAM CONSTRUCTION Description The following invention concerns a connecting element for a glass post and beam construction, in which the post and beam are of glass, so that the glass post and beam fulfill a load bearing function, in which the load transfer between the beam and the post is effected via a glass member. Further, the following invention concerns a glass post and beam construction. The obvious and distinctive properties of glass are its light transmission and its transparency. Because of that, of late the glass material has become an important building material and design member in architecture. Architects increasingly create designs, in which they use glass as construction material for the structural design. Transparent designs of this type serve frequently for the creation of meeting places, communication centers and passages for the connection between two or more buildings. For such applications, there arises a requirement for a post -beam construction, which is made entirely out of glass to be able to satisfy the high transparency demands of the architecture. Glass, which is used in the building industry, can be categorized basically into sheet glass, profile glass and glass components according to the application. Usually alkaline silicate glass is used for this purpose. This contains a high proportion of silicic acid. Usually, the glass is set in a frame, since it must carry wind loads or snow loads in case of horizontal layout and, in addition, also carry its own weight. For this, as a rule, multisided-supported glass plates are used due to their requirement to bend. Earlier, the classical application areas of glass were this, whereas today the application of glass as actual load-bearing member has increasingly come into fashion. Thus, one understands under "load-bearing glass" load bearing constructions, which consist entirely of glass. These glass constructions are e.g. girders, columns, frames, blades, stiffeners etc. Glass is basically a brittle material, which is far from being ideally elastic. Besides, a breaking process of the glass sets in without any sort of plastic deformations. These types of properties of glass have to be basically considered when glass is used as load-bearing member. Due to this reason, earlier the definitions for glass had to be so understood that it was used as a designation for a material as well as a designation of a condition. Besides, glass can be described as a "frozen, super cooled melt". Thus, float glass, tempered safety glass and in addition partially pre-stressed glass can be used as basic material for load-bearing glass. Moreover, these types of glass are as a rule processed into laminated safety glass. In view of the already well-known types of glass, it is not necessary to go into these things in detail in the invention. A damage to the glass and as a result of glass breakage, which is or can be caused by different temperature strains, starts from the edges. The processing of the edges by grinding will therefore increase the edge-holding power, since as a consequence of such a process, the macro cracks, which have been formed due to the cutting, are removed. Ideally, the glass surface should be free from scratches, cracks or notches. Because, if such a glass sheet, which has an initial damage, is subjected e.g. to a tensile stress, then stress concentrations will arise at the crack tips. If the material strength is exceeded thereby, then one can assume that an overcritical growth of the crack takes place, which will initiate a sudden breakage of the glass sheet. Examples of "load-bearing glass" are published in a research report with the title "Glass girders, Report No.20, ETH Zurich, Institute for construction technology", pages 31 and 32. An object is described here, which erects a glass construction at the testing grounds of the faculty of architecture/ RWTH Aachen. Here, the posts as well as the beams, and consequently the entire supporting structure, are made with glass. The region of the overlapping glasses of the posts and beams is connected via holes, which are present within the glasses, through which the corresponding metallic screwing elements are passed. In this case, tempered safety glasses were used. A firm connection of the glasses (girders, columns) is achieved through the connection of the girders with the columns through corresponding screw fixings. These types of holes must have a correspondingly close tolerance, so that a sufficient supporting surface is provided on the surface of the glass sheets for the screw heads and nuts respectively. Due to the above reasons, these types of holes are relatively costly to produce. Therefore, the task of the present invention is to provide a fastener for a glass column-beam construction as well as provide a glass column-beam construction, which can fulfil the highest transparency demands and can be executed with almost all types of glasses, with simple construction and which can be produced easily and economically. Likewise, an easy assembly should be possible. According to the invention, the task is solved through a Connecting element and a post-beam construction respectively with the features of the patent claim 1 or of the patent claim 12. Favourable further developments form the respective subject of the sub-claims. The connecting element (1) for a glass post and beam construction according to the invention have a first fitting, a second fitting as well as a load transferring component, which is arranged between the first and the second fitting. The first fitting is connected to a first component of the post-beam construction, like eg. a post, and the second fitting is connected to a second component of the post- beam-connection, like eg. a beam. It has to be noted that even an additional post can be used as second component in order to connect two posts with each other. The load transfer takes place consequently via the first fitting to the load transferring component and from there to the second fitting and to a post connected to that. In this case, the load transfer component, like the components of the post beam construction, is also made out of glass. Thereby, especially, the impression of a "suspended" beam can be made possible, since the load-transferring component is inconspicuous due to its being made out of glass. Further, the holder in the region of the post-beam to be connected can be done away with, which, besides saving cost in the production process, also reduces the assembly time. Besides, preferably, the first and the second fittings have an aperture respectively for receiving the glass load transferring component. A post-beam construction out of glass can be provided through this construction of the connector element according to the invention, which fulfils the highest transparency requirements and is not subjected to any close tolerances. Further, a "load-bearing" glass is used for the posts and beams respectively of the post-beam construction, so that an effective load-bearing construction out of glass is possible. Preferably, the glass load-transferring component is made in cylindrical shape or oval shape. An especially favourable load transfer between the components of the post-beam construction occurs through this. A square load transferring component can also be used, but in this case there is the danger of the corners breaking. The glass load transferring component has preferably the same thickness as, or a somewhat smaller thickness than, the glass panes of the components of the post-beam construction, in order not to have, as far as possible, any protruding parts. In order to make it possible to produce the glass load transferring component easily, this is preferably produced from cast glass. In order to further increase the impression of a "suspended" beam, there is preferably a predetermined distance between the first fitting and the second fitting. Therefore, it can be called a "free support", which does not have any means of connection by clamping pressure. According to a preferred form of the present invention, the first and the second fittings are produced out of metal, especially out of noble metal. It has to be noted that any other material, especially plastic, with a corresponding strength can also be used. In order to make it possible to fix the fittings easily to the components of the post- beam construction, the fittings have preferably an camber-shaped camber, which is arranged in a correspondingly formed arched aperture in the respective column or the respective beam. The fittings can be positioned easily and accurately in the components of the post-beam construction though it. Besides, the camber or the aperture is preferably formed semicircular in shape or complies with the form of the load transfer member. In order to prevent any damage to the glass posts or beams, a glass protection is provided between the connecting element and the glass posts or beams. Further, the glass protection can be made as a single part or in several parts, especially in three parts. Further, in order to prevent any damage to the load transferring component, a cap-shaped glass protection is preferably arranged between the load transfer component and the fittings respectively. The glass protection can be made out of plastic, silicon or other suitable materials. The glass post-beam construction according to the invention, in which the post and beams are produced out of glass so that the glass posts and beams provide a supporting structure, enable the construction of especially transparent buildings together with the glass fastener. Moreover, the post-beam construction is preferably used as supporting structure for glass overhead elements and glass side elements. Preferably, the components of the post-beam construction are produced out of laminated glass, partially pre-stressed glass or tempered safety glass. If the glass post-beam construction has additional internal columns in the internal region of the building, these internal columns are preferably provided with side stabilizers out of glass. Especially, an improved stabilization against buckling of the internal posts can be achieved by that. Further, the peripheral posts of the post-beam construction are likewise stabilized in the peripheral region through the glass side elements. Further, it can be thought of that the posts of the glass post-beam construction are connected with additional stabilizing components eg. via point-holder. Further, it has to be noted that the effect of a "floating" beam can be further strengthened, if additional light applications, like e.g. low-voltage light diodes, are provided. Therefore, for the first time a glass post-beam construction can be provided through the connecting element according to the invention, which satisfies the highest demands and can be produced economically. The invention is described below based on a preferred embodiment together with the accompanying drawings. Figure 1: A perspective exploded view of a connecting element according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2: A perspective view of the connecting element shown in figure 1 in the assembled condition, Figure 3: A perspective partially sectioned view of the connecting element according to the invention, Figure 4: A partially sectioned side view of the connecting element according to the invention, Figure 5: A side view from right of the connecting element shown in figure 4. Figure 6: A perspective representation of a section of a post-beam construction according to the invention and Figure 7: A perspective view of a post-beam construction according to the invention As shown especially in figure 1, a connecting element 1 according to the first embodiment comprises a first fitting 2, a second fitting 8 and a load transferring component (18) arranged between the two fittings 2, 8. The connecting element 1 is used for a glass column-beam construction, which is represented in the figures 6 and 7. The posts and the beams respectively are completely of glass for the glass post-beam construction, so that the glass posts and the beams must fulfil a load-bearing function respectively. As shown in figure 1, the first fitting 2 consists of a single-piece basic body, which has a base region 5 and two margins 3 and 4 arranged lateral to it. The base region 5 has an camber-shaped camber 6, which is formed on the underside of the first fitting 2 (refer to figure 4). The first fitting 2 is made out of a noble metal as well. Moreover, the fittings 2, 8 can be produced from individual parts or can be cast in a casting process. As can be seen from figure 1, the second fitting 8 is also formed in the same way as the first fitting 2 out of a basic body with a base region 11, two sides 9, 10, a camber and a aperture 13. As can be particularly seen from figure 2, the glass sheets, which are used for the posts and beams respectively of the post-beam construction, are positioned between the margins 3, 4 and 9,10 of the two fittings 2 and 8. For this, a hollow that is not shown in the drawing is provided in the glass sheets respectively, which corresponds to the camber of the base regions 5 or 11 of the two fittings 2, 8. The fittings 2, 8 can be positioned in the recesses of the glass sheets exactly by this means. In order to prevent any damage to the glass sheets by the two fittings 2, 8, a glass protection 16 or 17 is arranged between each connecting element and sheet respectively. As can be seen from figure 1, the form of the glass protection 16 and 17 is suited to the form of the fittings 2 and 8 respectively. As shown in figure 1, the glass protections 16 and 17 are made out of three separate parts. However, it is also possible to use a single-piece glass protection. Likewise, the cylindrical form of the load transferring component (18) produced out of glass can be seen in figure 1. The thickness of the load transferring component (i.e. the height of the cylinder) corresponds to the glass thickness of the column 29 or beam 19. In order to prevent any damage to the load transferring component 18 by the fittings 2, 8 a cap-shaped member 14, 15 is arranged between the fittings 2, 8 and the load-transferring component 18 respectively. It has to be noted that the glass protection 14, 15 or 16, 17 can be struck to the fittings 2 or 8 and the glass components of the post-beam construction for better fixation. The assembled condition of the connecting element I according to the invention can be seen especially from figures 2, 6 and 7. In this case, a column-beam construction is depicted, which consists of a post embodied as edge post 20, a post 26 and a beam 19 (refer to figure 7). The connecting element 1 according to the invention is arranged between the post 20 and the beam 19 as well as the inner post 26 and the beam 19. The post 20, 26 and the beam 19 are produced from a laminated glass. The edge column is only a post 20, which is arranged at the edge of the column-beam construction. In this case, a side glazing 25 adjoins directly the post 20. As can be seen especially from figure 2, the post 20 consists of three glass sheets 21, 22, 23 in which only the middle glass sheet 22 has a load-bearing function and the two side sheets 21 and 22 do not carry any loads. Both the two outer sheets 21 and 23 serve primarily for the edge protection of the middle glass sheet 22. The post-beam construction serves further as support for glass overhead elements 24, which are supported on the top edge of the beam 19 or the top edge of the side glazing. Preferably, an elastomer is provided on the top edge of the beam 19 or the side glazing 25 to avoid damages between the individual glass components. Two lateral glass stabilizers 27 and 28 are provided lateral for the stabilization of the glass columns 26 to enable a better stabilization against buckling. As can be seen especially from the figures 2 and 6, the load transfer takes place from the beam 19 or the overhead elements 24 via the first fitting 2 to the cylindrical glass load transfer component 18; from there to the second fitting 8 and consequently to the post 20 or 26. As can be seen from the figures, the connecting element 1 is built up in such a way that there is a predetermined distance "A" between the fittings 2 and 8 (refer to figure 4), so that the side areas of the load transfer component 18 lie partially free towards the outside. This measure strengthens the "suspended impression" of the beam 19 of the glass construction further. As can be seen especially from figures 1 and 4, an arched aperture with a large radius is provided for the better load transfer to the area of the fittings 2, 8 directed towards the inside. Therefore, it is possible for a construction with the post-beam construction according to the invention and the fastener according to the invention, with which a building can be produced completely of glass, which meets the highest functions and aesthetic requirements. Moreover, according to the invention, not only the posts or beams are produced from a load-bearing glass but the fastener also has a glass load transferring component 18. The manufacturing tolerances for an execution of the construction of this type have to be larger than that factored for a simultaneous reduction of the assembly times. The above description of the embodiments according to the present invention is meant only for illustrative purposes and not for the purpose of limitation of the invention. Different changes and modifications are possible in the framework of the invention without forsaking the scope of the invention as well as its equivalents. List of reference numbers. 1. Connecting Element 2. Fitting 3. Margin 4. Margin 5. Base Region 6. Camber 8 Fitting 9, Side 10 Side 11 Base region 12 Aperture 14 A cap-shaped member 15 A cap-shaped member 16 Cupped glass protection 17 Cupped glass protection 18 Load transferring component 19 Beams made from Glass 20 Post 26 Inside post 27 Lateral glass stabilizer 28 Lateral glass stabilizer A Distance We claim: 1. A connecting element (1) for a glass post and beam construction, which, as construction components, has posts (20, 26) and beams (19) made from glass, such that the glass posts and beams fulfil a load-bearing function, comprising a first fitting (2), which is in connection with a first glass construction component, a second fitting (8), which is in connection with a second glass construction component, characterized in that the connecting element (1) further more comprises a load transferring component (18) made from glass, which is disposed between the first fitting (2) and the second fitting (8), and a glass protection (16, 17) which is disposed between the fittings (2, 8), and posts (20, 26), characterized further in that, the fittings (2, 8) respectively present an arcuate curvature. 2. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the load transferring component (18) made from glass has a cylindrical shape with a circular or oval - shaped surface. 3. A connecting element according to Claim 1, wherein the load transferring component (18) presents the same thickness as the glass posts (20, 26) respectively the glass beam (19). 4. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein a predetermined distance (A) is provided between the first fitting (2) and the second fitting (8). 5. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the glass used for the load-transferring component (18) is cast glass. 6. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the fittings (2, 8) are made from metal or plastic material. . 7. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein the fittings (2, 8) respectively present an arcuate curvature, which can be disposed into correspondingly formed apertures in the post, respectively in the beam. 8. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein a glass protection (16,17) is disposed between the fittings (2, 8) and the glass posts (20, 26) respectively the beam (19). 9. A connecting element according to claim 8, wherein the glass protection (16, 17) is realized in one piece or in several pieces, particularly in three pieces. 10. A connecting element according to claim 8, wherein a cupped glass protection (14, 15) is disposed between the load transferring component (18) and the fittings (2, 8). 11. A connecting element according to one of the claims 8 to 10, wherein the glass protection is made from plastic material or from silicone. 12. A connecting element according to claim 1, wherein lighting elements, particularly low-voltage light emitting diodes, are provided at the connecting element (1). 13. A post and beam construction, wherein the posts (20, 26) and the beams (19) are made from glass, such that the glass posts and beams fulfil a load bearing function, comprising a connecting element (1) according to one of the preceding claims. 14. A post and beam construction according to claim 13, wherein the glass construction components of the post and beam construction are made from multilayer safety glass and/or from partially pre- stressed glass and/or from single pane toughened safety glass. 15. A post and beam construction according to claim 13, wherein an inside post (26) presents lateral stabilizers (27, 28). 16. A post and beam construction according to claim 13, wherein the connecting element (1) is a movable bearing. The invention discloses a connecting element (1) for a glass post and beam construction. The connecting element has posts (20) and beams (19) made from glass, such that the glass posts and beams fulfill a load-bearing function. Further, the connecting element has a first fitting (2), which is in connection with a first glass construction component and a second fitting (8), which is in connection with a second glass construction component. The connecting element (1) further more comprises a load transferring component (18) made from glass, which is disposed between the fitting (2) and the fitting (8). A glass protection (16, 17) is disposed between the fittings (2, 8), and posts (20). The fittings (2, 8) respectively present an arcuate curvature. [ Figure No. to be accompanied with this abstract during publication: Fig. 2. ]

Documents:

682-kolnp-2004-assignment.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-claim.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-correspondence.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-description (complete).pdf

682-kolnp-2004-drawings.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-examination report.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 1.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 13.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 18.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 2.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 26.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 3.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-form 5.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-gpa.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-abstract.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-claims.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-description (complete).pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-drawings.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-form 1.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-form 2.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-granted-specification.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-others.pdf

682-kolnp-2004-reply to examination report.pdf