A connection for timber members

Abstract

A connection, a kit of parts, a modular building and associated methods. The connection comprising: a first timber member; a first connector assembly associated with the first timber member, the first connector assembly comprising: a plurality of elongate anchor members, each anchor member comprising a first end extending into and fixed with respect to the first timber member; and a second end protruding from the first timber member, wherein each of the anchor members defines a hole perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt; the connection further comprising: a plate connected or connectable to a second member, the plate defining at least one hole for receiving a bolt; at least one plurality of bolts, the or each bolt configured to extend through at least one of the anchor members and plate; wherein for the or each bolt, at least one of the corresponding anchor member hole or plate hole is oversized so as to receive the corresponding bolt with a clearance fit; and the or each bolt is configured to clamp the plate and anchor member such that relative movement of the plate and first connector assembly is resisted by friction caused by the clamping force provided by the plurality of bolts.

1 . A connection, comprising:
 a first timber member;   a first connector assembly associated with the first timber member, the first connector assembly comprising:
 a plurality of elongate anchor members, each anchor member comprising a first end extending into and fixed with respect to the first timber member; and a second end protruding from the first timber member,
 wherein each of the anchor members defines a hole perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt; 
 
   the connection further comprising:
 a plate connected or connectable to a second member, the plate defining at least one hole for receiving a bolt; 
 at least one bolt, the or each bolt configured to extend through at least one of the anchor members and plate;
 wherein for the or each bolt, at least one of the corresponding anchor member hole or plate hole is oversized so as to receive the corresponding bolt with a clearance fit; and 
 the or each bolt is configured to clamp the plate and anchor member such that relative movement of the plate and first connector assembly is resisted by friction caused by the clamping force provided by the or each bolt. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bolt is a first plurality of bolts, the connection further comprising:
 a second member, wherein the second member is a second timber member;   a second connector assembly associated with the second timber member, the second connector assembly comprising:
 a plurality of second elongate anchor members, each anchor member comprising a first end extending into and fixed with respect to the second timber member, and a second end protruding from the second timber member,
 wherein each of the anchor members defines a hole perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt; 
 
   the connection further comprising:
 a second plurality of bolts, each of the second plurality of bolts configured to extend through at least one of the second anchor members and plate. 
   
     
     
         3 . The connection of  claim 2 , wherein, for each second bolt:
 at least one of the corresponding anchor member hole or plate hole is oversized so as to receive the corresponding bolt with a clearance fit; and   each bolt is configured to clamp the plate and anchor member such that relative movement of the plate and first connector assembly is resisted by friction caused by the clamping force provided by the plurality of bolts.   
     
     
         4 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein the plate defines a plurality of holes aligned with those of the anchor members of the first connector assembly and, for each bolt, both of the corresponding first connector anchor member hole and plate hole are oversized so as to receive the corresponding bolt with a clearance fit. 
     
     
         5 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein each anchor member comprises a rod and a bracket, wherein the first end of the rod comprises a screw thread for screwing into the respective timber member, and the bracket is at the second end of the rod and defines one of the holes. 
     
     
         6 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the length to the diameter of the elongate anchor members is at least 10:1. 
     
     
         7 . The connection of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor members comprise pairs of anchor members arranged flanking the plate, such that each bolt extends through a pair of anchor members. 
     
     
         8 . The connection of  claim 7 , wherein the anchor members of at least one pair of anchor members have the same orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the respective timber member; and/or
 the anchor members of at least one pair of anchor members are arranged such that the first ends diverge from one another.   
     
     
         9 . The connection of any of  claim 1 , wherein;
 the first connector assembly comprises a row of at least four anchor members;   a first and fourth anchor member are each arranged at a first angle to the surface of the first timber member; and   a second and third anchor member, located between the first and fourth anchor members, are each arranged at a second angle to the surface of the first timber member.   
     
     
         10 . The connection according to  claim 1 , wherein the anchor members of one of the connector assemblies are arranged such that a further connector assembly with the same arrangement can be located on an opposing face of the first timber member without collision between anchor members of the first connector assembly and further connector assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The connection according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a further connector assembly associated with the first timber member, the further connector assembly being for connecting to a third member; the further connector assembly comprising:
 a plurality of elongate anchor members, each anchor member comprising a first end extending into and fixed with respect to the first timber member; and a second end protruding from the first timber member; 
 wherein the anchor members of the further connector assembly are arranged to avoid collision with the anchor members of the first connector assembly. 
   
     
     
         12 . The connection according to  claim 11 , wherein the arrangement of anchor members of the first connector assembly is the same as the arrangement of anchor members of the further connector assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The connection according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of connector assemblies associated with the first timber member, the plurality of connector assemblies being arranged in parallel in the first timber member. 
     
     
         14 . A kit of parts for use in the connection as defined in  claim 1 , the kit of parts comprising:
 a first connector assembly configured to be connected to a first timber member, the first connector assembly comprising:
 a plurality of elongate anchor members, each anchor member comprising a first end configured to extend into and be fixed with respect to a first timber member; and a second end configured to protrude from the first timber member, 
 wherein each of the anchor members defines a hole perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt; 
   the kit of parts further comprising:
 a plate connected or connectable to a second member, the plate defining at least one hole for receiving a bolt; 
 at least one bolt, the or each bolt configured to extend through at least one of the anchor members and plate, 
 wherein for the or each bolt, at least one of the corresponding anchor member hole or plate hole is oversized so as to receive the corresponding bolt with a clearance fit; 
   and the or each bolt is configured to clamp the plate and anchor member such that relative movement of the plate and first connector assembly is resisted by the clamping force provided by the at least one bolt.   
     
     
         15 . A modular building comprising a plurality of connections according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . A method of erecting a building including either:
 use of a connection according to  claim 1  in a pre-fabricated panel or member forming part of the building.   
     
     
         17 . A method of connecting two adjacent timber members using the connection of any of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 installing the anchor members of the first connector assembly in a first timber member;   locating the plate adjacent the anchor members;   inserting one or more bolts through the corresponding anchor member and the plate;   tightening the bolt to provide a friction fit with the plate and anchor member; and   connecting the plate to a second timber member.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein connecting the plate to the second timber member comprises:
 installing the anchor members of a second connector assembly in the second timber member;   locating the plate adjacent the anchor members of the second connector;   inserting one of the second plurality of bolts through the corresponding anchor member and the plate;   tightening the bolt to provide a friction fit with the plate and anchor member.   
     
     
         19 . A method of disassembling two adjacent timber members connected using the connection of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 loosening each of the bolts to disconnect the plate from the anchor members of the first connector assembly;   withdrawing each of the bolts; and   disconnecting the first timber member from the plate.   
     
     
         20 . A connection, comprising:
 a first structural member;   a first connector assembly associated with the first structural member, the first connector assembly comprising:
 a plurality of elongate anchor members, each anchor member comprising a first end extending into and fixed with respect to the first structural member; and a second end protruding from the first structural member, 
 wherein each of the anchor members defines a hole perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the anchor member for receiving a bolt; 
   the connection further comprising:
 a plate connected or connectable to a second structural member, the plate defining at least one hole for receiving a bolt; 
 at least one bolt, the or each bolt configured to extend through at least one of the anchor members and plate; 
 wherein for the or each bolt, at least one of the corresponding anchor member hole or plate hole is oversized so as to receive the corresponding bolt with a clearance fit; and 
 the or each bolt is configured to clamp the plate and anchor member such that relative movement of the plate and first connector assembly is resisted by friction caused by the clamping force provided by the or each bolt. 
   
     
     
         21 . A connection according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 the first structural member is a first concrete member; and/or   the second structural member is second concrete member.