Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~3~3~
-- 2 --
From a first aspect, the present invention relates to a structure
comprising a body defining an undercut groove and an elongate member
seated in the groove. An example of such a structure is a sluice gate,
wherein the main body of a door of the gate is formed as a casting of iron and
strips of other material, for example bronze, are seated in grooves formed in
the cast body. The strips co-operate with strips on a frame of the sluice gate
to seal the main body to the frame when the sluice gate is closed.
It is known to form in the cast body of a sluice gate door a groove
which is undercut at both of its opposite longitudinal margins and to fit in thegroove a sealing strip of a corrosion resistant alloy by introducing in-to the
groove a part of the strip which is sufficiently narrow to pass through the
mouth of -the groove and then deforming the s-trip until it occupies the groove
entirely and the part of the strip occupying the groove has the form of a
dovetail I .
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a
structure comprising a body defining an undercut groove and an elongate
member seated in the groove, wherein the cross-section of said member in a
transverse plane includes an outer part which lies at least partly outside the
groove and an inner part disposed in the groove, and wherein the inner part
includes a limb having a dimension measured in the direction of the width of
the groove which is less than the width of the groove, the width of the groove
end the dimension of said limb both briny measured in the same longitudinal
p lane.
The limb can be seated in the groove with less working of the elongate
member than is necessary -for seating of the known s-trip in a groove of the
same size. During assembly of a structure according to this aspect of the
invention, it is not necessary for the elongate member to be worked
sufficiently to fill the groove entirely. In the completed structure, there may
be a void in the groove. Additionally or alternatively, the groove may be
partly occupied by a further element.
The inner part of the elongate member may include a second Iamb
spaced from the first-mentioned limb in the direction of the width of the
groove.
The groove may be undercut at one or both of its opposite margins.
.
:L2~3J~33~
In the preferred structure, both the second limb and said element are
present in the groove.
The element which partly occupies the groove may be integral with the
body but is preferably formed separately from both the body and the elongate
member.
Said element is preferably hollow and elongated. The transverse cross-
section of the element or o-f a part of the element is preferably U-shaped. As
used herein, the expression "U-shaped" embraces shapes with tapered limbs
and shapes with splayed limbs. Where a part of the element is U-shaped,
there may be present a web which connects the limbs of the U-shaped part to
form a tube. When present, the web is preferably concave, as viewed from
outside the element, or otherwise non-flat to facilitate flexing of the web
and movement of the limbs towards each other.
The element may be formed of a material selected to provide that the
element is resiliently deformable to a significant degree. Variations in
dimensions of the groove and of the elongate member can then be
accommodated by resilient deformation of the element.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a
method of mounting an elongate member on a body wherein an undercut
groove is formed in the body, there is placed in the groove an element which
occupies a part only of the width of the groove to leave a gap between the
element and at least one martin of the groove, a limb of said member is
in~rocluced into the gap and is forced towards a base of the groove and
wherein forcing of tile limb into the gap towards the base of the groove
necessarily deforms the member so that ii becomes locked in the groove.
An example of a structure in accordance with the invention and which
is mqcle by a method according to the invention will now be described, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:-
FIGURES I, 2 and 3 illustrate succeeding stages in assembly of the structure, a fragmentary cross-section of the structure being shown, and
Figure 3 illustrating the completed structure;
FIGURE 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating an alternative
arrangement;
FIGURE 5 also is a view similar to Figure 3 illustrating a further
alternative arrancJement; and
FIGURE 6 illustrates an alternative element for use in the arrangement
of Figure 3.
~33~6
The assembly illustrated in Figures I, 2 and 3 comprises a body I I,
which may be an iron casting, and in which there is formed a rectilinear
groove 11 having a uniform depth. The groove is undercut at at least one,
and preferably both as shown, opposite longitudinal margins so that the width
of the groove at a base 12 thereof is greater than the width of the groove at
a mouth of the groove defined in a face 13 of the body 10. The shape of the
groove, in transverse cross-section, is preferably that of a symmetrical
dovetail. The width of the groove, at its mouth, preferably exceeds the depth
of the groove, that is the perpendicular distance between the base 12 of the
groove and the plane containing the face 13. The width of the groove at the
base 12 is preferably more than twice the depth of the groove.
The faces 14 and 15 of the body lo which define opposite lateral
margins of the groove 11 are preferably flat and may be inclined to the base
12 at an angle of approximately 80.
The assembled structure comprises an elongate member 16 which is
seated in the groove 11 and includes an outer part 17 Welch lies outside the
groove and an inner part disposed in the groove. The inner part comprises
two limbs 18 and 19 which are spaced apart in the direction of the width of
the groove 11. Thus, the dimension of each limb which extends in the
direction o-f the width of the groove is considerably less than the
corresponding dimension of the groove.
Between the limbs 18 and 19, there is a hollow elongate element 20
having a generally U-shaped transverse cross-section which includes legs 21
and 22 end a web 26 connecting the legs together. The element 20 is
arranged with its legs 21 end 22 resting on the base 12 of the groove 11 so
thickly a void 23 is defined by the internal surface of the element 20 and the
base 12. Each leg is tapered, the wider end being a free end.
The limbs 18 and 19 of the member 16 occupy respective gaps defined
between the element 20, on the one hand, and the faces 14 and 15 of the body
10, on the other hand. The external faces of the legs 21 and 22, are flat and
are mutually inclined at an angle which is somewhat Larger than the angle
included between the Faces 14 and 15. Thus, the gaps in which the limbs 18
and 19 are received are both tapered in a direction towards the base 12.
Typically, the angle included between the external faces of the legs 21 and 22
exceeds the angle included between the faces 14 and 15 by at least 5. The
difference between the included angles is preferably not greater than 20, a
difference within the range 10 to 12 being preferred.
~Z~3~336
-- 5 --
The element 20 preferably occupies more than one half o-f the width of
the groove 11, at the base 12 of the groove and at positions spaced from the
base. More preferably, the element 20 occupies at least two thirds of the
width of the groove 11. The height of the element 2û, that is the dimension
extending from the base 12 towards the mouth of the groove 11, preferably
exceeds one half the width of the element at its widest part, i.e. adjacent to
tile base 12. The height of the element is preferably within the range 75% to
130% of the width of the element.
The member 16 is formed of material which is more ductile than is the
material of which the body lo is formed and more ductile than the material
of which the element 2û is formed. The member 16 may be formed of a non-
ferrous alloy, for example a bronze. The member 16 is conveniently formed
by extrusion. Each of the limbs 18 and 19 may initially be parallel sided.
The element 20 is formed of a material which has I higher elastic limit
than does that of the member 16. The element 2û is preferably formed of a
steel and also may be formed by extrusion.
In Figure 6, there is illustrated an alternative element which may be
substituted for the element 2û. The element of Figure 6 also may be formed
by extrusion of steel and the transverse cross-section illustrated in Figure 6
includes a generally U-shaped par comprising mutually divergent legs. The
element shown in Figure 6 differs from the element 20 in that the legs 121
and 122 are connected, at their more widely spaced ends, by a web 123 so
that the clement has the form of a tube. As viewed in a direction towards
-the element, the web 123 is concave and is therefore adapted to f fox to
accommodate movement of the legs 121 and 122 towards each other, upon
flexing of the U-shaped part of the element. In owe, the element of Figure 6
is placed on the base 12 of the groove 11 with the web 123 facing towards the
base so that there is a first void between the web and the base of the groove
and a second void within the element of Figure 6. The element of Figure 6 is
used in the same manner as is the element 20 of Figure 1.
The first step in assembly of the structure shown in Figure 3 is placing
of the element 20 on the base 12 of the groove 11. The element is placed a-t
least approximately centrally in the groove but is free to slide on the base 12.The member 16 is then applied so -that the limbs 18 and 19 pass through the
mouth of the groove and enter the gaps between the element 20 and the faces
14 and 15. As extruded, the limbs 18 and 19 have respective flat faces which
are mutually parallel. The outer faces of the limbs are spaced apart by a
3~36
- 6-
distance which is no greater than the width of the groove 11 at its mouth and
which may be slightly less than this width. Both faces of each limb may be
parallel to the faces of the other limb. When the limbs are introduced into
the gaps, they come to rest on the element 20.
Pressure is exerted on -the outer face 24 of the outer part 17 of the
elongate member to drive that member towards the base 12 of the groove.
Under this pressure, the limbs 18 and 19 deform so that they become
mutually divergent, as shown in Figure 2. The member 16 is stressed beyond
its elastic limit. As the limbs are driven further down the gaps, they become
compressed between the element 20 and the faces 14 and 15. The pressure
exerted on the legs 21 and 22 by the limbs 19 and 18 respectively is sufficient
to deform the element 20 resiliently but preferably not sufficient to deform
the element 20 non-elastically. Thus, the limbs 18 and 19 are gripped
between the element 20 and the faces 14 and 15.
It will be noted that the outer part 17 of the member 16 has a width
exceeding the width of the groove 11 at the mouth thereof so that the outer
part overlaps the face 13 of the body 10 adjacent to each of the longitudinal
margins o-f the groove. The member 16 is urged towards the base 12 of the
groove until the outer part 17 engages firmly with the face 13. There are
then small clearances (exaggerated in the drawing) between the free ends of
the limbs 18 and 19 and the base 12 and also between the web 22 end the
outer part 17 of the member 16. It will be noted that, in the completed
assembly, the element 20 is completely covered by the member 16. Recesses
25 are formed in the member 16 at the junctions between the outer part 17
clod Ike limbs 18 and 19, to ensure thaw the outer part can seat firmly on the
face 13.
Small variations in the dimensions of the groove 11, the elongate
member 16 and the element 20 do not prevent resilient deformation of the
element 20 and gripping of the limbs 18 an 19. The dimensions and material
of the element 2û can be selected to provide that the elastic limit of the
element 2û will not be exceeded when the limbs are driven into their
respective gaps, so that the pressure exerted on the limbs will have a
predetermined value. This pressure is sufficiently great to prevent
movement of the member 16 relative to the body 10 during subsequent
treatment of the assembly, for example machining of the member 16, and
during the service life of the assembly, without requiring the application of
excessive force to drive the member 16 into the groove 11 until the outer
part 17 seats firmly on the face 13.
~33(~36
- 7
Force may be exerted on the face 24 of the member 16 by wryness of a
roller to drive the limbs 18 and 19 into the groove 11. Alternatively, more
than one roller, arranged one behind the other, may be used.
in a case where the body 10 is a door of a sluice gate, there may be four
elongate members 16 arranged in a rectangle on one face of the door.
Alternatively, the member 10 may be a frame of a sluice gate. The invention
may be used in other structures where a facing of one material is required on
a body formed of another material. Such facings are commonly provided in
valves.
If replacement of the elongate member 16 is necessary, removal of the
elongate member and of the element 20 from the groove can be made simple
by cutting through the elongate member and the element 20 along the centre
of the groove. The resulting pieces con then easily be removed from the
groove.
In Figure 4, there is illustrated a modification of the assembly shown in
Figure 3. Certain parts of the structure shown in Figure 4 correspond to
those of the structure herein before described with reference to Figures 1, 2
and 3. Such corresponding parts are indicated in Figure-4 by like reference
numerals with the prefix I and the preceding description is deemed to apply,
except for the differences hereinafter mentioned.
The groove formed in the body 110 is undercut a one side only. The
element 120 disposed in -this groove engages the body 110 at one lateral
margin of the groove and engages the limb 118 of the member 116.
As shown in Figure 4, the element 120 may be solid. The element may
be formed of rnetul or of a plastics material. The plastics material may be
resiliently deformable as corrlpared with the material of the booty 110 and
the material of the member 116. Alternatively, the clement 120 may be
hollow, for example generally U-shaped. In tilts case, the element may be
formed of steel.
A further modification of the structure of Figure 3 is illustrated in
Figure 5. In Figure 5, parts which correspond to those herein before described
to reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 are indicated by like reference numerals
with the prefix 2 and the preceding description is deemed to apply, except for
the differences hereinafter mentioned.
In the structure of Figure 5, the element 220 which lies between the
limbs 218 and 219 is an integral part of the body 210. The groove defined by
the body 210 is undercut along both margins.
