DESCRIPTION:

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a combination of a spacer ring and a washer plate for securing two elements relative to each other by means of a bolted joint, where a bolt is attached to a first one of the two elements or a bolt is turned tight in this element and the other, second element is provided with an opening through which the bolt projects during the securing operation and which is larger than the cross section of the bolt, and where the spacer ring is secured to the second element and the washer plate is fitted over the bolt and its underside is in contact with the top of the spacer ring, which top of the spacer ring has at least one tooth and which underside of the washer plate has a plurality of grooves with which the - tooth is in engagement.

For joining for example a steel element to a concrete element it is often to do with manufacturing and/or adjusting tolerances. For realising a bolted joint roomy holes or elongated holes are used. During the securing operation the teeth of the spacer ring fit in the grooves of the washer plate and in many cases the washer plate is eccentric relative to the spacer ring. The tooth-groove joint developed in this way avoids that the spacer ring and the washer plate can shift relative to each other.

State of the art

A combination of this type is known from US 2 685 469 A. In this known combination of washer plate and spacer ring the cooperating surfaces have four areas of elongate straight teeth from two areas of which the teeth extend in a direction perpendicular to the area in which the teeth of the other two areas extend. During use the teeth of the washer plate are in engagement with the grooves between the teeth of the spacer ring. The spacer ring and washer plate may be present shifted relative to each other in various directions (parallel to those of the teeth and grooves and at a 45 degree angle thereto), after which the teeth may engage with the grooves during the securing operation. Summary of the invention ft is an object of the invention to provide a combination of the type defined in the opening paragraph with which larger shearing forces can be absorbed than with the known combination and where the spacer ring and the washer plate may be shifted relative to each other in various directions. For this purpose, the combination according to the invention is characterised in that the tooth extends along an equilateral triangle, tetragon or hexagon and the grooves likewise extend along a similar polygon and partially overlap and/or intersect. As a result, during the securing operation of two elements relative to each other, a large surface of the tooth is in contact with the bounding walls of one of the grooves, so that the tooth-groove combination has a large shear area and can therefore absorb a significant shear force without the washer plate shifting relative to the spacer ring during this operation.

It is observed that from US 2008/003079 Al is known a combination of a spacer ring and a washer plate, where the spacer ring and the washer plate are provided with parallel grooves and ribs which move in engagement with each other during use. Admittedly, with this construction it is possible to absorb large shear forces, but the spacer ring can be present shifted in one direction only relative to the washer plate, that is to say, in a direction parallel to the grooves and ribs.

Furthermore, it is observed that from US 3 019 472 A is known a combination of a washer plate and a spacer ring, where the teeth are present in a diamond pattern. The teeth of the washer plate are in engagement with the teeth of the spacer ring during use. The washer plate and spacer ring may then also be shifted in different directions relative to each other, but there is only a relatively small contact surface between the teeth, so that only relatively small shear forces can be absorbed.

An embodiment of the combination according to the invention is characterised in that the spacer ring is provided with at least one further tooth which is concentric with the other tooth. As a result there is an even larger contact surface between the teeth and the sidewalls of the grooves so that even bigger shear forces can be absorbed.

A further embodiment of the combination according to the invention is characterised in that the spacer ring is provided with a ring that surrounds the opening and is fitted to the underside of the spacer ring. This ring fits in the opening in one of the elements to be secured relative to the other and serves to avoid the spacer ring shifting relative to the element. A still further embodiment of the combination according to the invention is characterised in that a plurality of die plates are present spread over the circumference of the ring, which die plates are fitted to the outside of the ring and/or to the underside of the spacer ring. These die plates prevent the spacer ring from turning relative to the element the spacer ring is present on. The die plates cut into the element when the bolt is screwed tight, that is to say, if this element is made of wood or another relatively soft material.

Brief description of the drawings The invention will now be described in more detail based on examples of embodiment of the combination of a spacer ring and a washer plate according to the invention while reference is made to the appended drawing figures, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of the combination according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the spacer ring shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a plan view of a washer plate of the first embodiment of the combination according to the invention;

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the washer plate shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows two elements to be connected to each other by means of the combination shown in Figs. 1 to 4 prior to the elements being secured relative to each other;

Fig. 6 shows the two elements connected to each other and secured relative to each other by means of the combination;

Fig. 7 shows the maximum eccentricity of the spacer ring relative to the washer plate in the direction of one of the vertices;

Fig. 8 shows the maximum eccentricity of the spacer ring relative to the washer plate in the direction perpendicular to one of the straight sides;

Fig. 9 shows a plan view of a spacer ring of a second embodiment of the combination according to the invention;

Fig. 10 shows a plan view of a washer plate of the second embodiment of the combination according to the invention;

Fig. 11 shows a third embodiment of the combination of spacer ring and washer plate according to the invention with two elements to be connected to each other prior to these elements being secured relative to each other;

Fig. 12 shows the situation shown in Fig. 11 seen from another angle; and Fig. 13 shows the combination shown in Fig. 11 where the two elements are secured relative to each other.

Detailed description of the drawings

Figs. 1 to 4 show a plan views and a sectional views respectively of a spacer ring 1 and a washer plate 3 which form a first embodiment of the combination according to the invention. The spacer ring and the washer plate have the shape of an equilateral hexagon with an opening in the middle. The opening 5 in the spacer ring is larger than the opening 7 in the washer plate. The spacer ring 1 and the washer plate 3 have a toothed profile. This toothed profile is applied to a spacer ring 1 in an equilateral hexagon. The toothed profile present on the spacer ring 1 is removed from the washer plate 3.

The spacer ring 1 has three concentric teeth 9 which extend along an equilateral hexagon and have a triangular cross section. The washer plate 3 has a multitude of grooves 11 which also have a triangular cross section which is equal to that of the teeth 9. The grooves 11 in the washer plate 3 are partially overlapping and are present shifted relative to each other in directions 13 from the middle to the vertices and in directions 15 perpendicular to the straight sides. As a result, the spacer ring 1 is also capable of shifting in these directions 13, 15 relative to the washer plate 5 where the teeth are in engagement with the grooves.

The tooth-groove joint has a shear area that is nearly as large as the surface of the overlap of the two elements and is therefore capable of absorbing a significant shear force. The required precision can be adjusted by adjusting the inter groove spacing. For obtaining a product that is economic and attractive from a construction point of view, the number of teeth can be adapted to optimize the use of material.

Figs. 5 and 6 show two elements 17 and 19 which are to be or are secured respectively relative to each other by means of the combination shown in Figs. 1 to 4. One of the elements 19 in this example is a concrete wall and the other element is a steel angle section. By securing the spacer ring 1 (or the teeth on the spacer ring) beforehand to the element 17 to be mounted, a fitting and strong joint can be made in a simple manner. This joint can be realized in nearly any conceivable material. The element 17 has an opening whose size exceeds the cross section of a bolt 21 which is turned tight in the other element 19. To this end this element 19 comprises a sleeve 23 that has internal thread. The washer plate 3 may be present eccentric to the spacer ring 1 to counterbalance any alignment errors. Figs. 7 and 8 show in two directions the maximum possible positions shifted relative to each other, that is to say in Fig. 7 the direction from the middle through one of the vertices (direction 13 in Fig. 3) and in Fig. 8 perpendicular to one of the straight sides of the hexagonal profile (direction 15 in Fig. 3).

Figs. 9 and 10 show a spacer ring 25 and a washer plate 27 respectively of a second embodiment of the combination according to the invention. In this embodiment the teeth 29 and the grooves 31 extend along a square. It is alternatively possible for the teeth and grooves to extend along a triangle. This embodiment, however, is not shown here.

Figs. 11 and 12 show a third embodiment of the combination 33 of spacer ring and washer plate according to the invention before two elements are secured relative to each other. All elements that are equal to or similar to these of the first embodiment are referred to by like reference numerals. The washer plate 3 in this embodiment is equal to that of the first embodiment Also the top of the spacer ring 1 is equal to that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment a ring 35 is fitted to tbe underside of the spacer ring 1, which ring 35 is present around the opening 5. This ring 35 fits in the opening 37 in one of the elements 39 to be secured relative to each other. The other element 41 has an opening 43 that has internal thread into which a bolt can be turned. The ring 35 is used for preventing the spacer ring from being shifted relative to the element 39. In order to also prevent the spacer ring 35 from turning relative to the element 39, the spacer ring comprises die plates 47 which have a triangular shape or a shape that is very similar to it. These die plates are fitted with one cathetus to the outside of the ring 35 distributed over the circumference. With the other cathetus the die plates 47 are fitted to the underside of the spacer ring 1. When the bolt 45 is turned tight, the die plates cut into the element 39, that is to say, if this element 39 is made of wood or another soft material.

For illustrative purposes Fig. 13 shows the situation where the two elements

39 and 41 are secured relative to each other by means of the combination 33 of spacer ring and washer plate.

Albeit the invention has been described in the foregoing with reference to the drawing Figures, it should be pointed out that the invention is not by any manner or means restricted to the embodiment shown in the drawings. The invention also extends over any embodiment deviating from the embodiment shown in the drawing Figures within the spirit and scope defined by the claims.