Expansion connectors

Abstract

The invention relates to an expansion connector (1) with a slotted expansion sleeve (3). A characteristic feature of the invention is that the expansion sleeve (3) has a slot (12) which is adjacent to a continuous first slot (9) in the circumferential direction and which is shorter than other slots (9, 11) of the expansion sleeve (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spreader connector having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] The expansion connector according to the invention is designed to connect two components, for example two steel beams, which are arranged adjacent to each other and provided with boreholes, by arranging the expansion connector in such a way that it overlaps the two components on both sides and connects them together.

[0003] A generic expansion connector is known from German patent application DE 10 2022 133 214 A1. The expansion connector is a type of sleeve anchor used to connect structural components in steel construction. The expansion connector has an expansion sleeve with a first continuous slot that divides the sleeve along its entire length, as well as several second slots. These second slots extend longitudinally from a front end of the expansion sleeve only over a portion of the sleeve. Expansion surfaces of the expansion sleeve are formed between and through the slots. In the known expansion connector, the second slots are partially of different lengths, so that they do not all terminate in the same cross-section.

[0004] The object of the invention is to improve the spreading of the known spreader connector.

[0005] This problem is solved according to the invention by a spreader connector having the features of claim 1.

[0006] The expanding connector according to the invention comprises an expanding sleeve, a shaft, and an expanding body. The expanding connector extends along a longitudinal axis that encloses the expanding sleeve. That is, the longitudinal axis lies within the expanding sleeve. The expanding sleeve also extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis, as does the shaft, which penetrates the expanding sleeve in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The expanding body is arranged on the shaft and can be retracted into a front end of the expanding sleeve between expanding tabs of the expanding sleeve to cause it to expand. In particular, the shaft is formed by a screw and the expanding body by a conical nut.

[0007] "Front" and "rear" or "front end" and "rear end" refer here and subsequently to the insertion direction in which the expansion connector according to the invention is intended to be inserted into a borehole. "Front in insertion direction" of the expansion connector is thus a part that, when the expansion connector is intended to be inserted into the borehole, enters the borehole in front of a rear part of the expansion connector.

[0008] The expanding sleeve has a first slot that completely cuts through one wall of the sleeve, both longitudinally and radially to its longitudinal axis. Specifically, the expanding sleeve is made of bent sheet metal, such that the first slot is formed between the two longitudinal edges of the sheet. Furthermore, the expanding sleeve has several second slots that extend longitudinally from a front end of the sleeve only over a portion of its length, i.e., in front of and at a distance from the rear end. This means that the second slots are open at the front end of the expanding sleeve and closed at the rear. "Longitudinally" also includes slots that run at a constant or changing angle to the longitudinal direction of the expanding sleeve.The slots in the expansion sleeve can therefore run straight in axial planes of the expansion sleeve or, for example, in a helical, wavy or zigzag shape.

[0009] The slots form the expanding tabs of the expanding sleeve. This means that the slots separate the expanding tabs of the expanding sleeve from each other in the circumferential direction.

[0010] According to the invention, one of the second slots, which is circumferentially adjacent to the first slot and which forms a first spreading tab with the first slot, is shorter than the other second slots. By forming this shorter second slot on the first spreading tab, the spreading behavior of this spreading tab is altered compared to the behavior of the other spreading tabs and can be deliberately adjusted.

[0011] In particular, a second short slot can be formed, especially the further second slot which is also adjacent to the first slot in the circumferential direction, such that the two second slots adjacent to the first slot are shorter than the other second slots. In particular, in this case, the two shorter second slots are of the same length.

[0012] Preferably, only the one shorter second slot is shorter than all other second slots. Furthermore, it is preferred that all second slots except the one shorter second slot are of the same length.

[0013] The shorter second slot is preferably at least 10 percent, and in particular at least 15 percent, shorter than the longer second slots. Alternatively, or in addition, the shorter second slot is at least 5 millimeters, and in particular at least 8 millimeters, shorter than the longer second slots.

[0014] In a further preferred embodiment of the expanding connector according to the invention, the two rear ends of the first slot are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction.

[0015] Preferably, a first rear end of the first slot, located on the first spreading tab, is arranged longitudinally closer to the front end of the spreading sleeve than the opposite rear second end of the first slot, located on a spreading tab formed between the first slot and one of the other second slots.

[0016] It is further preferred that the expanding sleeve has an inclined surface at its rear end, which is inclined at an angle to a radial plane with respect to the longitudinal axis, and that the inclined surface terminates at the first rear end of the first slot. The angle enclosed between the radial plane and the inclined surface is particularly less than 45 degrees, more particularly less than 25 degrees, and more particularly less than 15 degrees. The angle can be measured, in particular, on a developed section of the expanding sleeve. Preferably, a rear end of the inclined surface and the rear second end of the first slot lie in a common radial plane with respect to the longitudinal axis. It is further preferred that the circumferential width of the inclined surface is less than 30 percent of the circumference of the expanding sleeve, and more particularly less than 25 percent of the circumference.In addition, or alternatively, the circumferentially measured width extends at most over two adjacent spreading tabs, in particular only over the first spreading tab.

[0017] The expansion sleeve of a preferred embodiment of the expansion connector according to the invention has a radially outwardly curved, i.e., away from the longitudinal axis, retaining tab, in particular cantilever-shaped, which is arranged at the rear end of the first expansion tab. The retaining tab is in particular triangular or rectangular in shape. When the expansion connector is inserted into a borehole, the retaining tab presses against the borehole wall, thereby securing the expansion connector against rotation in the borehole.

[0018] The design of the slots according to the invention prevents the first expanding tab from being bent open too far by a seesaw-like movement when the retaining tab presses against the borehole wall. This is because the shorter second slot makes it more difficult for the first expanding tab to be bent open.

[0019] Preferably, the retaining tab has an inclined surface. When the expansion connector is spread open, the first expansion tab is moved outwards and the retaining tab inwards, towards the longitudinal axis, by a rocker-like movement. This prevents the retaining tab from contacting, for example, a washer of the expansion connector or a component to be fastened, which would otherwise impede movement of the retaining tab towards the longitudinal axis when the expansion sleeve of the expansion connector is spread open.

[0020] In a further preferred embodiment of the expansion connector according to the invention, the first slot is V-shaped. This means that the width of the first slot, measured circumferentially, increases from front to back. The V-shaped design is achieved in particular by extending the retaining tab outwards.

[0021] The features and combinations of features, embodiments, and configurations of the invention mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the figure description and / or drawn in a figure, are not only usable in the combinations specified or drawn, but also in any other combination or individually. Embodiments of the invention are possible that do not have all the features of a dependent claim. Individual features of a claim can also be replaced by other disclosed features or combinations of features. Embodiments of the invention that do not have all the features of the exemplary embodiment are possible.

[0022] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawing.

[0023] They show: Fig. 1 a spreader connector according to the invention in a perspective view; Fig. 2 an exploded view of the expansion connector according to the invention Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 a development of an expansion sleeve of the expansion connector according to the invention Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

[0024] The expanding connector 1 shown in the figures, according to the invention, is intended for connecting two or more components (not shown), in particular for connecting steel beams.

[0025] The expansion connector 1 extends along a longitudinal axis 2 and comprises a screw 22, an expansion sleeve 3, an expansion body 5, and a washer 23. The screw 22 includes a shaft 4 of the expansion connector 1 and a screw head 24. The shaft 4 extends through the expansion sleeve 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis 2.

[0026] The expanding sleeve 3 is made from an originally flat stamped sheet metal 25, which is in Fig. Figure 3 shows a view. The sheet metal 25 is bent into the cylindrical expanding sleeve 3 in the exemplary embodiment, which coaxially surrounds the longitudinal axis 2. The expanding sleeve 3 has a cylindrical base body 26 with a cylindrical outer surface 27. The cylindrical shape is not mandatory, but preferred for the invention.

[0027] The expanding sleeve 3 has a continuous first slot 9 extending longitudinally, i.e., parallel to the longitudinal axis 2, which completely cuts through a wall 10 of the expanding sleeve 3, both longitudinally and radially to the longitudinal axis 2. In addition, the expanding sleeve 3 has several second slots 11, 12, distributed evenly or unevenly around its circumference, which do not extend completely longitudinally. The second slots 11, 12 extend from a front end 6 of the expanding sleeve 3 only over a portion of its length and terminate before a rear end 28 of the expanding sleeve 3. In the exemplary embodiment, all slots 9, 11, 12 run parallel to the longitudinal axis 2.

[0028] The slots 9, 11, 12 divide the expanding sleeve 3 in the circumferential direction 19 into expanding tabs 7, which extend straight and parallel to the longitudinal axis 2.

[0029] According to the invention, a shorter slot 12 of the second slots 11, 12, which is adjacent to the first slot 9 in the circumferential direction 19 and which forms a first spreading tab 8 with the first slot 9, is shorter than all the other longer second slots 11, which are all of the same length. This results in the connection of the first spreading tab 8 to the adjacent spreading tab 7 on the side of the first spreading tab 8 facing away from the first slot 9 being larger than the connections between the other spreading tabs 7, so that there is greater resistance to spreading in this area.

[0030] In the exemplary embodiment, the shorter second slot 12 is ten millimeters shorter than the other, longer second slots 11: its length is fifty millimeters, while the length of the other, longer second slots 11 is sixty millimeters. The shorter second slot 12 is thus almost 17 percent shorter than the other, longer second slots 11.

[0031] The expanding body 5 has the external shape of a truncated cone, in the interior of which a continuous internal thread 29 is arranged. The expanding body 5 is arranged coaxially to the longitudinal axis 2 and serves to spread the expanding tabs 7 of the expanding sleeve 3 by turning the screw 22 in the opposite direction to an insertion direction 30 parallel to the longitudinal axis 2 and drawing the expanding body 5 rearward between the expanding tabs 7.

[0032] The screw head 24 of the screw 22 is located at the rear end 28 of the expanding sleeve 3, with the washer 23 positioned on the shaft 4 between the screw head 24 and the rear end 28 of the expanding sleeve 3. The screw head 24 bears against the rear end 28 of the expanding sleeve 3 via the washer 23 when the expanding body 5 is drawn into the front end 6 of the expanding sleeve 3.

[0033] The washer 23 has a hole 31 in its center, by which it is positioned on the shaft 4. At one circumferential point, the hole 31 widens into a recess 32, into which a projection 33 formed at the rear end 28 of the expanding sleeve 3 engages, so that the expanding sleeve 3 is rotationally fixed to the washer 23. The expanding sleeve 3 can thus be held rotationally fixed by means of wrench flats 34 formed on the washer 23 using a wrench (not shown).

[0034] The expanding sleeve 3 has a radially outwardly bent retaining tab 21, which in the exemplary embodiment is rectangular and is arranged at the rear end of the first expanding tab 35. The retaining tab 21 is separated from the rest of the expanding sleeve 3 in the circumferential direction 19 by the first slot 9 and a parallel separating slot 36, but is connected to the other areas of the first expanding tab 8 via a bend 37.

[0035] At the bending point 37, the retaining tab 21 is bent outwards such that it projects radially outwards beyond the cylindrical outer surface 27 of the base body 26 of the expansion sleeve 3, relative to the longitudinal axis 2. Nevertheless, in the exemplary embodiment, the retaining tab 21 is an integral part of the expansion sleeve 3.

[0036] By bending the retaining tab 21 outwards, the first slot 9 is formed in a V-shape, that is, in a top view of the lateral surface 27, the width of the first slot 9 increases from front to back, so that the shape of a wedge or a V is created.

[0037] The retaining tab 21 has a slanted surface 15 at its rear, which, when the sleeve is spread open, facilitates movement of the retaining tab 21 of the spreading sleeve 3 towards the longitudinal axis 2 and under the washer 23, since the slanted surface 15 prevents contact with the washer 23. The movement of the retaining tab 21 towards the longitudinal axis 2 occurs in a rocking motion, opposite to the movement of the first spreading tab 8, which is moved away from the longitudinal axis 2.

[0038] Due to the formation of the inclined surface 15, the two rear ends 13, 14 of the first slot 9 are longitudinally offset from each other. A first rear end 13 of the first slot 9, located at the first spreading tab 8, is arranged longitudinally closer to the front end 6 of the spreading sleeve 3 than the opposite rear second end 14 of the first slot 9, which is located at a spreading tab 7 formed between the first slot 9 and one of the longer second slots 11.

[0039] As in Fig. As can be seen in the development, the inclined surface 15 is inclined to a radial plane 16 to the longitudinal axis 2 at an angle 17, which in the exemplary embodiment is 7 degrees. The inclined surface 15 ends at the first rear end 13 of the first slot 9. A rear end 18 of the inclined surface 15 and the rear second end 14 of the first slot 9, on the other hand, lie together in this radial plane 16.

[0040] The circumferential width 20 of the inclined surface 15, measured in the circumferential direction 19, is, in the exemplary embodiment, 20 percent of the circumference of the expanding sleeve 3. As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 3, the inclined surface 15 extends exclusively over the width 20 of the first spreading tab 7, measured in the circumferential direction 19.

[0041] The design according to the invention improves the spreading behavior of the spreader connector 1. Reference symbol list 1 expansion connector 2 Longitudinal axis 3 expansion sleeves 4 shaft 5 spreading bodies 6 front end of the expanding sleeve 3 7 Spreader tab 8 first spreading tab 9 first slot 10 Wall of the expansion sleeve 3 11 longer second slot 12 shorter second slot 13 first rear end of the first slot 9 14 second rear end of the first slot 9 15 inclined surface 16 Radial plane 17 angles 18 rear end of the inclined surface 15 19 Circumferential direction 20 Width of the inclined surface 15 21 Retaining tab 22 screw 23 Washer 24 screw heads 25 sheet metal 26 basic shapes 27 Surface area 28 rear end of the expansion sleeve 3 29 internal threads 30 Direction of insertion 31 holes 32 recess 33 lead 34 Key surface of the washer 23 35 rear end of the first spreading tab 8 36 Separating slots 37 Bending point QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2022 133 214 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Spreader connector (1) extending along a longitudinal axis (2), comprising a spreading sleeve (3) enclosing the longitudinal axis (2), a shaft (4) and a spreading body (5), wherein the shaft (4) penetrates the expanding sleeve (3) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (2), wherein the expanding body (5) is arranged on the shaft (4) and can be retracted into a front end (6) of the expanding sleeve (3) between expanding tabs (7) of the expanding sleeve (3) to expand the expanding sleeve (3), and wherein the expansion sleeve (3) has a first slot (9) which completely cuts through a wall (10) of the expansion sleeve (3), wherein the expanding sleeve (3) has several second slots (11, 12) which extend longitudinally from the front end (6) of the expanding sleeve (3) only over a part of the expanding sleeve (3), and wherein the slots (9, 11, 12) form the spreading tabs (7) of the spreading sleeve (3), characterized by , that a slot (12) of the second slots (11, 12), which is adjacent to the first slot (9) in the circumferential direction and which forms a first spreading tab (8) with the first slot (9), is shorter than other second slots (11). [2] Spreader connector (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , that this shorter second slot (12) is shorter than all other second slots (11). [3] Spreader connector (1) according to claim 2, characterized by , that except for the one shorter second slot (12) all other second slots (11) are of the same length. [4] Spreader connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the one shorter second slot (12) is at least 10 percent, in particular at least 15 percent, shorter than the longer second slots (11) and / or that the one shorter second slot (12) is at least 5 millimeters shorter than the longer second slots (11). [5] Spreader connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the two rear ends (13, 14) of the first slot (9) are offset from each other in the longitudinal direction. [6] Spreader connector (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , that a first rear end (13) of the first slot (9), which is located at the first spreading tab (8), is arranged longitudinally closer to the front end (6) of the spreading sleeve (3) than the opposite rear second end (14) of the first slot (9), which is located at a spreading tab (7) formed between the first slot (9) and one of the other second slots (11). [7] Spreader connector (1) according to claim 6, characterized by, that the expanding sleeve (3) has at its rear end (28) an inclined surface (15) which is inclined to a radial plane (16) to the longitudinal axis (2) at an angle (17), and that the inclined surface (15) terminates at the first rear end (13) of the first slot (9), wherein preferably a rear end (18) of the inclined surface (15) and the rear second end (14) of the first slot (9) lie in a common radial plane (16) to the longitudinal axis (2). [8] Spreader connector (1) according to claim 7, characterized by , that the circumferential width (20) of the inclined surface (15) is less than 30 percent of the circumference of the expansion sleeve (3), in particular less than 25 percent of the circumference of the expansion sleeve (3) and / or that the circumferential width (20) of the inclined surface (15) extends at most over two adjacent expansion tabs (7), in particular only over the first expansion tab (8). [9] Spreader connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the expanding sleeve (3) has a radially outwardly curved retaining tab (21), which is in particular triangular or rectangular in shape, which is arranged at the rear end (35) of the first expanding tab (8). [10] Spreader connector (1) according to one of claims 7 or 8 and claim 9, characterized by that the retaining tab (21) has the inclined surface (15). [11] Spreader connector (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the first slot (9) is V-shaped.

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