US2069280A - Composite structural steel and reenforced concrete construction - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1937. K TER 2,069,280

COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL STEEL AND REENFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Qrigingl Filed June 18 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 2, 1937. K. R. scHusTER COMPOSITE STRUCTURALSTEEL AND REENFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Original Filed June 18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q QEQZLM ATTORNFV COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL STEEL AND REENFORCED CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Feb. 2, 1937. K. R. SCHUSTER 3 Shets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 18, 1928' WIIJ'HIIIIIIH H r I I l ll i JJ.

. h r I F 2 H m I i I M Z ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 2, 1937 PATENT ()FFICE COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL STEEL AND REENFOBCED CONCRETE CONSTRUC- TION Karl R. Schuste'r, New York, N. Y.

Application June 18, 1928, Serial No 286,202

. Renewed April 29, 1935 28 claim (CI. 72-76) This invention is a. column of a composite na ture wherein acceptable construction materials of steel and concrete are brought together in a novel relation to produce a structure possessing the requisite stability and strength for carrying the loads, and which structure does not present a massive appearance so characteristic of concrete columns commonly erected as parts of concrete buildings and other structures.

) Among other objects, my invention seeks to facilitate the assemblage of the steel utilized with concrete as integral parts of the column; to so distribute the steel relatively to the concrete as to eifect a material reduction in the cross sectional area of the resulting composite column without, however, impairing the capacity ofthe column forcarrying the loads imposed on said column; to install and erect the column in sections or lengths each of a determined height whereby the progressive increase in the height of each column or a niunber of columns is concurrent with the installation of the various floors at different levels; to assemble the steel elements with the concrete at the different stages in the erection of the column in such manner that such steel is substantially-continuous throughout the height of the column, to thus secure the strength and stability of the column requisite for carrying the loads; to provide for the association of the floor beams with the steel of the composite columns in a way to impose the floor loadsdirectly on the steel element or elements of said column;

and to attain economy of time, labor. and material in the installation of the composite column.

According to my inventionpa metal core and a skeletonized metal cage are employed with a mass of concrete to produce a column adapted to be associated with floor beams or girders in the erection of a building or other structure, for factory and other usages.

The metal core is composed of units adapted for assemblage with facility and by unskilled labor, said metal core extending substantially continuously throughout the height of the column, and said metal core being centrally within the mass of concrete.

The metal'cage for the column is composed of units assembled in vertical alinement and in such relation to the metal core asto surround said core.

Characteristic features of the skeletonized cage are (a) it is a factory or mill product all parts of which cage are assembled together and united in fixed relation at the mill or factory so as to result in a unit of a determined length and cross section,

whereby unitary cages are adapted to beshipped from the mill to the place of installation, and such'unitary cages are assembled or installed speedily and, if required, by unskilled labor; and

(b) the successive metal cages required for the column of a determined height are positioned in such relation one tothe other that the adjacent ends of superposed cages are united solidly in end to end order whereby the cages are extended for the full height of the ultimate column.

The superposed cages and the superposed units of the metal core thus extend lengthwise of the column for the full height of said column, and the metal elements" are encased within the masses of concrete which are molded one after the other! at the succeeding stages in the erection of the building. The metal core functions as the initial weight carrying element of the composite col umn, said metal core being proportioned according to, the load imposed on the floors. The metalcages stifien and bind the moldable material and add stability to such moldable material, whereby the assembled componentsof the ultimate struc ture arecharacterized by a reduced cross sectional area as compared with usual concrete columns,

to theend that my column does not present a massive appearance within the floors, and is free from light-obstructing tendencies so objectionable in the usual reenforced concrete columns.

A, desirable feature of my composite column is the capacity for assemblage therewith oi the floor beams or girders, whereby the loads are imposed on the metal elements of the composite column. Such assemblage of the metal floor beams with the metal column-elements reduces the stresses upon the moldable column-elements, and results in the imposition of the floor loads at the places where they belong, i. e., on the metal column-elements. I The floor beams are attachable either to the metal column-cages or to the metal column-cores; but in the latter'event, I prefer to employ metal elements in the form of collars, plates or disks so related to the. unitsofthe column-core as to perform the functions of couplings for'thecore units, and for'sustaining 5 the downward thrust of the moldable material encased within the metal column-cages, and to serve as-carriers for the floor beams adapted to rest upon, and to be attached fixedly to, said collars', plates or disks.

Other functions of and utilities for my com posite column will appear from the following description taken in connection with the draw-' ings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of one form 55 line 2-2 of Figure l.

of unitary metal cage of skeletoniaed formation usable as one of a seriesof elements for a composite column embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal cross section on the Figure .3 is a view in side elevation of another form of skeletonized cage, and

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross on the line {-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 .is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section illustrating a portion of the metal elements of my column at one stage or its installation, and showing the assemblage of floor beams at one floor level of the structure, and prior to the stage of molding the concrete.

Figure 6 is avertical sectional elevation of Figure 5 with'the concrete material molded within and around the metal elements.

Figure 7 is a view in side elevation illustrating afurther stage in the installation 01 thecolumns, at which another unit of the metal core and a second unitary cage are brought together in the required relation to the first part oi the column.

.Figure 8 is a horizontal cross section onfthe line 88 of Figure '7.

. Figure 9 is a detail view of a coupling member between adjacent units 01 the metal core, the floor beams being shown in dotted lines.

Figure 10 is an elevation of my column as it appears in connection with the door beams at diflerent'floor levels in a building.

Figure 11 -is an elevation, partly in section, illustrating the metal core and a'succession of metal cages assembled with beams at a succession of floor levels, the moldable material (con' crete) being omitted, and showing a difiere'nt assembly of core-couplings which in this embodisection thereof ment are in staggered relation to the floor beams,

the latter being attached to the column cages.

' Figure 1215 a cross section on the line IE-iii of Figure ll illustrating the union of the doorbeams to one of the column cages.

Figures 13, 14, and 15 are plan views of other forms-of unitary metal cages adapted to be used in my invention.

Figure 16 is an elevation of still another form oi! my unitary cage wherein longitudinal platelike bars are in fixed relation to a series of metal hoops or hands.

The composite columnoi my invention is shown in its entirety in Figure 10, and the components of said column at the diflerent stages of the installation and of the, production of the metal elements are illustrated in Figures 1 to 9, inclusive. Generally speaking, the column embodies a metal core A, metal cages B of 'skeletonized formation and of a unitary character, and moldable material-C, usually concrete, installed for encasing the metal elements and for occupying the interior of the skeletonized cages as well as being molded to exteriorly envelop' the metal cagesanri also to envelop the metal core, all of which elements A,-B, 0 (Figures 6, "i, 8), are assembled'at various stages with floor beams D to ultimately produce a composite structure characterized by a capacity for carrying the door loads and oi presenting an appearance free from that massive construction so objectionable in the usual all concrete column.

The metal core designated as a whole by reference letter A is of itself a column the cross section of which is considerably less than. the cross section of the composite column constituting the ultimate product of my invention,.-and as one result of this reduction in the area of the core column, and it is available for assemblage with the, other required column elements for which purposes unskilled labor may be utilized.

The metal core is composed of units adapted to be assembled into vertical allnement so as to superpose one unit upon the unit next below it,

' see Figures 5, 9, and ll. Said units of the metal core'may be the same in cross section. but it is desirable to produce units which decrease in cross section "as the height increases; thus in Figures 5 and 11, the lowermost unit a is larger in diameter than the unit a .next above it, whereas the second unit a is somewhat larger in diameter than the third unit a o! the series, and so on toward the upper units of the building, but while such reductions in the cross section of the core units are desirable, still the variatlon in cross section is not essential, for the reason that all the units, or substantially all of them, may be the same in crcsssection, as shown in Figure 9. The core A is either solid or tubular, and its parts a, a, a, are united at their adjacent ends by appropriate means. Couplings suitable for uniting the core parts are shownin Figures 5, 6, 9, and 11. The coupling E shown in Figures 5 and 6 is in the form of a plate or disk provided with a depending collar e and with a bore or socket e of two diameters corresponding to the diameters of th'e core units a, a, and

producing an internal shoulder e adapted for lodgment upon the upper end portion of lower core unit a. The coupling E is larger to an appreciable extent than the diameter of the .core', whereby said coupling extends outwardly from the core, Figures 5 and 6. Such enlargement of the coupling imparts to it two functions, (a) v a capacity for supporting the floor beams. and (b) it sustains the down thrust of the concrete adapted to envelop the core within the metallic cage, as will presently appear. As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the door beams D extend at their ends inwardly with respect to the composite-column, said inwardly positioned end portions resting directly upon the couplings when the metal column elements and the floor beams are assembled in the course of erecting the column and the building. At this stage in the assembly, the floor beams are held in assembled relation by bolts e adapted to fasten the base flange of the beam to the coupling, see Figures 5 and 6.

Another method of joining the units of the core A is shown in Figure 9, wherein a coupling E is used, said coupling having a socket'e for receiving the upper end of the core unit a and provided, also, with a tapering socket e into which is stepped the core unit a, whereby the connection between coupling E and core unit a ,may be caulked at e to client a rigid nonseparable attachment of the coupling and the core A. As in Figures 5 and 6, the coupling E of Figure 9 exceeds the diameter of the metal core, and it afiords a bearing for the floor beams D attachable by bolts or rivets to the coupling, the latter also afiording a support to take the down thrust of that mass of concrete which envelops the metal core and occupies the space within the skeletonized cage.

An important feature of myinvention is the cage B assembled in series for surrounding the core in a manner to leave an appreciable space for the moldable material. Each cage is a factory or mill product, the same being a complete part when it is shipped from the factory or mill to the place of utilization for the installation of the column, and requiring no labor for the completion of the cage itself to be performed on the cage, nor requiring any material to be added to the cage prior to the installation thereof.

Another material factor is the union of the cages in series at the successive stages in the installation of the column, whereby said cages are continuous or substantially continuous throughout the height of the column.

Different constructional forms of unitary cages are shown in the drawings, more particularly in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, and 13 to 16, in-

elusive.

Essentially, each cage embodies a series of united in a desirable manner, the work of assemblingthe members 'b, I), being performed at a mill in conformity to a predesigned schedule so that the cage is complete, or substantially complete, before it leaves the mill and said completed cage is a unit in the steel schedule required for the erection of a building or other structure. In the form of cage shown in Figures 1 and 2, the transverse cage member 22 is a substantially continuous strap, band, or 'hoop, extending spirally around the members b, and in contact exteriorly therewith, said member b and longitudinal members I; being united by rivets, welding or other modes of fastening. The cage shown in Figures 3 and 4 is similarly constructed except that in Figures 3 and 4 twospiral bands, straps or hoops 2), b extend around the longitudinal plates or bars, with one band I: in lapping relation to the other band b, and said bands b, N, and plates 17 are appropriately joined as by welding or riveting the several members into a homogeneous unitary structure. The cage with the double spirally wound bands or hoopsb is circular in cross section, and such a form of cage is shown-in Figures 3', 4, 5, 6, '7, 8, 11 and 12.

Usually, the length of the cage exceeds the height- The particular form of the skeleton metal cage,-

and the shape of the bars or plates b, and the form and relation of the member b or 22 are ,fianges or webs I), see Figure 14.

in Figure 13, wherein angle plates or bars b are positioned at the several corners of the cage, andsaid angle bars are spaced with respect to each other, and said angle bars are united by appropriate hoops or bands as b or b Again, the

. bars or plates of'curved cross section may be ap-- proximately T-shape in cross section, the curved plates or bars b-having the inwardly extending Again, the bands, straps or hoops may be positioned within the space bounded by thelongitudinal bars or plates b, as depicted in Figure 15 wherein the transverse connecting member or members 12 are within the cage and the plates or bars b are outside of members b the whole being suitably united. Further, the connecting members may be in the form of individual hoops or bands b arranged crosswise of the plates or bars, and welded or riveted thereto as shown, the individual hoops being annular in form and-sepa rated byappropriate intervals.

The mode of assembling the steel required for one column at one floor level is depicted in Figure 5, and of thereafter placing the concrete is shown in Figures 6 and 8, and thereafter proceeding with the steel assembled for the same column for co-operation with other floor beams at an upper floor level is shown in Figure 7. The case A and cage B for one column at the ground floor are assembled by installing the core unit a in a vertical position and on a suitable foundation, and by placing the cage B around the colume unit a substantially concentric therewith it being noted that the members I) of said cage extend upwardly for appropriate distances above the upper end of the core unit a. Another core unit a and a coupling E are now assembled into operative positions relatively to the first core unit a and to the first cage, and floor beams D are placed in position by having their inner ends extending into the cage, in the spaces between the plates or bars b, with the result that said inner ends of the beams are imposed upon the coupling E, said floor beams and coupling being fixedly joined as by bolts or rivets e Figures 5 'and 6. Appropriate concrete forms, indicated generally at G in Figure 6, envelop the assembledcore and cage at the first floor, and moldable material, such as concrete, is poured into the mold. The concrete fills the'spaces within the skeleton cage and within the forming mold, said concrete enveloping both the core unit a and the cage Band the concrete filling the intervals between the spaced plates or bars b and the spaces between the connecting members of the cage, whereby a solid mass of concrete is produced foradding to the stability of the resulting composite column. As is the usualpractice, the moldable material is tamped within the form or mold, and permitted to set or harden, with the result that the steel elements A, B, and concrete material so unite as to produce a monolithic structure the dimensions of which are such that my improved column does not present an ungainly massive appearance and yet its strength and stability are amply sufilcient for carrying the floor loads.

With the plates or bars b of the cage B extending above the beams D at the first fioor level, and with the second unit a of core A coupled at Eto the first unit a of said core A, and with the concrete C 'molded in place with respect to the core unit a and cage B first assembled, the next step in the procedure is to bring the second cage for the column into operative relation to the second core unit a and to the cage B first to be installed. This assembly is carried on by placing the second cage around the second core unit a as shown in Figure 7, with the bars or plates b of said second cage in register with the corresponding bars or plates b of the cage first to be installed, so that the bars or plates 12 of the first cage and of the second cage are in vertical alinement, whereupon bridge plates ,1 are fastened in a substantial manner to the proximate ends of the bars or plates b, b, of the superposed cages B, B, said bridge plates 1 being shown in Figure 7 as being bolted or riveted at f to the upwardly extending ends of the bars or plates of the cage first to be installed and also bolted or riveted to the lower ends of the plates or bars 11 of the second installed cage. The second cage B is thus superposed upon the first cage, and by extending the bars or plates b of the first cage above the floor beams D, it is made practicable to assemble the second cage with facility, and to rigidly couple the assembled cages one to the other in a manner to retain the second cage. at the installation thereof in the required place prior to molding the concrete. with the second cage and the second core unit assembled above the first floor level, then the coupling E is used to couple the third core unit to the second unit a and beams D for the second fioor level are positioned on the second coupling, after which the concrete above the first floor level is molded for encasing that length of the core unit and the cage extending from the first floor level to the second floor level, such molding of the concrete enveloping the second core and the second cage, and the second installation of concrete being continuous with the first concrete installation, whereby the inner end portions of beams D are encased within the concrete of the column. The concrete covers the' couplings E which are positioned within the concrete to sustain the down thrust of the mass molded within the cages.

The described assembly of core units, cages, couplings and beams, and the described installation of concrete, progresses until the column attains a desired height for supporting the beams at different floor levels of a building. It is to be noted that the parts of the core A and the successive cages are required to be assembled by using the couplings E and the bridge plates 1, and thereupon the concretev is molded at successive stages and concurrently with the increase in the height of the columns and the building, the whole of the work being performed with speed and by the use of unskilled labor, if required.

The complete column with floor beams at three different floor levels are shown in Figure 10, from which it appears that the size of the column does 4 not present an appearance disproportionate to the spacing of the floor levels, but, of course, it

'is to be understood that the composite column positioned at or about the levels of the different floors, to the end that the floor beams are imposed upon and carried by the couplings and by them transmitted to the core and the massed concrete. The metal cages function primarily as reinforcements for the massed concrete to preclude spreading under the stresses, and also to carry a part of the load, but my invention may be embodied in other'ways, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, wherein-the loads are imposed in a direct manner upon the metal cages. As there shown, I employ a core A the lengths a, a, a, of which are joined in vertical alinement by couplings E, E the latter being at elevations other than at the floor beams, said couplings being in alternate or staggered relation to said fioor beams.

The metal cages B of Figures 11 and 1 2 comprise the longitudinal plates or bars b and the transverse members b' joining said bars or plates, the elements b, b, being united solidly together so as to produce at the mill a unitary structure adapted for quick assemblage.

According to this form, the longitudinal bars or plates b of said metal cages do not extend. above the floor levels, but the beams D extend inwardly of the column and are imposed upon the bars or plates b at the upper ends thereof, said beams and the bars or plates being joined directly. To effect this direct union of the beams and the cage bars b, I employ coupling plates h, shown more clearly in the enlarged sectional plan view Figure 12. Each coupling plate h is of angular formation, and positioned for contact with the beam and the cage bar, bolts or rivets It being used to fasten the cage bar and the beam one to the other in the assemblage of the steel. The floor beams thus rest upon the bars of that cage which lies below the level of the floor, whereas the next cage above the floor beams is itself imposed upon the beams by arranging said upstanding cage to rest upon the floor beams, to the end that the upstanding cage is united at its lower end to the beams by coupling plates h fastened by bolts W. The floor beams at one level are thus interposed between the adjacent cages above and below them, and the metal elements are united by couplings h, h, whereby the floor beams in part constitute elements of the composite column. It is to be understood that the core A and cages B are enveloped by and within concrete material as heretofore described, although for the sake of clearness in the illustration, the concrete material is omitted from Figures 11 and 12. The concrete as heretofore fills the interior of the cages to envelop the core A and the couplings E, and envelops also the cages B exteriorly thereof.

The metal core A and the metal cages extend substantially continuously of the composite column, the core decreasing in cross section proportionately to an increase in the height of the column. In some instances, the column units may be replaced toward the upper end portion of the column by omitting the solid units and replacing the same by longitudinal bars, rods or plates I positioned within the cages and embedded in the concrete, as shown at the upper part of Figure 11.

The floors installed at different levels may be of any construction a! moved by those skilled in the art, but as an example of the kind of fioor suitable for the purpose, it is desirable to. use a fioor composed of concrete and tile reenforced by metal rods, and known in the trade as Schuster system". To this end, it is preferred to employ floor beams D the webs of which are perforated by providing openings 7', shown in Figure 11, through which openings said rods or bars are adapted to pass when installing the floors.

It is apparent that structural changes may be made in the components of the skeletonized cage and that other changes may be made in the form, proportion, and assembly of the components. Thus, I may use a special form of T- shaped longitudinal bars b in the cage of Figure 14, said special shape comprising a curved member from which extends the fian ge making the T-shape in cross section, said specially called bar having at least on one face a curvature the arc of which is equal to the radius of the cage, see the two left hand and top T bars of Figure 14. Again, I may make use of standard rolled T bars, as shown at the right and bottom of Figure 14. Furthermore, the flanges of the T-bars may be extended inwardly for a desired distance, and this inward extension may be so great as to position the inner edges of the flanges in contact with the margin of coupling, see Figure 14, in order to centralize the relation of the core and the cage to one another.

Having thus fully described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination a constructional column, a metal core, skeletonized cages coupled in series, floor beams supported by the core, and molded material encasing said core and the cages.

2. In combination a'constructional column, a metal core, skeletonized cages in concentric relation to the core, floor beams supported by the core, means whereby the cages are connected in series, and'molded material enveloping said core and the cages.

3. In a constructional column, metal cages extending lengthwise of the column, a core within said cages, said core being composed of alined parts, molded material within said cages, and couplings for the adjacent ends of said core parts, said couplings presenting surfaces adapted to sustain the down thrust of. said molded material.

4. In a constructional column, a succession of metal cages extending lengthwise of the column, a core positioned within said cages, molded material filling said cages, and floor beams extending into said cages and supported by the core.

5. In combination a constructional column, a series of metal cages extending lengthwise of a column, floor beams entering the cages and supported by the core, a core within the cages and lengthwise of. the column, molded material encasing the core and the cages, and coupling means for said metal cages.

6. In combination a constructional column, a metal core composed of members in alined relation lengthwise of the column, couplings whereby said core members are united, floor beams imposedupon and supported by said couplings, and molded material encasing said core and the couplings.

7. In combination in a building construction, a plurality of unitary cages arranged in endwise alinement, a sectional core positioned within said cages, a plurality of floor beams positioned between said cages and supported thereby and forming coupling means'therebetween, and molded material co-operable with said core in said cages to form a unitary constructional column.

8. In combination in a building construction, a plurality of unitary cages arranged in endwise alinement, a sectional core positioned withinsaid cages, a plurality of floor beams positioned between said cages and supported thereby and forming coupling means therebetween, and molded material co-operable-with said core in said cages to form a unitary constructional column, coupling members for connecting the sections of said core, said coupling members having extended surface portions to support the plastic material.

9. In combination in abuilding construction, a plurality of separate cages, each cage being com posed of a plurality of longitudinal members with members connecting said xlongitudinal members to form an open-work cage, said cages being arranged in endwise alinement, floor beams positioned between said cages and supported thereby and'providing coupling means between said cages, and a core extending continuously through I said alined cages.

10. In combination in a building construction, a plurality of separate cages, each cage being composed of a plurality of longitudinal members with members connecting said longitudinal members to form an open-work cage, said cages being arranged in endwise alinement, floor beams positioned between said cages and supported thereby and providing coupling means between said cages, and a'core extending continuously through said alined cages, said core being composed of sections and coupling members connecting said sections.

11. In combination in a building construction, a plurality of separate cages, each cage being composed of a plurality of longitudinal members with members connecting said longitudinal members to form an open-work cage, said cages being arranged in endwise alinement, floor beams positioned between said cages and supported thereby and providing coupling means between said cages, and a core extending continuously through said alined cages, said. core being composed of sections and coupling members connecting said sections, the joints between the sections of the core and the coupling members being locked by horizontal alinement with the floor beams.

12. In combination in a building construction, a plurality of separate cages, each cage comprising a plurality of spaced elongated members, strips attached to and connecting said elongated members to provide an open-work cage, said cages being arranged in endwise alinement, Iioor beams positioned between said cages and attached thereto, and a sectional core extending through the said alined cages.

13. In a device of the character described, a column comprising a plurality of skeleton cages, each cage having a plurality of spaced longitudinal members and transverse members connecting said longitudinal members and joined thereto for producing a skeleton cage, said longitudinal members and transverse members being spaced apart to provide openings, beams in said openings and supported by said cages, and coupling members for connecting said beams and said cages.

14. In combination in a construction, a plurality of separate cage units, said cage units being in endwise alinement, each cage unit comprising a plurality of elongated members with members connecting said elongated members, said connecting members being fixedly attached to said elongated members, floor beams positioned between said cage units and supported thereby, means for coupling said beams to the ends of said cage units, and a core positioned within certain of the alined cage units adjacent the lower portion of said construction.

15. In a construction of the character described, a column comprising a plurality of skeleton cages, each cage having a plurality of spaced longitudinal members and transverse strip members connecting said longitudinal members and and a core positioned in the lower portion of said column.

16. In a construction 01 the character described, a column comprising a plurality of skeleton cages, each cage having a plurality of spaced longitudinal members and a transverse strip member connecting said longitudinal members and joined and secured thereto for producing a skeleton cage, said longitudinal members and transverse strip member being spaced apart to provide openings, beams supported by said cages, and means for connecting said beams and said cages.

17. In combination in a construction, a plurality of skeleton cage units arranged in endwise alinement, each cage unit comprising a plurality of spaced elongated members and strip or band means extending around said elongated members, said strip or band means being fixedly attached to said elongated members to produce a cage unit of predetermined dimension, said cage unit being of an open-work construction, a beam for spacing certain of said cage units and forming coupling means between said cage units and said beam, said beam being associated with one of said cage units.

18. In combination in a construction, a pinrality of skeleton cage units arranged in endwise alinement, each cage unit comprising a plurality of spaced elongated members and strips associated with said elongated members, said strips being fixedly attached to said elongated members to form an open-work cage unit of predetermined dimensions, a plurality of beams ior spacing said cage units, said beams being supported by said cage units, and means for connecting said beams to said cage units.

19. In combination in a construction, a skeleton cage unit comprising a plurality of elongated spaced members and strip or band means associated with said elongated members, said strip or band means being fixedly attached to said elongated members to produce an open-work cage unit, a beam positioned on top of said cage unit and supported by said cage unit, and means for connecting said beam to said cage unit.

20. A device of the character described adapted for use in structures, including a skeletonized cage member, said cage member comprising a plurality of spaced elongated members and strip or band means associated with said elongated members, said strip or band :means being fixedly attached to said elongated members to produce a unitary cage member oi predetermined dimensions adapted for use as a unit, said elongated members and said strip or band means being assembled so as to form an open-work construction.

21. A device 01! the character described, adapted for use in structures, including a skeleton cage unit, said cage unit being substantially cylindrical in form and comprising a plurality of spaced elongated members and a spiral strip or band extending around said elongated members, said strip or band being fixedly attached to said elongated members and extending from a point adjacent one end of said cage unit to a point adjacent the other end of said cage unit to produce a cage unit of predetermined dimensions, said elongated members and said strip or band being assembled so as to form an open-work construction.

22. In combination in a construction, a plurality or separated cage units arranged in endwise alinement, each cage unit comprising a series of elongated members with open-work means connecting said elongated members, said openwork means being fixedly attached to said elongated members for producing a unitary cage of a predetermined length and cross section, a plurality of beams spacing said cage units, said beams being supported by said cage units, and means for connecting said beams to the ends of said cage units to form a skeleton structure before any concrete or the like is applied to the construction.

23. In combination in a construction, a skeletonized cage member comprising a plurality of spaced elongated members and strip or band means associated with said elongated members, said strip or band means being fixedly attached to said elongated members to form a unitary cage member of predetermined dimensions adapted for use as a unit, said elongated members and strip or band means being assembled so as to form an open-work construction, and a beam associated with one end of said cage member.

24. In combination in a construction, a succession of spaced skeleton cages arranged in endwise alinement, a plurality of beams in the spaces between said cages, said beams being supported by said cages, and means for rigidly connecting said beams and said cages whereby a skeleton construction is formed before any concrete or the like is applied to the construction.

25. In combination in a construction, a plurality of spaced unitary cages arranged in endwise alinement, a plurality, of beams in the spaces between said unitary cages and forming coupling means between said unitary cages whereby a rigid skeleton construction is formed before any concrete or the like is applied to the construction.

26. In combination in a construction, a plurality of spaced unitary cages arranged in endwise alinement, a plurality of beams in the spaces between said unitarycages, means for rigidly connecting the ends of said beams to said unitary cages whereby the bending moment of said beams is reduced.

27. In combination in a construction, a cage unit comprising a plurality of elongated spaced members and strip or band means associated with said elongated members, said strip or band means being fixedly attached to said elongated members to produce'an open-work or skeleton cage unit, a beam associated with one end of said cage unit, and molded material for 'encasing said open-work or skeleton cage unit and said beam to form a rigid construction.

28. In combination in a construction, a plurality oi skeleton cage units, each unit comprising a plurality oi elongated spaced members and strip or band means associated with said elongated members, said strip or band means being fixedly attached to said elongated members to produce an open-work cage unit, and beams positioned on top of said cage units.

KARL R. SCHUSTER.

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