Precision assembly node, rigid and detachable, for joining three orthogonal cylindrical elements of equal diameter

Abstract

Assembly node (11; 12; 13) useful for the rigid and precise assembly of three-dimensional systems (101; 102; 103) formed of orthogonal cylindrical tubes or bars (3; 5), passing at equal distances from each other, comprising two identical parts (20; 52; 53), attached by screws (40; 41) and an indexing means (45).

Description

Title of the invention: Precision, rigid and detachable assembly node for joining three orthogonal cylindrical elements of equal diameter

[0001] The present invention relates to a rigid, detachable, precision assembly joint, useful for assembling three-dimensional systems formed of orthogonal cylindrical elements of the same diameter, such as cylindrical bars or cylindrical tubes, passing equidistant from one another. For simplicity, the cylindrical elements to be fixed, of equal diameter, will be called "bars." The assembly joint will be called the "joint."

[0002] This invention is intended for a major ecological interest, and also, practical and economic interest, targeting both the industrial sector and the DIY sector. Regarding the numerous three-dimensional structures built, this legacy for future generations is overlooked on our human timescale. Buildings and technical systems, designed for short-term use, are developed and recycled. Meanwhile, various interests lead populations to migrate, such as from the countryside to the city or vice versa. Land is left abandoned in some areas, covered with constructions and objects that serve no purpose, hindering the development of agriculture or nature. The various three-dimensional structures of today are available in a wide range of assembly components. Machines, storage units, furniture, buildings, chassis, and means of transportation all require energy-intensive recycling at the end of their life cycle. Technological advancements enable the evolution of objects through technical and design improvements. Consequently, significant energy is expended in creating new products and recycling obsolete ones. It may therefore be desirable to provide for a certain solidly constructed technical element, which does not evolve, which does not require recycling, but which allows the evolution of construction systems and their dismantling, adapting the human link to nature, and which contributes to significantly saving the energy expenditure intended for the manufacture of the elements necessary for the construction and deconstruction of three-dimensional structures, making this product durable, reusable, transportable, versatile.

[0003] To this end, an assembly node is proposed, characterized in that it is composed of two identical or similar main parts, each provided with three semi-cylindrical recesses of the same diameter, which rigidly fix together said three orthogonal bars passing at equal distances from each other, in that said node ensures precise positioning of the bars, in that said node allows said bars to be fixed at any position along its footprints, in that said node makes the custom construction of complex orthogonal and non-orthogonal three-dimensional structures easily accessible to the general public, in that said node allows its attachment to the flat faces of other technical elements.

[0004] Optionally, said node can be constructed in a compatible variant, composed of two identical or similar parts, each provided with six semi-cylindrical recesses having the same diameter which rigidly fix together three said orthogonal bars passing at an equal distance from each other, allowing the permutation of said bars before their fixing, according to two possible mounting configurations.

[0005] The invention will be better understood with the aid of the following description, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] [Fig-1] [Fig.1] represents an example of an assembled three-dimensional system by the said node which can serve as a structure for chair, table, bed, step stool, shelter, shelf.

[0007] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] represents an example of a stair structure assembled by said node.

[0008] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] represents an example of a three-dimensional structure combining an assembly of said bars arranged orthogonally and non-orthogonally, which could be a garage, a warehouse, a greenhouse.

[0009] [Fig.4] [Fig.4] represents the detail of [Fig.3] illustrating a configuration of said bars in a non-orthogonal arrangement assembled by said node.

[0010] [Fig.5] [Fig.5] shows the two possible crossing configurations of said orthogonal bars passing at an equal distance from each other.

[0011] [Fig.6] [Fig.6] shows the two symmetrical variants of said node for fixing the orthogonal cylindrical elements in one of the configurations shown in [Fig.5],

[0012] [Fig.7] [Fig.7] represents two views of the main component of said node according to the invention, in particular the main component seen from two opposite sides.

[0013] [Fig.8] [Fig.8] represents a view of said node in arrangement assembled by screws and pins.

[0014] [Fig.9] Fig.9 shows an exploded view of said node.

[0015] [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] illustrates two views of a versatile variant of said knot, provided with six semi-cylindrical indentations, which allow the attachment of said knot to said bars in one of the configurations shown in [Fig. 5].

[0016] [Fig. 11] With reference to [Fig. 10], [Fig. 11] represents a cross-sectional view of said node, passing through its center and parallel to one of its external orthogonal faces, showing the arrangement of the pin locations and the indexing pin.

[0017] [Fig. 12] The [Fig. 12] represents a planar isometric view of the two types of said knot according to the invention which illustrates their difference.

[0018] In the description that follows, similar elements between different variants of said node will be designated by the same references.

[0019] With reference to Figures 1 to 12, each variant of said node 11, 12, and 13 according to the invention allows for the rigid and precise assembly of the three orthogonal bars 3 having the same diameter and passing at equal distances from each other, without limiting the assembly exclusively to these bars. With reference to Figures 1 to 12, each variant 11, 12, and 13 of said node, according to the invention, allows for its disassembly.

[0020] Figures 1 to 3 represent examples of commonly used three-dimensional structures 101, 102 and 103.

[0021] With reference to [Fig. 5], said orthogonal bars 3, passing equidistant from each other, can be arranged in a maximum of two mounting configurations. The bar parallel to the Z-axis can be located either in the even quadrants formed by two aligned bars, one on the X-axis and the other on the Y-axis, or in the odd quadrants. The passage of the bar parallel to the Z-axis through the odd quadrants will be designated configuration 1 and, the passage of the bar parallel to the Z-axis through the even quadrants, configuration 2.

[0022] In [Fig.6], node 11 corresponds to configuration 1 and its symmetric counterpart 12 corresponds to configuration 2. In the example shown, node 11 is formed of two identical components 20, respectively node 12 is formed of two identical components 52 symmetric to component 20.

[0023] The construction of three-dimensional systems with said node does not require the simultaneous use of the two configurations shown in [Fig. 5]. In a three-dimensional structure, the simultaneous use of the two nodes 11 and 12 shown in [Fig. 6] is a matter of choice. For example, in Figures 1 and 2, node 11 and node 12 are used to make the assembly symmetrical. Only node 11 or node 12 can be used to create an asymmetrical assembly.

[0024] Figure 7 represents a three-dimensional planar view of component 20. Two assembled components 20 form said cubic assembly node with two truncations having axis 29 a diagonal perpendicular to truncation 31. The shapes identified by 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39 represent a geometric pattern which repeats every 120 degrees around axis 29.

[0025] In [Fig.7], the three semi-cylindrical recesses 21 are perpendicular to the orthogonal faces 30, which correspond to their respective positions. These recesses are designed to receive the bars to be fixed inside them.

[0026] In [Fig. 7], the hole 22 opens through its small smooth diameter into the recess 21 and through its other threaded portion into the truncation 31. The hole 22 serves as a housing for the bar positioning pin. It is shown in more detail in [Fig. 11]. The hole 22 can take different forms to secure the pin using other methods.

[0027] In [Fig. 7], the intersection of the planes corresponding to faces 26 and 27 generates a straight line 28 parallel to one of the cube's diagonals, which intersects axis 29. The planes corresponding to faces 26 and 27 are symmetrical with respect to the plane formed by axis 29 and line 28, and set back from the center of the cube to allow a distance between the components 20 during clamping. This geometric configuration generates a constant distance between the faces 26 and 27 of the two components 20 during the assembly of said node.

[0028] In [Fig. 7], the through screw hole 25 is coaxial with the axis 29. It intersects the central faces, which are coplanar with faces 26 and 27. It opens into the truncation 31 through a hexagonal recess 32 centered on the axis 29. Each of the corners separating two lateral faces of the recess 32 has through holes 33 extending to the bottom of the recess to allow a nut to be inserted. These holes 33 are necessary if the part is milled. One corner separating two lateral faces of the recess 32 has a blind threaded hole 34 that opens radially into the recess 32. The hole 34 receives a headless screw that prevents the nut from leaving the recess 32. The hexagonal recess 32 also serves as a counterbore to accommodate a washer and socket head cap screw head.

[0029] In [Fig. 7], the threaded hole 23 and the countersunk screw hole 24 are parallel to the axis 29. Holes 23, 24, and 25 are equidistant. For oversized nodes, fixing holes can be added, maintaining the geometric pattern over 120 degrees. For undersized nodes, holes 23 and 24 can be omitted.

[0030] In [Fig.7], on the faces 30 are located the positioning holes 35 and the threaded holes 36 to allow, where appropriate, the node to be attached by screws and pins to a flat face belonging to another object in which the corresponding clamping holes and, according to the required precision, the indexing holes for pins have been provided.

[0031] In [Fig. 7], the threaded hole 37 is located on the truncation 31. This hole is intended to diversify the use of the node by attaching mechanical elements to the truncation, corresponding to the various mounting configurations. [Fig. 3] illustrates an example, detailed in [Fig. 4] and represented by part 14, which connects node 11 to an anchoring system 7.

[0032] Figure 8 shows the knot securing three orthogonal bars. It is essential to secure three bars simultaneously to ensure a balance of forces in the assembly. To maintain this balance of clamping forces, the knot must be executed precisely, as must the diameters of the bars to be secured.

[0033] To construct non-orthogonal structures, an example is given in [Fig. 3] and detailed in [Fig. 4]. The node, positioned on the left at angle "a" around the X-axis, fixes two bars 3 and a compensating bar 5, cut to the length of the node. The angle "a" can take any desired value. Although the function of the node is reduced compared to this example, by fixing only two useful bars, it demonstrates its versatility.

[0034] Figure 9 shows a three-dimensional exploded view of the node, allowing identification of all the components involved in securing the bars 3. According to this view, the node 11 consists of: two components 20, washers 44, socket head cap screws 40, socket head cap screws 41, a pin 45, a nut 42, and a headless screw 43. While two indexing holes 22 are available for a bar, only one hole 22 will be used.

[0035] According to the example illustrated in [Fig. 1 1], the pin 45 is composed of three diameters of different lengths, including: the small smooth diameter which serves as an indexing element between the bar 3 and the component 20 of the node, the second diameter which acts as a stop, and the last which is a threaded diameter for securing the pin. The threaded end is provided with a recess for driving the pin by means of a clamping device.

[0036] Figure 10 illustrates a variant 13 of said six-hole node which can secure three bars 3 according to the two configurations shown in Figure 5. Thus, the exclusive use of this node 13 is sufficient to construct symmetrical three-dimensional assemblies. In this example, component 53 is exempt from holes 35 and 36.

[0037] In a view parallel to the axis 29 of the node, represented by [Fig. 12], the semi-cylindrical recesses 21 of the components 20 and 53 are shown with distinct hatching patterns, illustrating the differences between the two components and the resulting geometric configuration of the interference of the recesses 21 in the component 53. In dotted lines are shown the clamping links formed between clamping screws facing a semi-cylindrical recess 21.

[0038] The node can be assembled in two ways. In the first case, the node can be assembled using screws 40 and 41, leaving clearance for the bars 3. The bars 3 are then slid between the recesses 21 of the node, the pins 45 are inserted if necessary, and then the screws 40 and 4L are tightened. In the second case, the components 20 are attached to the bars 3 along the axis of the node. Then the screws 40 and 41 are attached, the pins 45 are inserted if necessary, and then the screws 40 and 4L are tightened.

[0039] In the detailed description of the invention, the terms used should not be interpreted as limiting the invention to the insights into implementation presented here, but should be interpreted as including available equivalents and the artistic imagination of a person skilled in the art who applies them in order to construct the product which has just been disclosed, in harmonious forms.

[0040] The assembly node 11 consists of two identical or similar complementary components 20 which simultaneously fix three cylindrical elements 3, held assembled with the screw 40 and / or the screws 41 by the holes 24, 25 parallel to the axis 29 of the node, the component 20 being characterized by the presence of three orthogonal external faces 30, by the presence of three orthogonal semi-cylindrical recesses 21 of equal diameters passing at an equal distance from each other, and each recess 21 passing at an equal distance from the axis 29, in that the recesses 21 are orthogonal to the faces 30. The assembly node 11 is characterized in that each footprint 21 of the component 20 has a location 22 provided for indexing the elements 3 inside it by means of at least one mechanical element such as a pin (45), indexing finger, indexing pusher, ball pin. The assembly node 11 is characterized in that the component 20 can have at least one indexing hole 35 and at least one fixing hole 36 on the faces 30 representing a geometric pattern which repeats every 120 degrees around the axis 29.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly node intended to connect exactly three tubular structural elements of substantially identical diameter along three substantially orthogonal axes, characterized in that it consists of the assembly of two identical half-elements having a discontinuous joining plane formed of a plurality of planar facets arranged radially around a central axis, in that each half-element has for each structural element a semi-cylindrical surface, the corresponding semi-cylindrical surfaces of the two half-elements forming in the assembly a cylindrical housing for each structural element, and in that it comprises a plurality of at least six fastening means distributed around said node for assembling said half-elements.

2. Knot according to claim 1, further comprising a central axial orifice passing through the two half-elements, said orifice being suitable for receiving an additional fastening means for applying a prestress between said half-elements or for fixing an auxiliary functional element.

3. Assembly node according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the cylindrical housings comprises an indexing means for defining a predetermined position of a structural element.

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