Technical field

The present invention refers to a support arrangement of the type specified in the preamble to patent claim 1 for the installation of base and wall units.

The present invention also refers to a method according to patent claim 6 for the installation of said base and wall units.

Prior art technology

Prior art includes base and wall units with a support arrangement comprising at least one telescopic extendable wall bracket and end fittings arranged therefore. The work begins with furnishing the installation site with abutment studs to align the units in a lateral direction, following which palletising trays are laid out to adjust the height of the element. When the unit is lifted into place it is supported - often from opposite sides - by wall brackets fastened to the unit and to the surrounding base. The unit is fastened to the base by welding, following which a protective concrete reinforcement of the joint is carried out.

Prior art is cumbersome, involves several operations, and is time consuming.

Presentation of the problem

With the present invention, the problems of known solutions can be essentially avoided. The invention thus provides a manageable support arrangement, which is easy and quick to use and that can replace several previous opera- tions.

This task is carried out in accordance with the invention by giving a support arrangement to install base and wall units according to the invention the characterizing features of claim 1. The invention also refers to a method for installation of said base and wall units, which is given the characterizing features set out in claim 6. The corresponding dependent claims that follow present suitable further developments and variations of the invention that further improve its functioning. The basic idea of the present invention is to achieve a support arrangement, which is easy to use while the essential parts thereof can be recycled.

In the following description, the terms "up", "down", "above", "below" and the like refer to directions in relation to the support arrangement or its struc- tural details as shown in the attached figures.

With the arrangement and method described in the present invention, a plurality of significant advantages are achieved over the prior art. Thus, it is possible to substantially simplify the installation of a building's base units or basement wall units replacing such base units.

By avoiding the normally mandatory protection casting of a unit's welding joints, both labour and installation time is saved, and therefore a faster construction time may be achieved. No labour time is required to locate a power source or the welding around the entire construction site.

Thanks to a single casting, it is possible to achieve a saving on concrete freight, representing a saving both in terms of costs and the environment.

An absence of welding plates in the concrete units represents a saving for the element factory, since they do not need to cast welding plates at the bottom edge of the concrete units. Also, the crushing bed's height levels do not need to be as accurate as previously and the welding plates can also be left at the ground sole in the construction site.

The units become thoroughly strutted with the new technology, while the reusable support arrangement makes the device and the method advantageous from an economic viewpoint.

Additional advantages and details of the invention are set out in the description below.

Summary of drawing figures

Below is a more detailed description of the invention with reference to the present drawing, where

figure 1 shows the main construction parts of a ground support according to the present invention,

figure 2 shows a mounted ground support seen from its gable end, figure 3 shows a longitudinal section of a mounted ground support with a protective pipe arranged therewith,

figure 4 shows a side view of a mounted ground support according to figure 3, figure 5 shows a mounted ground support viewed from above, figure 6 shows a second embodiment of a ground support viewed from above,

figure 7 shows a longitudinal section of a ground support according to figure 6,

figures 8 and 9 show opposite side views of a wall bracket,

Figure 10 shows a wall bracket viewed from above,

figure 11 shows a wall bracket in the direction A-A according to figure

9,

figure 12 shows a base unit installed at the correct height - and side position in a mould for a concrete sole viewed from above,

figure 13 shows a base unit according to figure 12 viewed from the side,

figure 14 shows a base unit supported on the ground support and by the opposite wall bracket pending casting works,

figure 15 shows a concrete sole and base unit with the casting work completed in a B-B direction according to figure 12,

figure 16 shows a detail C in figure 14 of the installation of the ground support for the mould,

figure 17 shows collars at figure 16 in detail,

figure 18 shows a wall unit installed at the correct height- and side position with a support arrangement,

figure 19 shows a wall unit installed at the correct height- and side position in a mould for a concrete sole viewed from the gable end,

figure 20 shows a wall unit according to figure 16 viewed from above, figure 21 shows a wall unit according to figure 16 viewed from the side,

figure 22 shows a wall bracket according to figure 16 in detail, figure 23 shows a wall unit the gable end with a side shifting device in- stalled at the crossbar, and

figure 24 shows a side shifting device according to figure 20 in detail.

Preferred embodiment

The above figures do not show the support arrangement in a scale, ra- ther their only purpose is to illustrate the preferred embodiments' constructive solutions and the functions of the embodiments. The respective constructive parts, showed in the figures and marked with reference numbers, correspond to the construction solutions which are presented in the description below and also referred to with a reference number.

The present support arrangement comprises two main parts, a ground support and wall brackets connectible to this ground support.

Figures 1 - 5 and 8 -11 show the significant parts of a support arrangement according to the present first advantageous embodiment. The support arrangement herewith comprises at least one telescopic extendible wall bracket 1, as such prior art. The wall bracket features an end fitting 2 with which the wall bracket is connected to the base or wall base 3 to be installed. The wall bracket also features a quick coupler 4 with which the wall bracket is arranged to protrude from a ground support 5 featured by the support arrangement. Such a ground support comprises, in turn, a crossbar 6 which is advantageously manufactured with a metal square hollow section, but may also be manufactured for example with an I- or C-profile. When using the support arrangement, this crossbar is arranged to extend through a mould, here identified with reference number 7, see for example figure 14. For this purpose, the mould is equipped with opposite perforations arranged in pairs in the substantially vertical longitudinal sides 8 of the mould The mould is intended to be used to cast a concrete sole 9 upon which the base or wall unit 3 will later rest. The mould may be manufactured on site in a traditional manner. However, it is more advantageous to use a prefabricated disposable mould, which may, for example, be made of a plastic material.

Since the crossbar 6 of the support arrangement is planned to be reusable, a protective pipe 10 is arranged to surround the crossbar in said mould 7, see figures 3 - 5. The protective pipe is also installed so that it extends through the mould and its perforations. To avoid concrete spilling over from the mould depositing on the crossbar, this may advantageously feature substantially perpendicular protruding flanges 11 at their respective ends. It is also advantageous to equip the protective pipe with collars 12 arranged thereto which, placed on the inside of the mould, form a seal around the perforation to which the protective pipe is arranged. Since these collars are not subjected to any major stress, they may be made of a cheaper material, such as plate, plastic or cardboard.

The ground support 5 also comprises at least two palletising pieces 13 arranged outside the mould 7 on its opposite sides. These palletising pieces rest, as showed in figure 14, for example, on the gravel bed 14 formed in the processing of the building base. Herewith, at least two adjusters 15 are arranged to interact with the crossbar 6 and the palletising piece 13, respectively, at the crossbar's opposite ends located outside the mould, to regulate the height and incline of a top surface 16 of the crossbar, which, surrounded by the protective pipe, will also form the supporting surface of the base or wall unit 3 to be installed.

The adjusters 15 comprise, for example, bolts featuring a trapezoidal thread. These adjusters are arranged to a sleeve 17 installed in the crossbar 6, wherein the sleeve on its inside features a corresponding trapezoidal thread. The adjuster may herewith be screwed in the sleeve while it extends through the crossbar from its top side to its bottom side, and further to a recess in the palletis- ing piece arranged below the crossbar. See figures 1 and 2. By regulating the adjuster's protrusion the crossbar is shifted in a vertical direction and the height of its top surface may be regulated.

A second embodiment of the support arrangement and especially its ground support 5 is showed in figures 6 and 7. Such a ground support comprises, like above, at least two palletisation pieces 13 arranged outside the mould 7 on its opposite sides. At least two adjusters 15 are arranged at the opposite ends of the crossbar to interact with the crossbar 6 and the palletisation piece 13 at the crossbar's opposite ends located outside the mould. The adjusters 15 comprise bolts featuring a trapezoid thread. Such an adjuster is arranged to a first sleeve 17a attached to the crossbar 6 and open in a direction toward the palletisation piece 13. In this sleeve, a second sleeve 17b installed in the palletisation piece has been arranged, so that the sleeves jointly form a telescopic pillar. By preventing the adjuster from shifting in the direction of its longitudinal shaft in relation to the first sleeve while the adjuster interacts with a trapezoid thread in the other sleeve the adjuster the telescopic pillar's length can be regulated. By rotating the adjuster the crossbar may be shifted in relation to the palletisation piece, wherein the height of the top surface of the crossbar may be regulated.

To install high wall units 3 the support arrangement may comprise an embodiment according to figures 18 - 22. Herewith, the wall bracket comprises a so-called triangular bracket 18, showed at figure 22. This triangular bracket consists of a first bracket part 19 protruding substantially vertically from the crossbar 6 toward the element 3, a second bracket part 20 protruding substantially horizontally and substantially in parallel with a longitudinal shaft of the crossbar, and a third bracket part 21 which connects the first and the second bracket parts. The first and second bracket parts are advantageously installed pivotally to the crossbar, for example via a joint quick coupler 22. Thus, the first and the second brackets are pivotal in a common plane. By letting the third bracket part be telescopically extendible, the triangular bracket's supporting point against both the unit and the base can be regulated catering for the nature of the base. By letting the first and second bracket be telescopically adjustable as well, the triangular bracket's supporting points may be further adjusted catering for potential openings or other obstacles in the unit or base.

The support arrangement may also feature one or several side shifting devices. Such a device is mounted substantially rigidly, with a fast coupling or a screw joint, to the crossbar 6. The device includes a dancer, which may be shifted in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal shaft of the crossbar. By altering the protrusion of the dancer, the element may be shifted in the cross direction of the mould, and thus assume a place according to the drawing.

The present support arrangement to install base and wall units is used in the following manner. A mould 7, advantageously prefabricated, is arranged on a base prepared for this purpose. The mould is equipped with opposite perforations arranged in pairs in substantially vertical longitudinal sides 8 thereof. The perforations may be achieved in a prefabrication of the mould or alternatively when it is placed on its final base. The mould features at least two pairs of perforations.

When the mould 7 is placed on its base, for example a gravel bed 14, palletisation pieces 13 are arranged around the periphery of the mould on its opposite sides at each of the perforations. Subsequently, a protective pipe 10 equipped with flanges is arranged to extend from the mould's perforation in one its sides to the perforation in the other side and a crossbar 6 is arranged in said protective pipe to extend from one side of the mould to the other side in order to penetrate the mould at both of its ends. It is also possible to first place the crossbar in the protective pipe and then place these so that they jointly extend from one side of the mould to its other side.

The crossbar 6 which now penetrates through the mould 7 at both of its ends is arranged against said opposite palletisation pieces 13, following which at least two adjusters 15 are arranged to interact with the crossbar and palletisation pieces at the crossbar's opposite ends located outside the mould. Now, the top surface 16 of the crossbar may be arranged at the installation height of the unit 3 by regulating the adjuster's protrusion. Finally, the protective pipe is equipped with a collar 12, which substantially seals the perforation to which the protective pipe and crossbar are arranged. When the top surface 16 of each crossbar 6 of the mould 7 is horizontally directed and at the correct height, a unit 3 may be installed on the crossbars and wall bracket 1 or 18 may be installed to protrude from the crossbar to support the unit from its opposite wall surfaces.

If unit 3 is not entirely upright, or if it is located next to its actual final position, the support arrangement may be equipped with one or several side shifting devices 23. The device mounted to the crossbar 6 comprises a dancer, which may be shifted in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal shaft of the crossbar. By altering the protrusion of the dancer, the element may be shifted in the cross direction of the mould, and thus assume a place according to the drawing.

One embodiment of such a side shifting device 23 is showed at figures 23 and 24 and comprises a screw-jack-like device with two rods 24 and 25 arranged opposite each other, whose mutual distance is regulated by a screw jack 26 operated by a threaded rod 27. The side shifting device is placed in parallel with the crossbar to have a first attaching surface formed by the quick coupler 22 of the triangular bracket and a second attaching surface in unit 3. Subsequently, the length of the device is adjusted by screwing on the threaded rod. It is also possible, instead of using the quick coupler 22, to achieve a mechanical connection between the crossbar and the rod 24.

When the unit 3 is in its final position, any side shifting devices 23 are removed, and concreting can be carried out, thus installing the unit rigidly to its concrete sole 9 in one single labour stage. No supplementary protective concreting or similar works are required any more.

If the purpose is to install a higher wall unit 3, the wall bracket 18 may be formed by a triangular bracket where a first bracket part 19 is mounted to the crossbar to protrude in a substantially vertical direction, a second bracket part 20 is mounted to the crossbar to protrude in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal shaft of the crossbar 6 and a third bracket part 21 is arranged to connect said first and second bracket parts.

The above description and the figures referred to therein are only intended to illustrate the present solution for the construction of a support arrangement. Thus the solution is not limited solely to the embodiment described above or in the enclosed claims, but several variations or alternative embodi- ments are feasible within the idea described in the attached claims.