Connecting mechanism

An assembly comprising at least a first component, a second component and a keyway connector, wherein each said component comprises at least one keyway arrangement extending along the component and keyways of the keyway arrangement are spaced apart from one another, wherein the keyway arrangements of the first and second components are aligned such that the keyways intermesh to provide a keyway passage extending longitudinally between the intermeshed keyways, and the keyway connector comprises an arrangement of keys and extends longitudinally within the keyway passage such that the keys engage the keyways of the keyway arrangements to lock the first and second components together.

A method for connecting at least a first component and a second component together, wherein each said component comprises a keyway arrangement extending along a body of the component and keyways of the keyway arrangement are spaced apart from one another but connected to the body of the components to be joined, said method comprising the steps of:

• aligning the keyway arrangements of the first and second components such that the keyways intermesh to provide a series of opposing keyways forming a keyway passage extending longitudinally between laterally juxtapositioned intermeshed keyways;
• and
• inserting a keyway connector comprising a corresponding arrangement of keys longitudinally within the keyway passage such that when the keyway connector is moved longitudinally in the keyway passage the keys engage with and are retained by the keyway passage of the keyway arrangements and at the same time force the keyways apart laterally and so tightening jointing surfaces of the bodies.

A method for connecting at least a first component and a second component together, wherein each said component comprises at least one keyway arrangement having one or more keyways extending along the component, said method comprising the steps of:

• aligning the keyway arrangements of the first and second components such that the keyways provide a keyway passage extending longitudinally between the keyways;
• and
• extending a keyway connector longitudinally within the keyway passage such that the keyway connector engages the keyways of the keyway arrangements to lock the first and second components together.

An assembly comprising at least a first component, a second component and a keyway connector, wherein each said component comprises at least one keyway arrangement having one or more keyways extending along the component, wherein the keyway arrangements of the first and second components are aligned such that the keyways provide a keyway passage extending longitudinally between the keyways, and the keyway connector extends longitudinally within the keyway passage so as to lock the first and second components together.

A method for connecting at least a first component and a second component together, wherein at least the first said component comprises two or more spaced apart keyway arrangements, with each said arrangement having one or more keyways extending along the component that provide a keyway passage extending longitudinally between the keyways, said method comprising the steps of:

• extending part of the second component within the keyway passage;
• and
• extending a keyway connector longitudinally within the keyway passage such that the keyway connector engages the keyways of the keyway arrangements to lock the first and second components together.

An assembly comprising at least a first component, a second component and a keyway connector, wherein at least the first said component comprises two or more spaced apart keyway arrangements, with each said arrangement having one or more keyways extending along the component that provide a keyway passage extending longitudinally between the keyways, wherein part of the second component extends within the keyway passage, and the keyway connector extends longitudinally within the keyway passage so as to lock the first and second components together.