Reinforced steel beam and hybrid joist

Abstract

The I-beam or joist is reinforced with corrugation on its web to form triangular pattern of trust structure. It can also reduce weight by punching holes in between corrugations. This not only reduce weight, but also provide space for utilities lines, which offer more overhead room, better architectural design, and lower construction cost.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] There are numerous kinds of Heavy Weight Steel Beam and Light Weight Floor Joist being used in building constructions.

[0002] First, existing Heavy Weight Steel Beams are strong enough to support dead load and live load of the building, but required many columns near the ground level because of their own weight. Also the heavier and higher level weight of them is very disadvantageous in case of earthquake. Reducing building weight is very important for lower cost, structural strength and better safety against earthquake.

[0003] Second, There are Light Weight Joists for wood construction, typically trust joist and solid web joist. Trust joists are usually used for light load such as roof and not strong enough to support floor load. Solid web joists are typically made of plywood web and wooden flanges and strong enough to support floor load. But they don't have any space for utility lines through so that workers have to drill the holes on the web, and those holes weaken the structural strength resulting violation of local building codes sometimes.

[0004] Therefore, there is need for light weight beam or joist, which is strong enough even with holes for utility lines.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The objective of the present invention is to reinforce beam or joist to obtain more strength. To obtain strength, the metal web of the beam or joist is corrugated in oblique angle or combination of angles to form triangular patterns effecting trust structure on flat sheet panel.

[0006] Another objective is achieved by punching holes in between corrugations to reduce weight and provide space for utility lines through beam or joist that can save overhead room, enable better architectural design and lower construction cost.

[0007] Further objective is to utilize this reinforced sheet metal web with wooden flanges to produce light-weight, metal-wood hybrid joist. This hybrid joist offers great versatility since other materials like panels can be nailed down onto wooden flanges.

BRIEF DESCRITION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of corrugation reinforced steel beam.

[0009] FIG. 1A is vertical section view taken along the line A in FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 1B is horizontal section view taken along the line B in FIG. 1.

[0011] FIG. 2A and 2B are side elevation view of the beam showing various patterns of trust with combinations of angles and punched holes.

[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of corrugation reinforced hybrid joist.

[0013] FIG. 3A is enlarged view of circled area A in FIG. 3 showing side edge of the web.

[0014] FIG. 4 is enlarged vertical section view of the web joining in the groove of flange with fishing-hook like spikes.

DETAILED DESCRITION OF PREFERED EMBODIMENT

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, a beam is made of a pair of upper and lower flanges 10 connected by web 20. The metal web 20 is pressed to form corrugates 30 in sizes and numbers as per strength required. FIG. 1A is vertical section view of such corrugated beam taken along the line A in FIG. 1, and FIG. 1B is a horizontal section view of such corrugated beam taken along line B in FIG. 1.

[0016] The corrugation 30 forms triangular pattern of trust structure on web 20 by various combinations of angles as shown in FIG. 2A and 2B. The pattern can be ‘W’ shaped trust pattern as shown in FIG. 2A or ‘N’ shaped trust pattern as shown in FIG. 2B.

[0017] Holes 31, 32 can be punched on the flat spaces in between corrugations 30 in sizes and shapes as per engineering allows such as triangular shape 31 or round shape 32 to reduce weight and provide utility line space.

[0018] Metal-Wood hybrid joist has flange made of wood 11 as shown in FIG. 3, and having groove 12 routed in alignment of facing flange. These grooves fit with the edge 21 of web 20, on which fishing-hook like spikes 22 are punched. FIG. 3A is enlarged view of circled area A in FIG. 3, showing details of the side edge of web 21 with spikes 22.

[0019] The side edge 21 of the web 20 is fitted into groove 12 of wooden flange 11 as shown in FIG. 4. The fishing-hook like spikes 22 are made along the both side of side edge 21 of web 20, where the surface completely fits inside the groove 12. The spikes 22 have shape of thorn, leaning to the direction toward the center of the web 20, thus easily pushed into the groove 12, but locked inside against the force to pull them back just like fishing-hook.

[0020] Corrugated 30 and spiked 22 web then assembled with wooden flanges 11 by press or pressure rollers. The grooved joint 12 of the web and flange can be secured with glue.

Claims

1. A structural member of beam, comprising;

a pair of spaced flanges facing each other, connected with intervening web having substantially uniform thickness;

repeating patterns of corrugation on the web intermediate the flanges in combination of angles which form triangular pattern of trust structure.

2. A member in accordance with claim 1, in which the corrugations are in alternating oblique angles in opposite direction, which form ‘W’ shaped trust pattern.

3. A member in accordance with claim 1, in which the corrugations are in repeating combination of right angle and oblique angles to longitudinal direction, which form ‘N’ shaped trust pattern.

4. A member in accordance with claim 1, in which the web having punched holes in between the corrugations.

5. A member in accordance with claim 1, in which the flanges are made of wood.

6. A member in accordance with claim 5, in which the wooden flanges each having groove extending longitudinally thereof in alignment of facing groove of the other flange, as receptacle to the web.

7. A member in accordance with claim 6, in which the web has fishing-hook like spikes leaning to the direction toward the center of the web on its side edges, which fit into and lock in the groove of flange.

8. A member in accordance with claim 6, in which the web is fit into groove of the flange and secured with glue.

9. A member in accordance with claim 6, in which the flanges are made of veneer lumber.