Abstract: An ergonomic method for a composite floor structure with metal decking having ribs and flat sections with openings in the flat sections over the center of the I-beams for fastening and flattening the decking on the I-beams, removing contaminates from the I-beams through the openings to form a clean welding zone and welding studs in the clean welding zones. Tools for fastening, removing contaminates and welding are carried by carts having a bottom frame with rollers and an outrigger that keeps a working end of the tool perpendicular to the composite floor structure. In operation as the carts are rolled over the metal decking the rollers contact the ribs while other rollers extend over and free from contacting the flat sections. The carts have a tool balancer to minimize the effort required of a worker to raise and lower the tool into working position from an upright position.

Abstract: A composite floor structure with a new metal decking having openings over the theoretical center of underlying support I-beams which now allows top flanges of beams to be painted and a welding zone for stud shear connectors within the openings then cleaned of paint, galvanizing and contaminates. The openings, which include deck caps if needed, allow visual inspection regarding the deck being tight against the beam and are spaced across the metal decking to provide a desired number of stud shear connectors and facilitate finding the center of the I-beam, provide a clean weld surface and minimize arc blow, weld fumes, weld time and required weld current. The thickness of the deck is no longer limited, and neither are the number of sheets stacked upon one another. All of which provide increased safety, efficiency and quality assurance while helping to control risk management.

Abstract: An ergonomic method for transporting and installing a sheet of metal decking in a composite floor or roof structure having underlying I-beams. A carrier with a flat top surface is loaded with the next sheet of decking to be installed in the next open position on the beams. The carrier has an inclined surface and upon reaching the next open position the next sheet of decking is rested on the inclined surface with lifting hooks. An ironworker pushes the next sheet of decking down the inclined surface towards the next open position and working the ends of the next sheet of decking with ribs and flat sections therebetween into alignment with the I-beams with lifting hooks which engage the ribs while standing on the previously laid deck.

Abstract: A stud feed assembly for welding studs comprising a stud loader and a stud catcher. The stud loader comprises a first chute component and a second chute component, the first chute component having a greater diameter than the second chute component. The stud catcher comprises a receiving component and a vertical component, the receiving component being shaped to receive it stud such that the receiving component aligns the received stud in a substantially vertical position.

Abstract: A cart that uniformly transverses floor decking that has sequential peaks and valleys. The cart comprises a wheel assembly having an array of wheels forming rows and columns of wheels positioned under the cart wherein at any given instant of time a number of the wheels of the rows and columns contact peaks of the floor decking and while other wheels extend over and free from contacting the valleys such that the cart uniformly traverses the floor decking.

Abstract: A container for packing and shipping stud welding ferrule aligned along a spindle. The container comprises a body having a top, a bottom, opposing side walls and opposing end walls defining a storage space therein. The container further comprises a spindle retainer operatively connected to the body. The spindle retainer has a transverse portion and a longitudinal portion connected to the transverse portion. The transverse portion extends from one of the end walls and toward and into the storage space, while the longitudinal portion extends from the transverse portion and toward the bottom of the body. The transverse portion and the longitudinal portion are sized and shaped to accept and to retain ends of the spindle to contain the spindle within the body.