GB2078821A

GB2078821A - Lintel and method of manufacturing same

Info

Publication number: GB2078821A
Application number: GB8118994A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Current assignee: Catnic Components Ltd
Priority date: 1980-06-30
Filing date: 1981-06-19
Publication date: 1982-01-13
Also published as: GB2078821B

Abstract

A lintel 1 for use in a cavity wall has first and second plates 2, 4 for respectively supporting courses of bricks in the inner and outer skins of the wall. The plates are interconnected by an integrally formed plate 3, 5, 6 of inverted U section and by a plate 9. The lintel is made by shaping a sheet of metal to produce the parts 2-6 with the leg, 3,5 splayed and then welding plate 9 in position so as to hold the legs 3, 5 parallel. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lintel The invention relates to lintels.

Disclosure ofthe invention According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lintel for spanning an opening in a cavity wall, comprising a first plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a front skin of the wall, a first rigid support member extending upwardly from or from nearthe rear edge of the first plate or part, a second plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a rear skin of the wall, a second rigid support member extending upwardly from or from near the rear edge of the second plate or part, a portion of arcuate cross-section connecting the first and second rigid support members, and a third plate or part connecting the first and second plates or parts and/orfirst and second support members.

Using the invention it is possible to provide a lintel, having relatively accurate overall dimensional tolerances.

The arcuate cross-section may be semi-circular.

This shape provides a relatively simple construction which is relatively easy to make.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a lintel as hereinbefore defined, comprising providing a first sheet of metal, providing a forming tool, folding the sheet of metal about the forming tool to provide the first and second rigid support members in a splayedapart disposition connected by the arcuate portion, and then drawing those rigid support members together so as to be substantially parallel and securing a second sheet of metal to the first sheet of metal to hold the first and second rigid support members in the substantially parallel disposition.

A lintel embodying the invention is hereinbefore described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Brief Description of the Drawing The drawing is an end elevational view of a lintel embodying the invention.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a galvanised sheet steel lintel 1 made from two pieces of metal and for use in a cavity wall, to bridge or span an opening in the wall (not shown).

The lintel 1 comprises a first plate or part 2 which in use supports a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a front skin of the wall over the opening.

The first plate or part 2 is substantially horizontal in the embodiment shown and merges at is rear (to the right as viewed) edge into a first rigid support member 3 which extends substantially vertically upwardly, as viewed. The lintel 1 also has a second plate or part 4 which in use supports a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a rear skin of the wall over the opening. The second plate or part 4 is subtantially horizontal in the embodiment shown and merges at its front or forward edge (to the left as viewed) into a second rigid support member 5 which extends vetically upwardly, as viewed. The first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 are parallel and spaced apart as shown, and they are connected by an arcuate portion 6 in the form of a bridging member of semi-circular configuration which extends between co-planar points 7 and 8.

As shown, the first plate or part 2, first rigid support member 3, bridging member 6, second rigid support member 8 and second plate or part 4 are formed from a single piece of metal.

There is a third plate or part 9 secured as by a respective single row of spot welds 10 and 11 to the underside of the first and second plates or parts 2 and 4. The third plate of part 9 ties the first and second plates or parts 2 and 4 together to form a rigid structure.

In making the lintel, a first sheet of metal is inserted in a press with a round nose tool and die and the bridging member 6 is formed in a single press stoke. The tool and die are such that the metal is slightly underbent, by about 5 or so, so that the first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 are splayed apart or in other words they converge as considered upwardly, as viewed. This enables the shaped metal plate to be removed easily from the tool.

The first and second plates or parts 2 and 4 are formed, preferably at the same time as the bridging member 6 and the third plate or part 9 is then welded in position, the first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 being brought into substantially parallel relationship during the welding process by passing the edges of the first and second plates or parts between rollers to pinch the sides in. The third plate or part 10 maintains the parallel relationship of the first and second rigid support members. This method of production, it will be understood, ensures an accurate overall dimension tolerance for the width of lintel.

It will also be understood that a drip lip 12 is formed on the first plate or part during the rolling process.

It will further be understood that the term "brick" used herein covers building units such as breeze blocks, glass bricks, stone blocks and the like.

Moreover, the first and second rigid support members may be substantially parallel, and substantially vertical rather than geometrically so.

In use of the lintel, the part formed by the first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 and the bridging member 6 extends upwardly and lie within the cavity in the wall, over the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the rear face of the front skin of the wall abuts the forward (to the left as viewed) edge of the member 3 and the front face of the rear skin abuts the rear (to the right as viewed) face of the member 5.

1. A lintel for spanning an opening in a cavity wall, comprising a first plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a front skin of the wall, a first rigid support member extending upwardlyfrom orfrom nearthe rear edge

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Lintel The invention relates to lintels. Disclosure ofthe invention According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a lintel for spanning an opening in a cavity wall, comprising a first plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a front skin of the wall, a first rigid support member extending upwardly from or from nearthe rear edge of the first plate or part, a second plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a rear skin of the wall, a second rigid support member extending upwardly from or from near the rear edge of the second plate or part, a portion of arcuate cross-section connecting the first and second rigid support members, and a third plate or part connecting the first and second plates or parts and/orfirst and second support members. Using the invention it is possible to provide a lintel, having relatively accurate overall dimensional tolerances. The arcuate cross-section may be semi-circular. This shape provides a relatively simple construction which is relatively easy to make. According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of making a lintel as hereinbefore defined, comprising providing a first sheet of metal, providing a forming tool, folding the sheet of metal about the forming tool to provide the first and second rigid support members in a splayedapart disposition connected by the arcuate portion, and then drawing those rigid support members together so as to be substantially parallel and securing a second sheet of metal to the first sheet of metal to hold the first and second rigid support members in the substantially parallel disposition. A lintel embodying the invention is hereinbefore described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing. Brief Description of the Drawing The drawing is an end elevational view of a lintel embodying the invention. Referring to the drawing, there is shown a galvanised sheet steel lintel 1 made from two pieces of metal and for use in a cavity wall, to bridge or span an opening in the wall (not shown). The lintel 1 comprises a first plate or part 2 which in use supports a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a front skin of the wall over the opening. The first plate or part 2 is substantially horizontal in the embodiment shown and merges at is rear (to the right as viewed) edge into a first rigid support member 3 which extends substantially vertically upwardly, as viewed. The lintel 1 also has a second plate or part 4 which in use supports a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a rear skin of the wall over the opening. The second plate or part 4 is subtantially horizontal in the embodiment shown and merges at its front or forward edge (to the left as viewed) into a second rigid support member 5 which extends vetically upwardly, as viewed. The first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 are parallel and spaced apart as shown, and they are connected by an arcuate portion 6 in the form of a bridging member of semi-circular configuration which extends between co-planar points 7 and 8. As shown, the first plate or part 2, first rigid support member 3, bridging member 6, second rigid support member 8 and second plate or part 4 are formed from a single piece of metal. There is a third plate or part 9 secured as by a respective single row of spot welds 10 and 11 to the underside of the first and second plates or parts 2 and 4. The third plate of part 9 ties the first and second plates or parts 2 and 4 together to form a rigid structure. In making the lintel, a first sheet of metal is inserted in a press with a round nose tool and die and the bridging member 6 is formed in a single press stoke. The tool and die are such that the metal is slightly underbent, by about 5 or so, so that the first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 are splayed apart or in other words they converge as considered upwardly, as viewed. This enables the shaped metal plate to be removed easily from the tool. The first and second plates or parts 2 and 4 are formed, preferably at the same time as the bridging member 6 and the third plate or part 9 is then welded in position, the first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 being brought into substantially parallel relationship during the welding process by passing the edges of the first and second plates or parts between rollers to pinch the sides in. The third plate or part 10 maintains the parallel relationship of the first and second rigid support members. This method of production, it will be understood, ensures an accurate overall dimension tolerance for the width of lintel. It will also be understood that a drip lip 12 is formed on the first plate or part during the rolling process. It will further be understood that the term "brick" used herein covers building units such as breeze blocks, glass bricks, stone blocks and the like. Moreover, the first and second rigid support members may be substantially parallel, and substantially vertical rather than geometrically so. In use of the lintel, the part formed by the first and second rigid support members 3 and 5 and the bridging member 6 extends upwardly and lie within the cavity in the wall, over the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the rear face of the front skin of the wall abuts the forward (to the left as viewed) edge of the member 3 and the front face of the rear skin abuts the rear (to the right as viewed) face of the member 5. CLAIMS

1. A lintel for spanning an opening in a cavity wall, comprising a first plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a front skin of the wall, a first rigid support member extending upwardlyfrom orfrom nearthe rear edge of the first plate or part, a second plate or part adapted to support a course or a plurality of courses of bricks in a rear skin ofthe wall, a second rigid support member extending upwardly from or from near the rear edge of the second plate or part, a portion of arcuate cross-section connecting the first and second rigid support members, and a third plate or part connecting the first and second plate or parts and/or first and second support members.

2. A lintel according to Claim 1, in which the portion of arcuate cross-section is semi-circular.

3. A lintel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

4. A method of making a lintel according to Claim 1 of sheet metal, comprising providing in first sheet of metal, providing a forming tool, folding the sheet of metal about the forming tool to provide the first and second rigid support members in a splayedapart disposition connected by the arcuate portion, and then drawing those rigid support members together so as to be substantially parallel and securing a second sheet of metal to the first sheet of metal to hold the first and second rigid support members in the substantially parallel disposition.

5. A method according to Claim 4, the initial folding step being carried out so that the support members are underbent by about 5".

6. A method according to Claim 4, substantially as hereinbefore described.