Protecting connector

Abstract

The invention teaches a technology to control the load transfer from attachments into building structures and from building structures to attachments to protect building structures and attachments from damages beyond repair. The connector invented for this purpose acts as a fuse. It is inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, and maintain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A building comprising at least two building elements, wherein said building elements are attached to each other with at least one connector, wherein the connector comprises at least one free strain element, wherein the free strain element is dimensioned as a yielding part, wherein the free strain element exhibits yielding upon exposure to a predetermined excess force acting on the free strain element, wherein the predetermined excess force is higher than a standard force being calculated according to static and dynamic forces acting on the free strain element under normal environmental conditions (the design basic load). 
     
     
         2 . The building of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined excess force is calculated such that the yielding of the strain element occurs before components of the building elements and/or regions of the connector outside the free strain element experience irreversible damage under non-standard environmental conditions. 
     
     
         3 . The building of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the building elements is made of reinforced concrete and the connector is made of a cast-in headed stud profile with at least one profile bolt. 
     
     
         4 . The building of  claim 3 , wherein the strain element is arranged in the profile bolt. 
     
     
         5 . The building of  claim 4 , wherein the profile bolt is exchangeable. 
     
     
         6 . The building of  claim 3 , wherein the strain element is comprised in the headed stud being joined to the profile. 
     
     
         7 . The building of  claim 6 , wherein the headed stud is fitted with at least one bond breaker forming the free strain element. 
     
     
         8 . The building of  claim 1 , wherein a cross section or a length of the free strain element is selected such that the free strain elements yields upon exposure to the excess force. 
     
     
         9 . The building of  claim 3 , wherein at least one straight, hooked, headed, or double headed reinforcing bar instead of a headed stud is welded to the profile. 
     
     
         10 . The building of  claim 3 , wherein the load capacity of the headed stud profile is increased using at least one reinforcing bar with a head, a hook, or a U-shaped loop being separated from or touching the headed stud. 
     
     
         11 . The building of  claim 3 , wherein the capacity of the headed stud profile is increased using at least one reinforcing bar with at least one bond breaker to allow not only sufficient long free strain elements but also higher load capacities by transferring the load from the reinforcing bar into the concrete at a larger embedment depth. 
     
     
         12 . A method of erecting a building, wherein at least two building elements are attached to each other with at least one connector, wherein at least one connector comprises at least one free strain element, wherein at least one free strain element is dimensioned as a yielding part, wherein the free strain element exhibits yielding upon exposure to a predetermined excess force acting on the free strain element, wherein the predetermined excess force is higher than a standard force being calculated according to static and dynamic forces acting on the free strain element under normal environmental conditions (the design basic load). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the building elements is made of reinforced concrete and the connector is made of a cast-in headed stud profile with at least one profile bolt. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the strain element is arranged in the profile bolt. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the profile bolt is exchangeable. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the strain element is comprised in the headed stud being joined to the profile. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the headed stud is fitted with at least one bond breaker forming the free strain element. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein a cross section or a length of the free strain element is selected such that the free strain elements yields upon exposure to the excess force. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein at least one straight, hooked, headed, or double headed reinforcing bar instead of a headed stud is welded to the profile. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the load capacity of the headed stud profile is increased using at least one reinforcing bar with a head, a hook, or a U-shaped loop being separated from or touching the headed stud. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the capacity of the headed stud profile is increased using at least one reinforcing bar with at least one bond breaker to allow not only sufficient long free strain elements but also higher load capacities by transferring the load from the reinforcing bar into the concrete at a larger embedment depth. 
     
     
         22 . A method for protecting a building against damage through excess forces acting on the building, the building comprising at least two building elements, wherein said building elements are attached to each other with at least one connector, wherein at least one connector comprises at least one free strain element, wherein at least one free strain element is dimensioned as a yielding part, wherein the free strain element exhibits yielding upon exposure to a predetermined excess force acting on the free strain element, wherein the predetermined excess force is higher than a standard force being calculated according to static and dynamic forces acting on the free strain element under normal environmental conditions (the design basic load). 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising yielding of the yielding part upon action of an excess force on the strain element and/or on the building. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the building elements is made of reinforced concrete and the connector is made of a cast-in headed stud profile with at least one profile bolt. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the strain element is arranged in the profile bolt. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the profile bolt is exchangeable. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the strain element is comprised in the headed stud being joined to the profile. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the headed stud is fitted with at least one bond breaker forming the free strain element. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein a cross section or a length of the free strain element is selected such that the free strain elements yields upon exposure to the excess force. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein at least one straight, hooked, headed, or double headed reinforcing bar instead of a headed stud is welded to the profile. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the load capacity of the headed stud profile is increased using at least one reinforcing bar with a head, a hook, or a U-shaped loop being separated from or touching the headed stud. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the capacity of the headed stud profile is increased using at least one reinforcing bar with at least one bond breaker to allow not only sufficient long free strain elements but also higher load capacities by transferring the load from the reinforcing bar into the concrete at a larger embedment depth. 
     
     
         33 . A building or a method according to  claim 1 , wherein counternuts and ratcheting devices at the profile nut provide that load is transferred continuously even after reversed cycles causing yielding of the profile bolt.