System of articulated and nestable modules for forming a structural element

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element, comprising modules (M1, M2), at least part of which are connected to one another by pivot connections (6) of parallel axes in order to form a chain of modules (C1, C2), each module (M1, M2) comprising at least one lug (E1, E2) and / or at least one recess (E'1, E'2). These modules (M1, M2) have complementary shapes and are nested with one another by engagement of the lugs (E1, E2) in the recesses (E'1, E'2) in order to constitute a rigid solid assembly.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Title: System of articulated and interlocking modules to form a structural element

[0003] TECHNICAL FIELD

[0004] The invention relates to the field of construction of a temporary type supporting structure.

[0005] STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

[0006] The assembly of a temporary structure requires the assembly of a significant quantity of components such as bars, beams and others, which must be carefully secured to each other by multiple mechanical joining elements.

[0007] In practice, the installation of a temporary structure requires significant means of transport to transport its bulky components, and a duly qualified workforce to carry out its assembly.

[0008] The aim of the invention is to provide a solution for forming a temporary structure which is compact when dismantled to facilitate its transport, and which is simple to assemble to allow rapid installation.

[0009] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a supporting structure composed of modules, at least some of which are connected to each other by pivot connections of parallel axes to form at least two separate chains of modules, each module comprising at least one lug and / or at least one recess, these modules having complementary shapes and being fitted together by engagement of the lugs in the recesses to constitute at least one rigid beam.

[0011] With this arrangement, the structure can be transported by folding the module chains so that they occupy a compact footprint, and the assembly of the structure essentially consists of nesting the modules with each other, so that it can be carried out quickly. The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising two module chains constituting a beam, these two module chains extending along two opposite edges of this beam.

[0012] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, each module of which has an essentially planar shape.

[0013] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, the modules of which are identical.

[0014] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising independent modules interposed between the modules of the two chains of modules which extend along two opposite edges of the beam.

[0015] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising three chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, to form three beams connected to each other by a Y connection.

[0016] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising three chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, in which each module has the shape of a prism with a triangular base to form a beam with a triangular section.

[0017] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising four chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, these chains being arranged in helicoids to form a beam with a square section.

[0018] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising at least one lug having a curved shape according to an arc of a circle centered on a pivot connection of the module to which this lug belongs.

[0019] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] [Fig. 1] is a side view of a rectilinear beam formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprising two chains of modules with transverse pivot links;

[0021] [Fig. 2] is a side view of a module shown alone; [Fig. 3] is a side view of the assembly of a system according to the invention comprising modules with transverse pivot connections for the constitution of a rectilinear beam;

[0022] [Fig. 4] is a side view of a curved beam formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprising two chains of modules with transverse pivot links;

[0023] [Fig. 5] is a side view of the assembly of the modules of a variant of the system according to the invention to constitute a rectilinear beam formed of a series of independent blocks held by two chains of modules with transverse pivot links;

[0024] [Fig. 6] is a perspective view showing four beams according to the invention assembled to support a floor;

[0025] [Fig. 7] is a side view of a Y-shaped structure obtained by assembling a system according to the invention comprising three chains of modules with transverse pivot links;

[0026] [Fig. 8] is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for forming a rectilinear beam whose module pivot connections are oriented parallel to the shear force;

[0027] [Fig. 9] is a schematic perspective representation of the assembly of a system according to the invention with three chains of modules forming a rectilinear beam; [Fig. 10] is a schematic perspective representation of the assembly of a system according to the invention with three chains in a helical arrangement constituting a rectilinear beam.

[0028] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0029] In Figure 1, a supporting structure in the form of a rectilinear beam PI formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprises a lower chain C1 formed of twelve modules M1 connected to each other, and an upper chain C2 formed of eleven modules M2 connected to each other, the modules M1 being fitted with the modules As seen more clearly in Figure 2, each module M1 has a generally planar and triangular shape, comprising a first side 1 extended by a second side 2, these sides being joined by a base 3.

[0030] Each module M1 is here formed from a triangular plate equipped with two reinforcing bars 4. These two bars 4 extend on either side of the plate, the base of which they run along, being rigidly secured to it, these bars 4 having ends which protrude slightly beyond sides 1 and 2.

[0031] The modules Ml form the chain C1 by being secured to each other by pivot links 6 formed at the ends of the bars 4. Each bar 4 here has a hole at each of its ends, and the ends of the bars 4 of two consecutive modules Ml are connected for example by an axis passing through these holes while being crimped at its ends, to form a pivot link 6 with an axis normal to the plane of these modules.

[0032] The Ml modules, which are generally planar, are thus secured to each other by pivot links 6 parallel to each other and oriented normally to the planes of these Ml modules. These modules thus constitute a polyarticulated solid of the chain type.

[0033] The module Ml is provided with two lugs E1 and E2 protruding from its first side 1, and two recesses E'1 and E'2 which open into its second side 2. The two lugs E1 and E2 have arc-shaped forms centered on the vertex joining sides 1 and 2, and the recesses E'1 and E'2 have arc-shaped forms centered on the vertex joining the second side 2 and the base 3.

[0034] In the example of figures 1 to 3, the modules Ml of chain C1 are identical to the modules M2 of chain C2, but they are oriented head to tail. The modules Ml of chain C1 thus have their bases which form the lower edge of beam PI while having their lugs oriented to the right in these figures. The modules M2 of chain C2 have their bases which form the upper edge of beam PI while having their lugs also oriented to the right in these figures.

[0035] As shown in Figure 3, the assembly of beam PI consists first of all in arranging the two chains C1 and C2 on the same plane, in such a way that the bases of one are opposite the bases of the other, the modules extending between the bases of chain C1 and those of chain C2, the lugs of modules M1 and M2 all being oriented towards the right.

[0036] The module M2 of the left end of the chain C2 is then moved to fit its lugs E1 and E2 into the recesses E'1 and E'2 of the module M1 of the left end of the chain C2. At this stage, the next module M1 of the chain C1 can be pivoted around the pivot link 6 connecting it to the end module M1, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the module M2 of the end of the chain C2.

[0037] The process is then continued by pivoting the next module M2 of the chain C2, around the pivot link 6 linking it to the previously nested module M2, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the module M1 of the previously nested chain Cl. The next module M1 of the chain Cl is then pivoted around the pivot link 6 linking it to the previously nested module M1, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the previously nested module M2.

[0038] Once all the modules have been fitted together, the resulting PI beam is a straight beam which is solid, i.e. without any openings thanks to the complementarity of the shapes of the modules which are all fitted together, and which has significant bending resistance. This resistance is due to the fact that when this beam is subjected to a load, the shear forces it undergoes are absorbed by the fittings of the lugs into the notches, while the bending forces it undergoes are absorbed by the bars delimiting the opposite edges of this beam.

[0039] In the example of Figures 1 to 3, the modules M1 and M2 are all identical in having the same shape and dimensions, but the dimensions of these modules can be designed to give the resulting beam a non-rectilinear shape. Thus, in the example of Figure 4, modules M1 have been provided for the chain C1 whose bases are significantly shorter than those of the modules M2 of the chain C2. This dimensioning thus makes it possible to generate a solid beam having a curved shape instead of a rectilinear shape, as illustrated in Figure 4. In the examples of Figures 1 to 4, all the modules are part of a chain: the modules M1 are all linked together by the pivot links 6 to form the chain C1, and similarly, the modules M2 are linked to form the chain C2.But it is also possible to provide an arrangement comprising independent modules which are interposed between the modules of chain C1 and the modules of chain C2, as in the example of beam P2 shown in Figure 5.

[0040] This beam P2 comprises a chain of C3 modules whose modules are identified by M3 and a chain of C4 modules whose modules are identified by M4, as well as independent Mi modules, the whole assembly being assembled to form a rectilinear beam with a greater height, and therefore greater rigidity.

[0041] The M3 modules are of the same type as the M1 and M2 modules: they have a generally triangular shape comprising two adjacent sides 1 and 2 joined by a base 3 reinforced by a bar 4 whose ends constitute pivot links 6. The first side 1 is here devoid of a lug and a recess, and the second side, located on the left in figure 5, here comprises only a lug El in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the pivot link 6 to which it is closest.

[0042] Each M4 module of the C4 chain is identical to the M3 modules, except that its first side has a lug E2 in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the pivot link 6 of the module from which it is furthest. Thus, the two lugs E1 and E2 of an M4 module have the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the same pivot link 6 which is the link located on the left in Figure 5.

[0043] As can be seen in Figure 5, the M3 and M4 modules have very similar shapes, and they are, just like in the example in Figures 1 to 4, arranged head to tail. The M3 modules of the C3 chain thus have their bases which form the lower edge of the beam while having their lugs oriented to the left in Figure 5. The M4 modules of the C4 chain have their bases which form the upper edge of the beam while having their lugs E1 and E2 also oriented to the left in these figures.

[0044] The independent modules Mi here have generally rectangular shapes comprising, in Figure 5, an upper edge 7, a lower edge 8, a left lateral edge 9, and a right lateral edge 11. The lower and upper edges are the short edges fitting respectively with the modules M3 and M4. The left lateral edge 9 fits with another independent module Mi and with a module M3, while the right lateral edge 11 fits with another independent module Mi and with a module M4. As visible in Figure 5, each upper edge 7 has a curved recess E'1 for receiving a lug El of a module M4, and each right lateral edge 11 has a curved recess E'2 for receiving a lug E2 of another module M4. Each lower edge 8 has a curved recess E"1 for receiving a lug El of a module M3.

[0045] Additionally, each left lateral edge 9 comprises a rectilinear lug E3 perpendicular to the edge 9, and each right lateral edge 11 comprises a rectilinear recess E'3 perpendicular to the edge 11 and intended to receive a lug E3 of another independent module Mi.

[0046] As shown in Figure 5, the assembly of beam P2 consists first of all in arranging the two chains C3 and C4 on the same plane, in such a way that the bases of one are opposite the bases of the other. The modules M3 and M4 then extend between the bases of chain C3 and those of chain C4, the lugs of these modules M3 and M4 all being oriented towards the left. The two chains C3 and C4 are further arranged to be spaced apart by a distance greater than the height of the independent modules Mi. An independent module Mi is then fitted with an end module M3 of chain C3 by engaging its recess E"1 on the lug El of the module M3, after which the end module M4 is fitted with the independent module Mi by engaging its lug El in the corresponding recess E'1 of the module Mi.

[0047] At this stage, the next independent module Mi is fitted with the module Mi in place by engaging its lug E3 in the recess E'3 of the independent module in place. After this operation, the next module M3 is pivoted around the pivot link 6 connecting it to the previous module M3 which is in place to engage its lug El in the recess E''l of the independent module Mi which has just been put in place. Once this operation is completed, the next module M4 is pivoted around the link 6 connecting it to the previous module M4 which is in place, to simultaneously engage its lugs El and E2 in the recesses E'1 and E'2 of the two independent modules.

[0048] The above operation is then repeated until all the modules are fitted together so as to entirely form beam P2, which is then a straight beam. This beam P2 obtained is a solid beam thanks to the complementary shape of the modules which are all fitted together, and which has a significantly increased bending resistance due to the fact that it has a greater height, that is to say a greater distance separating its opposite edges.

[0049] The P2 beam of Figure 5 is also advantageous because its independent modules Mi are adapted to facilitate its assembly with another beam of the same type. As illustrated schematically in Figure 6, four P2 beams can thus be joined to each other by crossing in a grid-type pattern to form a support structure intended to carry, for example, a floor of a stage or a podium.

[0050] As can be seen from this figure 5, the assembly of these four beams P2 is obtained thanks to four octahedral junction modules JO allowing two beams P2 to be joined perpendicularly to each other. As can be seen in figure 5, such a junction module JO replaces an independent module in each of the two beams that it joins, since it has lugs and recesses (not shown) allowing it to fit with the modules of one and the other of the two beams that it joins.

[0051] More particularly, in the example of Figure 5, the independent modules Mi have planar rhombus shapes, and the junction modules JO are volumetric modules in the shape of octahedrons which have in their two perpendicular principal section planes the same rhombus outline as the independent modules Mi.

[0052] The JO junction modules have octahedron shapes in the example of Figure 5, but other shapes are possible for implementing such junction modules, such as cruciform or other shapes, as long as they allow the rigid joining of two beams at their intersection. As illustrated in the example of Figure 7, the invention also makes it possible to constitute a structure in the form of a Y-shaped split beam, which corresponds to the connection of three beams, using an arrangement of the same type as that of Figures 1 to 4, but based on the combination of three chains of modules.

[0053] This structure comprises three chains of modules C5, C6, C7, the modules of which are identified respectively by M5, M6 and M7. The chains C5 and C6 each comprise a first half by which they are secured to each other by interlocking their modules M5 and M6 to constitute a beam P3 of the same type as that of figure 1 or 4, the second halves of these chains C5 and C6 being separated from each other.

[0054] The chain C7 has one half by which it is secured to the second half of the chain C5 by interlocking their modules to form another beam P4, and it has a second half by which it is secured to the second half of the chain C6 by interlocking their modules to form another beam P5. As visible in Figure 7, the modules M5-M7 of the chains C5-C7 are triangular modules, that is to say of the same type as the modules of the examples illustrated in Figures 1 to 4. But the modules M'5, M'6 and M'7 of the chains C5-C7 which are located in the junction region of the beams P3, P4 and P5 are modules having here quadrilateral shapes, to allow the dissociation of the three beams P3, P4 and P5, this can also be ensured by using triangular shapes.

[0055] As with all the examples in Figures 1 to 4, the modules in the example in Figure 7 are planar modules whose shapes are complementary, so that the beams T1, T2 and T3 are solid, just like the structure they constitute.

[0056] In the examples of figures 1 to 7, the modules of a chain are articulated to each other by pivot links 6 oriented transversely, that is to say that the axes of these pivot links 6 are perpendicular to the planes of the modules to be oriented transversely with respect to the beam that these modules form.

[0057] It is also possible to provide modules connected to each other by pivot links 6 extending in the plane of these modules and perpendicular to the general direction of the beam which they form. In such a solution which is shown in Figure 8, two chains of modules C8 and C9 are thus provided, formed of modules M8 and M9 which are essentially parallelepiped to form a beam P6. The modules of the same chain are connected to each other by parallel pivot links 6 which extend in the direction of the shear force undergone by the beam P6 when it is loaded.

[0058] In this example of Figure 8, the lugs and recesses of the modules (not shown) are formed at the level of the faces of the modules which are applied against each other during assembly of the assembly.

[0059] In the examples of Figures 1 to 5 and 7, the modules are all essentially flat plate-like elements, the lugs of which extend the edges, and the recesses of which are notches opening in these edges. Thus, the lugs and recesses are formed directly when these plates are cut, so that the lugs have the same thickness as these plates, and the notches pass right through these plates.

[0060] It is also possible to provide lugs in the form of studs protruding from the edge of the plates and engaging in recesses in the form of holes formed in the edge of these plates. The lugs then have a thickness less than that of the plate and the recesses a diameter less than the thickness of the plate. This arrangement makes it possible, if necessary, to increase the mechanical strength of the beam obtained.

[0061] Furthermore, the modules which are all planar in the examples of figures 1 to 5 and 7 can also be volume elements, as in the example of figure 9 where a beam P7 is formed from three chains of modules CIO, Cil, C12, of which the modules M10, Mil and M12 have the shapes of prisms with triangular sections.

[0062] As seen in Figure 9, the three chains C10-C12 are arranged in a rectilinear manner, so that the beam P7 has a triangular section. According to this arrangement, each module has an external face, as well as two internal faces which are provided with lugs and recesses (not shown) allowing them to fit together. Once two modules M10 and Mil have been fitted together, an M12 module is attached by its two internal faces against the two internal faces of modules M10 and Mil to fit it with them.

[0063] It is also possible to provide volumetric shapes of M13-M16 modules allowing to constitute a P8 beam with four chains of C13-C16 modules which are arranged in helicoids wound with each other, as illustrated schematically in figure 10. In this case, as visible in figure 10, the beam obtained can be a rectilinear beam with square section.

[0064] Generally, the modules are made of a construction material, such as wood, steel, possibly concrete, or a suitable plastic material. In the examples described in relation to the figures, the modules are solid and substantially planar elements forming solid beams, but these modules can also be hollow or have recesses, being formed for example by assembling steel bars.

[0065] The reinforcing bars 4 are advantageously made from a material having a mechanical strength superior to that of the rest of the module, in particular in tension and compression, because they take up most of the bending forces of the beam, which result in tensile and compressive stresses along its edges.

[0066] In the examples described in relation to the figures, the lugs and recesses are elements curved in arcs of circles and having relatively significant lengths. Other shapes are conceivable for these lugs and recesses, these being able for example to have truncated cone shapes, by not being curved, and by having shorter lengths.

Claims

Claims 1. Supporting structure composed of modules (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) at least some of which are connected to each other by pivot connections (6) of parallel axes to form at least two separate chains of modules, each module (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) comprising at least one lug (El, E2, E3) and / or at least one recess (E'1, E"l, E'2, E'3), these modules (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) having complementary shapes and being fitted together by engagement of the lugs (El, E2, E3) in the recesses (E'1, E"l, E'2, E'3) to constitute at least one rigid beam.

2. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising two chains of modules (C1-C7) constituting a beam, these two chains of modules (C1-C7) extending along two opposite edges of this beam.

3. Supporting structure according to claim 2, each module (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) of which has an essentially planar shape.

4. Supporting structure according to claim 2, the modules (M1, M2) of which are identical.

5. Supporting structure according to claim 2, comprising independent modules (Mi) interposed between the modules (M3, M4) of the two chains of modules (C3, C4) which extend along two opposite edges of the beam (P2).

6. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising three chains of modules (C5, C6, C7) connected by interlocking their modules (M5-M7, M'5-M'7), to form three beams (P3-P5) connected to each other by a Y connection.

7. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising three chains of modules (C10-C12) connected by interlocking their modules (M10-M12), in which each module (M10-M12) has a prism shape with a triangular base to form a beam (P7) with a triangular section.

8. Supporting structure according to claim 1, comprising four chains of modules (C13-C16) connected by interlocking their modules (M13-M16), these chains (C13-C16) being arranged in helicoids to form a beam (P8) with a square section.

9. Structural element according to claim 1, comprising at least one lug (El, E2, E3) having a curved shape according to an arc of a circle centered on a pivot connection (6) of the module to which this lug (El, E2, E3) belongs.

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