MXPA99006139A - Joining metal members - Google Patents

Abstract

Studs, tracks and metal members used in steel frame panel systems are joined or attached to each other. Metal members (1, 2) are joined toeach other by the use of depending collars (3, 4) and through holes. A tool head (11) inserted through the collars and holes and the tool shoulder (12) exert pressure to simultaneously bend and crimp the collar. This technique can also be applied to truss members or to tracks and studs so that the members are easily joined or attached to each other. Beveled ends facilitate the alignment of collars with the holes.

Description

UNION METALLIC MEMBERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to the construction industry and particularly to steel frame panei systems and to how the uprights, rails and metal members that are used in such systems are joined to each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Studs, rails and metal members are widely used in the construction industry, and particularly as part of steel frame panel systems. For joining metal members, it is generally used nuts, bolts and nuts or, for example, rivet pressing. An object of this invention is to improve the way in which the metal members are attached or fixed to one another. Another object is to have a single connection point that provides diagonal rigidity. It will be desirable to have prefabricated metal parts with holes and collars previously located to eliminate or minimize the need for manual labor in a rack assembly station where manufacturing is performed, or in a site, thus reducing the cost .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Holes previously drilled in the metal members surround the collars in the metal joining members. A tool head, inserted through both members, pushes the collar of one limb to bend the collar against the other limb and a tool shoulder. The force of the tool bends and firmly presses the collar, resulting in the members being connected, fixed or rigidly joined. The members may be C-shaped or U-shaped or other structural shapes and of various thicknesses and gauges, and they are applied to rails and uprights and metal plates in general. In an automated manufacturing process, the frames and frames can be easily prefabricated. A fixed connection point by single pressure provides a diagonal stiffness to the joined members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of two pieces of metal sheets before joining. Figure 2 is a schematic view with the separated parts of the tool used to join the pieces.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of two plates joined together. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a rail member using the invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of multiple collars on each leg of a member. Figure 6 shows the use of beveled ends with through holes. Figure 7 is a perspective view of another metal member having both collars and through holes. Figure 8 is a perspective view of two metal strips biased with respect to each other. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a collar with slots used in the invention. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a collar with V-cuts that is used in the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, the metal rail which is the U-shaped member 1 with a core and flanges 5 and 6 that will be attached to a metal stud that is the C-shaped member 2, as is the norm in The industry has flanges 7 and 8. Members 1 and 2 are known with various terms in the art such as member, plate, upright, rail or the shape they have. The connection can also be made between plates, one plate corresponds to the flange 6 and the other plate corresponds to the flange 8. Two through holes in the flanges 7 and 8 surround the collars 3, 4 depending inwards on the flanges 5 and 6. A suitable tool head is inserted through the rail 1 inside the upright 2, and is placed in such a way that it is against the collars and the double and press fit with the upright 2. An advantage of the invention is that inserting the tool in this way facilitates access from the outside of the member or any structure of the member, unlike when the tool head has to be fed in some other way from the back of the connection point. This facilitates the union of two members anywhere, at any point of connection in a metallic connection system. This is important for an automated system that forms frame panels or frames in construction systems with parts with predetermined shapes. The technique for joining members 1 and 2 can be applied to any member, plate, upright, rail or any metal with predetermined shape. In fact, the connection can also be made between two strips of metal without flanges. The C-shaped member can be a member with upper rope or lower rope, or core member in a prefabricated frame. The upper rope can serve as a roof railing, while the lower rope can serve as a laminated roof rafter. The upright can be a wall stud or any upright. When only a part of the vertical height is extended, such uprights are known as support stiles or short uprights. Figure 2 is a schematic view with the separate parts of the tool that is used to bend and press fit the collar. From the bottom, as seen in Figure 2, a tool head is inserted through the hole and the collar in a compressed form, as shown in 10. After passing completely through the hole and collar, it is It expands as shown in figure 11. The tool head is brought to the collar, while the rail flange makes contact with the tool shoulder 12. The tool head is against the collar and bends it, while at the same time a clamping action is carried out by pressure on the tool shoulder. A similar operation is carried out on the other flange of the rail 1. In this way, the head and shoulder of the tool constitute tool means for joining the members together. When looking at figures 1 and 2, it would be very difficult to insert a tool from the left or right side of the upright 2. When using the tool shown, access is secured from the outside of the member and the connection point, passing it through the hole and collar aligned. As seen in Figure 3, the collar is bent or snapped at 9 in this way it was joined to the rail flange 1 with a flange of the upright 2 at this single connection point. The action of the tool against the collars causes them to bend and join under pressure to form the union thus achieving a diagonal rigidity to the mechanical connection. Although Figures 1 and 3 show the rail 1 with dependent collars and the upright with the holes, it is evident that any kind of plate can have a collar or a through hole. Other types of plates or members may have the same configuration of collars and holes. Figure 4 shows the U-rail with collars 14, 15 depending inwardly thereof, and with the core partially cut, as is common with a lower rail and upper rail. In fact, the invention is applicable when the metal parts have to be joined in window or door openings where there are upper rails, lower rails, vertical uprights and swing uprights. Figure 5 shows a rail with four collars 20, 22, 24 and 26 depending inward, two on each rail flange. Of course, there could be any number of collars in a metal member's location. Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the invention. A metal stud has two through holes 30, 40. The ends of the stud have bevels 31 and 41 of converging sides from the holes 30, 40, respectively, towards the ends of the flanges. The bevels serve to facilitate the alignment of the through holes with the collars. Figure 7 shows the invention applied to a member as is commonly used in roof frames. This figure shows a through hole 60 and a collar 61 in the web 62. The web 62 can only have collars when it is on its back with other limbs having only through holes in alignment with the collars, as it is the case of the frames commonly armed and will be applied to the upper and lower ropes, frame members with core, laminated roof joists, or roof railing. In this class of member assembly applications they usually have opposing souls. Again the same tool means are used to join the members. Figure 8 shows the invention applied to two metal members. Here, the members are metal strips. The strip 81 has collars 83, 84 while the strip 82 has a through hole whose collar 84 extends before bending. The two strips are offset or placed diagonally one with respect to the other. The angle of the misaligned strips relative to each other can vary widely. The collars used in figures 1 through 8 use solid collars. However, there are other possible variations of collar. Figure 9 is a perspective view of a collar with slots used in the invention. As shown, a series of vertical cuts 90 are spaced around the periphery of the collar. The number of grooves depends on the thickness of the members involved, as well as the height of the collar, since these parameters will determine the force required to bend and unite the collar by pressure, as well as the strength of the connections resulting from the joined members.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of a collar with V-cuts used in the invention. As shown, a series of cuts in V 100 are spaced around the periphery of the collar. Similar to Figure 9, the number of V cuts in Figure 10 depends on the thickness of the members in question, as well as the height of the collar, since these parameters will determine the force required to bend and press-bond the collar , as well as the resistance of the resulting connections of the united members. A particular utility of the invention has been found in the manufacture or prefabrication of frames and frames. Frame and frame sizes can be incorporated into an automated manufacturing process using the press-fit tool to fabricate any frame or frame of desired size. So far, the manufacture of frames and frameworks on the site by cutting, sawing, and then using rivets, screws, bolts or welding to fix the metal members is an intense job. The use of collars and through holes described in an automated procedure saves material and labor. The tool can be used at any connection point in the member structure and the number of tool heads and shoulders is obviously a design issue.

Claims (18)

1. NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS 1. - An interconnected assembly of metal formed members in frame structures where the improvement consists of: first and second members, the first member has at least one first hole; the second member has at least one first collar; the hole surrounds the collar, and the collar is bent in the first member, where the first and second members are fixed.
2. 2. The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that one of said members has the form of C.
3. 3. The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that one of said members is U-shaped. - The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that one of said members is a C-shaped post and the other member is a U-shaped rail. 5. The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized because the first member is a first strip of metal and the second member is a second strip, and the first strip is offset with respect to the second mentioned strip. 6. - The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the two mentioned members have the form of C. The assembly according to claim 1, further characterized in that the first member has a second hole, the second mentioned member has a second collar, the second hole surrounds the second mentioned collar, and the second mentioned collar is bent in the first mentioned member. 8. The assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that the first member is a C-shaped post and the second member is a U-shaped rail. 9. The assembly according to claim 1, characterized in addition because the first mentioned member has a bevel extending from the end of the aforementioned member towards said hole, improving the insertion of said collar into the hole. 10. The assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that the first mentioned member has a bevel that extends from the opposite ends of the said member towards each of the first and second holes, improving the insertion of the collars mentioned in the holes mentioned. 11. The assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that said first member defines a first and second web and flanges that extend from opposite ends of said core; and the first hole is in the first mentioned flange and the second mentioned hole is in the second mentioned flange. 12. The assembly according to claim 7, further characterized in that said first member defines a core and the first and second flanges extend from opposite ends of said core; the aforementioned first hole is in the first mentioned flange and the second mentioned hole is in the second mentioned flange; and a bevel extends from the ends of each of said flanges towards said holes improving the insertion of the collars in said holes. 13. An interconnected assembly of metal formed members in frame structures further characterized in that the improvement consists of: a first and second member, the first member has a first hole and a first collar, the second member has a second hole, the second hole surrounds said collar and the collar is bent into the second mentioned member further characterized in that the first and second members are fixed to each other. 14. An interconnected assembly of metal formed members in frame structures according to claim 13, further characterized in that the second mentioned member has a second collar, the first hole surrounds the second mentioned collar, and the second mentioned collar is bent within the first mentioned member. 15. A connected assembly of metal members further characterized in that the improvement consists of: first and second members, the first member has at least one first hole, the second member has at least one first collar, the hole surrounds the first member. collar, the tool means inserted through the mentioned hole and mentioned collar, and the tool means cause said collar to bend inside the first mentioned member, where the first and second members are fixed to each other. 16. An interconnected assembly of metal members according to claim 15, further characterized in that the first member has a second hole, the second member has a second collar, the second hole surrounds the second collar, and the tool means cause that the aforementioned second collar is bent within the first mentioned member. 17. An interconnected assembly of metal members characterized in that the improvement consists of: first and second members, the first member has a first hole and a first collar, the second member has a second hole, the second hole surrounds the mentioned collar, the tool means inserted through the aforementioned second hole and the first mentioned collar, and the tool means cause the mentioned collar to bend inside the second mentioned member where said first and second members are fixed together. 18. An interconnected assembly of metal members according to claim 17, further characterized in that the second mentioned member has a second collar, the first mentioned hole surrounds the second mentioned collar, said means of tools are inserted through the first said hole, and the second mentioned collar and said tool means cause the second mentioned collar to be bent inside the first mentioned member.