Structural member

Sept. 19, 1967

3,342,007

K. J. W. MERSON

STRUCTURAL MEMBER

Filed Aug. 3, 1964

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United States Patent Office „ ₄ 3,342,007

Patented Sept. 19, 1967

3,342,007 STRUCTURAL MEMBER

Karol J. W. Merson, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, assignor to Anthes Imperial Limited, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada

Filed Aug. 3, 1964, Ser. No. 387,082 1 Claim. (Cl. 52—729)

This invention relates to the manufacture of structural members, and is particularly concerned with a lightweight beam formed of sheet metal by cold roll forming

While the structural member with which this invention is concerned is called a beam in the following specification, it is to be understood that the utility of the member is not restricted to use as a beam, but can be used as studding, subpurlins, and all other elements employed in the construction industry. While the structural member must be manufactured in accord with two preferable shapes, the use to which the member is put will largely be governed by the size of the member, and by the gauge of the metal from which it is formed. Thus, the member might be made of comparatively light gauge steel for use in studding, or it might be made of heavier gauge steel, and larger in size for use as primary load bearing members, such as beams.

The chief advantage of the structural member in accord with, this invention is its high strength to weight ratio. Previous attempts at forming light-weight beams by cold roll forming have not been successful, as it was found that such heavy gauge material was required to provide the central web with sufficient strength to avoid buckling, that the prior beams have been uneconomic due to the necessity of rolling the beam of one sheet of material with the result that all the other parts of the beam are formed of material thicker than required to perform the functions of these other parts.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a light-weight beam formed by cold roll forming from sheet steel.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a structural member of this type which is so shaped in cross section as to possess adequate strength in the central web, and has a high strength to weight ratio.

These and other objects of the invention will be understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, as read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings which illustrate these preferred embodiments,

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a structural member in accord with one preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section view through the structural member shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to the top portion of FIGURE 2, but showing a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

The structural member shown in the drawings is preferably manufactured of sheet steel by cold roll forming. The members can be made of any desired size, depending upon their end use. As an example, and as previously mentioned, these structural members might be used as 2x4 studding, and for this purpose, they are advantageously formed of 22 gauge steel. As these members are made by cold roll forming, the maximum thickness of the steel which can be used is governed by the maximum thickness of metal which can be cold roll formed. In this regard, it has been found that sheet metal up to 16 gauge in thickness can be cold roll formed with commonly avail2 able equipment. It will also be appreciated that the design of the section is such as to have the most economical width to thickness ratio of its elements.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, the illustrated structural 5 member essentially consists of top and bottom load bearing elements 10 and 12, and an intervening web 14. It will be appreciated, of course, that all three of these elements are preferably formed of one piece of sheet steel. Elements 10 and 12 provide wide bearing surfaces on their 10 horizontal extents 10α and 12α, while their sloped extents 10b and 10c and 12b and 12c serve to support these load bearing surfaces 10α and 12b, while reducing the vertical height of web 14, relative to the overall height of the structural member. This is an important feature of the 15 invention, as reduction of the relative height of the web increases its resistance against buckling and favourably influences the carrying capacity of the structural member.

It is to be understood that while certain parts of the structural member in accord with the invention are de20 scribed in this specification and in the accompanying claims as being ‘ horizontal” and “vertical,” these terms are adapted for the sake of expediency in describing the invention, and that the parts and surfaces referred to might actually assume opposite or intermediate positions 25 in use. The terms horizontal and vertical describe the structural members as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, it is to be noted that the free ends of the sloped extents 10c and 12c abut .30 their opposite members 10b and 12b. This is an important feature, and insures that the load applied to the surface 10α and 12α will be equally borne by the sloped extents and transmitted through these sloped extents to webs 14, without setting up momemnts which might tend to cause 35 the structural member to sway to either side.

FIGURE 4 shows a modified form of the structural member in accord with the invention, wherein the horizontal load bearing surfaces are strengthened by longitudinally extending indentations 20. These indentations are 40 used in the larger structural member in accord with the invention.

The angle X between the sloped portions of the members 10 and 12 is acceptable between the limits from about 45° to about 135°, but is preferably 90°, as illus45 trated.

One of the chief advantages of the structural members in accord with this invention is that they can receive nails driven into the surfaces 10α and 12α, as well as in the sloped surfaces 10b and 10c and 12b and 12c. With this 50 feature, the structural members are adapted for replacement of wood beams and studding of equivalent size. For example, smaller members used as common studding, when positioned vertically, are adapted to receive wall board nailed against the surface 10α or 12α. The nails 55 may be driven to the depth at which the sloped surfaces 10b and 10c meet, and are gripped tightly along this line. The nails also serve to strengthen the members.

A further advantage of the structural members in accord with this invention is that they can be made any ⁶⁰ length. This is an important feature where the members are used as replacement for equivalent wood members, ^as. wood members of long length command premium prices. Thus, when spanning large distances, as when in05 stalling a floor, for example, it is common to purchase short lengths of wood and to splice them at one or more points. This involves extra labour costs, which are avoided by substituting structural members in accord with this invention. The greater length of the beam also permits 70 spanning two or more bays which, by the influence of the continuity of the beam, increases its load carrying capacity.

3,342,007