A Process and Means for Stably Fixing Anchoring Organs to Surfaces.

Technical Field

The invention relates to a process and means for stably fixing anchoring organs to surfaces.

Specifically, though not exclusively, it is usefully applied for fixing anchoring organs or elements which are predisposed to enable anchorage of large ceramic slabs used, for example for covering external walls of buildings, realising ventilated walls characterised by variable-sized spaces between the slabs and the walls.

Background Art In the case of large-size slabs some of the adopted solutions are relatively complex and not fully reliable in terms of safety. In order to avoid the use of visually unappealing bolts or metal through-hooks, in some cases the inside surfaces of the slabs are partially perforated to create cavities, which are not complete through-holes so that the outside surfaces are left intact; threaded bolts or rods are fitted into the cavities. The rods or threaded bolts are then connectable to frames predisposed and constrained to the walls to be covered.

Apart from problems which can arise in relation to the reliability of the anchoring of the rods or bolts to the slabs, all of the prior art solutions exhibit a grave drawback which considerably hampers their use, i.e. the fact that the threaded bolts or rods projecting from their "inside" surfaces constitute a large problem in relation to the stacking of the slabs in warehouses, as well as to the manoeuvring and transport thereof in all of the stages preceding their final application.

The prior art also includes anchoring devices which do not include the presence of anchoring elements fixed to and projecting from the surfaces of the single slabs.

These are, however, relatively sophisticated devices which essentially include the realisation of an anchoring organ in two parts, reciprocally connectable by means of a joint, i.e. a first part which is stably fixed internally of the overall width of the slab and an external second part which is separate and insertable in the first.

These devices are, however, relatively expensive and require special care and attention during their application at the worksite. The main aim of the present invention is to obviate the above-described drawbacks in the prior art by means of a process and means for stably anchoring, at moment of application, anchoring organs to the surfaces of slabs, which produces an extremely solid and secure anchoring.

An advantage of the invention is constituted by the constructional and functional simplicity thereof.

A further advantage of the invention is the facility and rapidity of application thereof.

A further advantaged of the invention is the guarantee of safety it offers against possible damp infiltration. These aims and advantages and more besides are all attained by the invention as it is characterised in the accompanying claims.

Disclosure of Invention

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will better emerge from the detailed description that follows of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the invention, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying figures of the drawings, in which: figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an anchoring organ according to the

invention; figure 2 is a partially-sectioned view of an initial stage preceding the application of an anchoring organ to the surface of a slab; figure 3 is the same view as figure 2, relating to an initial stage preceding the application of a second embodiment of the anchoring organ to the surface of a slab; figure 4 is the same view as figures 2 and 3, relating to a final stage of application.

With reference to the figures of the drawings, 1 denotes in its entirety an anchoring organ predisposed to be stably fixed to a surface 2 of a slab 4 which in the example is constituted by a sandwich consisting of two thin ceramic slabs

41 and 42, cemented together.

The anchoring organ 1 has a base 10, which is provided on one side thereof with an active surface for coupling on the surface portion 2 to which the anchoring organ 1 is to be fastened, and, on the other side thereof with means 14 for gripping the anchoring organ 1. The gripping can be advantageously realised by a chuck 40 of a tool able to rotate the anchoring organ on command about a median axis x-x thereof.

A predetermined amount of glue 3 is spread on the active surface 11, which glue is solid before activation thereof, and which, in the first preferred embodiment, is of the type known as "hot-melt", i.e. it is activated when melted following application of a mechanical dissipating action which generates a heat necessary for producing the melting. In the preferred embodiment the necessary heat is produced following a dragging of the layer of glue 3 on the portion of surface 2 against which it is pressed into contact at the moment of application, as will be explained in more detail herein below.

In a further embodiment, illustrated in figure 3, before activation the glue 3 is bi-

component, in which the two components are separated and enclosed in respective and separate small containers in the form of blisters 3a and 3b. These two containers 3a and 3b are opened when subjected to a combined mechanical action such as the one described above, in which the anchoring organ 1 is rotated and pressed against the portion of surface 2. When subjected to this combined mechanical action the containers 3 a and 3b are broken and the liquids contained in them (resin and catalyser) are rapidly mixed, activating the glue. In a further embodiment, not illustrated in the accompanying figures of the drawings, the glue can be predisposed directly on the portion of surface 2 of the slab 4, on which the active surface 11 of the anchoring organ 1 is to be coupled. In the embodiment of figure 1, the active surface 11 is provided with at least a projecting organ, also having a centring function, which is arranged coaxially of the median rotation axis x-x and which allows centring of the anchoring organ 1 to a reference prefixed on the surface. In particular, the projecting organ is constituted by a brief tract of a tubular element 12, having a straight circular crown section, which is arranged coaxially to the axis of rotation x-x. The brief tract of tubular element 12 is designed to be coupled, with a predetermined amount of play, in a corresponding hollow seating 20 having a circular crown section which is specially and precedingly afforded at the position of the portion of surface 2 where the anchoring organ 1 is to be applied.

Before activation, the glue 3 is housed internally of the chamber defined by the internal cylindrical surface of the tract of tubular element and the portion of active surface 11 delimited internally thereof. The glue 3 occupies only a part of this chamber, leaving the end of the tubular element 12 free in order to enable introduction of the anchoring organ 1 into the hollow seating 20.

The base 10 comprises a further. portion of active surface 13, of predetermined size, which is arranged externally of the external cylindrical surface of the tract

of tubular element 12. The further portion of active surface 13 is destined to couple on a corresponding portion of the surface 2 and has a circular crown shape, arranged coaxially to the short tract of tubular element 12 and to the rotation axis x-x. In this way the base 10 and the whole anchoring organ 1 together exhibit an axial-symmetrical shape.

The tract of tubular element 12 and the size of the hollow seating 20 are reciprocally determined so that the glue, once in the liquid (or paste) state, can flow, after it has filled the hollow seating 20, into the space created between the further portion of active surface 13 and the corresponding portion of the surface 2 facing it, forming a sort of glue ring about the external edge of the base 10. This creates a perfect seal of the hollow seating 20, preventing any damp infiltration.

To prevent trapping air bubbles, at least one breather hole 15 can be made on the base 10, placing the chamber defined by the internal cylindrical surface of the tract of tubular element 12 and the portion of active surface 11 delimited by the tubular element 12 in direct communication with the outside environment. In a further embodiment, not illustrated, the means 14 for gripping are predisposed to enable the anchoring organ 1 to couple to a chuck of a tool which only vibrates the anchoring organ 1. The means for gripping 14 essentially comprise a spigot which is solidly constrained to the base 10, or which can be made solid to the base 10 by a removable connection.

In the latter case, the spigot can be provided with a thread though which is removably connected to a corresponding threaded seating afforded coaxially in the base.

Through the use of the above-described means, a process can be operated for stably fixing an anchoring organ 1 to a surface 2 which comprises application to

the surface 2 by a mechanical action including a compressive stage, of an anchoring organ 1 which is for this purpose provided with a base 10, which is on a side thereof provided with an active surface 11 for coupling on the portion of surface 2 to which the anchoring organ is to be fixed, and, at an opposite side thereof, is provided with means 14 for gripping the anchoring organ 1. In this process, on the active surface 11 or the corresponding portion of surface 2 on which the active surface 11 is to be coupled, a predetermined amount of glue 3 is arranged before application; the glue is activated only following subjection thereof to a mechanical action. The mechanical action is actuated using the means 14 for gripping the anchoring organ 1 , which move the anchoring organ and compress it against the surface 2. In particular, the anchoring organ 1 is rotated about a median rotation axis x-x thereof which rotation axis x-x is perpendicular to the active surface 11, and the anchoring organ 1 is pressed against the surface 2. In a further embodiment the anchoring organ 1 is vibrated and pressed against the surface 2.

In the illustrated embodiment the anchoring organ 1 is provided with at least one organ which also has a centring function, and which is solidly constrained and projecting from the active surface 11. The projecting organ is arranged coaxially to the median rotation axis x-x, and also has the task of centring the anchoring organ 1 to a reference point prefixed on the surface.

More specifically, the projecting organ is constituted by a short tract of tubular element 12, circular and cylindrical and coaxially arranged to the rotation axis x- x which is destined to be coupled, with a predetermined amount of play, in a corresponding hollow seating having a circular crown section 20 afforded in the surface 2. The glue 3, in a stable form and allowing free manipulation of the anchoring

organ 1 , is housed at least internally of the chamber defined by the internal cylindrical surface of the tract of tubular element 12 and by the portion of active surface 1 1 delimited internally of the tract of tubular element 12. The base 10 comprises a further portion of active surface 13, having a predetermined extension and being circular crown-shaped and coaxially arranged to the short tract of tubular element 12 and the rotation axis x-x, which portion of active surface 13 is destined to couple with a corresponding portion of the surface 2 and is arranged externally of the external cylindrical surface of the tract of tubular element 12 arranged coaxially thereto and to the rotation axis x-x. In the first embodiment the application of the anchoring organ 1 , which is overall axial-symmetrical, to the surface 2 is done according to the following sequence of stages: nearing the anchoring organ 1 to the surface 2 so that a. most external part of the anchoring organ 1 projecting as a tract of tubular element 12 partially penetrates internally of the hollow seating 20 having a circular crown shape; gripping of the anchoring organ by the chuck 40 of a tool able to draw the anchoring organ in rotation on command about the median axis x-x; rotating the anchoring organ 1 in combination with a predetermined thrust thereof against the surface 2 in order to bring the surface 2 into contact with the glue 3 which is activated following the rotation i.e. the mechanical action exerted thereon.