Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LIGHTWEIGHT STEEL CONSTRUCTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to constructions of buildings, in particular to
a
lightweight steel construction made by C-shaped steels.
Description of the Prior Art
Because the concern on environmental protection becomes popular, industries
have their own ways to avoid pollution, greenhouse effect, and global warming
for
achieving a target with minimum produced wastes and minimum consumed
resources.
Taking architecture industries as an example, most economical construction
materiaN and
structures are targeted in premise of achieving requirements on structural
strength, as
known as green architectures. Lightweight steel constructions are one of the
green
architectures. Because the
lightweight steel constructions have features of safety,
environmental-friendly concern, high efficiency, lightweight components, and
so on,
lightweight steel constructions are developed rapidly. For example, in US,
there were
120,000 buildings with such requirements in 1998. Regarding Japan, after the
Hanshin
earthquake in 1995, developments and researches in lightweight steel
construction
technologies and related construction specifications become faster. In
addition, in Japan,
related measures are also established to allow such technology being suitable
to be applied
in Japan. Technologies about the lightweight steel constructions benefit the
whole Japan.
Moreover, the technologies are also introduced into Taiwan in recent years.
In general, C-shaped steels are the main components of the lightweight steel
construction. The C-shaped steels can be formed as various crossbeams,
columns, or
rafters. In conventional, these crossbeams, columns, or rafters are combined
with each
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other by soldering. However, such soldering requires processional welders and
high
quality soldering techniques, leading higher costs. In addition, the C-shaped
steels are
treated by metal plating or zinc coating to be anti-rust, yet soldering would
damage the
anti-rust coating, making the construction be prone to be rusted. As a result,
soldering is
not recommended as a proper way for combining the C-shaped steels. Therefore,
some
manufacturers have developed components to combine the C-shaped steels by
locking.
For example, related techniques are described in TW patent number 437782,
514089,
590134, 590135, M276067, M297972, and M314222. However, it is difficult to
have a
basic backbone of a building by combining the C-shaped steels with the
conventional
components. In addition, the conventional components are insufficient in
structural
strength and convenience.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide a lightweight steel
construction
in which positioning members are positioned with two ends of C-shaped steel(s)
to form
crossbeams, columns, or rafters. Then, any two of the aforementioned
components are
further connected with each other by the positioning members. Therefore, the C-
shaped
steels can be formed as the basic backbone of a building by locking in a fast
and convenient
manner.
Another object of the present invention is that, the first positioning members
in a
unitary structure can not only be combined with two C-shaped steels to form a
crossbeam
or a column in rectangular tubular shaped, but also provided as connection
members
between crossbeams or columns. Therefore, the assembling of the construction
is very
convenient.
Yet another object of the present invention is that, the second positioning
members
in a unitary structure can be combined with a C-shaped steel and an adjacent
crossbeam (or
column). Therefore, the supporting backbone of the floor surface, the wall
surface, and the
roof of the building can be assembled rapidly and conveniently.
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Still yet another object of the present invention is that, the first
positioning
members and the second positioning members are positioned on end surfaces of
the two
ends of the crossbeam (or the column, or the rafter), a surface angle of the
end surface of
the crossbeam (or the column, or the rafter) can be adjusted for constructing
an inclined
roof or eaves. Therefore, constructing the roof of the building can be more
convenient.
A further object of the present invention is that, the two C-shaped steels are
combined with each other to form a beam in rectangular tubular shaped by the
first
positioning members, and the first positioning member has the wire hole.
Therefore,
cables or wires can be inserted into the interior of the beam through the wire
hole and
protected by the C-shaped steels. In addition, a separation gap between the
two C-shaped
steels of the beam can be provided for ventilation and heat insulation.
A further another object of the present invention is that, two ends of the
beam (or
the rafter) have the positioning members. Therefore, the building can have
modified or
added construction in an easy manner.
In view of these objects, the present invention provides a lightweight steel
construction comprising:
at least two first positioning members respectively positioned on two ends of
two
opposite C-shaped steels in a length direction of the C-shaped steels to form
a beam in
rectangular tubular shaped, the first positioning members respectively form
combination
points on two end surfaces of the beam, several beams are combined with each
other via
the combination points and formed as crossbeams and columns of a building; and
at least two second positioning members respectively positioned on two ends of
a
C-shaped steel in the length direction of the C-shaped steel to form a rafter,
the second
positioning members respectively form assembling points on two end surfaces of
the rafter,
several rafters are positioned between adjacent beams via the assembling
points and formed
as a floor surface, a wall surface, and a roof of the building.
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Wherein, each of the C-shaped steels of the beam has a front plate, two side
plates
at two sides of the front plate, and two flanges respectively extending toward
each other
from free sides of the side plates. An opening is formed between the two
flanges. Each
of the first positioning members has a first bottom surface and first
sidewalls respectively
extending from four edges of the first bottom surface in a same direction. The
first
sidewalls of the first positioning members are locked with the front plates
and the
corresponding side plates of the C-shaped steels to form the beam by locking
members.
The first bottom surfaces of the first positioning members are respectively
located on the
end surfaces of the beam to form the combination points, so that the several
beams are
combined with each other via locking members and formed as the crossbeams and
columns
of the building.
In addition, the C-shaped steel of the rafter has a front plate, two side
plates at two
sides of the front plate, and two flanges respectively extending toward each
other from free
sides of the side plates. An opening is formed between the two flanges for
disposing the
second positioning member. Each of the second positioning members has a second
bottom surface and second sidewalls respectively extending from three
connected edges of
the second bottom surface in a same direction. The second sidewalls of the
second
positioning members are locked with the front plate and the side plates of the
C-shaped
steel to form the rafter by locking members. The second bottom surfaces of the
second
positioning members are respectively located on the end surfaces of the rafter
to form the
assembling points and the second bottom surface has several through holes, so
that two
ends of each of the rafters are assembled between adjacent beams via the
through holes and
the locking members, and the rafters are formed as the floor surface, the wall
surface, and
the roof of the building.
In one embodiment, two opposite first sidewalls of the first sidewalls of the
first
positioning member respectively have a notch and a baffle plate between the
notches, the
notches are for the insertion of the flanges of the C-shaped steel, the baffle
plate is for the
limitation the flanges of the C-shaped steel, so that two separation gaps are
respectively
formed on two opposite sides of the beam.
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In one embodiment, a wire hole is on a center of the first bottom surface of
the
first positioning member.
In one embodiment, the locking member comprises an insert nut and a bolt.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 illustrates an exemplary schematic view of a building formed by beams
and
rafters according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 illustrates an exploded view of a beam according to the present
invention;
Fig. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the beam according to the present
invention;
Fig. 4 illustrates an exploded view of a rafter according to the present
invention;
Fig. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the rafter according to the present
invention;
Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic exploded view showing the beams are to be
assembled with each other to form crossbeams and columns of the building
according to
the present invention;
Fig. 7 illustrates a schematic exploded view showing the rafters are to be
assembled with the beams to form a supporting backbone of a wall surface of
the building
according to the present invention; and
Fig. 8 illustrates a schematic exploded view showing the rafters are to be
assembled with the beams to form a roof of the building according to the
present invention.
DETAIL PORTIONED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Please refer to Figs. 1 to 5. Fig. 1 illustrates a lightweight steel
construction
according to the present invention. Fig. 1 is for illustrative purpose, not a
limitation to
the present invention. The building 1 comprises a plurality of beams 2 and
rafters 3.
Wherein, the beams 2 are assembled with each other to form crossbeams 11 and
columns
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12 of the building 1. The rafter 3 is assembled between the crossbeam 11 and
the column
12, the rafter 3 is provided as the supporting frame of a seal plate, and the
rafter 3 can be
formed as a floor surface 13, a wall surface 14, or a roof 15 of the building
1.
Here, the beam 2 comprises two C-shaped steels 4 and at least two first
positioning
members 5. Wherein, the C-shaped steel 4 has a front plate 41, two side plates
42 at two
sides of the front plate 41, and two flanges 43 respectively extending toward
each other
from free sides of the side plates 42. An opening 45 is formed between the two
flanges
43. The first positioning member 5 has a first bottom surface 51 in
rectangular shaped
and first sidewalls 53 respectively extending from four edges of the first
bottom surface 51
in a same direction. In assembling, the openings 45 of the two C-shaped steels
4 are
opposite to each other. Next, the two first positioning members 5 are
respectively
positioned with two ends of the two C-shaped steels 4 in a length direction of
the C-shaped
steels 4. Therefore, the first sidewalls 53 of the first positioning member 5
respectively
correspond to the front plates 41 and the side plates 42 of the two C-shaped
steels 4. In
addition, two opposite first sidewalls 53 of the first sidewalls 53
respectively have a notch
52 and a baffle plate 57 between the notches 52. The notches 52 and the baffle
plate 57
correspond to the flanges 43 of the C-shaped steels 4. The notches 52 are for
the insertion
of the flanges 43 of the C-shaped steels 4, the baffle plate 57 is for the
limitation of the
flanges 43 of the C-shaped steels 4, so that two separation gaps 22 are
respectively formed
on two opposite sides of the two opposite C-shaped steels 4. Then, the first
sidewalls 53
of the first positioning members 5 are locked with the front plates 41 and the
corresponding
side plates 42 of the C-shaped steels 4 by several locking members 6 to form
the beam 2 in
rectangular tubular shaped. Hence, the first bottom surface 51 of the first
positioning
member 5 is located at the end surface of the beam 2 to form a combination
point 21 for
combining with other beams 2. Therefore, several beams 2 are combined with
each other
via the combination points 21 and several locking members 6 and formed as the
crossbeams
11 and the columns 12 of the building 1.
When the beam 2 has a longer length, several first positioning members 5 may
be
locked on proper portions between the two ends of the two C-shaped steels 4 in
the length
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direction of the C-shaped steels 4. Therefore, the beam 2 can have bamboo-
joint
structures to improve the structural strength of the beam 2. Accordingly, the
supporting
performance of the crossbeams 11 and the columns 12 formed by the beams 2 can
be
improved.
Furthermore, a wire hole 56 is on a center of the first bottom surface 51 of
the first
positioning member 5. Therefore, electric cables, network cables, or telephone
wires can
be inserted into the wire hole 56 and received in the crossbeams 11 or the
columns 12.
Accordingly, the crossbeams 11 and the columns 12 can not only have a
beautiful
appearance but also can protect the wires and cables.
The rafter 3 comprises a C-shaped steel 4 and at least two second positioning
members 7. Wherein, the structure of the C-shaped steel 4 for forming the
rafter 3 is the
same as that of the C-shaped steel 4 for forming the beam 2. The second
positioning
member 7 has a second bottom surface 71 and second sidewalls 72 respectively
extending
from three connected edges of the second bottom surface 71 in a same
direction. The
second sidewalls 72 of the second positioning member 7 are locked with the
front plate 41
and the side plates 42 of the C-shaped steels 4 by several locking members 6
to form the
rafter 3. The second bottom surface 71 of the second positioning member 7 is
located at
the end surface of the rafter 3 to form an assembling point 31. Therefore, two
ends of
each of the rafters 3 can be assembled between adjacent beams 2. Accordingly,
the rafters
3 can be provided as the supporting frame of the floor surface 13, the wall
surface 14, and
the roof 15 of the building 1.
In this embodiment, the locking member 6 is an assembly of an insert nut 61
and
a bolt 62. In operation, holes 46, 55, 73 are opened on the C-shaped steels 4,
the first
positioning members 5, and the second positioning members 7. Then, the insert
nuts 61
are properly positioned in the holes 46, 55, 73. Next, the bolts 62 are
inserted into the
insert nuts 61 and positioned with the insert nuts 61.
Accordingly, upon assembling the building 1, the number and the size of the C-
shaped steels 4 as well .as the number of the first positioning member 5 and
that of the
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second positioning member 7 can be computed in advance according to the
construction of
the building 1. Therefore, these components can be manufactured in the factory
and then
transported to the construction site.
At the construction site, several beams 2 are combined with each other via the
combination points 21 formed on the first bottom surfaces 51 of the first
positioning
members 5 and formed as the crossbeams 11 and the columns 12 of the
construction of the
building 1. In detail, Fig. 6 illustrates a schematic exploded view showing a
crossbeam
ills to be assembled with a column 12. As shown, the front plate 41 of one of
the C-
shaped steels 4 of a standing beam 2 is locked with the first bottom surface
51 of the first
positioning member 5 of a laid beam 2 by locking members 6, and the two C-
shaped steels
4 of the laid beam 2 are locked on the first sidewall 53 of the first
positioning member 5 by
locking members 6. Accordingly, the standing beam 2 and the laid beam 2 can be
assembled with each other to be formed as the crossbeam 11 and the column 12
of the
building 1.
When the assembling of the crossbeams 11 and the columns 12 of the building 1
is completed, the supporting frame of the floor surface 13, the wall surface
14, and the roof
15 of the building 1 can be assembled by the rafters 3. Taking the wall
surface 14 as an
example, as shown in Fig. 7, the assembling points 31 of the second
positioning members
7 at the two ends of the rafter 3 are attached to the C-shaped steels 4 of the
beam 2, and the
second positioning members 7 of the rafter 3 and the C-shaped steels 4 of the
beam 2 are
locked with each other by locking members 6. Then, the two ends of the C-
shaped steel
4 of the rafter 3 are locked with the second sidewalls 72 of the second
positioning member
7 by locking members 6. Accordingly, a supporting frame of the wall surface 14
can be
formed by several rafters 3, and subsequent plate sealing procedures can be
performed on
the supporting frame of the wall surface 14 to form the wall surface 14 of the
building 1.
Similarly, the supporting frame of the floor surface 13 and the roof 15 of
building 1 can be
assembled by rafters 3.
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When the roof of the building 1 has an inclined surface, as shown in Fig. 8,
the
end surface of the beam 2 and that of the rafter 3 assembled to two sides of
the column 12
of the roof as well as the end surface of the beam 2 for supporting the roof
can be cut to
have an inclined plane for mating with the inclined surface of the roof.
Therefore, the
roof with an inclined surface can be assembled by the beams 2 and the rafters
3 via the
combining points 21 formed on the first positioning members 5 and the
assembling points
31 formed on the second positioning members 7. Accordingly, additional
components are
not required in constructing the roof. Hence, the assembling of the building 1
can be
convenient.
Based on above, in the present invention, two ends of the C-shaped steels are
positioned with the positioning members to form crossbeams, columns, or
rafters. Then,
any two of the aforementioned components are further connected with each other
by the
positioning members. Therefore, the C-shaped steels can be formed as the
backbone of a
lightweight steel building by locking in a fast and convenient manner.
Moreover, in the present invention, the C-shaped steels are assembled with the
first and second positioning members to form the crossbeams, the columns, and
the rafters
of the building, and then the crossbeams, the columns, and the rafters are
assembled with
each other by the first and second positioning members. Therefore, builders
can calculate
the number and the size of the C-shaped steels as well as the number of the
first positioning
members and that of the second positioning members by computer software in
advance.
Therefore, the components for constructing the building can be manufactured in
the factory
by a one-time process and then the components are transported to the
construction site.
Accordingly, the procedures of the construction at the construction site can
be simplified
to improve the assembling efficiency of the building.
Furthermore, because the first positioning members and the second positioning
members are positioned on the end surfaces of the two ends of the crossbeam
(or that of
the column or that of the rafter), the angle of the end surface of the
crossbeam (or the
column or the rafter) can be changed for assembling the roof or the eaves
having an inclined
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surface without additional components. Therefore, the assembling of the
building can be
convenient.
Besides, the two C-shaped steels are combined with each other to form a beam
in
rectangular tubular shaped by the first positioning members, and the first
positioning
member has the wire hole. Therefore, the cables or wires can be inserted into
the interior
of the beam and protected by the C-shaped steels. In addition, the separation
gap between
the two C-shaped steels of the beam can be provided for ventilation and heat
insulation.
