BARRIERS

The present invention relates to a panel, by: γ ℮ ¾ desi vertical steel bars, evenly spaced and having substantially circular cross sections.

Known is generally similar panels and their application for creating compartments, for instance of stables or from stables. Generally, the outer ends of said vertical bars are assembled to a number of longitudinal beams or longitudinal bars.

A drawback of known panels is that they have only a low rigidity in the longitudinal direction and as a result, they are easily deformable under their own weight and load applied to them during transport, 1' installation, the use, andc.

In order to overcome this disadvantage, rods are used heavy vertical, thicker and longitudinal beams of the longitudinal bars or heavier or thicker, which greatly increase the cost of the panels.

Panels Another disadvantage of previously known is that it is difficult to assemble the longitudinal bars and the transverse bars. In some cases, these bars are welded together. When rods are used with circular cross-sections, for the longitudinal beams, there is only one point of contact by crossing of the rods being connected, so that there is only a spot weld (good weld) by crossing. Indeed, to obtain a good joint, the spot welds are very desirable. But, further, it is essential that during the welding operation, can be applied a high pressure on the bars to be assembled without relative movement. Therefore, it is important to have more than a spot weld by crossing vertical and horizontal bars to be assembled and it is very desirable that the shape of the horizontal bars make possible the application of high forces without the risk that the bars to be assembled mutually move during the welding process.

Panels Another disadvantage of known until now is that it is difficult to assemble them to the^T other longitudinally. Therefore, it is generally necessary that the exact length of the panels are selected based on the fences or partitions to be formed. The panels may also hardly be reused as separating elements.

Panels Another disadvantage of previously known is that when they are used as elements of enclosure, in stables or from stables, for example in hog confinements, the bottom of the stable or the transverse girders the bottom component can hardly be attached to these panels.

The present invention seeks to overcome the drawbacks above in selecting the longitudinal girders or the longitudinal bars suitable and especially to increase the stiffness of the panels without any significant increase in weight.

As described in the present specification, this is achieved by welding the outer end the higher the outer end and the lower of the vertical bars at horizontal profiles U-shaped steel, the welds are formed between the wafers or edges of the flanges of the U-profiles and the bars.

Using their ' U, the stiffness of the panels longitudinally is significantly increased without increasing the weight. In fact, using a bar with a U-shaped section having the same weight as a bar with a circular cross-section to be used as the connecting element for said vertical bars, the moment of inertia of the horizontal bars of assembly is much higher, which favorably influences the stiffness of the panels.

By crossing bars assembled, is obtained automatically maintaining two spot welds, thereby substantially improving the joint between the bars. Furthermore, these spot welds are of a high quality. since the bodies of the U-profiles form an excellent surface pressure for applying a large pressure during the welding operation. Since the points or the welds are arranged on both sides of the pressure surface, there is only a low danger that the U-shaped profile moves relative to the vertical bars during the welding operation.

When two U-shaped profiles which are^T opposed to each other are welded to the outer ends of the vertical bars and in addition, the outer ends of said vertical bars project on a distance from the U-shaped profiles, these panels can be easily and firmly joined together. In fact, by placing two similar panels adjacent to one another, for example in a straight line, the flanges of the channels are arranged in the same plane. In attached thereto a perforated connecting plate, such that the outer projecting ends of the vertical rods adjacent panels enter the apertures in the plate, there can be obtained a solid assembly and readily achievable by known means.

Another important advantage which is obtained with a panel according to the invention, is that when used as a partition in stables, for example in hog confinements, the bottom or the transverse beams forming the bottom may be easily attached to the panels. In fact, since there is in each case a gap between the two U-shaped profiles which are at the bottom and opposite one another and the two vertical bars adjacent, the shape of the ends of the transverse girders of the split is adaptable to obtain easy assembly to perform, for example the transverse beams may have d " outer ends downwards directed fit into the slots.

Maintaining The will describe by way of non-limiting example, several embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawing wherein:

figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a pigpen, wherein the fences or partitions consist of panels such as described herein;

figures 2 and 3 are large-scale views of the assembly between adjacent panels according to the invention, i.e. a longitudinal connection and an angular assembly;

figures 4 and 5 represent details of possible variations of panels according to the invention.

As shown in perspective in Figure 1, the panel as described in the present disclosure consists of vertical steel bars regularly spaced 1 having cross-sections nearly circular. Highest The outer end and the outer end the lower of said bars 1 are welded to steel profiles 2 and U-shaped A channel is a profile consisting of two flanges 3 and 4 in a body, 3 the flanges being substantially perpendicular to the body 4" The welds 5 (see Figure 2) is formed between the wafers or the edges of the flanges 3 of the profiles 2, and the U-shaped bars 1 or, in other words, the body 4 of the U-shaped profiles are not welded to the bars 1. In this way, two spot welds 5 P³ - ** crossing bars 1 to assemble and 2 U-shaped profiles This is very desirable since it is more easily be a spot weld to provide longitudinal seam, for example in the case where the body would be welded to the 4 barr. es 1. When the body 4 of the U-shaped profile 2 is a planar surface, a large pressing force may be applied to the sheet material during the welding process. This is very important to obtain a good weld. And there is only a small danger that the U-shaped profile 2 moves relative to the bars 1 since the U-shaped profile 2 is in each case supported at two locations arranged symmetrically with respect to the pressure force applied to the body 4 * A channel which can be easily obtained is represented in Figures 1 to 3Dans this case, the flanges 3 are perpendicular to the body 4 and the flanges 3 and the body 4 are planar surfaces.

Clearly As spring of Figure 2, two U-shaped profiles 2 facing each other are welded to the outer ends of the vertical bars 1. A longitudinal slit 6 is obtained between the two U-shaped profiles located opposite one another and the two steel bars adjacent 1. When further the outer ends of the vertical bars 1 project a certain distance from these two U-shaped profiles, are obtained easily joinable panels. Therefore, the panels are, for example, arranged in a straight line (see Figure 2). An assembly board 7 * with openings O regularly spaced is placed on the upper edges of the adjacent panels. The distance between two successive openings O is equal to the distance between two successive bars 1. The diameter of the openings O is slightly larger than the diameter of the bars 1 so that a similar plate 7 can be easily placed on the flanges of the profiles adjacent U-shaped and in such a manner that the outer ends of the vertical bars 1 enter the openings Ô. Furthermore, two openings are provided in the plate 7, on both sides of the locations to be assembled, so that a solid joint between adjacent panels is obtained. To this angular, angle irons are used to 10 (see Figure 3) · The embodiment of the spring assembly of Figure 3 clearly · As the panels according to the invention can be assembled in a simple manner and solid and can be easily separated from each other, significant advantages are obtained, i.e., for example, the dimensions of the spaces to be unimportant be enclosed ; the panels can be reused for another application, which is very important for transforming the enclosed stables ; since the dimensions of the panels may be limited or decreased, these panels can easily further processing, i.e. which can be, for example, the dipping into a molten metal bath to the coating of a corrosion-resistant material.

When the panels are used as described herein for partition walls of enclosures in stables, a bottom can easily be adapted to penning or cages. Therefore, of the transverse girders 11 is placed between two successive bars 1 of two partitions facing and which consist of panels according to the invention.

Due to the presence of the slot 6 between two successive bars 1, an assembly can be easily obtained between these transverse beams 11 and the panel. Therefore, may be provided the transverse beams 11 with outer ends curved at a right angle, which are fixed in said slots 6. It is also possible to provide openings in the outer ends of the transverse beams 11. Through these openings, is housed an connecting pin so that it falls through the opening and the slot 6, thereby securing the transverse beams 11. In any event, the presence of a slot 6 is an excellent means for performing simple assembly. The continuous slots between the transverse beams 11 to fall through animal wastes, form a further important advantage. Therefore, like an enclosure (see Figure 1) can be easily cleaned, i.e. all feces and the remaining straw range will fall through the continuous slots on the bottom of the house by passing, for example, a water jet. Most When the outer ends at the bottom of the vertical bars 1 project a sufficient distance from the section

lower 2 u-shaped, so that there is a sufficient space

of

between the bottom of the cage the pen and/or the bottom of the stall,

this is an advantage.

Various changes may be effected in the described embodiments, without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the flanges 3 of the profiles 2 comprise recesses (see Figure 4) in which the vertical bars 1 are fixed. However, then taking care that the welds 5 between the vertical bars 1 and the edges of the recesses are spot welds to maintain one of the above advantages, i.e. the assembly by crossing double spot weld between the longitudinal and the diagonal rods. Therefore, the wafers or touch the edges of the recesses the bars 1 or, in other words, since the cross-section of the bars 1 are nearly circular, such slots or edges are straight. As apparent from Figure 4 in a similar case, the wafers or the edges of the flanges 3 of the two U-profiles facing each other may be tipped together.

The another embodiment in Figure 5 * In this case, the upper edges of two profiles 2 3 U-shaped facing are bodies together. This can be important when the panels are used as a fence for persons, for example for sporting events, since is can be supported more comfortably on a continuous surface the like.