Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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1 Qu~TT~OCC~IïO S.r.L.
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"Modular latticework s~ructure"
The object of the invention is a modular latticework
structure that consis-ts of rods forming any suitable
bidimensional or tridimensional framework, and being
mutually connected at the structure knots by means of
junction plates peripherally provided with inclined flanges
at an angle of 45, and which by their flanges being set in
mating relation, can be orthogonally joined and connected by
means of screws.
A modular latticework structure of this type is known
from the document EP-A-0 079 314. In this known embodiment,
the latticework rods have flattened ends which by means of
bolts are fastened directly to the junction plate flanges.
When it is the case of knots formed by two or more junction
`~25 plates, the flattened ends of the rods are preferably fitted
;and clamped between two cooperating flanges. By this known
construction a limit is set to the directions in which the
rods may be branched off from a knot consisting of one or
more junction plates, so that the po-tential design of the
latticework structure is also restricted. Moreover, the
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: -2-
1 fastening streng-th of the rods to a junction plate or to
junction plates often is unsufficient, while their assembly
and disassembly is uneasy and requires a relatively long
time.
The invention aims to eliminate the drawbacks as
encountered in the known modular latticework structures of
the type as described in the preamble, and consists in the
combination of the following features:
a~ each junction plate has at least one coupling hub
projecting from one face of -the plate, perpendicularly to
the plane thereof, and allowing to removably fasten at least
one la-tticework rod;
~ 15
: ~ b) the flanges in each junction plate are inclined
relative to the plane of the plate, toward the plate i~ace
~;~ from which there projects the said at least one coupling
hub;
~:;
. 20
c) the free edges of the flanges in each junction plate
are formed with a bead projecting from that side of a flange
which is turned toward one coupling hub and extending over
at least part of the flange length, whereby an enlarged
attachment molding is formed between this bead and the
corresponding opposite bead in the mating flange of another
junction plate, at the outward formed by edge the two
;-~ plates;
~o d) connecting grippers are provided, which are adapted
--3--
for removably clamping the said enlarged attachment molding
formed along the outward edge between kwo orthogonally joined
junction plates, the free end of each connecting gripper
being provided with means for removably fastening at least
one latticework rod.
According to the invention there is provided a modular
latticewor~ structurP that consists of rods forming any three
dimensional framework, and being mutually-connected at
structure knots by means of junction plates peripherally
provided with inclined flanges at an angle of 45 DEG. set in
mating relation to be orthogonally joined and connected by
means of screws, characterized by the combination of the
~ollowing features: (a) each junction plates comprises at
least one coupling hub projecting from one face of the plate,
perpendicular to a plane thereof, for removably fastening at
least one latticework rod to said junction plate; (b~ the
flanges in each junction plate are inclined relative to the
plane of the plate, toward the plate face from which there
projects the said at least one coupling hub; ~c) each of the
flangPs in each junction plate comprises a free edge formed
with a bead projecting from a side of a flange which is
turned toward a coupling hub, and extending over at least
part of a length of the flange, whereby an enlarged
attachment molding is formed between the bead and a
corresponding opposite head in a mating ~lange of another
junction plate; (d) connecting grippers removably connect the
said enlarged attachment molding formed along the outward
edge between two orthogonally joined junction plates to at
: least one latticework rod wherein said connecting gripper has
a gripper ~irst end comprising jaws for removably clamping
onto said molding, and a gripper second end comprising means
for removably fastening onto said at least one latticework
rod.
-3a-
In the latticework structure according to the invention,
from a knot consisting, for example, of two orthogonally
arranged plates, rods to be fast~ned to the coupling hubs on
the outward ~aces of these plates, can be branched off
perpendicularly to the planes in which the said plates lie,
or rods to be fastened by means of connecting grippers to the
enlarged attachment molding as above disclosed, can be
branched off at any suitable angle of inclination.
When it is the case of a knot consisting of six junction
plates so joined as to make up a cube, from aach face of the
cube at least one rod to be fastened to a coupling hub on the
reæpective junction plate, can be branched off orthogonally
to the respective face of the cube, and from each one of the
cube edges at least one rod to be fastened by means of a
conneoting gripper to the respective enlarged attachment
:: molding, can be branched off at any suitable angle of
inclination.
Preferably, in an advantageous embodiment of the
invention, the ~unction plate is formed with a plurality of
hub~ arranged in an angularly equispaced relatIon around the
centre of the plate.
ii5~3~
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1 The removable fastening of the latticework rods to the
coupling hubs in the junction plates and to the free ends of
the connecting grippers clamped on an enlarged attachment
molding, may be attained in any suitable manner. Thus, for
example, either the ends of the latticework rods or the
coupling hubs on the junction plates may be given a tubular
shape, and may be interconnected by fitti~g the said rod
ends on or into the coupling hubs.
.~
Preferably, however, according to a particularly
advantageous embodiment of the invention, both the ends of
the la-tticewo`rk rods and -the coupling hubs projecting from
the Juncti.on plates are glven a tubular shape, and the
connection ~of the rods to the hubs is made by means of
expanding linking pins which are partly fitted into the
tubular end of a rod and partly into a tubular coupling hub~
and which can be radially expanded by means of at least one
~; ; transversal opening-out screw provided~in correspondence of
~`~i- an intermediate collar on the pin.
Also the connectlng grippers may be made and operated in
any suitable manner. In an advantageous embodiment of the
invention, each connecting gripper consists of two opposing
concavely shaped jaws which are adapted for clamping with
25~ the aid of at least one clamp screw, the enlarged attachment
molding formed at the edge between two orthogonally arranged
: ~ .
junction plates, the said jaws being formed with juxtaposed
complementary linking half-pin extensions which between them
form an expanding linking pin on which the tubular end of a
latticework rod can be engaged. The said linking pin can be
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1 radially expanded by means of at least one transversal
opening-out screw acting between the lin~ing half-pin
extensions of the two jaws.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention,
in order to keep separate and make mutually independent the
clamping action on the enlarged attachment molding of the
:two connecting gripper's jaws, and the transversally
opening-out action of the juxtaposed linking half-pin
extensions of said jaws, the linking half-pin extension of
at least one connecting gripper's jaw is made as a discrete
piece and is connected with the respective ~aw with the aid
of joint-like fit-ted means allowing a small relative
movement between the jaw and its linking half-pin extension.
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Further advantageous embodiments of the invention form
the object o~ the other dependent Claims.
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: Some embodiments of the invention are shown in the
accompanying dawings, in whichi
Figures 1 and 2 are perspective views respectively
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showing one of the two opposite faces of a junction plate
adapted for modular latticework structures according to the
invention,
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~Figure 3 is a perspective view showing a knot of the
: modular latticework structure according to the invention,
which is formed by two orthogonally joined junction plates
according to Flgures 1 and 2.
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5~
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1 Flgure 4 is a perspective view showing a knot of the
modular latticework structure according to the invention,
which is formed by six junc-tion plates according to Figures
1 and 2, so joined as to make up a cube.
Figure 5 i5 a sectional view in an enlarged scale through
an edge between two junction plates in the cube-like knot
according to Figure 4, with a connecting gripper being
clamped on the enlarged attachment molding in the said edge,
and with tubular rods being connected by means of
expanding-pin joints to the coupling hubs in the two
junction plates.
.
Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a cube-like knot
~' 15 according to Figure 4, with latticework rods and beams being
, .,
connected therewith.
':
Figure 7 is an exploded side view showing the several
.
components of a connecting gripper.
Figures 8, 9 and lO are cross-sectional views of the
connecting gripper, respectively taken on lines VIII-VIII,
~ IX-IX and X-X in Figure 7.
`~ 25 Figures 11 and 12 are perspective views showing the
components of the connecting gripper according to Figures 7
`; to 10.
Figure 13 is a perspectlve view showing an expanding-pin
joint between two tubular members of the modular latticework
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l structure accordlng to the inven-tion.
Figures 14 and 15 are perspective views respectively
showing the two halves (hal~-pins) of the expanding pin
according to Figure 13.
Figure 16 is a sectional view showing how a junction
plate is fastened to a beam o~ the modular latticework
structure according to the invention.
Figure 17 is a partial sectional view taken on line
XVII-XVII in Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a view with parts in section, showing how a
15~ junction plate is mounted on base members.
~ : .
Figure 19 is a partly sectional view showing a telescopic
rod for the Iatticework structure according to the
~ ~ .
invention;
Figure 20 is a longitudinal sectional view in an enlarged
scale showing one end of the telescopic rod according to
Figure 19, which is connected with a tubular member of the
latticework structure.
2~ ~
Referring to the drawings, the invention provides a
modular latticework structure mainly consis-ting of rods 1,
1' and junctlon plates 2. The rods 1, 1' may be separate
simple rods, as shown in F`igure 5 and in the left-hand side
of Figure 6, and aiso in Flgu~es 16 and l9, or they may ùe
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1 transversely interconnected in such a manner that bearns are
formed, which consis-t each of two or more parallel rods 1,
as shown in the right-hand side of Figure 6.
Each junction plate 2 preferably is square in shape, and
is formed with a wide circular opening 3 in its centre,
which is useful for manually holding the said plate 2. From
: one face tthat will be called "front face" hereinafter) of
the junction plate 2 there project four tubular coupling
hubs 4 arranged in an angularly equispaced relation around
the central opening 3, and preferably loca-ted in the four
: corner zones of plate 2. Each tubular coupling hub 4 is
: substantially cylindrical, and stands at right angles to the
plane of the junction plate 2, and is connected to the front
face of said plate through a truncated cone-shaped base
portion 104. At the interior of the said truncated
~ .
cone-shaped base portion 104, each coupling hub 4 is formed
. with a cylindrical ~tubular extension 304 substantlally
, ~
:~ : reaching to the back face of plate 2, which is opposite to
the face from which the hub 4 projects, as it clearly
appears particularly from Figures 5, 16 and 1~.
:: The bore 204 in each coupling hub 4 is a cylindrical
through~bore which continues also through the internal
26 extension 304 of said hub 4.
: ~ The junction plate 2 is peripherally formed at its four
: sides with flanges 5 which are inclined by 45 toward the
~: front Pace of plate 2, i.e., toward the face from which the
coupling hubs 4 project. Each flange 5 is provided on its
.
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- 9 -
1 side turned toward the front face of plate 2, i.e., toward
the coupling hubs 4, with a projecting, substantially
semi-cylindrical bead 6 formed in correspondence of the
flange free edge, and which may even be a hollow bead.
Additionally, each flange ~ has one or more slots 7 which
are suitably provided lengthwise of the respective side of a
junction plate 2. These slots 7 may e~tend also in
correspondence of the bead 6.
: .Two ~unc-tion plates can be orthogonally joined each other
by one of their sides, by setting the respective flanges 5
in mating relation, as shown particularly in Figures 3 and
5. These two junction plates are fastened to each other by
means of screws. To this end, on the rear face of each
unction plate 2 a boss 8 with a bore 108 therein is
provided at each side of the plate, the said bore 108
becomlng wider and forming a countersink 208 on the front
-~ face of plate 2, as it appears particularly from Figures 1,
2, 3, 5 and 17. Beside the said boss 8, an ear 9 with a
threaded bore therein is provided on the back face of plate
2, in a position a little away from the respective edge of
the junction plate 2.
' .
The pairs formed by a boss 8 and an ear 9 are so arranged
:~ :
and oriented that when two ~unction plates 2 are
orthogonally joined to each other, the ear 9 of the one
plate 2 is placed upon the boss 8 of the o-ther plate, as it
~;particularly appears from Figures 3 and 5~ The two junction
plates 2 can be than removably fastened to each other by
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-10--
1 means of screws 10 which from the outward face of each plate
2 are each threaded through the bore 108 in the respective
boss 8, and are screwed down into the threaded bore in the
ear 9 of the other plate 2, as it clearly appears
particularly from Figure 5~ The head of each screw 10 is
accomodated and embedded in the counersink 208`of the bore
108 in boss 8.
.. . .
On the back face of a junction plate 2, projecting
abutment members 11 are provided along each side of said
plate, and are so arranged that when two junction plates 2
are orthogonally ~oined to each other, the projecting
abutment members 11 in.the one plate 2 will be in an offset
relation with the projecting abutment members 11 in the
other plate 2, and will cooperate with the back planar face
. thereof. The projecting abutmént members ll thus afford an
easy and proper alignment and positioning of the two
: orthogonally joined junCtiQn plates 2 with respect to each
~: other, and even bring about, along with the bosses 8 and the
,
ears 9, an interlocking effect between the said plates 2.
When two junction plates 2 are orthogonally ~oined to
each other as disclosed above, the semi-cylindrical beads 6
provided at the free.edge of the flanges 5 set in mating
relation, become mu-tually integrated, so that they ~orm a
substantially cylindrical, may be hollow, enIarged
attachment molding 12. This cylindrical attachment molding
12 extends along the outward edge formed by two orthogonally
~oined ~unction plates 2, and is connected to said plates by
~o the two mating~ flanges 5, with their slots 7 being in a
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1 coincidlng relation, as shown particu:Larly in Figures 4, 5
and 6.
The above disclosed junction plates 2 according to the
;5 invention, are preferably made of a light alloy,
particularl~ die-cast aluminum.
:, .
:~ For constructing a modular latticework structure
according to the invention, simple ~unction plates 2 can be
used, as it wlll be disclosed later on by referring to
Figures 16 to 18t or knots can be used, consisting of two or
more iunction plates 2, whi.ch are joined to each other and
are fastened as stated above. A knot formed hy two
orthogonally joined junction plates 2 is shown in Figure 3,
~ 15 while Figures 4 and 6 show a knot consisting of six junction
:~. . plates 2 which are so jo.ined as to make up a cube.
It ls apparent that knots consisting of three, four, or
ive junction plates, can be also made.
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:~ ~ 20
Erom each one of these knots, just as from only one
.~ ~junction plate 2 as well, one or more rods 1 to be each
; ~ removably fastened directly to a coupling hub 4, can be
: branched.off and oriented orthogonally to the junction plate
or plates 2. For thls purpose 9 at least the ends of rods 1
~: are given a tubular shape, and expanding linking pins 13 are
:~ provided, which are formed with a projecting median collar
; . , :
~ r~ I3i and consist each of.two complementary half pins 113 and
~ :
~:: 213, as shown partlcularly in Figures 5, and 13 to 16. Each
linking pin 13 can be expanded, i.e. radially opened out, by
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': ' ' " '
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1 means of an opening~out screw 14 which in correspondence of
the collar 13' is screwed into a threaded bore 15 provided
in one of the half-pins (the 113), and is pressed against
the other half-pin 213. In order to h~ve a rod 1 connected
to a coupling hub 4 in a junction plate Z, the linking pin
13 in not expanded condition is fitted into the tubular
coupling hub 4 as far as its collar 13' and the rod 1 is
. engaged on the remaining half of the expanding pin 13 as far
as the collar thereof, whereupon the linking pin 13 is
expanded, i.e. radially opened out, by screwing down the
openi.ng-out screw 14 until the linking pin 13 becomes firmly
blocked both in the coupling hub 4 and in the rod 1.
The outer cylindrical surface of the linking pin 13 may
be smooth. Also the two facing surfaces of the two half-pins
. . 113, 213 may be planar and smooth.
~ ' ' .
However, according to a particularly advantageous
embodiment of the invention, the expanding linking pin 13
may be forrned in each of its sections at either sides of the
median collar 13', with an annular groove 16 associated with
a matching inwardly pro~ecting annular membsr 17 provided at
the interior of a tubular coupling hub 4 and the tubular end
of rod 1. Initially, when the not yet expanded linking pin
13 still is of a reduced diameter, this pin can be easily
fitted into a coupling hub 4 and into the end of rod 1, by
causing its external annular grooves 16 to coincide with the
inwardly projecting annular members 17 in hub 4 and in rod
1. Thereafter, when the linking pin 13 has been expanded by
rneans of an opening-out screw 14, the projecting annular
-13-
1 mernbers 17 in hub 4 and in rod 1 beco~e engaged in the
respective external annular grooves 16 in the linking pin
13. Thus, the expanding linking pin 13 is interlockingly
connected with the rod 1 and the coupling hub 4, whereby a
~unction is provided therebetween which affords a higher
resistance to any axial forces.
,
The projecting annular members 17 in the tubular hub 4
and/or in the tubular rod 1 may be discontinuous and/or
incomplete, i.e., they may extend over an angle smaller than
360, which facilitates their~ manufacturing. Thus, for
example, each inwardly projecting annular member 17 may be
formed by two diametrically opposite sectors, extending each
over an angle smaller than 180 9 which are obtained by
crushing and deforming the tubular hub 4 or the tubular end
of rod 1 with suitable pliers, or the like, as shown in the
right-hand side of Figure 5.
Preferably, the facing inner surfaces of the two half
.~, 20 pins 113, 213 composing an expanding linking pin 13, are
provided with complementary projections and recesses which
are interengaged so as to obtain a positive interlocking
between~ the ~two half-pins 113, 213 whereby any relative
axial and transversal displacement between the two half-pins
113, 213 is prevented~
.
~`~ For this purpose, in the embodiment shown in Figures 14
~` and 15, the inner surface of the half-pin 113 which is
.
turned toward the other half-pin 213, is provided with a
0
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-14-
1 longitudinal rib 18 having an enlarged cylindrical portion
in correspondence of the bore 15 and having longitudinal
grooves 19 formed at both sides of said rib 18. Both the rib
18 and the grooves 19 at the sides of this rib, terminate at
- ~ a dlstance from the ends of the half-pin 113.
.,5.1: : ,
. . .
The inner surface of the other half-pin 213, which is
t turned toward the half-pin 113, . is formed with a
.j longitudinal, intermediately widened groove 20 in which the
~;,. 10 rib 18 of the half-pin 113 is engaged. At both sicles of the
. j ,
.~ groove 20, the inner surface of the half-pin 213 is formed
with two longitudinal ribs 21 which are engaged in the two
.i grooves 19 of.the other half-pin 213. Also the grooves 20
and the ribs 21 of the half-pin 213 terminate at a distance
: . .
~ 15 from the ends of said half-pin 213.
.~ . .
From each knot consisting of two or more orthogonally
joined junction plates 2, one or more rods 1 can be also
branched off at any suitable angle of inclination.
For this purpose, the invention provides connecting
. grippers 22 which are capable to clamp by one of thei.r ends
~,............. the cylindrical attachment molding 12 formed at the outward
edge between two junction plates 2, the other end of said
grippers being so made as~to permit a removable fastening of
.-~`. a latticework rod 1, In one preferred embodiment of the
. invention, each ~connecting gripper 22 consists of two
~,s concavely shaped jaws 122 and 222 which are adapted for
. ~ ~ : , ...................... . .
enclosing therebetween the said cylindrical attachment
. ~o molding 12 and for being tightly clamped thereon by means of
:' :
D 3~:35~ ~3
-15-
l at least one clamp screw 23 which is passed through a bore
24 provided in the shank 122' of the one jaw 122~ and is
screwed in a threaded bore 224 provided in the shank 222' of
the o-ther jaw 222, as shown particularly in Figures 5 and 8.
iiii 5 The head of screw 23 is preferably received in a matching
~ countersink 124 of bore 24. The shank 122' of the jaw 122 is
;s- made of one piece with a linking half-pin extension ~25,
'~A which is like or similar to one of the half-pins 113, 213 of
~"~ an expanding linking pin 13 of the type~as stated above.
- . , .
Associated with this linking half-pin extension 125 of the
-~ shank 122' of jaw 122 is a linking complementary half-pin
,' 225 which instead of being made of one piece with the shank
: 222', of the respective ~aw 222t is made as a separate piece
` and has ~a rearward extension 225' whereby it is
interlockingly connected in a slightly movable manner with
~ci the shank 222' of said jaw 222.
;-.' . , '
More particularly, as it clearly appears in Figure 5I the
` rearward extension 225' of the half-pin 225, which is the
prolongation of the shank 222' of the jaw 222, ends with a
hook portion 225" to be engaged with a hook portion 222" at
~;i the end of the shank 222' of the jaw 222. The engagement
~"?~ between the two hook portions 222" and 225" gives rise to a
x~ sort of limited articulation between the shank 222' of the
,, .
jaw 222 and the half-pin 225 which is associated therewith.
' ` ' Threaded transversely through the shank 122' of the jaw 122,
which is integral with the linking half-pin 125, is an
"~ , . .
opening-out screw 26 which is screwed and pressed against
the rearward extension 225' of the linking half-pin 225
?:~ ~0 associated with the shank 222' of the other ~aw 222.
-16-
1 The two hal~-pins 125, 225 are set in a juxtaposed
'~ relation, and are substantially semi-cylindrical in shape,
~: so that they ~orm between them an expanding cylindrical
linking pin 25 which is similar to the above-disclosed
~iJ~l . 5 expanding linking pin 13, but is not self-skanding, and
~:~ . forms the free end of a connecting gripper. The rod 1 to be
:-~'; connected with the connecting gripper 22 is engaged by its
~ tubuiar end on the said linking pin 25 and is removably
:~!/ fastened thereto when the linking pin 25 has been expanded,
- lO- i.e.j radially opened out by means of the opening-out screw
! 26.
:.~ , . . .
~; Thanks to the half-pin 25 being allowed a limited
~ .
.. displacemen-t relative to the ass~ciated jaw 222, which is
: 15 obtained by making the half-pin 225 separately from the ~aw
:-; . 222 and by causing this hal~-pin and this jaw to be mutually
engaged, it is possible to.act separately on the ~aws 122,
j~ 222 and on the linking half-pin 25, without these jaws and
,.~h this pin being reciprocally affected, so as to clamp the
.~ 20 jaws 122, 222 on~the attachment molding 12 by means o~ the
. clamping screw 24, and as to expand the linking pin 25 by
means of the opening-out screw 26, notwithstanding that the
expanding linking pin 25 forms an int~gral part of the
: . . : - -
connecting gripper 22. ~ . .
;. 25
. . :
~- Of course, also the expanding linking pin 25 of the
~: connecting gripper 22 may be provided with an external
.. . .
annular groo~e 16 in which an inwardly projecting annular
member 17 :at the interior of rod 1 is engaged in the
,~ .
~ ~0 expanded condition of said pin 25, similarly to what has
-17-
'~
1 been disclosed abo~e in connection with the linking pin 13.
:
The facing inner surfaces of the shanks 122' and 222' of
the two jaws 122 and 222 of the connecting gripper 22 and/or
the corresponding inner surfaces of the half-pins 125 and
225, 225' of the expanding linking pin 25 o~ said gripper,
:~ may be planar and smooth or, similarly to the linking pin
13, they may be provided with complementary projections and
recesses which are interlockingly fitted the one in the
other, and which substantially prevent any relative axial or
transversal displacement of the two jaws 122 and 222.
For this purpose, in -the embodiment shown in Figures 7 to
12, the sin~gle-piece half of a gripper 22, which comprises
t~le jaw 122, its shank 122' and the linking half-pin 125, is
formed with a longitudinal median groove 30 ~rhich is
-~ : provided on both sl~des with a respective longitudinal rib
31.
The other half in two pieces of a gripper 22, which
comprises the jaw 222 and its shank 222', and also the
:.,~ .
: ~ linking half-pin 225 and its rearward extension 225' is
~ formed with a longi:tudinal median rib 28 and with a
. .
: respective:longitudinal groove 29 at both sides thereof.
When the gripper 22 is in assembled condition, the rib 28 on
the one half of the gripper is *itted in the groove 30 in
~:~: the other half of the gripper, while the two ribs 31 are
engaged in the grooves~ 29. ~loreover, the two jaws 122, 222
~;
: are provided with an internal transverse toothing 32, as
shown particularly in Figures 11 and 12.
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`~:
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1 The slots 7 in the flanges 5 of the junction plates 2 are
each of.such a wid-th that is at least a little greater than
the width of the jaws 122, 222 of a connecting gripper 22.
: Therefore, when a connecting gripper 22 is applied in
6 correspondence of the coinciding slots 7 in the two mating
flanges 5, to the cylindrical a-ttachment molding 12, then
the gripper 22 can be swung about the cylindrical attachment
molding 12 and can be caused to .assume any suitable
orientation over an angle of at least 90, since its jaws
122, 222 get into the slots 7.
ln Figures 16 and 17 there is shown how a J~mction plate
2 can be applied to two rods 1 of a latticework beam formed
either by four or by two parallel rods 1, of the type as
: 15 shown in Figure 6. For this purpose, around the central
opening 3 in each junction plate -2, at least two
diametrically opposite through bores 33 are provided in this
:. plate, which through respective slots:extending from their
: , .
: ~ cut rim, are set in communication with the said central
` 20 opening 3.
.
~ . Mounted on the back face of the junction plate 2 are four
- bearing spacer feet 34 whlch are. each engaged in the rear
end of the internal extension 304 of a tubular coupling hub
4 and in the surrounding cavity in the respective truncated
cone-shaped base portion 104, and are each forrned with a
~:~ cylindrical sector groove in their op~osite free end. By
means of these inserted spacer feet 34, the ~unction plate 2
is caused to bear against the two rods 1 of the latticework
~o beam, and is pressed against, and fastened to these rods 1
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--19--
1 by means of two anchoring hooks 35 which are respectively
engaged on one of the said rods 1. Each hook 35 has a
threaded shank 135 which is screwed into a threaded bushing
36 rotatably received in one of the bores 33. This bushing
36 is formed with a head 136 bearing against the front face
of the junction plate 2. When the threaded bushings 36 are
turned by their heads 136 so as to screw and draw down the
respective hooks 35, through the bearing spacer feet 34 the
junction plate 2 is pressed against, and clamped on the.two
.10 rods 1 of the latticework beam.
The modular latticework structure according to the
invention, furthermore comprises Y-shaped connection members
37 consisti,ng of a sleeve 38 to which two other spaced apart
,15 sleeves 39 which are parallel to each other and to the
sleeve 38, are fixedly connected by means of two diverging
limbs 40, as shown in Figure 6. This Y-shaped connection
'`~member 37 can be used in a variety of ways in a modular
latticework structure according to the invention. Thus, as a
possible application of the Y-shaped connection member 37,
. in the left-hand side of Figure 6 there is shown merely by'
way of an example, the fastening of an inclined rod l' of
, the latticework structure to a cylindrical attachment
.~, . .
.: . molding 12 in a latticework knot, by means of two connecting
~:: 25 grippers 22, In this instance, the Y-shaped connection
member 37 is'attached by means of its two sleeves 39 to the
~:~; . ends:in form of expanding linking-pins 25 of two connecting
grippers 22 which clamp the attachment molding 12 in
correspondence o* the slots 7, while the rod 1' is attached
. . . .
~0 to the third sleeve 38 of the Y-shaped connection member 37
:~ .
~ .
: ~ .
-20-
1 by means of an expanding linking pin 13, of which only the
collar 13' is visible. In the right-hand upper side of
Figure 6 a further application o~ the said connection member
is shown, where a latticework beam consisting of four
connected parallel rods 1, is fastened to a cylindrical
~: . attachment molding 12 in a latticework knot by means of two
connecting grippers 22 which clamp the said molding, and by
means of two Y-shaped connection members 37 ~hich by their
sleeves 38 are engaged on, and fastened to the ends in form
of linking pins 25 of the grippers 22, while the four rods 1
of the beam are attached to the opposite sleeves 39 of said
members 37, by means of expanding linking pins 13, of which
only the collars 13' are visible.
'
Besides the simple rods 1, the modular latticework
. structure according to the invention may also comprise
telescopic rods li which are particularly adapted for
forming the inclined or diagonal rods of a latticework. A
telescopic rod 1' consists of two tubular members 101' and
:20 201' which are slidably telescoped the one within the other,
;; . and which are lockable to each other at the required length
~ of a telescopic rod 1', by means of a transversal pin 41
: fitted into coinciding bores in the two tubular members
: 101', 201', as shown particularly in Figures 19 and 20.
26 Apart from such a relatively rough ad~ustment in length of a
telescopic rod 1', a closer and even micrometric ad~ustment
of said rod length may be attained by providing at least one
end of the telescopic rod 1' with a screw-adjustable spacer
:device S0.
'
.
-
-21-
1 Shown in Figure 20 is one preferred embodiment of -the
said screw-adjustable spacer device 50, which may be used
also ~or a number of other purposes in the modular
latticework structure according to the invention. This
adjustable spacer device 50 consists of a truncated
cone-shaped base member 43 integral with a threaded bushing
42 which is provided at the interior of the base member 43,
co-axially thereto.
The threaded bushi~g 42 has one end opening on the small
end of the truncated cone~shaped base member 43, and has its
opposite end extending substantially up to be flush with the
large end of said base member 43, where the threaded bushing
42 is provided with a disc 142 having a central opening
-~ 15 therein
Screwed in the open end of the threaded bushing 42 is a
sleeve 44 which is provided with an- external thread and
projects axially from the small ,end of the truncated
cone-shaped base member 43. The outward end 144 of the said
threaded sleeve 44 is given a polygonal shape, such as to be
engaged by a wrench. Also the corresponding small end.l43 of
; the truncated cone-shaped base member. 43 is given a
polygonal shape, so as to facilitate the screwing down and
the screwin~ out of the threaded sleeve 44.
For adjusting the length of a telescopic rod 1', the
-` truncaked cone-shaped base member 43 is applied to one end
~, ~ of said telescopic rod 1', for example, by engaging the
~0 large end of the base.member 43 in or on the tubular
.~ ' ,' '
.
-22-
l telescopic rod end, as shown in ~igure 20. The length of rod
1' is changed and adjusted by more or less screwing down or
ou-t the threaded sleeve 44~ thus causing it -to more or less
project out from the respective rod end. The connection of
this end Or a telescopic rod 1' with a tubular coupling hub
4 in a junction pla-te 2 is made by means of an expanding
linking pin 13 which is inserted into the sleeve 44, as
shown in Figure 20. In a similar manner, a telescopic rod 1'
can be coupled with a connecting gripper 22 by fi-tting the
end in form of an expanding linking pin 25 of said gripper
: into the sleeve 44.
~ f course, the above-disclosed screw-adjustable spacer
device 50 can be also applied to at least one end of a
normal~ i.e;, not telescopic rod 1..
: ~ :
The above disclosed screw-adJustable device 50 can be
also used, for example, for forming a base member for
- supporting a junction plate 2 arranged sùbstantially
horizontally wlth respect to the floor 46 or to any like
support, as shown in Figure 18. In this instance, the
horizontal junction plate 2 has its front face turned
~: downwardly, and an adjusting device 50 is arranged
co-axially to each one of the coùpling hubs 4 of said plate,
so as to have its truncated cone-shaped base member 43
resting on the floor 46, and being possibly secured thereto.
~or this latter purpose, any suitable anchoring means may
be used, such as a known expandi.ng plug 47 which is fitted
into a hole 49 in the floor 46, with its screw 48 being
: `
~ .
-23-
l passed through the bore 242 in the disc 142 of the threaded
bushing 42. The head 148 of said screw 48 bears on -the disc
142 of the threaded bushing 42 which is integral with the
base member 43, and is accessible th:rough the open end of
the said bushing 42 or through the sleeve 44 which is
screwed therein. Once the four adjustable spacer devices 50
have.been secured as above disclosed to the floor 46, the
four coupling hubs 4 in the horizontal junction plate 2 are
fastened by means of expanding linking pins 13 to the
sleeves 44 of the said devices 50, as shown in Figure 18.
The horizontal junction plate 2 being thus supported and
anchored to the floor 45, may form an integral part of any
knot consisting of two to six junction plates 2, as above
disclosed.
~:~ 20
:
~:. 25
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~: '
~ ~0
;
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