Abstract: A structural member including a web portion having a plurality of triangular regions to provide additional strength and stiffness. The triangular regions are recessed from the web and may have a floor area or the floor may be cut out to provide apertures with lip portions. An additional element secures a flanged bracing panel in the opening between the studs and the top and bottom plates of a building frame and clads both sides of the braced frame.

Abstract: A space frame including at least two elongate structural frame elements arranged side by side and being interconnected by a plurality of elongate struts spaced along the length of the elements, each structural frame element comprising an elongate hollow body having one or more strut connection nodes located along its length at predetermined positions, each connection node being in the form of a socket extending internally of the element, the socket comprising a socket wall depending from one side wall of the hollow body, the socket wall defining a socket recess and being formed by hydro-forming from said one side wall of the hollow body, each opposite end of each strut being in the form of a plug received within the socket defined by a co-operating respective connection node. The hydro-forming process may include the use of any type of pressurised hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: A U-shaped stackable truss for use in temporary, demountable construction for exhibition, display, and concert staging.

Abstract: A profiled support member for use in a vehicle frame has a central web, flanked on at least one side by at least one angled-off flange, and is provided with at least one angled portion. The central web and the at least one profiled leg are produced separately and connected rigidly to one another. The central web is configured in the form of a plate and is bent to form at least one angled portion. The at least one profiled leg is configured as a single-piece blank which is continuous over the length of the profiled support and has a continuous flange web, which follows the at least one angled portion, and a plurality of connecting lugs which adjoin one another and are separated from one another in the region of bending edges of the central web. The connecting lugs are bent at right angles to the flange web and are connected rigidly to an associated longitudinal side of the central web.

Abstract: A brace for mounting on a web member in a generally planar truss to resist flexing of the web member out of the plane of the wooden truss. The brace is an elongate metal member comprising a flange adapted to overlie a face of the web member, and a body, extending from the flange, adapted to lie substantially within the thickness of the web member. A plurality of teeth may be integrally formed in the flange to embed in the web member and mount the brace thereto. Alternatively, holes may be provided on the flange for mounting the brace. The brace, when mounted on a web member, helps reduce bending and flexing of the web member, out of the plane of the truss, and trusses that include the brace do not need cross-bracing.

Abstract: An improved fastener securing framing members to metal studs is provided. The fastener has rigid shank, an integral head, a self-tapping or drilling tip, and a first and a second spaced apart buttress threads. The shank has a generally circular cross-section and a longitudinally extending axis. The head integrally extends a first end of the shank and has a top portion and an underside. The self-drilling tip is extends from a second end of the shank. The first buttress thread is formed in said shank and is adjacent the head and partially traverses the shank, terminating from the shank's second end. The second buttress thread is formed in the shank and sufficiently spaced apart from the first buttress thread such that the first thread does not continue to threadingly feed the shank through an aperture formed by the self-drilling tip, the second buttress thread terminating adjacent the tip.

Abstract: In a method of post beam construction, a horizontal beam member is connected to a post member by means of a connector element interposed between the two. The connector includes an upper plate member and a lower plate member, bridged by an apertured central member that is offset from the plate members and forms a recess between same.

Abstract: A sheet metal structural member for use in the formation of a cast construction panel which member, in turn, comprises a sheet metal web defining a linear edge along one side, and a zig-zag edge along the other side, the zig-zag edge defining wider regions, and narrower regions between the wider regions, and the web extending in a generally triangular fashion from one narrower region through a wider region to the next narrower region, edge formations formed around the zig-zag edge portions of the web and, recesses formed in the wider portions of the web. The apex of each of the wider portions of the web, which may be secured to a construction material to form a panel.

Abstract: An extruded good 11 is manufactured by extruding aluminum alloy or magnesium alloy and has an outline or profile forming beam 2, frame side attaching seat portions 3 respectively placed at the left and the right ends of the beam 2, a mount attaching seat portion 4 placed at a center of the beam 2, and a plurality of ribs 6 extending or bridging transversely between the front portion 2a and rear portion 2b of the beam 2. The extruded good 11 is cut by a predetermined or suitable thickness to obtain a blank 12 for the mount supporting member 1. The blank 12 is is subject to press machining in order to obtain mount supporting members of a desired or designed shape.

Abstract: A duct chase frame is substituted for a portion of the length of a conventional wooden or metal floor joist to facilitate running hot or cold air ductwork, plumbing and even electrical wiring. The frame includes a pair of elongated metal channels of uniform cross-sectional configuration with two metal spacers spanning and maintaining a joist accepting separation between those channels. One of the spacers is generally U-shaped for receiving and cradling a lower edge of one end of a floor joist, and the other spacer has an inverted U-shape for engaging an upper edge of the floor joist in a location intermediate the joist ends. The inverted U-shaped support is located near a first end of the pair of metal channels and the U-shaped support is located intermediate the metal channel ends. There may be a second inverted U-shaped support near a second end of the pair of metal channels for maintaining the separation between the pair of channels and for receiving and supporting a floor nailer.

Abstract: A metal member having at least one edge formation, and a web extending from the edge formation, a plurality of generally triangular openings formed in the web at spaced intervals, the triangular formations being alternately reversed relative to one another, a plurality of generally diagonal struts extending between adjacent triangular openings, edge portions along either edge of the web portion, with the struts extending from one said edge portion to the other and merging integrally therewith, flange formations formed from the web around the generally triangular openings, and lying at an angle thereto, whereby to form the diagonal struts with a generally channel shaped cross section, and forming intermittent flanges along the web edges at the base of each triangular opening, the triangular openings defining generally curved corners, and, generally three-sided indentations formed in the web edge at the roots of each of the diagonal struts.

Abstract: The invention provides an eave truss for anchoring, supporting and reinforcing a metal roof and "tilt-up" or other prefabricated concrete or masonry walls in a building against the vertical load exerted by the roof itself, the lateral load exerted by wind and seismic forces, and load caused by thermal expansion and contraction of various attached heterogeneous building components. The eave truss is supported by the roof beams, and a single eave truss is attached to the roof, the ends of the roof beams, and the wall along the full length of each end of the building. The eave truss attachment to the wall is in shear only at the center portion of the truss; all other attachments to the walls from the eave truss are made through horizontally slotted holes in the eave truss to allow normal thermal expansion and contraction of the heterogeneous parts.

Abstract: A wall having metal wall studs in parallel spaced-apart relation, and each, in turn, having two parallel angles each defining a panel supporting flange, to which wall panels may be attached, and each further defining a bracing strip, integral with the panel supporting flange, at right angles thereto, a plurality of straps integral with the angles each strap defining an axis extending diagonally between the bracing strips and defining generally triangular openings with their apeces directed alternately in opposite directions, generally triangular widened roots on each end of the strap, a plurality of transverse ribs in the panel supporting flanges normal to the right angle junctions between the bracing strips and the panel supporting flanges, and further transverse ribs in the bracing strips and extending into the triangular enlarged roots, the first and second transverse ribs being formed in aligned pairs and meeting and joining one another at the right angle junction, wall panelling on the panel supporting f

Abstract: A refractory brick panel module and suspended roof construction for high temperature furnaces wherein the panel module has a refractory support frame of at least two substantially parallel support members with at least one end of the support members having extension and retraction means forming an extendable and retractable refractory support frame end portion. The refractory support frame end portion in retracted position allows passage of the refractory support frame between adjacent roof support beams and in extended position provides refractory brick suspension beneath the roof support beams to a proximity to adjacent roof panel modules. The extendable and retractable refractory support frame allows great flexibility in modular suspended roof construction, providing easy repair of either entire modules or replacement of a relatively small number of refractory bricks from the cold side of the furnace roof.

Abstract: An improved economical, easily assembled, prefabricated building structural system is disclosed in which practically no on site construction is necessary as compared with the substantial site preparation necessary in the prior art. Substantially every portion of the main structure may be prefabricated on or off site, prior to assembly. The system is characterized in the use of materials which render it fireproof, weatherproof and termite proof and not subject to buckling or warping. It has structural details and connections at the footings, floor slab, vertical columns, roof trusses and interior and exterior walls, for example, which render the finished structure flood and earthquake resistant and give it a life expectancy far superior to prior art prefabricated or conventional housing.