AU667145B2

AU667145B2 - Sheet metal structural member

Info

Publication number: AU667145B2
Application number: AU52074/93A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Brad Frank Golledge
Original assignee: BHP Steel JLA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: BlueScope Steel Ltd
Priority date: 1992-11-30
Filing date: 1993-11-30
Publication date: 1996-03-07
Anticipated expiration: 2011-03-21
Also published as: AU5207493A

Description

P/00/011I Regulation 3,2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Invention Title: SHEET METAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER The following statement is a full description of this invention, 10o including the best method of performing it known to the Applicant:- This invention is a modification or improvement of the invention described and claimed in the complete specification of our Australian Patent number 639313 (referred to as the underlying invention hereinafter). That complete specification is incorporated herein by S•reference.

oooo• 0 Briefly stated, the underlying invention provides a roll-formed sheet metal wall stud of the kind comprising a web and at least one edge flange, wherein a stiffening rib that is shaped so that it defines a groove with a restricted mouth, extends longitudinally of the web. The shaping of the stiffening rib in that manner enables it to function as retention means for a wall tie having anchorage formations that may engage the inner surfaces of the rib. This results in less deflection of the tie under load, by comparison with conventional arrangements wherein the tie engages the flange of the stud, in that the load is transferred directly to the stud as a whole instead of to an independently yieldable flange thereof. This, in turn, enables the stud to be made from thinner material than would otherwise be possible.

An object of the present invention is to provide a roll-formed, sheet metal structural member, which is useable, for example, as a wall stud, and is adapted to receive a tie in the manner of the wall stud of the underlying invention, but which displays greater rigidity than the essentially channel sectioned embodiments of the underlying invention proposed hitherto.

The invention consists in a structural member of the kind comprising a web and at least one edge flange, characterised in that a rib that defines a groove having a restricted mouth in one face of the web extends along the web, and in that said at least one flange is extended and returned to contact said rib on the other face of the web.

V The invention further consists in the combination of such a •structural member and a tie member having an end portion lodged fixedly within the groove of the structural member.

The extended flange may contact a part of the rib that is substantially parallel to the web as a whole. In that event the extension of the flange is preferably secured to the rib, by clinches or other fastening means, so that the former free edge of the flange is braced against movement laterally of the flange. In other embodiments the extension may merely strut against an edge of the rib so that the former free edge is braced against lateral movement in one direction only.

3 By way of example, three embodiments of the above described invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying three figures of drawings, each of which is a crosssection of a structural member according to the invention.

The member illustrated by figure 1 is a structural member that may be roll-formed from metal sheet, for example steel coated with zinc or an alloy of aluminium and zinc. It comprises a web 1 and flanges 2.

In accordance with the underlying invention the web 1 has a rib 3 extending along it that defines a groove 4 having a restricted mouth; that lo is to say a mouth that is somewhat narrower than the widest part of the groove beyond the mouth.

io In accordance with the present invention each flange 2 is extended by an extension 5, that returns and contacts the rib 3 on the side of the rib opposite to the side that defines the groove 4. The *oo* contacting parts of the extension 5 and rib 3 lie flatly against each other and are secured together by, for example, spot welds, clinches or other conventional localised fastening means spaced apart regularly along the 0 length of the member. Alternatively, conventional continuous fastening means may be used, for example, seam welding, crimping or adhesives.

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The figure 2 embodiment of the invention is the same as the figure 1 embodiment except that each of its flanges 2 is further stiffened by a plurality of small stiffening ribs 6, and needs no further description.

The figure 3 embodiment differs from the others in that only one of its flanges 2 is extended and returned in accordance with the invention.

In this instance the edge of the extension 7 of that flange is not fastened to the rib 3 by specific fastening means, but rather is lodged against a side wall of the rib 3, having been sprung into a recess 8 defined by the part of the rib 3 that defines the mouth portion of the groove 4, on the side of the web 1 opposite to that in which the groove 4 appears.

The present invention extends not only to structural members as described above, but also to such members in combination with wall or other ties, including the ties described in the aforementioned complete specification in respect of the underlying invention, having a head part located in the groove defined by the rib of the member and extending therefrom to an article secured by the tie to the member.

The fact that the ch-,racteristic flange of members according to the invention is essentially tubular enables other components to be nailed to the flange by means of a nail penetrating the material of the flange at two spaced apart points along the length of the nail, one where the nail enters the flange and one where it departs from the flange. That double engagement prevents the nail from tilting to and fro under directionally fluctuating external loads, and enables it to remain tightly held by the member. This is not normally possible with conventional sheet metal components using conventional hammer-in nails, and is of considerable significance in that simple nailing probably remains the quickest and 20 simplest form of fastening yet devised.

To facilitate the use of nails, the flange, or each of them, is a preferably triangular in cross-section, as illustrated in the drawings, so as to provide a flat wall of the flange, on or against which the article to be fastened to the member may rest, and a second, preferably flat, wall substantially underlying but spaced from the first mentioned flat wall.

Claims

1. A structural member of the kind comprising a web and at least one edge flange, characterised in that a rib that defines a groove having a restricted mouth in one face of the web extends along the web, and in that said at least one flange is extended and returned to contact said rib on the other face of the web.

2. A structural member according to claim 1 wherein the extended flange :i contacts a part of the rib that is substantially parallel to the web as a whole. i*i :i

3. A structural member according to claim 2 wherein the contacting parts of the extended flange and the rib are secured together by fastening means, 10 so that an edge is braced against movement laterally of the flange. 0*

4. A structural member according to claim 1 wherein the extended flange SS contacts the rib by strutting against an edge of the rib, so that an edge is S.. braced against lateral movement in one direction only.

A structural member substantially as described herein with reference to figure 1, figure 2 or figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. 6

6. A structural member according to any one of the preceding claims when in combination with a tie member having an end portion lodged fixedly within said groove. Applicant JOHN LYSAGHT (AUSTRALIA) LIMITED Date 30 November 1993 Attorney ROBERT G. SHELSTON F.I.P.A.A. of CARTER SMITH BEADLE S.* 00 ee S** *ee 00 *e 9* o ABSTRACT A roll-formed sheet metal structural member comprises a web (1) and two flanges extending therealong. A stiffening rib that is shaped so that it defines a groove with a restricted mouth, extends longitudinally of the web Each flange has an extension that is returned and affixed to the rib A tie member may be secured to the structural member by means of an end portion of the tie member being fixedly lodged within the groove Figure 1 *99* 0e *o o