US2089893A

US2089893A - Hollow steel building structure

Info

Publication number: US2089893A
Application number: US98023A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gerald G Greulich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1936-08-26
Filing date: 1936-08-26
Publication date: 1937-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1954-08-10

Description

G. G. GREULICH 2,089,893

HOLLOW STEEL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 26, 1936 2 Shee'ts--Shee'tl l imwao: 67E/@QLD 6. @Bal/6H, j.

Aug. 10, 1937. G. G. GREULICH HOLLOW STEEL BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H, UW. fm U i M @u @L 7@ Patented Aug. 10, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

Thisinvention relates to hollow steel building structures including one or more structural units having a continuous open horizontal space extending in all directions above the top of the struc- 5 tural ysteel members or framing.

An object of the invention is to provide a structure having unlimited raceways over its entire area so that it is possible to lay conduits or piping in any direction whereby an electrical outlet may be placed at practically any point on the surface of the structural unit.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds, in which:

Figure vl is a transverse section of the assembled structure;

Figure 2- is a section on line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure vr3 is a plan showing pipes or conduits connected to an outlet plug;

Figure is a detailed section showing one form 2O of reeniorcement for the bottom member;

` Figure 5 is a detailedsection showing another form of reenforcement for the bottom member;

Figure 6 is a transverse section of another form of structural unit;

Figures 7 and 8-are detailed sections oi modifledV forms of the means for spacing the top and bottom members;

Figure -9 is a transverse section of still another form of structural unit;

Figure 101s a section online X-X of Figure 9 Figure 1l is a detailed section of the means for connecting the -units;'

Figure l2 is a sectional plan taken on line XII-XII of Figure 11; and

Figure 13 is a sectional elevation oi a modied form'for connecting two units together.

In'the drawings, one form of the structural unit comprises a top member 2, consisting of a metallic sheet'provided with one or more conical 40 projections or cups 3 formed thereon, and a bottom member d consisting of a i'lat sheet of material. The conical projections 3 are provided with small openings 5 in the bottom thereof to permit the top and bottom members to be welded together. Under certain conditions, it may be deemed desirable to reenforce the bottom member t and, if this is the case, any desired form of reenforced ribs 6, as shown in the various fig- 0 ures, may be formed in or welded to the bottom member t.O

The assembled unit is supported on structural beam members l! and welded thereto, as indicated at 3, while the end portions of the adjacent upper units are connected together by means of a cap or cover plate 9. Such a construction produces a continuous raceway above the structural beam members 'l and permits an outlet plug I0 to be placed within a few inches of practically any point on the area of the assembled 5 unit. Electrical conduits or cables I 2 are adapted to be laid between the upper and lower members forming this unit in any desired direction, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The conical projections are spaced parallel to each other in both a 10 vertical and horizontal position and, in so doing, produces a continuous open horizontal space extending ln every direction above the top of the structural beam members l.

In the modiication shown in Figure 6, the top 15 member 2 is identical in construction with that shown in Figure 1 and provided with the conical projections 3 and the cap or cover plate 9 for connecting the adjacent units. The bottom plate I3 is provided with conical projections I4 where- 20 by the apexes of the projections, which abut each other, are capable of being welded together. In such a construction, there is produced an increased depth of space between the upper and lower members.

In the modified form, shown in Figures 9 and 10, the upper member 2 is provided with conical projections 3 and openings 5 which permit welding of the upper section to a bottom member I5. The bottom member I5 comprises a ribbed sheet having projections I6 adapted to abut and align with the projections 3 formed on the top member. The bottom member is likewise welded to the structural beam members 1, as shown at 8, while the ends of the upper members are connected 3ftogether by the cap or cover plate 9.

In Figures 7 and 8, the upper and

lower members

2 and 4 each comprise a sheet of flat material. Struts or posts are positioned between and Welded to the top and bottom members to main- 40 tain said members in spaced relation and form a continuous open horizontal space throughout the entire area of the unit. The form shown in Figure 7 comprises a cylindrical member Il, while Figure 8, the spacing member comprises a 45 column formed of double inverted frusta-cones Il.

In each of the foregoing constructions, when assembled and welded to the structural beam members 1, there is a surfacing composition applied over the top member 2 which fills the inside of the conical projections 3, serving as an anchor for the surfacing composition against movement in any direction. 5r-

Under the present construction, there is provided an all-steel floor, wall or ceiling structure having continuous hollow spaces extending over the entire area of the structure produced by the top and bottom members being separated or maintained in spaced relationship to each other whereby it is possible to lay conduits or piping within the horizontal space formed by said units in any direction.

Heretofore, it has been necessary to embed the pipe or conduit in a floor ll, prior to completion of the structure or to provide a series of underiloor ducts through which the wires could be arranged or positioned to the various outlets. These underfioor ducts, however, were inflexible, as once the space of the outlets were iixed, it was not practical to place additional outlets except directly over the ducts. Another method, heretofore employed, comprised hollow steel cellular units. Conduits or piping were inserted in only one direction. In order to change the direction of the conduits, it was necessary to introduce expensive transverse fittings.

However, under the present construction, the structural steel beams can rst be erected with the intermediate floor beams spaced thereon. The hollow steel units, hereinbeore described, are laid in position and welded to the structural 'beam members 1, and the open space between the ends of the adjacent units above the beams are not covered until all wire and conduits are in piace. Under such construction, it is possible to place an electrical outlet at any point on the at surface of the unit, or even at points on the cover plates between the units. These units eliminate the necessity of planking or temporary decking and, after the conduits have been laid within the units, the surface ll is applied to the top member and, entering the depressions formed by the conical projections 3, produces an anchorage for the surface fill against movement in any direction.

In the showing in Figure 11, there is provided a particular construction for closing the spaces between the adjoining units at the structural 45 beam members 1. There is provided a top cover plate I1 overlapping the ends of adjacent units and provided with one or more conical projections I8 provided with an opening I9 to facilitate welding the cover plate I1 to the structural-beam member 1.

The lower member I3 is provided with projections I4 abutting and in alignment with the conical projections 3 of the top member 2. A lower closure and supporting member for the unit comprises

plate members

20 and 2|, identical in construction but which may be Varied in width. The plate members 20 and 2I have one edge 22 bent downwardly to hook over the projection I4, while the opposite end is welded to the structural beam member 1 as indicated at 22a. These plate members 2l] and 2I are provided with notches 23 and 24 which permit entry of the remaining projections therein. The closure plate members 20 and 2I can be inserted in a horizontal direction past the conical projections so as toy engage the rst projection on the far side of the unit. The notches 23 permit the conical projections I8 to be welded directly to the structural beam member 1.

In the modification shown in Figure 13, the lower closure member may comprise a single plate 25 instead of the two plates shown in Figures 11 and 12. If such a construction is used, there are provided openings 26 permitting the conical projections I8 to be welded to the structural beam member 1.

With reference to the showing in Figures 11 and 12, certain conditions may develop in which the end of the units may be different distances away from the edge of the structural beam member 1. For example. the end of the unit on the left may be practically adjacent the edge of the structural beam member '1, while the end of the unit on the rightmay be some distance away. In this case, the bottom closure member 20 would not be as long as the member 2| and the conical projections I8 would, therefore, not be positioned within the notches 23. However, regardless of whether the right or left hand edge of the adjacent units are closer to the edge of the structural beam member 1, they are supported thereto by the closure plate members 20 and 2I.

While I have shown and described specific embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, Vsince various modications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as dened by the following claims.

I claim:

1. In combination with a beam structure, a hollow steel building structure comprising one or more units, said units including a top and bottom plate, means adapted to maintain said top and bottom plates in spaced relation to provide continuous hollow spaces extending over the entire floor area, said spacing means including a top plate provided with depending projections in spaced relation and a bottom plate having a ribbed area adapted to contact said depending projections on said top plate and means adapted to support said building structure on said beam.

2. In combination with a building structure including one or more beams, one or more hollow steel structural units, said units comprising an upper plate provided with depending projections and a bottom plate provided with parallel ribs adapted to abut and align with said depending projections to form raceways, means adapted to connect the upper plates of adjoining units, and means adapted to support said units on said beams. said supporting means including bottom plates positioned on said beams and provided with notches to permit said projections to contact said ribs whereby said projections and ribs can be welded to provide a continuous open horizontal space extending in all directions above the top of said beams.

3. In combination with a building structure including one or more beams, one or more hollow steel structural units including a top metal plate provided with depending projections and a bottom plate provided with parallel ribs adapted to abut and align with said depending projections on said top plate to form a plurality of raceways, a cover plate for connecting said upper plates of adjoining units, said cover plate provided with one or more projections, said bottom plates of adjoining units adapted to extend beneath the upper flange of said beam to a point adjacent the web thereof and at least one closure plate for said bottom plates of adjoining units, said closure plate positioned on the upper surface of said beam and provided with notches whereby said depending projections on said upper plates may contact the ribs in said lower plates and the upper surface of said beam and be welded thereto so as to support said units and provide a continuou's open horizontal space extending in all directions.

GERALD G. GREULICH.