US2042779A

US2042779A - Joist for joist and tile construction for floors and the like

Info

Publication number: US2042779A
Application number: US646867A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hurxthal F Frease
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1931-05-23
Filing date: 1932-12-12
Publication date: 1936-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 1953-06-02

Description

June Z, T936. Hl FA FREASE 2,042,779

JOIST FOR JOISTiAND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet lY ab' 01) y INVENTOR HiT/'waag ATTORNEYS y* `will june 2, 3.936. H -F FREASE 2,042,779

JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 23,` 1931 5 SheetS-Shee 2 ll' J\ @ggf INVENTOR BY @Meggie ATTO RNEYS Jam@ 2, 11936. H, F. FREASE JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE original Filed May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fl m INVENTOR BQ HWF/ease M IMM'TORNEYS june Z, @1936. H F FRL-:ASE 2,042,779

JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 25, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS June 2, T9536. H, F, FREASE JOIST FOR JOIST-AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR FLOORS AND THE LIKE Original Filed May 23, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR BY ww@ i S/MATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOIST FOR JOIST AND TILE CONSTRUCTION FOR/FLOORS AND THE LIKE Hurxthal F. Frease, Canton, Ohio 13 Claims.

My invention relates to joist structures including longitudinally extending laterally spaced load sustaining joists or members supported at their ends, and surface forming members extending between the load sustaining members for forming spaced surfaces extending across the outer sides of the load sustaining members.

Such structures may include normally vertically extending walls, normally sloping roofs, or normally horizontal floors.

More particularly the present invention relates to joists for re and heat resisting transverse load sustaining floors including preferably steel joists having upper and lower chord members and surface forming members supported by the joists and forming an upper floor surface and a lower ceiling surface extending respectively above and below the upper and and lower chord members of the joists.

The present invention is a division of subject matter set forth in my prior application for United States Letters Patent for Joist and tile construction for floors and the like, filed May 23, v1931, Serial No. 539,545.

In the usual steel joist floor construction, each joist includes transversely spaced longitudinally extending upper and lower chord members, means maintaining the chord members in proper load sustaining transversely spaced position, and end l supports which rest upon spaced bearings such as beams.

The joists are laterally spaced from each other and extend longitudinally between the bearings, and metal lath or sheet metal decking extends across and is supported on the upper chords of the joists and is covered usually by a layer of concrete or other material for forming the upper floor surface, and in the case of oiiice buildings, public buildings, residences, or the like, metal lath is usually suspended below the lower chords of the joists, and the lower metal lath is covered with coatings of plaster or the like for forming the lower ceiling surfaces.

Such usual steel joist floor construction, whether or not including a ceiling as aforesaid, does not satisfy the requirements of re and heat resisting, or so-called lire-proof, construction, because load sustaining members of the joists, and the inner surfaces of the lath are not provided with heat and re resisting coverings such as concrete, tile, or the like, and may be subject to the direct action of heat or flames.

From the standpoint of erection however, joist floor construction is very desirable, because the joists for each floor may be placed in position on (Cl. 'l2-61) the bearing beams of the steel or other main frame of the building as it is erected, and temporary flooring may be laid over the joists for use during the further erection of the building, and for preventing workmen from falling.

When fire-proof construction is required however, it has heretofore been necessary to use some form of solid reinforced concrete floor, arch tile floor, tile or pan and reinforced concrete beam iloor, or special or plural unit tile floor.

All of these usual types of fire-proof floors involve the use of concrete, grout, or mortar, and most of such floors require the use of separate forms or centering upon which the concrete is poured to make solid floors, or upon which concrete is combined with tile or pans, to make tile and concrete, or pan and concrete floors, or upon which tile is laid up with mortar by masons to make tile arch oors.

Some forms of the special or plural unit tile iloor eliminate centering by the use of tile having an unusual or special transverse cross section, or by the use of a plurality of sets of tile units, the u nit of each set having a transverse cross section, different from the other set units. Such special tile or sets of special tile are very objectionable from the standpoint of the tile manufacturer, because special dies are required for forming the tile, and because it is very diicult to maintain an adequate supply of the special units to meet the requirements of builders in various parts of the country.

From the standpoint of erection the usual workmen available for building purposes have diiculty in properly positioning and arranging the several different shapes or units of tile in plural unit construction.

Moreover, aside from the standpoint of iireproong, all joist floor constructions commercially available prior to the present invention, have required the combination of more than two diierent or separate elements, other than concrete, grout, or mortar, to provide self -sustaining structures having spaced flat floor and ceiling surfaces.

The objects of the present invention are in general to provide joists adapted to improve and reduce the cost of joist and tile construction, and specically are as follows:

First, to provide joists for a self-sustaining structure including spaced flat outer surfaces, and which includes, excepting concrete, grout, or other similar material when used, only two diierent sets of elements, namely a set of laterally spaced similar load sustaining elements or joists, and a single set of similar surface forming elements, preferably refractory tile, the surface forming elements spanning between `and being supported by the joists;

Second, to provide joists for a self-sustaining joist and tile structure which is adapted for meeting the most rigid re-proong requirements, and which may be constructed at a minimum cost;

Third, to provide joists for a joist and tile structure in which the joists support the tile, and in which the tile have a rectangular crosssection, whereby the tile may be made in any usual building tile manufacturing plant without requiring special dies;

Fourth, to provide joists for a fire-proof joist and tile structure in which the use of concrete, grout, or similar material is optional;

Fifth, toprovide joists for a self-sustainingV joist and tile structure adapted for supporting transverse loads, and in which all the elements including concrete, grout, or similar material when used, cooperate with each other to attain the maximum efficiency of each separate element; that is to say the steel of the joist is subject to a maximum tension and a minimum compression loading, the tile is subject to a maximum compression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, and the concrete, grout or similar material when used is subject to a maximum compression and shear loading and a minimum tension loading, or if desired, the concrete may be subject to no structural loading whatever;

Sixth, to provide joists for a joist and tile structure, in which the joist and tile elements after being properly installed, permanently position and interlock each other without additional means, and the complete structure when used as a iioor being adapted to resist lateral twisting of the main frame of the building, as the result of wind pressure and the like;

Seventh, to provide joists for a joist and tile structure particularly adapted for permitting the use of rectangular tile of relatively great length; and

Eighth, to provide improved joists particularly adapted for combination with improved tile to form improved joist and tile structures.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the structures, parts, improvements, and combinations, which comprise the present invention, and which are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended claims forming part hereof.

In general terms the improved structures may be described as including the improved laterally spaced longitudinally extending load sustaining spanning members o-r joists hereof, and improved surface forming members or blocks extending between the spanning members and forming spaced flat surfaces extending across'the outer sides of the spanning members, each improved spanning member including one or more longitudinally extending upper chord members, one' or more longitudinally extending lower chord members, and

means maintaining the chord members in. proper load sustaining position, each lower chord member being laterally as well as transversely spaced from one of the upper cho-rd members, and the improved blocks preferably comprising refractory adjacent spanning members, and each block pref-y erably having a notched seat formed in each 1 of its lower end corners, whereby each end of each block is supported on one of the lower chord members of one of the spanning members, and the lower portion of each end of each block may be formed for extending beneath the chord member supporting the block and forming a concrete or grout retaining shelf, and when it is desired to eliminate the use of concrete, grout or the like, the upper portion of each end of each block may be formed for extending over one or more of the upper chord members, and the ends of the block may be positively engaged by concrete or grout whenv thesame is used to embed the spanning members, and preferably the ends of the blocks abut against sides of the load sustaining members for interlocking with the load sustaining members, whether or not co-ncrete or other embedding material is used.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, in which Figure 1v is. a top plan view illustrating one embodiment ofthe improved joist and tile oor structure, including one form of improved lever arch joist hereof, and one form of improvedend notched tile, portions of the floor being illustrated finished, and other portions being illustrated during the course of construction;

Fig. 2, a sectional view thereof looking at the side of one ofthe joists;

Fig. 3, a top plan view of another form of improved lever arch joistv hereof particularly adapted for the improved joist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 4, a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 5, a top plan view of a form of improved bar joisthereo-f particularly adapted for the improved joist and tile floor structure;

Fig. 6, a sideV elevation thereof;

Fig. 7, a top plan View of another lform of improved bar joist hereof for use in the improved 4.0;;

the joist of Figs. 5 and 6 with tile similar to the 50 tile of Figs. 1, 2, and 9;

Fig. 12, a similar View illustrating the use of the joist of Figs. '7 and 8 with tile similar to the tile of Figs. l, 2, and 9;

Fig. 13, a similar view illustrating another embodiment of the improved joist and tile structure including the joist ofy Figs. 3 and 4, and a second embodiment of the improved tile, and in which no concrete is used, and the method of erectionbeing indicated.

Fig. 14, a similar View illustrating another embodiment of the improved joist and tile floor structure including the joist of Figs. 3' and 4, and a third embodiment of the improved tile, together with concrete embedding the joistand tile, the tile being formed so as to eliminate the necessity of separate forms or centering for receiving the concrete when poured.

Fig. l5, a fragmentary isometric perspective View of the iioor structure of Fig. l; and

Fig. 16, an isometricv perspective view of one of the improved tile.

Similar numerals refer throughout the drawings.

One embodiment of the improved joist and tile to similar parts floor structure is indicated general at F-I in Figs. l, 2, and 9. 'The floor structure F-I includes a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending improved load sustaining spanning members each indicated generally by J-I,

and a plurality of improved surface forming tile or blocks each indicated generally by T-I, the blocks T-I extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members J-I, and forming a spaced flat upper floor surface S-f and a spaced at lower ceiling surface S-c extending respectively above and below the spanning members J-I.

Each 'improved spanning member J-I is preferably an improved embodiment of the lever arch joists set forth in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,686,910, and in my prior applications for United States Letters Patent, Serial No. 129,- 424, and Serial No. 280,484.

For attaining the particular objects of the present invention, each of the improved spanning members or lever arch joists indicated generally by J-I includes

triangular arch struts

2a and 2b which may be formed by diagonally severing a rectangular plate.

The

struts

2a and 2b are arranged with their apexes 3a. and 3by preferably abutting each other, as at 4.

A pair of laterally spaced longitudinally extending upper chord members or bars 5 and 5' are secured alongA the upper edges 6a and 6b of the

struts

2a and 2b, as by arc welds' 1; and the

bars

5 and 5 respectively are preferably provided with

terminals

5a and 5b, and 5a and 5'b extending beyond the ends of the

arch struts

2a and 2b.

Heel struts

8a and 3a' are Secured, as by arc welds 'I, on opposite sides of the base 9a of the arch strut 2a; and

heel struts

8b and 8b are secured, as by arc welds 1, on opposite sides of the base 9b of the arch strut 2b.

Each heel strut, as illustrated, is preferably a length of standard angle, and the apex of each angle heel strut extends transversely of its joist, and one leg of each angle heel strut abuts the side face of the arch strutto which it is secured, and the other leg of each angle heel strut extends laterally outwardly from the side of the arch strut to which it is secured, the laterally extending legs of the angle heel struts being preferably located at the outer edges of the bases 9a and 9b of the

arch struts

2a and 2b respectively.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members Illa and Illb are secured respectively as by arc welds I on the outer faces of the laterally extending legs of the

angle heel struts

8a and 8a', and 8b and 8b', at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured at its central portion to its pair of angle heel struts, and extends laterally from each side of the arch strut to which its angle heel struts are secured.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formed therein a tie rod receiv- Ing aperture II.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods I2 and I2' are each provided with threaded outer ends I3 each of which extends through one of the apertures II, and a nut I4 is screwed upon each threaded tie rod end I3, and the nuts I4 react against the outer faces of the tie rod spacing and anchor members Ia, and Illb, and apply suitable tension loads on the tie rods I2 and I2.

For resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes 3a and 3b, and for resisting abnormal reverse orrvibration loading'of the joist,

a pair of longitudinally extending reinforcing angles I5 and I5' may be secured as by arc welds I to the

apexes

3a and 3b of the

struts

2a and 2b, on opposite sides thereof, with one legv of each angle spaced below one of the chord members or bars 5 and 5' and extending laterally from the side faces of the arch struts to which particular reinforcing angle is secured.

For providing end supports for the arch joist J-I above the laterally spaced tie rods I2 and I2', laterally spaced angle end supports Ilia and I6a', and IBb and I6b', are secured as by arc welds I, on opposite sides and at the upper outer corners I'Ia and IIb of the

struts

2a and 2b, respectively, and the angle end supports are transversely spaced above the tie rods I2 and I2', that is to say under the normal use of the arch joists J-I, the lever end supports are above the tie rods and the end supports extend longitudinally beyond the ends of the arch joists any desired distance coextensive with the terminals 5a and-5b, and 5a.' and 5b of the chord bars 5 and 5', and the angle end supports and the chord bar terminals are preferably ysecured to each other as by arc welds 1.

Each arch joint J-I is pendulously supported at its ends by resting the angle end supports I6a and Ilia', and I6b and Ib', respectively, on suitable bearings, which may be beams Ia and I8b, respectively, of the main frame of a building indicated generally by I9.

For attaining the most efficient co-action between the improved joist load sustaining members J-I and the preferred refractory tile surface forming members T-I, each joist JI includes tile clamping bars 20a and 2Gb secured respectively as by arc welds 'I on the outer faces of the laterally extending legs of the angle heel struts 8a and 8a', and 8b and 8b', above the tie rod spacing and anchor members Illa and Ib, respectively.

The tile clamping bars 20a and 2Ilb thus secured respectively on the outer ends of the bases 9a and Sb of the arch struts 2a and 2b, co-act with the tile T-I, in an improved manner which will be hereinafter described in detail.

In other words each of the improved joist load sustaining members J-I includes longitudinally extending upper chord members 5 and 5', longitudinally extending lower tie rod or chord members I2 and I2', arch means maintainingV the chord members in proper load sustaining position, and end supports for pendulously supporting the joists.

The lower chord members I2 and I2' are transversely spaced below and laterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper chord members 5 and 5', and certain of the objects of the present improvements are attained by utilizing the laterally spaced lower chord members as bearings for the lower ends of the tile T-I.

'Ihe lower tie rod or chord members I2 and I2' may each in itself have a suitable cross-section for resisting deflection when the tile T-I are being placed in position, it being understood that as hereinafter set forth in detail, after the tile T-I are placed in position the joists J-I co-act with the tile T-I under load so as to oppose transverse deflection.

As illustrated, however, a plurality of longitudinally spaced closed triangular hanger frames 2I are applied around the upper chord members 5 and 5' and the lower tie rods I2 and I2', the upper chord members and the lower tie rod Vmembers being secured respectively as by Welding' at the .apexes of the triangular hanger frame 2I which may be conveniently formed of wire.

Each of the preferred refractory tile surface forming members T-I, is. preferably a hollow tile having a rectangular ytransverse cross-section and including normally horizontal, upper and lower rectangular walls Sf and 33e Whose outer surfaces respectively form the floor. surface S-f and th'eceiling surface S-c. Outer normally vertical longitudinally extending rectangular side walls 39a andl 3619 extend between the longitudinal side edges of the wall'sf30f and 30o, and a normally vertical longitudinally extending rectangular reinforcing web wall 30d may extend between the upper and lower walls 30j and 35o, and when desired a normally horizontal longitudinally exten-ding rectangular reinforcing web wall 38e may extend between the side Walls 30a and 36h and intersect the vertical web wall 35d.

At each end of each tile, an upper end supporting portion 3 i including upper end portions of the side walls 35d and SEIU, and of the vertical web wall Sd, together with the upperwall Silf and the horizontalweo wall 30d, extends .longitudinally beyond preferably vertically offset lower faces 32 including lower portions of the end faces of the side walls 39a and 3b,.and of the Vvertical web wall 36d, and the end face of the bottom wall`3c.

The lower longitudinally extending faces 33 of each end supporting portionl are formed by the lower faces of the longitudinally extending upper end portions of the side walls 31311 and 3Go, and'of the vertical web wall 30d, and are normally horizontal, and the normally horizontal faces 33 form with the normally vertical faces 32 a notched or rabbeted seat indicated generally by 3,4 in each lower end corner of each tile.

In other words the improved .tile T-I, with the desired upper longitudinally extending end supporting portion 3l, at each end thereof, may be formed by notching out each lower end corner of an ordinary green rectangular building tile during the process of manufacture, by the use of hand notching wires, or machines, well known in the art.

As illustrated all the outer faces of the upper and lower walls 30] an-d 30o and the side walls 30a and 39h of each tile, are smooth, and may be glazed; whereby in certain classes of construction no further floor or ceiling finish need be applied over the outer surfaces of the upper and lower walls Sllf and 30C, whereby a glazed tile floor and ceiling finish is obtained.

When desired, it is obvious however that the outer surfaces of the upper, lower,.and side walls of each tile may be longitudinally tongued and grooved in the well known manner for receiving finishing concrete, plaster, grout, or the like.

In order to obtain the maximum advantages of the present improvements, it is desirable that the overall length L of each tile be substantially longer than the corresponding dimensionyof tile used in other types of tile door construction.

This overall length L may be 18 inches, 24 inches, 36 inches or even longer depending upon rloadingand dimensional requirements.

In any event the greatest efficiency is obtained when the overall length L is greater than the lateral breadth B of the tile, and is also greater than the transverse depth D. Y

In erecting the floor F-I, the spanning joist Amembers J--I are placed in position so that their end supports I6@ and IBaand I6b and I6b",

rest on'. the bearing beams I 8a and |817, respectively, andthe joists J-I are laterally spaced from each other so that the distance between the tie rod I2 of one joist and the tie rod I2 of the.

next adjacent joist is substantially equal to the length L between the opposite offset lower faces 32 of theY lower end portions of the side walls 35a an-d 3022, the web wall 39d, and the lower ceiling forming wall 30o of each tile T-l.

Temporary flooring may then be laid across the arch struts 2a and 2bI of the joists, and the tile or blocks T-I may be laid directly Vfrom above so that each end supporting portion 3l rests on the adjacent tie rod I2 or I2' of the Y adjacent joist, the length L of the upper walls 30j andthe upper end portions of the side walls 35a and Sb and the web wall 36d of each tile T-I is such that the extremities of the en-d adjacent tile carried by the tie rods I2 and E2 of any particular joist J-l vare laterally spaced from each other and from the upper chord bars 5 and 5', a distance to permitconcrete, grout, or other compression resisting, self-setting plastic material C toI be poured Vdownwardly between the laterally spaced tile end portions and the upper chord bars 5 an-d A5 of the joist. A centering plank 40 may be supported or suspended in abutment with the outer faces of adjacent lower end portions of the lower walls Stic, for receiving the plastic material C'when it is poured, and until it is set. y

As best illustrated in Fig. 9, in the resulting floor structure F I, the compression resisting concrete material C completely embeds each joist, and engages with the end portions of the tile walls.

It isalso to be noted that the notched seats 3d of the tile interlock with the supportingrtie rods I2 and l2 of the joists J-i.

In the floor F-I the side walls of adjacent tile abut against each other and clamping pressure is applied against the side abutting tile T-I, due to the weight of the door itself, and any transverse loading thereof, acting through the longitudinally spaced clamping bars 26a and 25h between which the tile T-I are located.

Itwill also be noted that normal transverse loading of the iioor F-I pla-ces the concrete C under compression between the laterally extending anges of the` angle heel struts of each joist J-I. y.

From another standpoint, in the floor F-I each tile or block extends between and bears on adjacent spanning joists J-I, and the outer faces of the walls 39j and 360 are transversely spaced from each other and have side edges abutting each other. Y

The outer faces 'of all the upper iioor walls 30j of the adjacent tile T-l between any two adjacent joists are alined with each other, and

similarly the outer faces of all the lower ceiling walls 353e of the adjacent tile between any two adjacent joists are alined with each other, and the transversely spaced alined outer faces of the walls Sf and 30o form with the outer facesof the concrete C the transversely spaced oor and ceiling surfaces S-f and S-c, each extending laterally and longitudinally with respect to the spanning joists J-I, and the transverse spacing between the

upper chord members

5 and 5 and the lower chord members I2 and I 2 of the spanning joists is less Jthan the transverse spacing of the surfaces S-f and S-c, and the transversely. spaced upper and lower chord members 5 and 5', and I2 and i2 are located between the transversely spaced surfaces S-f and S-c,

whereby the desired floor structure having the transversely spaced fiat floor and ceiling surfaces S-f and S-c is attained by the use of only a plurality of the joists J-I, a plurality of the unitary similar tile T-I and the concrete C.

."A second embodiment of the improved joist land tile iioor structure is indicated generally at F-2 in Fig. 10, and includes a plurality of laterally spaced longitudinally extending improved. load sustaining spanning members each indicated generally by J-2, and a plurality of improved surface forming tile or block each indicated generally by T--2 and extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members 'J-2 and :forming a flat upper floor Surface S-Z-f and a flat lower ceiling surface S-Z-c, the surfaces S-Z-f and S-Z--c being transversely spaced from each other and extending respectively above and below the spanning members J-2.

The spanning members J-2 constitute other embodiments of the lever arch joists, set forth in my aforesaid prior United States Letters Patent and applications, and are further improvements of the joists J-I, whereby the quantity of concrete required for making a reproof floor is reduced and the structural coaction of the joists and tile is improved in the floor F--2.

One of the improved joists J-2, detached from the oor structure F-Z, is illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4, and includes triangular arch struts |02w and |0217, and |02a and |02b.

Laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor members ||0a and ||0h are secured respectively as by arc welds |01 on the outerfaces of the channel struts |080, and |081)` respectively at the lower ends thereof.

Each laterally extending tie rod spacing and anchor member is secured at its central portion to its channel heel strut and extends laterally from each side thereof and from the opposite sides of the arch struts spaced by the channel heel strut.

The outer end of each tie rod spacing and anchor member has formed therein a tie rod receiving aperture III.

Laterally spaced longitudinally extending tie rods I I2 and I I2' are each provided with threaded outer ends I I3 each of which extends through one of the apertures I I I and a nut I Ill is screwed upon each threaded tie rod end I I3 and the nuts II4 react against the outer faces of the tie rod spacing and anchor members I Illa. and I Ib, and apply suitable tension loads on the tie rods ||2 The lower tie rods or chord members II2 and IIE are transversely spaced below and laterally spaced at opposite sides of the upper laterally spaced shord members |05 and |05', and their respective arch struts.

For resisting lateral displacement of the arch strut apexes, and for resisting abnormal reverse or vibration loading of the joists J-Z a longitudinally extending channel I E5 is preferably interposed between the strut apexes i03a. and |03b, and the strut apexes |03a and |03b and secured thereto as by arc welds |01.

For providing end supports for the arch joists J--Z above the laterally spaced tie rods ||2 and H2', a preferably channel end support IIa ls interposed between the upper outer corners II1al and |i1a of the struts |02w and |02a, and secured thereto as by arc welds |01; and similarly a, channel end support ||6b is interposed between the upper outer corners ||1b and II1b of the struts |02b and I02'b respectively, and secured thereto as by arc welds |01.

Each joist J-2 preferably further includes tile clamping bars I20a and |201) secured respectively by arc welds |01 on the outer faces of the channel heel struts I08a and |08b, above the tie rod spacing and anchor members I|0a and I I0bJ respectively.

A plurality of longitudinally spaced closed trapezoidal hanger frames |2| are applied about the upper chord members |05 and |05 and the lower tie rods ||2 and II2, and the upper chord members and lower tie rod members are preferably secured respectively as by welding at the apexes of the trapezoidal hanger frames IZI.

The preferably refractory tile or blocks T-Z are similar in form to the tile T--I, and include spaced end supporting portions I3| formed by providing notched or rabbeted seats indicated at I 34 in each lower end corner of each tile.

In erecting the floor F-Z the spanning joist members J-Z are placed in position so that their end supports |I6a and lIBb rest on spaced bearing beams, not shown, and the joists J-Z are laterally spaced from each other in a manner similar to that described for the joists J-I of the floor F-I.

The tile T-Z are then laid in a manner similar to that described for the positioning of the blocks T-I, the principal difference between the oor v F-Z and the floor F-I arising from the use of the upper laterally spaced

chord members

5 and 5 and the arch struts therefor, whereby in the floor F-Z the concrete material C may be poured downwardly between the upper chord bars |05 and |05 of the joists, and also the ends of the tile J-2 may preferably abut directly against the sides of the adjacent arch struts for effecting an interlocking structural coaction between the joists J-2 and the tile T-Z.

The third embodiment of the improved floor structure is indicated generally at F-3 in Fig. 11, and is generally vsimilar to the floor F-2. The floor F-3 includes laterally spaced longitudinally extending spanning joists J-3 and a plurality of tile or blocks T-3 extending between and bearing on adjacent spanning members J-3, and forming a flat upper floor surface S-S-f and a flat lower ceiling surface S-3--c, the surfaces S-3-f and S-3-c being transversely spaced from each other and extending respectively above and below the spanningjoist members J-3.

The joist members J-3 are identical in manner of use with the joist members J-Z, but are made as illustrated by the use of truss construction rather than arch construction.

One of the joists J-3 is illustrated indetail in Figs. 5 and 6.

A fourth embodiment ofthe improved floor structure is indicated generally at F-l :in Fig. 12, and is generally similar to the floor structure F-I, but includes the use of trussed joists J-4, one of which is illustrated in detail in Figs. 7 and 8.

The fifth embodiment ofthe improved floor structure indicated generally at F-5 in Fig. 13, includes arch joists J-5 Iwhich are structurally similar to the arch joists J-Z, and tile or 'blocks T-5, each end of each of whichis formed-as illustrated foi` `bearing on one of the-joistsJ--S and for extending above and vbelow the joists` J-5 thereby totally inclosing the -joists lloetween the ends of endv adjacent tiles 'IP-5. The tiles T-5 preferably abut each other sidewise a-s well as -endwise, and the oor F- is erected as indicated in Fig. 13 byrlaterally sliding each joist -.J-5 into -the alined formed ends of a-temporarily supportedrow of the tile T-.

The sixth embodiment -of =the improved -floor structure indicated generally by F-G in Fig.. 14, isgenerally similar tothe .oor-F-5,.-withthe exception that the joists J-6 of the floorF-i are connectedwith each other laterally as bylaterally extending-rods 50each end of which is connected with one of the laterally spaced` arch struts ofoney of the joists .1 -6, which' arestructurallysimilar to the joists J--2.

The. tile .-T-'B `of thefloor F-6 are each-so formed that each end extends. ybelow :its supporting lio-ist .J- forming a shelf upon which theconcrete C maybe poured.`

It `will be observed .that v.eachof the. improved joists -J-l .to J--6,-inclusive, comprises a selfsustaining .and load. sustaining spanning` structure. including. transversely spaced.. longitudinally extending. Ychord. members. and means, Veither arch strut means or truss means, which maintain the chord vmembers in .load sustaining .positions throughout the. span .length thereof..

Each .joist or self sustaining. and .load sustaining spanning structure also preferably includes laterallyspaced normally lower .chord members and ,preferably laterally spaced normally upper chord members located .between .normally vertical planespassing through the lower chordmembers, whereby the .lower chord members .aire adaptedto .support .the tile of the. several :floors F-I to F-6,..inclusive..

Each of-the joistsor self-.sustainingfand.load sustaining spanningrstructure.furthermore preferably includes a .longitudinally extending. end suppor-t vat .each end-.thereof and alsopreferably includes longitudinally .spaced clampingL lbars preferably secured at oppositeendsof ther-structureand extending laterally beyond opposite sides of .thenormally upper chord member or members .and being adapted to .clamp the tile supported on the normally lower chord members.

Moreover, in -each ,ioist, .the chord members through the entire span length thereof, arev may be termed truss means.

I claim:

1. Av self-sustaining 'and' load sustaining spanning structure including transversely spaced 1ongitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members inload sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally Y lower chord members laterally spaced from each.

other and a normally upper chord member lo*- cated between normally vertical. planes passingy through the normally lower chord members.

2. A self-sustaining and load sustaining `spanning structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, .and truss means maintaining the 'chord members in'load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lowerv chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord members laterally spaced from Aeach other and the upper chord membersy being located between normally vertical planes passing through the normallyl lower chord members.

3. Aselfsustaining and load sustaining spanning structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining .the chord members in load sustaining `positions throughout the span lengtlfithereof,` the chord members including normally lower chordfmembers laterally yspaced from each other and normally upper chord members located betweenfnormally vertical planesA passing through the normally lower chord members.

4. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning Vstructure for use as a Yjoist and the like, the structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extendingchordmembers, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the* span length thereof, the chord members including: normally lowerchordmembers laterally spaced from:.each other .and a normally upper chord member iocated between :normally-vertical planes passing through thenormally lowerchord members, and longitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping bars operativelyy associated with some of the members, 'thee clamping bars extending llaterally beyond opposite vsides of the normally upper chord member and being adapted to Vclamp tile and the `like supported on the normally lower chord members.

5. A self-sustaining and'load sustaining spanning structure for -use as a joist andv the like, the` structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the cho-rd members in vload sustaining positions throughout the span-length thereof, the chord `members including. normally lower chord members laterally spaced fromv each other and `normally upper chord members 'laterally spaced from each other and the upper chord members' being located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower'chord members, 'and longitudinally'spaced laterally extending clamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping bars extendinglaterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord members-and being adapted toclampftile and thev like supported.y on thenormally lower chordm'embers.

6. A self-sustaining and load vsustaining spanning structure for use asia joist and thelike, the structure including transversely spaced longitudinally -extending chord members, 'andv truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord members located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, and longitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping bars extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord members and being adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on the normally lower chord members.

7. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and a normally upper chord member located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end of the structure.

8. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sus-taining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord members laterally spaced from each other and the upper chord members being located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end of the structure.

9. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord members located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end of the structure.

l0. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure for use as a joist and the like, the structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and a normally upper chord member located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, 1ongitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping bars extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord member and being adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end of the structure.

ll. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure for use as a joist and the like, the structure including transversely spaced longitudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord members laterally spaced from each other and the upper chord members being located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, longitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping bars extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord members and being adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end of the structure.

y12. A self-Sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure for use as a joist and the like, the

structure including transversely spaced longi' tudinally extending chord members, and truss means maintaining the chord members in load sustaining positions throughout the span length thereof, the chord members including normally lower chord members laterally spaced from each other and normally upper chord members located between normally vertical planes passing through the normally lower chord members, longitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping bars operatively associated with some of the members, the clamping bars extending laterally beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord members and being adapted to clamp tile and the like supported on the normally lower chord members, and a longitudinally extending end support at each end of the structure.

13. A self-sustaining and load sustaining spanning structure including a normally upper longitudinally extending chord member and normally lower longitudinally extending chord-members, and members interposed therebetween and maintaining the chord members in load sustaining relationship with each other throughout the span length thereof, the lower chord members being located in normally vertical planes spaced laterally from the normally vertical plane passing through the upper chord member, and longitudinally spaced laterally extending clamping members on the structure, the clamping members extending beyond opposite sides of the normally upper chord member.

HURXTHAL F. FREASE.