GB2291080A - Joints,e.g.welded joints, subject to bending forces - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a stronger e.g. welded, joint, one member, e.g. (7a) has a turned-up portion (7c) with an aperture (9) at its base through which the other member can pass before it is fixed to the first member. In a wall-tie the first member may be a plate (20) intended for embedment in one wall skin, and the second member a wire component (16). <IMAGE>

Description

"Assembly" This invention relates to an assembly of members which are joined together, especially but not exclusively members forming together a composite wall tie assembly.

When two members are joined together (for example, by welding a portion of a first member to a second) the joint between the members is often subject to peeling if force is applied in certain directions, particularly if one member is bent relative to the other.

Wall ties are often manufactured as two-component assemblies comprising a first member in the form of a wire component welded to a second member in the form of a plate component. This provides a wall tie, the wire component of which is flexible enough to allow lateral movement but strong enough to resist the necessary axial loads, while the plate component facilitates attachment to a building.

Resistance welding is normally used to join the components, but the wall tie has the disadvantage that bending forces acting on it tend to cause the join between the components to peel.

According to the present invention there is provided an assembly comprising first and second members having mutually-attached and abutting faces, the first member extending beyond the second member, and restraining means on the second member for engaging the first member to resist the effect of a bending force on the first member causing the mutually-attached faces to separate.

The restraining means preferably allows the first member to pass between the second member and the restraining means, and when the first and second members are joined together preferably holds the first member firmly against the second member.

Preferably, the first and second members are wall tie components, and the assembly is a wall tie.

The first and second members may be attached by welding or by adhesive, or by some other means, most preferably substantially along their whole length.

The first and second members are preferably straight at their areas of attachment, the first member preferably comprising a wire, and the second member preferably comprising a plate. Most preferably the first and second members are of steel, eg stainless steel.

The restraining means may be provided by an arm which may extend around the first member so as to trap it between the arm (or other restraining means) and the second member. Alternatively the restraining means can comprise an aperture in an upstanding portion of the second member, the upstanding portion extending at an angle from a body portion of the second member. The angle between the upstanding portion and the body portion may be between 300 and 90".

Preferably, the restraining means is located at or adjacent an end of the second member, but may be spaced therefrom. The restraining means can be integral with the second member or can be in the form of a detachable fitting such as a clamp.

According to the invention there is also provided a method of making a wall tie, comprising forming an aperture through a metal plate, bending the plate to form an upstanding portion through which at least part of said aperture extends, inserting through the aperture an elongate member so that a portion of the elongate member overlaps and abuts against the plate, and securing said overlapping portion to the plate.

A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a wall tie assembly having a first member in the form of a wire, and a second member in the form of a plate, the wire and plate being joined (preferably welded) together at an overlapping portion, the second member having restraining means at or adjacent one end of said overlapping portion, the restraining means acting to limit or prevent movement of the overlapping portions away from one another.

The restraining means most preferably comprises an upstanding portion having an aperture in which the first member is located. Thus, the restraining means preferably surrounds the first member.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 a, b and c are schematic diagrams of a prior art assembly of two members being subjected to stress; Fig. 2 a, b and c are schematic diagrams of an assembly of the invention being subjected to stress; Fig. 3 a, b, c and d are perspective views illustrating sequential steps taken to manufacture an assembly of the invention; Fig. 4 is an end view of the assembly of Fig. 3d; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a wall tie assembly embodying the invention; and, Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second wall tie assembly embodying the invention.

Referring now to the drawings, a prior art assembly 5 is shown in Figs. la, b and c. Two members 1 and 2 lie alongside and in contact with each other along their overlapping faces la and 2a which are welded together by resistance welding. When a downward force is exerted on the lower member 2 in the direction of the arrow 3, the member 2 is bent away from the upper member and the joint 5 tends to peel as shown in Fig. 1 (c).

Fig. 2 shows the effect of the same force on an assembly 6 of the invention. The assembly S comprises a first member 7 and a second member 8, being joined at their adjacent overlapping faces 7a and Sa by resistance welding at 10. The first member 7 has a body portion 7b and restraining means comprising an end portion 7c and an aperture 9 (see Fig. 3). The second member S extends through the aperture 9. The end portion 7c extends at an angle of 90O to the body portion 7b in the region of the aperture 9, thereby restraining the second member S fro lateral, upward and downward movement relative to the first member 7.

When a downward force is applied to the second member 8 in the direction of arrow 3, the restraining means prevents the joint 10 from peeling by resisting relative movement of the welded portions of the members 8 and 7.

Fig. 3 a, b, c and d show sequential steps in making the assembly 6. A slot 9 is punched in a flat plate of stainless steel 7. The plate 7 is bent upwardly at 900 at the slot 9 in order to form the end portion 7c of the restraining means. The second member 8 in the form of a steel rod is then inserted into the slot 9 such that the face 8a of the second member abuts against the face 7a of the body portion 7b of the first member 7, and the second member 8 is restrained from movement by the slot 9.

Preferably, the slot 9 accommodates the second member 8 in a tight fit (see Fig. 4). The first and second members 7, 8 are then resistance welded along the overlapping and abutting portions of faces 7a and Sa.

The upper inside surface of the slot 9 resists bending forces in the direction of the arrow 3 (Fig. 2) from being transferred to the weld; all bending of the second member occurs outside the overlapping portion.

Fig. 5 shows a wall tie 15 forming an assembly of the invention. The wall tie 15 has a wire component 16 with a head 17 and drip former 18 on a stem 19. A second component of the wall tie 15 is provided by a formed steel plate 20. The plate 20 is slotted and bent at 9 as previously described. The plate 20 is also head-shaped at 21 to provide firm anchorage of the tie 15 to a wall.

Fig. 6 shows a second wall tie 25 having a wire component 16 as previously described with a different plate 26. The plate 26 has an upturned end section 27 with apertures 29 therein to receive fixing screws for attaching the plate 26 to a wall (not shown).

Both the wall ties 15 and 25 are made by the method described for the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, and function in the same manner.

Modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the restraining means may comprise formations on the second member which engage the first member (or possibly formations or indentations thereon), so that an arm or end portion of the restraining means need not extend around the first member.

Claims (11)

Claims:

1 An assembly comprising first and second members having mutually-attached and abutting faces, the first member extending beyond the second member, and restraining means on the second member for engaging the first member to resist the effect of a bending force on the first member causing the mutually-attached faces to separate.

2 An assembly as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the restraining means extends at least partially around the first member.

3 An assembly as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the restraining means is provided by an aperture through the second member, the first member extending through the aperture.

4 An assembly as claimed in Claim 3, wherein a portion of the second member extends at an angle to said abutting face of the second member, and at least a part of said aperture is provided on said portion.

5 An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the first and second members are mutually attached by welding.

6 An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the restraining means comprises an arm arranged to resist the effect of said bending force by trapping the first member against the second member.

7 An assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the restraining means comprises a detachable fitting.

8 An assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims in the form of a wall tie.

9 A method of making a wall tie, comprising forming an aperture through a metal plate, bending the plate to form an upstanding portion through which at least part of said aperture extends, inserting through the aperture an elongate member so that a portion of the elongate member overlaps and abuts against the plate, and securing said overlapping portion to the plate.

10 An assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Fig.

2, or Figs. 3 and 4, or Fig. 5, or Fig. 6 of the accompanying drawings.

11 A method of making a wall tie substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.