Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Support Structure for Elevated Floor Assembly
Introduction
The present invention relates to a support structure for an elevated floor
assembly.
Such support structures generally comprise a number of pedestals, each
including a column, a supporting head fixed to the upper end of the column, so
as to be capable of supporting the floor panels of the elevated floor
assembly,
and a base plate fixed to the lower end of the column for providing a support
platform for the pedestal resting on the base floor. The length of the column
is
generally adjustable, so that the height of the pedestal can be adjusted. In
order
to be capable of supporting heavy floor loads, all the supporting parts of the
pedestal are generally made of metal, most often steel. For increased rigidity
and strength, such support structures generally further comprise panel
stringers
coupled between adjacent pedestals to form a generally square grid when
viewed from above. Floor panels normally rest on the panel stingers and form
the elevated floor.
Such a support structure for an elevated floor assembly is e.g. disclosed in
US 4,277,923, wherein the structure comprises a plurality of pedestals and
panel stringers coupled between adjacent pedestals. Each pedestal has a
column with a supporting head on an upper end of the column and a base plate
on the lower end of the column. The supporting head comprises radially
protruding supporting arms for connecting panel stringers thereto. Each panel
stringer has a generally inverted U-shaped cross-section with two generally
parallel side portions and an interconnecting portion, wherein the
interconnecting portion rests on the radially protruding supporting arm. In
order
to prevent the panel stringers from moving with respect to the supporting
head,
self-tapping screws are driven through the panel stringers and the supporting
head. This constitutes a rather cumbersome and time-consuming task.
Furthermore, the rigidity of the support structure is not adequate.
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Object of the invention
It is an object of the present invention is to provide an improved support
structure for an elevated floor assembly, wherein a rigid support structure
can
be quickly erected.
General description of the invention
In order to overcome the abovementioned problems, the present invention
proposes a support structure for an elevated floor assembly comprising a
plurality of pedestals and panel stringers coupled between adjacent pedestals,
each pedestal having a column with a supporting head on an upper end of the
column and a base plate on the lower end of the column, the supporting head
having radially protruding supporting arms for connecting the panel stringers
thereto, and each panel stringer having a generally inverted U-shaped cross-
section with two generally parallel side portions and an interconnecting
portion,
wherein the interconnecting portion rests on the radially protruding
supporting
arm of the supporting head of the pedestal. According to an important aspect
of
the invention, at an end portion of the panel stringer, at least one of the
side
portions comprises, on its inner surface, a cavity proximate the
interconnecting
portion and a guide leading from an edge of the side portion remote from the
interconnecting portion to the cavity, and the supporting arm comprises at
least
one lateral protrusion configured to be received in the cavities when the
panel
stringer is connected to the supporting arm of the pedestal. In order to
couple a
panel stringer to a pedestal, the guide of the side portion of the panel
stinger is
aligned with the protrusion of the supporting arm of the pedestal. The panel
stinger is then pushed downwards onto the supporting arm of the pedestal. Due
to the guide, the protrusion is thereby led through the guide into the cavity.
The
protrusion and cavity guarantees a precise and correct position of the panel
stringer with respect to the pedestal, thereby obtaining an improved support
structure for an elevated floor assembly. Once the protrusion is arranged in
the
cavity, the panel stringer is prevented from sliding on the supporting arm,
thereby eliminating the necessity of driving a screw through panel stringer
and
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supporting arm. The support structure can hence be more easily and more
quickly erected, which has a positive effect on labour costs. Preferably, both
side portions comprise a cavity and a guide and the supporting arm comprises
two protrusions cooperating with the two cavities.
The cavities are preferably dimensioned so as to securely receive the
protrusions therein. The secure fit achieved thereby ensures that the panel
stringer cannot accidentally be detached from the supporting arm of the
pedestal.
The cavities and protrusions are advantageously arranged with slight play
therebetween, so as to permit adaptation of the support structure to minor
movement of the base floor.
The guides advantageously have a cross-section narrowing in direction of
the cavities. This allows easy and fast alignment of the protrusions with the
grooves, through which the protrusions are automatically led to the cavities.
The cross-section of the guides, in proximity to said cavities, is preferably
slightly smaller than the cross-section of said protrusions. The latter must
hence
be forced through the narrower portions of the guides in order to reach the
cavities. This means that, once the protrusions are received in the cavities,
a
secure connection is achieved. The protrusions cannot easily escape from the
cavities unless sufficient force is applied in order to push the protrusions
through the narrower portions of the guides. Accidental uncoupling of the
panel
stringers from the supporting arms is thereby prevented and an improved
support structure is achieved.
The protrusions can e.g. be rounded for easier and faster connection of
the panel stringer to the supporting arm.
According to one embodiment, the supporting head of the pedestal has
four supporting arms arranged at right angles to each other. The supporting
arms can have a panel stringer coupled thereto, thereby forming a rectangular
grid on which the floor panels of the elevated floor assembly can rest.
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According to a preferred embodiment, the supporting head of the pedestal
has four main supporting arms arranged at right angles to each other and four
auxiliary supporting arms arranged at right angles to each other and at 45
with
respect to the main supporting arms. The main supporting arms can have a
panel stringer coupled thereto, thereby forming a square grid on which the
floor
panels of the elevated floor assembly can rest. Due to the auxiliary
supporting
arms, further panel stringers can be arranged diagonally through the squares
of
the grid, thereby providing further support to the floor panels. At the edges
of
the elevated floor, stringer members are often shortened onsite to
accommodate narrower floor panels. By designing the auxiliary supporting arms
without lateral protrusions, a cut end of the stringer member, i.e. an end of
the
stringer member without corresponding cavities, can be connected to the
auxiliary supporting arm. This has the advantage that no other pedestals have
to be provided for use at the edges of the elevated floor. Rather, the same
pedestals can simply be turned by about 45 degrees and used to support
shortened stringer members and ploor panels.
The auxiliary supporting arms are preferably longer than the main
supporting arms. This allows the panel stringers coupled to the main
supporting
arms to be coupled as close as possible to the centre of the pedestal. The
closer the coupling is made to the centre of the supporting head, the more
stable the support structure becomes. When seen from above, the supporting
head is preferably generally square.
Furthermore, the supporting arms of the pedestals and the interconnecting
portion of the panel stringers can comprise holes, the holes being arranged so
as to be in alignment when the panel stringer is coupled to the pedestal. If
desired, the coupling between panel stringer and pedestal can then be
complemented by additional fixing means such as e.g. screws, nails or rivets
through the bores.
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Detailed description with respect to the pgures
The present invention will be more apparent from the following description
of a not limiting embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, wherein
Fig.1 is a side view of a pedestal and an end portion of a panel stringer of
a support structure for an elevated floor assembly;
5 Fig.2 is a schematic top view of a supporting head of a pedestal
according to the present invention; and
Fig.3 is a schematic perspective view of an end portion of a panel stinger
according to the present invention;
Fig.1 shows a pedestal 10, which is mounted on a base floor 12 to form a
support structure together with panel stringers 14, only one of which is
partially
shown. The pedestal 10 comprises a column, which is globally identified with
reference number 16, a supporting head 17 fixed to the upper end of the
column 16, and a base plate 18 fixed to the lower end of the column 16. The
column 16 consists of a threaded rod 20, a bearing nut 22 screwed on the
threaded rod 20 and a hollow support tube 24. The lower end of the support
tube 24 is placed over the upper end of the threaded rod 20 and supported
thereon by the bearing nut 22. It follows that the support tube 24 can be
raised
or lowered by screwing the bearing nut 22 on the threaded rod 20, so that the
height of the pedestal 10 can be freely adjusted. The upper end of the support
tube 24 is connected to the supporting head 17. The latter includes normally
four or eight supporting arms to which the panel stringers 14 are coupled. On
Figure 1 only two supporting arms 26, 26' are seen. The floor panels, which
rest
on the panel stringers 14, are not shown on Figure 1.
A top view of a supporting head 17 of a pedestal 10 is schematically
shown in Fig.2. The shown supporting head 17 comprises four main supporting
arms 26, 26', 26", 26"' arranged at right angles to each other and four
auxiliary
supporting arms 28, 28', 28", 28"' arranged at right angles to each other and
at
45 with respect to the main supporting arms 26, 26', 26", 26"'. By coupling
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panel stringers 14 to the main supporting arms 26, a square grid is formed, on
which floor panels of the elevated floor assembly can rest. Further panel
stringers can be coupled to the auxiliary supporting arms 28 and diagonally
arranged through the squares of the grid. This allows providing further
support
for the floor panels. Only one 26 of the main supporting arms 26, 26', 26",
26"'
will now be described in more detail.
The supporting arm 26 extends radially outwards, from the centre of the
supporting head 17 and laterally comprises two generally rounded protrusions
30, 30'. The shape and size of the protrusions 30, 30' is adapted to cooperate
with two cavities arranged in the panel stringer as will be described below.
The
supporting arm 26 can further comprise a hole 32 adapted to cooperate with a
hole arranged in the panel stringer as will also be described below.
As can be seen on Fig.2, the supporting head 17 is preferably generally
square when seen from above. The auxiliary supporting arms 28, 28', 28", 28"'
are longer than the main supporting arms 26, 26', 26", 26"'. This allows the
panel stringers coupled to the main supporting arms to be coupled as close as
possible to the axis of the pedestal, thereby achieving a more stable support
structure. It can also be seen on Fig.2 that the auxiliary supporting arms 28,
28',
28", 28"' are not provided with protrusions. It is however not excluded to
provide all eight supporting arms with protrusions.
A simplified perspective view of an end portion of a panel stringer 14 is
shown in Fig.3. The panel stringer 14 has a generally inverted U-shaped cross-
section and comprises two generally parallel side portions 34, 34' and an
interconnecting portion 36. The corners 38, 38' of the side portions remote
from
the interconnecting portion 36 are preferably bevelled in order to facilitate
the
coupling of the panel stringer 14 to the supporting head 17 of the pedestal
10.
The side portions 34, 34' of the panel stringer 14 further comprise
indentations on the inner surfaces 40, 40' of the respective side portions 34,
34'.
The indentations are such as to form cavities 42, 42' and guides 44, 44'
leading
from the bevelled corners 38, 38' of the side portions 34, 34' to the cavities
42,
42'.
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The cavities 42, 42' are dimensioned so as to receive the protrusions 30,
30' of the supporting arm 26. Preferably, the cavities 42, 42' are dimensioned
so
as to securely receive the protrusions 30, 30' therein, so that a secure fit
between panel stringer and pedestal can be achieved. This ensures that the
panel stringer cannot be accidentally detached from the supporting arm of the
pedestal. The cavities 42, 42' and protrusions 30, 30' are further arranged
with
slight play therebetween, so as to permit adaptation of the support structure
to
minor movement of the base floor. The guides 44, 44' have a cross-section
narrowing in direction of the cavities 42, 42'. The cross-section of the
guides 44,
44' at the bevelled corners 38, 38' is bigger than that of the protrusions 30,
30',
thereby allowing easy engagement of the protrusions 30, 30' in the guides 44,
44'. Once the protrusions 30, 30' are engaged in the guides 44, 44', the panel
stringer 14 is pushed down onto the supporting arm 26 of the pedestal 10. The
protrusions 30, 30' are thereby guided towards the cavities 42, 42'.
The cross-section of the guides 44, 44' near the cavities 42, 42' is slightly
smaller than that of the protrusions 30, 30'. This means that the protrusions
30,
30' have to be forced through the guides 44, 44' in order to reach the
cavities
42, 42'. This however also means that once the protrusions 30, 30' have
reached the cavities 42, 42', they cannot easily escape therefrom. Accidental
uncoupling of the panel stringers 14 from the pedestals 10 is thereby
prevented.
Due to the protrusions 30, 30' and the cavities 42, 42', the panel stringers
14 are prevented from sliding on the supporting arms 26 and are always
positioned correctly with respect to the pedestal. Correct coupling of the
panel
stringers 14 to the pedestals 10 is therefore always ensured and the correct
distance between adjacent pedestals is also respected.
The interconnecting portion 36 of the panel stringer 14 further comprises a
hole 46 arranged so as to cooperate with the hole 32 of the supporting arm 26
when the panel stringer 14 is coupled to the supporting head 17 of the
pedestal
17. The coupling between panel stringer 14 and pedestal 10 can then, if
desired, be complemented by additional fixing means such as e.g. screws, nails
or rivets through the bores 32, 46.
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It will be understood that, in order to simplify the figures, the side
portions
and the interconnecting portion of the panel stinger shown in the present
application are substantially flat. Generally however they comprise
longitudinal
reinforcing ribs to confer further strength to the panel stinger. Also, the
supporting arms 26, 28 of the supporting head 17 are then generally shaped so
as to correspond to the shape of the interconnecting portion of the panel
stinger.
