A system of articulated and interlocking modules to form a structural element

Abstract

The invention relates to a structural element comprising modules (M1, M2), at least some of which are connected to each other by pivot joints (6) with parallel axes to form a chain of modules (C1, C2). Each module (M1, M2) has 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 fitted together by engaging the lugs (E1, E2) in the recesses (E'1, E'2) to form a rigid, solid assembly. Figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: System of articulated and interlocking modules to form a structural element. Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of construction of a temporary load-bearing structure. PREVIOUS STATE OF THE ART

[0002] The assembly of a temporary structure requires the assembly of a large number of components such as bars, beams and others, which must be carefully joined together by multiple mechanical connecting elements.

[0003] In practice, the installation of a temporary structure requires significant means of transport to move its bulky components, and a duly qualified workforce to assemble it.

[0004] The object of the invention is to provide a solution for forming a temporary structure which is compact when disassembled to facilitate its transport, and which is simple to assemble to allow for rapid installation. Description of the invention

[0005] To this end, the invention relates to a load-bearing structure composed of modules, at least some of which are connected to each other by pivot joints with parallel axes to form at least two chains of distinct modules, each module having at least one lug and / or at least one recess, these modules having complementary shapes and being fitted together with each other by engaging the lugs in the recesses to constitute at least one rigid beam.

[0006] With this arrangement, the structure can be transported by folding the chains of modules so that they occupy a compact space, and the assembly of the structure essentially consists of fitting the modules together, so that it can be carried out quickly.

[0007] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising two chains of modules constituting a beam, these two chains of modules extending along two opposite edges of this beam.

[0008] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, each module of which has an essentially planar shape.

[0009] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, whose modules are identical.

[0010] 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.

[0011] 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-shaped connection.

[0012] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising three chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, in which each module has a triangular prism shape to form a beam with a triangular section.

[0013] The invention also relates to a structure defined as follows, comprising four chains of modules connected by interlocking their modules, these chains being arranged in helicals to form a beam with a square section.

[0014] The invention also relates to a structure thus defined, comprising at least one lug having a curved shape along an arc of a circle centered on a pivot joint of the module to which this lug belongs. Brief description of the drawings

[0015] The [Fig. 1] is a side view of a straight beam formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprising two chains of modules with transverse pivot links;

[0016] Fig. 2 is a side view of a module shown alone;

[0017] Figure 3 is a side view of the assembly of a system according to the invention. comprising modules with transverse pivot joints for the construction of a straight beam;

[0018] 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;

[0019] Fig. 5 is a side view of the assembly of modules of a variant of the system according to the invention to constitute a straight beam formed of a series of independent blocks held together by two chains of modules with transverse pivot links;

[0020] Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing four beams according to the invention assembled to support a floor;

[0021] 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;

[0022] Fig. 8 is a schematic representation of a system according to the invention for forming a straight beam whose pivot links of modules are oriented parallel to the shear force;

[0023] The [Fig.9] is a schematic perspective representation of the assembly of a system according to the invention with three chains of modules forming a straight beam;

[0024] Fig. 10 is a schematic perspective representation of the assembly of a system according to the invention with three chains following a helical arrangement constituting a straight beam.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

[0026] In [Fig.1], a load-bearing structure in the form of a straight beam PI formed by assembling a system according to the invention comprises a lower chain Cl 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 M2.

[0027] As can be seen more clearly in [Fig.2], each module Ml 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.

[0028] Each module Ml is here formed of a triangular plate equipped with two reinforcing bars 4. These two bars 4 extend on either side of the plate, running along its base and being rigidly attached to it, these bars 4 having ends that protrude slightly beyond sides 1 and 2.

[0029] The modules Ml form the chain Cl by being joined together by pivot links 6 formed at the ends of the bars 4. Each bar 4 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 and being crimped at its ends, to form a pivot link 6 with an axis normal to the plane of these modules.

[0030] The modules Ml which are generally planar are thus joined together by pivot joints 6 parallel to each other and oriented normal to the planes of these modules ML. These modules thus constitute a multi-articulated solid of chain type.

[0031] The module Ml is provided with two lugs El and E2 protruding from its first side 1, and two recesses E' 1 and E'2 which open in its second side 2. The two lugs El and E2 have arc shapes centered on the vertex joining sides 1 and 2, and the recesses E' 1 and E'2 have arc shapes centered on the vertex joining the second side 2 and the base 3.

[0032] In the example of Figures 1 to 3, the modules M1 of chain C1 are identical to the modules M2 of chain C2, but they are oriented head-to-tail. The modules M1 of The bases of the Cl chain form the lower edge of the PI beam, with their lugs oriented to the right in these figures. The M2 modules of the C2 chain, on the other hand, have their bases forming the upper edge of the PI beam, with their lugs also oriented to the right in these figures.

[0033] As shown in [Fig.3], the assembly of the beam PI consists first of all in arranging the two chains Cl 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 Cl and those of chain C2 the lugs of modules Ml and M2 being all oriented to the right.

[0034] The module M2 at the left end of the chain C2 is then moved to fit its lugs El and E2 into the recesses E'1 and E'2 of the module Ml at the left end of the chain C2. At this stage, the next module Ml of the chain Cl can be pivoted around the pivot joint 6 linking it to the end module Ml, to engage its recesses on the lugs of the module M2 at the end of the chain C2.

[0035] The process is then continued by pivoting the next module M2 of the chain C2 around the pivot joint 6 linking it to the previously inserted module M2, so that its recesses engage with the lugs of the previously inserted module M1 of the chain Cl. The next module M1 of the chain Cl is then pivoted around the pivot joint 6 linking it to the previously inserted module M1, so that its recesses engage with the lugs of the previously inserted module M2.

[0036] Once all the modules have been fitted together, the resulting PI beam is a straight beam that is solid, i.e., without any gaps, thanks to the complementary shapes of the modules, which are all fitted together, and exhibits significant bending strength. This strength is due to the fact that when this beam is subjected to a load, the shear forces it experiences are resisted by the interlocking of the lugs in the notches, while the bending forces it experiences are resisted by the bars delimiting the opposite edges of this beam.

[0037] In the example shown in Figures 1 to 3, the modules M1 and M2 are identical in shape and dimensions, but their dimensions can be adjusted to give the resulting beam a non-rectilinear shape. Thus, in the example in [Fig. 4], the M1 modules for chain C1 have bases that are significantly shorter than those of the M2 modules for chain C2. This dimensioning allows for the generation of a solid beam with a curved shape instead of a straight one, as illustrated in [Fig. 4].

[0038] In the examples in Figures 1 to 4, all the modules are part of a chain: the M1 modules are all linked together by the pivot joints 6 to form the chain C1, and similarly, the M2 modules 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 Cl and the modules of chain C2, as in the example of beam P2 shown in [Fig.5].

[0039] This beam P2 comprises a chain of modules C3 whose modules are identified by M3 and a chain of modules C4 whose modules are identified by M4, as well as independent modules Mi, the whole assembling to form a straight beam having a greater height, and therefore greater rigidity.

[0040] 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 joints 6. The first side 1 is here without a lug and recess, and the second side, located on the left in [Fig.5], has here only a lug El in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the pivot joint 6 of which it is closest.

[0041] Each module M4 of the chain C4 is identical to the modules M3, except that its first side has a lug E2 in the shape of a circular arc centered on the pivot joint 6 of the module from which it is furthest. Thus, the two lugs El and E2 of a module M4 have the shapes of circular arcs centered on the same pivot joint 6, which is the joint located on the left in [Fig. 5].

[0042] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], modules M3 and M4 have very similar shapes and, as in the example of Figures 1 to 4, are arranged head-to-tail. The bases of the M3 modules of chain C3 thus form the lower edge of the beam, with their lugs oriented to the left in [Fig. 5]. The bases of the M4 modules of chain C4 form the upper edge of the beam, with their lugs E1 and E2 also oriented to the left in these figures.

[0043] The independent modules Mi here generally have rectangular shapes comprising, in [Fig. 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 that fit together with modules M3 and M4, respectively. The left lateral edge 9 fits together with another independent module Mi and with a module M3, while the right lateral edge 11 fits together with another independent module Mi and with a module M4.

[0044] As can be seen in [Fig. 5], each upper edge 7 has a curved recess E'1 to receive a lug El of a module M4, and each right lateral edge 11 has a curved recess E'2 to receive a lug E2 of another module M4. Each lower edge 8 has a curved recess E''1 to receive a lug El of a module M3.

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

[0046] As shown in [Fig. 5], the assembly of beam P2 consists first of placing the two chains C3 and C4 on the same plane, such 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, with the lugs of these modules M3 and M4 all facing 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.

[0047] An independent module Mi is then fitted with an end module M3 of the 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.

[0048] 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 existing independent module. After this operation, the next module M3 is pivoted around the pivot joint 6 connecting it to the previous module M3, which is in place, to engage its lug El in the recess E'1 of the newly installed independent module Mi. Once this operation is completed, the next module M4 is pivoted around the joint 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.

[0049] The above operation is then repeated until all the modules are fitted together they are joined together to form the entire P2 beam, which is then a straight beam. This resulting P2 beam is a solid beam thanks to the complementary shape of the modules, which are all nested together, and it exhibits significantly increased bending resistance due to its greater height, i.e., a greater distance separating its opposite edges.

[0050] The beam P2 of [Fig. 5] is also advantageous because its independent modules Mi are designed to facilitate its assembly with another beam of the same type. As schematically illustrated in [Fig. 6], four beams P2 can thus be joined together by crossing them in a grid pattern to form a support structure intended to support, for example, a stage or podium floor.

[0051] As can be seen from [Fig. 5], the assembly of these four beams P2 is achieved by means of four octahedral joining modules JO, which allow two beams P2 to be joined perpendicularly to each other. As can be seen in [Fig. 5], such a joining module JO replaces an independent module in each of the two beams it joins, since it has lugs and recesses (not represented) allowing it to fit together with the modules of either of the two beams it joins.

[0052] More particularly, in the example of [Fig.5], the independent modules Mi have planar rhombus shapes, and the junction modules JO are volume modules in the shape of octahedra which have in their two principal perpendicular cutting planes the same rhombus outline as the independent modules Mi.

[0053] The JO junction modules have octahedral shapes in the example of [Fig.5], but other shapes are possible for implementing such junction modules, such as cruciform or other shapes, provided that they allow the rigid joining of two beams at the level of their crossing.

[0054] As illustrated in the example of [Fig.7], the invention also makes it possible to constitute a structure in the form of a double beam in the shape of Y, 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.

[0055] This structure comprises three chains of modules C5, C6, C7, whose modules are identified respectively by M5, M6 and M7. The chains C5 and C6 each have a first half by which they are joined to each other by interlocking their modules M5 and M6 to form a beam P3 of the same type as that of [Fig.1] or 4, the second halves of these chains C5 and C6 being dissociated from each other.

[0056] The chain C7 has a half by which it is joined 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 joined to the second half of the chain C6 by interlocking their modules to constitute another beam P5.

[0057] As can be seen in [Fig.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.

[0058] As with all the examples in Figures 1 to 4, the modules in the example in [Fig.7] are planar modules whose shapes are complementary, so that the beams T1, T2 and T3 are solid, just like the structure they constitute.

[0059] In the examples in Figures 1 to 7, the modules of a chain are articulated to each other by transversely oriented pivot joints 6, 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 formed by these modules.

[0060] It is also possible to provide modules connected to each other by pivot joints 6 extending in the plane of these modules and perpendicular to the general direction of the beam they form. In such a solution, which is shown in [Fig. 8], two chains of modules C8 and C9 are thus provided, formed of modules M8 and M9 which are essentially parallelepipeds to form a beam P6. The modules of the same chain are connected to each other by parallel pivot joints 6 which extend along the direction of the shear force experienced by the beam P6 when it is loaded.

[0061] In this example of [Fig.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 the assembly of the whole.

[0062] In the examples in Figures 1 to 5 and 7, the modules are all essentially flat, plate-type elements, whose lugs extend from the edges, and whose recesses are notches opening into these edges. Thus, the lugs and the recesses are formed directly during the cutting of these plates, so that the lugs have the same thickness as these plates, and the notches pass completely through these plates.

[0063] It is also possible to provide lugs in the form of protruding studs extending from the edge of the plates, 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 allows, where necessary, for increased mechanical strength of the resulting beam.

[0064] Moreover, the modules which are all planar in the examples of figures 1 to 5 and 7 can also be volumetric elements, as in the example of [Fig.9] where a beam P7 is formed from three chains of modules CIO, Cil, C12, whose modules M10, Ml 1 and M12 have the shapes of prisms with triangular sections.

[0065] As can be seen in [Fig. 9], the three chains C10-C12 are arranged in a straight line, so that the beam P7 has a triangular cross-section. According to this arrangement, each module has an external face and two internal faces which are provided with lugs and recesses (not shown) allowing them to be fitted together. Once two modules M10 and M11 have been fitted together, a module M12 is brought against the two internal faces of modules M10 and M11 by its two internal faces to fit it together.

[0066] It is also possible to provide volumetric shapes of M13-M16 modules allowing the formation of a P8 beam with four chains of C13-C16 modules arranged in helical loops wound around each other, as illustrated schematically on [Fig. 10]. In this case, as seen on [Fig. 10], the resulting beam can be a straight beam with a square cross-section.

[0067] Generally, the modules are made of a construction material, such as wood, steel, possibly concrete, or a suitable plastic. In the examples described in relation to the figures, the modules are solid and substantially flat elements forming solid beams, but these modules can also be hollow or have recesses, for example, by assembling steel bars.

[0068] The reinforcing bars 4 are advantageously made of a material having superior mechanical strength to that of the rest of the module, in particular in tension and compression, because they take over most of the bending forces of the beam, which result in tensile and compressive stresses along its edges.

[0069] In the examples described in relation to the figures, the lugs and recesses are curved elements with circular arcs and relatively significant lengths. Other shapes are conceivable for these lugs and recesses; for example, they could have frustoconical shapes, be straight, and have shorter lengths.

Claims

Demands

1. Load-bearing structure composed of modules (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) at least some of which are connected to each other by pivot joints (6) with parallel axes to form at least two distinct chains of modules, each module (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) having at least one lug (El, E2, E3) and / or at least one recess (E'1, E'1, E'2, E'3), these modules (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) having complementary shapes and being fitted together by the engagement of the lugs (El, E2, E3) in the recesses (E'1, E'1, E'2, E'3) to constitute at least one rigid beam, this structure 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, with independent modules (Mi) interposed between the modules (M3, M4) of the two chains of modules (C3, C4) and nested with the modules of these two chains (C3, C4) which extend along two opposite edges of the beam (P2).

2. Load-bearing structure according to claim 1, wherein each module (M1-M7, Mi, M'5-M'7) has an essentially planar shape.

3. Load-bearing structure according to claim 1, having identical modules (M1, M2).

4. Structure according to claim 1, having a module (M1-M7) comprising at least one lug (El, E2, E3) having a curved shape along an arc of a circle centered on a pivot joint (6) of the module to which this lug (El, E2, E3) belongs.

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