Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FRAMEWORK ~SSEMBLY SYSTEM
The present invention relates to a system of
COmpQnentS for assembling frameworXs, and is particularly
concerned with such a system for the assembly of switchgear
cubicle frameworks.
Framework systems of this type generally comprise
horizontal and vertical structural members, corner joints,
and normally, intermediate bracing members or side panels.
The components are themselves provided with slots,
apertures etc to facilitate construction using bolts and
the like. It is a disadvantage of existing framework
systems that they utilise a relatively large number of
different components, which are often of complex shape and
require expensive and COmpleX tooling for their
manufacture. It is cften also the case that the structural
members of existing systems have specially formed ends for
mating with corner pieces, so that their lengths cannot be
varied on-site to suit required dimensions, and frameworks
have to be dimensioned in accordance with standard
component ranges.
Many systems also require additional bracing or side
panelling in order to achieve the required rigidity, which
increases the complexity of the structure and hence its
cost and the time required for assembly. ~ variety of
differently sized nuts, bolts etc are also often required,
further complicating the assembly of the framewor~, and
some systems require special assembly tools.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a
framework system which requires a minimum number of
; different components, so as to reduce manufacturing costs
and to facilitate assembly.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a
system wherein the components may be fabricated easily
using conventional machinery or processes.
It is still a further object of the invention to
provide a system whereln the lengths of the structural
components may be easily varied.
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It is still a further object of the invention to
provide a system wherein both vertical and horizontal
structural components share a common sectional
configuration.
It is still a further object of the invention to
provide a system wherein the use of intermediate bracing or
the like is not required for assembled frameworks in normal
use.
It is still a further object of the invention to
provide a system which can be assembled using a single size
of bolt, rivet or the like throughout.
Finally, it is a further object of the invention to
provide a system wherein all ~olt-heads or other projecting
parts used in assembling the framework are located such
that adjacent frameworks may abut one another without
interference from such projecting parts.
Accordinyly, the invention provides an elongate ~ -
; structural member adaptable for use as either a horizontal
; or vertical component, a corner joint component, and a
system comprising a plurality of such members and
components, all as defined in the claims appended hereto.
~ n embodiment of the invention will now be described
by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
; Figs. 1 ~nd 2 are first and second side views of a
vertical structural component of a framework system
embodying the invention;
- Figs. 3 and 4 are first and second side views of a
horizontal structural member embodying the invention;
Fig. S is an end view of either of the components of
Figs. 1 to 4, both of which are identical in cross-section;
` Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are, respectively, plan and first and
second side views of a corner joint componen~ for use with
the components of Figs. 1 to 5;
Fig. 9 is an isometric view of the component of Figs.
6 to 8;
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Fig. 10 is a plan view of a sheet metal pressing from
which the component of Figs. 6 to 9 is formed.
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Fig. 11 is an isometric view of a typical framework
assembled fxom the components of Figs. 1 to 10;
Fig. 12 is an isometric detail view of one corner of the
framework of Fig. 11;
~ ig. 13 is a detail side view of one corner of the
framework of Fig. 11; and
Fig. 14 is a detail top view of one corner of a typical
framework, also showing nuts and bolts which secure the
components together.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings, a vertical
structural component 10 and a horizontal structural component
12 of a framework assembly system both have identical cross
sections as shown in Fig. 5. Each of the components 10 and 12
includes a partial box-section comprising first and second
side walls 14 and 16, of identical width, extending at right
angles to one another, and third and fourth shorter side walls
18 and 20, also of identical width, extending towards each
other at right angles from the outer ends of the first and
second walls 14 and 16 respectively. The walls 14 to 20 can
thus be regarded as a square box-section with one corner
removed.
The components 10 and 12 each further include first and
second elongate flanges 22 and 24, projecting outwardly at
right angles from the free ends of the shorter side walls 18
and 20 respectively, and extending along substantially the
whole length of each component 10 and 12, but terminating a
predetermined distance from either longitudinal end thereof.
Each of the flanges 22 and 2~ is provided with a series of
circular apertures 26 spaced along their lengths, the
apertures 26 all being of identical diameter, spaced from one
another by equal distances, and all being spaced by equal
distances ~rom the respective shorter side walls 18 and 20.
In the present example, the first and second side walls
14 and I6 are 25 mm wide, the third and fourth side walls 18
and 20 are }0 mm wide, the flanges 22 and 24 are 25 mm wide,
and the centres o~ the apertures are spaced from one another
by 40 m~ and ~rom the shorter side walls 18 and 20 by 15 mm~
The apertures 26 are 6.1 mm in diameter and the
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components themselves are formed from 14 SWG sheet metal
(suitably zinc coated steel). These specific dimensions
are given by way of example only and to facilitate the
detailed description of the present embodiment, and should
not be regarded as placing any limitation on the scope of
the appended claims.
The vertical and horizontal components 10 and 12
differ only with regard to the distances from their
longitudinal ends at which the flanges 22 and 24 terminate
and at which the centres of the first and last apertures
26~ an~ 26B of each flange 22 and 24 are loca~ed. In the
vertical component 10 the flanges 22 and 24 terminate
26.3 mm from its ends (ie fractionally more than the width
of the first and second side walls 14 and 16), whilst the
Corresponding distance on the horizontal component 12 is
24.2 mm (ie fractionally less than the width of the first
and second flanges 22 and 24). In the vertical component
10 the centres of the first and last apertures 26~ and 26B
are located ~0 mm from the component ends, (ie equal to the
spacing of the apertures 26) the corresponding distance on
the horizontal component 12 being 53.7 mm (ie somewhat
greater than the aperture spacing). The reasons for these
differences will become apparent from the description of an
assembled framework which follows below.
Figs. 6 to 10 illustrate a universal corner joint 30
j for use with the components 10 and 12, comprising three
sUbstantially identical faces 32, 34 and 36 arranged
mutually at right angles to one another to form a corner,
and provided with circular apertures 38 which in use are
aligned with the apertures 26 of the components 10 and 12
for assembly using bolts, rivets or the like. The faces
32, 34 and 36 each comprise a right-angled, L-shaped,
planar member, having its internal right-angle partially
filed by a triangular web portion 40. The corner joint is
easily formed from a sheet metal pressing ~2, as shown in
Fig. 10, simply by folding along the dotted lines 44 and
46. It is not necessary to weld or otherwise join the
free, mating edges 48 and 50 of the pressing 42.
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In this example, the limbs of each L-shaped surface
32, 34 and 36 are each 40 mm wide by 120 mm long, with the
outer edge of the web portion 40 extending between points
40.16 mm inwardly from the outer ends of each limb. Each
surface 32, 34 and 36 has a first aperture, 38A, 38B and
38C respectively, located in the corner thereof, with its
centre spaced 2g.84 mm from each adjacent outer edge.
further two apertures 38 are provided in each limb, located
on lines extending through the centres of the apertures
38~, 38B and 38C parallel to the outer edges of the limbs,
and centred at 40 mm intervals from the corner apertures
~corresponding to the spacing of the apertures Z6 of the
components 10 and 12).
The apertures 38~, 38B and 38C are all of 6.1 mm
diameter (equal to the diameters of apertures 26), however
aperture 38~ is larger, being 13 mm in diameter. In use,
face 32 will be the horizontal face of a corner (ie the top
face in a top corner and the bottom face in a bottom
; corner), and the larger aperture 38A accommodates a larger
bolt for attaching a lifting hook or eye (not shown) to a
top corner or ~or attaching a bottom corner to a plinth or
a wheel (not shown). It will also be seen that the
unwelded edge between faces 34 and 36 constitutes the
vertical edge of the corner joint 30 in use.
Figs. 11 to 14 illustrate the use of the co~ponents 10
and 12 and the corner joint 30 in assembling a typical
framework 52 which, as shown in Fig. 11, comprises four
vertical components I0, eight horizontal components 12, and
eight corner joints 30. The components 10 and 12 are
fastened to the corner joints 30 by means of nuts and bolts
54 and 56 (omitted from Figs. 11, 12 and 13 for the sake of
clarity), or other suitable means such as rivets or the
like, extending through the aligned apertures 26 and 38.
Since all of the apertures used for assembly are of the
same size, only a single size of bolt is required. ~s is
~ best seen in Figs. 12 and 14, the exterior faces 32, 34 and
;~ ~ 36 of the corner joint 30 seat against the interior faces
~ Of the flanges 22 and 24 of components 10 and 12.
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Figs. 12 and 13 also show the manner in which ~he ends
of components 10 and 12 co-operate at the corners of ~he
frameworX. The distances by which the flanges 22 and 24
are recessed from the ends of the components 10 and 12, as
previously discussed in relation to Figs. 1 to ~, allow the
flanges of the vertical component to extend down to the end
of the partial box-section of the horizontal component, and
the flanges of the horizontal component to extend along to
the outer edges of the vertical flanges, whilst small
clearances Dl, D2 and D3 are maintained between the
components. The dimensions previously discussed,
together with the location of the end apertures 26A, are
such that a constant 40 mm spacing between the apertures 26
is maintained around each corner of the framework 52. This
configuration also allows the vertical components 10 to
make use of the corner apertures 38~ and 38C of the corner
components 30, providing three fixing points at each end of
the vertical components 10 as compared with two for the
horizontal components. This constant spacing of the
assembly apertures is important in minimising the number of
different components, since it allows the same corner
joints 30 to be used for all corners in any framework. It
is also of importance in allowing the structural members to
be cut on-site to any required lengths ~which may be
accomplished using simple hand tools), and in the
application of the system to switchgear cubicles since it
allows switchgear equipment, busbars, wiring supports,
covers and other ancillary equipment to be mounted in a
wide variety o~ positions using the remaining apertures 25.
The configuration of the structural components 10 and
12 and the corner joint 30 also provides a very high level
of structural rigidity without the need for intermediate
bracing, thereby reducing the weight of the framework. The
present example, which is particularly intended for
switchgear appliCatiOns, allows frameworks up to 3 metres
high by 2 metres wide by 2 metres deep to be assembled
without additional bracing, although 2 metres by 1 metre by
1 metre might be a more typical size in its intended field
of application. The self-aligning nature of the corner
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joints 30 and components 10 and 12 also enables the
framework to be assembled without the need for temporary
~igs or the like.
A further important and useful feature of the system
is illustrated in Fig..14, wherein it can be seen that the
angles formed between the flanges Z2 and 24 and the side
walls 18 and 20 of components 10 and 12 create reba~es
which accommodate the heads of the bolts 54, thereby
allowing separate frameworks to abut one another without
the boltheads clashing or otherwise causing interference.
If required, panelling can be attached to the flanges,
and can e~sily be sealed to the planar faces thereof using
suitable gaskets or the like. The rebates described above
also allow such panels to be recessed from or flush with
the outer surfaces of the side walls 18 and 20 of the
partial box-section. Panels could equally be attached and
sealed to the planar outer surfaces of the side walls 18
and 20, and suitable apertures (not shown) may be formed
therein, either during manufacture or on-site, for this
purpose. These planar surfaces, together with the
recessing of the heads of the bolts 54, also allow
effective seals to be established between adjacent,
abutting framewor~s, which may also be attached to one
another using suitable bolts and spacing members to connect
together the flange portions of the respective frameworks.
~ s can be seen from the foregoing description, the
present invention provides a framework assembly system
Utilising horizontal and vertical members having a common
cross-section and whose length may easily be varied on-
site, and a single~type of corner connector, all of which
are easily fabricated from sheet metal; which e~hibits a
high degree of inherent structural rigidity; and which is
easily assembled using a single size of bolt.
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