AU2001100202A4 - Structural frame - Google Patents

Description

P/00/012 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION PETTY PATENT Invention Title: Structural frame The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: Freehills Carter Smith BeadleMELC600372074.2 CD/00371935.0 1A STRUCTURAL FRAME Field of the Invention This invention relates to a structural frame and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to a structural frame made by bending and which is capable of being used in the construction of storage bins.

Background of the Invention The wheat industry and other similar grain industries require storage of large quantities of wheat and other grain, before the grain is ultimately distributed.

Grain must be stored in a dry, covered area for long periods of time. Traditionally, the grain has been stored in silos, concrete pits, or in concrete bunkers. All of these forms of storage are a permanent construction and therefore require the grain to be transported to and from the storage facility. This exercise normally requires extensive use of large railway networks, or very large trucks.

It has been proposed to change the storage system for wheat and other 15 grains using a series of shaped frames that are used to form the chassis of a storage bin. In this way the frames can be erected on a concrete base and secured thereto, and the appropriate roof structure placed over to create a dry, covered area.

The frames that are used for these shaped frames are generally made from square hollow section steel, or steel pipe. The steel be it square or round crosssection is cut into a series of lengths, normally four in number. The lengths of steel are then welded together at their ends to form a closed frame and a supportive fifth section is welded within the frame. This construction of these types of frames typically requires extensive labour costs in that the steel must not only be cut but must be mitred, and must be welded together. As this requires an extensive period of time, the labour cost becomes significant.

Furthermore, the above method of construction requires the use of non- CD/00371935.0 2 galvanised square hollow section steel which must then be painted. This adds expense in the form of the cost of paint, and the time taken for the frame to be painted.

Furthermore, at the base corners of the frame, holes may be created which allow access to the wheat or other grain by vermin. Grain may also flow out of the storage bin through the holes.

Furthermore, up to six welding points are required to join each piece of the frame including a supportive piece within the structure.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide a structural frame which addresses these problems. A further object is to provide a method of manufacture of a structural frame which is not as complex as that described above.

S• Summary of the Invention e In its simplest form, the present invention provides a structural frame 15 incorporating a portion of closed shape, the structural frame formed by taking a length of rigid material of appropriate cross section, flattening it at certain strategic points and bending at or adjacent those flattened points to bend the material to form the structural frame.

el Advantageously, the frame is substantially triangular in shape.

Preferably, the material is steel and is of square hollow section steel which may be galvanised.

One arm of the structural frame may extend beyond the portion of closed shape to create a cantilevered arm which is used for supporting a roof or wall structure in a resulting storage bin. Also, a bracing member may be used within the portion of closed shape for additional strength.

CD/00371 93 3 Brief Description of the Drawing The present invention will now be described by way of non-limitative example only and with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawing which is a schematic side view of a structural frame in accordance with the present invention.

Description of Preferred Embodiments The structural frame illustrated in the drawing is generally triangular with one side projecting beyond the triangle. It has a first arm 10, a second or base arm 12, and a third or support arm 14. A strengthening or bracing member 16 may also be provided. Between arms 10 and 12 is a corner generally designated as 18, and between arms 12 and 14 there is a corner generally designated as The structural frame is preferably made of square hollow section steel, i.e.

*Soso: square tube, which is preferably galvanised. By being galvanised it means that paints or other toxins are not introduced thus adding to the user friendly nature of 15 the product, and reducing its overall manufacturing costs.

The frame is created by first flattening or compressing a single length of the square tube to create flattened portions 22, 24. The flattened portions 22, 24 define bending locations of the square tube. The square tube is then bent at 20portions 22, 24 to form corners 18, 20 having respective angles of 60 degrees.

The positions of the bends are selected so that the tube returns on itself to form the generally equilateral triangle illustrated with extension portion 26 of arm This extension portion 26 acts as an additional cantilever support for a roof to be *discussed further below. The strengthening or bracing member 16 may be required within the triangle, e.g. parallel to arm 14, to provide extra strength for arm 10. At the junction 28 of arm 10 with arm 14, welding will be required to complete the structure, and welding will be required at both ends of strengthening or bracing member 16 where it meets arm 10 and arm 12. This is the only welding required.

CD/00371935.0, 4 The flattened portions 22, 24 also create ideal locations for securing the structural frame to a concrete base using masonry anchors.

The time taken to build the frame is significantly less than that for prior frames and, therefore, the labour cost is significantly reduced. As there are no entry or exit points to the frame, no grain can escape and vermin cannot gain access to the grain.

By placing the structural frames in a row, spaced from one another, and linking them with sheets of corrugated iron or steel, the sides or walls of a storage bin for produce are formed. The corrugated iron or steel sheets can be affixed with bolts to each arm 10 of each steel frame. There is no limit to the size of a particular storage bin.

The upper ends of each of the arms 10 also serve as supports for a roof (not shown) of the storage bin. The roof may be constructed by affixing further sheets of corrugated iron or steel to opposed upper ends of the arms 10, or by placing a tarpaulin across the structure and securing it to the structure.

Rather than a permanent storage bin, these structural frames may be used as the chassis or basis for a temporary or relocatable storage bin. Each of the frames would be attached to a truss and secured with bolts. This would enable the o*o* bin to be able to be dismantled and removed to another location when desired.

a.

The steps in production of a permanent storage bin are: 1. The size and shape of the storage bin is decided upon. A sufficient I number of frames as illustrated are required to form the chassis of the bin.

2. A number of the frames are placed in a row at a specific distance apart, for example 600 mm, and are secured to the concrete base 3. Sheets of corrugated sheeting material are affixed with bolts on one arm (eg. 10) of each frame, thereby securing the frames together and forming the CD/00371935.0 walls of the storage bin.

Corners members of the storage bin are constructed in a similar way so as to produce a right angle version of the structural frame. The right-angled frames are placed in the corners of the storage bin and are affixed to adjacent structural frames and the concrete bases as described above.

For a temporary or relocatable storage bin the site is first chosen and levelled. Several trusses are placed on the ground and the frames are placed on top of the trusses. The bases of the frames are affixed to the trusses underneath each of the frames with removable bolts. Additional support is achieved by placing steel pegs deep into the ground at strategic points around the outside of the storage bin. Appropriate cabling is affixed to the interior base of the frames within the storage bin. These cables are linked to the frames so as to prevent the frames from being pushed away from their positions through the weight of the produce as it fills the storage bin.

ooooo It will be appreciated that where a non-tubular length of steel or other rigid material is used, the action of forming flattened portions includes other functional equivalents. For example, the cross-section of a solid length of material may be made thinner and wider, or holes or other lines of weakness may be introduced into the length of rigid material.

Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description a preferred construction of a structural frame in accordance with the principal features of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technical field that many variations or modifications in details of design of construction may be made without departing from the essential features of the present invention.

It will be understood that the invention disclosed and defined herein extends to all alternative combinations of two or more of the individual features mentioned or evident from the text or drawings. All of these different combinations constitute various alternative aspects of the invention.