Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02303040 2000-03-29
SPANNING MEMBER WITH CONVOLUTED WEB,
C-SHAPED FLANGES, AND END PLATE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to spanning or beam members and, more
particularly, to beam members formed of a pair of opposing C-shaped flanges, a
convoluted web for added strength, and an end plate for structurally
protecting and
interconnecting the beam members.
1o 2. Background of the Art
Beam members are widely used in the construction industry, not only as a
permanent building elements but also as a part of construction formwork, such
as in
scaffolding, concrete forms, and the like. An example of beam members used in
formwork include the soldier described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,964,256, which is
used as
upright and horizontal structural members, inclined braces, columns, shores,
and
walers. Another example is the lightweight steel beam member used as a support
for
decking or sheeting as a part of a concrete forming system, as described in
U.S. Pat.
No. 5,307,601. These beam members are also used as metal studs and other
building
components where they substitute for conventional dimensional lumber.
2o Such beam members are made in a wide variety of shapes and designs and of a
wide variety of materials. With the widespread use of roll-forming techniques,
it has
become increasingly common to use beam members that are made of metal sheet
material formed primarily by roll-forming to create relatively lightweight yet
strong
beam members. One way to achieve desired efficiencies and reduce the cost of
the
beam member is through the use of thinner metal sheet material in the roll-
forming
process, provided that the resultant beam member is designed to retain the
desired
strength and other characteristics. The thinner sheet material is less
expensive, easier
and cheaper to roll-form, and lighter in weight.
In the context of construction formwork, the beam members typically rest on
3o top of support posts (mono-postsTM). While the beam members vary in length,
h:\1tt081 13.100
CA 02303040 2000-03-29
normally the beams must interconnect to span the required length. Commonly,
the
interconnection consists of a collar that secures around the overlapped ends
of two
beams. This point of interconnection typically requires a separate support
post, since
the connection usually comprises a weak point. Overlapping the beam members
can
help to alleviate this problem but this requires using either more beam
members, or
longer beam members. Additionally, similar problems occur with beam members
used in permanent building construction. This system of interconnection
generally
adds an undesirable level of complexity, requires more support posts, and the
interconnection sites constitute a potential point of failure in the support
system.
to
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists of a beam member that has a pair of longitudinally
extended and opposing flanges each of which includes a central web section and
a pair
of inwardly extended leg sections such that each flange is generally C-shaped
in
transverse cross section. A longitudinally extended web member is interposed
between the opposing pair of flanges and has a pair of longitudinally extended
sides
each of which is in contact engagement along the central web section of a
corresponding one of said pair of opposing flanges. The web member has one or
more convoluted sections with alternating lateral protrusions that extend
transversely
2o across the width or height of the web. The protrusions extend laterally to
be adjacent
along a portion of a corresponding opposite pair of said leg sections of the
flanges.
The sides of the web are welded to the flanges at the central web section
thereof and
the protrusions of the web are welded to the adjacent portions of the leg
sections of
the flanges. An end plate secures to the opposing flanges and to the web
member
interposed therebetween, providing a superior means for interconnecting the
beam
members. The resultant beam member may be manufactured out of relatively thin
sheet material and yet have a high stiffness and weight bearing capacity
before
crushing.
2
CA 02303040 2004-04-05
The present invention seeks to provide a beam member for use in concrete
forming apparatus and
also as a building component that will form a permanent part of the
constructed building.
The invention also seeks to provide a beam member with a convoluted web that
is roll-formed from
a sheet of metal material and having improved stiffness and resistance to
crushing under load.
The invention also seeks to provide a beam member having a corrugated web
welded to a pair of
opposing flanges that are either U-shaped or C-shaped in transverse cross
section to comprise a beam
member having improved stiffness and resistance to crushing under load.
The invention also seeks to provide a metal beam member that can be used as a
replacement for
dimensional lumber and includes flanges that are penetrable by screws or hand-
driven nails.
The invention also seeks to provide a beam member that can readily
interconnect with like beam
members.
These and other aims of the invention will become apparent from a review of
the following
specification, attached drawings, and appended claims.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a beam
member, comprising:
a) a pair of longitudinally extended and opposite flanges each of which are
comprised of a central web
section and a pair of inwardly extended leg sections on opposite sides of the
central web section;
b) a longitudinally extended web member interposed between the opposing pair
of flanges and having
a pair of longitudinally extended sides each of which are in contact
engagement along the central web
section of a corresponding one of the pair of opposing flanges; c) the web
member comprising one or
more convoluted sections with alternating protrusions that extend laterally
and are adjacent along a
portion thereof to a corresponding opposite pair of the leg sections of the
flanges; d) means for securing
the sides of the web member to the central web section of the flanges and for
securing the protrusions
to the adj scent leg sections of the flanges; e) an end plate secured to the
opposing flanges and to the web
member thereby structurally protecting the beam member and providing for the
capability of
interconnecting the beam member; and f) the inwardly extending leg sections of
the opposing flanges are
recessed by an amount equal to one-half of a thickness of the end plate to
form a ledge for receipt of the
end plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is an elevational side view of a beam member of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the beam member of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the beam member of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view showing weldments securing a web of the beam
member to flange
members of the beam member.
CA 02303040 2004-04-05
Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the flange member of the present invention.
Fig. 6 is an end view of the flange member of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7 is a top plan view of the web of the present invention.
Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the web of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a perspective view of an end plate of an alternative beam member.
Fig. 10 is a top plan view of an alternative flange member with relief lines.
3a
CA 02303040 2000-03-29
Fig. 11 is a partial perspective view of the alternative flange member of Fig.
10.
Fig. 12a-b are end views of the alternative beam member.
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative beam member of Fig. 12b
taken along the line 13 -- 13 shown in Fig. 12b.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Illustrated in Figs. 1 - 4, generally at 10, is a beam member having a pair of
opposing flanges 12 and 14. Interposed between the opposing flanges 12 and 14
is a
to web 16 which, as best illustrated in Fig. 7, has a plurality of
alternating, transversely
extended protrusions, with the protrusions extending laterally to a first side
of the web
16 identified with the reference numeral 18a and the protrusions extending
laterally to
a second side of the web 16 identified with the reference numeral 18b (see
Fig. 2).
The flanges 12 and 14 are identical, each including a longitudinally extended
central web section 20 and a pair of leg sections 22 and 24 that are extended
inwardly
from either side of the central web section 20 (Figs. 5 and 6). In the
preferred
embodiment, the free end portions 26 and 28 of the leg sections 22 and 24,
respectively, are turned toward each other so that the flanges 12 and 14 are
generally
C-shaped in transverse cross-section.
2o The web 16 is formed of a rectangular sheet that has been bent along
transverse lines perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sheet. The
bends,
indicated at 30 in Fig. 8, alternate in direction at intervals to produce at
least a section
of the web 16 having a convoluted or corrugated shape wherein the protrusions
18a
and 18b extend to either side of the web 16 (Fig. 7). In the preferred
embodiment, the
protrusions 18a and 18b are symmetrical and have flat outer sections 32a and
32b,
respectively, that are laterally spaced by a distance that matches the
transverse
distance or spacing between the free end portions 26 and 28 of the leg
sections 22 and
24 of the flanges 12 and 14. Accordingly, upon assembly of the web 16 and
flanges
12 and 14, the flanges 12 and 14 will fit over the longitudinally extended
sides of the
3o web 16 with the side edges of the web 16 in flush contact engagement with
the central
4
CA 02303040 2000-03-29
web section 20 of each of the flanges 12 and 14 and with the flat outer
sections 32a
and 32b of the protrusions adjacent the free end portions 26 and 28 of the
flange leg
sections 22 and 24 (Fig. 3).
To complete the beam member 10, the flanges 12 and 14 are preferably
welded to the web 16. As illustrated in Fig. 4, the flat outer sections 32a
and 32b of
the protrusions 18 are welded at 34 to the free end portions 26 and 28 of the
flange leg
sections 22 and 24, and the side edges of the web 16 are welded at 36 to the
central
web section 20 of each of the flanges 12 and 14. In the resulting assembly,
the
convoluted web 16 provides stiffened members over the points of support to
resist
crushing of the beam member 10 under load resting on the top flange. In
addition, the
inwardly extended leg sections 22 and 24 permit welding to the web 16 at
points
inward of the central web section 20 to reduce the unbraced and unstiffened
size of the
compression elements to allow the use of thinner metal sheet material in the
manufacture of the beam member 10.
In the preferred embodiment, the protrusions 18 are formed using alternating
bends of approximately 120°, with the flat sections 32 of a length of
62.5 mm
separated by 73 mm. This results in a corrugated web 16 that has an outside
lateral
width of 65 mm. The flanges 12 and 14 are formed using 90° bends with a
central
web section 20 of 89 mm in width, wherein the leg sections 22 and 24 extend
transversely inwardly 36 mm and the free end sections 26 and 28 extend
laterally
inwardly 12 mm so that the gap between opposing free end sections is 65 mm.
The
web 16 are roll-formed from high strength, low alloy sheet steel having a
thickness of
.0598 inches ( 16 gauge) and the flanges 12 and 14 are roll-formed from high
strength,
low alloy sheet steel having a thickness of .0747 inches (14 gauge). The beam
member 10 can vary in length, with the preferred lengths ranging from 1.2 m to
7.2 m,
in increments of .6 m. A beam member 10 with these dimensions is suitable for
use
as a replacement for 3'/2 inch wide lumber in garage door headers, window
headers,
and other long spanning applications in residential construction. In one
embodiment
of the present invention the flanges 12 and 14 are of sufficient thickness to
allow for
3o penetration by screws or hand-driven nails for the attachment of other
building
components as with lumber. The beam members are also intended for use in the
5
CA 02303040 2000-03-29
concrete forming industry where they are used to support concrete forms in
horizontal
forming applications. Beam members of the present invention will generally
serve as
an intermediary supporting member between other components of concrete forming
systems apparatus.
Although the preferred embodiment has been described as having the web and
flanges manufactured from specified sheet material, sheet materials of
different
thickness or other characteristics may be used depending on the desired
performance
characteristics of the resulting beam member. Additionally, while the
protrusions or
corrugations of the web in the preferred embodiment are comprised of straight
or flat
1o sections made by a series of bends across the full transverse width of the
sheet, other
diverse convolutions could be used. Additionally, in the preferred embodiment,
the
convoluted section extends the full length of the web, whereas it may be
desirable to
provide one or more convoluted sections that are less than the full length.
Further,
while flanges of a generally C-shape are used in the preferred embodiment,
flanges of
a U-shaped cross section could be employed, albeit with some loss in strength
and
possible added material costs.
Figs. 9-12 show an alternative embodiment of the present invention. In
particular, Figs. 12a and 12b shows a beam member 50 that includes a endplate
52
(see Fig. 9) with circular perforations 51. The beam member 50 also includes a
recessed pair of opposing flanges 54. The flange 54 generally operates in a
similar
manner to the flange 12 shown in Fig. 6. The flange 54 contains a longitudinal
extending central web section 60, and a pair of interconnected leg sections
58, 62 that
extend inwardly from either side of the central web section 60. Additionally,
free end
portions 56, 64 turn toward each other extending away from the leg sections
58, 62.
In this manner, the flange 54 forms a generally C-shape in transverse cross-
section.
In contrast to the free end portions 26, 28 of flange 12, the free end
portions
56, 64 of the flange 54 are recessed away from the top of the leg sections 58,
62.
Shown best in Figs. 10 and 1 l, the recessed areas 66 form a ledge for receipt
of the
end plate 52. In other words, where the free end portions 26, 28 of the flange
12
3o extend to meet the leg sections 22, 24 flush, the free end portions 56, 64
of the flange
54 do not extend all the way up to meet the leg sections 58, 62. Figs. 12a and
12b
6
CA 02303040 2000-03-29
show this configuration in phantom, the free end portions 56, 64 extend under
the end
plate 52 (see phantom lines).
In the preferred embodiment, the end plate 52, rests on the ledge formed by
the
recessed free end portions 56, 64 such that the recess 66 extends to a depth
to receive
one-half of the thickness of the end plate 52. This allows for the end plate
52 to
securely seat within the flange 54, while still allowing the end plate 52 to
protrude
sufficiently above the flange 54 to allow for achieving a secure attachment
through
fillet weldments 68 (Fig. 12b). The end plate 52 secures to both the flange 54
and the
web 16. Fillet welds 68 secure the end plate 52 to the flange 54 along the
entire
to length of the intersection of the two components. Additionally, interior
welds secure
the end plate 52 to the web 16. Fig. 12. shows the orientation of the
underlying web
16 in phantom. The web 16, in the orientation shown in Figs. 12a and 12b,
underlies
the end plate 52. Intermittent fillet welds along the interior underlying
interface of the
end plate 52 and the web 16 secure the components in place.
Fig. 13 shows a cross-sectional view of the beam member SO showing the
interface between the end plate 52, the flange 54, and the web 16. Again, the
end
plate 52 rests on the ledge created by the opposing recessed free end portions
56, 64 of
the flange 54. The recess preferably allows about one-half of the thickness of
the end
plate 52 to protrude above the flange 54. This provides sufficient area for
well
2o securing weldments 68, and also allows the end plate 52 to seat within the
flange 54.
In this manner, the present invention achieves a full moment connection
between the
end plate 52 and the flange 54.
The end plate 52 measures approximately 224 mm in length along a
longitudinal axis, approximately 84 mm in width along a transverse axis, and
approximately 7 mm in thickness. The perforations 51 are separated by
approximately 150 mm, and are evenly centered thereabout. The perforations 51
measure approximately 20 mm in diameter. Those of ordinary skill in the art
will
appreciate the fact that the exact dimensions and materials described herein
can vary
without departing from the scope of the present invention. Additionally, the
Figures
3o are not necessarily drawn to scale, but are exaggerated in places in order
to more
7
. CA 02303040 2000-03-29
readily depict the features of the present invention. For example, the
recessed areas
66 shown in Fig. 11 are exaggerated for illustrative purposes.
The advantage of this embodiment comprises the fact that the beam member
50 can interconnect with other beam members 50 through, for example, bolts
secured
through the circular perforations 51 in the end plate 52. This eliminates the
need for
the overlapping connection and securing collars used in the prior art. The
beam
members 50 provide a superior end connecting means by creating a full moment
connection between beam members 50. Additionally, the end plates 52 provide
protection for the free end of the beam members 50 from normal wear and tear
to damage that occurs at the ends of the beam members 50 from moving,
securing, and
removing the beam members 50.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred
embodiment thereof, it is to be also understood that it is not to be so
limited since
changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full
intended
is scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
g
