Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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~ACKGROUND OF THE I~ENTION
This invention is directed to a three dimensional wire
matrix suitable for use as reinforcement and in particular to a
matrix formed of wires constructed in sheet form.
The use of steel reinforcement in the form of bars for
use with concrete is well known, wherein the mass of reinforce-
ment would generally constitute a ~action of a percent of the mass
of the complete structure. Another development has been that of
ferro concrete wherein five to seven percent by weight of steel
reinforcing~ire segments isadded randomly to the concrete, to
provide substantially homogeneous reinforcement thereto.
Finally, the use of lightweight structural matri~
orovides a more efficient utilization of the steel, ~ith conse-
quent reduction in the mass of steel required, the matrix being
~ositioned o~timally in the concrete ~;tructure to provide the most
effective utilization o its tensile strength.
One such three-dimenslonal matrix arrangement is shown in
United States Patent No.3,347,007 Oct~17th,1967, J.R.Hale, having
a series of pyramid shaped units fabricated as a basic truss
sandwiched between wire grids, the pyramids being fo~med by folding
~he stringer wires of a flat metal mesh at the juncture points
or corners i.e. diagonally, to achieve a portion of an upstanding
pyramid. Different combinations of wire structure are the~ built
up from this basic unit, the fabrication of which is cumbersome,
time consuming and costly.
A more recent construction utilizes a pair of outer mesh
and inner mesh, the inner mesh being folded into a triangulated
relation by bending of the longitudinal me h wires at acute angles
to effecttriangles each having a series of transverse mesh wires
arranged around the periphery thereof. The extreme rigidity of
this arrangement is offset by the weight and the presence of a
considerable mass of material in the form o~ transverse mesh wires
~ositioned relatively close to the m~dian axis of the structure,
where it cannot develop its full strength. The surface strenyth
is dependent solely on the strength of the welds. ~
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SUMM~RY OF THE_INVEMTIOM.
In accordance with the present invention there is pro~
vided a three dimensional matrix of low specific weight, having
the mass of the material concentrated primarily adjacent the outer
sheet, whe~re it can develop its greatest strength, to provide
efficient material utilization.
The invention further provides a three dimensional
~atri~ fabricated from three composite wire sheets, comprising a
pair of outer sheets and i~ inner shee~, the inner sheet being
~rovided with a suitable three dimensional aspect by carrying out
simple bending operations of the longitudinal wires of the sheet,
the resulting trapezium sectioned sheet lending itself eminently
to assembly and ~eldment with the wires of the outer wire sheets.
The invention may be practiced in a number of embodiments,
depending upon the availability and relative costs of particular
arrangements of wire sheet from which the two outer plies and the
inner ~ly are formed. Also, the complexity of the weldment appa-
ratus is a factor in selecting a particular embodiment.
In the first embodiment the standard wire sheets forming
the outer ~lies of the matrix differ from the inner sheet which
can use a lighter wire, and differs also in the pitch spacing of
the transverse wires. With the two outer sheets spaced in sub-
stantially mutually parallel arrangement having thetransverse
wires thereof in mutually:staggered relation and positioned on the
innermost sides of the sheets the intermediate sheet i9 provided
in a pre-bent condition in which the longitudinal wires are alt-
ernately cranked at an obtuse angle, having the transverse wires
of the intermediate sheet located at the spaced apart uncranked
~ortions of the longitudinal wires. In the case of one of the ou~
side sheets the transverse wires of the i~ner sheet are arranged
to lie alongside an adjacent transverse wire of the ôuter sheet,
while in the case of the other outside qheet selected ~ of the
outside sheet transverse wires abut the outer surfaces of the un-
cranked portlons of the longitudinal wires of the inner sheet,for weldment thereto,
In the second embodiment the starting sheets comprise
outer sheets having -the longitudinal wires thereof outermost.
One of the outer sheets has the transverse wires thereof spaced
two wire pitch intervals apart, the other outer sheet having
regularly spaced transverse wires. The intermediate sheet having
suitably cranked longitudinal wires, has ths transverse wires
thereof positioned on one side of the longi-tudinal wires thereof,
at a spacing such that the transverse wires occupy the vacant
pitch of the first one of the outer sheets so as to provide`a
uniform and symetrical structure of minimal weight.
A third embodiment is contemplated having the trans-
verse wires of the two outer sheets in outward facing relation,
the intermedia-te sheet having alternating uncranked portions of
the longitudinal wires arranged adjacent the longitudinal wires
of one of the outer sheets, for transverse weldmen-t thereto.
the lateral wires of the in-termediate shee-t being positioned in
outward contacting relation agains-t the inner surfaces of -the
longitudinal wires of the other sheets.
The intermediate sheet longitudinal wires include
cranked portions interconnecting the uncranked portions thereof,
in each of the foregoing embodiments. Thus in the first two
embodiments the lateral wires of the outer sheets are arranged
on the innermost sides of the sheets in adjacent positioned re-
lation with the adjoining transverse wire of the inner sheet while
in the case of the third embodiment the outer sheet la-teral wires
are arranged on the outermost surfaces of the outer sheets in a
selected position, relative to the adjacent uncranked portions
of -the inner sheet.
In the Figure 1 and Figure 3 ~mbodiments the s-tag-
gered relation of the transverse wires of the outer plies
facilitates welding of the assembled s-tructure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Certain embodiments of the invention are described,
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reference being made to the drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is an edge view of a portion of a three
dimensional wire structure of a first embodiment of tha invention;
Eigure 2 is a like view of a second embodiment of the
invention;
Figure 3 is a like view oE a third embodiment of the
invention, and
Eigure 4 is a general view sh~wing a pair of c~nnector
strips for use in connecting matrix.
DETAIhED DE5CRIPTIO~ OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring first to Figure 1, the arrangement 10 c~mpris~
a lower outer sheet 12, an upper outer sheet 14 and an intermsdia~
sheet 16.
The lower sheet 12 has longitudinal wires 17 and trans-
verse wires l9 on the innermost ~ace of the sheet 12. Co.rrespon-
dlngly the upper sheet 14 has longitudinal wires 21 and transverse
wires 23 on the innermost ~ace of the! sheet.
~ he inner sheet 16 has longitudinal wires 26 having
undeformed ~ortions 27, 29 in alternating spaced apart relation,
joined by cranked portions 31,33 of the longitudinal wire 26 il~
lustrated as being set at about 45 i e. having an obtuse included
angle "A" of about 135. The transverse wires 35 of the inner .
sheet 16 are all located on the same side of the sheet, the lower
side as illustrated. The centre wire 35 illustrated abutts the
longitudinal wire 17 of the lower sheet 12, and also abutts a
transverse wire 19 of the lower sheet 12. The arrangement 10 of
Figure 1 is shaped and the elements arranged such as to give suf-
ficient clearance for the penetration of spot welding electrodes
~ (shown in phantom) in welding relation through the structure 10,
by off-setting the upper sheet 14 in staggered relation to the
lower sheet l2 by a half-pitch.
It will be noted that the outer sheets 12, 14 are pro-
vided with uniformly spa~ed lateral wires, 19 and 23 respectively,
~rranged in mutually staggered relation.
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Turning to the Figure 2 embodiment -the lower sheet 42
has a full complement of transverse wires 45 arranged at equal
intervals while the upper sheet 44 is characterized by pairs of
transverse wires 47, each pair having a double pitch i~terval
therebetween into which the transverse wires 53 of the inner sheet
46 are positioned in generally centered relation. The pitch
intervals of the transverse wires 53 of the inner sheet are pre-
~termined to achieve the desired spacing upon bending the inner
sheet 46
In this arrangement the use of oppositely located welding
arcuate contacts 56, 58 is comtemplated.
In the Figure 3 embodi.ment the outer ~heets 82, 84 of t~
assembly 80 have their transverse wires 85,87 located outwardly
relative to the structure, wherein it is comtemplated that relative
~ositioning is not at all critical, for purposes o ~ffecting welds
whereas, if desired particular positi.oning can be readily provided.
From the foregoing it will be seen that various wire
structures may be provided, some being precisely symetrical as
in the Figure 2 embodiment and some being asymetrical, with rela-
tion to the neutral axis of the respe~ctive structure.
It has been found that using mesh structure for the
centre sheet with ~ne m.m. wi~e (0.040 inches diameter) having
the logitudinal wires spaced at about l"centres and with transver~e
wires at a pitch of 2/3 inches, with outer sheets using wire o~
62 thousands of an inch diameter that a structural matrix sheet
having a panel weight of about 1 lb. per square foot and being
ca~able ~f sustaining the weight of a ~an wearing "paddles" on his
feet is provided. This structure can be laid over u~prepared
surfaces, such as hardcore, old cement or wooden decking etc., and
gunnited with a cement having fine aggregate, with excellent
structural results.
By controlling the respective proportions, particularly
of the intermediate sheet, structures varying over a significant
range of thicknesses can be provided that are suited to mass
production, wherein the predominant mass of the steel is at or
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adjacent the structure outer surfacesc for optimum strength.
Referring to Figure 4, a pair of connectors 90 are shown,
being about 3 inches wide and haviny in-~urned "S" shaped hook
portions 92 to engage the wires of the upper and lower sheets
of the matrix, to hold adjoining sections in mutually secured
relation, prior to gunniting or concreting in-situ.
One of the particular advantages afforded by the subject
small mesh size is that the generation of cracks in the cement oE
a poured or gunnited structure, under working loads, is held to
small surface cracks in close pro~imity, thereby enhancing the
integrity of the structure.
