U.S. patent application number 10/580644 was filed with the patent office on 2007-11-29 for structural beam with openings.
This patent application is currently assigned to WESTOK LIMITED. Invention is credited to Andrew Holmes.
Application Number | 20070272342 10/580644 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29764404 |
Filed Date | 2007-11-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070272342 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Holmes; Andrew |
November 29, 2007 |
Structural Beam With Openings
Abstract
A method of producing a structural beam (10) with openings
located in the web, which comprises the steps of taking a universal
beam, making a cut (18) generally longitudinally along the web
thereof, making a second cut (20) along the web on a path differing
from the first path of the first cut, separating the cut halves of
the beam, and welding the halves together, characterized in that: a
width of material or ribbon (28) is defined by the two cuts (18,
20) of amount equal to the desired reduction in depth of the
finished cellular beam.
Inventors: |
Holmes; Andrew; (Horbury,
GB) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MADSON & AUSTIN
15 WEST SOUTH TEMPLE
SUITE 900
SALT LAKE CITY
UT
84101
US
|
Assignee: |
WESTOK LIMITED
HORBURY JUNCTION
GB
|
Family ID: |
29764404 |
Appl. No.: |
10/580644 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 26, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/GB04/05016 |
371 Date: |
May 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
156/73.5 ;
52/837 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04C 3/086 20130101;
E04C 2003/0452 20130101; B21D 47/01 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
156/073.5 ;
052/729.2 |
International
Class: |
B21D 47/01 20060101
B21D047/01 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2003 |
GB |
0327896.7 |
Claims
1. A method of producing a structural beam with openings located in
the web, which comprises the steps of taking a universal beam,
making a cut generally longitudinally along the web thereof, making
a second cut along the web on a path differing from the first path
of the first cut, separating the cut halves of the beam, and
welding the halves together, characterised in that: a width of
material or ribbon is defined by the two cuts of an amount equal to
the desired reduction in depth of the finished cellular beam.
2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the depth of the finished
cellular beam is less than that of the universal beam from which it
is produced.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cut along the web can
be such that any shape of openings can be obtained.
4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cut along the web can
be such that any position of openings can be obtained.
5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the beams are separated
and moved longitudinally relative to one another before being
welded together.
6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the two halves of the
beam are not moved longitudinally relative to one another before
welding.
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein two or more universal
beams are cut and separated into halves and the halves from
different cut universal beams are used to produce asymmetrical
cellular beams.
8. A structural beam prepared by the method of claim 1.
9. A structural beam according to claim 8, wherein the depth of the
finished cellular beam is less than that of the universal beam from
which it is produced.
Description
[0001] This invention relates to improvements in structural beams
of the type having a web located between two flanges, in which the
web is not continuous, but has apertures therein.
[0002] In our European patent publication number 0324206 there is
described a method of manufacturing such beams, which comprises the
steps of taking a universal beam, making a cut generally
longitudinally along the web thereof, separating the cut halves of
the beam, displacing the halves with respect to one another and
welding the halves together, characterised in that: [0003] a second
cut is made along the web, the path differing from the first path
of the first cut, the two paths being defined rectalinear sections
lying on alternative sides of a longitudinal centre line of the web
and at least partly curvalinear sections joining the closest ends
of adjacent rectilinear sections. The use of the double cutting
approach of this publication allows shapes to be produced which
were hitherto impossible. In particular, beams can be produced for
circular or oval shaped holes, which may be desirable for aesthetic
or other reasons. Previous forms of beam, known as castellated
beams, produced by a single cut, could only have hexagonally shaped
holes. Beams of this general type will hereafter be referred to as
"cellular beams".
[0004] The depth of such cellular beams is greater than the depth
of the beam from which it is cut, and in the normal method of
manufacture, essentially no metal is excised during the cutting
process, the depth of the finished cellular beam bears a fixed
relationship to the depth of the beam from which it is cut. Since
steel beams are supplied in a limited number of sizes, it therefore
follows that cellular beams produced from them are normally also in
a limited number of sizes. For some applications this can be a
problem.
[0005] The invention seeks to provide a method of producing a
cellular beam having a depth less than those produced in accordance
with the above mentioned European patent publication number
0324206.
[0006] According to the present invention, there is provided a
method of producing a structural beam with openings located in the
web, which comprises the steps of taking a universal beam, making a
cut generally longitudinally along the web thereof, making a second
cut along the web on a path differing from the first path of the
first cut, separating the cut halves of the beam, and welding the
halves together, characterised in that: [0007] a width of material
or ribbon is defined by the two cuts of an amount equal to the
desired reduction in depth of the finished cellular beam.
[0008] The ability to be able to specify exactly the depth of the
finished cellular beam is useful in a number of end uses. For
example, in multi-story office and car park construction, the floor
depth is frequently dictated by client preference and planning
constraints. To achieve a precise floor depth using the traditional
cellular beam is often impractical. However, a beam produced in
accordance with the invention can be made to the exact depth
required with the maximum efficiency of steel usage.
[0009] While it is possible to achieve predetermined and precise
floor depths using welded plate beams with profiled web openings,
such beams are not as strong as those produced in accordance with
the invention from a section, i.e. extruded, universal beam.
[0010] In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is possible
actually to reduce the depth of the finished cellular beam to less
than that of the universal beam from which it is produced. This has
similar advantages in use in buildings where the number of floors
is to be maximised within a given overall height for cost or
planning constraints.
[0011] Another advantage of the method of the invention is that the
cut along the web can be such that any shape and position of
openings can be obtained. This is not possible with the cellular
beams hitherto produced, which must have regularly spaced openings
along their entire length of constant shape and size. Once again,
the beam produced by the method of the invention differs from
welded beams by the use of an extruded section beam as the starting
point which produces a superior strength product and moreover can
reduce steel wastage.
[0012] The invention will be described further, by way of example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0013] FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) correspond to FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) in the
patent publication number 0324206 and illustrate the finished
cellular beam and cut pattern respectively;
[0014] FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) correspond to FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) and
illustrate the present invention; and
[0015] FIGS. 3(a) and 3(b) correspond to FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) and
illustrate a second embodiment of the invention.
[0016] Referring to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, in the
method of EP patent publication number 0324206, a cellular beam
(10) has flanges (12,14) between which extends a web (16). The beam
(10) is produced from a universal beam (FIG. 1((b)), having a depth
d which is two-thirds of the depth of the depth D of the finished
beam (10) shown in FIG. 1(a). The web (16) of the universal beam is
cut along two continuous cutting lines (18,20) and the material
(22,23) between the lines (18,20) is removed.
[0017] After the two cuts have been formed, the two halves of the
beam are separated and one is moved longitudinally relative to the
other in order to juxtapose the rectilinear sections (24,26) which
are welded together to produce the finished cellular beam (10)
illustrated in FIG. 1(a).
[0018] Turning now to FIG. 2, and using like numerals for like
parts, the cuts (18,20) are spaced further apart from one another
and define a ribbon (28) of material therebetween. The beams are
separated and moved longitudinally relative to one another and the
adjacent rectilinear portions (24,26) welded together as before.
The thickness of the beam in accordance with the invention is less
than the thickness D produced in accordance with the above
mentioned European patent publication by the amount "x", the width
of the narrowest portions of the ribbon (28). As "x" may be varied
at will, the thickness of the finished beam may be specified
precisely.
[0019] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the
ribbon (28) contains a great deal more material and, since the
rectilinear portions (24,26) are already opposite one another, the
two halves of the beam do not need to be moved longitudinally
relative to one another before welding. This produces a beam of
thickness d-x, i.e. less than the thickness of the original beam by
the amount "x" in FIG. 3(b). That is, in this embodiment, the
cellular beam produced is actually of less depth than the universal
beam from which it is produced. In certain circumstances, this
construction of beam is preferable to producing a cellular beam
from the smaller initial universal beam, either because such is not
available or because the section thickness (of the web and/or
flanges) of a smaller beam is not sufficient to meet the strength
requirements needed.
[0020] While the method has been described in relation to the
attaching together of the two halves of a single cut universal
beam, it is possible to use halves from different cut universal
beams to produce asymmetrical cellular beams. The benefits of
asymmetric cellular beams are well established in the construction
industry.
[0021] The process of the invention allows cellular beams to be
produced of high strength and of a thickness tailored to the end
use.
* * * * *