STRUCTURAL ELEMENT
A structural element including a substantially flat central portion, a first web portion perpendicularly extending from an edge of the central portion, and a second web portion perpendicularly extending from an opposing edge of the central portion. The central portion and the first and second web portions are formed from a unitary steel sheet. The structural element is suitable for forming load bearing floors and/or walls in a structure.
The present invention relates to the field of structural units, and more particularly to the field of fast erection light structural units.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONStructural units are known. They vary in the constructional materials they are made from, and, in the erection methods. The most common structures are made of concrete with reinforcing steel. These structures are very strong, however, they are very heavy, expensive, and require relatively long erection period; preparation of molds, long curing periods of the concrete, laboratory tests for verifying final strength, etc.
Other structural units are made of a massive steel frame that may be erected by welding or bolting. A light cover, made of a variety of materials is then assembled on the steel frame. The light cover may consist of an aluminum frame onto which are assembled glass plates, gypsum plates, and the like.
There are also known and common wooden structural units. These units are known for their fast erection time and ease of construction. However, these units require construction of a wooden “frame”, including large and massive wooden logs and wooden bars. Upon finishing the construction of the frame, a “cover” is put on the “frame”.
It is the purpose of the present invention to provide a structural element for building a structural unit that significantly reduces or overcomes the aforementioned disadvantages.
It is another purpose of the present invention to provide a structural element for building a structural unit that may be erected in a fast manner and is cheap and light.
It is also a purpose of the present invention to provide a structural element for building a light and fast erected structural unit that may be built to several stories high, typically, up to five stories high.
It is yet another purpose of the present invention to provide a structural element for building a structural unit wherein the structural element provides both the frame and the cover of the unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA structural unit is formed from structural elements that are connected to each other in a simple manner. When all the structural elements are attached to each other, the structural unit may form a strong and rigid structure up to five stories high.
The advantage of the structural element of the present invention is that construction of a structural unit with a separate frame onto which a cover is assembled is successfully prevented. Thus, the structural unit includes both a frame and a cover formed using the structural element of the present invention.
There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a structural element including a substantially flat central portion, a first web portion perpendicularly extending from an edge of the central portion, and a second web portion perpendicularly extending from an opposing edge of the central portion. The central portion and the first and second web portions are formed from a unitary steel sheet. The structural element is suitable for forming load bearing floors and/or walls in a structure.
In some embodiments, the first and second web portions include a flat portion and at least one longitudinally extending ridge.
In some embodiments, the flat central portion includes one or more longitudinally extending ridges.
In some embodiments, the first and second web portions include an inwardly directed end bend directed in a direction towards the central portion.
In some embodiments, the first and second web portions include an outwardly directed end bend directed in a direction away from the central portion.
In some embodiments, the first web portion includes an inwardly directed end bend directed in a direction towards the central portion and the second web portion includes an outwardly directed end bend directed in a direction away from the central portion.
In some embodiments, the at least one longitudinally extending ridge is inwardly directed in a direction towards the central portion.
In some embodiments, the at least one longitudinally extending ridge is outwardly directed in a direction away from the central portion.
There is provided, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a structural unit formed from a plurality of structural elements, each structural element having a substantially flat central portion, a first web portion perpendicularly extending from an edge of the central portion, and a second web portion perpendicularly extending from an opposing edge of the central portion. The central portion and the first and second web portions are formed from a unitary steel sheet. The structural element is suitable for forming load bearing floors and/or walls in a structure. Also included is a ground slab to support the structure.
In some embodiments, the first and second web portions in each of the structural elements include a flat portion and at least one longitudinally extending ridge.
In some embodiments, the structure includes a frame formed using the structural elements.
In some embodiments, the structure includes one or more floors formed using the structural elements.
In some embodiments, the structure includes one or more walls formed using the structural elements.
In some embodiments, the structure includes a maximum of five stories.
For a better understanding of the present invention and to show how the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Attention is drawn to
It should be noted that directional terms appearing throughout the specification and claims, e.g. “forward”, “rear”, “upper”, “lower” etc., are used as terms of convenience to distinguish the location of various surfaces relative to each other. These terms are defined with reference to the figures, however, they are used for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The unit 10 is formed from a plurality of structural elements 12 that make up the major portion of the unit 10. Each of the structural elements 12 is produced out of a steel roll, having a given width, which is rolled and cut to the desired shape and length.
Each of the structural elements 12 is formed from a unitary piece that comprises a central portion 14 and two web portions 16 extending perpendicularly therefrom. The structural element 12 has an element length L and an element width W. Typically, each of the web portions 16 comprises a flat web portion 18 and a longitudinally extending ridge 20 that increases the rigidity of the web portion 16 and hence of the entire structural element 12. If desired, and depending on the use, also the central portion 14 may be provided with a ridge, or a plurality of ridges, for increasing the total rigidity and bending resistance of the structural element 12.
If desired, and depending on the use, the free end of each of the web portions 16 is provided with an inwardly directed end bend 22. The end bend 22 significantly increases the rigidity of the web portions 16 and hence of the entire structural element 12. Furthermore, the end bend 22 adds additional convenience and safety when transporting, conveying and using the structural element 12.
In some embodiments, as shown in
In other embodiments, as shown in
In order to form the structural unit 10, as seen in
Upon finishing connecting the vertically standing structural elements 12, an upper horizontal structural element 12 is placed thereon and connected therewith by means of corner L-beams that are attached by self-drilling screws. Other type of attachment means may be used to connect the vertical and horizontal structural elements 12 and may include structural components such as beams and profiles (U-shaped, T-shaped, I-shaped, T-shaped, etc.) known in the art.
As can be appreciated from the figures, when all the structural elements 12 are connected to each other to form the structural unit 10, the overall strength and rigidity of the structural unit 10 is much stronger than the strength and rigidity of the individual structural elements 12.
This form of building the structural unit 10 has been found to be efficient at least up to five stories height. In that manner, a cheap and fast erecting structure can be built, without the need of concrete columns or steel beams.
The structural unit 10 built according to the present invention enables considerable savings and advantages during the construction process;
- 1. The transportation of prepared structural elements 12 to the erection site may be prevented.
- 2. The structural elements 12 may be rolled and cut on site, thus saving the transportation of a considerable volume of elements.
- 3. The on-site production of the structural elements 12 eliminates any damages to the structural elements 12 that may otherwise occur during transportation thereof.
- 4. Greater versatility and ability to provide on-site required amendments of the structural elements 12, e.g., amending their length, etc.
- 5. It is not necessary to prepare molds for concrete casting.
- 6. It is not necessary to wait for concrete curing, thus saving a lot of time and reducing the erection period.
- 7. The structural elements 12 provide both the frame and the cover of the structural unit 10.
- 8. It is not necessary to provide large steel beams for supporting the structural unit 10, thus saving money, time, transportation, and erection.
- 9. The structural unit 10 is erected in a fast and economical manner, and provides adequate and stable accommodation up to five stories in height.
Although the present invention has been described to a certain degree of particularity, it should be understood that various alterations and modifications could be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as hereinafter described.
For example, this structural unit may be used for building one, two, or up to five stories high.
The upper cover of the structural unit may be formed from structural elements as described above or similar thereto.
The structural elements may be provided with thermal insulation, as glass wool or the like, and closed by another sheet of metal, to form unit that is covered from its four sides.
Openings in the structural elements, e.g., for doors and windows, may be opened according to design needs.
In some cases, and according to design needs, steel beams may be added to the structural unit. However, these beams are an addition only, and do not form an essential part of the invention.
Claims
1. A structural element comprising:
- a substantially flat central portion;
- a first web portion perpendicularly extending from an edge of said central portion; and
- a second web portion perpendicularly extending from an opposing edge of said central portion;
- said central portion and said first and second web portions formed from a unitary steel sheet, and wherein the structural element is suitable for forming load bearing floors and/or walls in a structure.
2. An element according to claim 1 wherein said first and second web portion comprise a flat portion and at least one longitudinally extending ridge.
3. An element according to claim 1 wherein said flat central portion comprises one or more longitudinally extending ridges.
4. An element according to claim 1 wherein said first and second web portion comprise an inwardly directed end bend directed in a direction towards the central portion.
5. An element according to claim 1 wherein said first and second web portion comprise an outwardly directed end bend directed in a direction away from the central portion.
6. An element according to claim 1 wherein said first web portion comprises an inwardly directed end bend directed in a direction towards the central portion and said second web portion comprises an outwardly directed end bend directed in a direction away from the central portion.
7. An element according to claim 2 wherein said at least one longitudinally extending ridge is inwardly directed in a direction towards the central portion.
8. An element according to claim 2 wherein said at least one longitudinally extending ridge is outwardly directed in a direction away from the central portion.
9. A structural unit comprising:
- a plurality of structural elements, each structural element of said plurality of structural elements comprising a substantially flat central portion, a first web portion perpendicularly extending from an edge of said central portion, and a second web portion perpendicularly extending from an opposing edge of said central portion, said central portion and said first and second web portions formed from a unitary steel sheet, and wherein the structural element is suitable for forming load bearing floors and/or walls in the structure; and
- a ground slab to support the structure.
10. A structural unit according to claim 9 wherein said first and second web portions in each of said structural element comprises a flat portion and at least one longitudinally extending ridge.
11. A structural unit according to claim 9 further comprising a frame formed using said structural elements.
12. A structural unit according to claim 9 further comprising one or more floors formed using said structural elements.
13. A structural unit according to claim 9 further comprising one or more walls formed using said structural elements.
14. A structural unit according to claim 9 further comprising a maximum of five stories.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 6, 2017
Publication Date: Jun 13, 2019
Inventor: Dov MARKOVITCH (Haifa)
Application Number: 16/315,644