GB2441379A

GB2441379A - A structure to support panels

Info

Publication number: GB2441379A
Application number: GB0616912A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Thomas Arnold
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-29
Filing date: 2006-08-29
Publication date: 2008-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2026-08-29
Also published as: GB0616912D0; GB2441379B

Abstract

The invention relates to a structure to support panels e.g. glass panels in a faÃade, canopy or roof and comprises a structure of interlocking plates 4-10 held together with tension forces developed using tension rods or cables 11, 12, and 13. The structure may have a perimeter frame made from tubes 1, 1 and 2, 2 into which the tension forces are transferred, and on which, sliding plates 3, 5, 6 and 7 support the panels around the perimeter of the structure. The structure preferably comprises corner plate assemblies 4 comprising a shaped plate with two holes (15 figure 3), for attachment of the diagonal tension rods 11, and four welded circular stubs (16 figure 3) over which tubes 1, 1 and 2, 2 slide. The position of the horizontal sliding plates can be adjusted to suit different sized glass panels.

Description

A structure to support panels This invention relates to a structure to

support panels, particularly, but not limited to the support of bolted glass panels.

There are several methods currently used for supporting bolted glass panels in a façade or a roof or a canopy. Typically glass tins and/or welded tubular steel structures are used, sometimes in conjunction with steel cables or steel tension rods.

These structures are expensive and time-consuming to manufacture, particularly because of the accuracy required with bolted glass and the aesthetic requirements of a structure that provides supporting to a glass wall, roof or canopy. This invention uses interlocking steel plates, in conjunction with tension rods and a tubular steel frame with sliding steel plates and steel corner assemblies. This invention simplifies the manufacturing and installation process and reduces the quantity of tubular steel required and the quantity of welding. This invention utilises tension forces to position, stabiise and stiffen the structure and therefore make it capable of supporting bolted glass panels.

: *. This invention can also be used with steel cables with in-line adjusters in lieu of the tension rods. * S *5**

This invention can be used to form a vertical, horizontal, sloping or arched surface of glass.

* The structure can be used with any number and size of panels and with any magnitude of applied loading. The configuration of the structure, the size and length of * * individual components and the materials used can be adjusted to suit each individual application.

The shape of the individual plates can also be amended to suit aesthetic requirements.

This invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 shows the overall configuration to support a 12 panel bolted glass façade with 3 panels horizontally and 4 panels vertically and incorporating an arch shape vertically.

Figure 2 shows the same configuration but with the panels and panel fixing bolts omitted for clarity to show the support structure only.

Figure 3 shows details of the corner plate assemblies.

Figure 4 shows details of the horizontally sliding plates.

Figure 5 shows details of the vertically sliding plate assemblies. a

Figure 6 Shows details of the upper interlocking suspended plate assemblies.

Figure 7 Shows details of the upper interlocking suspended plate assemblies.

Figure 8 Shows details of the lower interlocking suspended plate assemblies.

Figure 9 Shows details of the lower interlocking suspended plate assemblies.

Figure 10 shows details of the intermediate suspended plates.

In Figure 2 the structure comprises horizontal tubes I and vertical tubes 2, horizontally sliding plates 3, corner plate assemblies 4, upper vertically sliding plate assemblies 5, intermediate vertically sliding plate assemblies 6, lower vertically sliding plates assemblies 7, upper interlocking suspended plate assemblies 8, intermediate suspended plates 9, lower interlocking plates assemblies 10, diagonal tension rods 11, vertical tension rods 12 and horizontal tension rods 13.

The corner plate assemblies as shown in Figure 3 comprise a shaped plate 14, with : : :* two holes 15 for attachment of the diagonal tension rods 11 and four welded circular * * . stubs 16 over which the vertical tubes 2 and the horizontal tubes 1 slide. There are also two lugs 17 for attaching the corner plate assemblies to a wall or other suitable *:*::* support.

* The horizontal tubes 1 and the vertical tubes 2 each have a diagonal cut at each end so they can slide onto the circular stubs 16, which are sized to give a close tolerance fit for the tubes, so that the ends of the tubes fit against the face of the diagonal plate 14. * * S..

: * Along the horizontal tubes 1 slide the horizontally sliding plates 3. The horizontally * * sliding plates are shown in Figure 4 and comprise a shaped steel plate 3 with a single hole 18 for attachment of the glass fixing bolt and a pair of holes 19 which provide a close tolerance fit over the horizontal tubes 1. The position of the horizontally sliding plates can be adjusted horizontally to suit the sizes of the glass panels and the dimensions of the fixing bolts.

Along the vertical tubes 2 slide the vertically sliding plates 5,6 and 7. The vertically sliding plates are shown in Figure 5 and comprise a shaped plate 20 with a pair of holes 21 which provide a close tolerance fit over the vertical tubes 2. There are two welded vertical plates 22 and 23 each of which has a single hole 24 for attachment of the glass fixing bolt. Plates 22 and 23 are sized according to the position in the structure (upper, intermediate or lower) and the shape of the glass façade. It is not anticipated that the vertically sliding plate assemblies will take any of the vertical load from the glass but that the vertical loads will be taken by the horizontally sliding plates and by the system of tension rods. The position of the vertical plates is adjusted to suit the sizes of the glass panels.

The two upper interlocking suspended plate assemblies 8 are suspended from the corner plate assemblies 4 by a two pairs of diagonal tension rods 11 and a pair of horizontal tension rods 13. The upper interlocking plate assemblies are shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7. Figure 6 shows the individual plates and Figure 7 shows the plate assembly. They comprise a shaped plate 24 with a pair of holes 25 for attachment of the glass fixing bolts, a pair of holes 26 for attachment of the vertical tension rods 12 and two diagonal slots 27 sized to give a close tolerance fit for the shaped plates 28. The shaped plates 28 each has a hole 29 for attachment of the a diagonal tension rod 11 and a horizontal tension rod 13 and they have a slot 30 to give a close tolerance fit onto shaped plate 24. The shaped plates 24 and 28 are reversible and are orientated according to their position in the structure. Figures 8 and 9 show the same shaped plates 24 and 28 orientated for the lower interlocking plate assemblies.

The intennediate suspended plates 9 are shown in Figure 10. They comprise a shaped plate 9 with a pair of holes 31 for attachment of the glass fixing bolts and two pairs of holes 32 for attachment of the vertical tension rods 12.

With the structure fully assembled and loosely attached to the supporting walls the tension rods are adjusted so that the glass fixing points on the suspended plates and plate assemblies 8, 9 and 10 are in the correct position. The tensioning operation is : *. then carried out following an incremental, sequential methodology so that the position of the glass fixing points is maintained as the tension in the system is gradually increased. The tension forces are contained within the structure by transfer through the corner plate assemblies 4 into the horizontal tubes 2 and the vertical tubes 1 as a * compressive force.

: The magnitude of the tension force to be developed is a function of the size of the structure, the weight of the panels and applied loading that the structure will be * subject to and will be determined for each individual application by structural : analysis. This force is checked in-situ by using a strain gauge on the tension rods.

Once the required tension force is achieved the structure can be securely fixed to the supporting walls and installation of the glass panels and fixings can commence. Note that adjustment of the positions of the vertically sliding plate assemblies and the horizontally sliding plates can be carried out in conjunction with the installation of the glass.

Claims

Claims 1. A structure to support panels, the structure using

interlocking plates held together with tension forces developed using tension rods or cables.

2. A structure according to Claim I which has a perimeter frame into which the tension forces are transferred.

3. A structure according to Claim 1 which has a perimeter frame with sliding plates and plate assemblies to provide support for the panels around the perimeter of the structure.

4. A façade structure made from a set of components according to any of the preceding claims.

5. A roof structure made from a set of components according to any of the preceding claims.

6. A canopy structure made from a set of components according to any of the : .. precedingclaims. * * S... * .* * * S * S.

S *S. * . S... * . .