CZ251395A3 - Light metal structural system - Google Patents

Abstract

The lightweight metal construction system begins with a beam (2) formed from a single piece of cold formed sheet steel or other sheet metal which is bent lengthwise along four lines to form a triangular cross section with two wings (4, 6), side-by-side, extending from its apex. The ends of the beams may be modified to form joints which are used to connect two beams together or to connect the beam to another construction material. Brackets (20) formed from strips of sheet steel or other metal are bent to conform to outer surfaces of the beams or other construction materials are used to attach the beams to other beams or other construction materials. Fasteners (40) are used to firmly attach the joints and brackets to the beams and construction materials.

Description

Lightweight metal construction

Technical field

The invention relates to a metal construction, frame and dam system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In recent years, the price of wood has risen significantly due to restrictions on timber harvesting in order to preserve the environment. In just a few years, the price of wood more than doubled. The price increase had a big impact on the price of new residential buildings, which made it difficult to build and sell new apartment buildings at affordable prices. This in turn led to a decline in the start of construction of new buildings and an increase in unemployment in the construction industry.

In addition to the increased costs resulting from the high cost of timber, there are other reasons why it is desirable to find a real alternative to timber in a significant part of the bearing structures of new constructions. These reasons lie in the vulnerability of the wood to the risk of insect and rot damage and the weight of the wood.

Prefabricated roof and ceiling truss structures are well known in residential and light-duty civil engineering. Truss structures are usually made up of rods (studs, components) twice four interconnected by steel interface members, with frame and skeleton segments often being mutually joined. The prefabricated roof trusses are raised and attached to the top of the structural skeleton so that the roof construction material can be deposited thereon. Prefabricated floor and ceiling lattice structures are attached to the foundation or lower part of the building skeleton so that plywood and flooring can be placed and attached to them. Prefabricated structural elements bring significant time savings in building production,

-2which are critical when the climate in some areas allows only limited periods of time suitable for building. In general, time savings lead to cost savings. However, even these prefabricated lattice, frame and skeleton constructions are expensive to increase the price of wood, so an alternative is sought.

PCT Patent Application WO 9117328 discloses a light steel beam. This structural beam has a cross-section of the letter I of a four-piece structure, where the two supporting parts (upper and lower) have a C-shaped cross-section, the web and flange portion consisting of two sheet metal parts welded at their centers and bent outwards forming triangular flanges. This beam is shown in cross-section for comparison in FIG. 1 below. The flanges of the triangles are then welded to the interior of the C-shaped support parts to form a C-shaped beam. The two beams are joined together by flat or curved interface members that are screwed or welded to the outer surface of the web.

Although this solution provides improvements over conventional steel beams, since it is more than 50% lighter and is relatively easy to use in the construction of structures, it is not easy to manufacture. Each beam consists of four parts that must be bent and welded together along the entire length of the beam, resulting in a manufacturing process requiring a number of specialized machinery and time consuming. Furthermore, the joints between the two beams can be subjected to additional transverse stresses since the joints only connect the outside of the web without providing any stiffening of the joint by the beams themselves.

The essence of the invention

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a lightweight metal construction system comprising a plurality of beams, each of a single piece of sheet bent longitudinally along four parallel lines to form a triangular cross-section having a base and two

3-side and two flanges, one flange corresponding to each side and extending from the top of said triangular cross-section, said beam having an inner beam surface and an outer beam surface, and further comprising a plurality of connecting means for connecting at least one beam of said plurality of beams to the structural member; and a plurality of fasteners for fastening said fastener to said structural material.

The invention further provides a lightweight metal frame and truss system comprising a plurality of beams, each of one piece of sheet bent longitudinally along four parallel lines to form a triangular cross-section having a base and two sides and two flanges, one flange corresponding to each side and extending from the top said triangular cross-section, said beam having a beam length, an internal beam surface and an external beam surface, and further comprising a plurality of end joints comprising each one piece of sheet formed at the end of the first beam of said plurality of beams with at least one longitudinal slot adapted to at least a portion of the outer surface of the first structural material, said end connection abutting said outer surface of said structural material, and wherein said portion of said outer surface of said structural material is at least partially housed in said attachment opening than the length of said structural material, a plurality of connecting members for attaching at least one of said beams to the other structural material, each connecting member comprising a sheet of at least one transverse fold formed to accommodate said strip of at least a portion of said outer surface of the beam and at least one extension to abut a portion of the outer surface of said structural material, a plurality of contact portions, each contact portion comprising a flat sheet portion having multiple edges; wherein at least one edge is sandwiched between the two flanges of said beam, and a plurality of fasteners for fastening said end connections of said fasteners and said joints to said structural material and said beams.

An advantage of the invention is the provision of a versatile lightweight steel beam system that can be used to insert wooden components into the structure. A further advantage is that it provides a system for making roof, ceiling or other types of truss, frame and skeleton structures in which steel beams can be easily assembled together in any number of different shapes and angles. The invention provides a versatile lightweight structural beam system that is an alternative to both wood and traditional building materials.

In an exemplary embodiment, the roof, ceiling, and other types of truss, frame, and skeleton structures begin with a single-piece cold formed steel sheet that is bent longitudinally about four straight lines to form a triangular cross section with two flanges adjacent and extending its peak. The flanges are not attached to each other by the fastening means themselves, but remain detachable from each other until the beam is attached to a second beam or other type of building material. ^with

To reinforce the long beam, it is possible to make cuts in the flanges, allowing the flange segments to be folded over one another. To attach one beam to another at any angle, connectors that are similar to the beam may be used, with triangular cross-section inserts or sleeves that can be fitted or mounted on the beam, depending on the relative dimensions of the triangles-5 to the connector, and triangle beam. In one embodiment, the fasteners have a single triangle with a projecting flange forming an interface member that is inserted between the flanges of one of the beams that are joined and secured with screws, bolts or other fastening means. The triangular portion of the connector is inserted into or is pushed over the end of the second beam according to the relationship of their profiles.

In another embodiment, the connecting parts have a triangle formed at two or more edges, wherein a single flange is formed between the triangles. The triangles are pushed together or pushed together with the ends of the beams that are joined and fixed. To connect the two end-to-end beams together, use a telescopic fitting consisting of a triangle with outside dimensions slightly smaller than the inside dimensions of the beam triangle by sliding the telescopic connector into the end of each of the two joining beams and introducing fasteners through beams and telescopic coupling. Similarly, it is possible to use a triangle of slightly larger dimensions, which slides over the ends of the beams to be joined.

The assembly procedure, i.e., cutting, calibrating and cutting, is the same as that of standard timber trusses or frame structures except that oblique cuts at the ends of the beams are not required to assemble the steel trusses of the invention. Inclined cuts at the ends of beams are avoided by using fittings with built-in angles. The beams and connectors can also be shaped for use as wall posts for frame construction, door and window lintels, and truss structures for mobile residential units.

Variations of the base beam can be used to form a series of different fasteners when joining multiple beams to each other, to attach beams to wooden components, or to provide means for suspending other beams, columns, components, or building material plates from a load-bearing structure assembled of a lightweight metal construction system.

The sheet metal from which the beams and connecting parts are made can be selected according to the weight requirements for each structure, with the most common building applications using a steel sheet in the range of 24 gauge to 8 gauge. Depending on the purpose of the construction, other materials such as other metals (e.g. aluminum or titanium) or high strength plastics may also be used. The sheet material or plywood can be nailed or screwed to the base of the triangle, which is comparable to the width of the side of the profile two times four. Wood, plastic or other materials may also be inserted into the beam between the flanges to facilitate attachment to other construction materials. The flanges of the beam and the fasteners can be pre-drilled, so that the fastener must only be inserted into suitable holes to achieve the desired joint.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a lightweight steel beam according to the prior art; FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a lightweight steel beam according to the invention; FIG. 4 shows a side view of the coupling part of FIG. 3 connecting two beams; FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the coupling part; FIG. 5 is a side view of a connector of FIG. 5 connecting two beams; FIG. 7 is a view of a connector for connecting three beams; FIG. 11 shows a side view of a connecting piece connecting two beams side by side, FIG. 12 is a front view of a connecting piece connecting two beams one above the other, FIG. 14 shows a side view of a fastener for suspending a component from a beam, FIG. 15 a front view of a fastener for supporting the structural material above the beam, FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a fastener for joining two beams parallel to each other. 18 shows a side view of a second joint for connecting one beam to another in a perpendicular configuration Fig. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 21-21 of Fig. 20; Fig. 22 is a perspective view of a portion of a beam with alternative reinforcing means; Fig. 25 is a cross-sectional view of a wood component replacement assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It should be noted at the outset that the elements of a lightweight metal construction system, which in the description refer to upper, lower and sides, are merely exemplary. These designations do not mean that the structural system is limited to such orientation.

As shown in FIG. 2, the basic light steel beam 2 has a triangular cross-sectional shape with a pair of flanges 4 and 6 extending from the apex 8 of the triangle 10. The triangle 10 is formed by bending a cold formed steel sheet at four points at the lower corners. 12 and 14 and at points 16 and 18 such that the flanges 4 and 6 are substantially straight. The triangle 10 is symmetrical about a line extending from the apex 8 perpendicular to the base. The lower corners 12 and 14 are slightly rounded to avoid weakening of the metal at the bending points. No welding or other fastening processes are carried out on the beam 2 so that the flanges 4 and 6 are not connected to each other. They may be pre-drilled into the beam to facilitate the insertion of fasteners for joining the beams together.

The first type of fasteners for joining the beams to each other is produced in a manner similar to that used to manufacture the beams. As shown in Figures 3 and 5, the connecting parts 20 and 30 are formed by bending a cold formed steel sheet to form a triangle at at least one edge of the sheet. With respect to the connector 20, the edges 22 and 24 of the connector are bent inwardly so that they terminate at the apex 26 or 27 of the triangle without forming the second flange portion as with beams. The sheet is cut so that the edges have the necessary angles. In this example, the steel sheet has a trapezoidal shape.

The triangular sizes of the connector are preferably slightly smaller than the dimensions of the beam so that they fit snugly into the triangle of the beam. Alternatively, the triangles of the fastener may be larger than the triangle of the beam. A single web section 25 extends between the two triangles 21 and 23 differently from the two flanges formed in the construction of the beams. This allows the connecting parts to be formed from a single piece of sheet metal with as few bends as possible, making their manufacture simple and economical. No joining of the fastener itself is required. The only fasteners are fitted when the beams and fasteners are assembled together.

The coupling piece 20 with two beams 2 and 2 ¹ shown in Figure 4. The fasteners 40 are shown as sheet metal screws, but may also be welds, rivets, or bolts with nuts.

FIG. 5 shows a connector 30 for forming a roof top or similar angled structure by joining two beams 2 and 2 '. Although the angle shown is relatively large, the connector 30 may be formed at any angle required. As described above for the connector 20, the cold formed steel sheet is cut to the desired shape,

-9 in this case, the hexagon. A notch 33 is formed at the apex 35 which allows the triangles to be formed independently of each other. The triangles 31 and 31 ¹ are formed by three foldings guided parallel to the edges 32 and 34 sheared at the desired angle, so that it is at the apex 35. The triangles 31 and 21 'have sides slightly smaller than the inner dimensions of the triangle of the beam. Alternatively the dimensions of the triangles 31 and 31, ^one larger than the outer dimensions of the beams so that the coupling piece is fitted over the exterior end of the jointed member.

The connecting piece 30 and the beams 2 and 2 'are connected as shown in Fig. 6, wherein the fastening elements are guided through the flanges of the corresponding beams and through a simple flange 36 of the connecting piece defining the angle. Alternatively, as in other joints, the parts may be welded together. The holes for the required fasteners may be pre-drilled.

The beams may be joined together using a connector of the shape shown in Fig. 7. The sheet edges 42 and 44 are cut out at the desired angles and then folded inwards to form triangles 43 and 45. The edge 46 also folds inwards to form a triangle 47. As with the connector 30, cut-out slits are separated between the triangles. The ends of the beams to be joined are slid over the corresponding triangle and fastened as above. The angles may be varied as desired by suitable punching from sheet metal.

The two beams may be connected to each other at the ends either by inserting a telescopic type coupling piece into the ends of each beam 2a 'or by inserting the ends of the beams into a telescopic coupling. FIG. 8 shows a coupling of the first type. The telescopic connector 62 consists of a triangular tube formed by bending a single piece of sheet steel along three lines to dimensions that are slightly smaller than

-10Inner dimensions of triangle 10 beam.

Alternatively, the dimensions of the triangular tube may be larger than the outer dimensions of the beam triangle 10 so that the connector is slid over the ends of the beams to be joined. The connecting piece 62 should be tightly inserted into the triangle to provide optimal support. Fasteners 50 or welds are then used to connect each beam 2 and 2 'to the coupling. As shown, the fasteners are guided through the corresponding coupler and beam flanges. Where the ends of the beams are inserted into the telescopic coupling, the coupling triangle has dimensions slightly larger than the external dimensions of the beams.

The connector or end connector shown in FIG. 9 provides means for directly attaching the beam to the timber component (or other structural material). The triangular portion 63 may be either the beam itself or a connector that is telescopically connected to the beam, similar to the embodiment of Fig. 8. In both cases, the triangular portion 63 is formed in the same manner as the beam of FIG. Near the end of the beam, part of the triangle is cut off by forming a longitudinal slot leaving only the base of the triangle. This creates an extension 64 that is substantially flat (except for the curvature at the edges 66 corresponding to the lower corners of the triangle). For the 2 x 4 part, the end of the extension 64 is bent up to form a 50 mm gap between the cutout 66 and the upward bent end 68. The 2 x 4 component is then fitted into this space and the beam is fastened to it with nails or screws. of wood. The extension 64 provides additional support and stability to the composite structure formed from beams and other construction material, such as wood components in this example. The space may be adapted to accommodate any structural material by adapting the position of the cutout 66 and the bend 67.

An alternative embodiment of the end connector of Fig. 9 is shown in Fig. 10. This embodiment differs from the embodiment of FIG. 9 in that the triangular portion 72 is formed after the extensions have been defined. The stainless steel sheet is cut with two end portions 73 and 74 of width L1 and a central portion of width L2 that is equal to width L1 plus the outer width of the triangular portion 72 (shown in dash-dotted state).

A longitudinal section is formed from the ends along the line that will be the first corner 75 of the triangular portion 72, leaving an extension 76 and 77 of width L3. The sheet metal blank is then folded along the length to form the first edge 75. The central portion is folded again along the length to form the edge 78, and bends again at the edge 79 to form the flange 80. The end flange surfaces 81 and 82 are bent inwardly. against the ends of the triangular portion 72 to increase strength and provide means for attachment to one side of the 2x4 component or other structural materials. By way of example, an end flange surface 82 with wood screws inserted for fastening to the timber component 84 (shown in dotted lines) is shown.

The component 84 fits into the space between the flange surface 82 and the extension end 86 that is bent up parallel to the flange surface 82. Outside the end 86, fasteners may be introduced into the component 84 (as in other elements, holes may be pre-drilled into the metal ease of assembly). The extension 76 is shown without the upwardly bent end. In this arrangement, the connection to the wooden component (not shown) can be made by introducing the fasteners upwardly through the extension 76 and outwardly through the flange surface 81. By not bending the end, it is possible to make a connection to a large beam or other large-dimensioned structure, for example to the edge of a concrete block. The combination of the flange surface 81 and the extension 76 can also be bent

-12 to create a curved contact surface for connection to pipes or other rounded surfaces. The end connector formed in FIG. 10 retains the advantages of high strength and simple manufacturing of the triangular beam, while allowing great versatility to adapt to other building surfaces.

The connector 90 shown in FIG. 11 is formed from a sheet of steel sheet and may be of any length for use in joining two adjacent beams. At each end of the connector 90, the metal is bent to the side to accommodate the outer shape and dimensions of the beams to be joined. Here, both beams 92 and 94 are oriented in the same direction with the bases 96 and 97 facing downwards. The ends of the connector 90 are bent to conform to the sides of the beams 92 and 93 and are bent down to surround the flanges 98 and 99 of the beams. The fasteners are here bolts 100 introduced through the fitting and flanges of each beam. It is possible to connect multiple beams by continuing the extension 93 of the connector 90 for any length as needed, the connector bending to accommodate the upper beam profiles for each of the beams to be joined. For example, if a third beam was attached between beams 92 and 94, three lateral bends would be formed in the center of the extension 90 to accommodate the flanges and sides of the third beam.

The connector 102 shown in FIG. 12 is used to join two beams that have their flanges 104 facing each other (only one beam is shown). Similar to the previous fasteners, the fastener 102 is formed by side folds in a sheet of steel sheet. Each of the ends 106 and 107 of the connector 102 surrounds the side 108 and the base 109 of the beam 103 with a flange 110 extending partially upwardly over the side 111 so that each end 106 and 107 surrounds the beam. The fastener 112, here a sheet metal screw, can be introduced through the connector 102 and the flanges 104 for

-13 fixation of mutual positions. The section 105 between two triangular elements may have any length required to span the two beams.

13 shows means for reinforcing the long beam. If the beam is several meters long without a support or joint in its center, the forces at the ends may cause the beam to open in the middle. This opening can be prevented by cutting the section 112 in one flange 114 and folding it over the other flange 116, thereby providing means for holding the flanges together without the need for additional or fastening elements. As shown in FIG. 13, the flange 114 is longer than the flange 116 to facilitate this reinforcement process. Alternatively, a cutout may be formed in the flange 116 allowing the section 112 to be folded when the flanges 114, 116 have the same length. her

Other means for reinforcing the long beam are shown in Figures 22 and 23. A U-shaped cutout 204 is formed in both the flanges 200 and 201, thereby forming a tab 202. The tabs 202 of each flange are pushed together by the two cut-outs and folded back around the outer side of the flange as shown in Fig. 23. Alternatively, the inner tongue (as shown, the tongue on the right flange) can be cut out and the remaining tongue folded over the cut-out as shown. The shape of the cut-out is not limited to the U-shape, but may be any cut that forms a tongue-like projection in one flange that can be bent over the cut-out in an adjacent flange to hold the two flanges together.

A third means for longitudinal reinforcement of the beam is shown in Fig. 24. Here, grooves 210 are provided in the sides 212 and in the base 214 of the triangle to provide additional bending or opening stiffness by casting or bending the metal surfaces. For ease of manufacture, the grooves are formed before the triangle itself is formed. Mo-14 can thus form large planar parts of sheet metal provided with trough-shaped profiling, which are then cut and formed into triangular beams.

14 shows a connector 118 for hanging a wooden component 120 or a component of other structural material, including other beams, from a beam 122. The connector 118 is formed from a sheet of steel sheet that is bent five times to the side to form a general triangular cross-section. on its upper part, including the open slot 124, in which the flanges 126 of the beam 122 engage. The two extensions 128 of the connector 122 may be as long or short as necessary to allow for proper spacing between the structural member 120 and the beam 122. 120 in the connector 118, screws 130 or other fasteners are used. The component 120 need not only be hung from the beam 122, but can only be supported at its upper end by the beam 122 and the connector 118.

The connector 132 shown in FIG. 15 is used to attach structural materials (not shown) in space 134 to a beam (not shown) whose upper portion fits into a substantially triangular cross section 136 in a similar relationship to that of beam and connector in FIG. . The connector 132 is formed in the same manner as the other connectors. The space 134 may be expanded to accommodate a timber component or other materials, and a fastener (not shown) may be introduced by extensions 138 for attaching the material to the connector 132 similar to the connector of Figure 14.

The end connection 140 shown in FIG. 16 may be formed as a separate connector or may be a modified end of a solid beam that allows one beam to be directly connected perpendicular to the other beam. Here, this part is shown as a separate connecting part. Ending

The connection 140 has the same construction as the base beam (or.2). Longitudinal cuts are made along the lower edges 142 and 143 of the triangle and the flange portions above the triangle are removed. The formed side flaps 144, 145 are bent from the extension base 146 at the same angle as the side of the beam. Here, the dashed beam 148 depicts the relationship between the bent side flaps and the side of the beam to which the end connector 140 is attached. The extended base 146 supports the bottom (base) of the beam 148, while the side flaps 144 and 145 are in contact with the side 150 of the beam 148. Through the base 146 and the side flaps 144 and 145, fasteners can be introduced into the beam 148 to secure the end connector 140 perpendicularly. to the side of the beam 148. At the opposite end of the connection terminal 140 is not shown in any channel, but the flaps 144 and 145 * ¹ and base extension 146 are ready for connection to another beam which will be parallel to the beam 148th

The end connection of Fig. 17 can be formed either in a separate connection piece or at the end of the beam. Here shown is a connection formed at the end of the beam 152 to be connected perpendicular to the beam 154. To form the connection, the basic beam is provided with a longitudinal slot 158 in the center of the base 156 at a distance approximately equal to the height of the beam 154. the corners 157 bent away from the base 156 to form a triangular opening corresponding to the cross-section of the beam 154, with flaps 153 abutting the sides 161 of the beam 154.

The second section 159 is formed laterally across the two flanges 160 and the lower corners 162 are bent outwardly to form a triangular opening corresponding to the transverse profile of the beam 154 with flaps 163 abutting the sides 161 of the beam 154. The beam 152 is mounted downwardly over the beam 154 thereby it is ensured that the flanges 164 fully engage in the recess 158. Through the flaps 153 and 163 they can be introduced laterally

-16161 fasteners 165.

18 and 19 show an alternative joint for attaching the end of one beam to the top of the other beam. The joint differs from that of FIG. 17 in that the flanges of the two beams do not contact. Instead, the flanges of the beam to which the beam 170 is to be connected are inserted into the slots 174. The slots 174 are formed by longitudinally cutting from the end of the beam at sides 170 and bending the corners of the slot 174 back to form flaps 176 and 178. back to form a triangular opening with dimensions corresponding to the triangular cross-section of the base beam as shown in FIG. Once the joint is fitted over the beam to which the beam 170 is to be attached, fasteners may be introduced through the flaps 176 and 178 to the sides of the adjacent beam to provide a firm connection between the beams.

20 and 21 illustrate support struts that can be used to increase the strength of a structure with increased beam lengths. The reinforcement 180 is a metal strip with L-shaped ends 182 that surround the beams 184 and 186 and are fastened to the corresponding of the beams, located approximately halfway between the ends of the beams. Fig. 20 is a cross-sectional view of a frame in which the beams of the invention form vertically extending portions (beams 184 and 186) attached to the wood component 188 at the base by an end connector 192 of the connector type of Fig. 9. At the upper ends of the beams is attached a third metal beam 190, connected using connector 194 as in Figure 17.

In preferred embodiments, the width of the base of the beam triangle 10 is comparable to that of the component two times four so that any element that may require edge support of the component, such as wall cladding, plywood or roofing material, will similarly be supported by beam 2. Similar As described above, the special attachment parts for use with wooden components may be replaced by the beams of the invention. Nails or other fasteners may be introduced through either side of the triangle to attach the material to be supported. Other construction materials may also be interposed between the flanges 4 and 6 and the beam. For example, the component may be inserted twice by four by extending the triangle to create a wooden nail surface. Similarly, plastics or composite building materials can also be incorporated into the beams. Where appropriate, beams of different dimensions, i.e. larger or smaller than typical 2x4 dimensions, may be used.

The beam combination of FIG. 25 is an alternative to a 2x4 timber component (or other standard timber timber beam) having features that allow direct attachment of other structural materials. This 2x4 metal member is formed from two symmetrically bent triangular beams 220 and 222 having arms 221 and 223 extending from the apexes to form a flat surface 226 comparable to the 50 millimeter sides of the 2x4 wooden component into which fasteners may be inserted to support construction material. The two beams 220 and 222 are connected to each other by a substantially L-shaped connector 228, which is connected to the inner flange 230 of each beam by welding or any other fastening means (unspecified welds are shown). To attach structural materials to the wider side of the beam, attachment elements may be introduced through the bases 232 and 234 of both triangles. As an example of the use of this 2x4 metal element, it may be a replacement of the wood component 84 in FIG. The arm 221 of the 2x4 metal element is in this case connected by fasteners to the extension 77, and a bolt can be introduced into the base 232 through the end flange surface 82.

-18The material from which the beams and individual connecting parts are made can be adapted to the requirements of the construction project. It can be used for cold formed steel sheets of 24 to 8 gauge (24-8 gauge), as well as sheets of other metals such as aluminum, titanium and a series of steel alloys. For most construction purposes, steel will be suitable.

The described fasteners allow the creation of any angle required for construction or construction without the need to trim to the required angle at the ends of the beams. This is particularly important where the level of training of construction personnel is such that angle cutting is a frequent source of error.

The beams according to the invention, the connecting parts and the assembly methods can replace the traditional four-by-two frame components, door and window lintels and a number of other structural elements for which a traditional wooden frame structure is traditionally used. By joining two beams over their entire length using a long nipple, it is possible to form I-profiles so that the system according to the invention can also be used as a replacement for traditional metal frame structures. The lightweight construction system made of the above-mentioned beams is inexpensive to manufacture and can be assembled and handled as easily as with traditional timber structures. The use of steel beams as an alternative to wood is a starting point that has a significant impact on the construction industry and delivers high quality and environmentally safe material. In addition, steel beams are resistant to a number of problems in timber structures, as they are not susceptible to insect attack and wood rot.

It is understood that other embodiments, not shown above, are possible and are included within the scope and spirit of the invention. Therefore, the foregoing description and drawings are intended to be exemplary only, and the scope of the invention is limited only by the claims.

fJYJ - <? ΖΓ ** 7 / es

Claims (24)

PATENT CLAIMS í A lightweight metal construction system, compatible with timber elements, comprising a plurality of beams, each formed of one piece of sheet bent longitudinally along four parallel lines to form a triangular cross-section having a base and two sides and two flanges, one flange corresponding to each side and extending from the top of said three-angled cross-section, said beam having a first length, an inner beam surface and an outer beam surface; a plurality of fasteners for attaching at least one beam of said plurality of beams to the construction material at an angle different from zero to each other, each fastener being formed from a single piece of sheet adapted to abut said at least one of said inner surface of the beam; an outer surface of the beam, and having a second length much less than said first length, such that the joint point between said at least one beam and said structural material has a joint length much less than said first length; and a plurality of fasteners for fastening said fastener to said structural material, said beam remaining openable between said two flanges until said plurality of fasteners are mounted to fix said fastening point. 2. The lightweight structural system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of connection means comprises a plurality of end connections each formed at the end of the first beam of said plurality of beams with at least one longitudinal slot to form an opening adapted to at least a portion of the outer surface of said structural member. said end connection abutting said outer surface of said construction material such that said portion of said outer surface of said construction material is at least partially housed in said opening REPLACEMENT SHEET -20connections. 3. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 2, wherein said structural material is a second beam of said plurality of beams, and said end connection comprises a longitudinal slot formed in the base of said first beam, with said two sides and said two flanges bent outwardly from said a top for accommodating a first portion of said outer face of said second beam, said first portion comprising said two sides and corresponding two flanges of said second beam. 4. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 2 wherein said structural material is a second beam of said plurality of beams and said end joint comprises a longitudinal section formed along each corner between said base and said two sides of said first beam with said two sides bent outwardly from said apex for accommodating a first portion of said outer surface of said second beam, said first portion comprising said base and one of said two sides of said second beam. 5. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 2 wherein said structural material is a second beam and said end connection comprises a longitudinal slot formed in each of two sides of said first beam with said two sides bent outwardly from said longitudinal slot to accommodate said first a portion of said outer face of said second beam, said first portion comprising said two sides and their corresponding two flanges of said second beam. 6. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 2, wherein said structural material comprises a wooden component and said end connection comprises a replacement sheet. 21 a longitudinal section along each corner between said base and said two sides and a cross section transverse to said two sides and said two flanges of said first beam to remove a section of each side and their respective two flanges of said first beam. 7. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 6 wherein said base is bent in a transverse direction at an angle of 90 [deg.] At a distance from said cross-section substantially in accordance with the dimension of said wood component. 8. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 1 wherein said structural material comprises a 2x4 metal member formed by joining a pair of asymmetrically shaped beams to an L-shaped connector and said end connection comprises a longitudinal section along each corner between said base and said two sides; a cross section across said two sides and said two flanges of said first beam to remove a section of each side and corresponding two flanges of said first beam. 9. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of fasteners for attaching at least one of said beams to the structural material, each fastener being formed from a sheet metal strip having at least one transverse fold for adaptation. said strip at least a portion of said outer surface of the beam and at least one extension for engaging a portion of the outer surface of said structural material. 10. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 9 wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having one transverse fold at each end of said strip. REPLACEMENT SHEET -2211. The lightweight metal construction system of claim 9, wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of fasteners, each fastener having three transverse folds to accommodate said strip of said portion of said outer beam surface. 12. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 11 wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of fasteners, each fastener further having two elongate extensions having a spacing therebetween to span the width of said structural material. 13. The lightweight metal construction system of claim 1 wherein said plurality of fasteners comprises a plurality of interface members, each interface member comprising a sheet metal sheet having multiple edges, at least one edge being inserted between said two flanges of said beam. 14. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of connecting means comprises a plurality of triangular telescopic couplings, each triangular telescopic coupler for connecting two beams of said plurality of beams to one another. 15. The lightweight metal construction system of claim 14 wherein said triangular telescopic connector is angled. 16. The lightweight metal construction system of claim 1, further comprising reinforcing means for long lengths of said beams, said reinforcing means comprising a pair of transverse cuts across one of the flanges to form a flange section folded forward REPLACEMENT SHEET -23the second of the flanges shown. 17. The lightweight metal construction system of claim 1, further comprising reinforcing means for large lengths of said beams, said reinforcing means comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped punches in each of the flanges to form a tongue in one of said flanges which: it is pushed through the U-shaped cutout in the second of the flanges and folded over the outer surface of the second of said flanges. 18. The lightweight metal structural system of claim 1, further comprising reinforcing means for long lengths of said beams, said reinforcing means comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the base and sides of said triangular cross-section. 19. A lightweight metal frame and lattice system comprising a plurality of beams each formed of one piece of sheet bent longitudinally along four parallel lines to form a triangular cross-section having a base and two sides and two flanges, one flange corresponding to each side and extending from the top of said a triangular cross-section, said beam having a beam length, an inner beam surface and an outer beam surface; and further comprising a plurality of end joints comprising each one piece of sheet formed at the end of the first beam of said plurality of beams with at least one longitudinal slot for forming a connection opening adapted to at least a portion of the outer surface of the first structural material; construction material, such that said portion of said outer surface of said construction material is at least partially housed in said attachment opening to form a first connection point having a width much smaller than the length of said construction material; a greater number of fasteners REPLACEMENT SHEET -24 for attaching at least one of said beams to the second structural material, each connecting portion comprising a sheet of metal having at least one transverse fold formed therein to accommodate said strip to at least a portion of said outer beam surface and at least one extension to abut a portion of the outer surface of said structural material , to form a second connection point having a second length much less than said beam length; a plurality of interface members, each interface member comprising a sheet metal sheet having multiple edges, and a third length much less than said beam length, wherein at least one longitudinal edge is sandwiched between the two flanges of said beam to form a third connection point having said third length; and a plurality of fasteners for securing said end connectors, said connecting members and said interface members to said structural material and said beams, said beam and said structural material being joined together at said first, second and third connection points so that between said beam and said construction material is a gap apart from the locations of said connection points. 20. The lightweight metal frame and truss system of claim 19, further comprising a plurality of triangular telescopic couplings, wherein each triangular telescopic coupler is intended to connect two beams of said plurality of beams with their ends to each other. 21. The lightweight metal frame and lattice system of claim 20 wherein said triangular telescopic connector is angled. 22. The lightweight metal frame and lattice system of claim 19, further comprising reinforcing means for large beam lengths, said reinforcing means comprising a pair of transverse cuts across one of said REPLACEMENT SHEET. 24 flanges to form a flange section folded in front of the other of said flanges. 23. The lightweight metal frame and truss system of claim 19, further comprising stiffening means for long lengths of said beams, said stiffening means comprising a pair of substantially U-shaped punches in each of the flanges to form a tongue in one of said flanges. which is pushed through the U-shaped cutout in the second of the flanges and folded over the outer surface of the second of said flanges. 24. The lightweight metal frame and lattice system of claim 19, further comprising reinforcing means for large lengths of said beams, said reinforcing means comprising a plurality of longitudinal grooves formed in the base and sides of said triangular cross-section. 25. A beam for a metal construction system compatible with timber elements, comprising one piece of sheet bent longitudinally along four parallel lines to form a triangular cross-section having a base and two sides and two flanges, each side having a flange extending therefrom at the apex of said of said triangular cross-section, said side and its corresponding flange being unconnected to the other side and the flange such that said beam is openable by separating said flanges from each other.