DE19940911C1 - Modular load-supporting grid structure has adjacent grid sections coupled together via coupling parts attached to latter and cooperating coupling element - Google Patents

Abstract

The grid structure has adjacent grid sections (1) coupled together in dependence on the size of the surface to be covered via couplings (7) with coupling parts (8) attached to the grids and a cooperating coupling element (9) fitted to the coupling parts and rotated into the locking position, by bringing an annular groove (37) in the head of the coupling element into cooperation with ribs (13) provided by the coupling parts.

Description

The invention relates to a tree grate system for covering Tree grates according to the preamble of claim 1.

A tree grate system is already known from DE 30 29 590 C2, at which several grate sections through couplings to a coherent self-supporting, only lying on a support bearing at the outer edge Tree grate are connected. The couplings point two to two adjacent coupling sections formed fixed coupling parts on the underside of which a ramp-like clamping surface is formed is. The couplings also include a movable coupling part, the from a disc - shaped head, a bolt - shaped middle part and a two-armed crossbar. The movable coupling part is pluggable between the fixed coupling parts and then into a Locking position rotatable, the cross bar arms with the two ramp-like clamping surfaces can be brought into operative connection.

This known tree grate system has compared to other known ones Tree grating systems have the decisive advantage that the individual Sections of composite tree grate with the exception of those on the Support outer edge area supporting self-supporting Distance above the soil of the tree slice and so is stable that he can bear the weight of motor vehicles. For this it is of crucial importance that the movable Coupling parts in their locking position under all circumstances remain.

Due to the inclined ramp-like shape of the clamping surfaces and frictional jamming of the crossbar arms results in the known tree grate system at the point of contact of the crossbar arms with the clamping surfaces one parallel to the plane of the clamping surfaces directed force component. Although this force component in comparison to the force component directed perpendicular to the clamping surface plane is very small, it could still be due to the tree grate vibrations and jolts,  that the movable coupling parts gradually from the Release locking position.

Another problem can arise when assembling the grate cuts result. The movable coupling parts can only then be turned into their locking position when the clamp surfaces of the fixed coupling parts without vertical or horizontal Offset in the trajectory of the cross that interacts with them bar arms lie. With the help of on the side walls of the Rostab cuts formed tongue and groove arrangements become the grate sections and thus the clamping surfaces effectively in a common horizontal Kept level so that there is no vertical offset between the two Clamping surfaces and the crossbar arms can occur. Through the Tongue and groove arrangements will also be parallel to each other Contacting side walls of the grate sections directed horizontal offset avoided. There is no remedy for this one in the joining direction of the tongue and groove arrangements and thus perpendicular to the said horizontal offset occurring, the in that the grids to be connected to one another cut too large a distance when joining to have. Therefore, the grate sections must be in for so long mutual contact be held until the movable clutch share at least as far in the direction of their locking position have been rotated so that the grate sections no longer can separate from each other. With regard to the z. T. large-scale, heavy and therefore unwieldy sections of rust are sometimes only very difficult and cumbersome to accomplish, especially since the two activities to be carried out, namely the mutual - Keeping the grate sections in contact and rotating the coupling parts must be done simultaneously.

The invention is therefore based on the object in two respects to achieve an improved and safer holding effect, namely to one when assembling the grate sections and the other after the finished assembling a tree grate. The task is performed by the characterizing features of claim 1 solved.  

When inserting a movable coupling part between the two fixed coupling parts grips the rib at an early stage point in the groove and in this way creates a horizontal Level acting form-fitting connection between the put together the grate sections, which means that they no longer differ from each other can remove. This ensures that the movable Coupling part always from the insertion position in the direction without any problems its locking position can be rotated. Since this is the Grate sections no longer immediately before and at the beginning of the twisting of the movable coupling part by manual force in must be kept in mutual contact Grate sections are now much easier to make a tree grate assemble as it is in the previously described previously Tree grate system was possible.

The movable coupling part is applied with a tool a predetermined target torque in the locking position turned. The teeth of the crossbar slide with increasing Force action and thus increasing frictional resistance on the ramp-like clamping surfaces along, alternating from the Wells of the corrugation then reach their ridges and then go back into the wells. If the frictional resistance in corresponds essentially to the specified target torque, that is movable coupling part just turned until the Engage teeth in the next recess. In the thus reached locking position are now the rear Flanks of the teeth on the rear flanks of the corrugation and thus cause that the movable coupling member not only rub conclusive, but also form-fitting with the fixed Coupling parts is locked. Because the positive holding effect is in any case larger than that mentioned at the beginning parallel to the plane of the Clamping surfaces directed force component can with the invention Tree grate system Vibrations and shock-like effects on the tree grate Vibrations no longer cause the movable Release coupling parts automatically from the locked position.  

Due to the bevelling of the outer wall specified in claim 2 Rib and the groove a centering effect is achieved, which the movable coupling parts more easily between the fixed coupling parts can be introduced. But if after moving the moving coupling parts and before turning them onto the grate sections large forces act parallel to their joining direction, could be due to the bevels that the movable Coupling parts are pushed upwards, after which they are not more can be turned into the locking position.

This disadvantage is reflected in the alternative development Claim 3 avoided in that the centering effect calling bevels in vertical wall sections pass over. As soon as the vertical wall sections of rib and groove meet, can be parallel to the direction of joining forces acting on the movable coupling parts no longer exert an upward force component.

The further developments according to claims 4 and 5 bring about a form-fitting interlocking between the horizontal direction movable and the two fixed coupling parts. That way the holding effect of the couplings and thus the weight load Availability of the tree grate significantly improved.

A further increase in resilience is achieved by the in claim 6 claimed measure achieved, according to which the inner circumferential side of the the bottom of each fixed coupling part located groove increasing distance from the axis of rotation of the movable Has coupling part. Thus form the inner peripheral sides so to speak, second ramps that are perpendicular to those of the rampenar term ramps formed terminal surfaces. This second Ramps cause that when turning the movable coupling parts in the Locking position the grate sections in the horizontal direction are braced against each other, making them a coherent result in rigid and thus more resilient structures.  

An additional, even greater increase in resilience is achieved by the measure specified in claim 7, namely the To form the side walls of the grate sections at a slight angle, so that when rotating the movable coupling parts in the In the locked position, arch the grate sections like a gable roof. With a large weight load by z. B. on the tree grate parked vehicles, the tree grate will now at most deform a flat plane and not arch downward like it would be the case with a flat starting position.

When assembling a large grate consisting of many grate sections Tree grate become individual fields of the tree grate of simplicity half assembled on the floor, by turning the movable coupling parts connected to each other and only afterwards with the one already resting on the support bearing and therefore at a distance rusting sections floating above the bottom of the tree disc adds. By the measure specified in claim 8, according to which Center area of the crossbar in the locked position up to maximum to the lower level of the approaches surrounding the fixed coupling parts reaches down and the crossbar arms are tapered upwards achieved that the end areas of the crossbar arms during floor mounting keep a distance from the ground and therefore when turning into the Do not pick up sand and dirt in the locked position. Otherwise there would be a danger that sand and dirt would get between the other Crossbar arms trained teeth and the corrugated clamping surfaces of the fixed coupling parts and turning the movable Coupling parts hindered.

Through the development according to claim 9, the removal of Movable coupling parts simplified considerably by appropriate training of the used for rotating the coupling parts Tool and the associated recesses in the head of the movable coupling parts the said tool in addition to Lifting out the coupling parts is usable.

The measure specified in claim 10 enables the exposed edge areas of those located on the edge of the tree grate  Grate sections formed by the fixed coupling parts Close recesses at the top and on the side. In this way can the different grate sections at any point of a Tree grate can be used. Because it is special, only for the Randbe Grate sections provided by tree grates with closed Side walls are saved, the otherwise necessary large Variety of differently designed grate sections clearly reduced.

The invention is based on one shown in the drawing Embodiment explained. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the underside of two partially illustrated grate sections, which have a small mutual distance,

Fig. 2 is a view of a part of a grate section with a fixed coupling part, a partial section of a rotatable coupling part and a view of a clamping key,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the fixed coupling parts of two mutually spaced-tasting grate sections and a rotatable coupling part,

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the coupling parts shown in Fig. 3 in assembled clutch,

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a rotatable coupling part and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the edge area of a partially shown grate section and several edge closure parts.

The tree grate system has in a manner known per se depending on the size and shape of the area to be covered number of Rostab sections 1 , which can be square, rectangular or circular segment-shaped to form differently shaped tree grates.

The grate sections 1 have a multiplicity of ribs 2 tapering downwards and are provided with all-round edge strips 3 which project downwards beyond the underside of the ribs 2 and thereby increase the flexural rigidity of the grate sections 1 . Referring to FIG. 1 grooves 5 are formed on the edge strips 3 at uniform intervals alternately rectangular designated as springs projections 4 and correspondingly shaped. When two grate sections 1 are placed against one another, the projections 4 slide into the grooves 5 and in this way enable the grate sections 1 to be precisely aligned and the stiffening of the assembled tree grate. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the outer side walls 6 of the edge strips 3 are chamfered by a small amount starting from the top of the grate sections 1 .

The grate sections 1 can be detachably connected to a coherent tree grate by couplings 7 . The couplings 7 consist of two fixed coupling parts 8 , which are formed in the edge region of the Rostab sections 1 and after assembling two Rostab sections 1 are at a short distance from each other, and a rotatable coupling part 9 , which can be inserted between the two fixed coupling parts 8 and then is rotatable into a locking position.

Each fixed coupling part 8 is formed by a segment piece 10 , which is arranged in the center region of a semicircular extension 11 of the grate section 1 and is an integral part of this extension 11 . The extension 11 protrudes as the edge strips 3 from the underside of the grate section 1 downward, whereby the base of the neck 11 is flush with the underside of the edge strips. 3

An annular groove 12 , an annular rib 13 and a semicircular depression 14 are formed on the upper side of each segment piece 10 when viewed from the outside inwards. In Fig. 2, the outer wall 15 of the annular rib 13 is slightly chamfered. In an alternative embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, the outer wall of the rib 13 is divided into a cylindrical lower section 16 and a frustoconical upper section 17 .

A first annular groove 18 , a first annular rib 19 , a second annular groove 20 and a second annular rib 21 are formed on the underside of each segment piece 10 , viewed from the outside inwards. The annular grooves 18 , 20 extend from the boundary surface 22 of the segment 10 , where they form an inlet opening 23 or 24 , over an angle of approximately 160 °. The bottom surface 25 of the outer annular groove 18 and the bottom surface 26 of the inner annular groove 20 extend downward from the inlet opening 23 and 24 on the left in FIG. 2 at a flat angle in a helical manner, as a result of which they have a ramp-like shape. The bottom surface 25 of the outer annular groove 18 has radially extending depressions 27 at a uniform, narrow distance, as a result of which a flat tooth-shaped corrugation 28 is created.

The inner circumferential side 29 of the outer annular groove 18 and the inner circumferential side 30 of the inner annular groove 20 have an increasing distance from the inlet opening 23 or 24 in the horizontal plane to the center line 31 of the semicircular extension 11 . Half a cylindrical bore 32 is contained in the middle of each segment piece 10 .

The rotatable coupling part 9 consists of a disk-shaped head 33 , a bolt-shaped central part 34 and a cross bar 36 formed by two short arms 35 projecting laterally.

On the underside of the head 33 , an annular groove 37 is formed which corresponds in position, shape and size to the annular rib 13 of the fixed coupling parts 8 . Accordingly, the outer wall 38 of the annular groove 37 is also slightly beveled in FIG. 2. In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS . 3 and 4, the outer wall of the annular groove 37 is accordingly divided into a cylindrical upper section 39 and a frustoconical lower section 40 . The height of the head 33 is selected so that the upper edge is aligned with the top of the grate sections 1 when the coupling part 9 is inserted in the coupling position. The top of the head 33 is spherical in shape, as a result of which the central region of the head 33 rises slightly above the top of the grate sections 1 . The resulting cross-sectional thickening of the head 33 in the central region increases its bending stiffness.

On the upper side of the crossbar arms 35 , seen from the outside inwards, an upwardly directed first extension 41 , a recess 42 , a second extension 43 and a second recess 44 are formed. The position, shape and size of the lugs 41 , 43 and recesses 42 , 44 correspond to the position, shape and size of the annular grooves 18 , 20 and annular ribs 19 , 21 of the fixed coupling parts 8 . The upper end of the two outer lugs 41 is designed as a flat tooth 45 ( FIG. 3), which corresponds to the depressions 27 of the corrugation 28 . The underside of the cross bar 36 is spherical in shape, as a result of which the arms 35 taper upwards. The middle region of the underside of the cross bar 36 extends into the plane of the lower end of the semicircular projections 11 .

In the heads 33 of the rotatable coupling parts 9 two mutually spaced receiving holes 46 for corresponding socket bolts 47 of a wrench 48 shown in FIG. 2 are formed. The receiving holes 46 contain lateral undercuts 49 for laterally projecting approaches 50 of the socket pin 47th In this case, the lugs 50 are arranged on the sides of the plug pins 47 located at the front in the opening direction of rotation.

For closing unused fixed coupling parts 8 located on the edge of the fully assembled tree grate, closure parts 51 ( FIG. 6) are used in the form of halved rotating coupling parts 9 , which accordingly have only one crossbar arm 35 .

When assembling a tree grate, the grate sections 1 to be connected are joined together in such a way that the projections 4 engage in the grooves 5 . In this way, the two joined grate sections 1 are aligned in vertical and horizontal directions parallel to the side walls 6 which come into contact with one another without a displacement. Then a rotatable coupling part 9 is inserted into the space between two fixed coupling parts 8 . When the two grate sections 1 touch with their side walls 6 , the rotatable coupling part 9 immediately reaches its insertion position, which forms the starting position for turning into the locking position. However, if the two grate sections 1 are spaced apart from one another in the joining direction, as shown in FIG. 3, the rotatable coupling part 9 will initially sit on the top of the annular rib 13 with the underside of the head 33 . If the two grate sections 1 are now moved closer together, in the embodiment variant according to FIG. 2 the lower part of the inclined wall 38 of the annular groove 37 of the rotatable coupling part 9 with the upper part of the inclined wall 15 of the annular rib 13 of the two fixed coupling parts becomes 8 get in touch. Finally, when the two grate sections 1 collide, the rotatable coupling part 9 will also slide down into the insertion position.

Similarly, in the second embodiment variant according to FIGS. 3 and 4 first the frustoconical portion 40 of the head 33 of the two fixed coupling parts 8 come into contact with the frusto-conical portion 17. Finally, when the two grate sections 1 collide, the rotatable coupling part 9 slides down into its insertion position, the cylindrical sections 16 and 39 now coming into mutual contact.

As soon as the sloping walls 38 and 15 or the frustoconical sections 40 and 17 come into contact, the rotatable coupling part 9 , which is only partially used, already produces a positive connection in a horizontal plane with the fixed coupling parts 8 and thus the two grids to be joined together cuts 1 , so that they can no longer move away from each other easily. As soon as the rotatable coupling part 9 has completely reached its insertion position, the horizontal holding effect is greatest. Here, the holding effect of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 and 4 safest because the now come into contact with each other cylindrical portions permit 39 and 16 no upward force component larger in oblique surfaces at the occurrence directed in the mating direction forces, if necessary, to a lifting of the rotatable coupling part 9 could lead.

Due to the provisional but nevertheless secure holding action of the interlocking annular groove 37 and annular rib 13 , the grate sections 1 to be connected no longer need to be held in direct contact with one another by manual application of force before and at the start of the rotation of the rotatable coupling part 9 . In this way, the assembly of the grate sections 1 is very simplified.

Then the wrench 48 is inserted with its socket pin 47 into the receiving holes 46 of the head 33 and the rotatable coupling part is rotated into the locking position shown in Fig. 4 by applying a predetermined target torque. At the beginning, the outer and inner lugs 41 and 43 of the cross bar 36 enter the outer and inner annular grooves 18 and 20 through the inlet openings 23 , 24, and the two teeth 45 then slide under increasing force and thus increasing frictional resistance on the ramp-like floor surfaces 25 along the outer annular grooves 18 of the two fixed coupling parts 8 , whereby the bottom surfaces 25 act as clamping surfaces. They alternate from the recesses 27 of the corrugation 28 back to the bottom surface 25 and then re-enter the next recesses 27 . If the frictional resistance corresponds to the predetermined target torque, the rotatable coupling part 9 is rotated further until the teeth 45 engage in the next depressions 27 . In the locking position now reached, in which the cross bar 36 are substantially transverse to the boundary surfaces 22 of the fixed coupling parts 8 , the rear flanks of the teeth 45 lie on the rear flanks of the corresponding recesses 27 and thus cause the rotatable coupling part 9th is locked both frictionally and positively with the fixed coupling parts 8 . This ensures that the rotatable coupling part 9 cannot automatically disengage from the locking position.

During the rotation of the coupling part 9 in the locking position, the inner side surfaces of the outer and inner lugs 41 , 43 lie against the ramp-like inner circumferential sides 29 , 30 of the annular grooves 18 , 20 and, when the coupling part 9 is turned further, cause the fixed coupling parts 8 moves towards each other and thus the grate sections 1 are braced against each other in the horizontal direction. 3, the side walls 6 of the grate sections 1 , which are slightly inclined in the starting position according to FIG. 3, are brought into a position parallel to one another and in full contact as shown in FIG. 4, as a result of which the grate sections 1 bulge like a very flat gable roof.

By means of the two measures described above, the grate sections 1 are connected to form a coherent, rigid structure, whereby a high weight-bearing capacity of the finished tree grate is achieved.

To unlock the couplings 7 , the wrench 48 is used again. Since in the unlocking direction of rotation the lugs 50 of the plug pins 47 engage in the undercuts 49 , the rotatable coupling part 9 can be lifted out immediately after unlocking.

To lock the locking parts 51 , which are designed as half rotatable coupling parts, a specially adapted wrench 48 can be used in view of the fact that they only have one receiving hole 46 . This drawing wrench, not shown in the drawing, has only one socket pin and, instead of the second socket pin, also has a downwardly projecting shoulder which, when the socket wrench is inserted, bears against the flat outer side of the locking parts 51, thereby enabling that together with the one socket pin a torque for locking and unlocking can be exerted on the closure parts 51 .

Tree grate system

1

Rust sections

2nd

Ribs

3rd

Sidebars

4th

Protrusions (springs)

5

Grooves

6

side walls

7

Couplings

8th

fixed coupling parts

9

rotatable coupling part

10th

Segment piece

11

approach

12th

Ring groove

13

annular rib

14

deepening

15

outer wall

16

cyl. section

17th

cone. section

18th

outer ring groove

19th

outer annular rib

20th

inner ring groove

21

inner annular rib

22

Boundary surface

23

Entrance opening

24th

Entrance opening

25th

Floor area outside

26

Floor area inside

27

Indentations

28

Corrugation

29

inner circumferential side

30th

inner circumferential side

31

Center line

32

drilling

33

head

34

Middle section

35

poor

36

Crossbar

37

Ring groove

38

wall

39

cyl. section

40

cone. section

41

external approach

42

outer recess

43

inner approach

44

inner recess

45

tooth

46

Receiving holes

47

Plug pin

48

Wrench

49

Undercuts

50

approaches

51

Closure parts

Claims (10)

1. Tree grate system for covering tree grates with the following features:

• a) a plurality of grate sections ( 1 ) are connected by couplings ( 7 ) to form a coherent, self-supporting tree grate which rests only on the outer edge on a support bearing,
• b) the couplings ( 7 ) each consist of two fixed coupling parts ( 8 ) formed on two adjoining grate sections ( 1 ), with a mutual spacing, and a coupling part ( 9 ) which can be inserted between them and then rotated into a locking position,
• c) the fixed coupling parts ( 8 ) are formed by segment pieces ( 10 ) which have a ramp-like clamping surface ( 25 ) on the underside,
• d) the movable coupling parts ( 9 ) have a disk-shaped head ( 33 ), a bolt-shaped central part ( 34 ) and a two-armed crossbar ( 36 ), both of which have upward-facing end regions ( 41 ) with the ramp-like clamping surfaces ( 25 ) in operative connection are feasible,

characterized in that

• a) on the top of the segment pieces ( 10 ) or the underside of the disc-shaped head ( 33 ) an annular rib ( 13 ) and on the underside of the head ( 33 ) or the top of the segment pieces ( 10 ) one corresponding to the rib ( 13 ) Groove ( 37 ) is formed and that
• b) at least a part of the ramp - like clamping surface ( 25 ) is provided with a flat corrugated or toothed corrugation ( 28 ) and the upward facing end regions ( 41 ) of the crossbars ( 36 ) each as a flat, in the recesses ( 27 ) of the Corrugation ( 28 ) lockable tooth ( 45 ) are formed.

2. Tree grate system according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective outer wall ( 15 ; 38 ) of the rib ( 13 ) and the groove ( 37 ) are slightly chamfered. 3. Tree grate system according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective outer wall of the rib ( 13 ) and the groove ( 37 ) has a perpendicular section ( 16 ; 39 ) and to its free end a bevel ( 17 ; 40 ). 4. Tree grate system according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that on the top of each crossbar arm ( 35 ) at least one upwardly projecting approach ( 41 ) and on the underside of the segment pieces ( 10 ) one the appropriate approach ( 41 ) receiving annular groove ( 18 ) is formed, the top of each extension ( 41 ) being shaped as a tooth ( 45 ) and the bottom ( 25 ) of the associated groove ( 18 ) being provided with the corresponding corrugation ( 28 ). 5. Tree grate system according to claim 4, characterized in that with more than one approach ( 41 ; 43 ) per cross bar arm ( 35 ) and correspondingly more than one groove ( 18 ; 20 ) per segment piece ( 10 ) the teeth ( 45 ) on the outer Lugs ( 41 ) and the corrugations ( 28 ) are formed in a corresponding manner in the respective outer grooves ( 18 ). 6. Tree grate system according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the inner circumferential side ( 29 ; 30 ) of the groove or grooves ( 18 ; 20 ) located on the underside of each segment piece ( 10 ) from the inserted position of the rotatable coupling part ( 9 ) occupies an increasingly larger distance from the axis of rotation ( 31 ) of the movable coupling part ( 9 ) in the horizontal plane. 7. Tree grate system according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the side walls ( 6 ) of the Rostab sections ( 1 ) from their upper side are formed by a small amount obliquely inwards and that two mutually contacting side walls ( 6 ) can be brought into full contact by rotating the movable coupling parts ( 9 ) into their locking position, the interconnected grate sections ( 1 ) bulging like a gable roof. 8. Tree grate system according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, wherein the grate sections ( 1 ) projecting downward, the segment pieces ( 10 ) semicircularly surrounding approaches ( 11 ) and edge strips ( 3 ), whose underside essentially with the lower end the lugs ( 11 ) are aligned, characterized in that the central region of the crossbars ( 36 ) extends down to the lower level of the lugs ( 11 ) in their locking position and the crossbar arms ( 35 ) are tapered upwards. 9. Tree grate system according to one or more of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that in the disc-shaped heads ( 33 ) two mutually spaced receiving holes ( 46 ) for corresponding socket bolts ( 47 ) of a wrench ( 48 ) are included and that the receiving holes ( 46 ) Behind cuts ( 49 ) for laterally projecting lugs ( 50 ) on the plug pins ( 47 ), these lugs ( 50 ) being arranged on the front side of the plug pins ( 47 ) in the opening direction. 10. Tree grate system according to one or more of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that halved movable coupling parts ( 9 ) can be used for the outside closure of fixed coupling parts ( 8 ) located at the edge of the tree grate, which have only one crossbar arm ( 35 ).