Connection part for wood

Abstract

Provided are a connection part, a kit of parts, a modular building, and related methods. The connection part includes: a first wood member; and a first connector associated with the first wood member, the first connector assembly including a plurality of elongate anchor members, each anchor member having a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the first wood member and being fixed to the first wood member; the second end protruding from the first wood member, each of the anchor members defining a hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt, the connection part further including: a plate connected or connectable to a second member; and at least one bolt, the plate defining at least one hole for receiving a bolt, each bolt being configured to extend through at least one of the anchor member and the plate; for each bolt, enlarging the diameter of at least one of the hole of the corresponding anchor member or the hole of the plate to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit; each bolt being configured to clamp the plate and the anchor member to resist relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly by the clamping force provided by the plurality of bolts. Figure 1A is published together with a summary.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] There is an increasing demand to reduce the carbon footprint of buildings (carbon dioxide emissions from raw material procurement to disposal and recycling), and as a result, buildings made of wood are becoming increasingly attractive to developers (housing developers).

Background Art

[0002] The mechanical properties of wood are different from those of steel and concrete, and for this reason, steel and concrete are often preferred over wood when assembling large buildings. Considering the high carbon footprint of these materials, it is therefore necessary to increase the feasibility of large wooden buildings. To do so, it is desirable to increase the maximum span of the floor that can be supported by a wooden framework. Known techniques have sought to increase the resistance of joints to the moments applied between connected woods. Increasing the moment resistance characteristics of joints between woods also increases the stability of the wooden framework and thus the stability of the building. Traditionally, efforts to improve the resistance of wood joints to moments have included increasing the dimensions of the beams or columns of the wood; however, this increases the weight, cost, and complexity of the building, and this increase is undesirable. Other solutions include installing diagonal truss supports or shear walls, but these solutions impose significant constraints on the design of the building itself.

[0003] Some known wood joints designed to resist moments include a plurality of bolts passing through snug-fitting holes that extend through the entire thickness of the wood column or beam. Therefore, these bolts are fastened on both sides of the column or beam. As the temperature and humidity levels change, the expansion and contraction of the wood and the connectors are different, and these fits often become overly tight or loose. This results in poor connection performance.

[0004] Existing moment resistance connections generally have low rigidity. These connections also have the problem that they cannot dissipate a large amount of energy. Such low rigidity hinders the connections from supporting larger spans, and the inability to dissipate energy results in connections that are at risk of catastrophic failure when exposed to high cyclic loads such as those experienced during an earthquake. Therefore, these connections are not suitable for use in areas prone to seismic events.

[0005] Another drawback of known connections is the time and complexity of their assembly. Known connections often require extensive assembly at the site where the wood is being joined - for example, drilling holes while on site, using adhesives, or directly screwing multiple connectors into the wood. This is not only error-prone (considering the environment during the assembly of such connections), but also time-consuming and thus expensive from a labor cost perspective.

[0006] Another major consideration for large buildings is their modularity, i.e., the ability to change and reconfigure the spaces defined within the building. For example, over a long period of time, it may be desirable to change the internal floor or wall arrangements to meet the changing requirements of the tenants. Known wood connections cannot be easily disassembled and reassembled. To disassemble known wood connections, the connectors, the wood, or both will be damaged or destroyed, preventing their reuse. It is desirable to provide connections suitable for assembly, disassembly, and reassembly to enable modular buildings. This increases the lifespan of the building and avoids costly, time-consuming, and carbon dioxide-emitting work for renovating the building over a long period of time. Summary of the Invention Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0007] The present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art. Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] The present invention relates to a connection part for connecting wood. This connection part can be used to connect one, two, three, four, or five or more pieces of wood. Using wood in a building instead of steel or concrete makes it possible to construct a building with a significantly reduced carbon footprint, and for this reason, it is regarded as important for the sustainability of advancing the construction industry.

[0009] The present invention also relates to a connection part used together with a structural member including a concrete member. Benefits associated with connection parts for wood have been found to exist even when used with members made of other materials.

[0010] This connection part is configured to be easily assembled and disassembled, enabling easy connection and disconnection of wood. This provides flexibility regarding the use of partitions (dividers) within a building, making it possible to reconfigure the internal space within the building to suit a wide range of different uses. Accordingly, this connection part opens the way to modular buildings and modular building spaces. By doing so, the lifespan and usefulness of the building are increased, and the carbon footprint of such buildings is reduced over their entire lifespan. This improvement is achieved, in part, by a connector assembly interconnected by bolts disposed within holes of an overly large diameter.

[0011] In addition, the ease with which the connection part of the present invention can be assembled and disassembled allows the user to partially assemble it before it arrives at the site, enabling on-site assembly to be completed in a very short time. This significantly reduces the time - and thus the cost - associated with such connection parts and the construction of the building as a whole.

[0012] In addition to the increased speed and the convenience of assembly and disassembly, the connection according to the invention provides improved mechanical performance compared to existing wood connections. In particular, the invention provides a connection that has the required moment resistance but much greater rigidity compared to existing solutions. This increased mechanical performance makes it possible to support larger spans - increasing the range of buildings that can be constructed using wood connections - and increasing the rigidity of the building. The use of elongated anchors that extend into the wood and are fixed to the wood contributes to this increased performance. Such connection components are less likely to experience performance degradation caused by humidity and temperature variations and the resulting differences in expansion and contraction, which can cause loosening of the connection in existing systems.

[0013] The connection according to the invention employs an oversize hole configured to accommodate a friction grip bolt in a clearance fit configuration. This configuration provides an additional improvement in mechanical performance in the form of increased energy dissipation. Many existing solutions rely on rigid connections employing interference or press-fit holes. The resulting joints are often rigid but relatively brittle and thus prone to failure during periods of repeated loading such as those experienced during an earthquake. The connection of the invention, among other things, improves on existing designs by the use of a clearance fit friction grip bolt, which improves the energy dissipation characteristics, and thus the mechanical performance, for example under the repeated loading of an earthquake.

[0014] The frictional characteristics of the mating surfaces in a friction joint can be adjusted by surface treatment. Examples of suitable surface treatments include sandblasting, polishing, or the addition of a surface layer. The surface layer can be added by applying a paint, plating with zinc, aluminum, or other metal alloy, or adding a layer between friction surfaces (sheets or shims) of some metal alloy or the like.

[0015] The connection according to the invention can have a first operating range, in which the mechanical load is absorbed by the frictional forces within the joint - this being made possible by the combination of a bolt and an oversize hole. In the first operating range, there may be no contact between the outer circumference of the bolt and the inner circumference of the hole. The first operating range can be the dominant range used throughout most, if not all, of the operating life of the connection. The first operating range can provide the mechanical performance required for standard daily use and, thanks to the energy dissipation of the frictional connection, can provide improved performance compared to known connectors, as described above. However, the connection according to the invention can also provide a second operating range, in which the mechanical load is absorbed by direct contact between the bolt and the inner circumference of the oversize hole in which the bolt is placed. The second operating range can only be used in exceptional situations, such as a one-off peak load scenario.

[0016] An additional benefit of using an oversize hole is the improved ease, reliability, and speed with which the connection can be constructed at a glance. By increasing the size of the hole - and doing so in a way that still allows for proper mechanical performance - the assembler can more easily assemble the connection. Considering the very large number of connections that may be present within a building, this significantly reduces the time required to assemble the entire building.

[0017] The present invention relates to, for example, a connection for connecting a piece of wood to a second member. The connection can comprise a first piece of wood, a first connector assembly, a plate, and at least one bolt. The first connector assembly can be associated with the first piece of wood, and the first connector assembly comprises: a plurality of elongated anchor members, each anchor member having a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the first piece of wood and being fixed to the first piece of wood; the second end protruding from the first piece of wood. Each of the anchor members can define a hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt. The plate can be connected or connectable to the second member and can define at least one hole for receiving a bolt. Each bolt can be configured to extend through at least one of the anchor member or the plate. For each bolt, the diameter of at least one of the hole of the corresponding anchor member or the hole of the plate can be oversized to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit. Each bolt can be configured to clamp the plate or the anchor member, and can resist relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly, for example, by friction generated by the clamping force applied by a plurality of bolts.

[0018] The at least one bolt can be a first number of bolts.

[0019] The connection can connect the wood to the second member, and mainly the frictional force resists relative movement. The frictional force can result from the clamping force between the anchor member and the plate. The bolt can apply this clamping force. The bolt can be a friction grip bolt or can be used as a friction grip bolt. As described elsewhere herein, providing mechanical performance within the connection using frictional force has a number of advantages.

[0020] The above connecting part can be a connecting part between two or more adjacent members, for example, between woods. The above connecting part can generally be applied to any connection between adjacent members, and for this reason, it is suitable for connecting two, three, four, five, or six or more adjacent members to each other.

[0021] These members can be arranged perpendicular to each other, with one forming a column and the other forming a beam. Alternatively, these members can be arranged in parallel, or they can be arranged in alignment with each other in a straight line. The connecting part of the present invention is suitable for connecting these members regardless of the relative orientation of the members.

[0022] The above connecting part can further include: a second wood; and a second connector assembly related to the second wood. The second connector assembly can include a plurality of elongated second anchor members, each anchor member having a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the second wood and being fixed to the second wood, and the second end protruding from the second wood. Each of the anchor members can define a hole perpendicular to the long axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt. The above connecting part can further include a second number of bolts, each of the second number of bolts being configured to extend through at least one of the second anchor member and the plate.

[0023] In the above example, the above connecting part is a connecting part between two woods, and the plate is connected to the second wood via the second connector assembly. In other examples, the plate can be connected to the second wood in other ways - for example, the plate can be integrated with the member, at least partially embedded in the member, or adhered to the member.

[0024] The connection between two pieces of wood can be provided with two connector assemblies - one associated with each of the members and having an anchor member extending into the member. When connecting three or more members, the connection can be provided with additional connector assemblies - for example, one for each member.

[0025] For each second number of bolts: the diameter of at least one of the holes in the corresponding anchor member or the plate can be made oversized to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit; each bolt can be configured to clamp the plate and the anchor member so as to resist relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly, for example, by friction generated by the clamping force provided by a plurality of bolts.

[0026] The connector assemblies of the respective members can be connected to each other via a plate. The connection between at least one - optionally a plurality - of the connector assemblies and the plate is achieved by clamping the respective anchor member and the plate together so that the frictional force resists respective movement. The method of supporting the forces generated in such a connection not only satisfies the requirements of the necessary mechanical performance, but also provides a configuration that brings great benefits, especially from the perspective of increasing the span that can be supported and improving the seismic performance.

[0027] The use of an oversized hole enables the mechanical load to be supported by frictional force. This can be achieved when only one of the plate and the anchor member has an oversized hole, or when both the plate and the anchor member have an oversized hole. In some examples, only one of them has an oversized hole, and in some cases, both have an oversized hole.

[0028] The use of "oversized" can refer to a hole having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the bolt received by the hole - whereby, for example, during normal use, there is a clearance fit of the bolt and the outer periphery of the bolt does not interfere with the inner surface of the hole.

[0029] The plate can be connectable separately to the second member or can be connected to the second member (e.g., integrated with the second member, welded to the second member, embedded in the second member).

[0030] The plate can define a plurality of holes that are aligned with the holes of the anchor member of the first connector assembly. For each bolt, the diameters of both the hole of the corresponding first connector anchor member and the hole of the plate can be oversized to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit.

[0031] If there is a second connector assembly, the plate can define a plurality of holes that are aligned with the holes of the anchor member of the second connector assembly. For each bolt, the diameters of both the hole of the corresponding first connector anchor member and the hole of the plate can be oversized to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit.

[0032] In some examples, the connection portion can include a plurality of plates - each plate is associated with a portion of the anchor member. As described herein, each plate can have only one hole or can have a plurality of holes. If there are a plurality of plates, each can be made different from what is described herein.

[0033] In the assembled form, each bolt extends through at least one (optionally two or more than two) anchor member and plate (or, if there are a plurality of plates, one of these plates).

[0034] The plate can be arranged perpendicular to the end faces of the first and / or second members. The plate can be arranged in the same plane as the plane in which the first and second members extend.

[0035] The plate can have a set of holes for each connector assembly. The first set of holes can be arranged on the first end of the plate, and the second set of holes can be arranged on the second end of the plate. Each set of holes can be evenly spaced across the entire surface of the plate or, alternatively, can be grouped.

[0036] The plate can have more holes than the number corresponding to the number of anchor members, and the additional holes are for connecting to auxiliary members or connectors to provide additional functions.

[0037] The plate can have any geometric shape, such as a triangular, rectangular, circular, elliptical, polygonal or notched polygonal geometric shape.

[0038] The plate can include an assembly of flat plates. The flat plates can form a polyhedron (such as a tetrahedron or pyramid). Each (sub)plate can have a different surface orientation (having different surface normal vectors). This can enable fastening of wood oriented in different planes within space.

[0039] The above or each connector assembly can be defined within the second end of the anchor member such that each bolt extends through the plate and the second end of the anchor member.

[0040] The anchor member can be firmly fixed to the first wood using an elongated rod extending into the wood. Such a configuration can provide a particularly robust connection and be more resistant to performance degradation caused by expansion / contraction of components due to humidity and / or temperature variations.

[0041] The anchor member can be screwed into the first wood or can be adhered to the first wood using a chemical adhesive.

[0042] Each anchor member can include a rod and a bracket. The rod can have threads for screwing into respective pieces of wood. The bracket can be at the second end of the rod. The bracket can define a hole orthogonal to the axis of the rod.

[0043] The bracket can be screwed onto the second end of the rod, the second end being distal from the portion extending into the wood. The threads of the bracket can be different from and separate from the threads for attaching the anchor member to the wood. The bracket can have threads on two opposite sides thereof. This can enable continuous connection of the brackets.

[0044] The length-to-diameter ratio of the elongate anchor member can be at least 10:1. The length of the elongate anchor member can be equal to or greater than 200 mm, 400 mm, 600 mm, 800 mm, or 1000 mm. The length of the elongate anchor member can be 5 to 50 times the diameter of the elongate anchor member. An anchor member fixed to the first piece of wood using threads can obtain the benefit of being longer than an anchor member adhered to this piece of wood.

[0045] The anchor member can be composed of a plurality of pairs of anchor members arranged on the side surface of the plate such that each bolt extends through a pair of anchor members. The anchor members can be arranged such that two anchor members form a pair for each bolt.

[0046] Each anchor member can extend at an arbitrary angle within each piece of wood. The anchor member can extend within each piece of wood so as to be orthogonal to the surface or the grain direction of the wood. This configuration can be of particular concern when the anchor member is adhered within the wood. The anchor member can extend within each piece of wood at an angle oblique to the surface or the grain direction of the wood. This configuration can be of particular concern when the anchor member is screwed into the wood. Each anchor member can extend within each piece of wood at an arbitrary angle with respect to the grain direction or the surface of each piece of wood. For example, each anchor member can extend within each piece of wood at one of the angles of approximately 50°, 55°, 60°, 65°, 70°, 75°, or 80° with respect to the grain direction or the surface of each piece of wood.

[0047] The angle at which the anchor member is disposed within each piece of wood affects the performance of the connection. By controlling the angle of each member, it is important to avoid collisions between adjacent members of the same connector assembly or other connector assemblies.

[0048] Each anchor member in at least one pair of anchor members can have the same orientation with respect to the long axis of each piece of wood. Each anchor member in at least one pair of anchor members can be arranged such that (for example, when these anchor members extend within each piece of wood) the first ends are separated from each other.

[0049] One of the connector assemblies can include two pairs of anchor members. Each pair of anchor members can have the same orientation with respect to the long axis of the first piece of wood. The two pairs of anchor members can be symmetric with respect to the long axis of the first piece of wood. The other of the connector assemblies can include four pairs of anchor members. Each pair of anchor members can be arranged such that (for example, when these anchor members extend within each piece of wood) the first ends are separated from each other.

[0050] The first connector assembly can include at least four adjacent anchor members. The first and fourth anchor members can each be arranged at a first angle with respect to the surface of the first wood; the second and third anchor members are located between the first anchor member and the fourth anchor member and can each be arranged at a second angle with respect to the surface of the first wood.

[0051] One of the anchor members of the connector assembly can be arranged such that the first connector assembly and an additional connector assembly having the same configuration can be located on adjacent or opposite faces of the first wood without collision between the anchor members of the first connector assembly and the anchor members of the additional connector assembly.

[0052] One of the anchor members of the connector assembly can also be arranged such that the first connector assembly and an additional connector assembly having a similar configuration can be located on adjacent or opposite faces of the first wood without collision between the anchor members of the first connector assembly and the anchor members of the additional connector assembly.

[0053] The connection part can further include an additional connector assembly related to the first wood. The additional connector assembly can be used for connecting the third member. The additional connector assembly can include a plurality of elongated anchor members. Each anchor member can have a first end and a second end. The first end extends into the first wood and is fixed to the first wood; the second end protrudes from the first wood. The anchor members of the additional connector assembly can be arranged to avoid collision with the anchor members of the first connector assembly.

[0054] The arrangement of the anchor members of the first connector assembly can be the same as the arrangement of the anchor members of the additional connector assembly.

[0055] When a connector assembly is formed by a pair of anchor members on the side surface of a plate, the anchor members on one side of the plate can be arranged in a first orientation, and the anchor members on the other side of the plate can be arranged in a second orientation. For example, the anchor members on one side of the plate plane can extend generally "upward" away from the plate, and the anchor members on the other side of the plate plane can extend generally "downward" away from the plate. These anchor members can be substantially parallel to other anchor members on the same side of the plate.

[0056] Such a configuration enables the use of the same connector assembly configuration on opposite surfaces of the wood without the anchor members colliding with each other within the wood. The anchor members extending "upward" on the first side of the plate do not interfere with the anchor members extending "downward" of other connector assemblies arranged on the same side of the plate. The same principle applies to the anchor members extending "downward" and "upward" on the second side of the plate.

[0057] The connection portion can further include a plurality of connector assemblies associated with the first wood, and the plurality of connector assemblies are arranged in parallel within the first wood.

[0058] The connection portion can include a plurality of independent connector assemblies, and these connector assemblies are configured to connect to the same second wood. Increasing the number of connector assemblies and arranging them in parallel increases the mechanical operating ability of the entire connection portion.

[0059] The holes in the plate and / or the anchor members (e.g., holes with an overly large diameter) can be non-circular.

[0060] At least one hole in the anchor member and / or the plate can be non-circular, for example, elliptical.

[0061] All holes within the plate and / or anchor member, or holes of an excessive diameter, can be made non-circular, for example, elliptical. In some cases, these holes can be made oval or rectangular. When using an ellipse, the major axis of the ellipse can be arranged in the direction in which a large load is applied to the connection portion (for example, the vertical direction). By using non-circular (for example, elliptical) holes, energy dissipation in the main direction can be improved, and when acting in the axial direction of the ellipse, the chance of a bolt contacting the inner surface of the hole can be reduced.

[0062] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a kit of parts for a connection portion as defined herein. This kit of parts can include a first connector assembly configured to be connected to a first piece of wood. The first connector assembly can include a plurality of elongated anchor members, each anchor member having a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to extend into the first piece of wood and be fixed to the first piece of wood; the second end being configured to protrude from the first piece of wood. Each of the anchor members can define a hole orthogonal to the major axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt. This kit of parts can further include a plate connectable to a second piece of wood, the plate defining at least one hole for receiving a bolt. This kit of parts can further include a plurality of bolts, each bolt being configured to extend through at least one of the anchor member and the plate. For each bolt, the diameter of the hole in the corresponding anchor member or the hole in the plate is made excessive to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit; each bolt is configured to clamp the plate and the anchor member so that the clamping force provided by the plurality of bolts can resist relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly.

[0063] The present invention is a kit of parts including any or all of the components providing the connection portion described herein.

[0064] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a modular building having a plurality of connection parts described in this specification. As noted above, the connection parts according to the present invention can be assembled and disassembled, and by using such connection parts - for example, by removing and moving an internal partition such as a wall - it is possible to reconfigure the building. This not only makes the use of such buildings more flexible, but also can play a role in increasing the useful life of such buildings. This also makes it possible to use wood as a building material for buildings where wood was previously unsuitable.

[0065] The above connection parts can be configured to support partitions and divide the volume of the building into a plurality of internal spaces; the above connection parts can be configured to adjust the position of the partitions and reconfigure the internal spaces.

[0066] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of building a building. This method includes either using the connection parts described in this specification within prefabricated panels or within members forming part of the building; or using a kit of parts described in this specification for connecting two members when building the building.

[0067] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method of connecting two adjacent pieces of wood using the connection parts described in this specification or a kit of parts described in this specification. This method can include the steps of: installing an anchor member of a first connector assembly into a first piece of wood; arranging a plate adjacent to the anchor member; inserting and passing one of a plurality of bolts through the corresponding anchor member and the plate; tightening the bolt to provide frictional engagement with the plate and the anchor member; and connecting the plate to a second piece of wood.

[0068] The step of connecting the plate to the second piece of wood can include: installing the anchor member of the second connector assembly into the second piece of wood; placing the plate adjacent to the anchor member of the second connector; inserting and passing one of the second number of bolts through the corresponding anchor member and plate; and fastening the bolt to provide frictional engagement with the plate and the anchor member.

[0069] Constructing a building by connecting panels and members using the connections described herein significantly improves the speed of construction, reduces the time that workers must spend on-site, and reduces costs and risks.

[0070] Furthermore, the present invention is a method of disassembling two adjacent pieces of wood connected using the connections described herein or a kit of parts described herein. This method can include: loosening each of the bolts and removing the plate from the anchor member of the first connector assembly; pulling out each of the bolts; and removing the first piece of wood from the plate.

[0071] The ability to disassemble the above connections opens the way to using wood in buildings where its use was previously not appropriate. This increases the flexibility of space utilization within the building over its entire lifespan and thus improves its useful life.

[0072] The present invention also relates to a connection for connecting structural members. These structural members can be made of materials other than wood. This connection can be used to connect one, two, three, four, or five or more structural members.

[0073] Accordingly, the present invention provides, for example, a connection for connecting a structural member to a second structural member. The connection can include a first structural member, a first connector assembly, a plate, and at least one bolt. The first connector assembly can be associated with the first structural member. The first connector assembly includes a plurality of elongate anchor members, each having a first end and a second end. The first end extends into the first structural member and is fixed to the first structural member, and the second end projects from the first structural member. Each of the anchor members can define a hole orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt. The plate can be connected or connectable to the second structural member and can define at least one hole for receiving a bolt. Each bolt can be configured to extend through at least one of the anchor member and the plate. For each bolt, the diameter of the hole in the corresponding anchor member or the plate can be oversized to receive the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit. Each bolt can be configured to clamp the plate or the anchor member to resist relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly by friction generated by the clamping force applied by each bolt.

[0074] Similar advantages also apply to using the connection together with the structural member, as with wood. The use of a structural material, such as concrete, can enable a building to be constructed to have a higher fire resistance, as concrete is non-combustible and reduces the risk of mold growth that can reduce the strength and load-bearing capacity of the members. The present invention provides a connection that has the required moment resistance but has much greater rigidity compared to existing solutions. This increased mechanical performance enables larger spans to be supported - reducing the amount of intermediate connections used, thereby reducing the total amount of material used.

[0075] The use of elongate anchor members extending into and fixed to the structural member contributes to this increased performance.

[0076] The features described above for the connection part for wood also equally apply to the connection part for connecting structural members made of materials other than wood, for example, concrete.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0077]

Figure 1

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Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0078] Detailed Description of the Drawings Figures 1A - 1C show the connection part 10. The connection part 10 is between two pieces of wood - between the first piece of wood 12 and the second piece of wood 14. In this example, the first piece of wood 12 is a beam and the second piece of wood 14 is a column. However, in other configurations, the connection part can be between members other than beams and columns - for example, between the spans of an arch, or at the joint between three or more pieces of wood.

[0079] In the example of Figures 1A - 1C, the first piece of wood 12 and the second piece of wood 14 are connected by the first and second connector assemblies 16, 18 and the plate 20. The first connector assembly 16 is associated with the first piece of wood 12. The second connector assembly 18 is associated with the second piece of wood 14. In this example, both the first and second connector assemblies comprise a plurality of elongated anchor members. The plate 20 is connected to the first connector assembly 16 and the second connector assembly 18. In other embodiments, the second connector assembly 18 can be omitted and the plate 20 can be fixed directly to the second piece of wood 14 instead.

[0080] The first connector assembly 16 is fixed to the first piece of wood 12 and the second connector assembly 18 is fixed to the second piece of wood 14. During use, the first and second connector assemblies 16, 18 can be attached to their respective pieces of wood 12, 14 before transporting the wood to the site, during transportation, or after transportation. Next, the connection part 10 can be fabricated on site by connecting the two connector assemblies 16, 18 to the plate 20 by inserting a plurality of bolts (described below). Thus, the completion of the connection part requires only a very short time on site.

[0081] In this example, each anchor member of the first and second connector assemblies comprises elongated threaded rods (screw rods) 22, 28 and brackets 24, 30 (shown in more detail in FIG. 2). The threaded rods 22, 28 are disposed at the first ends of the anchor members and extend into the respective timbers 12, 14. The brackets 24, 30 are disposed at the second ends of the anchor members and project from the respective timbers 12, 14. The elongated threaded rods 22a - 22d of the first connector assembly are fixed to the first timber 12. The elongated threaded rods 28a - h of the second connector assembly are fixed to the second timber 14.

[0082] In this example, the anchor members are fixed to the corresponding timbers 12, 14 using threads, and the threaded rods are screwed into the respective timbers 12, 14 to create a strong connection. However, in other examples, the anchor members can be adhered to the respective timbers 12, 14.

[0083] The brackets 24, 30 of the anchor members are disposed at the second ends of the respective anchor members. The brackets 24, 30 are screwed onto the corresponding threaded rods 22, 28. Each bracket 24, 30 has through - holes 34, 36 which are suitable for receiving bolts 26, 32 (explained in more detail below). The brackets 24, 30 are configured such that the holes 34, 36 are orthogonal to the corresponding threaded rods 22, 28.

[0084] When the connection 10 is assembled, the plate 20 is disposed between the first connector assembly 16 and the second connector assembly 18. The plate 20 connects the first connector assembly 16 to the second connector assembly 18 and thus connects the first timber 12 to the second timber 14.

[0085] The plate 20 is disposed in a plane parallel to the threaded rods 22, 28. In this example, this plane is perpendicular to the end faces of the timbers 12, 14. The plate 20 comprises a series of holes 38, 40 (shown in FIG. 3a), which are aligned with the holes 34, 36 of the brackets 24, 30. When assembled, the bolts 26, 32 extend through the brackets 24, 30 and the plate 20 to secure the first and second connector assemblies 16, 18 to the plate.

[0086] The holes 34, 36 defined by the brackets 24, 30 have a diameter larger than that of the bolts 26, 32 extending through these holes. In this example, all the holes 34, 36, 38, 40 of the brackets 24, 30 and the plate 20 are of the same size; the bolts 26, 32 are also of the same size. The bolts 26, 32 and the holes 34, 36, 38, 40 are configured to provide a clearance fit. That is, the outer peripheral surfaces of the bolts 26, 32 do not engage and interfere with the inner peripheral surfaces of the holes 34, 36, 38, 40 and resist the loads applied to the connection.

[0087] To firmly fix the brackets 24, 30 to the plate 20, these bolts are friction grip bolts. A friction grip bolt is a bolt configured to prevent relative movement between the plate 20 and the brackets 24, 30 by using the friction generated by a high clamping force between the components. This is an alternative to directly counteracting relative movement by contact with the bolt axis. In this example, all of the bolts 26, 32 used to connect the first and second connector assemblies are identical.

[0088] The disclosed configuration of the plate 20, the bolts 26, 32, and the brackets 24, 30 provides a configuration that is particularly adept at dissipating energy due to the over-sized holes. Accordingly, such connections are particularly effective in dissipating large cyclic deformations of the building in which the connection 10 is disposed within the building. Accordingly, the connection 10 is suitable for use in earthquake-prone regions.

[0089] In the connection part 10 of FIGS. 1A to 1C, the anchor members (that is, the rods 22, 28 and the brackets 24, 30) are arranged in pairs. Each bolt 26, 32 extends through one of the pair of brackets 24, 30 - on either surface of the plate 20.

[0090] Referring to the anchor members of the first connector assembly 16, two pairs of rods are provided, each having a corresponding bracket 24. The rod pairs 22a and 22b, and their corresponding brackets 24, are connected to the same bolt 26 and are arranged parallel and symmetrically in the longitudinal section of the first wood member 12 in the same direction. The same applies to the rod pairs 22c and 22d. The first rod pairs 22a and 22b merge with the second rod pairs 22c and 22d towards the center of the first wood member 12 and towards the first end of the anchor member. Such an arrangement of the rod members is particularly good at resisting the moment applied to the connection part 10.

[0091] Referring to the anchor members of the second connector assembly 18, four pairs of rods are provided. The rod pairs 28a and 28b, and their corresponding brackets 30, are connected to the same bolt 32 and are arranged so as to be separated from each other along the entire length of the rod. Each of the rod pairs 28c and 28d, 28e and 28f, and 28g and 28h is also arranged on a single bolt 32 and is separated along the entire length of the rod. Such an arrangement of the rods is also good at resisting the moment applied to the connection part. Such an arrangement of the rods also enables a plurality of adjacent connection parts within the wood member without interference and collision of the anchors.

[0092] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the plate 20 and the first and second connector assemblies 16, 18. For clarity, the bolts 26, 32 have been removed. Oversized holes 34, 36 can be seen in the brackets 24, 30.

[0093] In this example, nuts 35 are used to attach rods 22 and 28 to brackets 24 and 30. The nuts 35 function to apply prestress (compressive stress) to the rods 22 and 28, thereby avoiding slippage between the rods 22 and 28 and the brackets 24 and 30. This improves the performance of the rod - bracket portion. In other examples, the rods 22 and 28 and the brackets 24 and 30 can be formed as a single part, for example, by forging or stamping (plastic working, press working).

[0094] FIG. 3a is a perspective view of the plate 20. The plate 20 has two sets of through - holes. The two through - holes 38 on the first side of the plate 20 are arranged to be connected to the bracket 24 of the first connector assembly 16. The four through - holes 40 on the second side of the plate 20 are arranged to be connected to the bracket 30 of the second connector assembly. The holes 38 and 40 of the plate 20 are all of the same size and are oversized with respect to the bolts 26 and 32 to provide a clearance fit. In other embodiments, the holes and bolts can be of different sizes on the same plate.

[0095] FIG. 3b is a perspective view of the plate 61. The plate 61 is formed by two rectangular sub - plates 62 connected at one edge. The first of the sub - plates is joined at an angle to the other sub - plate, resulting in a plate 61 having two planes of orientation, enabling the fastening of woods oriented in different planes within a space. The four through - holes 70 of the plate 61 are arranged to be connected to the brackets of the connector assembly as described elsewhere in this specification.

[0096] Figure 3c is a perspective view of another plate 81. The plate 81 is formed by four triangular sub - plates 82, 83, and these sub - plates are connected at the edges to form a tetrahedron. The plate 81 has four planes of orientation, enabling the orientation of timbers in four different planes within the space. The six through - holes 90, 91 of the plate 81 are arranged to be connected to the brackets of the connector assembly, as described elsewhere in this specification.

[0097] Figure 4a shows the brackets 24, 30. In this example, the brackets 24, 30 of the connection part 10 are all the same, and for this reason, the illustrated brackets 24, 30 are suitable for use in the first and second connector assemblies 16, 18. The brackets 24, 30 have first holes 34, 36 for accommodating bolts 26, 32, and the bolts 26, 32 connect the brackets 24, 30 to the plate 20. In this example, the first holes 34, 36 have the same diameter as the holes 38, 40 in the plate and are oversized with respect to the bolts 26, 32 to provide a clearance fit. However, in other examples, the sizes of the holes 38, 40 in the plate and the brackets can be made different. For seismic applications, the diameter of the holes 38, 40 in the plate can be increased to increase the ductility and energy dissipation of the joint. The brackets 24, 30 further have second holes 42 for receiving the elongated threaded rods 22, 28, and the threaded rods 22, 28 connect the brackets 24, 30 to the rods 22, 28. In other examples, the brackets 24, 30 can be integrated with the rods 22, 28.

[0098] Figure 4b is similar to Figure 4a, but the brackets 24, 30 have two holes 42 on two opposite sides. These two holes are for receiving the ends of the elongated threaded rods and connecting these rods in a series connection form.

[0099] Figure 5 shows the second wood member 14 and the threaded rods 28 of the second connector assembly 18 as viewed from two opposite sides. As described above, the pairs of rods 28 are arranged to be separated from each other. In this example, all of the rods 28 on the first side of the wood member 14 are aligned in a first direction (e.g., "downward"), and all of the rods on the second side of the wood member 14 are aligned in a second direction (e.g., "upward"). As shown in Figure 5, the orientation of the rods 28 on the first side of the wood member 14 can be zigzag with respect to each other, and the orientation of the rods 28 on the second side of the wood member 14 can be zigzag with respect to each other.

[0100] Looking at the left side of Figure 5 and referring only to the rods 28 oriented "downward", the angles of the first rod 28b, the second rod 28d, the third rod 28f, and the fourth rod 28h with respect to the downward vertical line are referred to as 44b, 44d, 44f, and 44h, respectively, and these angles are approximately equal to 80°, 75°, 65°, and 55°, respectively. Looking at the right side of Figure 5 and referring only to the rods 28 oriented "upward", the angles of the first rod 28a, the second rod 28c, the third rod 28e, and the fourth rod 28g with respect to the upward vertical line are referred to as 44a, 44c, 44e, and 44g, respectively, and these angles are approximately equal to 55°, 65°, 75°, and 80°, respectively. Such bevel angles of the rods 28 can improve the load and moment resistance performance, and for example, in the case of beams connected to both sides of a column, the collision of the rods can be prevented.

[0101] Figure 6 shows the arrangement of different rods 28 for the second connector assembly. In the arrangement of the rods 28 in Figure 6, the second and third pairs of rods 28 are closer to each other than in the arrangement shown in Figure 5. In the arrangement of the rods 28 in Figure 6, the first and second "upwardly" oriented rods 28a, 28c form an angle of 30° with respect to the horizontal line. The third and fourth "upwardly" oriented rods 28e, 28g form an angle of 20° with respect to the horizontal line. The first and second "downwardly" oriented rods 28b, 28d form an angle of 20° with respect to the horizontal line. The third and fourth "downwardly" oriented rods 28f, 28h form an angle of 30° with respect to the horizontal line.

[0102] Figure 6 also shows an example of the arrangement of the rods 22 for the first connector assembly 16. In this arrangement, the first and third rods 22a, 22c form an angle of 10° with respect to the horizontal line and converge in the direction towards the first end of the anchor.

[0103] Figure 7 shows the connection of four woods 112, 113, 114, 115. Each wood 112, 113, 114, 115 includes a corresponding connector assembly, and these connector assemblies include four threaded rods 122 (only a part of which is referenced in Figure 7) and corresponding brackets 124 (only a part of which is referenced in Figure 7). The rods 122 and brackets 124 are as described above. The connector assembly of each wood 112, 113, 114, 115 is connected to the central square plate in a manner corresponding to the above-described manner - that is, using friction grip bolts arranged in the over-sized diameter holes in the brackets 124 and the plate 120.

[0104] Figure 8 shows the connection of the woods 612, 613, 614, 615 to the common plate 620. In this example, the plate 620 is circular. Each of the four woods is connected to the plate 620 using two connector assemblies and two elongated threaded rods 622 corresponding thereto, which were described with reference to Figures 1 - 4. In matters other than those described, this connection generally corresponds to the connection in Figures 1 - 4.

[0105] Figure 9 shows two connection parts between the steel I-beam 213 and the timbers 212, 214. Each of the connection parts between the I-beam 213 and one of the timbers 212, 214 is provided with the connection tool assembly described above. This connection tool assembly includes the threaded rod 222 and the bracket 224 described above (only one of them is referred to in FIG. 8), which are connected to the I-beam 213 using the friction bolt and the hole with an oversized diameter as described above, and the flange of the I-beam is the plate of the above embodiment. The flange of the I-beam is integrally connected to the remaining part of the I-beam (which is the second member).

[0106] Figure 10 shows the connection part between three timbers 312, 313, 314. This connection part is the same as the connection part described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, except that an additional timber 313 is arranged at an angle with respect to the first timber 312 (which is also arranged at an angle). Two of the timbers 312, 313 are provided with a connection tool assembly, which is generally the same as the first connection tool assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The third timber 314 is provided with a connection tool assembly that is generally the same as the second connection tool assembly described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In order to accommodate the additional timber 313, the plate 320 is hexagonal. In all matters other than those described, this connection tool corresponds to the connection tool in FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0107] Figure 11 shows the connection part between two timbers 412, 414. The first timber 412 is connected to the plate 420 using the first connection tool assembly described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. The plate 420 is fixed to the second timber 414 using four elongated threaded rods 437. The four elongated threaded rods 437 are in direct contact with the second timber 414 and the plate 420. That is, the second timber 414 is not connected to the plate 420 via the bracket 38 like the connection part 10 in FIGS. 1 to 4, but rather is directly connected to the plate 420.

[0108] Any of the connectors described herein can be provided as a kit of parts - that is, in a disassembled form suitable for assembly into the described connectors - and may or may not include wood.

[0109] Figures 12A and 12B show an alternative configuration of the connector 500. The connector 500 includes a first connector assembly 516, which includes two anchor members having threaded rods 522 and brackets 524. The threaded rod 522 is connected to the bracket 524 using a threaded nut 535 as described above. The plate in this example is fixed to a second piece of wood (not shown) by a second connector assembly 518, which includes a threaded rod 527 that is similar to that used as part of the anchor member. The first connector assembly 516 (i.e., the threaded rod 522 and the bracket 524) has an oversize hole and is connected to the plate 520 using a bolt 526 as described above.

[0110] In practice, the connector can include a plurality of the configurations shown in Figures 12A and 12B in parallel.

[0111] Figure 13 schematically shows a modular building 600. The modular building 600 includes a plurality of first and second pieces of wood 512, 513, which are in the form of beams and columns (only a part of which is referenced in Figure 13). The beams and columns 512, 514 support the floor and walls and are thus used to separate the volume space of the building into a plurality of internal spaces. A plurality of connectors 10 described herein are provided to connect the beams and columns.

[0112] The connecting part 10 is configured to be easily assembled and disassembled. For this reason, the beam and the column can be easily and safely connected and removed by the user. This enables the user to move the partitions (for example, floors and / or walls) of the modular building and reconfigure the internal space. This is advantageous because it enables the building to be more easily reconfigured for other purposes for different users without requiring labor-intensive and carbon-intensive processes.

[0113] The present invention has been described above as a mere example. Within the scope of the claims appended hereto, modifications may be made to the details of the present invention. Further, features according to an example may be combined with alternative examples, except where such combinations are explicitly excluded.

Claims

1. First wood and, A connecting part comprising a first connecting assembly related to the first piece of wood, wherein the first connecting assembly is The connection comprises a plurality of elongated anchor members, each of which has a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the first timber and fixed to the first timber, the second end protruding from the first timber, and each of the anchor members having a connection portion that defines a hole perpendicular to the long axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt, The aforementioned connection part, A plate that is connected to or can be connected to the second member, It further comprises at least one bolt, The plate defines a hole for receiving the bolt, Each of the bolts is configured to extend through at least one of the anchor member and the plate, For each of the bolts, the diameter of at least one of the holes in the anchor member corresponding to the bolt or the hole in the plate corresponding to the bolt is excessive, and the corresponding bolt is received in a clearance fit, Each of the bolts is configured to clamp the plate and the anchor member, and the friction generated by the clamping force provided by each of the bolts resists relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly. Connection point.

2. The at least one of the bolts is a first number of bolts, The aforementioned connection part, The second member, which is the second piece of wood, The present invention further comprises a second connector assembly related to the second piece of wood, The second connector assembly, It comprises a plurality of second elongated anchor members, each of which has a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the second wood and fixed to the second wood, and the second end protruding from the second wood. Each of the aforementioned anchor members is provided with a hole perpendicular to the long axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt. The aforementioned connection part, The system further comprises a second number of bolts, each of which is configured to extend through at least one of the second elongated anchor member and the plate. The connecting part according to claim 1.

3. For each of the second number of bolts, the diameter of at least one of the holes in the anchor member corresponding to the bolt or the holes in the plate corresponding to the bolt is excessive, thereby receiving the corresponding bolt in a clearance fit and resisting relative movement between the plate and the second connector assembly due to friction caused by the clamping force provided by the second number of bolts. The connecting part according to claim 2.

4. The connector according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plate defines a plurality of holes that are aligned with the holes of the anchor member of the first connector assembly, and for each bolt, the diameters of both the hole in the anchor member of the first connector assembly corresponding to the bolt and the hole in the plate corresponding to the bolt are excessive, and the bolt corresponding to the hole is received by clearance fitting.

5. The connecting portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of the anchor members comprises a rod and a bracket, the first end of the rod has a screw thread for screwing into the first wood and the second wood respectively, and the bracket is located at the second end of the rod and defines one of the holes.

6. The connecting portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the ratio of the length to the diameter of the elongated anchor member is 10:

1.

7. The connection part according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the anchor member is composed of a plurality of pairs of anchor members arranged on the side surface of the plate, and each of the bolts extends through a pair of the anchor members.

8. Each anchor member in at least one pair of the anchor members has the same orientation with respect to the long axis of each of the pieces of wood, and / or In at least one pair of the anchor members, each anchor member is arranged such that its first ends are separated from each other. The connecting part according to claim 7.

9. The first connector assembly comprises at least four of the anchor members forming a row, Of the at least four anchor members, the first and fourth anchor members are each positioned at a first angle with respect to the surface of the first piece of wood. Of the at least four anchor members, the second and third anchor members are located between the first and fourth anchor members, and each is positioned at a second angle with respect to the surface of the first wood. A connecting part according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. The connection according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein one of the anchor members of the connection assemblies is positioned such that the first connection assembly and an additional connection assembly having the same configuration can be positioned on opposite sides of the first timber without collision between the anchor member of the first connection assembly and the anchor member of the additional connection assembly.

11. The present invention further comprises an additional connector assembly relating to the first piece of wood, the additional connector assembly being for connecting a third piece of wood, and the additional connector assembly is It comprises a plurality of elongated anchor members, each of which has a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the first wood and fixed to the first wood, and the second end protruding from the first wood. The connection according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the anchor member of the additional connector assembly is arranged to avoid collision with the anchor member of the first connector assembly.

12. The connection part according to claim 11, wherein the arrangement of the anchor members in the first connector assembly is the same as the arrangement of the anchor members in the additional connector assembly.

13. The connecting portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising a plurality of connecting assembly members related to the first piece of wood, wherein the connecting assembly members are arranged parallel to the first piece of wood.

14. A kit of components used within a connecting portion according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A kit of parts comprising a first connector assembly configured to be connected to a first piece of wood, The first connector assembly is It comprises a plurality of elongated anchor members, each of which has a first end and a second end, the first end being configured to extend into the first timber and be fixed to the first timber, and the second end being configured to protrude from the first timber. Each of the aforementioned anchor members is provided with a hole perpendicular to the long axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt. The aforementioned kit of parts A plate that is connected to or can be connected to the second member, It further comprises at least one bolt, The plate defines a hole for receiving the bolt, Each of the bolts is configured to extend through at least one of the anchor member and the plate, For each of the bolts, the diameter of at least one of the holes in the anchor member corresponding to the bolt or the hole in the plate corresponding to the bolt is excessive, and the corresponding bolt is received in a clearance fit, and each of the bolts is configured to clamp the plate and the anchor member, and the friction generated by the clamping force provided by each of the bolts resists relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly. A kit of parts.

15. A modular building comprising a plurality of connecting parts as described in any one of claims 1 to 3.

16. A method of constructing a building, A method comprising the step of using the connecting portion described in any one of claims 1 to 3 within a prefabricated panel or within a member forming part of the building.

17. A method for constructing a building, A method comprising the step of using the kit of parts according to claim 14 to connect two members when constructing the building.

18. A method for connecting two adjacent pieces of wood using a connecting part according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The steps include installing the anchor member of the first connector assembly into the first piece of wood, The steps include: positioning the plate adjacent to the anchor member; The steps include inserting and passing one or more bolts through the anchor member and plate corresponding to the bolts, The steps include fastening the bolts to provide frictional fit between the plate and the anchor member, The step of connecting the aforementioned plate to the second piece of wood, A method that includes this.

19. A method for connecting two adjacent pieces of wood using the parts kit described in Claim 14, The steps include installing the anchor member of the first connector assembly into the first piece of wood, The steps include: positioning the plate adjacent to the anchor member; The steps include inserting and passing one or more bolts through the anchor member and plate corresponding to the bolts, The steps include fastening the bolts to provide frictional fit between the plate and the anchor member, The step of connecting the aforementioned plate to the second piece of wood, A method that includes this.

20. The step of connecting the plate to the second piece of wood is, The steps include installing the anchor member of the second connector assembly into the second piece of wood, The steps include: positioning the plate adjacent to the anchor member of the second connector assembly; The steps include inserting and passing one of the second number of bolts through the anchor member and plate corresponding to that bolt, The steps include fastening the bolts to provide frictional fit between the plate and the anchor member, The method according to claim 18, including the method described in claim 18.

21. The step of connecting the plate to the second piece of wood is: The steps include installing the anchor member of the second connector assembly into the second piece of wood, The steps include: positioning the plate adjacent to the anchor member of the second connector assembly; The steps include inserting and passing one of the second number of bolts through the anchor member and plate corresponding to that bolt, The steps include fastening the bolts to provide frictional fit between the plate and the anchor member, The method according to claim 19, including the method described in claim 19.

22. A method for disassembling two adjacent pieces of wood connected using a connecting part described in any one of claims 1 to 3, The steps include loosening each of the bolts and removing the plate from the anchor member of the first connector assembly, The steps include pulling out each of the aforementioned bolts, The steps of removing the first piece of wood from the plate and A method that includes this.

23. A method for disassembling two adjacent pieces of wood connected using the parts kit described in Claim 14, The steps include loosening each of the bolts and removing the plate from the anchor member of the first connector assembly, The steps include pulling out each of the aforementioned bolts, The steps of removing the first piece of wood from the plate and A method that includes this.

24. First structural member and The first connector assembly related to the first structural member and A connecting part having, The first connector assembly is The device comprises a plurality of elongated anchor members, each of which has a first end and a second end, the first end extending into the first structural member and fixed to the first structural member, the second end protruding from the first structural member, and each of the anchor members has a connecting portion that defines a hole perpendicular to the long axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt, The aforementioned connection part, A plate that is connected to or can be connected to the second structural member, It further comprises at least one bolt, The plate defines a hole for receiving the bolt, For each of the bolts, the diameter of at least one of the holes in the anchor member corresponding to the bolt or the hole in the plate corresponding to the bolt is excessive, and the corresponding bolt is received in a clearance fit, Each of the bolts is configured to clamp the plate and the anchor member, and the friction generated by the clamping force provided by each of the bolts resists relative movement between the plate and the first connector assembly. Connection point.

25. The first structural member is a first concrete member, and / or, The second structural member is the second concrete member. The connecting part according to claim 24.

Images