US2075874A - Frameless building - Google Patents

Description

April 6, 1937.

W. H. STULEN .FRAMELESS BUILDING Filed March 30, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEIJTOR.

WITNESSES ATTCRNEW'.

April 1937- w. H. STULEN 2,075,874

FRAMELESS BUILDING Filed March 30, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WIT/VfJSE-S M M ,MH

ATTORNEYV.

form substantially any structure such as bridge members and floors, supporting forms for concrete, caissons and the like.

Referring now to the drawings, which illustrate one embodiment of my invention, Fig. 1 is a plan view of a unit constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the unit shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through the unit taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a horizontal and two vertical panels joined together at their edges to form a frameless building structure mostly broken away, with the panels being made up of the individual units shown in Figs. 5 1 to 3; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on line V--V of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a i'lbrizontal sectional view through a, round column fabricated from the individual units shown in Figs.

1 to 3; Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view through a square column fabricated from the units shown in Figs. 1 to 3; and Fig. 8 is a plan view of a piece of sheet metal illustrating the manner in which the individual sheet metal strips are cut therefrom without waste.

The embodiment of the building unit of my invention, illustrated in detail in Figs. 1 to 3 of the drawings, comprises three load-carrying members I0, ,I I and H, which are preferably angle-irons as shown but which may be any other rolled metal sections, such as channels or T-bars. The selection of the particular section of the members I0, I I and I2 depends largely on the use to which the member is put, i. e., for floors, walls, ceilings, etc. The members III, II and I2 are secured to the center and edge portions of a strip of sheet metal indicated generally by the numeral l3. The sheet metal strip l3 has a flat central portion I4 which is preferably spot-welded to the angle-iron In at longitudinally-spaced points l5 so that the anglethe invention contemplates welding the angle-iron II) in the dotted-line position shown as well as to increase the thickness of the unit formed. The side portions of the sheet metal .strip II are bent 4 5 l4 and may comprise triangularly-shaped tab portions I! which have their ends l3 bent parallel to the flat central portion ll of the sheet metal strip and spot-welded as at I9 to the angle-irons II and I2. The angle-irons II and I2 can be welded in the dotted-line position instead of the full-line position if it is advisable to increase the thickness of the unit.

The strength of the unit produced is largely dependent upon its depth or thickness which is the distance between angle-iron l0 and the plane of angle-irons II and II. This distance can be altered in units provided for different purposes by changing the angle the tab portions ll make with the central portion ll of the metal strip. To increase the distance increases strength. Ordinarily the tab portions are bent at an angle of about 45. The strength of the units can also be increased by making the sheet metal heavier and broadly the invention contemplates using metal plate of any requisite thickness to provide the desired strength together with members In, H and I2 of increased strength. Also under other conditions where the units are used for partitions or for like purposes where little strength is required the sheet metal can be quite thin and the members III, II and I2 can be flat-rolled sections if desired.

The members III, II and I2 preferably are formed with longitudinally spaced apertures M by iron is in the full-line position shown. However,

at equal but opposite angles to the central portion a punching or other operation to facilitate fastening veneering or facing materials to the formed units as hereafter explained.

The individual units, as just described, are adapted to be incorporated into panels and this is accomplished by the provision of sheet metal channels 25 which receive the ends of a plurality of units placed in a side-by-side relation. Channels 26 likewise preferably bound the sides of the end units with the channels 25 and 26 being welded together at their ends and with the individual units being welded to the channels at their.

It should be noted here points of engagement. that the units can be made in half widths, as hereinafter more fully explained, and that these half-width units are preferably used at the extreme sides of the units placed. side-by-side to form a panel as a seen in Fig. 4.

To further strengthen the panel structure and to positively tie the individual units together and form a truss-like structure, metal sections 30, extending transversely of the units at spaced intervals, as best seen in Figs. 4 and 5, are provided and are welded to the tops of the individual units at their points of contact. Metal sections 3| likewise are employed which secure together the bottom of the units forming the panel. The metal sections 3| are, of course, welded to the individual units and to the channels at their points of contact. To improve the truss structure the metal sections 30 and 3| are positioned substantially midway between each other with the bottom metal sections 3| being secured to the longitudinal angles H and I2 at substatiallythe same points that the edge portions I8 of the triangular tabs I! are secured. Thus the upper metal sections 30 are joined to the base I of the sheet metal strip I3 at the narrow portion connecting the triangular tabs of the sheet metal strip.

The metal sections 30 and 3| are preferably in the form of angle-iron sections when employed on the top of floors or wherever they must resist compression and are preferably flat-rolled sections when used on the under side of. floors or wherever they resist only tension or light loads. Broadly, however, they may comprise any metal section such as channels, T-bars etc., best adapted to provide the requisite strength or to receive covering or veneering surfaces.

While in the preferred form of the invention the metal sections 30 and 3| extend transversely of the panels they may also be secured diagonally or criss-cross of the panels to further improve the truss structure or to facilitate the application of. covering or veneering materials to the' ings or roofs or the like and, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, one panel, indicated as a whole by the numeral 40, is employed as a floor, and other panels, identified by the numerals 4| and 42, are used as walls with the panels being supported on a suitable foundation 35. The edges of. the panels, where they come together at the base of the wall and at the edge of the floor, are welded together as at 36 during building and on location. It should be understood that the particular structure shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is merely a fragment of the frameless structure and that several more floors, various walls, and so forth, can be incorporated in the structure without necessitating other supporting means than the foundation 35 all which may be of any known type. The various points of joinder between the individual panels are positively welded together in the field to provide a very strong rigid structure of the frameless type. The interior and exterior walls or partitions can be of load-bearing or non-load-bearing type with the latter being made lighter in weight and of relatively less strength.

The panels are made of any size or shape as controlled by the use to which they are put. For example, the panels can be large enough to form a whole wall, ceiling or floor, or they can be made in say six foot widths to be more convenient for shipping and handling. These unit panels are then welded together on location to form complete panels constituting whole walls, floors, etc.

It should be appreciated that the panels are formed in other than square shape if desired. Polygonal, round, oval and other shapes can be made and the channels bounding the edges of the assembled units can be at an angle to the sides and end of the units which are appropriately cut to be properly received and secured in the channels. Thus substantially any type of structure can be made up because of the adaptability of my invention to the ready and facile fabrication of panels and units of various types, shapes, sizes and strengths.

One feature of my invention which is noteworthy and which is believed novel is that the construction and shape of my units and panels adapt them to the module system of building and architecture. This popular system, briefly, is that the architect and builder bases his design and arrangement on modules or squares of. a certain size, say three feet square. A living room, for example, could then be five modules long, four wide and three high.' A hall could be two modules wide, three high and five long, etc. My units readily fit into the module system of planning and building in that each unit is made of a standard module width or half width and the squares of connected sheet metal of each unit likewise form modules of length. Accordingly the fabrication of buildings is simplified and expedited and a new and novel relation is established between architectural and building design and materials for constructing the designed structures.

It should be understood that the frameless building structure herein disclosed is not ordinarily adapted for use as a skyscraper or other tall building but that it can beneficially be employed to construct small buildings of several stories, and it is particularly adapted for the construction of homes, stores, and the like.

where it is found necessary in a frameless structure to provide means for carrying additional or greater weight, columns or beams can be produced by fabricating the individual units of my invention in a plurality of different ways. For example, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7, a plurality of the units has been made into a circular column, indicated generally by the numeral 43, having their contacting edges welded together with the column further strengthened with welded-on circular metal sections 44. Thus a column of any desired strength can be provided depending upon the size and strength of the individual units.

Fig. 7 shows a column or beam 45 formed of four of the units welded together at their edges. can be used as a beam. In this particular, the This structure can be employed as a column or invention contemplates a frameless structure adapted to house relatively heavy machinery or to be adapted to carry extra heavy loads under certain circumstances in which load-carrying means are provided in the form of additional columns in the structure with load-carrying beams extending across the columns or spanning the foundation. Lighter beams or columns can be made fromeither two or three of the units fabricated as just described, as will be evident.

tabs or portions l1 at periodic, longitudinallyspaced distances -on each strip. The strip is pressor roll-bent along its central longitudinal plane so that the triangular tabs extend at opposite but similarly inclined angles to the flat base portion l4. Each of the bent strips is fabricated into a unit by securing the longitudinally-extending load-carrying members II), II and I 2 to the central portion and to the extreme edge portions of the strip.

All of the strips formed, as above described, are whole strips of the desired shape except those at the sides of the sheet which, as seen at the top of Fig. 8 of the drawings, are half widths. These half-width strips are fabricated similarly to the whole strips but with only the tabs bent from the continuous edge portion and with only two load-carrying members being used. The half-width units are employed at the sides of the panels orwherever else they can advantageously be utilized to provide a panel or unit of the requisite dimensions.

Securing the load-carrying elements to the strip is rapidly and efficiently done, in commercial manufacture under my process, by spotwelding. The individual units are then fabricated into the panels of desired size and strength as has been explained above, with the panels being built into a frameless building structure on location. If desired the panels also can be made up on location from the individual units which will facilitate shipment of material to the job as the triangular shape of the units permits them to be nested in each other for handling and shipment.

While the invention has been particularly described as employing spot-welding or broadly welding for securing the parts of the units together, and the units intopanels, and the panels into a building, it should be recognized that while this is the preferred practice and is believed novel as described, the invention contemplates employing other securing means,- such as rive s, bolts, clips or other accessories.

From the foregoing description of one embodiment of my invention, it will be evident that a building unit, adapted for use with the module system of architectural planning, has been provided which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture by commercial methods and apparatus and which is strong and light and adapted to be fabricated into any desired building structure on location with most of the part assembling being done in the manufacturing plant before shipment to location. A relatively smaller amount of metal is used in the unit than has heretofore been the practice. further r s the manu- 1 and painted or otherwise decorated toprovide a pleasing wall or ceiling. This is particularly true in garages, stores, or other buildings, in which the open appearance of -the structure is'not undesirable. Ordinarily the panels arecovered in any known or suitable manner as, for example, in -fioors by the provision of metal screening with a covering of cement thereon or with a wooden floor being laid directly over the panel. For walls,

metal lath can be wired to the panels and covered in the usual manner by patter, cement, stucco,

brick or wood. Again. the panels forming walls can be provided with a glass or a silk covering with lights being employed in the panels and shining through the glass or silk to provide an indirect lighting system. In a similar manner the panels adapt themselves to the panel system of' heating. The open character of the construction permits the ready laying of, and access to wiring, plumbing, etc., and likewise the structure is particularly. adapted for air-conditioning means, insulation, heating ducts and the like.

I have found that when employing -.my building units and. panels tliey can be assembled to providecantile'ver extensions over window and door openings and canopies, balconies-floors and. roofs can likewise be made with cantilever extensions. These extensions die of such strength in proportion to their weight that a very' strong .rigid building structure is provided by their. fabrication in the manner herein disclosed.

While in accordance with the Patent Statutes I have illustrated 'and described one embodiment of my invention it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby but is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

v 1. A fabricated frameless metal structure adapted for use as a fioor, side-wall or the like in a building, said structure including a plurality of units placed in 'side-by side' relation, each unit comprising three angle-irons extending lengthwise of the unit and positioned to definea triangle,

' a sheet metal strip likewise extending lengthwise of the unitv and spat -weldedalonga longitudinal line to oneof the angle-irons, triangular laterally-extending portions formed integrally with the lateral edges of the sheet metal strip-and bent at an angle thereto into contact with the remaining angle-irons where the portions-are spot -welded, sheet metal channels receiving the ends of the units which arelwelded thereto, and tensionresisting metal sections" extending laterally of the units and welded thereto; said sections being positioned 'onthe bottom surface of the structure adjacent the ends of the tabs and compressionresisting metal sections welded on the top of the structure midway between the bottom sections.

2. A fabricated frameless metal structure adapted for use as a door, side wall or the like in a building, said structure'including a plurality of units placed in side-by-side relation, eachunit comprising three metal sections extendingl'engthwise of the unit andpositioned to defines. triangle, a sheet metal strip likewise extending lengthwise of the unit and spot-welded along a auras-.74

longitudinal line to one of the metal sections, triangular laterally-extending portions formed integrally with the sheet metal strip and bent at an angle thereto into contact with the remaining metal sections where the portions are spot-welded, and sheet metal channels receiving the ends of the units which are welded to the channels.

3. A fabricated frameless metal structure adapted for use as a floor, side wall or the like in a building, said structure including a plurality of units placed in side-by-side relation, each unit comprising three angle-irons extending lengthwise of the unit and positioned to define a triangle, a sheet metal strip likewise extending lengthwise of the unit and spot-welded along a longitudinal line to one of the angle-irons, and laterally-extending areas formed integrally with the lateral edges of the sheet metal strip and bent at an angle thereto into contact with the remaining angle-irons where the areas are spot-welded. ,4. A fabricated frameless metal structure including a plurality of units placed in side-by-side relation, each-unit comprising three angle-irons extending lengthwise of the unit and positioned 5. Afmetal building unit capable of being fabricated into walls, floors, columns and similar building structures, said unit including a strip of sheet metal having a flat central portion with similarly but oppositely-inclined edge portions, said edge portions being in the form of triangular portionswith the extreme lateral edges thereof being parallel to thecentral portion of the sheet, and rolled metal sections spot-welded to the fiat central portion and to the extreme lateral edges of the strip.

6. A metal building unit capable of being fabricated into walls, floors, columns and similar building structures, said unit including a strip of. sheet metal having a flat central portion with similarly b toppositely-inclined edge portion extending s f longitudinally-spaced intervals from the flat central portion, and angle-irons welded to the fiat portion and to the extreme lateral edges of the strip.

7. A metal. building unit capable of being fabricated into walls, floors, columns, and similar building structures, said unit including a strip of metal, having a fiat base portion with similarly but opposite-inclined edge portions, and longitudinally-extending strengthening means secured to the flat base and to the extreme lat.- eral edges of the strip.

a. A metal building unit capable of being nib,-

ricated into walls, floors, columns and similar building structures, said unit including a strip of" sheet metal having a fiat base with similarly but oppositely-inclined edge portions, said edge portions being in the form of triangular tabs with the extreme lateral edges thereof being parallel to the base of the sheet, and longitudinally-extending strengthening means secured to the flat base and-to the extreme lateral edges of the strip.

acme?! l 5.

- and secured in the region of the bend to oneoi. the elements and secured to the other elements by the corners of the squares opposite the bend.

10. A building unit comprising three triangu- 5 larly-positioned, longitudinally-extending rolled metal sections and sheet metal substantially in the form of connected square plates bent on a diagonal line connecting the corners of the squares and spot-welded in the region of the 10 bend to one of the metal sections and spot-welded to the other metal sections by the corners oi. the

squares opposite the bend.

11. In combination, a plurality of building units placed side by side and received at their 15 ends in sheet metal channels to which the units are welded'and laterally-extending-metal sections welded on both sides of the units and securing the units together, each of said units ineluding three triangularly-positioned 101181171161. 20 nally-extending angle-irons and a single piece of sheet metal welded to and connecting the angle-irons, said sheet metal being in the form of diagonally-connected polygons.

12. In combination, a plurality of buildin 5 units placed side by side and received at their 7 ends in sheet metal channels to which the units are welded and laterally-extending rolled metal sections welded on both sides 01 the units and securing the units together. said metal sections being spaced alternately on the opposite sides of 5 the units.

13. A i'rameless building comprising walls and floors constructed of units formed of angle-irons connected by sheet metal spot-welded to'the angles, the units being received at their ends in 10 sheet metal channels to which the units are welded, lateral tie rods connecting the units and together with the channels forming the units into panels, the panels being welded together to form the frameless building. 15 14. A rrameless building comprising a plurality of panels welded together to form the floors, walls and the entire structure of the building, said' panels being made up of individual units placed in side-by-side relation and connected by welded- 2 on lateral ties. and sheet metal channels surrounding the sides ot the connected units and welded thereto and forming the panels of the proper size.

WALTER n. STULEN. as

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