JP7515161B2 - Connection structure of structural frame materials - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a connection structure for structural frame materials used to assemble and form structures such as factory partition walls, racks, and shelves.

As a structure for connecting and fixing two long frame members formed continuously in one direction by extrusion molding or the like, by combining them at right angles to each other, a structure is known in which a bolt member is engaged with one of the frame members, a nut member is inserted and engaged in a groove in the other frame member, and the bolt member and nut member are screwed together to connect and fix the frame members to each other (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 3).

The connection structure for structural frame materials in Patent Documents 1 and 2 includes a first frame material and a second frame material with grooves on their peripheral surfaces, a semi-cylindrical joint member, a plate-shaped nut member, and a bolt member, with the joint member being inserted into a hole formed in the groove of the first frame material, and the nut member being inserted into the groove of the second frame material. The bolt member is screwed into the nut member, and the head portion is engaged with the hole or notch of the joint member. Then, by tightening the bolt member in this state, both frame materials are sandwiched between the joint member and the nut member, and the end surface of the first frame material is pressed against the peripheral surface of the second frame material.

The connection structure for structural frame materials in Patent Document 3 includes a first frame material and a second frame material with grooves on their peripheral surfaces, a C-shaped joint member, a T-shaped nut member, and a bolt member, the joint member being inserted into a hole formed in the groove of the first frame material, and the nut member being inserted into the groove of the second frame material. The bolt member is screwed into the nut member, and its head is engaged in the hole of the joint member. Then, by tightening the bolt member in this state, both frame materials are sandwiched between the joint member and the nut member, and the end surface of the first frame material is pressed against the peripheral surface of the second frame material.

JP 2005-290771 A JP 2000-64437 A JP 7-26636 A

However, the connecting structures for structural frame materials in Patent Documents 1 to 3 are configured to clamp the two frame materials by engaging a nut member with a flange portion provided inside the groove of the second frame material, which means that stress is likely to concentrate at the engaging portion between the nut member and the flange portion, which may cause deformation of the flange portion or misalignment of the nut member, which may cause rattling at the connection portion of the frame materials. Furthermore, with this structure, when the bolt member is tightened, the bolt member and nut member are not held in a fixed position, which causes the problem of variation in the assembly state of the frame materials. In addition, since it is necessary to screw the bolt member into the inside of the groove from its extension direction, the operation of connecting the two frame materials is time-consuming.

The present invention was made in consideration of the above problems, and aims to provide a connection structure for structural frame materials that can easily and appropriately connect two long frame materials to each other.

To solve the above problems, the connection structure of the structural frame material of the present invention employs the following technical measures.

The present invention is a connecting structure for frame materials for structures which connects and fixes two long frame materials at right angles to each other, and comprises a set of bolt member and nut member which connect the frame materials to each other, wherein the first frame material has a groove extending along its peripheral surface, and the inner bottom of the groove has a bolt insertion hole which penetrates in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first frame material, and the second frame material has a groove extending along its peripheral surface, and the inner bottom of the groove has a nut insertion hole which penetrates in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second frame material and a fitted portion , and the nut member has a positioning fitting portion which can be fitted into the fitted portion, and the nut member is inserted and engaged into the nut insertion hole, and the bolt member is inserted and engaged into the bolt insertion hole, and is screwed into the screw hole of the nut member through a hollow portion provided in the center of the second frame material.

The present invention relates to a connection structure for structural frame members that connects and fixes two long frame members at right angles to each other, the connection structure comprising a pair of bolt members and nut members that connect the frame members to each other, the first frame member having a groove extending along its peripheral surface, the inner bottom of the groove having a bolt insertion hole that penetrates in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the first frame member, the second frame member having a groove extending along its peripheral surface, the inner bottom of the groove having a nut insertion hole that penetrates in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second frame member, and the nut member. The second frame material is configured such that a bolt member is inserted and engaged into the nut insertion hole, and the bolt member is inserted and engaged into the bolt insertion hole and screwed into a screw hole of the nut member through a hollow portion provided in the center of the second frame material, and the second frame material is provided with a fitted portion that continues in the extension direction of the second frame material at least on the peripheral portion of the nut insertion hole at the inner bottom of the groove, and the nut member is provided with a positioning fitting portion that can be fitted into the fitted portion.

Preferably, the nut member has a hook portion that protrudes from the peripheral surface toward the outer periphery and can be engaged with the peripheral portion of the nut insertion hole, and the fitting portion is provided on the hook portion's engagement surface with the peripheral portion.

According to the structure for connecting structural frame members of the present invention, the stress applied to the engagement between the nut member and the nut insertion hole acts in the extension direction of the second frame member, so the peripheral portion of the nut insertion hole is unlikely to deform, and the nut member is unlikely to shift from the nut insertion hole. This allows the two frame members to be properly connected and fixed to each other without any rattling. In addition, with this structure, when the bolt member is inserted from the peripheral side into the bolt insertion hole of the first frame member and further screwed into the nut member inserted into the nut insertion hole of the second frame member, the end surface of the second frame member is firmly pressed and fixed against the peripheral surface of the first frame member, so the effort required for connecting the two frame members is significantly reduced.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a connection structure of a structural frame material according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a partially exploded cross-sectional view showing the connection structure of the structural frame material according to the embodiment. 1 is a front view and a plan view of a first frame material. 2 is a front view and a plan view of the second frame material. A side view of the first frame material and the second frame material. 2A to 2C are a front view, a side view, a plan view, and a bottom view of a nut member.

The following describes the connection structure of a structural frame material according to an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment described below is an example of the present invention, and does not limit the configuration of the present invention to this specific example.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the connection structure for structural frame materials in this embodiment is a structure in which two long first and second frame materials 1A and 1B are assembled at right angles and connected and fixed together, and includes a set of bolt members 2 and nut members 3 for connecting the frame materials 1A and 1B to each other.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the frame members 1A and 1B are members having a generally square shape in a side view, which are continuously formed in one direction by extrusion molding of a metal material such as aluminum or a magnesium alloy.
A groove 12 having a generally U-shaped cross section that continues in the extension direction of the frame materials 1A, 1B is formed in each of the four peripheral surfaces (hereinafter referred to as "frame peripheral surfaces") 10 of the front, back, flat surface, and bottom surface, and extends between the end surfaces (hereinafter referred to as "frame end surfaces") 11 of the frame materials 1A, 1B. In addition, a hollow portion 13 having a generally circular cross section that continues in the extension direction of the frame materials 1A, 1B is formed in the center of the frame materials 1A, 1B, and extends between the frame end surfaces 11.

In the following explanation, the vertical direction of the front view shown in Figures 3 and 4, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the central axis CL of frame materials 1A and 1B, is referred to as the vertical direction of frame materials 1A and 1B, the left-right direction of the front view, i.e., the extension direction of the central axis CL of frame materials 1A and 1B, is referred to as the left-right direction of frame materials 1A and 1B, and the vertical direction of the plan view shown in Figures 3 and 4, i.e., the direction perpendicular to the central axis CL of frame materials 1A and 1B, is referred to as the front-rear direction of frame materials 1A and 1B.

The groove 12 is provided along the center between the edges of the frame peripheral surface 10. An inwardly protruding flange portion (hereinafter referred to as the "inner flange") 14 is formed on the inner upper edge of the groove 12, and a space wider than the gap between the inner flanges 14 is defined inside the groove 12. The groove 12 can be used, for example, to engage and hold a connector such as a nut or hook for connecting other components.

The width dimension of the gap between the inner flanges 14, i.e., the opening width of the groove 12, is set to a dimension smaller than the outer diameter of the head portion (hereinafter referred to as the "bolt head") 22 of the bolt member 2 and the outer diameter of the body portion (hereinafter referred to as the "nut body") 31 of the nut member 3. Therefore, in the frame material (hereinafter referred to as the "first frame material") 1A in which the bolt insertion hole 17 is provided, an arc-shaped notch 41 is formed at a position facing the bolt insertion hole 17 in the inner flange 14 on the front side to allow the bolt head 22 to be inserted into the groove 12. On the other hand, in the frame material (hereinafter referred to as the "second frame material") 1B in which the nut insertion hole 18 is provided, an arc-shaped notch 41 is formed at a position facing the nut insertion hole 18 in the inner flanges 14 on the front side and the back side to allow the nut body 31 to be inserted into the groove 12. If the opening width of the groove 12 is larger than the outer diameter of the bolt head 22 and the nut body 31, and the bolt head 22 and the nut body 31 can be properly inserted into the groove 12, the inner flange 14 does not need to have a notch 41.

The inner bottom portion 42 of the groove portion 12 (hereinafter referred to as the "groove bottom portion") is formed in a generally planar shape parallel to the frame peripheral surface 10. The groove bottom portions 42 are provided facing each other on the front and rear sides and on the top and bottom sides of the hollow portion 13, and these four groove bottom portions 42 form the peripheral wall (hereinafter referred to as the "inner cylinder portion") 15 of the hollow portion 13.

At the groove bottom 42, two parallel recesses (hereinafter referred to as "engagement grooves") 16 with a generally V-shaped cross section are formed as engaging portions that are continuous in the extension direction of the frame materials 1A, 1B between the frame end faces 11. The engagement grooves 16 are each provided at a position that is arranged along the inside of the end face of the inner flange 14 when the groove portion 12 is viewed from the opening side.

A substantially circular bolt insertion hole 17 for inserting the bolt member 2 is formed at a position near the frame end surface 11 of the first frame material 1A. The bolt insertion hole 17 is provided from the groove bottom 42 on the front side through the hollow portion 13 to the groove bottom 42 on the opposite side (back side). That is, the bolt insertion hole 17 is provided so as to penetrate the inner tube portion 15 of the first frame material 1A from a direction perpendicular to the central axis CL, and holds the shaft portion (hereinafter referred to as the "bolt shaft") 21 of the bolt member 2 in a direction perpendicular to the inner tube portion 15. Therefore, when a bending moment acts on the second frame material 1B, the direction of the stress applied to the engagement portion between the bolt shaft 21 and the bolt insertion hole 17 acts on the inner tube portion 15 of the first frame material 1A in the extension direction.

The inner diameter of the bolt insertion hole 17 is formed to be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the bolt shaft 21. Therefore, the bolt shaft 21 is held in the bolt insertion hole 17 without any rattling.

Near the frame end face 11 of the second frame material 1B, a substantially circular nut insertion hole 18 for inserting the nut member 3 is formed. The nut insertion hole 18 penetrates from the groove bottom 42 on the front or back side through the hollow portion 13 to the groove bottom 42 on the opposite side. That is, the nut insertion hole 18 is provided so as to penetrate the inner cylinder portion 15 from a direction perpendicular to the central axis CL, and holds the nut body 31 in a direction perpendicular to the inner cylinder portion 15. Therefore, when a bending moment acts on the second frame material 1B, the direction of the stress applied to the engagement portion between the nut body 31 and the nut insertion hole 18 acts on the inner cylinder portion 15 of the second frame material 1B in the extension direction.

The fitting grooves 16 on the front and back sides of the second frame material 1B extend between the frame end faces 11, passing over at least the periphery of the nut insertion hole 18 at the groove bottom 42.

The inner diameter of the nut insertion hole 18 is formed to be approximately the same as the outer diameter of the nut body 31. Therefore, the nut body 31 is held in the nut insertion hole 18 without any rattling.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the bolt member 2 comprises a cylindrical bolt shaft 21 with a thread formed on a predetermined area of the outer peripheral surface, and a cylindrical bolt head 22 formed at one end of the bolt shaft 21 and having a larger diameter than the bolt shaft 21. When the bolt shaft 21 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 17 of the first frame material 1A, the base end surface of the bolt head 22 is configured to abut and engage with the groove bottom 42.

In this embodiment, the bolt member 2 is an M8 hexagon socket bolt as specified in JIS/B1176, but other types of bolts may be used as long as they correspond to the threaded hole 33 of the nut member 3 and can be properly attached to the first frame material 1A. The bolt member 2 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum, but there is no limitation on the material from which it is made, such as a synthetic resin or ceramic with high strength and high elasticity, as long as it can connect and fix the frame materials 1A and 1B to each other with the desired strength.

As shown in FIG. 6, the nut member 3 has a generally cylindrical nut body 31 and a hook portion 32 that protrudes in the outer circumferential direction from a position near one end of the peripheral surface portion (hereinafter referred to as the "nut peripheral surface") 30 of the nut body 31. In addition, a screw hole 33 is formed in the peripheral surface portion of the nut body 31, penetrating in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the nut body 31.

In this embodiment, the nut member 3 is made of a metal material such as stainless steel or aluminum, just like the bolt member 2, but there is no limitation on the material from which it is made, such as synthetic resin or ceramic with high strength and high elasticity, as long as it can connect and fix the frame materials 1A and 1B to each other with the desired strength.

A pair of hooks 32 are formed to protrude diagonally from the nut peripheral surface 30, and when the nut body 31 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18, the surfaces of the hooks 32 facing the nut body 31 each abut and engage with the peripheral portion (groove bottom 42) of the nut insertion hole 18.

The width of the hook portion 32 is set to approximately the same dimension as the opening width of the groove portion 12. Therefore, when the nut member 2 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18, the hook portion 32 is inserted into the groove portion 12 with both side edges aligned with the inside of the end face of the inner flange 14, and abuts against the groove bottom 42 in that orientation. In other words, the orientation of the nut member 2 when it is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18 is restricted by the gap between the inner flanges 14.

The height of the hook portion 32 is set to a dimension smaller than the height of the space inside the groove portion 12. Therefore, when using the groove portion 12 to hold components such as connectors, these components are unlikely to interfere with the hook portion 32. This allows the groove portion 12 to be effectively used up to the frame end surface 11.

On the surface of the hook portion 32 facing the nut body 31, i.e., the surface that engages with the peripheral edge of the nut insertion hole 18, two convex portions (hereinafter referred to as "engagement claws") 36 with a generally V-shaped cross section that continue from the base end to the tip in the extension direction of the hook portion 32 are formed in parallel as positioning engagement portions. The engagement claws 36 extend along the side edges of the hook portion 32, and when the hook portion 32 is abutted against the groove bottom 42 as described above, they are engaged with the two engagement grooves 16 provided in the groove bottom 42. This prevents the nut member 3 from rotating in the circumferential direction. Therefore, even if a rotational moment acts on the connection portion of both frame materials 1A and 1B, the engagement portion between the nut member 3 and the nut insertion hole 18 is unlikely to shift.

The screw hole 33 is provided at approximately the center between both ends of the nut body 31, and when the nut member 2 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18 to a position where the engagement claw 36 of the hook portion 32 engages with the engagement groove 16 of the groove bottom 42 as described above, it communicates with the hollow portion 13 of the second frame member 1B and is arranged coaxially with the hollow portion 13 (center axis CL).

In the connection structure of the structural frame material of this embodiment, the procedure for connecting and fixing the frame materials 1A and 1B to each other will be described. First, the nut member 3 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18 of the second frame material 1B from the front side or rear side until the hook portion 32 abuts and engages with the peripheral portion (groove bottom portion 42) of the nut insertion hole 18. As a result, the engagement claws 36 provided on the hook portion 32 are each engaged with the corresponding engagement groove 16 of the groove bottom portion 42, and the nut member 3 is held in a non-rotating state relative to the nut insertion hole 18. At this time, the screw hole 33 of the nut member 3 is coaxially connected to the hollow portion 13 of the second frame material 1B.

Next, the frame end face 11 of the second frame material 1B is abutted against the frame peripheral face 10 on the rear side of the first frame material 1A so that the center of the hollow portion 13 of the second frame material 1B coincides with the center of the bolt insertion hole 17 of the first frame material 1A. In this state, the bolt member 2 is inserted from the front side into the bolt insertion hole 17 of the first frame material 1A until the bolt head 22 abuts and engages with the peripheral portion (groove bottom portion 42) of the bolt insertion hole 17.

Alternatively, the bolt member 2 is first inserted into the bolt insertion hole 17 of the first frame material 1A from the front side, and in this state, the frame end surface 11 of the second frame material 1B is abutted against the frame peripheral surface 10 on the rear side of the first frame material 1A so that the center of the hollow portion 13 of the second frame material 1B coincides with the center of the bolt insertion hole 17 of the first frame material 1A.

At this time, the threaded hole 33 of the nut member 3, like the bolt insertion hole 17, is connected to the hollow portion 13 of the second frame material 1B with its center aligned, so the bolt shaft 21 of the bolt member 2 is smoothly inserted into the threaded hole 33 through the hollow portion 13.

When the bolt member 2 is tightened in this state, the nut member 3 is drawn toward the base end of the bolt shaft 21 and pressed against the periphery of the nut insertion hole 18, pressing the second frame material 1B toward the first frame material 1A. Meanwhile, the bolt head 22 of the bolt member 2 presses against the periphery of the bolt insertion hole 17, pressing the first frame material 1A toward the second frame material 1B. As a result, the frame peripheral surface 10 on the rear side of the first frame material 1A and the frame end surface 11 of the second frame material 1B are pressed against each other, thereby firmly connecting and fixing the two frame materials 1A and 1B to each other.

In this way, according to the connection structure of the structural frame material of this embodiment, the stress applied to the engagement portion between the nut body 31 and the nut insertion hole 18 acts in the extension direction of the second frame material 1B, so the peripheral portion of the nut insertion hole 18 is unlikely to deform and the nut member 3 is unlikely to shift from the nut insertion hole 18. Therefore, the two frame materials 1A, 1B can be properly connected and fixed to each other without any rattling.

Furthermore, with this device, the nut member 3 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18 until the hook portion 32 provided on the nut peripheral surface 30 abuts and engages with the peripheral edge of the nut insertion hole 18, and in this state the bolt member 2 is inserted into the bolt insertion hole 17 from the frame peripheral surface 10 side and screwed into the nut member 3. This causes the frame end surface 11 of the second frame member 1B to be pressed against and fixed to the peripheral surface of the first frame member 1A, so that the two frame members 1A and 1B can be easily and appropriately connected to each other.

In addition, when the nut member 3 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18, the orientation of the nut member 2 is restricted by the gap between the inner flanges 14 of the groove portion 12, and the engagement claws 36 of the hook portion 32 engage with the engagement groove 16 of the groove bottom portion 42 to prevent the nut member 3 from rotating in the circumferential direction. Furthermore, since the screw hole 33 and the hollow portion 13 of the second frame material 1B are arranged on the same axis, there is no need to center the screw hole 33 and the hollow portion 13 of the second frame material 1B. Furthermore, if the bolt member 2 is inserted into the nut insertion hole 18 in this state, the bolt shaft 21 is smoothly inserted into the screw hole 33 as it is, so there is no need to center the bolt shaft 21 and the screw hole 33. Therefore, the effort required for connecting the two frame materials 1A and 1B is further reduced.

In the above embodiment, the bolt insertion hole 17 is provided near the frame end surface 11 of the first frame material 1A, and the second frame material 1B is connected and fixed at a right angle along the frame end surface 11 on one end side of the first frame material 1A. However, the bolt insertion hole 17 may be provided at a midpoint between both ends of the first frame material 1A, and the second frame material 1B may be connected and fixed at a right angle at the midpoint of the first frame material 1A.

In the above embodiment, the two engagement grooves 16 arranged side by side in the groove bottom 42 are engaged with the two engagement claws 36 arranged side by side in the hook portion 32 to prevent the nut member 3 from rotating in the circumferential direction. However, the engagement groove 16 and the engagement claws 36 may each be provided in a single number, or three or more. In addition, the engagement groove 16 and the engagement claws 36 are not limited to their uneven shapes, such as circular, rectangular, or curved, as long as they can appropriately prevent the nut member 3 from rotating in the circumferential direction.

In the above embodiment, the grooves 12 of the frame materials 1A and 1B are provided with mating grooves 16, while the hooks 32 of the nut member 3 are provided with mating claws 36, and the mating grooves 16 and mating claws 36 are mated to each other to prevent the nut member 3 from rotating in the circumferential direction. However, the grooves 12 of the frame materials 1A and 1B may be provided with convex portions as mating portions that continue in the extension direction of the frame materials 1A and 1B, while the hooks 32 of the nut member 3 may be provided with concave portions as mating portions for positioning that can be mated with the concave portions, and the mating convex portions and concave portions may be mated to each other to prevent the nut member 3 from rotating in the circumferential direction.

1A First frame material (frame material)
1B Second frame material (frame material)
2 Bolt member 3 Nut member 10 Frame peripheral surface (peripheral surface portion of frame material)
11 Frame end surface (end surface portion of frame material)
12 Groove portion 13 Hollow portion 14 Inner flange 15 Inner cylindrical portion 16 Fitting groove (fitted portion)
17 Bolt insertion hole 18 Nut insertion hole 21 Bolt shaft (shaft portion)
22 Bolt head (head part)
30 Nut peripheral surface 31 Nut body (body portion)
32 Hook portion 33 Screw hole 36 Engagement claw (engagement portion)
41 Notch 42 Groove bottom CL Central axis

Claims (3)

A structure for connecting two long frame members at right angles to each other, the structure comprising a pair of bolt members and nut members for connecting the frame members to each other,
The first frame member has a groove extending along a peripheral surface thereof, and a bolt insertion hole penetrating in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the first frame member is provided in an inner bottom portion of the groove.
The second frame member has a groove extending along a peripheral surface thereof, and a nut insertion hole penetrating in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second frame member and a fitted portion are provided at an inner bottom of the groove,
the nut member has a fitting portion for positioning that can be fitted into the fitted portion,
A connecting structure for frame materials for structures, in which the nut member is inserted and engaged into the nut insertion hole, the bolt member is inserted and engaged into the bolt insertion hole, and the bolt member is screwed into the screw hole of the nut member through a hollow portion provided in the center of the second frame material. A structure for connecting two long frame members at right angles to each other, the structure comprising a pair of bolt members and nut members for connecting the frame members to each other,
The first frame member has a groove extending along a peripheral surface thereof, and a bolt insertion hole penetrating in a direction perpendicular to an extension direction of the first frame member is provided in an inner bottom portion of the groove.
The second frame member has a groove extending along a peripheral surface thereof, and a nut insertion hole penetrating in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second frame member is provided in an inner bottom portion of the groove.
The nut member is inserted and engaged into the nut insertion hole, and the bolt member is inserted and engaged into the bolt insertion hole, and is screwed into the screw hole of the nut member through a hollow portion provided in the center of the second frame member,
The second frame member has a fitted portion that is continuous in the extension direction of the second frame member at least on the periphery of the nut insertion hole at the inner bottom portion of the groove portion,
The nut member is a connecting structure for structural frame materials, the connecting structure having a positioning engagement portion that can be fitted into the fitted portion. The nut member has a hook portion that protrudes from a peripheral surface toward an outer periphery and can be hooked onto a peripheral edge portion of the nut insertion hole,
The structure for connecting structural frame members according to claim 2 , wherein the fitting portion is provided on a surface of the hook portion that engages with the peripheral edge portion.

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