US1736968A - Composite metal structure - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1929. GOERTZ 1,736,968

COMPOSITE METAL STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 25 1926 INVENTOR Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES P ATENT OFFICE ALBERT GOEBTZ, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO TRI-LOK COMPANY, 01' PITTS- BUBGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA oomrosr'rn METAL srnucrunn Application filed October 25, 1926. Serial No. 143,914.

This invention relates to composite metal structures, and is herein described as applied to a grating, although it has numerous other applications, as, for example, in building construction. v

It frequently happens that a number of grating sections are employed alongside one another in order to provide a grating structure of the desired area or shape, and difliculty has been experienced in holding the gratings so that they will not creep or shift relative to one another. This creeping or shifting is decidedly objectionable as sometimes the ends of girder bars in one section rise slightly above the top of an adjacent grating section, thus causing accidents.

I provide a tie member which engages the end sections of the grating bars, thus securely holding the adjacent grating sections in the desired relationship. Preferably, the ends of the bars are slotted so as to receive the tie member, which may be of any shape. An angle has been successfully used, although a channel, a T, an Lbeam, a flat plate or other forms of tie members may be employed, if

desired.

An important feature of my structure is that the tie member may be used as a supporting member for the grating sections. If this is the case, it is extended beyond the grating sections so as to provide a bearing on the foundation or other supporting structure. It has been found by actual test that the parts are so securely locked together that deflection of the tie member can only occur with a corresponding defiection of all of the grating bars. Because of this fact, it is possible to effect material economies in the Weight of the sections employed. If desired, the tie member may extend for only a portion of the 111110- tion line.

If an angle or a channel is employed, it is preferably so placed that the recessed portion of the angle or the channel is downward. This arrangement is perfectly satisfactory if the tie member is considered as a beam and at the same time it prevents the collection of dirt.

The friction between the parts will be generally sufficient to prevent any shifting of the grating sections lengthwise of the tie member, but in certain cases it may be desirable to deform such tie member or members so as to positively insure against such shifting. This may be done by making the slots of different cross-sectional shape than the corresponding portion of the tie member and permanently deforming those portions of the tie member which enter the slots during the assembling operation. It may alsobe done by deforming the portions of the tie member which lie between the grating bars,-or separate bars may be secured to the tie members for the purpose of preventing lateral shifting. If desired, the gratings may be supported by other means, such as beams under the line of unction of the gratings, and clips extending from the tie member to the supporting beam may be employed. These clips will also be- IIII of Figure 1;

Figure '3 is a view to enlarged scale taken on the line IIIHI of Figure 1;

Figures 4 and 5 are views correspond' 1 to Figure 3, but showing modified forms 0 tie members;

Figure 6 is a view taken on a section parallel to a tie member such as shown in Figures 1 to 3 and illustrating one way of preventing shifting of the grating sections lengthwise of the tie member; and

Figure 7 is a vertical section through a grating structure employing a separate sup porting beam.

Referring, first, to Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, there is shown a pair of adjacent grating sections indicated generally by the reference characters 2 and 3. These grating sectionsmay be of any desired type, as, for example, the ating shown in the patent to Harry Nagin, No. 1,611,316, dated Dec. 21, 1926. Said grating comprises girder bars 4 having crooked slots formed in the upper edge thereof. Cross bars 5 are forced into'these slots under pressure sufficient to permanently deform those portions of the cross bars which lie in the slots and thus lock the cross bars and the girder bars together and form a permanent grating structure.

In Figure 1 corresponding girder bars of adjacent gratings are shown as lying in the same straight line.

The end sections of the girder bars 4 are provided with slots at substantially 45 degrees to the vertical. These slots are oppositely inclined in girder bars of different grating sections, so that they lie at substantially right angles to one another. A tie member 6 is threaded through the slots so as to securely hold the grating sections in desired relation, as best shown in Figure 3. It will be understood, of course, that those ends of the grating sections which are remote from the member 6 will be suitably supported so as to prevent endwise shifting of the grating sections. Such supports may comprise other angles 6, as shown at the left in Figure 1.

In Figures 1 and 2, the angle 6 is shown as having an end portion 7 extending beyond the grating sections and supported in a foundation 8. With this construction no additional supporting beams are required. This is highly desirable in that a material increase in head room under the grating may be had and the construction is simplified. It has been found by actual test that when a structure of this character is loaded, the angle 6 cannot deflect until the girder bars 4 are correspondingly deflected, and as a result only a comparatively light angle need be employed.

Figure 4 shows a modified structure wherein similar parts have been given the same reference characters with an a suifixed thereto. In this form of the invention a channel 9 is employed instead of the angle 6. The slots are, of course, correspondingly shaped.

Figure 5 shows still another modification, and in this form of the invention similar parts have been given the same reference character with a suffixed thereto. In Figure 5 there is shown a substantially flat plate 10 which fits into slots having curved end portions 11. The plate 10 is permanently deformed at those portions which fit into the slots, thus locking the girder sections together. With this arrangement the grating sections cannot shift endwise of the tie late 10, as will be apparent. The same so eme may be employed with other sections, as, for example, the angle shown in Figures 1 to 3.

Figure 6 shows another way in which endwise shifting of the grating sections may be positively prevented. In this form of the invention an angle 6 is employed and it supports the girder bars of adjacent grating secs tions. The girder bars for one section are indicated at 4 and those for the other grating section are indicated at 4. It will be noted that in this form of the invention the girder bars of adjacent grating sections are offset with respect to one another, but it will be understood that all of the girder bars termi nate substantially in the line of junction of the two gratings.

The angle 6 is bent downwardly between adjacent girder bars, as indicated at 12, so as to prevent endwise shifting of such girder bars.

In Figure 7 there is shown a construction somewhat similar to that of Figures 1 to 3 but emplo ing a separate supporting beam 13. In this form of the invention parts corresponding to similar parts in Figures 1 to 3 have been given the same reference character with an e sufiixed thereto. Clips 14 are secured to the angle 6 by bolts 15. These clips have portions 16 which extend beneath the upper flange of the beam 13 so as to hold the grating in place. These clips are preferably of sufiicient width to substantially fill the space between adjacent girder bars and thus prevent endwise shifting of the gratings.

The invention has applications other than in connection with ratings and may be used, for example, in ma ing a metal framing for a building floor. When it is desired to make a building floor, or for that matter any other structure, in accordance with my invention, the supporting beams will be generally threaded through openings formed in the end portions of the floor beams and the floor beams will in turn be interconnected. If desired, openings may be provided intermediate the ends of the beams for the reception of supporting beams. This feature of the invention may, of course be applied to gratings. A material saving in weight may be effected by reason of the fact that the supporting beam is threaded through openings in the other beams, and therefore all of the members must deflect together.

I have illustrated and described a preferred form of the invention and certain modifications thereof, but it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the form shown as it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: Y

1. A grating structure comprising a pair of adjacent grating sections, and a common tie and supporting member therefor extending beyond a side boundary of the grating.

2. A: grating structure comprising a pair of adjacent grating sections having slots therein, and a combined tie and support for both the grating sections fitting in the slots and extending beyond a side boundary of the grating.

5 3. A grating structure comprisin a pair of grating sections each having gir er bars, the girder bars in the gratings terminating substantially in the junction line of the grating sections and having slots in their end portions, and atie member lying in the slots.

4. A grating structure comprisin a pair of grating sections each having gir er bars, the girder bars in the gratings terminating substantially in the junction line of the gratl ing sections and having slots in their end portions, and a tie member lying in the slots, the tie member being adapted to act as a supporting beam.

5. A structure comprising a pair of reticu- 2 lated grating structures, each of a rigid nature and having spaced apart girder bars, the girder bars having openings therethrough, and a beam threaded through the openings in the girder bars, the beam being adapted to support the structure.

6. A composite structure comprising areticulated grating of a rigid character, the grating having spaced apart girder bars, the girder bars having openings therethrough,

and a supporting beam threaded through the openings.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set -myhand. ALBERT GOERTZ.

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