MANUFACTURED METAL BEAM

POUTRE DE METAL MANUFACTUREE

English Abstract

This invention relates to a metal manufactured beam.
While metal manufactured beams are common where heavy load bearing structural
members are required they are not widely used in residential or light commercial con-
struction. Their high load bearing capacity is off-set by their weight, high production costs
and the difficulty in receiving fasteners normal to the light or residential construction
industry.

Claims

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is
claimed are defined as follows:
1. A structural beam comprising two metal web plates fabricated
into a series of locking tabs along the top and bottom which
are connected by double U channels in a series of V shapes
forming a Warren Truss configuration. The web plates are
held parallel and equal distant to each other by a continuous
folded plate inserted into and fastened to the single U
channels formed by the double U channels. The locking tabs
are fastened to upper & lower chords which run along the
upper & lower points of the folded plate.
2. A beam as defined in Claim 1, fabricated from different kinds
and thicknesses of metal depending on the use of the beam.
3. A beam as claimed in Claim 2 manufactured in different
dimensions depending on the use of the beam.
4. A beam as defined in Claim 1 2 or 3 in which different
materials are used as upper and lower chords.

Description

213~367
Manufactured beams are common in residential and light commercial construction
as alternatives to full cut lumber.
In this invention sheet metal is ~abricated into a rigid frame to be used as a
structural beam in the building industry.
Diagonal web sliffener~ are formed in a web plate of sheet metal that is cut in such
a way as to form tabs along the top and bottom of the plate. The web stiff6ners add
stleny~h as the diagonal ",e"lL,ers in a Warren Truss configuration and act as a fastening
system for a folded plate that runs l~t~/een parallel web plates. The folded plate adds
st,enyth and gives dimension to the frame and acts as a support for the upper and lower
chords. The tabs overlap at each junction of the diagonal ",er,ll,er~ and are fastened to
themselves and the upper and lower chords.
This invention relates to a metal manufactured beam.
While metal manufactured beams are common where heavy load bearing structural
me"lbers are required they are not widely used in residential or light commercial con-
struction. Their high load bearing car~city is off-set by their weight high production costs
and the difficulty in receiving fas~eners normal to the light or ~sidenlial construction
industry.
This invention is unique in that it is fab,icat6d from light gauge sheet metal. It is
light nail and screw receiving (similar to metal studs common to the construction
industry), and can be formed in the same dimensions as full cut lumber. It can be worked
within a manner traditional to the building industry. Its fabrication lends itself to
automated mass production making it econom ically practical relative to full cut lumber and
other manufactured beams.
In d~av:;nys which illustrate embodiments of the invention Figure 1 shows a section
of sheet metal web plate scril~ with the cut and bend lines. Figure 2 shows the web
plate cut. Figure 3 4 and 5 illustrate the forming of the web stiffeners. Figures 6 and 7
show the scribing and forming of the folded plate. Figure 8 shows the web plate inserted
and fastened to the web stiffeners. Figure 9 illust,ates the second web plate attached to
the folded plate and Figure 10 shows the upper and lower chords attached.

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In F i &ur e 2.
The sheet metal web plate 1 is cut along lines 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13creating tabs 2, 3 and 4. The web plate is bent along the diagonal lines 11, 12, 13, 14,
15, 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5 which forms single U channels
21, L~t~Jeen double U channels and brings the tabs 2 and 3 parallel to each other on
either side of tab 4. Figures 6 and 7 show a sheet metal section, 22, bent along lines 23
and 24 to form a folded plate. In figure 8 the folded plate is inserted in the single U
channels 21, and fastened mechanically or by welding, 26. Figure 9 shows a second
sheet metal plate 1, being attached to the folded plate in the same manner as the first
web plate in Figure 8. In figure 10 upper and lower chords 27 are placed on the points
25 of the folded plate and fastened to the tabs 28.

Representative Drawing