LU100848B1 - Construction system with construction elements that can be assembled using tongue and groove - Google Patents

Abstract

A construction system for walls, slabs and load-bearing members is presented, in which a first construction element 10 has a mating surface 16 equipped with a tongue 20, and a second construction element has a mating surface 16 equipped with. a groove 22. The tongue 20 is nestable with play in the groove 22, when the two construction elements are assembled to form a seal at said joint surfaces 16. The system further comprising a key pressed between a first side surface 28 of the tongue 20 and a first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22, so as to urge the mating surface of said first building element, towards the height of the tongue 20, firmly against said mating surface of said second building element.

Description

; DP.MATT.0006 / LU LU100848

CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM WITH ASSEMBLABLE CONSTRUCTION ELEMENTS USING GROOVES AND TABS Technical Field

[0001] In general, the invention relates to a construction system with building elements that can be assembled using tongue and groove. It relates more particularly to a construction system for walls, partitions, facades, slabs or load-bearing structures and similar constructions, in which a | first construction element has a mating surface equipped with a tongue and a second construction element has a mating surface equipped with a groove, the tongue being interlocking with play in the groove, when the two: construction elements are assembled to form a seal at said joint surfaces. Technological background

[0002] Construction systems with elements that can be assembled using tongues which can be fitted into grooves have been known for a long time. Such systems have the particular advantage of allowing constructions to be made without mortar or glue between the joining surfaces, constructions which can therefore be easily dismantled, offering in particular the possibility of being able to reuse the various construction elements.

In order to be able to achieve a solid and precise assembly and, where appropriate, with sufficiently airtight seals, it is necessary to precisely fit the tongue into the groove, that is to say the tongue does not may have little play in its groove. However, during assembly, a slight play of the tongue in its groove can cause problems, in particular if the elements to be assembled have fairly rough surfaces. It should also be noted that many alternative building materials, such as eco-materials, do not always make it possible to manufacture construction elements equipped with grooves and tongues with the tolerances required to guarantee a fit of the tongues in the grooves with little Game.

| Technical problem

[0004] A problem at the basis of the present invention therefore consisted in designing a construction system with building elements that can be assembled using grooves and tongues, this system having to allow solid assemblies to be made with, if necessary, relatively airtight joints, while ensuring, thanks to sufficient clearances at the level of the tongue-groove interlocking, trouble-free assembly of these construction elements. | General description of the invention

[0005] According to a first aspect of the invention, this objective is achieved by a construction system for walls, partitions, facades, slabs or load-bearing structures, in which a first construction element has a joint surface equipped with a tongue and a second building element has a mating surface provided with a groove, the tongue being nestable with play in the groove, when the two building elements are joined to form a joint at said mating surfaces. According to the invention, this system further comprises a key pressed between a first lateral surface of the tongue and a first lateral surface of the groove, which faces said first lateral surface of the tongue, so as to push said mating surface. of said first building element, towards the height of the tongue, firmly against said mating surface of said second building element.

In other words, by pressing the key on one side into the lateral seal between the tongue and the groove, an adhesion is created by pressure between said joint surfaces which effectively replaces an adhesive or a mortar assembly. It will be appreciated that in this type of assembly, the extent of the play of the key and in its groove no longer affects the strength and airtightness of the assembly. Indeed, the solidity and the tightness of the assembly are mainly guaranteed by generating, using the key, an adhesion by pressure between the joint surfaces.

To generate the adhesion by pressure between the mating surfaces, the key advantageously bears, in the direction of the height of the key, on a counter-bearing surface on or in said first lateral surface of the tongue and on a counter-bearing surface on or in said first lateral surface of the groove. The adhesion pressure can then be generated by a wedge effect and / or elastic preload.

[0008] The system can further comprise a key which, when pressed between said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove, which faces said first lateral surface of the tongue, advantageously pushes a second side surface of the tongue firmly against a second side surface of the groove.

[0009] The key advantageously has a bevelled point at least in the direction of its thickness (wedge-shaped point), or even a bevelled point in the direction of its thickness and of its width (double wedge-shaped or cone-shaped point ).

: [0010] The key can for example be made of a metallic material, such as galvanized steel or stainless steel, of a rigid and resistant synthetic material, such as ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) or a synthetic material reinforced with fibers, or wood. The key can also be a composite body, certain parts of which (in particular the parts most stressed when driving in the key, such as for example the wedge-shaped or double-wedge-shaped front point and / or sharp edges and / or the rear part which is struck with a hammer) are made of a metallic material or coated with such a metallic material, and the less stressed parts are made of wood or a synthetic material.

The building elements of the system advantageously comprise a building block in the form of a rectangular parallelepiped with four jointing surfaces capable of forming a joint with at least one adjacent construction element, of which two adjacent jointing surfaces are equipped with tabs and two adjacent mating surfaces are provided with grooves. However, it is not excluded to use construction elements having a shape other than a rectangular parallelepiped and / or another number or arrangement of mating surfaces equipped with tongues / grooves.

[0012] In order to reduce the risk of breaking the tongue during the depression of the key, it is preferable that the tongue has a thickness of which represents between 10% and 40% of the thickness of the building block.

The lateral play of the tongue in the groove, which is defined as being the difference between the width of the groove and the thickness of the tongue, is preferably between 1 mm and 25 mm, more preferably between 2 mm and 10 mm. This game will be more | high when using a key of greater thickness, in particular a key formed by two half-keys assembled with the aid of springs and equipped with cutting edges which are embedded in the first lateral surface of the the tongue and the first side surface of the groove. If, however, the key is received in notches arranged in the first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively in the first surface of the groove, this play can be reduced to a value between 1 mm and 10 mm, where more play low is chosen in the case of a construction element made of a smooth material, allowing fairly narrow manufacturing tolerances to be observed, and a larger clearance is chosen in the case of a construction element made of a rougher material, making it less possible to comply with narrow manufacturing tolerances. Of course, the choice of the lateral play of the tongue in the groove will also depend on the dimensions of the construction elements to be assembled and on the dimensions of the tongue and of the groove.

The construction elements advantageously comprise a building block, the shape of which can be described as being a volume made up of two outer rectangular parallelepipeds and a median rectangular parallelepiped inserted between the two outer rectangular parallelepipeds. The median right-angled cuboid protrudes over two adjacent mating surfaces of the building block to form two tabs. The two outer rectangular parallelepipeds projecting onto two other adjacent joining surfaces of the building block to form two grooves between them.

[0015] Such a block can be a monolith block formed from a single material or a composite block, in particular a block in which the two outer rectangular parallelepipeds are formed from a material other than the median rectangular parallelepiped. Thus the two outer rectangular parallelepipeds can for example be formed of a harder material and the median right-angled parallelepiped can be formed of a better insulating material.

The keys are advantageously arranged in two perpendicular directions. In a wall or a partition, the keys are advantageously arranged in a horizontal direction and in a vertical direction. The vertical keys thus create a pressure adhesion between successive blocks of a single row of blocks, and the horizontal keys create a pressure adhesion between superimposed blocks of two successive rows.

[0017] In a partition or a wall built with the system, it is preferable to arrange all the keys on one side of the median plane of the partition, respectively of the wall. Thus, these keys distribute the clearance on only one side of this midplane, and the facing surfaces of the assembled building blocks are | on each side of the substantially coplanar wall or partition. | The first lateral surface of the tongue and the first lateral surface of: the groove, may comprise juxtaposed notches serving as a housing for a | 10 key.

[0019] A preferred embodiment of the system comprises a double-acting key which is designed so as to produce, upon depression of the double-acting key between said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove, both the following effects: i) urging the tongue with its second side surface firmly against the second side surface of the groove, which faces said second side surface of the tongue; and ii) further pushing the tongue into the groove and / or pushing the mating surface fitted with the tongue firmly against the mating surface fitted with the groove in which said tongue fits.

[0020] It will be appreciated that such a double-acting key does not only make it possible to create an adhesion by pressure between the joint surface equipped with the tongue and the joint surface equipped with the groove in which the tongue fits, this provided that the height of the tongue is less than the depth of the groove, but also an adhesion by pressure between the second lateral surface of the tongue and the second lateral surface of the groove.

[0021] Such a double-acting key advantageously comprises: on a lateral side, a first lateral bearing surface bearing, in the direction of the height of the tongue, on a counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue; andon the other lateral side, a second lateral bearing surface bearing, in the direction of the height of the tongue, on a counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the groove; said first lateral bearing surface of the key and said second lateral bearing surface of the key defining an acute angle between them, so that the key pushes the tongue into the groove, when it is pressed between said first side surface of the tongue and said first side surface of the groove.

In a preferred embodiment, the key is composed of two substantially identical half-keys arranged back-to-back with a slight axial misalignment between them, so that one of the two half-keys forms the first side surface bearing which bears on the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue, and the other of the two half-keys forms the second lateral bearing surface which bears on the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the groove.

In a preferred embodiment of the key, one or more elastic elements are arranged between the two half-keys so as to elastically separate the latter. These resilient elements maintain sufficient adhesive pressure between the second side surface of the tongue and the second side surface of the groove, even in the event of plastic deformation of the tongue, groove and / or key. The presence of these elastic elements also limits the forces exerted during the introduction of the key on the first lateral surface of the tongue and on the first lateral surface of the groove.

In a first embodiment, the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the groove, is formed by one or more elements projecting relative to to said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively with respect to said first lateral surface of the groove. These projecting elements can for example comprise a rib projecting relative to said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively relative to said first lateral surface of the groove.

In a second embodiment, which makes it possible to substantially reduce the width of the seal, the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue,

7 DP.MATT.0006 / LU LU100848 respectively the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the groove, is formed by a notch in said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively in said first lateral surface of the groove.

[0026] A preferred embodiment of the key a: a central key axis defining the direction of depression of the key; a first key surface facing said first side surface of the tongue; a second key surface facing said first side surface of the groove; at least a first stop protruding from said first key surface and defining an acute angle with the central key axis; and at least a second stop protruding from said second key surface and defining with the key central axis an acute angle of opposite sign.

In a preferred embodiment of this key, said first stop projecting relative to said first key surface and said second stop projecting relative to said second key surface are sharp edges which, when driving in. the key between said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove, become embedded in said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively in said first lateral surface of the groove, thus creating themselves a surface of counter-bearing on the first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively a counter-bearing surface on the first lateral surface of the groove.

Another embodiment of the key a: a central key axis defining the direction of depression of the key; a first key surface facing said first side surface of the tongue; a second key surface facing said first side surface of the groove; a pair of first parallel ridges protruding from said first key surface and defining an acute angle with the key central axis; this pair of first ridges engaging a rib projecting from said first lateral surface of the tongue; anda pair of second parallel ridges protruding from said second key surface and defining with the central key axis an acute angle of opposite sign; this pair of second ridges engaging a rib projecting from said first lateral surface of the groove.

It should be noted that at least some of the edges mentioned above may have a sawtooth profile to anchor the key more firmly in the joint.

According to a particularly simple but still very effective execution of the proposed system: the key comprises a bar having a thickness, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge and a median plane which divides the bar according to its thickness in two; the first lateral surface of the tongue comprises a recessed or projecting angular counter-support; the first lateral surface of the groove comprises a recessed or projecting angular counter-support; the bar bears with its first longitudinal edge on the angular counter-support of said first lateral surface of the tongue and with its second lateral edge on the angular counter-support of said first lateral surface of the groove; and the bar is arranged so that its median plane defines an acute angle with the direction of penetration of the tongue into the groove.

In this embodiment, the repair of the contact pressures on the various contact surfaces is a function of the angle between the median plane of the bar and the direction of penetration of the tongue in the groove. The more acute this angle becomes, the more the contact pressure between the mating surface equipped with the tongue and the mating surface equipped with the groove increases to the detriment of the contact pressure between the lateral surface of the tongue and the lateral surface of the tongue. groove.

[0032] It will be noted that in this embodiment, the bar advantageously has a certain transverse elasticity (in the direction of its width), so as to be deformed, during its depression, elastically between the two angular counter-supports. The resulting prestress holds the key in place and also ensures that it maintains a relatively constant contact pressure between the respective contact surfaces.

[0033] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the bar is formed of a row of elastic rods, so as to have substantially the shape of a comb. When driving in the key, the elastic rods are elastically deformed in bending between the two angular counter-supports. These elastic rods therefore function as multiple leaf springs exerting an assembly force on the two assembled building elements.

Such a key can also include a second bar which bears with its first longitudinal edge on an angular counter-support of said second lateral surface of the tongue and with its second lateral edge on the angular counter-support of a second lateral surface of the groove. This second bar is also arranged so that its median plane defines an acute angle with the direction of penetration of the tongue into the groove. This key with its two bars is advantageously symmetrical with respect to a median plane which, after mounting the key, corresponds to the median plane of the tongue. Such a key with two bars makes it possible to center the tongue in the groove while maintaining a substantially constant contact pressure between the two mating surfaces of the construction elements to be assembled.

In order to ensure better support for the longitudinal edges of the bar on their angular counter-supports, these longitudinal edges can be bevelled or rounded. The support surface formed by the angular counter-supports is advantageously a convex surface delimited by flat or curved surfaces.

[0036] The tongue and the groove may advantageously comprise guide surfaces which bear on each other at the end of the movement of the tongue interlocking in the groove. Brief description of the drawings

Other features and characteristics of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of certain advantageous embodiments presented below, by way of illustration, with reference to the appended drawings which show:

FIG. 1: a front view of an assembly of building blocks made using the proposed building system;

FIG. 2: A front view of a building block as used in the wall of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3: a side view of the building block of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4: a cross section of a tongue of a first construction element nested in a groove of a second construction element, this before insertion of a key;

FIG. 5: the cross section of FIG. 4, this after inserting a double-acting key;

FIG. 6: an enlarged detail of FIG. 5, showing the key in place and illustrating, using arrows, the pressures exerted by the key;

FIG. 7: a three-dimensional view of a first execution of a double-acting key;

FIG. 8: a side view of the double-acting key of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9: a front view of a key similar to that of FIG. 7, about to be inserted into its housing;

FIG. 10: a front view of the assembly of FIG. 9, the key being completely inserted in its housing;

FIG. 11: a cross section showing a second embodiment of a double-acting key inserted in a joint between two construction elements;

FIG. 12: a plan view of the double-acting key of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13: a cross section showing a third embodiment of a double-acting key inserted in a joint between two construction elements;

FIG. 14: a plan view of a fourth embodiment of a double-acting key;

FIG. 15: a side view of the key of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16: a view of the rear end of the key of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17: a three-dimensional view showing the back of a half key forming part of the key of FIG. 14;

FIG. 18: a cross section showing the key of FIG. 14 inserted in a joint between two construction elements; FIG. 19: A three-dimensional view of a fifth execution of a double-acting key.

FIG. 20: a cross section of a tongue of a first construction element nested in a groove of a second construction element with a sixth execution of a double-acting key.

FIG. 21: a cross section similar to that of FIG. 20, showing a first variant embodiment; and FIG. 22: a cross section similar to that of FIG. 20, showing a second variant embodiment.

FIG. 23: a front view of a key in the form of a comb; FIG. 24: a side view of the comb-shaped key of FIG. 23; FIG. 25: a side view of a double key according to the type of FIG. 24; FIG. 26: a cross section of a tongue of a first construction element nested in a groove of a second construction element with a comb-shaped key similar to that of FIG. 24; FIG. 27: a section similar to that of FIG. 26 with an alternative embodiment of the comb-shaped key; FIG. 28: a cross section of a tongue of a first construction element nested in a groove of a second construction element with a comb-shaped key similar to that of FIG. 25; FIG. 29: a section similar to that of FIG. 26 with an alternative embodiment of the key in the form of a comb.

FIG. 30: a front view of an alternative construction of a building block; FIG. 31: a side view of the building block of FIG. 30.

Detailed description of embodiments of the invention

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an assembly of seven building blocks 10i (i = 0 to 6) made using a building system according to the invention.

As shown in FIG. 2 and 3, a building block 10i of FIG. 1 has substantially the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped with four corners 121, 122, 123, 124, two facing surfaces 141 and 142 opposed, and four mating surfaces 161, 162, 163, 164 opposed two by two. Each of these mating surfaces 161, 162, 163, 164 is adapted to form a joint with at least one adjacent building block 10i (cf. FIG. 1). The two adjacent mating surfaces 161 and 162, which cooperate to form the corner 121, are provided with tabs 201, 202, which surround the corner 121. The two adjacent mating surfaces 163 and 164, which cooperate to form the corner 123, are equipped with grooves 221, 222, which surround the corner 123. The groove 221 forms, at the level of the corner 122, a mouth in the joint face 162, and at the corner 123, a mouth in the joint face 164. The groove 222 forms, at the level of the corner 123, a mouth in the joint face 163, and at the level of the corner 124, a mouth in the joint face 161. It will be noted that the thickness er of the tongues 20i is quite large. and preferably represents between 10% and 40% and, more preferably, between 25% and 40% of the thickness eo of the building block (cf. FIG. 3).

Such a building block 10i can also be described as being a volume composed of two external rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242 and a median rectangular parallelepiped 240 arranged between the two external rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242. The median rectangular parallelepiped 240 protrudes over the two adjacent joining surfaces 161 and 162 of building block 10 to form the two tabs 201, 202. The two outer rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242 protrude onto two other adjacent joining surfaces 161 and 162 of building block 10 to form between them the grooves 221, 222. It remains to be noted that the two external rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242 do not necessarily have to have the same thickness as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the outer rectangular parallelepiped 242, which must cooperate with keys 26: as described below, can advantageously have a greater thickness than the outer rectangular parallelepiped 241, which must not cooperate with such keys 26i.

The building block 10i can be a monolith block formed of a single material or a composite block, in particular a block in which the two outer rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242 are formed from a material other than the median rectangular parallelepiped 240 Thus the two outer rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242 can for example be formed of a harder material, and the median rectangular parallelepiped 240 can be formed of a material of lower hardness but which is better insulating. In addition, the two outer rectangular parallelepipeds 241 and 242 can themselves also be formed from different materials.

Materials which can be envisaged for making the blocks are for example: conventional mineral materials, in particular concrete, cellular concrete, terracotta, plaster, glass; eco-materials, in particular solid wood, glued laminated wood, materials based on wood chips, sawdust or wood wool, straw, hemp, miscanthus, simply compacted or agglomerated together using a binder; synthetic materials, including recycled synthetic materials; and / or metallic materials.

[0043] It should be noted that most often a joint surface of a building block comprises a single tongue, or even a single groove. However, it is not excluded to have several parallel tongues on a joint face of a building block, which then fit into parallel grooves of a corresponding joint face of an adjacent building block.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 3 or 4, it will be noted that the thickness e1 of a tongue 20 is smaller than the width ez of the corresponding groove 22 in which it must fit. In other words, the tongue 20i of a first building block is nestable with lateral play in a groove 22i of a second building element. The lateral play of the tongue 20i in the corresponding groove 22i, which is defined as being the difference between the width e2 of the groove 22 and the thickness e1 of the tongue 20, is between 2 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 5 mm and 25mm. This play must be sufficient to be able, during assembly, to easily fit the tongue 20 into the groove 22. It will also be noted that the length of the tongue 20 is slightly less than the depth of the groove 22 (cf. FIG. 5), so that the mating face 161 (carrying the tongue 20) can be pressed against the mating face 163 of the adjacent block (carrying the groove 22), before the tongue 20 touches the bottom of the groove 22 .

[0045] As illustrated by FIG. 1, the proposed construction system further comprises keys and / or studs 26i which complete the assembly of the construction blocks by tongues 20 and grooves 22. According to an important aspect of the proposed system, illustrated in particular by FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, these keys and / or studs 26i, the front end of which is advantageously configured in the form of a wedge (cf. FIG. 7), are pressed between a first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 and a first surface side 30 of the groove 22, which faces said first side surface 28 of the tongue 20, so as to wedge the tongue 20 with a second side surface 32 firmly, in the direction of the arrow 33, against a second side surface 34 of the groove 22, which faces said second side surface 32 of the tongue 20. In other words, by driving the key or the stud 26i on one side into the lateral seal between the tongue 20 and the groove 22, the tongue 20 with its second side surface 32 is pressed on the other side, by wedge effect, firmly against the second side surface 34 of the groove 22, thus creating a pressure adhesion between these two surfaces 32 and 34. This pressure adhesion between The two surfaces 32 and 34 effectively replace an adhesive or an assembly mortar, by immobilizing the tongue 20 in its groove 22 and by making the tongue-groove assembly more or less airtight.

[0046] In the execution of FIG. 4 and 5, the first side surface 28 of the tongue 20 and the first side surface 30 of the groove 22 include juxtaposed notches 36, 38, which define a housing for a double acting key 126. Such a double acting key 126 is designed. so as to produce the following two effects when it is inserted between the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 and the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22: i) pushing the tongue 20, by wedge effect, in the direction of the arrow 33, with its second side surface 32 firmly against the second side surface 34 of the groove 22, which faces said second side surface 32 of the tongue 20; and ii) further pushing the tongue 20 into the groove 22, so as to push the gasket surface 161, which carries the tongue 20, firmly against the gasket surface 163, which includes the groove 22 into which the tongue fits. .

To produce the effect ii), the double-acting key 126 comprises: 1) a first lateral bearing surface 40 bearing, in a first direction parallel to the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20, on a counter-bearing surface 42 on the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue; and 2) a second lateral bearing surface 44 bearing, in a second direction parallel to the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22 and in a direction opposite to said first direction, on a second counter-bearing surface 46 associated with said said first direction. first side surface of the groove 22. In the execution of FIG. 4 to 6, these counter-bearing surfaces 42 and 46 are formed by the lateral surfaces of the notches 36, 38. The first lateral bearing surface 40 of the key 126 and the second lateral bearing surface 44 of the key 126 advantageously defining between them an acute angle, so as to push by wedge effect the tongue 20 in the groove 22, during the depression of the key 126 between the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 and the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22.

[0048] As illustrated by FIGS. 7 and 8, the key 126 is advantageously composed of two substantially identical half-keys 128, 130 arranged back to back with a slight axial misalignment between them. One of the two half-keys 128, 130 forms the first lateral bearing surface 140, which bears against the first counter-bearing surface 42 on the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20, and the other of the two half-keys 128, 130 form the second lateral bearing surface 144 which bears against the counter-bearing surface 46 on the first lateral surface 30 of the groove

22. Due to the axial misalignment of the two half-keys 128, 130, the two lateral bearing surfaces 140, 144 produce a wedge effect when the key 126 is pushed in between the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 and the first side surface 30 of the groove 22.

[0049] FIGS. 9 and 10 show a preferred embodiment in which the counter-bearing surface 142 has, with respect to the driving direction of the key 126 (illustrated by the arrow 133), substantially the same inclination as the lateral bearing surface 140 of the key 126, and the second counter-bearing surface 146 a, still with respect to the driving direction of the key 126, substantially the same inclination as the lateral bearing surface 144 of the key 126. This embodiment ensures a greater contact area between the key 126 and the counter-bearing surfaces 142, 146 and, consequently, a better distribution of the pressure | exerted by the key 126 on the counter-bearing surfaces 142, 146 of the construction (i.e., when driving in the key 126, the counter-bearing surfaces 142, 146 are less likely to be damaged). The FIG. 9 and 10 also make it possible to understand that an "X" -shaped arrangement of the two half-keys 128, 130 requires, compared to a "V" -shaped arrangement, less space for the integration of the notches 136. , 138 in the tongue 20, respectively the groove 22 (that is to say that the height of the tongue 20, respectively the depth of the groove 22, can be smaller).

[0050] FIG. 11 shows a cross section of a second embodiment of a double-acting key 226 inserted in a joint between two building elements. Instead of comprising juxtaposed notches 36, 38, the first side surface 28 of the tongue 20 and the first side surface 30 of the groove 22 include juxtaposed ribs 236 and 238. A first key surface 227 rests on a surface front 237 of the rib 236. A second key surface 229 rests on a front surface 239 of the rib 238. The key 226 further includes two first ridges 2401 and 2402 protruding from the first key surface 227 and defining with the central axis 233 of the key 226 an acute angle (see FIG. 12), as well as two second stops 2441 and 2442 protruding from the second key surface 229 and defining with the central axis 233 of the key 226 an acute angle of opposite sign (see FIG. 12). (It will be noted that the central axis 233 of the key 226 corresponds to the direction of depression of the key

226.) The rib 236 has, relative to the central axis 233 of the key 226, substantially the same inclination as the first edges 2401 and 2402. The rib 238 has, relative to the central axis 233 of the key 226, substantially the same inclination as the second stops 2441 and 2442. By driving the key 226 into the joint, the stop 2402 bears on the lateral edge of the rib 236 to push the latter in the direction of the arrow 245, and the stop 2441 is supported on the lateral edge of the rib 238 to push the latter in the direction of the arrow 247. It should be noted that the stops 2401 and 2442 improve the guiding of the key 226 and facilitate, if necessary, disassembly of two building elements 101.

[0051] FIG. 13 shows the third embodiment of a double-acting key 326. This key 326 is similar in construction to that of key 226 of FIGS. 11 and 12. Instead of having edges 2401, 2402, 2441, 2442 that cooperate with ribs

236, 238, it has cutting edges 3401, 3402, 3441, 3442 which are embedded in the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 by defining with the central axis of the key 326 an acute angle, respectively in the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22 by defining with the central axis of the key 326 an acute angle of opposite sign. By driving the key 326 into the joint, the oblique cutting edges 3401, 3402 push the tongue 20 in the direction of the arrow 341, and the oblique cutting edges 3441, 3442 push the groove 22 in the direction of the arrow

345.

[0052] FIGS. 14 to 18 show a fourth embodiment of a double-acting key 426. Like the previous keys, the key 426 is composed of two substantially identical half-keys 428, 430 arranged back-to-back with a slight axial offset between them. Between the two half-keys 428, 430 are arranged spring elements 432 which separate the two half-keys 428, 430 (see FIG. 15). When the key 426 is pressed into the seal, the spring elements 432 are compressed, so that the key 426 constantly exerts pressure on the tongue 20 fitted into the groove 22. Such spring elements 432 can of course also be provided in the keys. 126, 226 and 326. In a preferred embodiment, the spring elements are sinusoidally shaped leaf springs 432, housed, as shown in FIG. 17, in grooves 434 made in the back of the two half-keys 428, 430. The use of other types of springs, or even other elements capable of elastically separating the two half-keys 428, 430, so as to constantly exerting pressure on the tongue 20 nested in groove 22, however, is not excluded.

The two half-keys 428, 430 are advantageously held together using tenons 446 arranged on the back of one of the two half-keys 428, each of these tenons 446 passing through a mortise 448 of the other half-key 430. On the other side of the mortise 448, each of the tenons 446 is provided with a rotary locking head 450. These tenons 446 limit the maximum spacing of the two half-keys 428, 430 while allowing their approximation by compression of the springs 432. It should be noted that the edges 4401, 4402, 4441, 4442 of the key 426 are sharp edges having a sawtooth profile. This sawtooth profile anchors key 426 firmly in the tongue / groove joint, as shown in FIG. 18.

[0054] FIG. 19 shows a fifth embodiment of a double-acting key 526. This key 526 is similar in construction to that of key 426 of FIGs. 14 to 17. It is distinguished from the latter mainly by a greater width and three cutting edges 5401, 5402, 5403 on each side of the key 526.

[0055] In the execution of FIG. 20, the key 626 is in the form of a bar having a first longitudinal edge 640, a second longitudinal edge 644 and a midplane 650 which divides the key according to its thickness in half. The first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 comprises an angular counter-support 652 set back in a groove 654. The first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22 comprises an angular counter-support 656 set back in a groove 658. The key 626 takes up support with its first longitudinal edge 640 on the angular counter-support 652 of the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 and with its second lateral edge 644 on the angular counter-support 656 of the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22. The key 626 is arranged so that its median plane 650 defines an acute angle with the direction of penetration of the tongue 20 in the groove 22, represented by the arrow 660. In this embodiment, the repair of the contact pressures on the different contact surfaces are a function of the angle a between the median plane 650 of the key and the direction of penetration of the tongue into the groove (see arrow 660). The more this angle a becomes, the more the contact pressure between the mating surface equipped with the tongue and the mating surface equipped with the groove increases to the detriment of the contact pressure between the lateral surface of the tongue and the lateral surface of the tongue. the groove.

It will be noted that in this embodiment, the key 626 in the form of a bar advantageously has a certain transverse elasticity (in the direction of its width), so as to be compressed between the two angular counter-supports during its depression. This preload holds the key in place and also ensures that a relatively constant contact pressure is maintained between the respective contact surfaces.

[0057] To ensure better support of the longitudinal edges 640, 644 of the | Key 626 on their angular counter-supports 652, 656, these longitudinal edges 640, 644 may be bevelled, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, or rounded. The bearing surface formed by the angular counter-supports 652, 656 is | advantageously a convex surface delimited by planar surfaces, as shown in FIGS. 20 to 22, or by curved surfaces. Instead of being formed by a groove 654, 658 in the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20, respectively the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22, the angular counter-supports 652, 656 could also be formed by an element in projecting relative to the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20, respectively the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 21, the tongue 20 and the groove 22 can advantageously comprise guide surfaces 662, 662 ', respectively 664, 664', which bear on each other, preferably only at the end of the interlocking movement of the tongue 20 in groove 22.

[0059] The execution of FIG. 22 differs from the execution of FIG. 21 by the fact that the tongue 20 and the groove 22 are completely symmetrical with respect to the median plane 670, which makes it possible to place the key 626 on both sides of the tongue 20, or even exceptionally to place a key 626 on each side of tab 20.

[0060] FIGS. 23 to 25 show keys 726, 726 "similar to keys 626 of FIGs. 20-22. Each of these keys 726, 726 ’comprises at least one row of elastic rods 727 parallel arranged to form a bar having the shape of a comb. Each of these elastic rods 727 has a first end 729 and a second end 731. A transverse base 733 supports these elastic rods 727 between these two ends 729 and 731, so that the first ends 729 protrude from one side to form a first longitudinal edge 740 and the second ends 731 protrude from one side to form a second longitudinal edge 744.

[0061] In FIG. 26 it can be seen that the first side surface 28 of the tongue 20 | 25 comprises an angular counter-support 752 set back in a groove 754. The first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22 comprises an angular counter-support 756 set back in a groove 758. The key 726 bears with its first longitudinal edge 740 on the angular counter-support 752 of the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20 and with its second lateral edge 744 on the angular counter-support 756 of the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22. A first extension 735 of the transverse base 733 is arranged between the first side surface 28 of the tongue 20 and the first side surface 30 of the groove 22. In this position the median plane 750 of the elastic rods 727 defines an acute angle with the direction of penetration of the tongue 20 in the groove 22 , shown in FIG. 27 by arrow 760. It will be noted that, when the key 726 is pressed in, the elastic rods 727 are elastically deformed in bending between the two angular counter-supports 752, 756. These elastic rods 727 function as multiple springs blade exerting an assembly force on the two assembled building elements. It follows that there is prestressing of the key 726, which holds it in place and also ensures the maintenance of a relatively constant contact pressure between the respective contact surfaces of the construction elements to be assembled, c 'that is to say between the two mating surfaces 161, 163 and between the second side surface 32 of the tongue 20 and the second side surface 34 of the groove 22. The distribution of the contact pressures on the different contact surfaces is depending on the angle a between the median plane 750 of the key and the direction of penetration of the tongue into the groove (see arrow 760). The more this angle a becomes, the more the contact pressure between the joint surface equipped with the tongue and the joint surface equipped with the groove increases, to the detriment of the contact pressure between the lateral surface of the tongue and the surface side of the groove. This angle is preferably between 15 ° and 30 °.

It remains to be noted that instead of being formed by a groove 754, 758 in the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20, respectively the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22, the angular counter-supports could also be formed by an element projecting relative to the first lateral surface 28 of the tongue 20, respectively the first lateral surface 30 of the groove 22.

As shown in FIGS. 24 to 28, the extension 735 of the transverse base 733 can advantageously comprise, near the free end of the tongue 20, a guide element 762. This guide element 762, the transverse thickness of which corresponds substantially to the lateral play of the tongue 20 in the groove 22, while the rest of the extension 735 of the transverse base 733 is less thick, facilitates the fitting of the tongue 20 into the groove 22, the resumption of the lateral play of the tongue 20 in the groove 22 and reduces the forces to be produced by the elastic rods 727 of the key 726 to ensure good stability of the assembly. Reference 763 in FIG. 24 identifies a stop which bears on the front surface of the tongue 20 and makes it easier to position the key 726 relative to the tongue 20.

[0064] In the execution of FIG. 27, the transverse base 733 further comprises a second extension 737 which forms, near the foot of the tongue 20, a second guide element 764, the transverse thickness of which corresponds substantially to the lateral play of the tongue 20 in the groove 22. In the execution of FIG. 29, the key 726 includes a transverse base 733 without extensions. In this embodiment, the tongue 20 and the groove 22 comprise guide surfaces 764, 764 ', respectively 766, 766', which bear on each other, preferably only at the end of the movement of the tongue 20 interlocking in the groove 22.

The key 726 ’of FIG. 25 and 28, is composed of two symmetrical keys 726 which are assembled by one or more bridges 768. This key 726 ’| therefore comprises two symmetrical rows of elastic rods 727. As illustrated | by FIG. 28, such a key 726 ’allows the tongue 20 to be centered in the groove | 22. It essentially allows the maintenance of a contact pressure between the two joining surfaces 161, 163 of the construction elements 10 to be assembled.

[0066] FIGS. 30 and 31 show an alternative embodiment of the construction elements 10 to be assembled. In this variant embodiment, auxiliary tongues 120i and auxiliary grooves 122; are arranged on, respectively in, the mating surfaces 16i along the tongues 20: and grooves 22; main, i.e. along the tongues 20: and grooves 22i which cooperate with the key to urge the mating surface of the first building element, firmly against the mating surface of the second building element. These auxiliary tongues 120i and auxiliary grooves 122i serve to increase the seal between these mating surfaces 16.

While particular embodiments have just been described in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications and alternatives to those can be developed in light of the overall teaching provided by the present disclosure of invention. Therefore, the specific arrangements and / or methods described herein are intended to be given by way of illustration only, without the intention of limiting the scope of the invention.

building block second side surface facing surface counter mating surface double-acting keyway first wedge surface second surface of rectangular parallelepiped diavetts 233 | the central axis of 226 (= driving direction of 226) | dian oe ectengle 2% jnenue | median 236 rib 26i | key / stud front surface of 236 first side surface of 20 front surface of 238 first side surface of 22 | | 2401: | first edges of 226 second lateral surface of 20 2; - 7 2441; | 226 second edge second 22 2442 side surface 40 first side surface 126 double-acting keyway - sharp edges 42 first counter surface - support in 36 | 44 second side surface with sharp edges 46 second surface of double-acting counter-key resting in 38 - auxiliary tab - half-key and double-acting key 128, | half-keys - | 130 sharp stop driving direction 126 sharp stop 140 | first side surface first surface of rotary locking tailstock i double-acting key stop sharp NE.

first longitudinal edge of 626 | 66 644 second longitudinal edge of 626 median plane of 626 angular counter-support angular counter-support arrow representing the direction of penetration of the tongue 20 in the groove 22 662, | guide surfaces 662 ’664, | guide surfaces 664 726, | key | 726 'elastic rod 1 ° "extension of 733 2 ° extension of 733 longitudinal edge longitudinal edge angular counter-support angular counter-support 760 arrow indicating the direction of penetration of the tongue into the groove guide element stop on 735 764, | surface guide 764 '

Claims (23)

Claims 1. A construction system for walls, slabs and load-bearing members, in which a first construction element has a mating surface provided with a tongue and a second construction element has a mating surface equipped with a groove, the tongue being. interlocking with play in the groove, when the two construction elements are assembled to form a seal at said joint surfaces, said system further comprising: a key pressed between a first lateral surface of the tongue and a first lateral surface of the groove, which faces said first lateral surface of the tongue, so as to urge said mating surface of said first building element, towards the height of the tongue, firmly against said mating surface of said second building element. The system of claim 1, wherein a key pressed between said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove, which faces said first lateral surface of the tongue, pushes a second lateral surface of the tongue. firmly against a second side surface of the groove. System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein one building element forms a rectangular parallelepiped shaped building block with four mating surfaces, of which two adjacent mating surfaces are provided with tabs and two adjacent mating surfaces are provided. grooves. 4. System according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein: the thickness of the tongue is between 10% and 40% of the thickness of the building block; and / or the lateral play of the tongue in the groove, defined as being the difference between the width of the groove and the thickness of the tongue, is between 1 mm and 25 mm, preferably between 2 mm and 10 mm. 5. System according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the building elements comprise a building block whose shape can be described as a volume composed of two rectangular parallelepipeds SSSexterior and of a median right-angled parallelepiped inserted between the two outer right-angled parallelepipeds, the middle right-angled parallelepiped projecting over two adjacent joining surfaces of the building block to form two tabs, and the two external rectangular parallelepipeds projecting over two other adjacent jointing surfaces of the building block to form two grooves between them. 6. System according to any one of claims 1 to 5, comprising: keys arranged in two perpendicular directions; respectively, a wall or a partition constructed with the system comprises keys arranged in a horizontal direction and keys arranged in a vertical direction. 7. The system of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a wall constructed with the system has all of the keys arranged on one side of its midplane only. 8. System according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove comprise juxtaposed notches serving as a housing for a key. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, comprising a double-acting key which is arranged to: i) push the tab with a second side surface firmly against a second side surface of the groove, which faces. to said second lateral surface of the tongue; and ii) pushing the mating surface equipped with the tongue firmly against the mating surface equipped with the groove in which said tongue fits; during the insertion of the double-acting key between said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the double-acting key comprises: on a lateral side, a first lateral bearing surface bearing, in the direction of the height of the key, on a counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue; and —_ — _ — _ _ _-_-_- - - - - - - - IP —_ — _ _ — _ — _ — _ AmAmm —— m — m — m — m ——————— —————— on the other lateral side, a second lateral bearing surface bearing, in the direction of the height of the key, on a counter-bearing surface associated with said first lateral surface of the groove; and said first lateral bearing surface of the key and said second lateral bearing surface of the key defining an acute angle between them, so as to push the tongue into the groove, during the insertion of the key between said first side surface of the tongue and said first side surface of the groove. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein the key is composed of two substantially identical half-keys arranged back-to-back with a slight axial offset between them, so that one of the two half-keys forms the first. lateral bearing surface which bears on the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue, and the other of the two half-keys forms the second lateral bearing surface which bears on the counter-bearing surface bearing on said first lateral surface of the groove. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the two half-keys have an "X" -shaped arrangement. 13. System according to claim 11 or 12, wherein one or more elastic elements are arranged between the two half-keys, these elastic elements being arranged so as to elastically separate the two half-keys. 14. System according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the groove, is formed by an element protruding from said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively from said first lateral surface of the groove. 15. System according to any one of claims 10 to 13, wherein the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively the counter-bearing surface on said first lateral surface of the groove, is formed by a notch in said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively in said first lateral surface of the groove. EE. 16. System according to any one of claims 1 to 15, comprising a key having: a central key axis defining the direction of insertion of the key; a first key surface facing said first side surface of the tongue; a second key surface facing said first lateral surface of the groove; at least a first stop protruding from said first key surface and defining an acute angle with the central key axis; and at least a second stop protruding from said second key surface and defining with the key central axis an acute angle of opposite sign. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein said first stop protruding from said first key surface and said second stop projecting from said second key surface are sharp edges which, upon depression of the key surface. double-acting key between said first lateral surface of the tongue and said first lateral surface of the groove are embedded in said first lateral surface of the tongue, respectively in said first lateral surface of the groove. 18. System according to any one of claims 1 to 13, comprising a key having:: a central key axis defining the direction of insertion of the key; ‘A first key surface facing said first side surface of the tongue; a second key surface facing said first side surface of the groove; a pair of first parallel ridges protruding from said first key surface and defining an acute angle with the key central axis; this pair of first ridges engaging a rib projecting from said first lateral surface of the tongue; and a pair of second parallel ridges protruding from said second key surface and defining with the key central axis an angle —_ — _ — _ — _ — _-_-_-_-_- - _ _ -_ _ _ -— _ — _ — _ I —_ — _ Lean of opposite sign; this pair of second stops engaging a rib projecting from said first lateral surface of the groove. 19. A system according to any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein at least some of said ridges have a sawtooth profile. 20. The system of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein: said key comprises a bar having a thickness, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge and a median plane which divides the bar according to its thickness into two; said first lateral surface of the tongue comprises a recessed or projecting angular counter-support; | said first lateral surface of the groove comprises a recessed or projecting angular counter-bearing; said bar bears with said first longitudinal edge on the angular counter-support of said first lateral surface of the tongue and with said second lateral edge on the angular counter-support of said first lateral surface of the groove; and said bar is arranged so that its median plane defines an acute angle with the direction of penetration of the tongue in the groove. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said bar is formed of a row of elastic rods. 22. The system of claims 20 or 21, wherein said key comprises: a second bar having a thickness, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge and a median plane which divides the second bar according to its thickness in two; a second lateral surface of the tongue comprises a recessed or projecting angular counter-support; a second lateral surface of the groove comprises a recessed or projecting angular counter-support; said second bar bears with its first longitudinal edge on the angular counter-support of said second lateral surface of the tongue and with its second lateral edge on the angular counter-support of said second surface 'c € cêè & _-_-_- - _-_- —-— - - - - - - "" _ "AR_ — A — aAm — AE — mAa2 — AäA — ZAa2— _ — _ — _— | side of the groove; and said second bar is arranged from so that its median plane defines an acute angle with the direction of penetration of the tongue into the groove. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein said key with its two bars is symmetrical with respect to a median plane which corresponds to the median plane of the tongue. EEE