Floor truss systems and methods
A flooring truss system is disclosed for carrying sub-flooring materials such as a radiant heat source. A plurality of truss members carry a deck, foam, concrete, and tubing.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/777,154, filed Feb. 27, 2006, entitled “Floor Truss Systems and Methods.”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a structural metal member of that is used for floor joist or roof support applications.
Most residential house framing is wooden. However, some building techniques are emerging that emphasize structural integrity. For instance, insulated concrete forms, or ICF's, are stay in place forms used to build concrete homes. Benefits of building with ICF's include energy savings, fire resistance, superior structural integrity, an ecologically sound building processes.
Metal structural members are commonly are cold formed from sheet metal by rolling, folding or pressing a metal strip into a desired cross section. A cross sectional design is chosen to create optimum load bearing characteristics, including focus on stress and strain relationships.
Because metal is more structurally predictable than wood, the cross sectional shapes of the metal truss design can be optimized for weight, stress, strain, and fire resistance, amongst other benefits.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one embodiment of the present invention, a truss system is disclosed with top and bottom chords, end webs and center webs that span a distance between support structures, such as basement walls of a house under construction. The truss system is held on the support structures by end plates that are coupled with the top chord.
In an alternate embodiment, the present invention is a truss system comprising a pair of mirror imaged elements that are plug welded together. A series of roughly oval shapes are removed from the height face of the truss system, and stress plates couple adjacent series of truss members.
In a preferred embodiment, layers of foam and concrete overlay the top portion of the truss, and in these layers can be accessories such as concrete reinforcing bar (rebar), or water lines to create a dynamic radiant floor heating system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structures. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
Referring now to
A brace 12 allows the truss spans 10 to hang in their load bearing orientation.
Referring now to
Referring now to
During installation of the truss members 10 to form the truss system, the truss members 10 are initially placed spanning the support structure, as shown in
Next, shoring may be provided where desired (not shown), to support foam 48, to bear the weight of concrete 46 as concrete 46 is poured atop foam 48. In this manner, concrete 46 is in contact with foam 48, providing the truss system with a seal from sound or temperature variances, which keeps the living areas above and below the truss system separate, soundproof, insect proof and fire resistant. After the concrete 46 has cured, the shoring can be removed.
Because the concrete 46 will have cured against the foam 48, and truss components 20, 16, and perhaps 25, the truss system 10 are, in effect, coupled after concrete 46 is cured. This creates an insulated concrete form in a horizontal position, with the benefits of strength, insulation and soundproofing.
Referring specifically to the truss members 10, it is seen in this view that each truss member 10 has opposing bottom chords 23 which are essentially mirror images of each other, sandwiching and coupled to end webs 20 and center webs 21. Similarly, top chords 25 sandwich and couple end webs 20 and center webs 21. End plates 12 are coupled underneath top chords 25.
Center webs 21 and end webs 20 are also formed of two pieces each. Namely, right and left members of the center webs 21 and end webs 20 are mirror images of each other, and at their tops, form flanges 16, which are roughly ninety (90) degree angle bends in the center webs 21 and end webs 20, or alternatively could be coupled to, as independent elements, center webs 21 and end webs 20.
As can be seen, top chords 25 carry a structure 48, such as high density foam, between adjacent truss members 10. The purpose of the high density foam 48 is to provide both insulative properties, as well as to support other building materials resting upon or atop the foam 48. For example, as shown in
Piping 42 for use in a radiant flooring system. Piping 42 is coupled, for instance, to a water source and electrical source (not shown) although the piping 40 need not carry water. These electric floor-warming systems are buried directly below the flooring surface and are then connected electrically to a GFCI protected power source. 110 Volt lines are most commonly used, but 220 Volt lines can be utilized for some larger applications.
The most common radiant technology is the Hydronic Radiant Floor, or HRF. It works like any hydronic heating system, but instead of distributing heat through a convective baseboard or wall-mounted radiator, a pump circulates hot water through tubing in the floor. Tubing can be made of polybutylene, cross-linked polyethylene, or rubber.
HRFs use lower water temperatures than hydronic baseboards. Beneath a tile floor, the water temperature can be as low as 90° F. to 105° F., while a baseboard heater requires 160° F. to 200° F. water. This makes an HRF a good match with a low-temperature heat source like an air- or ground-source heat pump, or even an active solar system.
The foam layer 48 acts as an insulator, essentially blocking heat from the heating system 42 from traveling downward, instead directing the heat into the cooler concrete 46.
Referring now to
Referring now to
A series of support members 116 are spaced apart atop the spans 120a and 120b.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention.
Claims
1. A floor truss system comprising:
- a plurality of trusses spaced apart and extending between wall structures, said trusses comprising a bottom chord, a top chord, a first and a second end web, at least one center web, said first and second end webs coupled between said top and bottom chords, and said first, second, and end webs having flanges extending above said top chord;
- a support structure between adjacent trusses, said support structure carrying at least one tube, and said support structure carrying a floor layer.
2. A floor truss system according to claim 1, said floor truss system further comprising a decking material carried by adjacent trusses.
3. A floor truss system according to claim 1, said floor truss system further comprising reinforcement bars carried in said floor layer.
4. A floor truss system according to claim 1, wherein said top and bottom chords are each two ply.
5. A floor truss system according to claim 1, wherein said center web, said first and second end webs form a flange above said top chord.
6. A floor truss system according to claim 1, said floor truss system further comprising an end plate supporting said top chord on said wall structure.
7. A floor truss system according to claim 1, wherein said tube carries radiant heating material.
8. A floor truss system according to claim 1, wherein radiant heating material is water.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 27, 2007
Publication Date: Feb 7, 2008
Inventor: Richard Rutledge (Nashotah, WI)
Application Number: 11/711,236
International Classification: E04C 3/02 (20060101);