Weldless platform assembly
A modular platform comprises skeleton components made from metal sheets cut and folded into beams. The cold-formed beams are bolted together to provide a rigid frame structure. Corner braces are provided at each corner of the frame. The corner braces are directly bolted to the cold-formed beam members. A guard rail assembly is provided along at least a portion of the perimeter of the frame. The guard rail assembly comprises guard posts which are formed from a single strip of metal bend cold into a C-shaped elongated member.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to support structures and, more particularly, to platforms of the type used in industrial plants.
1. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional industrial platforms are typically made from hot-rolled I-beams and/or H-beams welded together. Such structures are relatively heavy and complex to build.
There is thus a need for a new industrial platform system which is lightweight, relatively easy to assemble, and cheap while still being of a sturdy construction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is therefore an aim of the present invention to a new platform system comprising a weldless frame.
It is also an aim of the present invention to provide a new platform system wherein at least some of the skeleton components thereof are made from metal sheets cut and folded into beams of predetermined cross-sections.
Therefore, in accordance with a general aspect of the present invention, there is provided an industrial platform assembly comprising a weldless frame including at least three cold-formed profiles bolted together so as to define a support plane, a cold-formed support column at each corner of said frame, said cold-formed support column being bolted to said weldless frame.
In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a blank for use in forming a guard rail post, comprising a flat strip of bendable metal, a pair of parallel fold lines defining therebetween a central longitudinally extending web portion and along which the sheet is folded to form a pair of opposed longitudinally extending sidewalls, and at least one hole defined in said web portion and extending transversally beyond said fold lines to form a pair of registered recesses in said sidewalls once folded.
In accordance with a further general aspect of the present invention, there is provided a platform supporting column formed from a strip of metal by a cold-forming process, the column comprising first and second folded portions extending at about 90 degrees with respect to each other, each said folded portions having a longitudinal terminal edge which terminates into a flange oriented at about 90 degrees from the folded portions, each said flange leaving an open side on said column.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSHaving thus generally described the nature of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
According to one aspect of the present invention, the platform 10 is characterized by the fact that the skeleton components thereof are all bolted together, thereby eliminating the complicated and time consuming assembly weldment procedures normally required in the erection of conventional industrial platforms. The provision of such a weldless platform is rendered possible, notably, by the fact that the platform skeleton components are made from metal sheets cut and folded into beam members of predetermined cross-section (see FIGS. 3 to 5).
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In accordance to the present invention, the number of C-shaped braces needed to solidify the frame can be advantageously minimized by providing small comers braces 20 at each corner of the frame. In certain cases, the use of the corner braces 20 can completely eliminate the need for long transversal braces.
The horizontal corner braces 14 are also made of bent metal sheets and have the same profile as the C-shaped beams 12 and 12′. However, their connecting tabs 14′ are bent at 45 degrees instead of 90 degrees for allowing the corner braces 20 to be directly bolted to the web portion 18 of the adjacent C-shaped beams 12 at each corner of the frame. The tabs 14′ can be embossed at various locations along the fold line thereof to increase the structural rigidity thereof The triangular corner linking structures defined by the corner braces 20 and the beams 12 advantageously provides an overall stiffer frame structure with less weight than conventional frame structures having right angles bracing structures.
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This new guard rail post concept, which is made from cut and folded metal sheets, is advantageous in that it facilitates the installation of the tubular hand rails 22 compared to conventional tubular posts.
It is understood that the above-described platform section can advantageously be attached to other similar platform sections to form a modular platform construction of almost infinite mounting permutations.
The above-described platform construction is also advantageous in that it is lightweight while being strong. The size of the frame members is small as compared to conventional industrial platform. By making the beams 12, the corner braces 20 and the columns 22 from metal sheets cut and folded into the desired profile, the production time can be significantly reduced. This results in lower costs. The elimination of the welding procedures also greatly contributes to lower the production costs. Also, unlike conventional platforms, the present platform does not require special tools or expertise in order to assemble.
Claims
1. An industrial platform assembly comprising a weldless frame including at least three cold-formed profiles bolted together so as to define a support plane, a cold-formed support column at each corner of said frame, said cold-formed support column being bolted to said weldless frame.
2. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least three cold-formed profiles are made from steel sheets cut and folded into beam members of predetermined cross-section.
3. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said at least three cold-formed profiles are C-shaped in cross-section, and wherein an open side of said cold-formed profile faces inwardly of said weldless frame.
4. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein each of said at least three cold-formed profiles are provided with connecting tabs at opposed longitudinal ends thereof, each of said connecting tabs defining a number of holes for receiving fasteners in order to achieve mechanical connections between the cold-formed profiles.
5. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 4, wherein said connecting tabs are folded at 90 degrees.
6. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said cold-formed support columns has two open sides.
7. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein said open sides face inwardly of said weldless frame.
8. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein at least some of said cold-formed support column comprises a single metal strip having first and second longitudinally extending folds oriented at about 90 degrees with respect to each other, said first and second folds having terminal longitudinal edge portion merging into flanges oriented at about 90 degrees to respective first and second longitudinally extending portions.
9. An industrial platform assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein a corner brace is provided at each corner of said frame, each of said corner brace being bolted at opposed ends thereof to adjacent cold-formed profiles extending from the corner.
10. An industrial platform as defined in claim 1, further including a guard rail projecting upwardly from at least a portion of the perimeter of the weldless frame, said guard rail including a number of guard rail posts, said guard-rail post being made from steel sheets cut and folded into C-shaped profiles.
11. An industrial platform as defined in claim 10, wherein said guard rail post are folded about two parallel longitudinal fold lines, and wherein an oblong hole extends transversally through said fold lines to define a rail receiving cavity on a back side of the C-shaped profile forming the guard rail post.
12. An industrial platform as defined in claim 11, wherein a tubular rail is welded in said rail receiving cavity.
13. An industrial platform as defined in claim 11, wherein a depression is defined at a top end of each guard rail post, said depression extending across said fold lines so as to define a seat for receiving a hand rail.
14. A blank for use in forming a guard rail post, comprising a flat strip of bendable metal, a pair of parallel fold lines defining therebetween a central longitudinally extending web portion and along which the sheet is folded to form a pair of opposed longitudinally extending sidewalls, and at least one hole defined in said web portion and extending transversally beyond said fold lines to form a pair of registered recesses in said sidewalls once folded.
15. A blank as defined in claim 14, wherein one end of the strip defines a recess, the recess extending across the fold lines.
16. A platform supporting column formed from a strip of metal by a cold-forming process, the column comprising first and second folded portions extending at about 90 degrees with respect to each other, each said folded portions having a longitudinal terminal edge which terminates into a flange oriented at about 90 degrees from the folded portions, each said flange leaving an open side on said column.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 20, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 21, 2005
Inventor: Maurice Blanchette (Trois-Rivieres)
Application Number: 10/759,061