Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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HSS CONNECTOR WITH SWAGED INTERFACE
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S.
Provisional Pat. App. Ser. No. 62/375,759 filed October 28, 2016, the contents
of which
are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The field of the disclosure relates generally to connectors with
swaged interfaces and, more particularly, to a connector with a swaged
interface for joining
together tubular support members in a building frame.
[0003] Many known building structures have a frame that includes a
plurality of beams and a plurality of columns. When erecting a taller (e.g.,
multistory)
building, it can be difficult to transport full-length columns to the building
site, and it is
common to instead transport each column in segments that are ultimately welded
together
at the building site. However, it can be time consuming and costly to weld
column
segments together at a building site.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION
[0004] In one aspect, a connector for a structural column is provided. The
connector includes a male element of a first column segment. The male element
includes a
male outer surface and a plurality of first fastener apertures. The connector
also includes a
female element of a second column segment. The female element includes a
female inner
surface and a plurality of second fastener apertures. At least one of the
female element and
the male element is swaged such that the female inner surface of the female
element is sized
to receive the male outer surface of the male element such that each of the
first fastener
apertures aligns with a corresponding one of the second fastener apertures.
The connector
further includes a plurality of fasteners configured to be received in the
aligned pairs of first
and second fastener apertures.
[0005] In another aspect, a method of assembling a column for a frame of a
building is provided. The method includes positioning a second column segment
with
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respect to a first column segment. The first column segment includes a male
element
including a male outer surface and a plurality of first fastener apertures.
The second column
segment includes a female inner surface and a plurality of second fastener
apertures. At
least one of the female element and the male element is swaged such that the
female inner
surface of the female element receives the male outer surface of the male
element such that
each of the first fastener apertures aligns with a corresponding one of the
second fastener
apertures. The method also includes coupling the second column segment to the
first
column segment via a plurality of fasteners received in the aligned pairs of
first and second
fastener apertures to form the assembled column.
[0006] In another aspect, a column for a moment-resisting frame is
provided. The column includes a first hollow structural section (HSS) column
segment and
a second HSS column segment. The column also includes a connector that
includes an
integrally formed male element of the first HSS column segment. The male
element
includes a male outer surface and a plurality of first fastener apertures. The
connector also
includes an integrally formed female element of the second HSS column segment.
The
female element includes a female inner surface and a plurality of second
fastener apertures.
At least one of the female element and the male element is swaged such that
the female
inner surface of the female element receives the male outer surface of the
male element such
that each of the first fastener apertures is aligned with a corresponding one
of the second
fastener apertures. The connector further includes a plurality of fasteners
received in the
aligned pairs of first and second fastener apertures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a site at which an exemplary
building frame is being erected;
[0008] Figure 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary column for use in
the frame shown in Figure 1; and
[0009] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the exemplary column shown in
Figure 2 after assembly.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0010] The following detailed description illustrates connectors with
swaged interfaces and methods of assembling the same by way of example and not
by way
of limitation. The description should enable one of ordinary skill in the art
to make and use
the connectors, and the description describes several embodiments of the
connectors,
including what is presently believed to be the best modes of making and using
the
connectors. An exemplary connector with a swaged interface is described herein
as being
used to couple together support members in a building frame. However, it is
contemplated
that a connector with a swaged interface has general application to a broad
range of
systems in a variety of fields other than frames of buildings.
[0011] Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a site 100 at which an
exemplary building frame 102 is being erected. In the exemplary embodiment,
building
frame 102 is a moment-resisting frame (e.g., a special moment frame or an
intermediate
moment frame) that includes a plurality of columns 104 and a plurality of
beams 106. In
some embodiments, columns 104 and beams 106 are made of structural steel. In
other
embodiments, columns 104 and beams 106 may be made of any suitable material
that
facilitates enabling frame 102 to function as described herein. In the
exemplary
embodiment, at least one column 104 of frame 102 has a first column segment
108 and a
second column segment 110 that are coupled together by a connector 112 that
includes a
swaged interface. More specifically, first column segment 108 has a first end
114 and a
second end 116, and second column segment 110 has a first end 118 and a second
end 120.
Connector 112 having a swaged interface is defined at first end 114 of first
column
segment 108 and at second end 120 of second column segment 110, such that at
least one
column 104 of frame 102 is assembled onsite by coupling its associated first
column
segment 108 to its associated second column segment 110 at first end 114 and
second end
120, respectively, using connector 112. Although first column segment 108 is
illustrated as
being coupled to a foundation 122 in the exemplary embodiment, first column
segment 108
may not be coupled to foundation 122 in other embodiments (i.e., first column
segment 108
may have any suitable position within frame 102, including a position that is
elevated
above foundation 122). Moreover, although second column segment 110 is
illustrated as
being lifted onto first column segment 108 using a crane 124 in the exemplary
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embodiment, second column segment 110 may be positioned with respect to first
column
segment 108 using any suitable method.
[0012] Figure 2 is an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of
column 104, designated as column 200, for use in frame 102. Column 200
includes a first
column segment 202, a second column segment 204, and a moment-resisting swaged
connector 206 for coupling first column segment 202 to second column segment
204. In
the exemplary embodiment, each of first column segment 202 and second column
segment
204 is a hollow structural section (HSS). Alternatively, in some embodiments,
first column
segment 202 and/or second column segment 204 may be any suitable tubular
column
segment (e.g., at least one of first column segment 202 and second column
segment 204
may not be a hollow structural section (HSS)). Moreover, in other embodiments,
segments
202 and 204 may not be column segments, but may instead be another suitable
type of
tubular support member that is coupleable using connector 206 as described
herein.
[0013] In the exemplary embodiment, first column segment 202 has a pair
of opposing male side walls 208 and a pair of opposing male end walls 210,
each of which
has at least one first fastener aperture 212. Male side walls 208 and male end
walls 210
collectively define a male end surface 214 generally perpendicular to side
walls 208 and
210, and a male outer surface 216. A male element 218 of first column segment
202
adjacent male end surface 214 partially defines connector 206. Male outer
surface 216 has
a substantially rectangular cross-section along male element 218 (i.e., male
outer surface
216 has four first outer corners 220 along male element 218, each male outer
corner 220
being defined at the junction of a male side wall 208 and a male end wall
210). Likewise,
in the exemplary embodiment, second column segment 204 has a pair of opposing
female
side walls 222 and a pair of opposing female end walls 224, each of which has
at least one
second fastener aperture 226. Female side walls 222 and female end walls 224
collectively
define a female end surface 228 generally perpendicular to side walls 222 and
224, and a
female inner surface 230. A female element 232 of second column segment 204
adjacent
female end surface 228 partially defines connector 206. Female inner surface
230 has a
substantially rectangular cross-section along female element 232 (i.e., female
inner surface
230 has four second inner corners 234 along female element 232, each female
inner corner
234 being defined at the junction of a female side wall 222 and a female end
wall 224).
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[0014] In the exemplary embodiment, male outer surface 216 of male
element 218 is sized and shaped to be received within female inner surface 230
of female
element 232, such that male outer surface 216 interfaces with female inner
surface 230
adjacent female end surface 228. Moreover, male element 218 is receivable
within female
element 232 such that first fastener apertures 212 are aligned with second
fastener
apertures 226. In some embodiments, male outer surface 216 and female inner
surface 230
are dimensioned to yield an interference fit. In other embodiments, male outer
surface 216
and female inner surface 230 are dimensioned to yield a clearance fit.
[0015] Although surfaces 216 and 230 of male and female elements 218
and 232, respectively, have cross-sections that are substantially rectangular
and of
substantially interfacing peripheries in the exemplary embodiment, in
alternative
embodiments, surfaces 216 and 230 have any suitable cross-sections that enable
connector
206 to function as described herein. For example, at least one of surfaces 216
and 230 has
a substantially circular cross-section. For another example, surfaces 216 and
230 have
cross-sections that include other than substantially interfacing peripheries.
[0016] In the exemplary embodiment, at least one of male element 218 and
female element 232 are formed using a swaging process. For example, male
and/or female
elements 218 and 232 are swaged using at least one of a cold-worked swaging
process and a
hot-working process. In one embodiment, male element 218 and/or female element
232 are
formed via a tube swaging process. In another embodiment, male element 218 and
female
element 232 are formed using a rotary swagger. In some embodiments, male
element 218
and/or female element 232 are swaged about an internal mandrel. In one
embodiment, a
mandrel with a selected surface finish is used to form female inner surface
230 and/or male
outer surface 216 so that a coefficient of friction between female element 232
and male
element 218 is increased when the elements are joined. In other embodiments,
male
element 218 and female element 232 are formed using any suitable swaging
process that
enables connector 206 to function as described herein.
[0017] In some embodiments, at least one of male element 218 and female
element 232 are integrally formed with thickened walls relative to a main body
of the
respective column segment 202 and 204, for example to facilitate resistance to
cracking at
the bolt hole locations. In some such embodiments, at least one of male and
female
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elements 218 and 232 are formed in a swaging process that results in a
thickened element
wall section relative to other portions of the respective column segments 202
and 204.
Additionally or alternatively, at least one of male and female elements 218
and 232 are
formed in any suitable process that results in a thickened element wall
section. In an
embodiment, the wall thickness of each of the male and female elements is
increased in an
amount that does not exceed twice a thickness of the parent wall thickness.
[0018] In the exemplary embodiment, male and female elements 218 and
232 are of substantially the same wall thickness. In other suitable
embodiments, male and
female elements 218 and 232 have any suitable wall thickness that enables
connector 206 to
function as described herein.
[0019] In the exemplary embodiment, female element 232 has an external
cross-section that is substantially identical to an external cross-section of
a main body of
first column segment 202 (i.e., the portion of first column segment 202 below
male element
218, with respect to the orientation shown in Figure 2), such that after male
element 218 is
received within female element 232 to at least partially couple connector 206,
the resulting
joined column 200 has a substantially uniform outer cross-section. In
alternative
embodiments, the external cross-section of female element 232 has any suitable
size relative
to the external cross-section of the portion of first column segment 202 below
male element
218.
[0020] In the exemplary embodiment, male element 218 and female
element 232 of connector 206 are substantially the same length. In other
suitable
embodiments, male element 218 and female element 232 have any suitable length
that
facilitates their use as described herein.
[0021] Figure 3 is a perspective view of column 200 after assembly. In
the exemplary embodiment, after male element 218 is received within female
element 232,
a plurality of fasteners 316 (e.g., bolts) is inserted through aligned pairs
of first and second
fastener apertures 212 and 226 to securely couple male element 218 to female
element 232.
In other embodiments, male element 218 and female element 232 are securely
coupled in
any suitable fashion that enables column 200 to function as described herein.
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[0022] To assemble column 200 onsite when erecting frame 102, first
column segment 202 is coupled to a suitable base structure (e.g., foundation
122 or another
support member of frame 102). Second column segment 204 is then lowered into
position
to form connector 206 using crane 124 such that male element 218 is inserted
into female
element 232 such that female element 232 of second column segment 204 is
seated on top
male element 218 of first column segment 202. More specifically, male element
218 is
inserted into second column segment 204 such that each male side wall 208 is
oriented
substantially parallel with a female side wall 222 of second column segment
204 in spaced
relation thereto, and such that each male end wall 210 of first column segment
202 is
oriented substantially parallel with a female end wall 224 of second column
segment 204 in
spaced relation thereto. Thus, each first fastener aperture 212 of its
associated male side
wall 208, and each first fastener aperture 212 of its associated male end wall
210, is aligned
with the second fastener aperture 226 of its associated female side wall 222
and the second
fastener aperture 226 of its associated female end wall 224, respectively.
[0023] With second column segment 204 seated on first column segment
202 the plurality of fasteners 316 (e.g., bolts such as, for example, blind
bolts) are then
inserted into female fastener apertures 226 of female element 232 to engage
male element
218 via male fastener apertures 212. Upon tightening fasteners 316, male
element 218 is
prevented from moving relative to female element 232, and axial movement of
first column
segment 202 relative to second column segment 204 is also prevented. In some
embodiments, no welding is required to complete the secure coupling of column
200 at
connector 206.
[0024] The methods and systems described herein facilitate erecting a
moment-resisting frame at a building site. More specifically, the methods and
systems
facilitate coupling HSS column segments together onsite using a connector with
a swaged
interface that is integral to the HSS column segments. The methods and systems
thereby
facilitate eliminating the time that would otherwise be required to weld
column segments to
one another and/or to the connector. As such, the methods and systems
facilitate
transporting longer columns to a building site in segments and assembling the
columns at
the building site by coupling the associated column segments together using a
moment-
resisting connector that is strictly mechanical in nature. As such, the
methods and systems
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facilitate reducing the time and cost associated with erecting a multistory,
moment-resisting
frame at a building site.
[0025] Exemplary embodiments of connectors and methods of assembling
the same are described above in detail. The methods and systems described
herein are not
limited to the specific embodiments described herein, but rather, components
of the
methods and systems may be utilized independently and separately from other
components
described herein. For example, the methods and systems described herein may
have other
applications not limited to practice with frames of buildings, as described
herein. Rather,
the methods and systems described herein can be implemented and utilized in
connection
with various other industries.
[0026] While the invention has been described in terms of various specific
embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be
practiced with
modification within the spirit and scope of the claims.
