Improved main tee connection

Improved Main Tee Connection

Background of the invention

The invention relates to a suspended ceiling network and, very specifically, to improvements in overlay connections for the main ducts of such systems.

A suspended ceiling grid typically includes main runners and cross ducts that intersect with the main runners. Main runners are produced in fixed lengths, usually 12-foot lengths, and are overlapped end-to-end to extend across the room. To connect its terminals, a T-joint for existing network or duct products generally uses a complete overlay or end-link cut and formed from the duct fabric material. The overlay joint uses a tapered pocket pressed outward from the plane of the vertical mesh in one direction and a prominent, solid tongue with a locking stop pressed outward in the opposite direction. When installed, the tongue of each duct or T-shape inserts into a corresponding pocket creating a double locking action. When all the physical properties of the overlay joint are achieved in the ideal or desired shape and position, the T-joints interlock with the expected light input pressure, and align vertically and horizontally with each other. The resulting joint resists spacing forces adequately. However, the geometric properties of different material profiles tend to vary in a significant manner with variation or change in the thickness of the T-joint material requiring frequent tool adjustments, as necessary to achieve acceptable function of the part. Rigid overlay assembly problems and surface misalignment are the result of a combination of normal variation in material supply, tool wear, and sometimes constant vigilance at the point of fabrication.

General description of the invention

The invention provides an overlay connection for main ducts or T-joints including an end assembly with a uniquely formed pocket created in the recess between the central web of the duct and a separate spring steel clip attached to the web for alignment and interlocking with a corresponding corresponding end assembly. The result is a straight line connection to the main sewer or “T” shaped connections. Since the revealed pocket is formed by the recess created between a protruding recess on one side of the T-fabric and the surface of the inner clip, the pocket can be made with a constant width regardless of variations in the thickness of the T-joint material itself. The concept disclosed results in a connection to demonstrate consistent insertion pressure as a result of the constant geometric properties of the cavity T and the elastic nature of the clamp and web assembly.

The clip that is exposed for connection is formed directly with a similar clip so as to produce a very strong and reliable connection independent of any variation in the material properties of the T-joint. The clip and pocket are formed with the ends of the runners being connected and self-aligning initially and when connected Final to fit precisely with the butted ends of the sewers.

Brief explanation of the drawings

Figure 1: Shows a fragmented perspective of the ends of the two network streams before they are connected.

Figure 2: shows a lateral view of the terminal clip embodying the invention;

Figure 3: shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the clamp taken at level 3-3 shown in Figure (2);

Figure 4: shows a cross-sectional view of the clamp taken in the vertical plane 4-4 shown in Figure (2);

Figure 5: shows a cross-sectional view of the clamp taken in the overlapping planes shown by lines 5 - 5 in Figure (2);

Figure 6: An illustration of the clasp of the invention after it has been gradually formed by pressing and before it is separated from the continuous strip of sequentially formed clasps by pressing;

Figure 7: Shows a vertical side view of an end part of a network channel.

Figure 8: A cross-sectional view of a ducted fabric network of Figure 7, taken in the overlapping plane shown by lines 8 - 8;

Figure 9: shows the vertical endpoint of the network stream of Figure (7);

Figure 10: Shows a cross-sectional view taken in a horizontal plane of the end parts of a pair of butt grille runners and associated associated connector clamps;

Figure 11: A segmented side view of two grid runners that are assembled with a front end portion of one of the connector clips that is oriented in vertical alignment with a corresponding grid runner by connecting the clip on the right side with the flange of the grid runner on the left side. And

Figure 12: Shows a view similar to Figure (11) with the ends of the ducts also advanced towards the butt connection and the right-side clamp still carried on the flange of the left-side network duct to align vertically with the network ducts.

Detailed description:

The main runner or grid tee (10) is assembled at each of its longitudinal ends with a connector clip (11). The web T-joints shown (10) are typically conventional in construction and have a lower flange (12), a web (13) extending vertically up from the center of the flange, and a hollow reinforcing bulb (14) at the upper edge of the web. The T-joint (10) can be made in a traditional way with continuous strips formed by rolling from medium steel plates, so that the bulb (14) has one wall, the mesh (13) is formed with two layers of steel material, and the flange (12) has two portions (16). The flange portions (16) are held together and hidden from view from underneath by the cap strip (17) of the sheet metal, as in the conventional method. The roll-formed support is cut into T-joints with pre-determined lengths such as 12' nominal. The opposite ends of the T-joints are cut so that their edges (18) at the flange (12) are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the T-joint, and the edges of the mesh (13) and bulb (14) can be formed in a plane that is slightly inclined backwards (e.g. 1 to 3 degrees). away from the vertical through the flange edge (18). This slight backward tilt ensures that the corresponding flange edges (18) form a tight butt joint for good appearance when assembling with the mating T-joint. When describing T-joints (10) and clips (11) herein, the forward direction is an off-center direction of the T-joint, and when a standard T-joint is referred to, the flanges 12 are as previously indicated at the bottom edge of the vertical web with a direction T-joint under normal installation conditions.

Each end of the T-link (10) has its own network (13) penetrated by a notch (21) and open at the edge (22) of the network. At the rear portion of the web edge (22), the web portion (13) is shaped or compressed with a lateral deflection or projection (23) including a cantilever tab (24). The tab (24) is not connected to the surrounding areas of the network in the area in front of its connection with the rest of the protrusion (23). Apart from the protrusion (23), which includes the loop (24), the mesh material (13) surrounding the notch (21) remains in the original plane of the mesh (13). The lower and upper edges (26) and (27) of the notch (21) of the flange portion (16) and the bulb (14) are spaced preferably a large distance, such as a distance at least several times the thickness of the beam forming the T-joint, thus making the tools that A strong notch occurs in this area and makes the tool have a long life. Two holes (28) are punched through the mesh (13) to receive the clip parts (11) for permanent assembly, as described below.

The clip (11) is formed by pressing from sheet metal ore in the form of a sheet, preferably processed in molds or sequential tools in which different properties and shapes are created on the clip body. The clip (11) is preferably formed from high-strength spring steel such as Martinsite 130, which For example, it has a thickness of 0.020 inches. The clip material is therefore considerably stiffer than the average T-joint steel material (10).

The lattice (11) has an extended shape with an inner surface (31) adjusted to support the lattice (13) and the opposite outer face (32). The clip (11) includes stiffening or reinforcing flanges (33) and (34) at its upper part, and the lower edges protrude outward from the outer surface (32). The end of the clamp (11) is tapered and shaped at two locations (36) to form integral projections (37) that are stacked or installed after being inserted into the corresponding holes (28) in the T mesh (13) using a riveting method to assemble the clamp (11). ) permanently in the T link of the network (10).

The clip areas (11) surrounding the projection (37) are plane and can be taken for reference purposes as a plane for the clip body or to fit the clip. Apart from the protrusion (37), the synapse (11) is bilaterally symmetrical about a median longitudinal plane.

The main central hole, which is in the form of a polygon or heptagon (39), through the clamp (11) in its upper and lower regions, has a pair of opposing flanges (41) that are curved outside the plane of the clamp. As shown in Figure (4), the flanges or tabs (41) are bent outside the level of the clamp by more than 90 degrees, so that they gather towards each other with excessive proximity to the level of the clamp. The hole (39) is bound to the rear-facing flange surface (42).

The front of the major hole (39) is successively a minor round hole (44) and a square hole (46).

The round hole (44) is centered on an imaginary vertical line through the end edge (18) of the duct flange when the clip is assembled on the duct. The triangular depression (47) formed on the inner face or side (31) of the clamp opposite the side shown in Figure (2) arises as a bridge to the area between the minor holes (44) and (46). A lateral projection (48), centered on the imaginary center line or midplane of the clamp (11), is formed on the inner front surface of the clamp of the square hole (46). The projection (48) has a cam surface (49) that tapers laterally away from the surrounding areas of the clasp from the forward portion (50) from behind with the rearward surface of the clasp edge (51) which forms part of the hole (46). A small spherical projection (52) is formed on the outer side of the clamp (11) longitudinally between the projection (48) and the leading edge (53) of the clamp (11). The front edge (53) has a vertical portion (54) and lower and upper oblique portions (56) and (57), respectively, that pull the vertical portion (54).

Figure (6) shows that the stripped front end of the clamp bound by the lead edge parts (54), (56), and (57) overlaps in a V-shaped notch (58) penetrating the back of the previous clamp made in a progressive forming equipment. By pressing, this technique produces a clamp (11) that is significantly longer than the effective length of the support used in each clamp. The extended length of the clamp (11) enhances its stability when assembled on the T-joint (10).

The lead edge portions (56) and (57) extend into horizontal edges (59) spaced at a predetermined distance from each other. The inclined surfaces (61) and (62) are tilted back from the horizontal edges (59) formed by the clip flange connections (33) and (34).

The clip body (11), located in front of the major hole (39), is between the horizontal bend lines shown at (63) and (64), extending from the edge parts (59), which surrounds the protrusions (52) and (48) and the cavity or depression. recess or depression (47) is level and slightly curved laterally from the level of the back of the clamp body of the main hole (39) to the side to which the projection (48) extends (in Fig. 3).

The geometric properties of the clip (11) and its shapes are prepared on the tip of the T-link (10) for connection with a similar clip or a similar clip, and the tip of the T-link has the properties mentioned previously in the method of initiating the connection. Accordingly, the T(10) junction has, as usual, identical or essentially similar clamps on each of its ends. The T-links are connected end-to-end by aligning them roughly end-to-end and pressing their clips into pockets (66) formed between the interior of the mesh protrusion (23) and the related clip (11) of the opposite end of the T-link. The initial alignment does not need to be perfect, as the stripped front of the connector formed by surfaces (56), (57), (61), and (62) is prepared to guide or convex the clips into vertical alignment. Lateral alignment is initially achieved by simply anchoring the clips sideways or next to each other. If the clips (11) of the T-joint that is mounted on top of the flange portion (16) of the previously installed T-joint are simply placed by clip on the correct side of the clip on the previously installed T-joint, then the lower inclined edges or surfaces (56) and (61) of the clamp being installed The clamp cambers vertically upward when it is compressed longitudinally against the corresponding T-link. This convex action is shown in Figures (11) and (12), where surfaces (56) and (61) interlock at the lead edge of the flange portion (16) of the corresponding, previously installed T-connection (10). The spherical projection (52) prevents the leading edge (53) of the clip that is pushed into the pocket (66) from cutting into the surface of the opposing lug or the back of the projection (23), which is usually made of a softer material than the clip. The angular or oblique orientation of the receiving lug (24) and the accompanying protrusion (23) force the clamp to be installed laterally towards the level of the mesh (13) of the T-receiving link. The flanges or lugs (41) of the receiving clamp (11) are aligned with the parallel edges (59) of the clamp being made Insert it to fit the clips together vertically and tightly towards the tip of the insertion action. The assembly distance between the flanges (41) avoids any undue tight fit between the flanges (59) of the mounting clip and the flanges of the receiving clip so that the clips are very closely and almost completely connected. When the longitudinally mounted clip is fully advanced relative to the receiving clip, the rear facing edge surface or locking edge (51) of the projection (48) enters the major hole of the mating clip and is locked against the edge of this hole. This dish action produces audible and sound signals for the mounting device that completes the connection. Before the final increase in assembly motion, the overlap of the recess (47) between this region and the forward projection (52) can be reduced and this can help align the synapses vertically by guiding the forward projection vertically. The stripped shape of the leading edge (53) of the clamp and the geometric shape of the flanges (41) and pocket (66) prevent the mating clips from connecting if the clips and their raceways are not vertically aligned.

The clamps (11) can be precisely machined from sheet metal strip whereby the beam can be clamped to precise thickness tolerances while being reasonably economical as a result of their relatively small size compared to the volume of material comprising the appropriate mesh T-joint. The pocket (66) formed between the projection (23) that includes the loop (24) and the inner surface of the clamp (10) does not differ in width despite the regularly discovered differences in the thickness of the T-joint material. Variation in pocket width (66) is avoided because the eyelet (24) and associated protrusion (23) can be easily machined using tools with a lateral offset from the mesh plane T by a constant amount determined in advance for the thickness of the joint material T. Consistent lateral size determination of the pocket (66) is ensured ) that only low cohesion forces are required in full bonding between a pair of T-links. The bond is very strong between overlapping T-links because the locking surfaces are part of the clamps and therefore have a very high resultant resistance. By coupling the pair of clips (11) together, their corresponding round holes (44) are aligned and a bolt or other fastening device can be inserted through those holes where an exceptionally strong connection is required.

A coupled pair of mesh links can be conveniently separated without the use of tools by simply twisting one of the coupled T-links around its longitudinal axis.

This rotational action results in elastic deflection of the buttonholes (24), embossments (23) and clasps to a degree sufficient to cause the locking edges (51) to move laterally out of engagement with the receiving edge (42) of the main hole (39) of the corresponding clasp. Thus, it releases its locked clutch. This elastic deflection is allowed by the geometric properties of the relevant protrusion and the loop on the web and by the lack of a direct fixation of the clamp with the front of the web to the locking edge of the main hole in the web.

The flat, angular part of the clip works between lines (63) and (64) at the front end of the clip, which is at an angle with respect to the plane of the clip at the back, and when connected with another clip to “confine” or push the T-net above and below the notch front net area in alignment. Level with another continuous T-joint regardless of the thickness of the T-material.

It should be clear that this discovery is only a model and that various changes can be made to it by adding, modifying or removing details from it without deviating from the scope of the instructions contained in this discovery.

Therefore, the invention is not limited to the specific details of this discovery, except that this is within the limits necessarily limited by the following protection elements.