Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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CONSTRUCTION BEAM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a construction
implement, and more particularly to a construction beam.
2. Description of the Related Art
In construction operation, concrete is grouted to form solid
structure of a construction. When grouting in various construction
sites, beams are popularly used to support wooden bars for
supporting the moldboard as a common construction means. The beams
are able to bear the weight or pressure of the concrete.
Most of the conventional beams are wooden beams and metal beams.
The wooden beam has a poor structural strength and cannot be
recovered. In case of damage, the wooden beam can be only directly
discarded without possibility of reuse. This is not a good option
in modern times that emphasizes environmental protection.
The conventional metal beam has a quite simple cross-sectional
structure. Therefore, the metal beam can only bear limi ted pressure.
In case of greater application force, the beam is often deformed
or laterally bent. Therefore, the conventional metal beam can hardly
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bear greater action force.
Moreover, the grouting moldboard is supported by the wooden bars,
which are supported by the beams. However, neither the wooden beams
nor the metal beams are designed with structure for fixing the wooden
bars. In case of stronger grouting intensity, the wooden bars often
displace from their home positions due to shock or even drop down
from the beams. Under such circumstance, the moldboard will break
apart and the concrete will fall to cause danger. Beside, the
conventional beam has a fixed length and lacks any suitable design
. for connecting the beams into a longer length. In the case that the
grouting area exceeds the length of the beam, many workers often
randomly set the beams. As a result, the beams will intersect each
other to asymmetrically support the moldboard. This will cause
uneven supporting force for the respective parts of the moldboard.
Therefore, it has become a critical issue how to provide a design
for fixing the wooden bars and connecting the beams with each other.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One aspect of the present invention is to provide a construction
beam, which has higher force bearing strength and is more solid and
durable.
A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a
construction beam. When mounting wooden bars on the beams, the
wooden bars can be secured to the main bodies by means of multiple
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fastening members for laying a moldboard on the wooden bars.
Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
construction beam. Two beams can be axially connected with each
other by means of a connection member to form a support beam with
longer length in accordance with the grouting area.
The construction beam of the present invention includes:
a main body, which is an elongated body having uniform
cross-sectional.shape, the main body including two vertical walls,
a top wall transversely connected between top edges of the two
vertical walls, two bottom walls inward horizontally extending from
bottom edges of the two vertical walls, and two upright walls upward
extending from free edge of the bottom walls by a certain height;
and
multiple spacer assemblies disposed between the two vertical
walls of the main body, two ends of each spacer assembly abutting
against the two vertical walls to keep the two vertical walls spaced
from each other by a fixed distance.
In the above beam, the multiple spacer assemblies are disposed
between the two vertical walls of the main body to restrict the two
vertical walls and keep the two vertical walls spaced from each other
by a fixed distance. Accordingly, when a force is applied to the -
vertical walls, the vertical walls are prevented from contracting
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or deforming.
Multiple perforations formed through the two vertical walls of
the main body the above beam; a connection bolt member is passed
through the perforations of the two vertical walls to connect the
main body with a fastening member for fixing wooden bars.
Accordingly, the wooden bars are prevented from swinging to provide
a support for the moldboard and facilitate construction work.
One end of the beam is connectable with one end of a connection
member by means of at least one threaded assembly. The other end
of the connection member is connected with another beam to axially
connect the beams to form a support beam with a necessary length
in accordance with the grouting area in construction work for
supporting the moldboard. Multiple support beams can be regularly
arranged to uniformly support every part of the moldboard.
The present invention can be best understood through the
following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:
=
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present
invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the first embodiment
of the present invention according to Fig. 1;
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Fig. 3A is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3B is a sectional view of the first embodiment of the present
invention in another aspect;
Figs. 4A and 48 are perspective views of the fastening member
of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing that the fastening members
are connected with the beam of the present invention;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing that the wooden bars are
mounted on the beams of the present invention;
Fig. 7 is a front view according to Fig. 6;
Fig. 8isaperspective view showing that two beams of the present
invention are to be connected by a connection member;
Fig. 9isaperspect ive view showing that two beams of the present
invention are connected by the connection member;
Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 9;
Fig. 11 is a perspective view showing that two beams of the
present invention are axially connected by the connection member;
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Fig. 12 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the
construction beam of the present invention;
Fig. 13 is a comparison curve diagram between the construction
beam of the present invention and four conventional construction
beams; and
Fig. 14 is a comparison table between the beam of the present
invention and four conventional construction beams.
DETAILED DESCRIPTTON OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Please refer to Figs. 1 to 3, which show a first embodiment of
the construction beam 10 of the present invention. The construction
beam 10 includes a main body 20, which is an elongated metal-made
body. The main body 20 has uniform cross-sectional shape. The main
body 20 includes two vertical walls 21 side by side arranged at a
certain interval in parallel to each other, a top wall 22
transversely connected between top edges of the two vertical walls
21, and two bottom walls 23 inward horizontally extending from
bottom edges of the two vertical walls 21. Each bottom wall 23 has
a free edge. An upright wall 24 upward extends from the free edge
of the bottom wall 23 by a certain. height. Multiple perforations
25 are formed through the two vertical walls 21 and arranged in a
longitudinal direction of the main body 20 at equal intervals near
the top edges of the vertical walls 21. At least two connection holes
27 are formed through the two vertical walls 21 near two ends of
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the main body 20 respectively. Each end of the main body 20 is formed ,
with two connection holes 27 arranged in the longitudinal direction
of the main body 20. A predetermined number of reinforcement
sections 211, which are recessed/raised sections formed by punching,
are disposed on the two vertical walls 21. A hole is formed at the
center of each reinforcement section 211. Multiple through holes
28 are formed through the two vertical walls 21.
The vertical wall 21, the bottom wall 23 and the upright wall
24 on the same side of the main body 20 define therebetween a
receiving space 26.
Multiple spacer assemblies 30 are disposed in the main body 20
at equal intervals. In this embodiment, there are four spacer
assemblies 30. Each spacer assembly 30 is composed of a spacer member
31 and a restriction assembly. The spacer member 31 is a tubular
body having a passage 32. The spacer member 31 is disposed in the
main body 20 with two ends in abutment against inner faces of the
two vertical walls 21 as shown in Fig. 3A. The passage 32 is aligned
with one through hole 28 of the main body. In this embodiment, the
restriction assembly is a threaded assembly including a bolt 36 and
- a nut 37. The rod body of the bolt 36 extends through the through
holes 28 of the two vertical walls 21 and the passage 32 of the spacer
member 31 to screw with the nut 37. Accordingly, the spacer member
31 is secured between the two vertical walls 21. Please refer to
Fig. 3A. Two ends of the spacer member 31 serve as two inner abutment
sections 33 of the restriction assembly to abut against the inner
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faces of the two vertical walls 21 respectively. The head section
of the bolt 36 and the nut 37 serve as two outer abutment sections
34 of the restriction assembly to abut against outer faces of the
two vertical walls 21 respectively. Accordingly, the two vertical
walls are kept spaced from each other by a fixed distance without
being biased toward each other or outward expanded, whereby the
rigidity and strength of the main body can be maintained.
It should be noted that each restriction assembly can be
alternatively a rivet 38 as shown in Fig. 3B. The rivet 38 passes
through the through holes 28 of the two vertical walls 21 and the
passage 32 of the spacer member 31. Two ends of the rivet 38 serve
as the outer abutment set ions 34 to abut against the outer faces
of the two vertical walls 21, whereby the two vertical walls 21 are
kept spaced from each other by a fixed distance.
Please now refer to Figs. 4 and 5. The present invention further
includes at least one fastening member 40 having a board body 41,
two upright walls 43 and two protrusion walls 45. The board body
41 has a rectangular shape with four lateral sides 42. The two
upright walls 43 are disposed on a pair of lateral sides 42 of the
board body 41 in parallel to each other and upward extend therefrom.
The two protrusion walls 45 are disposed on the other pair of lateral
sides 42 of the board body 41 and downward extend therefrom. The
board body 41 and the two upright walls 43 define a receiving space
47. The fastening member 40 is bridged over the beam 10 with the
board body 20 in contact with the top wall 22 and the two protrusion
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walls 45 in contact with the two vertical walls 21 of the main body
20 respectively. A connection bolt member 48 is passed through the
securing holes 46 of the two protrusion walls 45 and the perforations
25 of the two vertical walls 21. One end of the connection bolt member
48 has a stopper section 481, while the other end of the connection
bolt member 48 is pivotally connected with a stopper member 482.
After the connection bolt member 48 is passed through the two
protrusion walls 45 and the two vertical walls 21, the stopper member
482 will naturally rotate downward to suspend from the connection
bolt member 48 as shown in Fig. 4A. Under such circumstance, the
connection bolt member 48 is hindered from detaching from the
fastening member. Accordingly, the fastening member 40 is connected
with the beam 10 by means of the connection bolt member 48.
Fig. 6 shows the use of this embodiment of the present invention.
Multiple beams 10 are side by side arranged in parallel to each other
at intervals. Several fastening members 40 are mounted on the beams.
Multiple wooden bars 70 are bridged over the beams 10 and positioned
in the receiving spaces 47 of the fastening members 40. A fixing
member 49 is passed through the fixing holes 44 of the upright walls
- 43 of the fastening member (as shown in Fig. 4) to fix the wooden
bar 70. The fixing member 49 can be a bolt, a self-tapping screw,
a nail or the like that can fix or connect articles. After the wooden
bars 70 are connected with the fastening members 40, a moldboard
71 is placed on the wooden bars 70 as shown in Fig. 7. Referring
to Fig. 7, when grouting, the concrete is poured from the upper side
of the moldboard 71 to uniformly put the weight of the concrete on
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the moldboard 71. The moldboard 71 spreads the weight to every wooden
bar 70. The wooden bars 70 then further spread the weight to the
respective beams 10. The wooden bars 70 are fixed by the fastening
members 40 so that the wooden bars 70 will not randomly displace
due to impact of the concrete. Therefore, the wooden bars 70 keep
having higher force bearing strength. The vertical walls 21 and the
upright walls 24 of the beams 10 are right directed in the weight
direction of the concrete so that the beams are able to bear the
weight. The spacer members 31 mounted between the two vertical walls
21 of the beam 10 also provide an effect. Two ends of the spacer
member 31 serve as the inner abutment sections 33 for supporting
. the vertical walls 21 and keeping the vertical walls 21 spaced from
each other by a fixed distance without inward contracting. The outer
abutment sections 34 of the restriction assembly, (that is, the head
section of the bolt 36 and the nut 37), abut against the outer faces
of the two vertical walls 21 to restrict the vertical walls 21 from
outward expanding or deforming. Therefore, the two vertical walls
21 are kept spaced from each other by a fixed distance to ensure
the structural strength of the beams 10. Moreover, the reinforcement
sections 211 of the beam 10 serve to increase the strength of the
beam. The two vertical walls 21 and the two upright walls 24 of the
beam stand opposite to each other and are directed in the pressure
direction of the concrete. Therefore, the structural strength of
the beams 10 is increased and the beams 10 are able to bear greater
forward pressure.
In case of larger grouting area and insufficient length of the
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beams 10, the present invention provides a connection member 50 as
shown in Fig. 8 to axially connect two beams 10. Accordingly, the
beams can be assembled to elongate the beam to a length sufficient
for supporting the moldboard. Moreover, the force bearing strength
.of the two beams 10 can be increased.
Please refer to Fig. 8. The components of the construction beam
are identical to those of the first embodiment and thus will not
be repeatedly described hereinafter. The same components are
denoted with the same reference numerals.
The connection member 50 is a metal member including amain body
51, which is a hollow elongated body with uniform cross-sectional
shape such as rectangular shape. Four apertures 53 are transversely
formed through two lateral walls 52 of the main body 51 near two
ends of the main body 51 respectively. The apertures 53 are arranged
in a longitudinal direction of the main body 51.
Two connection components 55 are fixedly connected with the main
body 51. Each connection component 55 has a substantially U-shaped
cross section. The connection component 55 includes two vertical
leg sections 56 side by side arranged at a certain interval in
parallel to each other and a top board 57 transversely connected
between top edges of the two leg sections 56. The top board 57 of
the connection component 55 is fixedly connected with the bottom
wall 54 of the main body 51. The two leg sections 56 are formed under
the bottom of the main body 51.
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Four threaded assemblies 60 are also provided. Each threaded
assembly 60 includes a bolt 62 and a nut 64.
Please refer to Figs. 9 to 11. When axially connecting the two
beams 10, one end of each beam 10 is fitted onto one end of the
connection member 50. The two leg sections 56 of the connection
component 55 are respectively received in the two receiving spaces
26. The connection holes 27 of one end of each beam 10 are aligned
with the apertures 53 of one end of the connection member 50. Then,
the bolts 62 of the four threaded assemblies 60 are respectively
passed through the connection holes 27 of the beam 10 and the
apertures 53 of the connection member 50 to screw withthe nuts 64.
Accordingly, the two beams 10 are securely connected with the
connection member 50.
The connection member 50 can be used to axially securely connect
at least two beams 10. Preferably, the two leg sections 56 abut
against the bottom walls 23 of the main body 20 as shown in Fig.
10. Also, the top end of the connection member 50 abuts against the
top wall 22 of the main body 20, whereby the connection member 50
= also serves to increase the force bearing strength of the main body
20 and enhance the supporting effect of the beam 10 for the
moldboard.
After two or more beams 10 are axially connected, more wooden
bars 70 can be fixed on the beams 10 by means of multiple fastening
members 40 for supporting a longer moldboard.
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' Fig. 12 shows a second embodiment of the construction beam 10
of the present invention. The same components are denoted with the
same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the spacer assembly
30 is an elongated (tubular or cylindrical) spacer member 39 passing
through the through holes 28 of the two vertical walls 21 of the
main body 20. The circumference of each of two ends of the spacer.
member 39 is formed with an inner abutment flange 33 and an outer
abutment flange 34. The inner and outer abutment flanges 33, 34
respectively abut against the inner and outer faces of the two
vertical walls 21 to keep the two vertical walls 21 spaced from each
other by a fixed distance and ensure that the beam has sufficient
strength.
The construction beam of the present invention is advantageous
over other construction beams on the current market. The beam of
the present invention is compared with the other four conventional
beams A, B, C, D in bendilig moment and performance per unit price
as follows:
Fig. 13 is a comparison diagram between the present invention
and the four conventional beams. The thicker the floorboard to be
grouted is, the shorter the distance between the arranged beams is.
A larger bending moment of the beam means a greater force bearing
strength of the beam. In this case, the beam is more unlikely to
break. Therefore, a beam with larger bending moment is able to bear
greater load and the distance between the arranged beams is also
longer. The bending moment NI is calculated by yield strength (Fy)
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multiplying section modulus (Z).
Please also refer to Fig. 14. The preferred embodiment of the
construct ion beam (abbreviated as top beam) of the present invention
is made of Q390 steel material with a yield strength (Fy) of
4000kgf/cm2 and a section modulus (Z) of 26.2cff3. Accordingly, the
bending moment (M) of the beam of the present invention can be
= calculated to be 4000 X 26.2= 104800kgf-cm. The weight of the beam
of the present invention is 6kg/m. The price per kilogram is NTS(as
hereinafter) 45 dollars/kg. Therefore, the performance of the beam
of the present invention per unit price is 104800/(6kg/m*45
dollars/kg).388.15kgf-cm/dollar.
Beam A (EFCO E-beam) has a trapezoidal cross section. The yield
strength (Fy) of beam A is 3600kgf/cm2 and the section modulus (Z)
of beam A is 28.6cd. Accordingly, the bending moment (M) of beam
A can be calculated to be 3600 X 28.6= 102960kgf-cm. The weight of
beam A is 5.5kg/m. The ,Jr ice per kilogram is 106.7 dollars/kg.
Therefore, the performance of beam A per unit price is
102960/(5.5kg/m*106.7 dollars/kg).175.40kgf-cm/dollar.
Beam B (lightweight channeled steel, two pieces) is an I-beam.
The yield strength (Fy) of beam B is 2500kgf/cm2 and the section
modulus (Z) of beam B is 33.6cm.3. Accordingly, the bending moment
(M) of beam B can be calculated to be 2500 X 33.6= 84000kgf-cm. The
weight of beam B is 8.2kg/m. The price per kilogram is 28 dollars/kg.
Therefore, the performance of beam B per unit price is
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84000/(8.2kg/e28 dollars/kg)=365.85kgf-cm/dollar.
Beam C (H20 wooden beam) is a wooden beam. Through test, the
bending moment of beam C is found to be 50968kgf-cm. The weight of
beaniC is 4.7kg/m. The price per kilogram is 83 dollars/kg. Therefore,
the performance of beam C per unit price is 50968/(4.7kg/m*83
dollars/kg)=130.65kgf-cm/dollar.
Beam D (lightweight channeled steel, one piece) is a C-beam. The
yield strength (Fy) of beam D is 2500kgf/cm2and the section modulus
(Z) of beamD is 16.8ce. Accordingly, the bending moment (M) of beam
D can be calculated to be 2500 X 16.8= 42000kgf-cm. The weight of
beamD is 4. lkg/m. The price per kilogram is 28 dollars/kg. Therefore,
the performance of beam D per unit price is 42000/(4.1kg/e28
dollars/kg)=365.85kgf-cm/dollar.
Accordingly, it can be found through the comparison between the
bending moment (M) of various beams that the beam (top beam) of the
present invention > beam A (EFCO E-beam) > beam B (lightweight
channeled steel, two pieces) > beam C (H20 wooden beam) > beam D
(lightweight channeled steel, one piece). The bending moment of the
beam of the present invention is the best one. In other words, the
beam of the present invention has a greatest force bearing strength
for bearing highest action force. Please further refer to the
comparison diagram between the performances of the beams per unit
price. In sequence, the beam (top beam) of the present invention
> beam B (lightweight channeled steel, two pieces) beam D
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(lightweight channeled steel, one piece) > beam A (EFCO E-beam) >
beam C (H20 wooden beam). The beam of the present invention still
has a highest performance. This means the beam of the present
invention can provide better supporting force at the same cost.
Moreover, the price per kilogram of the beam of the present invention
is even less than one half of the price of beam A with the second
best bending moment. This means the same money can only buy one beam
_A, while two beams of the present invention. The assembly of two
side by side arranged beams of the present invention can achieve
a bending moment much higher than the bending moment of beam A.
However, the price is still less than the price of one beam A.
Therefore, the beam of the present invention not only has a solid
structure, but also is quite advantageous over the conventional
beams in cost-performance ratio.
Furthermore, according to statistics, the average bearable
carriage weight of a human at one time is not over 25kg. In the
present invention, even if three beams are assembled into a longer
beam, the weight of the assembly including the weight of the
connection members is not over 23kg. This value is lower than the
average bearable carriage weight of a human. Therefore, even a
thinner and shorter person can carry the beams. Therefore, the beam
of the present invention has the advantages of better structural
strength, higher cost-performance ratio and lightweight. Also, the
beam of the present invention is easy to carry without causing heavy
burden to construction workers.
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The scope of the claims should not be limited by the preferred
embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the
broadest interpretation consistent with the description as a whole.
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