Connectors and methods of fabricating the same

Abstract

A connector for coupling a first column segment having a first inner surface and a first end surface to a second column segment having a second inner surface and a second end surface such that the end surfaces are adjacent one another is provided. The connector includes a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of plates each having a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of fastener apertures extending from the front face toward the rear face. Each of the fastener apertures is sized to receive one of the fasteners when coupling the first column segment to the second column segment such that the plates are spaced apart from one another. Each of the front faces is contoured to seat flush against the first inner surface and the second inner surface when the plates span the adjacent end surfaces of the coupled-together column segments.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A connector for coupling a first column segment having a first inner surface and a first end surface to a second column segment having a second inner surface and a second end surface such that the end surfaces are adjacent one another, said connector comprising:
 a plurality of fasteners; and   a plurality of plates each comprising a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of fastener apertures extending from said front face toward said rear face, wherein each of said fastener apertures is sized to receive one of said fasteners when coupling the first column segment to the second column segment such that said plates are spaced apart from one another, and wherein each of said front faces is contoured to seat flush against said first inner surface and said second inner surface when said plates span the adjacent end surfaces of the coupled-together column segments.   
     
     
         2 . A connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said connector is a moment-resisting connector. 
     
     
         3 . A connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said front face and said rear face of each plate has a substantially rectangular planform shape. 
     
     
         4 . A connector in accordance with  claim 3 , wherein each of said plates is a substantially flat body. 
     
     
         5 . A connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said plates are substantially identical. 
     
     
         6 . A connector in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of plates comprises at least four plates. 
     
     
         7 . A method of fabricating a connector for coupling a first column segment having a first inner surface and a first end surface to a second column segment having a second inner surface and a second end surface such that the end surfaces are adjacent one another, said method comprising:
 forming a plurality of plates each with a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of fastener apertures extending from the front face toward the rear face, wherein each of the fastener apertures is sized to receive a fastener when coupling the first column segment to the second column segment such that the plates are spaced apart from one another; and   forming each of the front faces with a contour that seats flush against the first inner surface and the second inner surface when the plates span the adjacent end surfaces of the coupled-together column segments.   
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising forming the connector as a moment-resisting connector. 
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising forming the front face and the rear face of each plate to have a substantially rectangular planform shape. 
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9 , further comprising forming each of the plates as a substantially flat body. 
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising forming the plates to be substantially identical. 
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 7 , further comprising forming at least four plates. 
     
     
         13 . A column for a moment-resisting frame, said column comprising:
 a first hollow structural section (HSS) column segment comprising a first inner surface and a first end surface;   a second HSS column segment comprising a second inner surface and a second end surface; and   a connector coupling said first HSS column segment to said second HSS column segment such that said end surfaces are adjacent one another, wherein said connector comprises:
 a plurality of fasteners; and 
 a plurality of plates each comprising a front face, a rear face, and a plurality of fastener apertures extending from said front face toward said rear face, wherein each of said fastener apertures is sized to receive one of said fasteners when coupling said first HSS column segment to said second HSS column segment such that said plates are spaced apart from one another, and wherein each of said front faces is contoured to seat flush against said first inner surface and said second inner surface when said plates span said adjacent end surfaces of said coupled-together HSS column segments. 
   
     
     
         14 . A column in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said connector is a moment-resisting connector. 
     
     
         15 . A column in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said front face and said rear face of each plate has a substantially rectangular planform shape. 
     
     
         16 . A column in accordance with  claim 15 , wherein each of said plates is a substantially flat body. 
     
     
         17 . A column in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said plates are substantially identical. 
     
     
         18 . A column in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein said plurality of plates comprises at least four plates. 
     
     
         19 . A column in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein each of said first HSS column segment and said second HSS column segment is fabricated from structural steel. 
     
     
         20 . A column in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein said connector is coupled to said first column segment and said second column segment without welding said connector to said first column segment or said second column segment.