HORIZONTAL FLOOR CONSISTING OF A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE AND FLOOR TILES LAID ON TOP OF IT

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a horizontal floor consisting of a supporting structure and panels laid on it, together forming a floor surface, wherein the supporting structure is composed of at least one main profile attached to vertical supports and secondary profiles arranged transversely to the main profile, which are connected to the main profile at their end and on which the panels rest with their underside.

[0002] Due to the strong growth of the logistics sector, increasingly larger and more space-optimized intermediate storage facilities with supporting structures in the form of racks for items such as Euro pallets are required. The goal in designing such warehouses is to create as much storage capacity as possible while requiring as little space as possible. To keep costs down, the supporting structures often consist of profiles and cold-formed metal sheets, which are assembled modularly. Another aim is to reduce the number of vertical supports, which reduce the usable storage area. Conversely, to ensure the structural integrity of the supporting structure, it is necessary to reinforce the horizontal support profiles.The commonly used, cold-formed beam profiles, however, do not exhibit high strength in all load directions, which sometimes necessitates the use of solid I-beams, manufactured using a hot-forming process, for the main beams. Secondary profiles are attached to these solid main profiles, arranged transversely to them. The latter are made of inexpensive, cold-formed sheet metal, often have an open (i.e., not closed) cross-section, and feature a sufficiently large bearing surface on their upper side upon which the base plates of the supporting structure rest. The base plates are connected to the secondary profile by vertical bolts or, alternatively, riveted to it.

[0003] The secondary profiles, which are only cold-rolled and often have an open cross-section, are not suitable for absorbing all horizontal loads acting on them equally well. Strong shear loads, specifically horizontal forces acting perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the secondary profiles, are particularly disadvantageous. Their influence is especially detrimental in the area where the secondary profile is attached to the main profile. Adverse shear loads can occur here, for example, when heavy goods are moved horizontally on the plates bolted to the secondary profiles.

[0004] Document US 6 256 958 B1 shows a horizontal floor according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] The TaskThe present invention consists in further developing the supporting structure of a horizontal floor through constructive measures in such a way that all forces acting horizontally on the floor are optimally absorbed by the supporting structure. Solution The task is solved by proposing a horizontal floor with the features of claim 1.

[0006] Accordingly, a connecting element is proposed, in particular, which is integrally composed of a first fastening edge, a second fastening edge parallel to the first fastening edge, and a central section between the two fastening edges. The first fastening edge is supported, at least indirectly, by and connected to the main profile. The second fastening edge is supported by and connected to the underside of one of the plates.

[0007] The horizontal floor according to the invention provides a supporting structure for a horizontal floor, which is characterized by a high resistance to horizontal loads in several horizontal directions.

[0008] The additional connecting elements create an additional connection structure between the panels and the supporting structure, which improves the load-bearing capacity and resistance of the horizontal floor compared to horizontal floors or supporting structures known from engineering.

[0009] The plates rest on the secondary profiles and are preferably connected to them by vertical screws.

[0010] It can be advantageous if the connecting elements are attached to the main profile and the panel, and especially screwed in place, but not also to the secondary profile. This is because, to counteract horizontal shear forces, it is sufficient if the connecting elements are supported and connected to the main profile with their first fastening edge and to the underside of the panel with their second fastening edge. This results in a kind of indirect anchoring of the panels to the main profile in one of the two horizontal directions.

[0011] When using main profiles, which are often rather roughly manufactured by hot rolling, a vertical gap may exist between the main profile and the underside of the plate positioned above it. If the main profiles are connected to the plates via connecting elements, it is not necessary to machine the main profiles to allow for a flush fit of the plates on the main profiles. Rather, the connecting elements and the secondary profiles allow for a vertical gap above the main profile, thus eliminating the need for a flat top surface on the main profile.

[0012] Preferably, the first fastening edge is designed as a strip. The first fastening edge is supported and attached to a vertical profile section of the main profile. This measure facilitates easy installation of the connecting element on the main profile, as lateral access is also possible. Furthermore, attaching the connecting element laterally to the main profile eliminates the need to straighten the main profile. Additionally, this lateral attachment minimizes the installation space required for the connection.

[0013] Preferably, the ends of the secondary profiles are connected to the main profile via a connecting element, wherein the connecting element is attached to the secondary profile by a connection area and to the main profile by a connecting flange perpendicular to the connection area. In other words, the connecting element forms the link between the profile end of the secondary profile and the main profile.

[0014] To prevent the assembly effort from increasing significantly due to the connecting element as an additional component, the first mounting edge can be supported only indirectly on the main profile, namely by means of the connecting flange. In this way, the first mounting edge and the connecting flange of the connecting element can be secured using the same fastener, preferably a screw or rivet. Alternatively, a bolt can be welded to the vertical section of the main profile, with the connecting flange and the first mounting edge being screwed to this bolt.

[0015] Preferably, the connection between the first fastening edge and the main profile consists of at least two screw connections spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fastening edge, the distance between which is at least 50% and preferably at least 75% of the length of the first fastening edge. The screw connections are thus arranged primarily in the end regions of the strip, so that the connecting element is fixed to the main profile or the main flange at least at its end regions. In order to maximize the increased section modulus against shear forces provided by the connecting element, it is necessary to make the connection areas of the first fastening area as long as possible in relation to the overall length of the connecting element and the length of the second fastening area.

[0016] The second fastening edge is also designed as a strip. It is supported on the underside of the plate forming the base and connected to it. A further portion of its length can be supported on the underside of another plate and thus connected to that other plate as well.

[0017] The two fastening edges of the connecting element are designed as flat strips with a main extension parallel to the main profile and perpendicular to the secondary profiles.

[0018] The central section of the connecting element preferably consists of two subsections connected along a bending line, the bending line extending parallel to the two fastening edges, and thus also parallel to the main profile.

[0019] The at least one main profile is, for example, a double-T beam made of hot-rolled steel, as this is particularly suitable for absorbing not only vertical but also horizontal forces and loads and transferring them to the vertical supports of the supporting structure.

[0020] Preferably, the main profiles are therefore steel beams manufactured using a hot-rolling process. These have horizontal profile legs at the upper and lower ends of their vertical profile section. In order to attach the first fastening edge of the connecting element to the vertical profile section of the steel beam and the second fastening section to the plates, it is necessary to connect the two fastening edges by a section that passes under the upper horizontal profile leg of the beam.

[0021] The aforementioned sections are a horizontal and a vertical section, preferably extending perpendicular to each other along the bending line, and each section being connected to its respective fastening edge via a further bending line. In particular, the fastening edges are arranged perpendicular to the sections. This stepped design of the connecting element provides stiffening of the connecting element itself and, after its assembly, good stiffening against horizontal shear loads, namely horizontal forces acting transversely to the longitudinal extent of the secondary profiles.

[0022] Preferably, the connecting element is a metal sheet deformed by bending processes, wherein the starting sheet is rectangular or trapezoidal. Manufacturing the connecting element using such a method is cost-effective.

[0023] Further measures are explained in more detail below, together with a description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a section of a supporting structure made of main and secondary profiles and the plates attached to it via connecting elements; Fig. 2 a sectional view, extending transversely to the main profile of the supporting structure; and Fig. 3 a sectional view, extending transversely to the secondary profiles.

[0024] Figure 1 Figure 7 shows in perspective a section of a horizontal floor used in the field of warehouse logistics, consisting of a supporting structure and panels laid on it, together forming a flat floor surface.

[0025] The supporting structure consists of vertical supports (not shown), main profiles 1 attached to them, and secondary profiles 2 arranged transversely to the main profiles 1 and attached laterally to the main profiles. All main profiles 1 and secondary profiles 2 extend horizontally.

[0026] In the space between each pair of secondary profiles 2, a connecting element 20 is additionally attached to the main profile 1. The secondary profiles 2 and the connecting element 20 each form a support for the underside 7A of the plate 7 or plates 7 with their upper surfaces.

[0027] The ends of the secondary profiles 2 are not directly connected to the main profile 1, but rather via a connecting element 3. For this purpose, the connecting element 3 is attached to the secondary profile 2 by a connection area 4A and to the main profile 2 by a connecting flange 4B that is perpendicular to connection area 4A. To connect the secondary profile 2 to the connection area 4A of the connecting element 3, it is also conceivable that both components have a complementary contour in order to create a positive and non-positive connection when inserted into one another. In principle, a screw connection, a rivet connection, or a combination of screw connection, rivet connection, and positive locking between the connecting element 3 and the secondary profile 2 is also possible.

[0028] The connecting element 20 is advantageous with regard to the transfer of shear loads, namely horizontal forces acting perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the secondary profiles 2, to the supporting structure. Their influence is disadvantageous, especially in the area of ​​the connection between the secondary profiles 2 and the main profile 1, specifically in the area of ​​the connecting elements 3. Adverse load conditions can occur particularly when heavy goods are moved on the plates 7 bolted to the secondary profiles 2. This is because the secondary profiles 2 are better able to absorb horizontal forces in the direction of their own longitudinal extent than horizontal forces perpendicular to their own longitudinal extent.

[0029] The individual connecting element 20 comprises a first mounting edge 21, a second mounting edge 22 parallel to the first mounting edge 21, and a central section 25 between the two mounting edges 21 and 22. The first mounting edge 21 is, here with the connecting flange 4B interposed, at least indirectly supported on the vertical profile section of the main profile 1 and screwed to it. The first mounting edge 21, the connecting flange 4B, and the main profile 1 thus form a common connection area.

[0030] The connecting element 20 is connected to the main profile 1 and to at least one plate 7, but not to the secondary profile 2. Consequently, a force acting on the plate 7 transversely to the longitudinal extent of the secondary profile 2 is transferred via the connecting element 20 to the solid and stable main profile 1 and not primarily to the secondary profiles 2. This leads to a reduction in stress on the secondary profiles 2, especially in the area of ​​the connection elements 3.

[0031] The fastening edge 22 of the connecting element 20 and the secondary profiles 2 extend higher than the top of the main profile, resulting in a vertical clearance 16 between the main profile 1 and the underside 7A of the plate 7 arranged above the main profile 1.

[0032] To allow for changes to the vertical clearance 16, the connecting element 3 can be designed with a multitude of vertically arranged bores 6 on the connecting flange 4B. These numerous bores 6 allow the connecting element 3 to be attached to the vertical profile section of the main profile 1 in various vertical positions.

[0033] The connection between the first fastening edge 21 and the main profile 1 is preferably made by means of two screws 17 spaced significantly apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the fastening edge 21, which engage in bores in the vertical profile section of the main profile 1, and whose distance is at least 50% and preferably at least 75% of the total length of the first fastening edge 21. It is also conceivable that more than two screws 17 and associated bores are arranged along the first fastening edge 21 and the main profile 1, connecting them to each other.

[0034] Of course, the main profile 1 can also be accessed from the other side, i.e., in Fig. 2 from the left, further secondary profiles 2 and connecting elements 20 are attached, whereby the fastenings on both sides can be made via common screw connections.

[0035] The second fastening edge 22 of the connecting element 20 is supported on the underside 7A of the plate 7 and connected to the plate 7 by means of rivets or screws 18. The plate 7 rests on the secondary profiles 2 and is fastened to them by means of the screws 18 or rivets. To facilitate sliding, e.g., of a load on the base plates, recesses are provided on the upper side of the plates 7 in which the screw or rivet heads are completely countersunk.

[0036] The main profile 1 is, for example, a steel beam manufactured using a hot-rolling process, more precisely a double-T beam with two horizontal legs running one above the other and parallel to each other, and a vertical profile section connecting them. To fasten the first fastening edge 21 to the vertical profile section, the central section 25 of the connecting element 20 consists of two subsections 27, 28 connected along a deflection curve 33 extending parallel to the two fastening edges 21, 22. Fig. 2 ). These subsections are a horizontal 27 and a vertical subsection 28, wherein the subsections 27, 28 preferably extend at right angles to each other along the bending line 33, and wherein each subsection 27, 28 is preferably connected to the fastening edge 21, 22 along a further bending line 31, 32.

[0037] In particular, the fastening edges 21, 22 are arranged at right angles to the adjacent sections 27, 28. This stepped design of the connecting element 20 ensures good stiffening of the supporting structure. However, a non-perpendicular design or a different number of steps is also possible. Reference symbol list

[0038] 1 Main profile 2 Secondary profile 3 Connection element 4A Connection area 4B Connection flange 6 Bore 7 Plate 7A Underside of plate 8 Plate underside 16 Free space 17 Screw 18 Screw or rivet 20 Connecting element 21 First fastening edge 22 Second fastening edge 25 Middle section 27 Horizontal sub-section 28 Vertical sub-section 31Bending line 32Bending line 33Bending line

Claims

1. A horizontal floor consisting of a load-bearing structure and panels (7) which are laid thereon and together form a floor surface, wherein the load-bearing structure is made up of at least one main profile (1), which can be fastened to vertical supports, and secondary profiles (2) arranged transversely in relation to the main profile (1), which are connected to the main profile (1) at their end and on which the panels (7) rest by way of their underside (7A), wherein a connecting element (20) is made up in one piece of a first fastening edge (21), a second fastening edge (22) parallel to the first fastening edge and a central section (25) between the two fastening edges (21, 22), wherein the first fastening edge (21) is at least indirectly supported on the main profile (1) and is connected to the latter, characterized in that the first fastening edge (21) is connected to a vertical profile section of the main profile (1) and that the second fastening edge (22) is supported on the underside (7A) of one of the panels (7) and is connected to this panel (7).

2. The horizontal floor as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the panels (7) rest on the secondary profiles (2) and are screwed vertically to the latter.

3. The horizontal floor as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting element (20) is connected to the main profile (1) and to the panel (7) but not to the secondary profile (2).

4. The horizontal floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized by a vertical clearance (16) between the main profile (1) and the underside (7A) of the panel (7) respectively arranged above the main profile (1).

5. The horizontal floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ends of the secondary profiles (2) are connected to the main profile (1) via a respective connection element (3), wherein the connection element (3) is fastened to the secondary profile (2) by a connecting region (4A) and to the main profile (1) by a connection flange (4B) at right angles to the connecting region (4A).

6. The horizontal floor as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the first fastening edge (21) is supported on the main profile (1) with the interposition of the connection flange (4B).

7. The horizontal floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connection between the first fastening edge (21) and the main profile (1) is made up of at least two screw fixings (17) which are spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction of the fastening edge (21) and the spacing of which is at least 50% and preferably at least 75% of the length of the first fastening edge (21).

8. The horizontal floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central section (25) of the connecting element (20) is made up of two portions (27, 28) connected along a bending line (33), wherein the bending line (33) extends parallel to the two fastening edges (21, 22).

9. The horizontal floor as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the portions (27, 28) extend at right angles to each other at the bending line (33).

10. The horizontal floor as claimed in claim 8 or 9, characterized in that each portion (27, 28) is respectively connected to the respective fastening edge (21, 22) at a further bending line (31, 32).

11. The horizontal floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connecting element (20) is a metal plate shaped by bending processes.

12. The horizontal floor as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized by the design of the main profile (1) as a steel support produced in a hot-rolling process.